Author's Note: Surprise! Since we are approaching the end of this story and I've been staying on top of writing, I'll actually be able to post two chapters a week until this story is done. And no, it's not an April Fool's Day trick!

Anyhow, this is my new favorite chapter. Who knew writing egotistical assholes could be so much fun?

I hope you enjoy!

Bon appetite!

Bakura didn't give much thought to his conversation with Mai. Aside from seeing her and his brother hanging out together (which was still incredibly awkward), Bakura put her away from his mind as he doubled down on job application. Ryou and Mai were both right in saying that Bakura didn't do well as an unemployed man. With the constant temptation to get back into crime, Bakura felt it imperative to make sure he didn't fall back down that slippery slope.

The week following that conversation, Bakura found it slowly became easier to avoid thinking about Marik and Ishizu. The memory still stung and hurt, but he found that he didn't freeze every time his thoughts got dangerously close to the Ishtar family. He found it easier to avoid thinking about them as he became absorbed in his job search. Despite these efforts, he realized that thinking about Marik was inevitable. And with that would come the pain. He would simply have to deal with the heartache.

Bakura also realized that despite everything he felt now, he would gladly do it all over again for Marik. He didn't care how much it hurt and how it ended. Logic dictated that Bakura should have avoided the shitshow that had been his life with Marik. And yet surprisingly, Bakura found himself willing to go through it all again. Despite the pain, he still thought fondly on the warmth of Marik's smile and bright lavender eyes, cracking some lame joke while they played card games.

I've turned into such a softie.

Bakura shook his head of those thoughts as he continued to fill out his application at a smoothie shop. He figured his experience with Marik certainly qualified as viable work experience. God knows how many smoothies they ended up making. Bakura checked his email, refreshing it for a moment before going back to his application. Ryou mentioned putting in a good word with his boss to see if they could hire Bakura as part-time. The thief wasn't sure if that was a good idea, but he appreciated the offer.

Bakura stopped in mid-sentence when he spotted a notification in his emails. He knew it was likely another refusal, but it never hurt to check. Bakura felt himself pause a moment when he saw the email address coming from Kaiba Corp. He didn't want to get his hopes up, but Mai said she could put in a good word. Does she really have that much sway over them? He took a deep breath. It was pointless getting excited over nothing. It was another decline. But why did he feel so…?

Bakura blinked as he opened the email, asking if he could come in for an in-person interview.

Bakura remembered several years back when Ryou was finishing up his degree and going to job interviews. Every time, Ryou seemed to stress himself out unnecessarily for each position. Bakura didn't really understand why Ryou would give himself a headache each time. It seemed like a lot of build up for an hour-long Q & A session. He figured Ryou was just anxious – he always had been an overachiever after all. Ryou had always had the habit of giving himself gray hairs unnecessarily.

Now that their roles were reversed, Bakura found himself pulling at collar nervously as he sat in front of his interviewer. Bakura was known for being a little cocky, but something about being put on the spot and interrogat- interviewed for a position made him feel very insecure. He was afraid to say the wrong thing and screw up his chances. He didn't think he would be intimidated by suits of all people. Though perhaps the person interviewing him wasn't really helping his case.

It was hard to stay calm and cool when Seto Kaiba was the one interviewing you.

Bakura took a deep breath, resisting the urge to fidget in his seat. Seto sat in front of him reading the albino's portfolio. Bakura had been stunned when he heard back on an IT tech position from Kaiba Corp. If anything, he felt downright hopeful. The only big things setting him back were his lack of a high school diploma and apparent work experience. He knew Kaiba was only interviewing him because Mai must have told him it would be worth his time.

I really can't screw this up. I have to do well in this interview. Bakura took a deep breath, forcing his hands to stay still in his lap. It was agonizing sitting there in silence as Kaiba looked at his rather measly portfolio. Since Bakura lacked work experience that he could put on his resume, he had made up for it by showing examples of his work. He figured he could show he was competent on a computer. The tricky part was that some of the things he was rather gifted with on a computer could result in some heavy fines if he wasn't careful.

Kaiba finally snapped the file shut, his blue eyes drifting upwards. Those icy eyes could give Ishizu a run for her money. Bakura said nothing but met his gaze, his dark maroon eyes unflinching. "So, Mr. Bakura," Kaiba began, his face revealing nothing. "From what I gather here, you're a high school dropout who's never had a steady job in his life. You instead spent all of your time freelancing and now you're looking for a full-time job. And I'm supposed to believe you're actually capable enough to handle Kaiba Corp's high-security IT equipment?"

