The blonde duelist sat on a worn park bench, tears running silently down his face. He'd come to this park many times as a kid- it was almost a sanctuary from his father. Being here now, though... it felt more like a prison. All he could think of were the memories from the past- all the times he sat here, trying to figure out what he did wrong, trying to stop the bleeding, trying to understand what never made sense...

He sighed and lowered his head. 'Maybe I'm jus' a magnet for trouble.'

His gaze wandered towards the western edge of town, where a wide building stood out- Domino High. His expression lifted slightly as he remembered the friends he'd met there. He would never forget how little Yugi- that shy, tiny pipsqueak of a boy who refused to fight- had proven to him that there was another life.

A life with people he could trust; a life with people who made him want to be a better person.

He refused to give up on that dream. He was the underdog, sure; but he would never give up.

As that phrase drifted through his mind, he could almost hear a snobby voice callously berating him from his memories.

'Dog!'

…

'Mutt!'

…

'Stray!'

The teen jumped up, snarling at the thought of those stupid nicknames. He shoved his hands in his pockets and began stomping down the paved path.

"Stupid rich boy. Actin' like I need trainin' or that I got fleas... Thinkin' I'm some kinda loser, just 'cuz I ain't a fancy talker, an' dresser, an' all that junk."

He kicked an empty pop can off the path. "Jus' another smug asshole like my dad- thinking' I ain't worth spit." He kicked another can aside. "It doesn' matter what I do; they're jus' too stupid to change their minds."

He continued grumbling to himself as he shuffled down the pathway.

"They don' understand anything important- couldn't even see why I'd help out Mr. Kubo. Maybe it's 'cuz he's a nice guy, and he actually gives a crap- he wouldn't slam somebody to the floor, or try to strangle 'em like some psycho!"

Jou kept walking, unaware that he was being watched.

"They think they got everythin', but they're just clueless d*ckheads with nothin'." He rubbed his amber eyes with the back of one sleeve. "Yeah, who's gonna hold your hand on your deathbed? Not your vodka or your damned checkbook, that's for sure. Who's gonna hug you when you're cryin'? Not your Rolex or your whiskey. Who's gonna stand by you when you're sick or hurt? Not your credit cards or shot glass."

He sighed and sat down directly on the path- no one else would be out at this hour. He felt a little better after ranting. His thoughts turned to more serious matters.

"Righ', well... guess I better start thinkin' of someplace new to work." He frowned and stared at the pavement. "I dunno who's hiring, though..."

"I believe KaibaCorp has a position available." A tall, dark figure emerged from behind a wide oak tree.

Jounouchi positively yelped as he jumped. "GAHHH! Kaiba?! Don' do that!"

Apparently scaring the wits out of the blonde wasn't the best way to appease him. The startled teen glared as he rose up from the ground. He quickly turned around and began walking away.

"Mutt, get back here." Kaiba winced as he realized he'd said the 'm' word again- it was a hard habit to break.

Jou didn't slow down. He yelled over his shoulder. "Sorry, pal; but I ain't supposed to be within' fifty yards of ya, remember? I may be just a dumb street dog, but even I know that ain't fifty yards right there. So either you gotta scram, or I gotta leave."

"Mokuba!" Kaiba yelled at the retreating teen.

"Eh?" The other duelist turned his head back.

"That's who. Mokuba." The brunette spoke firmly. "That's who I'll have by my side when I'm sick or dying."

"You... you heard that?" Jounouchi's face flushed slightly.

The taller man nodded. "Every word- unless you said something before 'stupid rich boy.'"

Kaiba began striding towards the surprised teen, who quickly shifted into a fighting stance.

The younger boy growled. "Look, just because you got a lotta credit cards don't mean you can treat everybody else like trash. An' I sure as hell ain' gonna let you kick me around."

The CEO raised his hands in a conceding manner. "Relax, I'm not here to fight. I just don't want to lose my voice by yelling across the park all night."

Jounouchi kept his pose and raised an eyebrow. "And how do I know that you won't try an' strangle me again?"

It was then that Kaiba first noticed the beginning of a set of dark patches on Jou's neck. There would be several bruises there by tomorrow.

'Damn...' "Actually, I came here... to apologize."

Jounouchi blinked but didn't lower his fists. "Wha', you really think I'd believe you'd-"

Then the fair-haired duelist nearly fainted for the second time that week. Seto Kaiba, his biggest rival and arguably one of the most powerful men in Japan- was bowing to him.

And not some half-hearted gesture, but a full bow of sincere apology. Face down, arms bent, knees on the ground.

