Mokuba came back with his cloak on and a bag.
"You got everything, including your baby dragon?" Seto asked.
Mokuba nodded. "I e-even b-brought m-my kitty."
"Good, I wouldn't want you to forget anything." Seto said.
Mokuba walked over to him. "Y-you sure I-its okay for me to go?" He still couldn't believe Seto was going to allow him to leave.
Seto smiled. "Of course it is, kiddo. You be good and stay near the house, unless someone is with you."
Mokuba nodded. "Okay, b-big brother."
"But before you go, Ryo and I have a present for you and Maura." Yami said.
"What is it?" Maura asked while hoping they'd tell her this time.
"It's a Christmas present that Ryo and I discussed and were waiting on him before I showed you and Mokuba." Yami said.
"Then let's do it now." Ryo suggested.
They all went to the barn and went to the very back.
"Ryo and I discussed it and we put our money together and got two horses. One for Mokuba and one for you Maura."
"What kind of horse is it, big brother?" Maura asked.
"It's called a Palo Pinto." Yami said.
"I had been meaning to get one for Mokuba, but hadn't had the chance too. Then when we moved back here, I felt that Seto and Yami should have a say one way or the other."
"We discussed it and I made arrangements for some horses to be brought here and we chose these. Maura, the brown and white one is yours; Mokuba, the black and white one is yours."
"Really! The horse is really all mine?" Maura asked.
Yami smiled. "Yes, it's all yours."
Maura hugged him and ran over to her new horse.
Mokuba, however, wasn't as thrilled. Though Ryo had told him once he'd get him a horse of his own, he never pushed the issue or even asked about it. He was never that fond of horses. That was a reason why, whenever Ryo offered to take him riding in the past, he'd refused. He didn't hate them, exactly. It was more like feared them. He hated it when he had to take care of Marine's horse. He should have realized when he was given the saddle that he was getting a horse, but since they said they'd explain later, he didn't
really give it a thought one way or the other. He felt dumb now for not realizing it sooner.
"What's wrong, Mokuba?" Yami asked, seeing as he was standing by Seto and just watching Maura.
Seto bent down next to him. "Don't you like him?"
"He's p-pretty." Mokuba said.
However, they all noticed something seemed wrong. Then it reminded Ryo about all the times when his old family hadn't been around that he'd offered to take the boy riding and he'd always refuse. Though he'd ridden on a horse since then, he couldn't believe he'd be afraid of them, could he? But that made no sense. He decided to venture a guess. He walked over and bent down on the other side of the boy.
"Mokuba, you're not afraid of horses… are you?"
Seto looked at Ryo like he was crazy, but since Mokuba didn't answer, Seto began to wonder.
"Mokuba?"
"N-no…I…"
"I have a way to solve this." Yami said.
Everyone looked at him.
"Well, what is it?" Seto asked.
"I was reading through that spell book you gave me, and I came upon a spell that will work. This way Mokuba doesn't have to tell us what's wrong. You know how hard it is to get him to tell."
"Yes, and even then I sometimes wonder if he's not holding something back." Seto said.
"Well, that's why this spell will help. Let's go over here and sit down, and I'll cast the spell." Yami said.
Seto stood up and asked, "Are you sure it's safe?"
Yami glared at him. "You actually think I would ever suggest doing anything that would hurt him?"
Ryo stood also. "Seto, we both know that Yami would never do anything to hurt Mokuba any more than you or I would."
Seto sighed. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just nervous about you using any kind of spell on him."
"It's alright Seto. I've studied this spell thoroughly and completely. I know what I'm doing. The worst that could happen is that he falls asleep for a few hours. That's the only side effect."
"Fine, if you're absolutely sure." Seto said.
They all walked over and sat down with Mokuba between Ryo and Seto.