"Now that will teach you to come when you're called, you little double jinx demon. That's what your names always stood for, you know is jinx! But then you already know this." Noah said, laughing again, pushing Mokuba into the room. "When we return we expect you to come the moment we call!"

With that, he slammed the door. However, he already had both Ryo and Seto's blood boiling! As they heard every word, this was the first time Ryo truly knew why the boy hated his name so much. He couldn't really blame him, now.

Mokuba opened the door that led down to the basement crying as he came down the stairs. Ryo felt bad and decided to try his best to comfort him.

Ryo bent down, "Come here kiddo."

Mokuba looked up and seeing Ryo there he ran over to him. Ryo hugged him tightly.

"It's okay kid, you're safe now."

'It's not a wonder the kid was so terrified.' Seto thought. Then he noticed the back of the kid's shirt had blood on it. "What's wrong with his back?" Seto asked.

"What?" Ryo looked up then looked at Mokuba, he sighed, 'Not again, can't they leave the poor kid alone!' "Let me see."

Mokuba shook his head and tried to back away but Ryo wouldn't let him. "We've been through this before. I don't like fighting you on this."

"Can I help?" Seto asked.

Ryo wasn't sure but felt it couldn't hurt. He had to practically tie the kid down just to be able to treat him. It would help if someone were to hold him down while he did it. "Are you certain you're up to it? He can be a handful when he's like this."

"I believe I can handle it. It probably would be easier if he could actually tell you what's wrong."

Ryo glared at him. "I know what's wrong and he's not stupid!" he snapped.

The forcefulness in his tone surprised him. "I… I'm sorry I didn't mean to imply that he was. He seems to be a bright kid."

Ryo sighed, "Sorry it's just that that punk we heard upstairs, I've been here before when he yells at the kid, calling him names like stupid and idiot. But he's not and he can talk."

"He can?"

"Yes he's been forbidden to speak to anyone outside the family."

"I see I didn't mean to insult your brother."

Ryo was surprised. "You really think he could be my brother?" Ryo asked, stroking the kid's hair.

"You mean… he's not? I just thought… well your hair styles are a little bit alike."

Ryo smiled and ruffled the kid's hair. "Well I never really noticed, but I suppose you're right. No, we're just friends. I'm still not certain why he chose to talk to me when we met but I'm glad he did. We've been friends ever since. Now are you sure you're ready to know why he's reluctant to get treated and are up to the challenge of holding him for me?"

"I may be tired and my head may hurt but I'm sure I can handle it."

"All right. Well let's get you some painkillers first to help with your headache." Ryo knew Mokuba wouldn't run away, just wouldn't let him near him to treat him. He gave the pills and canteen to Seto who took them. Then Ryo walked back over to Mokuba and had to literally drag the kid to Seto.

When the kid was close enough Seto grabbed him and saw what Ryo meant as Mokuba struggled to get out of his grip. He finally pulled the boy into a hug and lightly squeezed his arms. "It's all right, little one. We only want to help, it's all right." Seto's words and the warmth of his hug seemed to calm the boy some. Seto felt the same warmth he felt the first time he held his brother in his arms. He lightly shook his head, 'Get those thoughts out of your head. It's a coincidence that the boy looks like my mother. It has to be my father was evil and sadistic at times but would he have left my brother with such people? Surely not, but then he was in a hurry that night and if we're at the house I think we're at, then this is just about the right distance from the castle and back to account for the time my father was gone.'

Seto's thoughts were interrupted when Ryo said, "Wow I've never seen him that calm. Do you have siblings of your own?"

"Oh well I have a friend who I grew up with and I look upon as a big brother. I had a brother I lost when he was 6 weeks old. My father took him into the night and he never returned."

"Oh I'm sorry, so you never found your sibling?"

"No." Seto said sadly. "I've often wished I could find him. I thought for a minute maybe this boy might be."

"What makes you think you're wrong?" Ryo asked, getting what he needed prepared.

"Well you said it yourself he has a family."

