Alright so I haven't written fic in something like 2 years. Forgive my rustiness. I won't have an update schedule, since I work. Sorry if this is rehashing canon a bit, but I feel like I needed to get the changes in canon pretty clear, since this is an AU.
Through Seto's childhood, people came and went. His father's servants didn't stay for long, and people from school would come and go. There was one constant in his life, one that he wished was not there; Katsuya Jonouchi.
He irritated Seto to no end. He was so cheerful that it was irritating. He made no effort in school. He always looked like he had just rolled out of bed, even from a young age. Even before his bully phase, Seto just wanted to choke the life out of Katsuya. But the feeling was mutual. Seto was prissy and cold, caring more about his grades than about others. Those two would never get along. No one dared approach the pair if they were together.
Seto would always start it. It was like there was a bubble around him and, as soon as Katsuya crossed the threshold, he popped the bubble holding him back. Seto would throw a spiteful comment, and Katsuya couldn't help but bark back. Then Seto would so much as look at him wrong, and Katsuya would have him by the collar, snarling.
More than once, he punched Seto. He knew he deserved it. He wasn't afraid to hit back, however. The violence like this only lasted for a couple of years, when they had both started school. Teachers would sit them at other ends of the classroom, knowing what they were like together. Neither of them would ever get transferred. Seto never knew why, but it didn't bother him. Grown-ups could deal with conflict.
As they grew older, Seto watched Katsuya get himself into trouble. A part of him felt bad for not helping, but at the same time, it wasn't like they were best friends, either. Or friends. More like enemies. Even if he tried to help, it would have only been thrown back in his face. He grimaced at the thought. He didn't want what little kindness he showed to be in vain.
It didn't take too long for Katsuya to make new, decent friends. Seto stayed alone. He didn't have time for friends, nor did he want them. All he needed in his life was Mokuba; he was the whole reason Seto worked so hard. Maybe he was a little bitter that Katsuya could have a normal life. Why could someone that stupid have so much luck? He probably went home to a loving family, greeted by love.
When Seto went home, books and his tutor would be waiting for him, her arms crossed. No matter what time he arrived, she would always act as though he was late. He kept his chin up, and would apologise for taking so long, despite asking the driver to drive as fast as possible. She would never respond, however, instead leading him to the study.
He would be forced to sit there, reading book after book, writing essay after essay, until it was late at night. Then finally, he would be released from his chains. In his childhood, he was naïve enough to try to ask for a break, which earnt him a swift slap. He soon learnt to stop, and in his teenage years, he realised he was glad to have learnt. The punishment would have only gotten worse.
Sometimes, hard work simply wasn't enough. Seto had spent the night studying, reading notes and extensive essays over and over again before school. He had grown so used to sleepless nights that it hardly affected him anymore. The teacher placed his test on the table. It was a B. His blood ran cold. He wouldn't be able to explain that.
Unfortunately for him, Katsuya had seen his grade. He snatched the piece of paper and held it up in the air with a grin.
"Even the mighty fall," he tutted.
"At least I can manage a B. But in your case, here's a little bit of advice; anyone can stoop down and pick up nothing," Seto said, calmly yanking the paper back. He had to keep himself calm. He couldn't let this idiot see him shaking.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly."
Yugi pulled Katsuya back into the group. At least that kid had some sort of sense. Shame he couldn't say the same about his friend. Katsuya was the least of his troubles. Seto didn't want to go home already, but running away would have only made it worse. He could face it like an adult, even though he was only sixteen. He filed away the piece of paper, ready to show his father, knowing he already knew.
The moment he walked into the house he knew. Gozaburo was waiting, his eyes burning into his being. Seto's breath was caught in his throat. It was only a B. It shouldn't have been so much of a big deal. He scanned around for Mokuba first, but he was nowhere in sight. He was most likely confined to his room for now. He didn't need to see this.
Gozaburo grabbed Seto by the wrist and pulled him into his office, slamming the door behind him. He already couldn't breathe. Gozaburo grabbed him by the throat, pinning him against the wall. He didn't bother to struggle anymore. His energy was used to breathing. As long as it was just him, and not Mokuba, it was fine.
Except no, it really wasn't fine.
"Do you think your education is a joke, Seto?!" Seto felt tears prickling. He could hardly breathe. He still tried to shake his head. "No? Then why are you allowing your grades to slip?"
Even if Seto could speak, he had no answer. He had tried to work as hard as he could. He didn't understand what had happened, either. If it was up to him… Finally, Gozaburo released him, allowing him to drop to the floor. Seto coughed for what felt like an eternity, holding his throat. As long as it wasn't Mokuba, he needed to remind himself. That was why he didn't fight back. He would be a lightning rod for as long as it took before he got his revenge. Just as long as Mokuba was okay.
"Get out of my sight. From now on, you don't get dinner until you're done studying. No more food in the study. And I'm revoking your weekends. You're retaking that test, and you won't stop retaking it until you get 100%."
Seto rose to his feet and left his father's office, taking in a deep breath. He wiped his eyes quickly, just in time for Mokuba to come barrelling around the corner. He was all smiles to see his big brother. That was enough to give him strength.
