Later that night Mokuba woke up. His back still hurt and the bed was a lot harder than his hay bed and just a bit softer than the basement floor. But Seto's bed was softer than both. Plus he was finding it hard to get back to sleep with too many noises and sounds, some new ones and some that sounded scary. He was scared but decided he would at least ask Seto if he could sleep with him. At home when he was scared or frightened, he never had anyone to go to. But then after meeting Seto he was less afraid. He carefully opened his door and saw Seto's was slightly open. He was scared he wasn't sure what Seto would say. As he walked in and saw Seto sleeping so peacefully, he hated to wake him.
"S-Seto." Mokuba said, slightly shaking him.
Seto stirred it'd been the first true restful nights sleep he'd had since being forced to live in Mokuba's basement. The hay bed was nice and fairly comfortable but he really missed his bed.
"Seto." Mokuba tried again.
Seto stirred and opened his eyes and after focusing a minute, he smiled seeing Mokuba there.
"What are you doing up kiddo?"
Mokuba wasn't sure how to voice his question; he just stared at his baby dragon.
Seto was slightly concerned and sat up. "Hey you okay. Your back hurting?"
Mokuba nodded.
Seto smiled realizing the kid was probably also a touch frightened being his first time in a new place.
"You want to sleep with me?"
Mokuba nodded.
"Come on, come around and climb in."
Mokuba didn't need to be asked twice. He quickly climbed in and snuggled into Seto. Seto settled back down into the covers, wrapped his arms around Mokuba and quickly fell back asleep. It didn't take Mokuba long to get back to sleep with Seto's arms around him.
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The next morning Yami knocked and then came in and opened up the curtains.
"Time to rise and shine."
"Do you have to do this every morning?" Seto asked, shielding his eyes from the bright light.
"Why not, I think it's funny, myself, to see your face."
"I always knew you did this on purpose!"
"Why is your bed moving?" Yami asked. "Or rather that thing on your chest."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Seto asked with a smirk. He hadn't remembered Mokuba's being there till Yami mentioned it and the kid started to stir.
"Yeah actually I would." Yami said, reaching for the covers till Seto slapped his hand away.
"No, now you wake me up all the time with this game of yours to see my reaction. No since in waking him up to."
Seeing the odd look on Yami's face, Seto smirked and motioned him over. Then he carefully lifted the covers and showed Mokuba curled up on him.
"Well when did this happen? When I left him he was sound asleep."
"Some time last night. I'm guessing he woke up and between his back and all the new and different noises from what he's used to he couldn't get back to sleep. He came in and wouldn't say a word. I guess he was afraid I'd yell at him or something for being in here and being up so late. I asked if he wanted to sleep with me, he nodded yes, so I told him to climb in."
"Well maybe it's also because he likes your bed. His bed is a little hard."
"Really we need to check it out. He's used to sleeping on hay. We'll have to look into getting him a softer bed."
Yami nodded and went to see about breakfast.
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Yami returned after making sure breakfast had started. He walked in and was slightly confused.
"Where's Mokuba?"
"I told him to pick out a book for me to read to him before breakfast."
"Seto we have a lot of work to do today."
"It's not going anywhere. You weren't really planning to start and get it all spread out on the bed before breakfast were you?"
Yami thought for a moment. "All right. Maybe if he brings in one with more than one chapter we can take turns."
"I knew the kid would get to you."
Yami shook his head and walked around and sat down on the other side of the bed. "What's with the rush to read to him all of a sudden? I mean I told him a story last night."
"Oh, well while I was at his old home, I asked him to get me a pen and paper. So, I could send you that letter. When he gave it to me, he gave me a book too. I was surprised and happy. It was an interesting book. "
"Go on."
"He asked me later. I think it was like the next day or day after, I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. It was hard to tell day from day being cooped up down there. Plus my head ached so much I was surprised I could even read."
"What was the problem?"
"It was an odd book. It was called sex, lies and fairytales."
"Mokuba actually read that?"
"No, he told me it was Noah's and he'd never read it."
"That's good. You didn't read it to him did you?"
"Of course not! But I knew he was disappointed."
"Why didn't you just tell him one?"
"I was stupid, is why. My brain wasn't exactly in working mode at the time. Besides, you know I'm not very good at telling stories."
"Seto, good or bad I don't think he would have cared."
"Yeah, I know, I've always felt guilty about the fact Mokuba had asked me and I never did. The poor thing was so upset by it that he thought it meant I was going to leave without him!"
"Didn't you tell him you weren't going to?"
"No, I wish now I had. He ran off before I could explain that I wasn't leaving. I didn't tell him until it was almost too late."
"Too late?" Yami questioned.
