Isis took Mokuba's hand and led him back into the room where Seto and Yami were talking with Varon and Alister to get them to ask around and see if they could find out who the woman Mokuba had seen and talked to.

As Isis got closer Mokuba was tugging on her hand to get her to change her mind. Finally when they were within just a few feet Mokuba tried something more desperate to stop her. He dug his heels into the rug and pulled her only to be jerked forward. She barely caught him from falling.

However the movement caught Yami's attention.

"You shouldn't do that sweetheart. You could get hurt." Isis lightly scolded him.

"L-let's just go!"

"Isis is there a problem?" Yami asked. Noticing that Mokuba for some reason didn't want to be here.

Mokuba gulped. 'Great now she has their attention!'

Seto also turned to see what the problem was.

Mokuba imagined himself snatching the shirt and running off. But then he realized that wouldn't help the situation. Isis would still be there and could still tell. So as long as she was still there it didn't matter whether or not the shirt was.

Isis handed the shirt to Yami.

Mokuba wanted to scream at her, 'Are you crazy, giving it to him!'

"It looks like one of Mokuba's shirts." Seto said.

"It's got a pretty big tear in it. There's no sense in keeping it. Just throw it away." Yami said.

Mokuba looked wide-eyed at that.

"We were thinking about using it for Mokuba's kitten."

"Then why did you show it to us?" Seto asked. "Why didn't you just do it?"

At that Isis turned and pulled the kid, who was pulling back from her at the same time, forward. Seto and Yami were confused as to why the kid didn't want to come closer.

"This is the problem. He told us that he went outside the maze exploring and accidentally tore his shirt. We did scold him for going outside the maze but he feared he was in big trouble. Mai reached out to comfort him by stroking his hair and he cringed in fear. He begged us not to tell you. We told him he wouldn't get into any real trouble, that it was only one shirt, but I don't think he believed us cause he was fighting me the whole way here." Isis told them.

Seto and Yami both bent down.

"Mokuba come over here." Seto said.

Mokuba whimpered slightly and walked over.

"Kiddo, you have to learn nothing here is the same here as it was there." Yami said.

"Yami's right. I thought we'd done enough to teach you that." Seto said. Then sighed. "I guess we need to have a long talk and discuss some of the rules. But you have to know kiddo; we've discussed this before. No matter what, I mean no matter what happens or how many rules you break or how bad you are we will never beat you!"

"Mokuba, we don't want you to be afraid to tell us something, even something as minor as this. We may get upset but I swear to you we won't ever beat you!" Yami said.

Mokuba just nodded, he still couldn't believe they were that forgiving. "Y-your r-really n-not m-mad?"

"I'm not happy to hear you left the garden or the maze for that matter and went outside it. But I'm not angry about the shirt." Seto said. Then he wanted to cry as Mokuba cringed as he brought his hand up to his cheek.

Mokuba realized that he was just going to leave it there and not slap him or anything he was used to happening. He sighed and nuzzled his head into his brother's hand. At that Seto smiled and caressed his cheek.

Yami too sighed, "Sweetheart we have to find a way to show you that we won't hurt you. I realize that every little thing you did wrong required some form of beating but we will never get mad enough at you to hit you!"

Mokuba opened his eyes and saw how sad Seto and Yami were. He couldn't help still having some fears. He'd spent almost five years of being beaten for even minor things. It wasn't that easy to just let all of that go and accept that he won't ever be beaten for anything. He didn't want Seto and Yami to be unhappy and could clearly see they were more sad than upset. A part of himself imagined himself running and throwing his arms around them and hugging them tight. But he knew he'd never have the courage at the moment to do that. So he walked closer carefully and when it was even more clear to him that they had no intentions of hurting him, they were just worried. He bent down and hugged them both tightly.

Needless to say this was the last thing that either of them expected after the way he was acting before. But it didn't matter they hugged him back just as tightly.

"We love you too much to hurt you like that Mokuba. We don't ever want you to be afraid to come to us. If you're afraid of how we'll react then at least tell Ryo or Mai or Isis or someone." Seto said.

"Ask one of them to talk to us. But we don't want you to ever fear us Mokuba. We want you to tell us anything that's bothering you." Yami said.

Mokuba sighed, holding them tighter. "I c-can r-really t-tell you anything and y-you want b-be mad?"

They both hugged him tight.

"I can't promise that we won't be mad about something that you do but the worst thing that will ever happen to you is you have to spend more time in your room. But you will always be fed and if anyone, I mean anyone hurts you or makes you feel bad like the big five did. You tell someone this!" Seto said.

"Seto's right little one. Even if we get angry over something we will always forgive you. Even if we punish you for something, this doesn't mean we have stopped loving you or will ever stop loving you. We love you too much to stop now."

