Viewers sensitive to sexual situations like shouldn't read most of this chapter or part of the next. Mild to medium violence here
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The next morning Mokuba woke up and was surprised to find he was on Seto's shoulder. He was even more surprised when he found that his back was wrapped.
'Seto was so concerned that he wrapped me up. I'll have to get him to take it off cause if Noah and the others found out I'd really get it.' Mokuba got up, went to his wardrobe cabinet and got out a shirt. Then he walked back over and debated on how to wake Seto. He normally let him sleep but he wanted him to take the bandage off. As he looked at Seto sleeping so soundly, he got an idea and carefully leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Seto stirred and smiled seeing Mokuba looking at him. He reached out and lightly stroked his hair. "You feeling better?"
Mokuba nodded. "I c-can't keep the b-bandag-ges."
"Yeah I knew that but just for last night I wanted to make sure you were okay. Here sit on my lap and I'll take them off and just rub some more ointment on it."
Mokuba nodded and did as he was asked. "S-sorry I couldn't get anything to e-eat last night."
"No, it's all right kiddo." Seto sighed. "It's my fault you got hurt."
"N-no."
"Yes, it is. I asked you to risk staying when you said you couldn't and you got into trouble for it."
"It-it wasn't your fault."
Seto was happy to hear the kid didn't blame him but that didn't keep him from feeling like he was at fault. He carefully undid the bandages. It still looked bad but Seto felt they were at least a little better or at least the kid wasn't hurting from them at the moment. He carefully applied the ointment. Since Mokuba only whined a little and arched his back but didn't try to get away, Seto figured it wasn't so much getting treated that bothered the kid, as it was the pain he knew came with it. "Okay kiddo, let me help you with your shirt." He helped him put it on and noticed it was a lot bigger than some of the others he'd been wearing. "This ones way too big for you, kiddo."
"It's o-one of the few I have left. I have to wash the others."
"Well they all looked slightly big on you don't you have any that actually fit you?"
"The only ones I-I have that are e-even close to fitting were Noah's when he was my age or my sisters. But I've lost most of them."
"Lost them, how can you lose them?" Seto had a feeling he didn't want to know the answer.
"L-like y-yesterdays."
"Oh, sorry." He'd been right he didn't want to know the answer.
"It's okay, m-most of the ones I have n-now are all too big cause they used to be Noah's or my sisters. They d-don't want them any more so they give them to me."
"Well be careful today kiddo, I'm worried about you."
"Y-you are."
Seto caressed his cheek with his thumb. "Yes I am. I-I know why you've been trying to avoid me lately." Mokuba tried to look away but Seto held him firm. "Mokuba I wanted to ask…"
Just before Seto could ask they heard a crash upstairs and before Seto could ask Mokuba was gone.
"You know I think someone has it in for me. That's the closest I've gotten to actually asking him. Isn't it bad enough I'm nervous enough about asking him as it is! Since he kissed me this morning, that tells me all I have to do is say the words and he'll jump into my arms willingly. I think maybe he wants to ask the same question but he knows rejection and isn't about to risk it by asking."
Though Seto couldn't hear the words or totally be able to make out what was being said or what was happening it was clear, the boy wasn't going to have a good day.
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Noah had returned from the hospital in an even more foul mood, than normal and was just in the mood of tearing things up.
"Now Noah dear its nothing to be upset over. The doctor said it was probably just a mild infection nothing more."
"We go through this every year, and every year you hope they have some how found a miracle cure. There is no miracle cure!"
"No but we must be doing something right. I mean when you were born the doctors didn't think you'd live to see 10 and here tomorrow you'll be 15. Most kid's your age are lucky to make it to 7 kid's born premature like you barely make it to 5. I know when the doctors first told us that you had Elinoreus I nearly had a heart attack I slept in your room if I slept at all the first six months which the doctors weren't even sure you'd make it then. You were so tiny and small and…"
"Yeah, yeah I've heard all of this before new subject now please."
"Well is there anything you want or I can get you?"
"Yeah, tomorrow you can take Asana, go into town and then get something you think I will like I want to have the house to myself. I have plans."
"Well do you want us to send JJ here to Jacques? I'm sure he wouldn't mind shelling out the money again to have the kid do stuff around the house for him."
"No, I need him for my plan."
"Well if you're sure."
"I am."
