"Yami, are you sure that's the real thing?" Seto asked.

Yami turned it around to look just under the base of the round top. "Yeah it's the real thing there's the small seal."

"Then I don't understand it. How, how are you able to hold it?"

"I have no idea. There has to be some form of explanation."

"Let's go talk to Dr. Solomon, he's the only person I can think of that was around about the time we were born. Maybe he'll have answers."

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

Mokuba raced into the room and hugged Ryo tight.

"Ow, Mokuba, watch it kiddo."

Mokuba quickly backed away crying.

Ryo coughed and looked at the crying kid. He shakily reached out and stroked the boy's cheek. "It's all right, kid. Are you okay?"

Mokuba grabs his hand. "I-I'm okay big brother."

"You shouldn't call me that." Ryo said not seeing him wearing a necklace. It turned out they had gotten inside of his shirt but Mokuba didn't notice it.

Mokuba was confused. "B-but why."

"Seto and Yami are your brothers. You should be wearing your baby dragon necklace."

Mokuba looked down and gasped not seeing either necklace. He searched his neck and sighed when he found them inside of his shirt. "I s-still have the angel see, I h-have both. Seto s-said I should wear both. He s-said it connects us all together. He s-said it was okay that you're my b-big brother! How-how are you?"

"I'm okay, don't worry about me."

"I a-am w-worried big brother. S-Seto t-told me i-it was o-okay to l-love you all!" Mokuba said, then bent down and connected their necklaces causing them both to glow green.

"What's with the glow?" Ryo asked.

"I-it's a protection spell. I had it only on m-my baby dragon. But t-then…" Mokuba smiled, "Yami told me he'd protect me. Then his necklace hit mine, the spell then s-spread to my angel one. N-now I'm s-sharing it with you."

"Thank you Mokuba, I appreciate it."

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

Seto and Yami walked into Dr. Solomon's office.

"Dr. Solomon, we'd like to talk to you." Seto said.

"My king, Master Atemu, what can I do for you today?"

"Well first, how's Ryo doing?" Yami asked.

"It's too soon to tell. He's lost a lot of blood and I'm worried about possible internal bleeding. I should know more in a day or two."

"Let us know if there's anything we can do." Yami said.

"I will, is that all?" Dr. Solomon asked.

"No, we fear there may be a problem with the millennium rod." Seto said.

"Oh why do you think that?"

"Well for some reason Yami is able to hold it. I mean I know the rod connects to emotions but is it possible? Could it really be connected to the bond that Yami and I share?" Seto asked.

"I suppose it is possible, after all Master Atemu was here when you were born and you were raised together."

"Wait, that's the first I'm hearing of this. I mean I knew I was here since I was 3 but I didn't know I was here when Seto was born."

"Oh yes you were the first person after he was born other than his mother to hold him."

"Wow, I couldn't have been more than a year old."

"Yes, you were very mature even then. But your mother was there with you the entire time so it's not like you were alone."

"So, it's our bond that caused this, but how is it he's never been able to touch it before?" Seto asked.

"Seto, I've never tried to touch it before. I'd always been told not to touch it without a cloth and I remember when I was about 6 I almost touched it but was hit." Yami said.

"You mean the rod shocked you, right?" Seto asked.

"No, actually your father did."

"Perhaps you should talk to your father, Master Atemu." Dr. Solomon said.

"My, my father. I wasn't aware that he was still alive."

"Oh yes, very much so. I believe he's living in Breena Carr now. You might want to consider going to the mountains and talking to Dartz Akunadin. He is a descendant of the original creators of the fake millennium rod. Perhaps he knows and can tell you if there's a problem with the original. Might I ask what the problem is? Why is it important to know now?" Dr. Solomon asked.

Seto smiled. "Mokuba, he can hold it also."

"So you believe that the rod is flawed because the boy can hold it as well."

"No, actually we believe Mokuba is the brother we've been looking for all these years. But without the rod as solid proof the public will never accept him as the true prince of the castle." Seto said.

"And that's a bad thing?" Dr. Solomon asked.

"Well I'll admit it might be a bit overwhelming for him, but maybe it's just me but I'd like him to be recognized as our true brother!" Seto said.

"I think the little verse right under that is that Seto still fears the people who raised Mokuba even though they signed a waiver giving up rights and may return and say they were forced to sign. He's afraid they may try to take him back. That's the last thing we want to happen. We'd sooner let him live with Ryo far away from here knowing he was well loved and cared for than to ever allow him to return to those bastards!" Yami said.

"How do you know this Dartz guy is a descendant?" Seto asked.

"He is the one who sends me the salve."

"I see well I guess he's the one we talk to first then." Yami said. "We need to be sure the rod is working properly then figure this all out."

"Agreed, let's get Mokuba and get going." Seto said.

"You get Mokuba, I'll talk to Yugi about the protection spell around the castle. Then we'll have to talk to King Kujaku and get him settled."

Seto sighed. "I forgot about him. I also just remembered that the town we're going to is the same one Mokuba and Ryo just came from. We have to find out what happened there first."

"True if we get there and Mokuba breaks down we'll need to know why." Yami said.

"Fine, let's go deal with that stupid king and his neurotic problems. Just make sure his wagons are ready to get him out of here when we're finished."

"Fine." Yami said going to check on the wagon.

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

Just as Seto was leaving he heard noises and as he opened the door he saw Duke all hot and heavy with some girl. He then remembered Yami had told him one of the reasons Ryo left town was Bakura but that the other was he saw Shizuka kissing Duke. He just shook his head and walked away. As he was walking away, he spotted Joey. He walked over and grabbed his arm.

"M-my king, what the hell are you doing?"

"You really shouldn't cuss at your king and I have a mission for you."

"Another one?"

"Well if you'd rather turn down the job then…"

"No, no I'll do it, what's the assignment?"

"Take a look at this!" Seto said, opening the door showing Duke all hot and heavy with that girl.

"Man, doesn't that guy ever quit?" Joey asked.

"Now, I'm sure the whole castle knows what happened between Ryo, Mokuba and Malik, right?"

"Yeah and?"

"And I need you to go to town and tell Shizuka about Ryo."

"But why do you want to help him? He kidnapped Master Mokuba!"

"I am well aware of that." Seto sighed. "Mokuba left on his own, he didn't think we loved him. He knew for a fact that Ryo did. So, he left on his own to be with him. But as you know, he's back now. I don't want Ryo leaving and breaking Mokuba's heart! His break up with Shizuka was part of the problem that led to his leaving. You are to go to town and straighten it out."

"Why do I have to go?"

"I have other things to do, mutt. I don't have time to go fix up broken relationships."

Joey just grumbled and left.

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

As he watched them all leave, Yugi walked up.

"Is there a problem doctor?"

"No, Yugi I was just thinking perhaps I shouldn't have told Master Atemu where to find his father."

"Why is that?"

"Quite simple Yugi, you see Master Atemu's mother Mistress Jennifer and Master King Gozaburo Kaiba had a love affair that lasted for years."

"Really?" Yugi asked.

"Yes, but you are sworn to secrecy until I say otherwise or I'm dead understand."

"Only if you tell me more."