Chapter Seven: Living a Lie

"How long are ya gonna sit and space out on me?"

His lips parted, working against the gummy substance gluing his flesh together. It was as if some construction worker carelessly leaked cement over his mouth, leaving him on the pavement in defeated wonder, forcing his skin to dry in the impending gloom his disreputable existence wrought. In this state of listlessness and decadent devilishness, the leviathan of social conformity spoke unabashed.

"Niisan," croaked the villain of standard family values, still drifting in the hazy dream world of childish fantasies, "I—I thought I told you to stay in bed—"

"He did."

"No you're not, you're right here."

"I hate to break it to ya, but I'm not ya little brother."

"Then who--" With great effort, he lifted his disillusioned blue eyes. When their fatigued vision came into focus, they discovered that it wasn't Mokuba in front of them, but someone else. Someone that he never expected to support him in war circumstances, much less voluntarily, in a place such as the one he resided in now. This was someone who should have spouted dirty obscenities at him, kicked him while he was already down, personally beat him into submission for the obnoxious commentary he always had to spit out. Why oh why was his self-proclaimed arch nemesis, all-time rival, his supreme opponent here-- "Joey?" Even as Kaiba spoke the other teen's name, he still doubted what he saw. There was just no way that the amber orbed male could be here. It just wasn't a possibility in his befuddled mind.

The blond nodded at the recognition of his title. Almost as if he were able to sense Seto's incredulous thoughts, he said, "Yeah, it's me." Flashing his slanted trademark smirk, he added, "Don't you go thinkin' otherwise."

Blinking in continued astonishment, the sapphire-eyed adolescent asked, "Why are you here?"

"Why do ya think?" Jonouchi shot back, unperturbed. "I'm here ta help."

Unintentionally, the teen by the wall smiled. How many times had he heard that seemingly innocent response on the streets? Too many to count, as far as he was concerned. He knew what Jou wanted, which coincidentally happened to be what every other unkempt city scrounge in the district had extracted from him at one point or another. Distancing his legs from one another, he flaunted the lower parts of his body. "Just take what you want and leave."

"I don't want anything--" the honey-haired male responded, making direct eye contact with the person on the ground. "--especially not that."

Kaiba snorted, distracting himself with a piece of scrap paper tumbling past them. The litter flipped and turned, floating in the breeze like a topsy-turvy acrobat. Usually, he compared his outward conduct to a circus entertainer's performance. There was always a crowd to amuse somewhere, an audience of heckling spectators to contend with, a group of customers to win over by parading his amateur courting skills. This was no different from any other time, except he felt more like a clown than a magician's assistant. At least if he worked beside a spell caster, he could be made to disappear in one of the acts.

"I don't care what you do." Seto choked, widening the gap between his limbs even more. "I know you're going to boast about having me after you're finished, so this is it--" He would have given his whole company to vanish behind a conjurer's enchanted blanket. Anything would have been better than throwing himself at the mercy of the biggest mouth and largest gossip that ever attended Domino High School. "it's all over for me."

With the curse of peripheral vision, he watched as Wheeler began to remove his first layer of attire. From what he could tell, the blond was sporting a lengthy jacket, some emerald colored model that bore a strong resemblance to the ones he had in his walk-in closet. Close to the border of the coat were silver buttons, all of which marched in a vertical line on the front of his attire. Nonchalantly, he freed the material from the constraints of the shiny knobs, shrugging his shoulders out of the apparel as he went. Feeling Kaiba's sharp gaze on him, Jonouchi met the piercing look head-on. That made the blue-eyed boy shrink against the stony surface of the complex, apartment buildings that rose into the death-filled sky like tombstones. Sighing in exasperation, the blond glanced away from the troubled child on the street.