"Well we'll see how the day goes then we'll see."
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Mokuba was doing his best to be good and do as he was told but Noah wasn't making it easy. When Mokuba finished setting the table, he had to wait till the sausage was done. Noah motioned for him to stand next to him. He didn't like it but did as he was told. He froze when he felt Noah's hand rub his bottom. He whimpered and moved away going to fix the rest of breakfast. When he picked up his stepmothers plate to put breakfast on it, he felt Noah run his hand up and down his leg and then when he moved over to fill up his said hand moved to the inside of his leg. He whimpered a bit but knew if he dared say a word Noah would not only deny it but he'd really get into trouble.
When breakfast was finished, Noah intentionally tripped him causing him to fall breaking a good serving dish. Then he did it a couple of more times making him break the plates he was carrying.
"Well mother it seems he has little regard for our plates. Want me to punish him?" Noah asked.
"Very well Noah, seeing as you do indeed seem to be feeling better. I'll allow you to use the three strip whip."
Noah hit the kid with it 16 times. "There it's still a day early but why should I have to take the 15 lashes and one to grow on licks when that's what we have you for." Noah then grabbed him by the nap of the neck, opened the door and threw him down. Then he kicked his bottom a couple of times and licked his lips preparing to go in and shut the door but then started to mentally cuss when he heard.
"Noah that's enough he won't be any use to you tomorrow if you hurt him too badly today."
"Yes mother." Noah said sadly shutting the door.
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Mokuba wanted to tell Seto. 'What makes me think he'll believe me if I told him. I know he likes me and cares for me but why should he care what Noah does. Besides if he insist on my staying close to him, why ruin the little time I have left with him with this.'
Mokuba sighed and went downstairs and over to where Seto was reading. Seto looked up and was surprised to see him but also a little sad that he didn't have any food.
Mokuba figured Seto would be upset that he couldn't get anything to eat for breakfast. "S-sorry I couldn't sneak any-anything. Noah k-kept m-making me fall."
"Come here, I'm not upset." 'A little sad but I know if he could have he would.' "Now sit on my lap and let me see."
Mokuba hesitated. That told Seto that he was obviously hit again and didn't want to tell him.
"Come here Mokuba." Seto said in a bit more stern voice. He didn't like to use it on the kid but if he didn't the kid wouldn't come and he knew it.
Mokuba sighed and reluctantly walked over and stood over him.
Seto remembered he'd said he fell with some plates and looked at the kid's hands. He noticed that it looked like maybe some shards from the plates were in his hands and arms. Thankfully, none of it was too deep so he was able to wipe them away and wipe his hands good. Then Mokuba very reluctantly sat on Seto's lap and allowed him to treat him. He was doing his very best not to scream.
"Okay kiddo, I proud of you. You took that very well."
Mokuba liked it when Seto praised him even more than when Ryo does it. He leaned back into Seto's chest and noticed the book. 'Well I couldn't ask him the other day but maybe since I'm free for a while I can.'
"Seto?"
"What?"
"Will-will you r-read to me?"
"I'd like to kiddo but this books not really the best thing to read to you. Besides, I'm near the end you won't understand it."
"Oh, y-you s-should f-finish t-then." Mokuba said starting to get up but Seto pulled him back.
'Damn it! He stutters more when he's upset. I should have just agreed but I didn't think he'd approve of the sex scenes or possibly understand them. It looks like this books well read, I hope he hasn't read it.' "Mokuba have you read this book?"
Mokuba shook his head. "I-it's N-Noah's."
"Figures, well I'd tell you a story but I'm not very good at it. Yami's better at it than I am."
"I-it's o-okay Seto. I h-have w-work to d-do any w-way." Mokuba told him leaving the room and gather up his clothes.
'One of these days I'll learn my lesson! The kid thinks I hate him now or at least doesn't care enough to at least try to tell a story.' He got up, walked out side of the room and sat on another bench sitting there. "Mokuba come sit up here."
He'd said it so softly that Mokuba sorting his clothes didn't hear him.
"Mokuba."
"Huh." Mokuba looked up in surprise.
Seto patted the seat next to him. "Come here."
Mokuba was afraid to he knew what Seto was going to tell him. He just was dreading hearing him tell him. So, he walked over and sat down.
