Kuso= Dammit

Seto walked outside the arcade, leaving Mokuba inside. These visits really were more for the boy than him. His brother seemed to like the human interaction, while the CEO was far happier alone in his office.

Then he heard it. A small, soft tenor voice coming from the side of the arcade. Out of curiosity, or perhaps boredom, he followed it. As he got closer to it, he could start to make out what the voice was singing.

“Life’s just… a game…

We all wanna win…

Keep your… hand a secret…Unleash the monsters within…

Sometimes… it’s over… Before it’s even begun…”

Whoever it was, the voice was entrancing to listen to. He was obviously into Duel Monsters, but Seto didn’t dare turn the corner to find out who it was. He just kept listening to the male voice.

“I’m always one card short… Always one day late

For once I’d like an ending I can celebrate…

Stack the deck myself, so there’s no one else to blame…

I need just one more move… One final chance to prove…

I can win this game.”

The voice did some low beat boxing after that, to go along with it. Whoever this kid is,’ Seto thought. He’s obviously bad at Duel Monsters, but he’s a pretty good lyricist, unless that song already exists somewhere. A good singer, if anything. He dared himself to look around the corner, hoping the person was looking away.

The person was sitting, looking at a notebook. A pencil was in his hand, tapping against it. But if Seto wasn’t mistaken… Jounounchi?

“Seto! Hey, Seto!”

The man spun around to face his brother. “Yes, Mokuba?”

“You’re missing all the fun!”

“If you say so.”

The boy pouted.

“I’ll be there in a minute. There’s actually someone out here I’m taking to.”

“Oh, ok then.” The boy ran back inside.

Jou bit his lip. “Kaiba?” he called cautiously.

“Hey puppy.”

“Kuso.”

Seto smirked.

“How much of that did ya hear?”

“Enough to know your lack of dueling ability actually /is/ benefiting you.”

Jou grimaced, but said nothing back. The CEO /had/ just more or less complemented him. “Glad ya think so,” he replied drearily, and stood to leave.

“Instead of wallowing, you should be improving your skills.”

“I am, Kaiba, don’ worry.” A piece of paper floated out of his notebook behind him as he left. It went unnoticed by him, but it whacked Seto in the face. He pulled it from his face and looked at it. It looked like more handwritten lyrics, so instead of calling Jounouchi’s attention to it, he read it.

You’re Not Me/ Kaiba’s Song- Final Comp

You think I’ve got it all,

Everyone thinks that I’ve got it made well,

How come my only friends are the ones I pay?

No one understands

What I would do to change my life for just one day

Don’t say ‘If I were you’

Or tell me what you’d do

How things would be if you were in my shoes

Cus you’re not me

You know what I need

And it’s not another serenade

I get so tired of all the things you say

Don’t say ‘If I were you’

Or tell me what you’d do

How things would be if you were in my shoes

Cus you’re not me

Please take me as I am

This isn’t what I planned

I guess I don’t expect that you could understand

Cus you’re not me

I know you think you’re being nice

But spare me all your lame advice

For far too long I’ve been denied

I’m making my move

So just step aside

No one can say I never tried

To do everything to got back my pride

Why can’t you see

That you’re not me?

Don’t say ‘If I were you’

Or tell me what you’d do

How things would be if you were in my shoes

Cus you’re not me

Please help me if you can

This isn’t what I planned

Guess I don’t expect that you could understand

Cus you’re not me

            “Not bad, puppy,” Seto said to himself as he looked up. Jounouchi was gone, of course, but they were bound to meet up again. Domino is a pretty small place.

************************************************************************

Indeed, they did meet up two days later, at the movie theater. Once more, Mokuba was trying to spoon-feed his brother into society. Jou, Yuugi, and company were just hanging out. Seto spotted Jou’s big blonde head immediately.

“Just a minute, Mokuba, I’ll return shortly,” he told his brother and walked over to his fellow duelist.

“Ok, Seto. But come back quick. I don’t wanna miss the movie,” the boy replied.

The CEO walked towards the happy group. “Hey puppy,” he called.

Jou turned around, fuming. “What da hell do you wan’,?” he sneered. Seto simply held out the paper Jou had dropped. Jou turned crimson. “Y- You read this?”

“Yes. Perhaps dueling is the wrong thing to be concentrating on, puppy.”

 Jou was at a loss for words. He looked down at the paper. Several lines were highlighted in yellow.

You’re Not Me/ Kaiba’s Song- Final Comp

You think I’ve got it all,

Everyone thinks that I’ve got it made well,

How come my only friends are the ones I pay?

No one understands

What I would do to change my life for just one day

Don’t say ‘If I were you’

Or tell me what you’d do

How things would be if you were in my shoes

Cus you’re not me

You know what I need

And it’s not another serenade

I get so tired of all the things you say

Don’t say ‘If I were you’

Or tell me what you’d do

How things would be if you were in my shoes

Cus you’re not me

Please take me as I am

This isn’t what I planned

I guess I don’t expect that you could understand

Cus you’re not me

I know you think you’re being nice

But spare me all your lame advice

For far too long I’ve been denied

I’m making my move

So just step aside

No one can say I never tried

To do everything to got back my pride

Why can’t you see

That you’re not me?

Don’t say ‘If I were you’

Or tell me what you’d do

How things would be if you were in my shoes

Cus you’re not me

Please help me if you can

This isn’t what I planned

Guess I don’t expect that you could understand

Cus you’re not me

Jou looked back up, but Seto was gone. He scanned the area. Mokuba had left too. Probably inside…

“Hey Jou, what is that?” Yuugi asked behind him.

“Nothin’, Yug. I just dropped some schoolwork the other day. I guess he found it.”

“Oh, good thing.”

“Yeah. Sure is.”

*********************************************************

Jou couldn’t believe he had talked himself into this. But there he stood, outside Kaiba’s office, waiting for his secretary to say he could go in. He cussed at himself inwardly, and had been for the last ten minutes. What was Kaiba doin’ in there? Well, only running a company, dumbass,” he scolded himself. He had to admit, at least to himself, it had amazed him that Seto had been able to attend high school and run a company. Had it been him, that company would’ve been dead within the year.