/Never thought I'd see the day when Moneybags would cower in my presence. / the tall adolescent said silently, avoiding the sullen expression that was attempting to capture his attention. /He's so out of it that he actually believes I'm gonna try and take advantage of him! What the hell has he been through to think up such a thing? / He briefly considered questioning the male groveling at his feet, but decided against it. There was something about the executive's visage that looked so petrified, so positively haunted, that Katsuya couldn't even bring himself to talk to him. /To achieve a face like that says somethin' terrifyin' about him. I'm scared ta even imagine the shit he got himself into, let alone ask what he's done out here on his own. / Handling the jacket in front of him cautiously, he stole a quick glance at Seto's folded form. /I know I'm gonna have ta hear it sooner or later. He's not gonna spill every memory he's got an' risk his sanity ta satisfy me. Damn, this all feels so--bad. /

Bending from the waist, the amber-eyed teen held the garment at an arm's length away from himself. He gripped it by the collar, letting it dangle from his palm, awaiting the moment when the rusty piece of human machinery before him would be energized enough to accept the offered clothing. "You want me to just drop it in front of you?"

The figure on the grimy asphalt made no endeavor to retrieve the accessory, nor did he let any further words echo from his throat.

"We both know ya can't be a practicin' nudist in this town, so why don't ya just cover up with this." Jonouchi pointed out, mixing in a bit of humor with his knowledge of the law. Shaking the coat, he put in with a mild grin, "I don't wanna see ya get sick from stayin' out in the cold too long."

That was the last straw. Kaiba's hand flung from the darkness, heading directly for Wheeler. Rather than accept the stylish fashion, he slapped Jou's limb, sending the blond a very loud and symbolic message. To make sure he had received the gesture's hidden meaning, the tall teen snapped, "I don't need your pity, you annoying canine." Eying the honey-haired person coldly, he started to rise from the pavement, staring Joey down as he accomplished the action. Throwing his shoulders back proudly while sticking his head up, he assumed the haughty posture he was accustomed to showing off as the regal CEO of his beloved corporation. "Whatever I do is none of your concern."

Spinning on his heel, the brown-haired adolescent turned his back on the blond. He didn't even get another pace in before he was stopped dead in his tracks.

"Ya think you're so damned great, don't ya, Smart Mouth?" retorted Wheeler, impulsively reacting to his rival's baited phrases. This was typical of him to get drawn into a verbal debate, to automatically say everything that popped into his brain. It was a personality trait that he was never successful in ridding himself of, or at least refining to some tactful degree, so everyone around him was forced to tolerate his lack of control. Normally, he would be reprimanded for his temper, but tonight, he would be thanked for his honesty. "I'm tryin' ta be nice to ya, and all I get is a dumb ego trip--"

"Go away and leave me alone." ordered the blue-eyed boy, relapsing into his bitter and cruel businessman character.

"You don't deserve my time."

"Ya don't deserve Mokuba's time, but ya allow yourself to anyways." Joey fired back. His tone was angry, but he was able to remain composed under the dire conditions. Any situation where Jou could keep his fists from acting on their own accord was calm for the rambunctious teen, for he was famous for using his brawn for settling disputes instead of his common sense.

Unconsciously, Seto jerked into a rigid pose. He swung his head over his upper body, just far back enough to send the blond a menacing glare. "How dare you judge me!" he snarled through gritted teeth, rage boiling beneath his skin in hot crimson rivers.

"And how dare you do stupid shit like this to mess with ya brother's mind!" The honey-haired male knew that every spoken word of his was upsetting the technology developer, but he didn't stop talking. He didn't have to. He was going to give Kaiba a lifetime analysis that he knew wouldn't be appreciated very much, but it had to come out, whether the cocky computer programmer wanted to listen to it or not. "In case ya haven't noticed, that little kid is your flesh and blood! How the hell could ya even think about doin' this kinda crap--"

"I'm not trying to hurt him, I just want to--"

Relentlessly, Joey went on as if no interruption ever occurred. "Do ya want him to find ya dead someday? You hopin' he'll be flippin' through T.V. channels sometime and come across--"

"Stop it!" commanded the sapphire-eyed male, grasping full well what would be stated next. "I don't want to--"

"Hear it?" suggested the blond, advancing on the dark-haired child ruthlessly. "Tell me somethin' I don't know."

"That you don't know a damn thing about him. Or me."

