"Mokuba, do you know who wrote the note?" Yami asked.
Mokuba looked away.
Seto lifted his chin. "We're not angry little one. We want to know."
Mokuba sighed, "I m-met a woman."
"What woman where?" Yami asked.
"T-the d-day after the p-party. S-she came up t-to me w-when I w-was outside. S-she w-wanted me to w-write it."
"What did she say when you told her you couldn't?" Seto asked.
"S-she kept asking why I c-couldn't."
"What did you tell her?" Yami asked.
Mokuba shook his head and snuggled his back into Yami's embrace more. "N-nothing. I w-wouldn't tell her."
Feeling the little boy shift Yami tightened his grip around him and kissed his head.
"I really wish you had told us all of this, Mokuba." Seto said.
"Y-you weren't here w-when I m-met her."
Seto frowned but then shook his head. 'We must have still been looking for our brother.'
"I'm sorry, kiddo. I remember it was the same day or next day you asked to go with us to look."
"This was why I said we should have let him go with us when he asked." Yami said. "I was a little worried he was feeling left out. Though I never imagined him running away."
Mokuba blinked in surprise. Yami had agreed to let him go.
"I know, I know. I should have thought about that too. But I didn't. The only thing that went through my mind at the time was he'd be safer at home. I mean we were shot at! If not for the protection spell Mokuba put on our necklaces we'd have been killed. Plus the trouble we had with our wagon. I just didn't want to risk him getting hurt."
"W-why d-didn't you t-tell me big brother?!" Mokuba asked, upset that they hadn't told him. "I t-thought…"
"Thought what? Tell me." Seto asked.
"I t-thought you j-just d-didn't w-want me, anymore. I'd b-be in the w-way."
Seto kissed his forehead. "No, sweetheart. You were never in the way. I told you, you wouldn't be when I brought you home. I never thought I'd make you feel unwanted. That was never what I wanted. We were just well…we always wanted to find our brother and we sometimes lost focus on what was important. Yami suggested that we should have tried to see if you could hold the millennium rod sooner. But I was afraid you'd get hurt. I didn't want to risk it. I see now I should have listened to him. I wanted to believe you were our real brother but…but it's hard to accept that something you searched for… for years coming up empty was suddenly dropped into your lap. I never meant to drive you away Mokuba. I only was doing what I felt was the best way to keep you safe from harm. Not that it's done a lot of good even in the castle but I'm doing my best."
"M-Maura."
Maura snapped out of her trance of just watching, listening and learning new things about her new family. "Yes?"
"W-will you hold L-Lanc-celot?"
Maura smiled and held out her arms to take the kitten. "Sure, I'd love to!"
Once Maura had Lancelot, Mokuba lifted Yami's arms and pulled out of his embrace. Yami was disappointed at first till he saw the boy throw his arms around Seto's neck.
Seto was slightly taken back. He never expected it. He didn't argue though. He hugged him back. Then he pulled the boy up. "Now, Mokuba, who was this woman? What did she do to you?"
"N-nothing."
"That doesn't answer the question of who she was? Did you see anyone else with her?"
Mokuba shook his head no. "I d-don't know w-who s-she was. I d-didn't s-see anyone."
"Well what was her name?"
Mokuba gulped. She had told him her name, but then he wasn't sure he remembered it enough to say it.
"Mokuba, did she tell you her name?" Yami asked.
Mokuba nodded, "S-she w-was r-really nice. But I c-couldn't even s-say her name then. T-there's not w-way I can say it now! I k-know I-it s-sounded like it started w-with an e and s-sorta sounded like ease. B-but t-then S-Samantha says that an I c-can s-sound like an E."
Seto and Yami got to thinking.
"I don't think I know anyone whose name even comes close." Yami said.
"The name doesn't sound familiar. Mokuba I don't suppose she gave you a last name."
Mokuba shook his head no.
"I knew that'd be too much to ask for." Seto said.
"Well let's forget it for now. There's not much else we can do. After Christmas we'll talk to the big four since all but one are in custody downstairs and then we'll talk with them then. Maybe we can learn more." Yami said.
"You're right. There's no point in continuing." Seto said.
"Mai, would you and Isis take the kids and see about getting them a temporary playroom where they can play and Mokuba's kitten can stay and not get hurt till the renovations are completed?" Yami asked.
"Certainly." Mai said.
Once outside the room, Isis turned to Mokuba and said, "Master Mokuba, why don't you run upstairs and get one of your old shirts out of the laundry basket."
Mokuba looked at her like she was crazy. "W-why?"
"Simple. You want the kitten to bond with you and when it's not with you it will be very lonely. At least with something of yours it can sleep on it and not feel so alone!" Maura said.
"Okay." Mokuba ran upstairs and found a shirt and went back downstairs.
Mai saw a tear in the shirt and took it from him. "Master Mokuba, what happened to your shirt?"
"I w-was l-looking around and w-went outside the m-maze and a-accident-dentally tore it on s-some bushes. I m-meant to fix it or t-tell you or Isis and see what to do. Y-your not mad are you?"
Mai gave a sad smile realizing that even now the boy feared punishment. She raised her hand and almost wanted to cry when he cringed. She slowly started to stroke his hair. She kissed the side of his head when he seemed to relax at that. "Never, sweetie. You will never get into trouble over something like this."
"Y-you won't t-tell Seto or Yami will you?"
This time Isis spoke up first. And gently grabbed his chin to get him to look at her. "We normally wouldn't because it's not important. But we are this time only to reassure you that nothing bad is going to happen. This is one shirt little one. They wont be mad or upset."
"Y-you sure?"
Isis kissed his forehead, "Yes, I'm sure." Then she took the shirt from Mai. "Mai why don't you and Mistress Maura go on ahead and find a pillow and maybe a blanket for the kitten. Then scout around for a temporary place, while I talk to the king and Master Atemu."
Mokuba didn't want to do this at all! But saw no way out of it.