A/N: Okay now kind of give me a little leeway here. Battle scenes are not my specialty. I watched The Three Musketeers (1993) again to get this scene. It's not exact but it's got parts taken from it. If you've seen the movie, then look at the fight scene in the end with Dartanion (Chris O'Donnell) on the staircase for an idea of something similar to what I was going for. I thought about the scene with Arimis (Keifer Sutherland) but I didn't think I could write that much and make it good.

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Ryo finally finished their book and heard a low rumble of thunder.

"Here, put your book away." Ryo said, handing Mokuba his book and getting up to look out. Ryo shook his head, not liking the looks of the oncoming storm.

Mokuba walked over and peaked out. "What's wrong big brother?"

"That looks like it's going to be one very nasty storm and I'm afraid to stay here. I mean if we were in the house, we could stay in the back room or something. I'd rather go to the cellar but knowing Bakura he probably changed the locks on it too."

"So are w-we going to go talk to him?"

Ryo sighed. He hadn't gotten the courage yet to tell him. Now was as good a time as any. He got down on his knees and put his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Mokuba I…I know you said you want to stay with me but I secretly think you really want to be with Seto and Yami."

Mokuba shook his head no. But Ryo stopped him.

"Mokuba we both know it's true." Ryo said, kissing the crying boy's forehead. "I do appreciate that you wanted to stay with me despite that. But now it's time to see how they feel. If they want you, back. I'm sure they will but I promise you if after talking with them and being with them you change your mind and really in your heart don't or can't stay with them, tell me. We'll leave; we'll take a train and go to a kingdom far away. Everyone who knows us or ever knew us will soon forget we exist. But I do want you to hear them out and I really want you to decide with your heart, do what your heart tells you. If your heart says stay then I want you to stay. Understand?"

Mokuba nodded and looked at him. "But w-what if I chose you?"

Ryo smiled. "You won't, I know that. But I do appreciate the thought and you will always be my little brother."

Mokuba wrapped his arms around Ryo's neck. "You'll a-always be my big brother too."

Ryo hugged him tight. "Okay let's get going. We spent most of the day here. It'll be dark soon and we don't want to be caught out there when that storm hits if we can avoid it! Now do you have everything you need together?"

"Yes."

"Where Anzu?"

Mokuba looked around but didn't see her then ran to the stall where he'd changed clothes and sighed in relief seeing her laying there. Mokuba carried her back over to Ryo. "I m-must have l-left her there when I was changing clothes."

"Well I don't want to tie a string around her so be more careful with her."

"I will I promise." Mokuba said, hugging his doll tightly.

Ryo took the horse and they went outside. Ryo put his raincoat on then put Mokuba up on the horse then they set off towards the castle.

By the time they arrived at the castle, it was raining hard, thundering and lightning.

Ryo stopped near the front door, got off and then took Mokuba off, just as Ryo reached for a bag lightning struck a tree outside the gates spooking them and the horse who reared back. As it reared back, it knocked Ryo to the muddy ground. Mokuba was scared as the horse reared back again, this time near him. Ryo got up, snatched the boy up and away causing him to drop his doll just as the horse ran off right where Mokuba had been standing.

Ryo sighed in relief and set Mokuba down. "You okay kid."

"Y-yeah." Mokuba said, still shaken up as well as Ryo.

Ryo shook it off and grabbed the boy's hand. Then he led him inside. Mokuba remembered his doll and tried to go back for her but Ryo was pulling him. "Come on kiddo let's get out of this rain."

Mokuba wanted to tell him but decided not to. Ryo had warned him to keep a tighter grip on her and he failed to do so.

Just as they walked in, they looked around and found the room a lot quieter than Ryo had expected.

"Any idea where Seto and Master Atemu might be kiddo?"

"M-maybe upstairs in the family room." Mokuba told him.

As they started up the stairs Ryo was surprised to see a guard coming down since there didn't appear to be anyone else around. Mokuba however not only recognized him from the time he gave him and Ryo directions but now realized he looked almost exactly like the man who killed Nosaka and tried to kill him. Ryo however only saw Nosaka's killer on a wagon once after he was dead and even then, he was concerned about Mokuba and still upset over the loss of Nosaka. He didn't catch the connection. He only remembered him from when he and Mokuba got lost and he gave them directions. Mokuba whimpered and hid behind Ryo, as Malik got closer.

"What's wrong Mokuba?" Ryo asked as the boy clung to him tightly.

"I believe this is what's wrong." Malik said, walking down the stairs drawing his sword and holding up towards Ryo.

"What? What are you doing?"

"My brother failed in his assignment to kill that kid so now it's up to me."

Ryo started backing away, pushing Mokuba away from him and down the stairs. "Why do you want him dead? He's 10. What could a 10-year-old have done that warrants a hit man?"

"Oh, not just him but you as well."

Now Ryo was surprised. "Mokuba run." Ryo said, pulling out his sword.

Mokuba ran to a lower landing, refusing to go too far from Ryo. He wanted to be sure his brother was safe.

"Why do you want us dead then?" Ryo asked as they started clashing swords.

One hand pinned Ryo to the wall clutching his shirt. Malik used his sword hand to pin Ryo's sword to the wall. Then he threw Ryo to the edge of the banister and using his sword handle knocked Ryo's sword out of his hand. Then Malik kneed Ryo in the stomach and threw him so his head hit the wall.

"RYO!" Mokuba screamed.

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At the same time upstairs in the family room, Seto and Yami were both relaxing and reading.

Suddenly Seto hears a voice cry out. "Yami did, did you hear that?"

"Yes, but what was it?

"I don't know but we'd better check it out."

"Seto, wait, it could be dangerous."

"Yami can you honestly tell me that you can sit here and wait till the guards or someone comes to tell us what happened?"

Yami sighed. "No, I don't think I could handle it."

With that, they both ran outside to go see what was happening.

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Hearing Mokuba's cries, Ryo groaned as he stood up.

"All I know is that the brat is connected to the king and my employers feel as long as he lives there's a chance the king could be happy with him around and they don't want that. You on the other hand are simply in the way. They feel you may also pose a threat." Malik said and with that, he plunges the sword into Ryo's side.

"NO, Ryo!" Mokuba screamed.

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"Yami, is, is it just me or did, did that sound a little like Mokuba?"

"I'm not sure we'd better check it out."

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Just as Mokuba screamed Bakura who had been nearby heard it and ran to check it out. His eyes went wide when he saw a little boy with black hair wearing what looked like Ryo's coat. The only reason he knew it was Ryo's was he had given it to him last Christmas. He knew if he didn't get him something nice his parents would be all over him for it. Then he looked up in time to see Ryo reach out and grab his sword before Malik could step on his arm. Malik was impressed. Ryo looked down and his eyes met with Bakura's.

"Bakura, you get up here and protect Mokuba!" Ryo said with a forcefulness Bakura had never heard before.

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Just as they got to the top of the stairs they could go no further, as Alister and Varon had been upstairs before all of this started and were now staying there to keep Seto and Yami safe.

"Alister move." Seto said, trying to get closer.

"I'm sorry my king, it's much too dangerous. We can't allow either of you down there till the situation is resolved."

Yami pulled Seto aside. "He's only doing his job, Seto and he's right. We should be able to see what's happening over here."