"Oh, is that so? You'd be surprised, Kaibie Boy."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Katsuya concentrated his sights on the conceited individual before him. It was time that the supercilious executive understood the extent of his sibling's suffering, pain that was obviously well-hidden from his steely eyes. "Ya wanna guess who called me out here to give ya a check up?"

Seto's face went ashen. "You--someone told you to come after me?"

"Yeah-huh." Face-to-face with the international bitch of the world of cyberspace, the blond held up three fingers. "I'll give ya three guesses to figure out who it was. Try not ta strike out." Observing the pallor of the billionaire's complexion, he stated in a low whisper, "That won't happen. That won't happen 'cuz I got a feelin' ya already know who it is, right off the bat. Don't ya, Sweetie-Pie?" He could tell from the blue-eyed boy's tightly drawn features that he hated being called by such a feminine title, even thought it was dripping with sarcasm. Nonetheless, Kaiba stood quietly, the diary of his voice box locked shut with a key that had been tossed away into forbidden territory. "Come on and tell me who coulda called ya in."

Displaying a subtle shake of his head, the dark-haired person chose to plead the Fifth Amendment.

"I know ya know who it is. For Christ sakes, both of us do. You'd make it a whole lot easier on yourself if ya just admitted it out loud."

Studying Jonouchi's face, Kaiba finally relented to the constricting demands. "There's no way he saw me leave. He--I put him to bed tonight, like I do every time it gets dark, so he wouldn't ever see me walk out the door." the tall teen explained, appealing to his own logic rather than his opponent's requests. As he spoke, he let his blue orbs fall to his feet. He just now noticed that they were bare. Nothing made sense to him anymore. That's why he just aimlessly started to ramble, allowing his tongue to let loose, permitting his mouth to bring forth anything and everything through their fleshy gates. "I always sing to him so he'll fall asleep faster. That's after a few bedtime stories, of course, followed by a good-night kiss on each cheek."

The way he talked about his nightly rituals with Mokuba reminded him of a mathematical equation or some kind of recipe. Take a mixing bowl; measure out two tablespoons of music, three cups of treasured pictorial books, and half a serving of pulling up the sheets to a loved one's neck for a favorite family formula. Add a dash of lovingly placed kisses for a garnish to create a new delectable dessert. He even pictured a housewife in a flowery apron, standing in her kitchen, displaying a tray of brownies in her mitten covered hands saying, "Try 'em, you'll buy 'em. They're kid tested and parent approved." It was just too bad that the businessman couldn't replace the mother that his sibling and him lost. Matter of fact, he didn't even make an adequate substitute for a nanny, much less a real Mommy and Daddy. Not only that, but he was also failing at being a satisfactory brother, too. Was there nothing that he could do right? When would the world stop being so vindictive?

"So I take it Mokuba's your final answer?" a Brooklyn based accent asked.

"Yes, but--I--" stuttered the adolescent with sapphire orbs, unable to conclude how his brother could have caught wind of his second profession. "I just don't see how he could--" Turning his head to the side, he raked a frustrated hand through his matted tresses.

"He doesn't." finished Joey, filling in the blanks installed in his acquaintance's mind.

Pausing in mid-stroke, Seto looked at Jou and blinked. "What?"

"He doesn't know." repeated the amber orbed male. "The kid doesn't have a clue about what's goin' on."

"But you said a little while ago--"

"That someone called me out on ya, right?"

"Yes, which translates to my brother realizing--"

"Nothing." the blond moved his head from side to side, emphasizing his words.

Kaiba narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "If he supposedly doesn't know anything, then why are you here?"

Wheeler sighed. "It's true that Mokuba phoned me concernin' you, but it's not whatever ya believe. Apparently, the poor thing had a nightmare, so he woke up in th' middle of the night. Told me he went to your bedroom to get ya to comfort him. Not only that, but he also planned ta spend 'til mornin' with ya, too. Anyhoo, he got the scare of his life when he saw that you weren't there." Ignoring the glassy quality of the CEO's eyes, Katsuya gave him the rest of the details. "Frightened of being left alone, he dropped me a lil' love note somewhere around three thirty, quarter to four. I had ta spend a good hour or so tellin' him that ya didn't just up and go away permanently. So," the honey-haired male said sharply, "What do ya have ta say for yourself? And don't give me any of that high and mighty I'm-better-than-you-are bullshit, either."

