Mokuba awoke with a start sitting straight up. 'What, what was that? It sounded like Seto calling for me.' Mokuba shook his head, pulled the blanket around him, laid back down and snuggled closer to Ryo. They were sleeping on the ground halfway back to Draglor. There were no hotels or anything where they were so they had to sleep on the ground. They still had another day's ride before getting back to Draglor.

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

At the same time in the castle, Yami hearing Seto's screams came running into the family room.

"Seto, Seto wake up." Yami said, shaking Seto.

Seto jumped and looked around rubbing his eyes furiously. "What, what happened where's Mokuba?"

"Seto, Seto calm down, it was only a dream."

"What?" Seto questioned, then looked up, saw Yami and hugged him tight.

"Shh…it's all right Seto. What was it about Mokuba that was so bad." Yami asked. A little surprised that Seto would be having any dreams or hopes really of Mokuba coming back after being gone for four months.

"He-he was here calling for me."

Yami smiled and pulled back to look at him. "Why would that be a nightmare? I'd think that'd be a good thing."

Seto sighed. "It was until…"

"Until what?"

"Someone shot and killed him."

"What? Seto, why would you dream that Mokuba was killed?"

"Perhaps it wasn't a dream." A voice from behind them said.

They both turn around and are surprised to see Isis.

"Isis what are you doing here?" Yami asked.

"I was thinking of turning in when someone informed me that the king was still up. I came to see if he needed something." Isis said.

"No, I'm fine. What do you mean by it might not have been a dream? Are you telling me that Mokuba is dead or that he'll come back and that's what will happen to him?"

"No, my king. I'm simply saying it could be a premonition. Someone has tried or is planning to kill him."

"I see, thank you. You're dismissed." Yami said.

"As you wish." Isis said as she bowed and left.

"Come on Seto, let's get some sleep. Don't worry about Mokuba. I'm sure wherever he is he's fine. If he does return we'll make sure he stays safe."

"Do you think he'll really return?" Seto asked. "It's been four months and we both saw him. He was happy."

"I don't know Seto, it was just a dream, it doesn't necessarily mean anything."

"Yeah you're probably right."

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

The next day Ryo and Mokuba were woken up when it started raining. Ryo quickly wrapped their stuff up, put his raincoat back on, then put Mokuba, who'd slept in Ryo's jacket, up on the horse and made their way to Ryo's house. Ryo got off and opened the barn door. Then they both made their way to the house in the pouring down rain. However, Ryo couldn't get in.

"Damn it! Mokuba, go back to the barn."

"But what about you big brother?"

"I'll be there in a minute."

Mokuba did as he was told and watched Ryo trying a couple of other keys but still couldn't get in.

Ryo then slammed his fists into the wall. "Damn you Bakura! You did this on purpose! You wanted to make absolutely sure that I'd be forced to return to the castle didn't you!"

"Ryo!" Mokuba called worried.

Ryo made his way to the barn and Mokuba handed him a blanket.

"Thanks."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it seems Bakura changed the locks on the house."

"Why?"

"My best guess, to make me mad and force me to return to the castle."

"Are we going back to the castle?"

"We don't have a choice kiddo. We'll wait till the rain lets up some first." Ryo said, putting some blankets down. "Take your bag and change into some dry clothes."

"Okay big brother." Mokuba said going into a stall and changing into some dry clothes.

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

After Ryo made a bed out of the blankets and hay, he went into another stall and changed.

He came back to find Mokuba sitting on the blankets. He walked over and sat down next to him. Then Mokuba cuddled up against him, as Ryo wrapped another dry blanket around them.

As Ryo held the boy in his arms, he got to thinking about things. 'I'm glad I keep spare blankets in the barn.' Ryo leaned his head against the wall. Then sighed feeling Mokuba cuddle up more. 'You know now that we're here and back I know that I can't keep him. I mean it's not that I don't want to. But the two years before I went to Master Pegasus' academy I tried to farm. I barely made enough to keep myself in food and clothes. If it hadn't been for the trust fund my parents set up for me I wouldn't have had enough money to go to Master Pegasus' academy. Now, I'm responsible for raising a 10-year-old. There's no way. That's another reason becoming a guard and knight was important. At least with that salary I can afford to take care of him. But without it, there's not much chance I can support both of us. I'll have to take him back. If Seto and Yami truly care about him and want to take him back then so be it. If not… I'll take the kid, try another kingdom and start again there, this time be upfront about Mokuba's abuse. Also go far enough away that Seto and Yami won't interfere again. It was due to their interference to begin with that started this whole mess. I'll admit they were only helping the kid out. But did they have to send Joey in uniform to deliver it! If they chose to have Mokuba back, I won't stand in the way. I know, even though he refuses to say anything, that he'd prefer to be with them.' Ryo thought before falling asleep with Mokuba already asleep in his arms.

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

Meanwhile Malik was relaxing in his room when a knock came. He opened it and was soon attacked in a hug by Ishizu.

"Ishizu, what are you doing here? What's wrong?" Malik asked.

Ishizu couldn't talk, so she sat up and handed him a newspaper that read. The Breena Carr town rapist and murder was killed today.

"I-I don't believe it! How-how could he let himself get killed like that? Was he blind or just stupid? He knows better than that!"

"It-it says he k-killed a woman, a school teacher in her home but one of her students escaped. Just prior to his death."

"The brat he was hired to kill. It must have been him. He would never kill a woman in her own home otherwise, too great of a risk. I taught him that!"

"Apparently you didn't teach him well enough he never went through with killing the kid or her brother whom it says showed up before the boy was killed."

"It says he started a fire. He must have been shaken up. It says he raped her, so more than likely he raped her, then to keep her out of the way while he dealt with the kid he killed her."

"Why would that shake him? You said he had killed before."

"Yes, but then he was enraged and he simply strangled the life out of them. This one says he slit her throat. That alone would shake him up then having to decide to kill that kid! Then the brother showing up, I think I'd be spooked too. That's why he set the fire; he was hoping that that would do his job for him."

"I'm going out there."

"What, Ishizu, are you nuts! You can't do that."

"Malik, he's our brother! We can't just leave him there for them to bury!"

"Why not? He screwed up? What are you going to do, take him back to dad and tell what happened?"

"No, the family plot is a big area. I plan to take him back there and bury him. Dad never has to know. If he does I'll deal with it then."

"Ishizu if you go out there it could ruin the whole plan to kill that kid!"

"I don't care! I'm going to get Marik and I'm taking him home!" Ishizu said, walking out and slamming the door.

"Stupid sentimental girl. I will miss Marik, my twin. He'll always be a part of me. But I have to complete the mission he started. Besides, she really thinks dad's not going to find out she's crazy."