"Listen Mokuba, I'm sorry. I should have at least tried to come up with a story." Seto said then stretched his arm out and left it on his knee a bit nervous to put it around Mokuba.
However, by not putting it around him it made Mokuba believe what Seto wasn't telling him was true. He was leaving. He started to tear up. "I-it's o-okay S-Seto, y-you d-don't h-have t-to t-tell m-me. I-I u-under-s-stand." Mokuba stood up and hugged his neck tightly.
Seto on the other hand was slightly confused he put his arm around the boy's waist and rubbed him a bit. It was the only place short of his shoulders Seto felt safe enough to touch at the moment without hurting him.
Then Mokuba looked at him crying confusing Seto even more, as to what he'd said to cause him to start crying. Mokuba kissed his cheek and said, "G-Goodbye, h-have a n-nice trip." Then took off towards the door.
That statement told Seto what was wrong. Mokuba thought he was going to tell him he was leaving him. "No, Mokuba wait come back here!" Seto tried to get up and go after him but his knee wouldn't allow him to go to fast.
He knew after he started to walk a few days ago that his knee was just out of joint. Between him and Ryo they got it back in place but it still hurt like hell most of the time.
Mokuba was out the door before Seto could get to him. "Damn it! I can't do anything right! First, he asks something simple me to read to him! No big deal except that books not suitable for him. And did I ever think to just come up with one oh no! Good or bad, I don't think he'd have cared as long as I told it to him. I promised Yami I'd be home in a few days, that was a week ago. He is going to kill me! But I am not going without that kid!"
Mokuba ran to the barn and cried, then after a while he calmed down and decided to take his mind off of it by feeding the animals and cleaning out their stalls. By the time he was finished he realized it was time for lunch. He'd made sure to dry his tears. He knew this day was coming and hoped Seto had made it out and off okay.
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As he walked into the kitchen, he heard his mother and sister upstairs. Marine's husband had come home earlier than expected and went home several days ago. As he got to the sink, he'd failed to notice Noah sitting in the corner against the back wall. After he'd finished getting lunch ready and set the plates on the sink, he heard.
"Well JJ it seems you've been a very bad boy today." Mokuba whimpered. "Now come over here this minute." Mokuba shook his head no and backed into the plates sitting on the sink sending them crashing down either into the sink or the floor, Noah smirked and continued to come towards him when his mother and sister entered the room.
"Noah what happened here."
"Well mother it seems little JJ, here has gotten a little testy lately. He decided that we needed to buy even more plates and was angry over not getting breakfast and ruined our lunch, see!"
"Mother those were our best plates!" Asana said.
"Don't worry child, Noah wants us out of the house tomorrow so we'll get some new ones then."
"Well he should at least pay for it! I liked those plates! They were papa's favorite."
"Please Asana don't get me started papa hated those plates as much as I did."
"Maybe you made JJ, drop the plates then, brother dear."
"Why would I do something like that?"
"Now kids that's enough. Noah tie him to the whipping tree, Asana get the big whip."
"The big whip mama? You almost never use that one."
"Yes well this time the brats gone too far. All the dishes this morning now this! Perhaps that's why he was extra good last few weeks he was preparing a big rebellion."
"Shall I search his room for food?" Asana asked.
"No, if he has any let him keep it, it will be all he sees for a while."
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Once outside Noah had him strung up to the tree, his shirt on a nearby branch and arms stretched wide apart.
"Now, We will each take 5 turns each."
"But mother my birthday is tomorrow. I want to do it all!"
"Now Noah don't be greedy, your sisters upset over the plates as am I at having to buy new ones. It's a luxury we can't afford very often. This kid needs to learn that. You will have him all to yourself tomorrow so behave yourself if you still want to do that."
"Yes, mother, anything you say." Noah had plans for tomorrow and wasn't going to chance losing it!
They each took turns. Noah bringing down one more strike, hitting his arm as well as his back! Each strike Mokuba howled even more. Seto could hear it he so wanted to go out there but couldn't risk it. There wasn't anything he could do.
The later it got the more worried Seto became. It was nearly dinner and Mokuba still hadn't returned. Seto moved closer to the door and waited till dinner and heard nothing about Mokuba from them or to him giving instructions.
Just after dinner, Ryo who had missed his appointment with Mokuba at lunch wanted to make it up to him and brought a basket of food, when he came upon the house to see Mokuba still strapped to the tree.