"Where is he?"

Amazed that Kaiba didn't fire a single vulgar word at him, Joey replied, "At Yug's place gettin' some shut eye." Noticing how the executive's visage darkened, Jonouchi retorted, "The hell did ya expect me ta do with him? Have him sit at ya mansion and be cut off from any human contact? Shove him into my apartment and hope ta God my Dad doesn't come home and find him there? Jesus, I had limited options ta deal with! Instead a givin' me a dirty look, ya should ask for a way ta repay Yugi an' me! We didn't have ta go outta our way to protect the kid, ya know. I could a just left him in that miserable mausoleum of a house you've got over on Silent Hill. That way, he could a just read about your death in the Sunday newspaper."

"Shut up, Jou." commanded Seto in a hoarse whisper. "Now. Do it before--"

"Wouldn't that be interestin' to eat cereal in front of? Big bold headlines screamin' somethin like 'KaibaCorp.'s Leader Hits Rock-bottom' or 'Hot Shot Tech Boy Gets Unplugged.' I bet he'd have a hard time stomachin' a passage with your carcass as the main focus."

Shaky fingertips were gripping the blue-eyed boy's locks, indicating that he was losing his composure as a stately businessman. He had squeezed his eyes shut, too overpowered by his turbulent emotions to tackle the blond with a frigid stare. "I told you to shut up already."

/But I'm not crazy/

"You tryin' to be dead before your next birthday?" pressed the golden-haired individual, gesturing with his opposite hand. "Is that what you're wishin' ta get for a present? A funeral? The fuck's a matter with ya, anyways?"

/I'm just a little unwell/

Bringing his hand to his face, the dark-haired adolescent covered his mouth with his palm. Everything from that point on transpired in slow motion; the quivering of his lower lip, the trembling of his entire frame, the slick, liquid feel of a drop of water escaping from his lid, a crazy combination of hot and cold sensations prickling his cheek as a certain wetness flowed across his flesh. Wrapping his other arm around his body, the blue-eyed boy gazed at Wheeler and strangled out, "Everything. Everything's the matter with me, and that's why I should be killed. I deserve to be dead."

But stay a while and maybe then you'll see/

As the demons of his own soul pulled the fabrics of his heart apart, the tall male crumpled to the pitiless tar below. Jonouchi, wide-eyed at the dramatic response, had sprung into action in the nick of time. Reaching with both arms fully extended, he caught the traumatized teen, pulling him onto his lap right before his battered structure clashed with the pavement. Though the blond was able to save his acquaintance from any further injuries, he wasn't capable of halting the rush of tears pouring from Seto's eyes. Twin faucets were turned on behind the executive's lids, unstoppable water works that had been tweaked off for what seemed like forever. In these heart-wrenching moments, every instance of abuse, self-inflicted damage, regret and remorse for behaving like a terrible sibling flooded out of his mind, evolving into the physical waste known as crying. Burying his face in Joey's clothes, the formerly elegant and mature image of the director of KaibaCorp. dissipated, leaving a torn and shattered child in the façade's station. His tears soaked the amber-eyed teen's shirt, providing the blond with evidence that even the most unkind and malicious of souls had the ability to become human.

/A different side of me/

"Hey, it--it's okay, man." Katsuya soothed, holding the shivering adolescent close. Using the back of his hand, he wiped away the crystal lines staining Kaiba's face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean ta do this to ya."

"It's nothing that I didn't have coming to me." wept the blue-eyed teen, his broken accent hardly capable of forming well-pronounced dialogue.

While Jonouchi agreed with his acquaintance's statement, he didn't verbally attest to it, nor did he make any additional comments on it. He tried to console the blue-eyed adolescent as best as he could, even rocking the thin thing gently as they poured their heart and soul to him. It was either now or never for the blond. As much as he hated asking the brown-haired adolescent anything, he had to know the facts. There were just too many factors missing in the whole setup. Gently passing a hand through his acquaintance's strands, he inquired softly, "Really, Set…why're ya doin' this? It can't be for the money, 'cuz you're like the richest guy I know."