"Yeah but they just took you in off the street didn't they kid?"

Mokuba nodded.

'I wonder if it could be true.' Seto wondered.

"Okay I'll ask you again if you're prepared, Seto. It's not pretty and he doesn't like it."

"I can handle it."

'How bad could it be?" Seto wondered.

He got his answer when Ryo lifted the kid's shirt up. Seto couldn't believe all the different sizes and shapes of whip marks and who knows what else. Seto decided then and there that he'd not only gain this kid's trust but whether or not he really was his brother no longer matter to Seto. There was no way in hell he could in all good consciousness just leave this child here and go back to his soft life as a king and not do something, anything to help. Besides, he and Yami have been sad and lonely all these years thinking about Mokuba especially at his birthday and Christmas. Plus seeing as the advisors are determined not to allow him to find his brother, he'll just adopt this kid. He had a feeling that by the time he and Yami finished spoiling him he'd be a handful. As Ryo started to treat, his back Mokuba started to squirm and whine arching his back. Seto stopped holding his arms to Ryo's great surprise he figured the kid would take the chance to get away. But instead he laid still as Seto started to just lightly rubbed his arms while whispering encouraging and comforting words to him; before Ryo had even finished treating him the kid had fallen asleep on Seto's shoulder.

"Well I have a feeling it won't take much for you to gain his trust after that." Ryo said.

Seto was happy to hear that, that's exactly what he wanted. "You think so."

"Yes, I do. I've never seen him so calm while I'm treating him and I have tried saying things to try to comfort him but it never seems to help."

"Well maybe it's just you're causing the pain and at that moment he can't focus. Besides, it doesn't look like it's hurt his trust in you. I mean he came down crying, saw you and ran to you, the only time he tried to back away and run was when you mentioned treating him. Think about it from his viewpoint you're hurt he tries to help but his helping always hurts, what do you do?"

"Well I guess you're right. You want me to lay him down?"

"No, I think I'll just hold him, if you don't mind."

"Why should I? It's the calmest and most peaceful I've ever seen him." Ryo looked up at the clock. "Well I hate to just leave like this but I have to get going or I'm going to be late. When he wakes up, tell him I can't make our meeting, tomorrow I have a major test and I have to stay. You will take care of him and let him change your bandage?"

"Yes, I think we'll be just fine."

"I hope so, I just want him to be happy."

'I can tell he really does love this kid.'

"Wait what's his name?"

"Oh well it's JJ but he absolutely hates it. Noah telling him his name meant he really was a jinx, which he did tell me they thought of him as one, but this was the first I had heard as to why he truly hated the name. I never felt right giving him a new one but seeing how he's responding to you, if you can think of one and you get his permission be my guest and give him a name."

"What do you mean they call him a jinx?"

"Well if I had more time I'd go into detail but a long story short any and every bad thing that's ever happened since the day he was brought into this house was blamed on him. Oh and one more thing before I go just to warn you. He can talk but he stutters constantly until he's more comfortable around you. Then you hardly notice the little he does after that. Well I'd love to stick around and talk more but I have to go." Ryo lightly brushes the kid's hair and gives him a gentle kiss on the side of his head and whispers, "I see ya later kiddo be good."

"Goodbye Seto and I put the aspirin back in the first aid kit and it even has some sleeping pills in it if you need them. I left the canteen there just nearby in incase you want it"

"Thanks right now I think I can sleep on my own. I'll keep that noted though."

Ryo nodded and left. then once outside a thought stuck him. 'Great I forgot to tell him the kid can't read, so he'd have to get the bottle he wanted himself. He can read certain letters but that's it.' As he turned to go back in his watch alarm went off. 'Oh well he'll have to figure it out on his own. I'm going to be late by the time I saddle my horse and get out there.'

'Well Yami may kill me but if the kid agrees I think I will call him Mokuba. I may never find my real brother but this kid needs a real home and family; I want me and Yami to provide the safety and security that this kid's obviously never known.' Seto thought before falling asleep.