"He got a sever beating that night and then the next day he was nearly raped by Noah!"
"Oh."
"I wish I had just kept him with me or tried to leave sooner. I never told him I had no intentions in leaving him, because at the time, I feared something would come up and I couldn't take him. I knew if that happened after promising him I wouldn't leave him he'd be crushed."
"Yes, I can understand that."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
As Seto and Yami were talking, Mokuba was studying the books. Then found one with a word he actually knew. It had danger in it. So, he took it and went to Seto's room and was surprised to see Yami.
"Did you find one you liked?" Seto asked.
Mokuba nodded and handed the book to Seto.
"Mokuba, why don't you come around here and sit between us." Yami said getting up to let Mokuba climb in.
Mokuba climbed up and snuggled next to Seto. The book Mokuba chose had several chapters. Seto and Yami took turns reading to him.
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"So, did you like that story?" Seto asked.
Mokuba smiled and nodded.
They finished just about the time breakfast was brought in.
Mokuba thought it was strange. Before Seto had told him to get a book, he was going to ask when he should start breakfast. The whole castle looked intimidating. He figured it'd take forever to get it all clean. Seto hadn't told him how much he was expected to do in one day. He saw that Seto had someone to cook breakfast. Maybe he was supposed to take over for lunch?
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
After breakfast, Yami pulled out a briefcase.
"We have that much to do?" Seto asked.
"Seto you were gone for about two weeks. A lot of paperwork piles up in that time."
Seto sighed. "Okay, Mokuba, why don't you run along and play."
"P-play?"
"Of course, play. Now run along. Just be careful and try not to stray too far where you might get lost." Seto said.
Mokuba was confused but was afraid to say anything. He left the room and tried to decide what to do. 'What did Seto mean by play? What does play mean? My stepmother always said that you had to earn your keep. Maybe play is Seto's word for keep. So, since Seto didn't say what to do, the only thing I can do is just start from the bottom. This is confusing. Why didn't Seto just tell me what he wanted me to do first? I guess I'll do the kitchen and then go from there. Maybe he wants Mai or someone else to give the instructions.' He still wasn't sure but went to the kitchen and found it empty. But dirty dishes from their breakfast as well as others in the sink.
So, he got to work and cleaned them all. But he soon found that he couldn't put them away. He couldn't reach the cabinet and didn't see a stool around like he had at his old home. He didn't see a chair either, so he'd have to leave them. Then he cleaned the kitchen. Then by the time he finished, he realized it was close to lunch. He wrinkled his nose when he noticed there wasn't much to eat. What he didn't know was that the cook was at the store trying to get everything he needed. Mokuba decided there was just enough to make macaroni and beef. There was just enough he felt that there was enough for both Seto and Yami. After he finished he was right, there was just enough for Seto and Yami. He put it on a tray he found and added coffee for them both to it. Then he tried to lift the tray and it was heavy, he wasn't sure if he could carry it long enough to find Seto's room again without dropping it. He remembered Mai had been bringing breakfast so he went to see if she could carry it for him. Then he could get back and clean the kitchen again then move on till it was time to start dinner. He sighed realizing that this place would take up all his time; he wouldn't get any free time. He walked out of the kitchen only to run into Mai.
"Hey little one, what are you doing in there?"
"L-lunch is r-ready."
"Oh, all right. I wasn't aware that the cook had returned." Mai said, getting the tray and taking it upstairs.
'Cook? Well they don't really need him anymore. I'm more than capable of doing it.' Mokuba thought.
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Mai entered Seto's room. "Lunch is ready, sire."
Seto just nodded. "Leave it on the table and we'll get it in a moment."
Mai placed it on the table then bowed and left.
After a minute or two Seto took the tray and set it between them
After a bite or two Yami wrinkled his nose. "This isn't the cooks normal cooking. What is this stuff anyway? I've never known the cook to cook anything like this before."
"It's weird I know I've eaten this somewhere before."
"Really, where?"
"I'm not sure."
"Well it's just barely edible. The cook has got to lay off the new recipes."
x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x
Haddock returned looking to start lunch. He walked into the kitchen to find Mokuba cleaning. Not sure who this kid was, he went to get Mai. There were always rumors flying around the castle. Sometimes it was hard to know what was real and what wasn't. So, you couldn't believe everything you'd heard. Yeah he had heard the rumor that the king was going to adopt some kid. But then he'd heard rumors that his real brother was returning for years.
"Mai."
"Yes."
"There's a kid in my kitchen!"
"I knew he was in there earlier but I just assumed he was hungry and went to see about lunch."
"I just got back from the store, I haven't started lunch yet."
Mai was confused. "But I just got through serving it."
"Who made it? Who dared to touch my kitchen?"