The smile faded when Mokuba could sense something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint what, exactly. He already knew not to ask. He would not receive an answer. Instead, he gave Seto a quick hug, before dashing off. Seto needed to get back to work, and Mokuba didn't want to get him into trouble. He seemed like he was in enough trouble as it was.
Seto hid into his room to get changed quickly. It was hot, but it seemed like he would need to put on his black turtleneck. Looking at it made his stomach knot. But it wouldn't be long before the bruises would show, and he couldn't explain it to Mokuba. He would attempt something drastic, and Seto couldn't let him get involved. He needed to protect him for as long as he could.
The worst part was Gozaburo, being some bigshot politician, wanted to seem like some sort of 'man of the people'. That was why he had adopted Seto and Mokuba, it was why he donated to charities, and it was why he was often in the news, trying to seem friendly. Nothing more than an act to get more votes. Seto knew the truth. The staff knew the truth. But nothing could have been done about it.
From his father came Seto's dream. He wanted to make the world a better place; he would create his own game company. There was no room in the world for politics. It may have been a pipe dream, but he would make it work somehow. He had already started making his own augmented reality platforms. Soon enough, he could take out the dents, and make enough money for him and Mokuba to live happily ever after.
Soon enough, they would be free.
Katsuya's life wasn't easy, either. He resented Seto; that guy had everything handed to him on a silver platter, yet went pale when faced with a B. Katsuya would have killed him for that B. He wasn't meant to be smart, but he was working on it. He didn't want to be the same lowlife as his father.
He spent a lot of time out of the house – as much as possible, really – spending time with Yugi, or helping out at his grandpa's shop. Once in a while, if he had the spare cash, he would attempt duel tournaments. With Yugi's much-needed help, he got through it pretty well, often making it to third or second place. Rarely, he won the whole thing. Those were his lucky days, as he won so much money.
His winnings were stashed away in Yugi's room. He didn't trust his father, his father's friends or his neighbours not to steal it. He worked hard for that money. That was going to help his get to university, if he could get his grades up. Thankfully, Yugi was more than happy to help with that, too.
Sugoroku was more than happy to let him help, and to pay him as well, even though it wasn't much. Katsuya threw small tournaments for various games to attract crowds. Unlike the poor old man, he had the energy to run these things. Plus, it gave him a chance to test out his own duellist strategies. He truly enjoyed it; the money was a bonus.
He wouldn't go home until he was sent home. Sometimes, Sugoroku would let him sleep over, but not too often. He had bills to pay, and Katsuya simply ate too much. He just didn't want to go home. But soon enough, he would be free from that hell. He could live his own life, without fear of getting stabbed each time he left the house. He could come home, without worrying that a bottle would be thrown at him.
For the rest of his school life, he would work as hard as he could. Katsuya decided to keep his grades to himself, though. He didn't want to seem like a goody two-shoes. At least his grades were climbing up. He couldn't complain about that. He would come out stronger, and he would show people like Seto that being adopted into money was nothing. Katsuya could become great on his own terms.
He would lie on his barely-a-bed, staring up at the slowly sinking ceiling, thinking to himself. The best was yet to come. He only had a couple of years left in high school. He could leave Domino City behind. He would smile every time he remembered that. He was getting closer.
On sleepless nights, Seto would also lie in his too-comfortable bed, wrapped in thick blankets, staring at the ceiling. It was a habit he had developed. If he couldn't be open and honest with people, he could be open and honest in his own room, and in his mind. There was a good reason only Mokuba was allowed to set foot inside.
It was the only thing that helped him sleep that night, even if for only a couple of hours. He would mull over the events of the day, or plan out new ideas for his future business. He would also think about himself as a person.
He was too soft, and he knew it. The business world was cruel. He wondered if he was only so soft because, in his own mind, he was never good enough. Seto was only a teenager; he still had time to harden. He could eradicate the weak, and replace it for the strong.
This habit started from when he was young, and became something he depended on to be able to sleep. A self-assessment, in which he was mostly critical. It would help him grow, be stronger. Just as Gozaburo said. He shook off that thought every time. He didn't want to be reminded of that man, parading around as if he was his biological father.
It sickened him.
It felt like weeks before high school was over. But on the day of his graduation, Seto couldn't believe it. He wanted to laugh, but it would have seemed out of place. With his grades, there was no way his university would try to reject him. He settled for a smirk. Of course he was going to be smug. It wouldn't be much longer until he could save Mokuba, too. Everything was coming together nicely.
In the corner of his eye, he could see Katsuya crying on Yugi's shoulder, with his friends rallied around him. Ugh, the geek patrol acting like a cheer squad. It sickened him. Despite better judgement, he approached.
"What's wrong, Jonouchi? Didn't pass?"
It could have almost passed as sincere, if Katsuya was an idiot and had no idea who Seto Kaiba was. Instead, he pulled away from Yugi with a big, disgusting snort, and grinned. He was delirious.
"Actually, you pompous-ass jerk, I actually passed. Aaand, in case you didn't know, this means I'm going to university."
"As long as you keep away from me, I don't care," Seto shrugged.
"That's the plan."
It was as good a goodbye as those two were going to get from each other. Seto didn't care what he was going to university for, but he was a little happy for him. The idiot had his head screwed on. He smirked again.
As long as he was happy, and stayed away from Seto, he didn't care what happened to Katsuya.