"I regret my actions, and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I misunderstood the situation with my brother, and took the word of a treacherous servant over yours. That was my mistake."

The honey-blonde teen watched, stunned, as the taller man went on, still bowing.

"You've done an impressive amount of work in the short time you've been at KaibaCorp. I would hate to lose a good employee due to my own... misconduct."

Jou scratched the back of his neck in disbelief. 'Man, dis dream is weird.'

"I haven't put in an actual termination order yet. Your job is still technically yours- if you want it."

The shorter youth was struck with awe- Kaiba sounded entirely sincere. Just what the heck was going on?!

"You should close your mouth before something flies in there."

Ok, that was more like it- the blonde still wasn't totally convinced he was awake, but he decided it wouldn't hurt to play along. Giving a short bow of his own, Jou replied to the executive.

"I accept your apology." The younger duelist quickly dropped the formal tone. "Besides, you were sorta protectin' your little brother- I know I'd strangle anyone who messed wit' Shizuka. But still, thanks."

Kaiba smirked. "And now, I expect you'll return the favor?"

"Wha-?" The amateur mechanic was lost.

"Well? After all, I'm expecting an apology from you as well." Kaiba raised one palm in expectation.

Jou stared in disbelief. "Eh?! An apology from me?! You gotta be kiddin'- how the hell do ya figure that?!"

The corporate poster-child folded his arms resolutely. "In your little 'speech,' you compared me to your father several times. I resent that implication."

The coffee-eyed boy just huffed. "Look, moneybags; I'm tired, my throat hurts, an' I need to get home. If you really jus' heard me talking, you know how I feel about 'big words' and stuff."

The corporate magnate frowned. Truthfully, he'd forgotten. "I'm... sorry. This was the way that I was raised. I wasn't allowed to use 'slang' or anything that might be construed as a sign of weakness in the business world."

"You 'weren't allowed'?" Jounouchi stared. "Seriously?" He snorted. "Man, if I'd started talkin' all 'high and mighty' like that I would've been beaten black n' blue for 'talkin' down' to people."

"Hnn. Seems we had the same situation, only in reverse." Kaiba strode over to a park bench a few yards away. The other teen stared warily.

"Come here, Jou-" The brunette was secretly pleased that he managed to catch himself before he said 'mutt'- "You're not the only one who's had a long day."

The younger man slowly made his way over. "None'a dat funny stuff." He warned.

Kaiba couldn't help it- that was one of the heaviest examples of Jou's accent that he'd ever heard.

"None'a dat funny stuff. I swears!" Kaiba's imitation was almost impeccable.

Jounouchi burst out laughing. He couldn't help it- it was hilarious to hear one of the most prim and proper business leaders in Japan suddenly speaking with a bad Brooklyn accent. He sounded like a posh gangster.

"Aw man, you'd make a terrible New Yorker- you ain't even got the fire! Ya gotta be a little crazy!" The American-born teen thumped his chest proudly.

"I think you've gone past 'a little,' but I assure you, my imitations are impecc- er, perfect."

Jou snorted. "Oh yeah? 'Perfect,' you say? Awright rich guy, let's see ya top this!" The blonde cleared his throat before speaking. "I believe that my accent is far superior to yours, on the grounds that my accent is far more amiable and unconstrained."

The gaming magnate blinked. "That's... highly unnerving."

Jou snickered. "What, an' you as a hard-knockin' city-dweller from New York ain't?"

"Touche."

Their conversation delved deeper into the world of funny accents and cultural-isms. Several minutes later both teens were laughing, albeit one more loudly than the other.

"Who woulda guessed that the great Seto Kaiba actually has a sense of humor?" Jou grinned as he playfully nudged his boss with one elbow. "An' here I thought you hated my jokes jus' as much as you hate me!"

The blue-eyed executive frowned. "I don't."

"What?"

"I don't... hate you." Seto Kaiba let out a sigh as he elaborated. "One of our maids lied to me- I believe she was attempting to secure a higher position on the staff... I didn't realize that she was dishonest until Mokuba corrected me. I was not trying to make up an excuse to hurt you or fire you." He turned to stare directly into his underling's gaze. "...I truly am sorry."

Jou just grinned his usual smile.

"Ya got a great little brother, moneybags- he looks up t'ya constantly. You're his idol, an' he heard someone sayin' somethin' rude about 'cha. 'Course he was curious- he didn't even know if he should be mad or not. So I jus' gave him a real brief idea on what it means to not be straight n' all."

"So... you never told him that I was... gay?"