Bakura, without even realizing, snorted. He hadn't meant for the noise to escape, but he couldn't stop the sarcastic voice in his head that mocked Kaiba's definition of "high-security." He knew that was a mistake when he saw Kaiba's expression darken. "Is there something amusing in my analysis that you'd like to share with me?" Fuck. Keep it cool. Don't panic. Bakura cracked a knuckle as he returned his focus back on Kaiba.

"No sir, nothing. Just a passing thought." Bakura realized how stupid his excuse was when he said it out loud, but he kept his composure. He could at least try to sell the lie than admit that the truth. Kaiba watched for a moment before a small smile grew on his face. That alone caused Bakura to grow more panicked than before. Kaiba smiling has got to be one of the most terrifying things I've ever seen. Kaiba leaned back in his chair, interlocking his fingers as he held them up.

"Alright then, why don't we start from the beginning, Mr. Bakura? Care to explain why you flunked out of high school?" Bakura bit back a sharp retort, the CEO now starting to piss him off. He considered lying to Kaiba just to get him riled or at least defuse his urge to swear at his prospective boss. Bakura settled for glaring angrily at Seto. He needed this job, but he didn't have to act like he was happy with Kaiba, right? Working with Yami had done little to prepare Bakura on how to deal with potential employers.

"I wouldn't call it flunking so much as needed work experience. My parents died in a car crash and I didn't want my brother and I to end in foster care. So I did what I had to in order to keep us together." Bakura technically wasn't lying with those statements. He just failed to mention that by 'doing what he had to do' meant going into crime. What Kaiba didn't know wouldn't hurt. To Bakura's surprise, Kaiba seemed to accept that answer, the smirk on the businessman's face disappearing.

Huh. Well, I'll take it. Kaiba glanced down at the folder on his desk for a moment before returning to study the albino. "So you took on odd jobs for the past 9 years? What makes you think that qualifies as enough experience for the job I'm offering?" Bakura raised an eyebrow, wondering if he should try pressing his luck. He could question his employer back right? Answer a question with a question? The websites recommended asking employers questions after all.

"Why would you even bother interviewing me now if you didn't think I was qualified?" Bakura asked back. He wasn't sure if it was guts or genuine curiosity that drove him to ask. He decided guts when he saw Kaiba frown at him. "I don't think you're qualified. I was ready to toss this application in the trash when Mai called and told me to give you a shot. That you were rather good on a computer." Bakura chuckled as glanced around the room, muttering under his breath. "Well, she wasn't lying."

Bakura suspected his snarky attitude and comments were not winning him brownie points with Kaiba and contemplated backing off. He needed to appease the leviathan instead of goading it. Kaiba stood up as he grabbed Bakura's file. The smirk was back on his face, much to Bakura's dread. "I know Mai enough to know when she's telling the truth. If she says you're good, I imagined some elite, unknown tech whiz to walkthrough my door, not a high school dropout whose experience with computers is limited to downloading games illegally from the internet. So why on earth should I let you near my high-security computer system?"

Bakura hadn't meant for it to happen again, but he couldn't hold back another snort that came. The nerve and arrogance of this asshole is through the damn roof. No wonder Yami loves pissing this fucker off when he gets the chance. Bakura never thought he could meet someone who would make Yami's ego look small, but now he stood corrected. The fact that Kaiba thought that he owned not only his company, but also all of Japan was truly spectacular to behold.

Perhaps it was the fact that Kaiba didn't know jack shit about what Bakura was capable of and what he had been through. Perhaps it was the condescending attitude of this rich, snobby brat who clearly didn't know his place in the world. Perhaps it was because Bakura had received one too many rejection letters while searching for jobs and the only interview he's gotten so far was with this arrogant son of a bitch. Perhaps it was just because Bakura was an asshole and felt particularly salty that day.

Either way, Bakura was fairly certain he wasn't going to get this job.

"Why don't I show you my skill set and you can judge for yourself?"

