"My prince now that you are king the people will be looking to you for support and guidance. You must be ruthless and vibrant more like your father." Johnson said.
"So, in other words you want me to be an uncaring, unfeeling, cold hearted bastard who screws anything that walks into the room, is that what you are saying?" The newly crowned King Seto asked.
The now Official Court Advisor and confidant Yami was shocked but also couldn't help the small giggle that escaped his lips. "Seto you shouldn't talk like that."
"Why not? That's what they're saying isn't it?" Seto asked.
"That's King Kaiba, you do not address the king by his first name." Leichter said.
"He can call me whatever he likes as long as we're not in a public form. He's my brother."
"Sire he's not your brother." Gansley said.
"Look just about everyone except my father knew and knows that we consider ourselves brothers. Hell, the whole castle knew from the day my mother took Yami in that we became like brothers. It was simply my father didn't like the idea of people thinking he'd adopted another man's kid. My mother encouraged us to become brothers. Now that my father is dead, I don't care if anyone likes it. We've known each other since I was born. Yami's not just my best friend but also my big brother. Now that I'm king, you and the kingdom can either accept it or not. I don't much care one way or the other. You Court 5 advisors continually tell me that I need to be more like my father. Maybe I don't want to be like my father! Maybe I want be better!"
"But sir it isn't good for your image to allow people to know that you consider yourselves brothers. The people wouldn't understand." Nezbit said.
"I don't believe that! The whole kingdom knows Mistress Queen Anzu took me in and has raised me to serve and protect Seto. We only had to hide the fact we thought of ourselves as brothers from Master King Gozaburo and his allies. We never cared what anyone else thought." Yami said.
"I've often believed my father knew how we felt as well. But as long as we never publicly announced it, he obviously didn't care much."
"My king, I still believe it would be a mistake to let anyone know." Crump said.
"Why do you think that?"
"They all know you're an only child and with the loss of your mother and now your father I'm not sure they could handle your telling them that you look upon your advisor like he's your brother." Johnson said.
"First I am NOT an only child and second they will have to learn to deal with it!"
"My king, the whole kingdom was devastated when the announcement of your brother's death came so soon after your mother's. But you must learn to accept things you can't change." Nezbit said.
"What are you talking about? My brother didn't die. My father took off with him and I plan to start sending out reconnaissance agents to hunt for him." Seto said.
"My king I know you wanted to see your brother and be with him but you must accept..." Leichter started.
"Look I don't know what the hell you are talking about, but I did see my brother and I did bond with him! He also has a name it's Mokuba and unless my father killed him, he's out there somewhere and I will find him!"
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
A few days later Yami came back with what he'd learned after the advisors comment about Mokuba's death he decided to look into the matter more thoroughly.
"Seto I've poked around a little." Yami said.
"And?"
"And I hate to say it but they were right."
"That's a surprise. I didn't think they knew what the truth was. So what did you find out?"
"It seems that the King made an announcement that not only had the Queen died but so did Mokuba. It seems that he made a big deal out of it and made sure the whole kingdom knew."
"So what you are telling me is it will be harder to prove who Mokuba really is when we find him. I think father planned this! I don't think he ever had any intention of allowing me to find Mokuba."
"So what are we going to do?"
"We'll start searching and we will find him, I don't care how long it takes! Father wasn't gone for more than a few hours after leaving with Mokuba so he couldn't have gotten too far and we know about the direction he was heading. It's at least some place to start!"
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
In a cabin in the woods, the family was preparing to leave.
"Now Noah I need you to stay here."
"But why mother, I feel fine!"
"I'm sure you do, Noah. But you're still just getting over a cold and the doctor said it is best that you stay home and rest a little longer."
"What does he know?"
"Noah, you're 8 years old, I think the doctor would know a little more, don't you think?"
"Sure he does."
"Don't be like that sweetheart. I know you don't like staying home but you can still have fun. You get to teach JJ how to do all your old chores and those of your sisters. Now Marine and Asana won't be back till late. Marine's going to do some overtime at work and then go over to Jerold's house for a while."