Seto was surprised at that. He hadn't thought of that. That only made him hug the boy that much tighter. "We have wanted you with us for years, Mokuba. When I found you I was so happy! Even though I didn't know you were who we were looking for I think somewhere in my heart I knew it. I never gave up hope of finding you Mokuba. I couldn't bear to lose you again! I lost you twice. The first time I had no say in the matter. The second time you left because of me! Please don't ever leave us little one we couldn't handle it! We love you so much! Much more than you can ever imagine."

Mokuba was crying, he couldn't believe it! They truly did care for him this much. He hugged back even tighter. He never dreamed that such a thing could happen. That he'd be so loved and cherished and be so open and honest about things. Mokuba was thankful they didn't say they'd never be mad at him over something. He would have known then that they were only telling him what he wanted to hear. He'd been around enough adults at the parties his stepmother threw to know when they were lying and only saying this because he was a child! But he could actually feel and tell how much the two of them loved him; he just couldn't believe it.

x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x

"Come on, Joey!"

"Ah Serenity do I have to! It's Christmas we were supposed to spend it together, not go back to the castle!"

"Look Joey, if I know you like I think I do then you wont give out any Christmas presents at all when you do go back to work."

"So what if I don't!"

Serenity walked over and grabbed his ear.

"Ow, ow, I'm coming, I'm coming!"

"I'm just making sure of it!" Serenity said letting go.

"But Serenity why this of all things! You know what I go through with the king this will only increase it with both him and the other guards and knights!"

"You're doing it because I made a promise and you need a present!"

Joey groaned he hated this but didn't have much choice Serenity was going to make sure it got done one way or another.

x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x

Shizuka meanwhile called Ryo.

"Hi, Ryo. I heard you were at your place."

"Yeah, my parents are in town visiting."

"Really! Your parents are in town?"

"Yeah, for a few days."

"So, when can I meet them?"

"What?"

"I want to meet them!"

"I don't think that's such a good idea Shizuka."

"What? But why not? Don't you want them to meet your fiancé?"

"Excuse me?" Ryo asked.

"Ryo, I'm tired of only being just your little girlfriend! I want to be more!"

"I'm sorry Shizuka but I'm just not ready to make that much of a commitment yet."

"I bet you would have with her." Shizuka mumbled.

"What?"

"I said I bet they'd love to meet me anyway."

"Well they're only in town for another couple of days and I'm going to see if I can bring Mokuba out here to meet them. They're really anxious to meet him."

Now he had Shizuka's blood boiling, "WHAT?! You're going to let your parents meet that brat kid but not your own girlfriend!" Shizuka demanded to know.

"My parents are interested in meeting with my little brother and so I'm going to let them meet him. Besides after everything they heard about me I just don't think they're ready yet to handle meeting you."

"You told them! I told you I didn't cheat on you!"

"Yeah, I know but still…" Ryo said. A part of Ryo could never get the image of Shizuka laying on a bench and Duke kissing her, his hands groping her breasts. Then as he mounted his horse he looked back but nothing changed except she was now groping his privates. Sure she claims to have been under the influence of a drug in a special candy. But she never said he forced her to eat the candy. That she not only willingly ate it but was eager to do so. Even now. He forgave her and lied and said he totally believed and trusted her. But how could he possibly go to his parents and tell them more than he caught her kissing another guy. Tell them everything before Shizuka did. He just couldn't handle seeing the disapproval he knew would be in their eyes. Not to mention the lecture Bakura would give him later for bringing her over.

"I'm sorry Shizuka but maybe next time. Oh and before you go around telling everyone that you're my fiancé! I would n't. I don't think you'd like the looks on people's faces when I tell them that I have no current intention of marrying you! Goodbye!"

Shizuka was fuming even more now! "How dare he say I'm not good enough to meet his parents! This is that brat's fault! Everyone for some reason thinks he's a sweet angel when he's not! Yet he gets to meet Ryo's parents! Ryo leaves town to avoid me but yet takes that brat with him! Why does he care so much about that brat! I've heard everything that happened to him. Yet despite that he deserves to meet your parents more than I do cause some jerk came on to me! Duke knew I couldn't resist the special candy and gave it to me. I was out of my head. But I won't have it! I will make you mine Ryo! Even if I have to go through both Bakura and that brat to do it!"

"Is everything all right in there Shizuka?" Solomon asked.

"Yes, grandfather, just making sure everything is locked up." Shizuka said sweetly.

"All right then."

"I will have you Ryo, mark my words!" Shizuka said in a low voice.

Then she spotted an old peddler and quickly and quietly slipped out. "Hey old man. Do you have any kind of love potion or forget potion?"

The man smiled for $100 Draglor Dollars I can give you one of each.

"Swindler! I'll give you $20 Draglor Dollars for both. That will be more than enough for a hot meal and a bath."

"$50 Draglor Dollars and it will also get me a room for a few nights."

"Fine here!" She gave him the money and took the potions.