"It's nice to meet you Shizuka." Ryo said.

"So what can I do for you today? My grandfathers not here right now, he insisted on picking up a shipment that was delayed due to the fact that most of their workers quit. I told him I'd do it but he wouldn't hear of it."

"I see well we were wanting a few board games to play." Ryo said.

"I believe I can handle that, follow me." Shizuka said.

Shizuka showed Ryo several different games and after a few minutes, he'd chosen several he thought Mokuba would enjoy.

"Shizuka, do you know if this is a soccer ball?" Ryo asked, picking up a black and white ball. "While I was at Master Pegasus' school several of the people there were saying it's a new sport that's becoming popular."

"Yes, I believe that's it. So what's it like there at Master Pegasus' School?"

"Oh it's nice but very challenging too."

"Well perhaps sometime if you're free you could tell me more about it."

Ryo wasn't sure what to say it sounded like a date and well he'd just never had the chance to date. There weren't many girls at Pegasus' Academy. Few ever pass the test to become knights or guards. Few want to try due to the fact the few that have tried in the past. All the guys did was hit on them constantly. He'd just never really put himself out there in the dating world. He'd worked more on training and learning than dating. "Um sure, why not."

"Great."

Just then, Sugoroku came in.

"Shizuka, could you help me unload?" Sugoroku said dropping the boxes he was carrying. Then he noticed Ryo. "Oh, well hello there young man. I'm sorry Shizuka. I didn't realize you had a customer."

"It's alright grandpa. This is Ryo." Shizuka said.

Then Sugoroku noticed Mokuba. "What are you doing with that boy? He belongs to King Kaiba and Master Atemu."

"I know that." Ryo said. "I'm taking care of him for them. They have a visiting king here on business that they have to take care of. Mokuba and I have been friends for quite a while and the king and Master Atemu have assigned me to officially look after him."

"I see. I apologize for accusing you of kidnapping the child." Sugoroku said.

"It's perfectly understandable." Ryo said.

"Come on Ryo, you can help me unload the wagon. I'm sure a big strong young man like you will have no problems helping me." Shizuka said.

"Well I'd love to but…" Ryo started.

"Great then it's settled." Shizuka said, pulling him towards the door.

"But I promised the king and Master Atemu that Mokuba wouldn't leave my sight for a minute!"

"Don't worry, they both know and trust me. I promise the boy will be right here with me. In fact, how would you like to help me put some of the things in these boxes away, Mokuba?" Sugoroku asked.

Mokuba nodded. "C-can I R-Ryo?"

Ryo sighed. "I guess I don't see why not. But you stay close to Sugoroku and do as he tells you till we get ready to go."

"Okay, Ryo." Mokuba said he wanted to call him big brother but he was afraid that Ryo or Sugoroku would be mad at him if he did.

Ryo and Shizuka started unloading the wagon while Mokuba helped Sugoroku unpack things.

x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x

Meanwhile in the castle the other guards were sitting around playing a new game called duel monsters and making jokes about how Katsuya keeps dreaming of becoming a knight and claiming he will be one someday.

Just then, a young girl with long brown hair and another girl with shorter blue hair walked into the room where they were playing.

"Wow, would you look at them! Where did they come from?" Duke asked

Honda immediately jumped up and ran over to them. "Greetings ladies. My name is Honda, I am the head of the royal knights around here."

The girls giggled slightly. "My name is Serenity and this is a friend of mine Miho."

"What do we owe the honor of your presence?" Honda asked.

"I came looking for my brother Joey. He's been telling me how he just became a guard and would soon be a knight." Serenity said.

"Boy is she delusional." Duke said as Bakura elbowed him in the stomach.

"Why not make yourself useful and take Katsuya's place till she leaves?" Bakura told Duke in a low voice.

"Why me? Why don't you do it?" Duke asked.

"First I have seniority over you and second it was my idea." Bakura said.

Duke grumbled as he went downstairs to the armory.

"Hey Katsuya."

"Yea what do you want?" Joey asked.

"There's a beautiful girl upstairs that claims to be related to you. She says she's your sister." Duke said.

"What! What's Serenity doing here?"

"How should I know? She has this delusion that you still plan on being a knight someday."

"Shows what you know! I don't care how long the king keeps me down here! Someday I will be a knight!"

"Oh well in that case, pray for a new king cause the current ones never going to let you get that chance."

"Yeah, well we'll just see about that!"

"Sure, whatever. Look, Bakura told me to come down here and take your place till she leaves."

"Hey thanks a lot man. I owe you one."

"No, problem. I plan to collect on that someday."

Joey raced upstairs and over to Serenity.

"Serenity, what are you doing here?"

"I came to visit you, big brother. What does it look like I'm doing?"

"You shouldn't have."

"Joey I'm going blind, I'm not dying."

"Yeah I know, but still you shouldn't have come."

"Well I was hoping you'd show me around the castle."

"Oh, um sure." Joey said, taking her arm.

"I'll wait here, Serenity. You two have a nice time." Miho said.

"Thanks Miho." Serenity said as she and Joey left.

"So uh, Miho. What's this about her going blind?" Honda asked.

"The family has seen every doctor around. I've heard that there is a possibility to save her sight." Miho said.

"Then why don't they do it then?" Bakura asked.

"They would but the only doctor ever known to successfully pull this off is now a recluse. His successor has had some success with it but he's currently traveling and…"

"And what?" Bakura asked.

"And they would need a lot of money and a miracle to restore her sight. The one time I heard the doctors talk about the success rate of these types of surgeries few ever saw again. A few have even died!" Miho said.

"So what there's no hope, no cure?" Honda asked.

"The doctors say that even if she could have the surgery they believe she's too far gone now for any form of treatment to be effective." Miho said.