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Kaiba wasnt a kind person. He knew that of course, but it didnt bother him as much as people wished it would.
Kindness didnt help you succed. No most of the time it was what kept you down. It was what made people walk all over you.
If Kaiba had been kind he wouldnt be where he was today.
The soft kind people died at the bottom while the strong and ruthless came out on top. A lesson Gozaburo had drilled into him since childhood, most of all with his last words before throwing himself out of the top floor of their company building.
Still there had been...exceptions.
Well one exception.
Yugi Mutou, who despite his foolish heart and rambles of friendship and helping each other managed to ascent the throne of King of Games. Who was somehow the only one worthy of being his rival.
It irked him, he lived his life carefree surrounded by others who, in Kaibas opinion, only held him back and still he succeded in ways Kaiba had failed again and again.
A sigh escaped the youth, somehow his thoughts always circeld back to Yugi Muto. Despite his best efforts, he had once again been distracted from his work. It was becoming a more and more frequent occurence ever since Battle City.
He had to concentrate and finish his report, wether he liked it or not, his company needed the support of his stockholders still, and a late report would be unaceptable.
Muto was probably sleeping away his carefree life by now.
And there it was again. Slowly he leaned back in his chair pinching the brick of his nose. He was getting a headache again.
Maybe he could just close his eyes for a moment.
"Bro?"
Had he fallen asleep? How long has it been?
He looked at the clock on the wall, 2 am, it had been an hour. How careless of him.
"Bro?" Came the question again and this time the older child aknowledged it with low. "Mokuba, shouldnt you be asleep?"
"I could say the same to you. Are you still working?"
Despite his annoyed tone, Kaiba could see the worry in his brotheres eyes. "Im almost finished." He glanced down at the stack of papers infront of him, if he was lucky he'd be done in an hour or two. But with his current headspace he guessed he could stack another hour on that estimate. "Seto you should really sleep." The door closed behind Mokuba with a soft creak as the child stepped further into his office space and torwards his desk. He wasnt a stupid child, he knew when Kaiba was lying.
"So should you. Dont you have school in a few hours? Your not gonna be able to follow along if you stay up this late." Kaiba answered simply, planning to return his attention back to business. "Its sunday Seto."
Oh. So it was. Maybe the lack of sleep was actually getting to him.
By now Mokuba was leaning over his desk, lips in a thin line as his head moved to look up at Kaiba. "How about I finish...." He wasnt even sure what his big brother was working on he realised. "This."
That got a chuckel out of Seto, as he reached over to ruffel the thick black hair of the younger kid. "Your a bit to young for these kind of things." Although Mokubas next sentence made him stop in his tracks. "So are you."
With a quick motion he removed Kaibas hand from his head and made for the exit, leaving Kaiba with his face stuck in a frown. He knew it was strange for a 16 year old to lead a business instead of going to school, but that what he'd been meticously raised to do. Be the heir to the Kaiba cooperation.
Gozaburos methods had beem unreasonable and cruel yes, but that didnt change the fact that this is what Kaiba was now.
And that he did it well. He couldnt even imagine a different life for himself now. He could support himself and Mokuba, he was succesfull and even his seniors looked up and feared him. It was a life many normal people could only dream of.
He had never seen himself as to young to carry this, he was capable, and sucessfull.
His thoughts drifted back to Yugi.
How was he spending his days? Doing Homework with his friends? Showing off new cards he had pulled from a booster?Maybe his Grandfather would prepare breakfast for him in a few hours.
Suddenly he became painfully aware of his empty stomache. Had he forgotten to eat today? It was a stressfull week but usually Mokuba reminded him of these sort of things.
The door to his office opening brought him out of his thoughts. It seemed Mokuba had only left to brew him tea. In his other free hand he was also carrying his blanket.
"Here ya go." He placed the mug on his table almost spilling its inside on Kaibas documents. He had a mind to scold the other, but managed to bite back any remarks he had. Instead he let out a quick. "Thanks" While Mokuba wrapped the blanket around himself and lay down on the stiff couch that stood in the corner.
Kaiba wasnt a kind person. He knew that and frankly he didnt care. But somehow the world had decided to surround him with the kind of people he could never be. And as he looked at Mokuba, almost falling asleep as soon as his head hit the cushion, he hoped that Mokuba could never become like him either.