"I thought you didn't approve of him?"
"I don't but there's not much I can say. Your sister is 15. She has the right to date whoever she sees fit whether I like it or not. Asana's working at Mrs. Marsh's house helping her out and will be home later. I just hope the old bat pays her more this time. Now you be good and I'll leave this riding crop here in case JJ gives you trouble. But use it sparingly if you hurt him too bad he can't work."
"Yes mother, I understand, but why can't I have the little 3 strip whip or even the bigger one?"
"First he's too little to use the big whip on yet, two you're too young to use it, three even if I allowed you to use it I don't think you could even wheeled it and last but not least I don't trust you with it."
Noah huffed, "I'm not too young to use it and I'm not weak either which is really what you're saying. Plus you didn't answer me on the 3 strip whip."
"Maybe when you're a little older but this will have to do for now." His mother said, kissing his head and leaving.
Noah glared at the frightened five-year-old. "This is all your fault! Mother's making me baby-sit you, sure, she says I'm not really but I am. You're nothing but a bad luck charm, do you know that! Maybe that's the reason your real family threw you away and gave you to the first stranger they came across. I don't know why father ever bothered to bring you home! All you've done since you got here is cause trouble! Father always was a fool just to accept an infant from a strange man on a horse. As I said you're a jinx, whether or not the man on the horse was your kidnapper or your father, it doesn't matter as I said you cause trouble to everyone you meet. First, because of you father was no longer able to support us with just what he made in the fields because suddenly our crops went bad! They never went bad before; we've also never been in this bad of a drought before either! No all of this started the day that man on the horse gave you to father! If this is the kind of luck you brought to them, it's not a wonder they threw you out! I think mother would have done the same and forced you to live alone, forced you to learn to fend for yourself and forge for food! But no, because father loved you she took pity on you and allowed you to stay. You're lucky we feed you at all! Well don't stand there and stare at me, start doing the dishes then I'll show you how to do the laundry then we'll start learning other things." Noah said laughing.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Six years later Seto and Yami were now more open about their relationship. The advisors continued to discourage them; however, Seto and Yami both agreed to just ignore them on almost everything. They also continually tell Seto that he should be more like his father to maintain a good image. Seto on the other hand continually told them that wasn't good for his image was to become more like his father! He didn't care if the people knew that he considered Yami his brother and there was no way he was going to turn into a sadistic monster like his father was.
Currently King Seto, now 21 was idly accepting or rejecting people for knights and guards.
"My king, you could show a little more enthusiasm." Yami said.
"Yeah right." Seto said, yawning, then looking up surprised to see a young man that turned up about this time every year. "Not you again dog boy!"
"My king." Young Joey said. "I really wish you would not call me that, sire."
'If only I could I'd ring his neck good for calling me a dog! But getting thrown in the dungeon won't get me in his good graces or allow me to become a knight.'
"I am here again once again to request that you allow me to be a knight!"
Seto laughed. "Thanks puppy I needed a good laugh."
Joey, unable to keep his anger in check yelled, "I'm not a dog! I'd make an excellent knight if you'd only give me a chance."
"Seto, perhaps you should at least give him a chance. You can't say he's not persistent; he comes back every year. Sometimes twice a year just to demand you to give him a shot!" Yami whispered.
Seto huffed, "Fine, you can have your shot puppy. I'll allow you to be a guard in training."
"Thank you, my king." Joey said bowing. 'It's not what I wanted but hey I'm in the door it's a starting point. It's farther than I've ever gotten out of him before. Every year before he laughed and had me thrown out!'
After he'd left and everyone was dismissed Yami pulled his chair closer and said, "You know if I didn't know better I'd say you like to torment him."
"Are you implying I like him or something?" Seto asked, a touch annoyed.
"I might have if I hadn't seen the way you were looking at Princess Tea and the last ball."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right, sure you don't, no I think you're slightly jealous of Joey."
"Why would I be jealous of him?"
"Because he has what we don't, the freedom to do what he wants."
"You can continue to discuss this with yourself. I'm leaving." Seto said getting up to leave.