Bakura stood outside of the main gate of the building, glancing down at his watch. He had called Ryou after his interview was cut abruptly short. He spotted the tan vehicle pulling up to the side, Ryou speeding to the corner and only stomping on the brakes when he had to. Bakura took this as a bad sign, as he glanced down at the passenger door. He knew he shouldn't have pushed his luck, but the opportunity had been far too golden to pass up.

As Bakura got settled in the car, he glanced over at Ryou, who had a lead foot on the gas today. Ryou didn't even glance over at Bakura, but he could tell his twin was royally pissed at him. He decided now would be a good opportunity to change the topic, or rather at least get Ryou to think of something other than Bakura's failed interview. "So did you have a good day at work?" Bakura asked as he glanced out the window.

After two minutes of silence, Bakura rolled his eyes as he looked over at Ryou. His younger brother glared up at the red light with such intensity. Bakura decided to address the elephant in the room as he turned his gaze outside the window. He swallowed the hard lump in his throat, knowing exactly what was going to follow after he tried to explain himself. But his pride demanded that he did something. He bit his lip before sighing.

"So I don't think I got the job."

It was as if the ice in the room finally shattered, Ryou snapping his head around to glare at Bakura. The outraged expression on his twin's face would have been comical had it not been for the fact that Bakura was the focus of said rage. Bakura just chewed on the inside of his cheek, resting his forehead against propped arm. The fingers in his hair tightened as he heard Ryou finally speak for the first time since he got in the car.

"I could have told you that, you idiotic prick." Bakura glared at Ryou from the corner of his eye. His twin had enough self-preservation to not go completely off the rail and remembered to drive. Still, Bakura never knew when to quit. "Don't make it sound like I fucked up horribly. It's not like I didn't try."

"Clearly you tried. Otherwise, I wouldn't be picking you up 46 minutes earlier than I was supposed to."

"Ryou, what do you want me to say? I'm sorry?"

"Oh, you're sorry? I suppose that makes everything better!"

"Tone it down in the sarcasm, will you? You make it sound like I committed a crime."

"You did commit a crime! You hacked the Kaiba Corp security system!"

"But I wasn't trying to steal anything! I was just showing that I'm skilled. I was proving a point!"

"Was the point you were trying to make that you were a criminal mastermind because that's exactly the point you proved!"

"I didn't really commit a crime! I just opened up the network and gained access into Kaiba Corp secrets. I didn't actually pull any secrets."

"Do you not hear yourself? What you just described is a federal crime!"

"But I didn't steal anything! My resume sucked so I had to spice it up a little!"

"By hacking into an agency secure network and hold them hostage?"

"I never held them hostage, I just wanted to emphasize my expertise in the field."

"Of theft, information leak, and hacking?"

"… Maybe?"

"I can't stand you."

Bakura let out a heavy sight, cringing away from his furious brother. It had been awhile since Ryou yelled at him and he was honestly getting used to the feeling. It was nice when they were on the same team. And although they still were, Bakura knew he probably fucked up that interview so terribly that they'll be lucky if Kaiba didn't press charges against him for his little stunt. Bakura knew he had been reckless and that his arrogance was going to be the literal death of him.

But it also had been so satisfying to see the horror on Kaiba's face as Bakura tore down his security network.

Bakura stole a glance at Ryou, who had raised a hand to rub the side of his temple. The former thief sighed as he leaned back in his chair, watching the buildings pass by. "… I really am sorry, Ryou. I didn't mean- … I wanted this job too, you know." Bakura spoke softly, trying to bite back his own feeling of defeat. How could he had been so stupid? Mai helped get him this opportunity. She came through and pulled some strings to get Bakura his first interview and he went and committed a crime against his potential employer.

Ryou didn't say anything for a while, just adjusting his hands on the steering wheel as he focused on the road ahead of him. Bakura figured he wasn't in the mood to talk and decided to drop the issue then. He was surprised when he heard Ryou start speaking. "I know you did you're best. Or I suppose your idea of what was best. Maybe I was putting too much pressure on you to get a job… I don't know. I just want you to be able to move on with your life and be happy and I'm afraid that you're not."

Bakura blinked before glancing at Ryou from the corner of his eye. He knew what Ryou was referring to and was thankful for his brother's tactful evasion of the topic. Bakura pressed his forehead against the window, the glass cool against his skin. "Hey Ryou…" Bakura started, his throat constricting before he shook off his darker thoughts. His twin didn't respond but Bakura knew he was listening. "… What if I can't find a job? What if no one hires me?"

