New story, yay! Now maybe I should get to work on my other ones XD I couldn't help writing this idea, it just sort of came to me. I'm not quite sure where it's going yet, but I'm pretty excited to find out. Let me know what you think. End it here or continue on? Thanks!

Warnings: Language, adult theme, and lots of citrusy goodness further on.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I've just kidnapped the characters and thrown them into my own plotline.

~EmpatheticApathy~

Blood slowly slid down a pale, smooth surface, to a shoe and down off the shoelace of a now lifeless body. From above, a young boy looked at the body that was dangling from a crimson covered noose. He knew all too well the story that had led him to such drastic measures as slitting his wrists and hanging himself, taking care to seal his fate. He had been watching himself for some time now, probably about 15 minutes. It was a quick death, painful, but it had gotten the job done. He no longer had any desire to exist, and so, Seto Kaiba had chosen to end his life.

He was only 16 years old, but life had handed him so much shit to deal with, and at such a young age, he had naturally been defeated. No one would ever look upon the semi handsome features of the youth again. He would never again be among his classmates. No one would ever have the chance to be proud of his brilliant mind again. He had exited our world, or perhaps in his mind, escape was the proper word. No matter what term one might use, it simply meant that Seto Kaiba was dead…

About 8 hours later he was found dead by his younger brother Mokuba. The younger boy had immediately called 911, and then had curled up in the corner, crying. He had never imagined that he would see a pale, stiff version of his brother hanging from a bloody noose. This had to be some kind of cruel joke. Then again, his brother wasn't the type to play such a joke on anyone.

When the paramedics came, they confirmed his worst fear. His brother had permanently left this world. It was the hardest thing the boy had ever had to experience. The brunet was watching from above, unable to believe how hurt his brother was by this act. In the past few months, Seto had begun to suspect that Mokuba hated because the boy would often avoid him. He didn't really talk to his older brother that often, and they barely even saw each other.

Seto had decided that everyone was better off without him, including the younger brother that he had come to love so much. No one needed him, no one wanted him. He was better off not existing. At this time, he was still dealing with the scars from his past, trying every day to overcome them. It was a deadly combination, which he soon discovered. He couldn't handle the pain that came with his thoughts. It was killing him, eating him up inside.

He had never thought that anyone would mourn his death. He wasn't a good person, or someone that was really loved. He was a lonely man that pushed everyone away because if they got close to him, they would sure to hurt him in way or another. He was too vulnerable when his guard was down, and that vulnerability was a weakness he was not willing to allow. He felt that if he gave someone the chance, they would take advantage of him in one way or another. He would never let that happen.

One Week Later

Seto was at his funeral, looking down on the audience, surprised at how many people had shown up to pay their respects. He had never really been a popular person, as his attitude had kept people at bay. The first people that caught his besides his brother were that tricolor haired freak Yugi and his band of cheerleaders. He wasn't exactly sure why they had shown up, but it was making him sick to his stomach. He didn't give a shit about them, and he certainly would never have shown up to anything of theirs, including their funeral.

There was always one presence in the group that caught his eye. The blonde, known to others as Jounouchi, though Seto had famously referred to him as the mutt. He didn't have much respect for Jounouchi Katsuya from what others saw, but internally, Seto had been fighting with himself for years about his real feelings towards the idiot. He had never expected to fall in love with anyone, though he wasn't surprised that it was a male that had made his way past the icy exterior into Seto's fragile heart. He had a difficult time relating to most people, especially Jou. They had come from 2 completely different lives, they had been on opposite ends of the spectrum. So why was it that the blonde intrigued him in such a way? Seto still had yet to figure that out.

His focus remained on Jou for most of the service, watching his reactions. When everyone was leaving, Seto had expected Jou to file out as well, but he stayed there instead. This came as quite a surprise to the brunet. However, it was what Jou said next that would have Seto even more surprised. Never had he expected to hear such words out of the blonde.

"Seto… I'm sorry I couldn't save you… I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough, or good enough. But know this, if you can hear me. I will always love you, dream of being yours, and I will never give my heart to another." Jou whispered it to the lifeless body that was laid out in it's casket while tears streamed down his cheeks. Never would he have dreamed of hearing such words from the boy that had stole his heart. And it was those words that would truly seal his fate.

Some time ago, he had heard an old poem talking of a lonely man who was loved only by one other. This person was family, his own blood, and he could never do anything to hurt the boy. However, his life was miserable, just like Seto's had been, and like the teen, the man had committed suicide. He had tied himself to a heavy piece of wood and walked into a lake, going into the deep end. He dropped it and was dragged to his watery grave. Another had come to the edge of the water about 7 days later and had told him of her love. She had promised the same way that Jou had to never stop loving him, to love only him, and to never give her heart to another. In that moment, something struck the surface of the water, and his body rose to the top, floating against the current to where she was kneeling. He opened his eyes and lifted a hand to her face, giving her the very first real smile he had ever shown to anyone outside of family. The very same day that he had drowned himself, the man had cast a spell that if one not of blood could love him just for him, he would vow to come back for them and spend every bit of life they had left with them, dying once more when they did. He would be bonded to her in this way, through this life and the next.

The man had gained the power of foresight, being able to see what would happen in the future. It took some time for the power to be in his control, but he finally learned how to turn it off and on. In that life, he became a fortune teller, speaking to others of how their lives were going to turn out. He was an honest man, never lying to others, who lived a happy life with his wife, and died for the second time in peace, happy with his life's achievements. Seto had a difficult time believing in magic, as he was more of a logical thinker. But there was no other explanation for what was about to happen.

Jou was still standing by the casket, saying his last goodbyes as tears dripped down his cheeks onto the pale, cold body beneath him. He had been holding Seto's hand for a few minutes now, and was having a hard time letting go. He needed Seto, which he had admitted to himself, even if he had never been able to admit it to the brunet. He didn't know why it had to be Kaiba, and he didn't care. What mattered was that Seto was the one that he needed, especially now.