"I also think you're slightly depressed because it's Mokuba's birthday next month and all the agents we've sent out to search have still found nothing."
Seto sat back down. "If we only had some clue. I mean does he look like me? Does he look like mom, something, anything to go on! I can't understand. Why after all these years of searching. Why haven't we been able to find any trace or clues as to what father did with him!"
"That's true, it is a mystery. But if he does look like your mother then perhaps he has her long black hair that alone should be at least a starting point."
"Yeah but how to prove it is really him is the next problem."
"Proving and knowing are two different things Seto. I think you'll know him when you find him... no I'm sure of it. We will see him again someday, I know it."
"I hope you're right."
'I remember when we were young just after he was taken away Seto was the one always proclaiming we'd see him again and I was the one being realistic. Then after he became king we sent out searchers and they always returned empty handed without the boy or at least a clue, he started to slowly lose faith little by little. Now every year that passes with nothing new he gets more and more depressed. I wish something, anything would happen to snap him out of this depression!' Yami thought.
"Don't even think about it." Seto said.
"What..." Yami asked, being snapped out of his thoughts.
"If I know you, you're planning something. But don't bother with Princess Tea if that was part of your plan."
"I wasn't planning anything and even if I were, what's wrong with her?"
"Last account I had I heard she was engaged to someone named Prince Jounouchi."
"It's all just rumors from what I've heard. But how about we hold another ball?"
"I don't know, our last one was a major disaster."
"Why do you say that? I thought it went pretty good."
"Sorry Yami I'm just not in the mood to be in a room full of cackling Princesses or the girls from the town again all sucking up and hanging off me. I just don't think I could handle it right now."
"Seto you have to snap out of it, you have that meeting with the members of those other counties to try to ensure peace between our lands."
"What oh yeah don't worry about me big brother I'll be fine."
"I hope you're right."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
At the same time in a small cabin in forest Mokuba now 9 was hanging up the laundry when a strong gust of wind blew several of the shirts he was supposed to be hanging up away. He quickly ran after them and caught a few but a couple of more flew even further away. Knowing he'd really get it if he didn't get them back, he continued to chase them. He came out of the forest into a clearing where he saw a young man about seventeen picking up the shirts. Mokuba had always been told not to talk to other people and so he stopped talking all together except when necessary. Even then, unless he's adjusted and trusts you he stutters like crazy. Mostly from being nervous, however if he knows and trusts you he almost never stutters. When he's frightened you're lucky to get two words out of him. He cautiously walked over to him.
"Oh well hello there, these wouldn't happen to belong to you would they?"
The boy nodded his head.
"Well then here you go." The young man said, handing him the shirts.
"T-thanks."
"You're quite welcome, my name's Ryo, what's yours?"
Mokuba just shrugged his shoulders.
"You must have a name. What does your family call you?"
"Y-you na-name it an-and the-they've c-called me that. But th-the most of-often is JJ."
"Well that doesn't suit you at all, little one."
"Y-yeah I-I've been told that be-before. I p-personally h-hate the n-name."
"Well have you asked your family about why they gave you that name?"
"N-no b-but I d-d-don't think they c-care."
"Why do you think that? have they told you?"
The boy nodded his head.
"Oh I see, why do you think they hate you?"
"N-Noah s-said I don't b-belong."
"Belong to who? the family?"
The boy nodded his head. "He-he al-always t-tells m-me that I-I'm a jink. Do-do you kn-know w-what that i-is?"
"A jinx, oh well that's someone who brings bad luck to those around them. But you don't really believe you're a jinx do you?"
"N-Noah a-always t-tells m-me th-that a m-man o-on a h-horse g-gave m-me to th-them. H-he a-always t-t-t-taunts that th-the m-man e-either kid-kidnapped m-me o-or was m-my fa-father."
"I see. Well I don't think you're a jinx. I don't believe in such things."
"Y-you don't?"
"No, so how about I help you with these clothes."
Mokuba nodded and grabbed his hand knowing the family wouldn't be back for hours.