Bakura heard his brother sigh. He stole a glance at his twin, feeling rather miffed when he saw Ryou roll his eyes. "Well that's one way to be a wet blanket on this conversation." Bakura scrunched up his face, pushing the issue further. "I mean it, Ry. I don't want to backtrack. But it's hard to find a job when I haven't even finished high school. And before you say it, I'm not going back to fucking high school."

Ryou didn't say anything for a moment, almost as if thinking over Bakura's predicament. "Well, what if you went back to school? Not high school, but you could take some college classes to get your high school diploma. You know that whole 'no child left behind' palaver." Bakura snorted, closing his eyes to block out the blurry images outside. "That's in America, you idiot." Ryou made a somewhat indignant noise next to him. "There's still a similar program that's government sponsored here in Japan. You can take a few classes and work part-time."

Bakura bit his lip but said nothing, considering that possibility. He had dismissed the idea of going back to school since he figured college was simply outside of his capabilities. No higher education institution would accept him, or at least that was what he had thought. With what Ryou suggested, he wouldn't have to make the walk of shame back to that festering pool of hormone-addled teens. College students were a more varied type, not just young students but even adults going back. I've never thought to try college…

Bakura glanced back over at Ryou, contemplating the possibility while also trying to think practically. If he could get into college, he wouldn't be making bank. Would Ryou be okay with that? I can't let him do that. I need to pull my own weight. "That won't be necessary." Bakura muttered, keeping his eyes focused on the city outside the window. He heard Ryou let out an exaggerated sigh. "And why not?" If anything, his twin sounded more tired than actually angry at this point.

Bakura leaned back in his seat, pulling at the tie at his neck to loosen it. "I can't make you do that for me. I don't want to be a financial burden on you. I'll figure something out." To Bakura's surprise, Ryou started laughing, rather sarcastically. He snapped his head around to glare at Ryou, his twin now smirking. "Oh no. Such a financial burden. You only have a bajillion yen in your bank account. Whatever will you do?"

Before Bakura could snap back, Ryou stopped at the light before turning to face him. The serious look on Ryou's face caught Bakura by surprise. "Bakura, you've been watching out for me all these years, doing whatever you had to not only keep us together, but making sure I never missed an opportunity. Whether I liked what you did or not is irrelevant to the fact that your job for the past 9 years allowed me to graduate high school, go to college, and keep the two of us together. Trust me when I say, I don't mind pitching in a little."

Bakura blinked, somewhat surprised by his brother's response. To Bakura, his work had always been a means to provide for him and Ryou. Bakura had been somewhat of the slacker in high school, more interested in how classes could benefit him in hacking his video games than providing skills for his adult life. When their parents died, Bakura wasn't thrilled about going into crime, but once he got in, he found that not only he had a knack for it, but also he rather enjoyed.

In the end, Bakura became a criminal to provide for his brother more than anyone else. His work sufficed and ensured that Ryou could go on to live a successful life. Let's be honest – Ryou was always going to be the successful one between us two. Our parents dying shouldn't change that. Despite coming to this conclusion, Bakura never considered the possibility that Ryou could be the one to hold down the fort while he got his life together. Bakura never thought about letting go of that burden.

Bakura looked ahead as Ryou turned the corner, their apartment complex coming into sight. The two didn't speak as Ryou parked the car, Bakura unbuckling his seat. He yanked off his tie as he led his twin inside. The two hopped on the elevator, the lobby relatively empty at this time of day. Bakura leaned back against the wall, digging around in the pocket. He smiled as he finally found a cigarette. After weeks of constantly forgetting to grab a pack, it was satisfying to finally have one in his hand.

Noticing Ryou glaring at him, so Bakura decided to wait until they got into their apartment before lighting up. He wasn't eager for another fight with his brother. Bakura tore off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch with his tie. He sighed as he grabbed a lighter, Ryou following more slowly into the apartment. As Bakura made his way to step out onto the porch, he heard Ryou call out from behind. "So do you want to apply to college?" Bakura didn't look back, but focused on unlocking the glass door.

"… Maybe."

Bakura waited until Ryou left the apartment for work to start his work on his laptop. It had been three days since his less-than-successful interview with Kaiba, and Bakura had decided to at least consider looking at some colleges. To be honest, the idea of taking classes and working part-time sounded very appealing to the former thief. However, there was no way that Bakura would admit this to Ryou. His twin had been feeling a bit vindictive for his liking and Bakura couldn't let his twin's ego get too big.