"I don't know, I thought you returned and made it."
"No, now where did that kid come from?"
"I'm not sure, all I know is the king returned yesterday, then this kid shows up with some guy. The next thing I know is there's talk that the king plans to adopt him."
"So the rumors I've heard about that are true."
"Yes."
"Fine, just get him out of my kitchen."
Mai nodded and went into the kitchen. She thought it was strange that he was scrubbing the floor. "What are you doing?"
Since Mokuba thought that the answer was obvious he just ignored her and continued working.
Mai sighed and walked over and touched the boy's shoulder causing him to freeze up in fear. "Come on, you don't need to do that."
"B-but I-it d-doesn't l-look l-like I-it's ever b-been d-done." His voice cracked slightly fearing she'd beat him for not doing it right or not doing the right thing.
"Well whether it has or hasn't doesn't matter. Now come on." Mai said, holding out her hand.
Mokuba sighed and stood up and took her hand. He was surprised when he saw she was taking him to Seto's room.
Mai knocked on the open door. "My king, may I have a word with you?"
Seto and Yami looked up and were surprised that she had Mokuba with her.
"Yes, you may enter."
Mai walked in still holding Mokuba's hand. Mokuba followed willingly, afraid he was in trouble.
'I wouldn't be in trouble if someone would just tell me what I'm supposed to do!' Mokuba thought.
"Is there a problem?" Yami asked.
"Well it seems that for some reason the boy was cleaning the kitchen floor. I saw him coming out of there earlier but thought nothing of it at the time. I assumed he was seeing about lunch."
Seto and Yami were both confused by this.
"Mokuba come over here." Seto said.
Mokuba walked over to the bed and turned to the side facing away from Seto and Yami.
Seto looked up at Mai. "Thank you, you're dismissed."
"Yes, my king." Mai said with a bow and left.
Seto moved to sit up better. Mokuba started shaking slightly, waiting to see what Seto would beat him with.
Seto reached out and put his hands on the boy's upper arms. Feeling the kid jump and shake more, Seto pulled him closer and leaned near his ear. "I am not going to beat you! You will never as long as we have a say in the matter be beaten again!"
Then he lifted the kid up and set him on his lap. He had to bite his lip as it shot pain though his knee.
Yami noticed this and felt it'd be better if the kid sat on the bed between them. He didn't want the kids sitting there to worsen the condition of Seto's knee. So, he moved the papers that were there. Then he moved forward and gently put his hands under his shoulders. Mokuba whimpered a bit. Yami leaned forward and said next to the boy's ear, "I promise you, little one. I promise as long as Seto and I live and can control it at all we won't let anyone hurt you." Then he lifted him up and set him on the bed. Then he lifted his chin to get him to look at him. "If anyone and I mean anyone tries or does hurt you, you tell us right away."
"Never be afraid to tell us that Mokuba. We want you to be happy here. You will not be beaten by anyone without answering to us first! Understand?" Seto asked.
Mokuba was a bit surprised by it but nodded yes.
"Now why were you cleaning the kitchen?" Seto asked.
"Y-You d-didn't t-tell me w-where t-to s-start. S-so, I s-started in t-the kitchen."
"Mokuba, what makes you think you're here to clean?" Yami asked.
"M-my s-stepmother alw-ways s-said t-t-t-t-that I had t-to earn m-my keep."
Seto sighed. He and Yami now realize the kid thought this was like his old home he had to work to be fed.
Seto hugged the boy tight. "Mokuba, what do you think I meant when I told you to go play?"
Mokuba just shrugged his shoulders.
Seto put his chin over the little boy's head and looked at Yami. "I suppose I should have expected this. I mean the kid was practically raised to be a slave."
"True. I suppose it would be difficult to try to expect someone who has known nothing but being a slave to suddenly be something else."
Seto pulled him up. "Listen to me, little one. You are not the slave JJ anymore. You are now Mokuba. Mokuba is just a little kid who is starting over. What do you call it when you don't have any work to do?"
"F-free time."
"Okay, well from now on every hour of every day is free time. The only exceptions to that are treatments and bedtime. But even then, you're not a worker here, little one. You're our little brother."
"This is your home now."
"He knows that much, Yami. It's the no slavery part he doesn't get."
"Right. Mokuba your job, no you really want to earn your keep around here?"
Mokuba nodded.
"Then just be the sweet innocent little boy you were always meant to be. That's all we ask. All we want is for you to just be who you are when you're not working." Yami said.
"Yami's right, that's all we ask is you be who you are and not worry about anything else."
Just then, they heard his stomach growl.
Seto frowned. "Mokuba, what did you eat for lunch?"
Mokuba bit his lip but kept his head down.