/I'm not crazy/

"Stocks have failed in my industry, Jou!" wailed the blue-orbed boy.

"Say what?" cried the honey-haired person, staring at his companion in wide-eyed disbelief. "You're jokin' right?"

/I'm just a little impaired/

Emphatically, the wiry child shook his head. "No, it's true. I swear it is. Market shares have dropped significantly within the past three months. If this economy doesn't pull itself out of a recession, I'll have to apply for food stamps and sell my estate! After that, it will only be a matter of time before child protective services try to intervene and take Mokuba away--" Fresh tears started forming beneath his lids, filling themselves to the brim with the salty material. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, the mental picture of his sibling being torn out of his arms presented him hallucinations beyond his mortal capabilities of handling fear. If someone came to take his relative back to the orphanage--that would be it for him--and there would be no reason to pursue the dream of living. It would be a crash in his main hardware system, an awful recollection of defeat, shards of his soul splitting apart that could never be regenerated again. In short, it would be the death of himself, the child that used to push his brother on the swings, that loved watching the sun replace itself with its counterpart, the coconut shaded moon, a little boy so fascinated with the joy of being alive that he could barely wait to be the first one to rise before anyone else did at his house so he could surprise his family with breakfast in bed. Every bit of that-the games of hide-and-go-seek and tag, sessions of knitting together personalized jewelry (friendship bracelets were the best), and literally singing in the rain would all be events of a dead and long forgotten child. What could possibly be left after a social worker ripped his only living family member away? Nothing. Not a damned thing, except for the nothing he had become--

/I know right now you don't care/

"So ya could join the rest of the workin' middle-class." Joey pointed out. "Domino City's full a jobs. All ya gotta do is go in to the nearest place ya see an' pick up an application. It's not that tough, y'know."

Seto's eyes grew wide. "At a fast food place?" sputtered the dark-haired male. "How can I work somewhere like that?"

Immediately, Wheeler was hurt. He didn't see what was so bad with making a little extra spending cash in retail, primarily because it provided him with more than enough funds to purchase any extra accommodations for his sister. All of her medical needs were pretty much taken care of with the part-time profession. If Mr. In-Love-With-His-Laptop wouldn't be so stuck-up, then he would probably get in somewhere for higher than minimum pay. Especially with his skills in electronics. "At least I'm makin' an honest wage." snapped the amber-eyed person indignantly. "How's about you, Set? Can ya tell me you're happy with what you're doin' now? Ya wanna stay like this forever, if ya survive long enough to?"

Slowly, the blue-eyed teen's orbs descended upon the street. No, he didn't want to sit out in this industrial wasteland a minute more than he had to, much less think of setting up a residence among the trashy vermin of the city. He couldn't stay here for an eternity. The creatures of the night that stalked the highways would chew him up and spit him out like a rancid side dish.

"I guess that's that, then." said Jonouchi, wrapping his arms around his shaken classmate, lifting the boy up as he began to stand. Avoiding the cavernous alleys behind them, the blond proceeded to leave the insanity asylum behind.

"Where are you taking me?" cried the dark-haired adolescent. "I can't go back to Mokuba like this! You said yourself that I have to be the one to confess to him all my mistakes! This isn't fair! You know this isn't fair--"

"Whoever said life was?" responded Wheeler, his tone dead and monotonous.

"You--you bastard!" Kaiba bitterly spat at Katsuya. "How could you lie to me like that? Huh? How the fuck could you blackmail me like this? I knew this had to be too good to be true! I was on to you the moment I saw who you were! You're just trying to get me back for everything I told you, for all the word battles we had, and every little thing that went on before! You wanted to gain my trust so you could rape me of it in the end! How the hell can you--"

"Shaddup" Jou replied unemotionally.

The executive blinked, astounded by the statement. No one had ever dared to throw such an ill-mannered bit of speech at him, not even his younger sibling. So where did this gutter scoundrel get off coming up with something like that? "Excuse me?" the brown-haired male inquired. "What did you just say?"

