a/n I mentioned this in the description but please read Aniki Swap. This fic will not make sense if u don't. Okay that's all bye please enjoy this hot prologue

PROLOGUE: im listening to some death cab for cutie everyone

Edo was sorting through the papers on Saiou's desk. Saiou, ever since the whole ordeal with him trying to blow up Judai and himself inside a building to get his sister back, had gotten a little disorganized, and Edo found it somewhere in the empty pit of his chest that he called a heart to help the cat man out. It was mostly Edo's curiosity of what kind of papers the psychic would have in the first place, but hey, let's call it charitable.

Saiou was tucked away in the corner of the office, drinking ice cold Lemonade from a cup and staring out of the window. He seemed deep in thought, and since Edo wasn't a mind reader like Saiou was, had to ask what was up, "What's up, Saiou?"

"Thinking about stuff," Saiou said mysteriously.

Edo hated mysteriousness. He scowled. "Just tell me. Don't be like that."

"Judai and Manjoume," was all Saiou said. Edo rolled his eyes. Ever since Saiou had swapped their bodies all those years ago, he had been invested in making sure their relationship had FLOURISHED. It had, of course, but that didn't stop Saiou from fretting over it.

"Who cares about those chumps? I'm sure they're doing fine. Help me organize your things."

Saiou shook his head. "Manjoume's been sending me letters, Edo. I don't think they're happy anymore." He gestured towards the pile of envelopes Edo was holding. "I feel responsible."

"If you feel so responsible, maybe you should swap them again." Edo was joking, of course. He had been barraged with frantic texts from Manjoume when the two had been swapped and he did NOT want to get a redo of that. But Saiou obviously did not think of it as a joke, and was already looking more clear-minded than he had in months. Edo watched as Saiou stood, rubbing his hands together ruefully.

"Maybe you're onto something, Edo, my dear boy…" he said ominously. "Maybe another body swap would help solve all their problems!"

Edo was about to talk Saiou down from this stupid plan, but thought better of it. Hey, maybe this time would be just as hilarious as last time. "do it lol."

"It shall be done!" Saiou yelled dramatically, spreading his arms outwards. "Prepare to swap yet again, my friends!"

Somewhere in Japan, Manjoume slinked around an apartment, turning off lights as he walked towards the kitchen. He was tired after a long day of slaving over his office job, being an underling to his ruthless other brothers. The three Ojamas were already tucked into bed for the night, so he had the silence of the apartment to himself to unwind.

It had been years since the body swap incident. They had graduated from Duel Academia, and were now full functioning adults, living together in the big city. Well, kinda functional. Manjoume still left cuts on his chin while shaving and Judai still had the curiosity of a child and both had their duel spirits still around, but they were old enough to drink, at least. Manjoume poured some wine into a mug just to prove this point, and chugged it down in one gulp.

Judai wasn't around much. Manjoume had gotten used to being alone in the mornings before work and the evenings after. Not that he was awake during that time - he was so worn out by the time he got home he'd sleep till the alarm, then rush out to beat the morning traffic. Some days he rarely ate breakfast.

It was dreary. Manjoume knew that. That's why he was so bitter that Judai was never around.

He understood why his partner was never around - Judai had a wanderlust that could not be quenched by timeshare vacations given to Manjoume by his job. Judai had a lot of soul searching ahead of him, and it wasn't Manjoume's place to stop him. Plus, Judai sent postcards from wherever he was, and Manjoume kept them all in the top drawer of his desk in his office.

This was the longest Judai had been away. Six months with no contact other than biweekly postcards to keep Manjoume going. Manjoume, in his boredom, had begun to reply to Saiou's letters to Judai, just to keep up correspondence with someone. He complained about Judai's absence in them, and if Judai ever heard from Saiou or - god forbid - Edo that he had been, Judai would probably stop journeying completely. And Manjoume didn't want that, so he finished every letter with a defining "DO NOT TELL JUDAI" in all caps and even underlined for emphasis. Manjoume trusted the cat man not to spill their convos any time soon, and it felt good to vent. He didn't have many friends at work, so Saiou and - good heavens - Edo were his closest when Judai wasn't around.

Manjoume finally settled down on the foot of their bed, sighing. It was barely eight'o'clock and he was already POOPED. He felt a little pathetic for going to bed so early, but its not like this is the earliest he'd ever ptfo (passed the fuck out). He snuggled up under the covers, and wished Judai, wherever he was, a good night.