The blonde shook his head. "Nah, that's your business, not- waitaminute, are you?"

Kaiba raised a thin eyebrow. "I thought it was none of your business?"

Jou held up his hands and waved his palms. "Right, right, sorry. But still, he wants to spend time with you- before you're sick or on your deathbed or whatever."

"Hmm." Seto nodded and stared ahead. Yes, things had been 'crazy' at KaibaCorp lately- perhaps Jou was right. "A good idea- it seems I will need to re-schedule some meetings in the future- I should at least be available for some dinners every week." He turned back to his employee. "Anyway, you have my apology... and my gratitude. Mokuba surprised you with a difficult question, but you responded in a very mature and open-minded manner. Truth be told, I was rather surprised by what he told me. I did not expect a former gangster to be so... accepting."

Jou shrugged. "Hey, most'a my friends are gay or bi- it don't bother me. 'Sides, I'm no hypocrite."

Why did that last sentence cause Kaiba's chest to jump?

"So, you're bisexual."

The light-haired youth nodded, his eyes trained thoughtfully on the starry Domino Skyline. "Yeah, I never told anyone in Hirutani's gang- I think they would'a killed me- but thankfully Yug' an' the group ain't the type to hate on someone for that."

The corporate executive mulled this over. "You said that most of your friends are gay or bi?"

"Yeah, most of 'em- 'cept for Honda. I'm just guessin' on a few of 'em, but I'm pretty sure Malik and his creepy clone are gettin' down."

The older boy grimaced. "I did not need to picture that."

Jou just laughed. "You're welcome!"

Kaiba gave a faint shudder as memories filled his mind. "I still remember how those two disrupted my tournament... hm. That reminds me- whatever happened to that older girl who dueled the one freak? Wasn't she quite... close to you?"

"Huh? You mean Mai?" The amber-eyed teen blinked in surprise. "Yeah, we tried datin' for a while, but in the end it was too hard- she travels everywhere, an' I couldn't just ditch school. Also, she's a real party girl, an' it's kinda hard ta explain to your friends that your boyfriend couldn't get in the club 'cuz he's underage." Jou grinned sadly.

Seto gave a faint huff but didn't comment.

"I still care about her, an' we chat once in a while, but she's dating another guy now- I think he's a model or somethin'- but he sounds like a nice guy." The relaxed teen shrugged. "I guess their lifestyles fit better- who knows? Either way, I wish 'em the best."

There was a moment of silence between the two duelists.

"Jou."

"Eh?"

"...Thank you."

"What, for makin' fun of ya? Heck, I'm up for that anytime!" The blonde grinned playfully, but the billionaire only shook his head.

"No, I mean thanks for- talking to Mokuba when he had questions. I... forget that he's growing older." He sighed defeatedly. "Sometimes, I think I forget on purpose."

Jou smirked. "Hey man, it's cool- I gotta little sister, remember? Ya think I'm not gonna wanna pummel the first guys who try an' date her? But I can' stop her from getting' bigger- so I'll just be there when she needs me, and let her make her own choices- good or bad."

The businessman nodded in understanding. It was odd to think just how much they had in common, family-wise... and he was impressed by the other duelist's sage words.

"-unless it involves Honda or Otogi. In which case they're both dead if they so much as look at her!"

The ex-gang member smacked a fist in his palm.

Kaiba shook his head as the illusion of wisdom shattered. "I thought they were both your friends? They are in your..." Kaiba struggled not to roll his eyes "...little 'group,' right?"

Jou waved his arms about. "That's the problem! I know what kinda guys they are- an' I don't trust 'em! Not around my baby sister!"

"Your hypocrisy is staggering, m- Jou."

Amber-brown eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You were gonna call me 'mutt' again."

But the brilliant blue eyes just lifted in amusement. "I believe you're mistaken, Cat-suya."

"Hey!"

Seto Kaiba chuckled. Oh yes, this was faaaar too easy.

A short while later, the two left the park, and a familiar limo pulled up to drive them to their separate homes.

The ride back was interesting, to say the least- Kaiba remarked that Jou could contact the police if he wanted- he wouldn't stop him, as technically he had assaulted an employee. He wanted to give Jou the chance to speak up, so no one would regret anything later.

At first Jou thought the great CEO was joking, but he was surprised when he realized the boss was serious. He then explained that he would excuse this instance- he wasn't that hurt. But Jou added one stipulation- that if Seto ever, EVER raised a hand to him again (or even Mokuba), he would be on the phone faster than you can say 'Time Roulette Go!'

The taller man agreed, and the two struck a peaceful accord.