"You know what I said."

"So I heard you correctly? You really told me to be quiet?"

"Yup." replied the blond. Glancing down at his passenger, he asked, "Care ta make somethin' outta nothin', pal?"

"No." Seto answered quickly after getting a look at the harsh expression on Jonouchi's face. "I--I just thought that I'd--that he wouldn't find out this way--"

Joey's face softened. "Ya can stop worryin' already. I'm not takin' ya ta parade in front of ya bro this way."

"You're not?"

"Naw. I've got a better place ta take ya tonight."

Kaiba's mouth actually turned upwards. He'd never felt more grateful to anyone. If he had the energy, he would command his bruised body to stay upright long enough to place his weight on both legs, sing his most favorite song, and carry his acquaintance on his shoulders to repay his debt. Expelling the painful breath he had been holding in his lungs, he fell slack in Joey's grip.

"It alright, man." whispered the honey-haired individual. "I'm glad ya can relax at last."

"So am I." murmured the blue-eyed boy, clinging to the other teen's clothes. Sleep…maybe he could finally get some well-deserved rest. It would make him feel better, he decided. Just catch some sweet Zzz's and bounce off into a world made of the softest beds and pillows and sheets that he had ever touched--

"Looks like someone's gonna need a bed as soon as we get home." observed Wheeler, his hazel eyes sparkling in the lamp lights by the roads.

Suddenly, the businessman's orbs snapped open. Whatever delusions he had previously harbored regarding an uninterrupted slumber had just burst into flames. A fire of emotions surrounded him, the torments of his own personal and very private hell tortured him once more. Being stabbed, scratched, wrongly caressed, committing acts of utter depravity--the heat of his memories threatened to do far more than simply burn him. They wanted to see him hurt, watch him suffer, leer at him as he crashed and smoldered to ashes. They wished to see him receive more than natural death. Like everyone else he had crossed paths with in his life, his mind longed to have him go to hell--a fiery pit with no loving angels or music, a realm so horrifying and real to him that obviously held no hope of redemption.

/But soon enough you're gonna think of me/

"No!" shouted the pitiful child in Katsuya's embrace. "No more! I don't want to go there anymore!"

Wheeler raised his brows, shocked by the violent reaction. "The hell?" he cursed as he attempted to hold onto the male struggling in his limbs. "What now?"

"Let me go!" yelled Kaiba. Losing himself in the detrimental stream of his feelings, he clawed at the blonde's chest. He was frantic. There was no way out--or so it seemed. This time, he would succeed in evading the terror of his early childhood, effectively evading the skeletons of his closet. "Now! I'm not going to live through this anymore!"

"Jesus! The fuck has gotten in to ya?" swore the honey-haired male. The more he tried to latch on to the executive and hold him steady, he risked letting the kid go entirely.

"You're not taking me down with you, you sadistic maniac!" Seto continued to rant, trapped in thoughts he never wanted to vocalize, twisting his frame in a blazing rage.

"Hold still!" commanded Jonouchi. "Just level the fuck out!"

"NO!" wailed the CEO. Digging his heels in the pavement, he thrashed viciously, jerking against the strength of his acquaintance with all of his might. Blood leaked from open abrasions on his toes from his efforts, be he didn't pay any heed to his frame. No more. No more would he allow himself to be strangled, drugged, injected with fluids not even tested on animals, raped by his father's associates--he couldn't live with himself. Not anymore. And certainly not like this. He'd rather be whipped and be bent over to be used as a footstool by Satan than be in his perverted parent's presence. He wouldn't go back to that graveyard of a home he was forced to grow up in. There wasn't a damn thing that anyone could do about that, either. "I'll kill myself before I ever let you fondle me again! I hate you! Do you hear me, you fucking lunatic? I hate you, Gozaburo Kaiba! I'm sick of this shit! So sick of it that I'm tired of living a lie!"

Clamping a trembling fist around the base of his throat, he slid his nails into his skin and began screaming.

/And how I used to be/