Can't have competition around here.

Bakura looked at some of the course offerings at Domino University. He had an abnormally large knowledge on computer science, so perhaps a programming degree wasn't completely out of the question. Bakura figured he could try computer programming since he knew it was something he was good at. In truth, he felt a little overwhelmed by all the options. Part of him wanted to stick with something he knew he was good at, but another part of himself urged him to try something different from the usual.

He had the time and money to do so, so why not? He had never thought to take art classes or history or even science. Bakura suspected he could take a wild guess at the stuff he didn't like, but for the first, he truly felt like he had a fresh start in life. And that scared him a little. It wouldn't hurt to try stuff new. Just a few classes here and there to see what works. Maybe history or something art related. I can definitely appreciate stuff of that value. Hell, Marik found he really li-

Bakura caught himself as he leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment. He took a deep breath as his eyes fluttered open to stare at the ceiling. He resisted the urge to berate himself. Most days, it was getting easier, but it still stung. Marik was the first person Bakura really opened up outside of Ryou in years. Whether he liked it or not, he had trusted and cared for Marik. He couldn't shake the guilt or the pain of ruining something that had become so precious to him.

Bakura was shaken from his bleak thoughts by a phone call. He glanced down at the number on his cell phone, not recognizing it. He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. At this point, he couldn't be picky about who tried calling him, especially if it meant a potential job interview or better, a job altogether. He answered the call, staring ahead at the wall, not getting his hopes up to early. "Hello, this is Bakura speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Bakura. This is Kaiba. I suspect no further introduction is needed."

Bakura just froze in shock. He hadn't expected to hear from Kaiba after his stunt at his interview a few days back. After many choice words and threats of lawsuit, Bakura quickly saw himself out before Kaiba could actually deliver on any of those promises. He had a very bad feeling if Kaiba was calling him now. That wasn't mean Bakura was going to pussy out now. Fucking bring it. "Hello Mr. Kaiba. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Bakura smirked as he heard something resembling a grumble on the other end of the line. "I wouldn't say as much pleasure as it was pain. Thanks to you, our computer system was down and we've only just got it back to operational. Hence, why I am calling you now." Bakura bit his lip, glad that Kaiba couldn't see his face. This would give him time to regain his composure to give back some snarky response. If Kaiba was going to sue his ass into his next life, he may as well have his fun now. "And what business do you have with me today?"

"I'd like to offer you the job."

Bakura had to remember to hold on to the phone, not believing the words that he just heard. He wants to… what? "The fuck?" Bakura didn't even think to censor himself, still reeling in shock. He had figured Kaiba was planning on threatening him with lawsuits and court dates. Instead, Kaiba offered him a fucking job. He heard Kaiba scoff on the other line. "A job. It's that thing you interviewed for and failed at an extraordinary level."

So Bakura hadn't imagined the offer. Bakura's initial shock wore off as he grew suspicious. "Why would you offer me a job? If I recall, I shut down your security network for three days. I believe the words you used to describe me was 'a fucking asshole and sorry excuse for a human being.'" Bakura suddenly realized he should probably not bite the hand trying to feed him. He also should consider cleaning up his language towards his potential employer.

But this was Kaiba. So Bakura honestly couldn't give a fuck what he thought.

He heard Kaiba laugh rather sardonically before replying. "Please. I hire people based on skill alone. You clearly know what you're doing and I'd rather employ that skill than have it go to one of my competitors. And you're still an asshole. I couldn't give a shit about you. But I'm willing to gloss over some your less redeeming qualities to get your skill set under my employ. I'm not the type of guy who hires a person based on their likable personality. Otherwise, I would've been out of a job years ago."

Bakura leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed. Honestly, everything Kaiba had just said made sense. If anything, it wasn't even shocking from Kaiba's perspective. The CEO was far from likable in every sense of the word, but his personality wasn't what made Kaiba Corp so successful. It was his analytical and brutal business sense that made the billionaire he was. Kaiba didn't have to like Bakura – he just needed the albino to work for him. Bakura realized the same applied for him.

Bakura smirked, feeling rather amused by this turn of events. "Alright, Kaiba. Sure. Why the hell not?"