Okay, well, this is my first ever fanfic, so constructive feedback is appreciated, but please no flames. Thanks! Also it's for my sister because she wanted to see one of these. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, obviously, or even the actual storyline here because I'm not Kazuki Takahashi or Charles Dickens.

Edit: Okay, I realize it's been, like, forever since I marked this for revision, but I've been busy! Honest! Besides, I thought it would be best to revise it during Christmastime, so here's the first revised chapter. I added a scene and changed another a bit.

Chapter 1

Seto Kaiba was a cold and greedy man. He ran a large gaming company known as Kaiba Corporation. Kaiba Corp was open every day of the year, even Christmas. When his employees complained about this, Kaiba fired them; he refused to deal with "insubordination."

One Christmas Eve, Kaiba was sitting in his office, barking orders to his assistant, Joey Wheeler.

"Make sure that good-for-nothing Roland doesn't try to get back in with the company. I won't tolerate it if I even see so much as a phone number for that man."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Kaiba," Joey said, making a note of this. He especially didn't want Roland back; the job he currently held had once belonged to Roland.

The secretary called, saying that Kaiba's brother Noah was here to see him. Kaiba groaned. "Send him in," he said grudgingly.

"Hello, Seto!" Noah said, popping his head into the room. "How's my favorite brother doing this fine Christmas Eve?"

"First off, Noah, I'm your stepbrother. Second, what do you want now? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Just wanted to know if you were coming over for Christmas dinner tomorrow," Noah said. "Mokuba would really like to see you, I'm sure."

"No thanks, Noah. I'm busy."

"Oh, come on, Seto! You never come to visit anymore. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you didn't like your own family."

Kaiba didn't tell Noah that he had just hit the nail on the head. He figured it would be a waste of time to point out the fact that he couldn't stand Noah. Instead, he kept working, pretending that his stepbrother hadn't said a word.

Noah wasn't about to take no for an answer. "I insist, Seto! You're coming. I'll even send a ride so that you don't have to waste your own resources." Silence from Seto. "Hm, I see I should have brought Mokuba with me."

Kaiba glared at Noah. "You always have to drag Mokuba into these things, don't you? Why is it that you think I'll do whatever you say if you just throw my real brother's name around like that?"

"That depends. Are you sure you won't come over for Christmas?" Noah asked. "I'm sure Mokuba will be horribly disappointed if you don't show. After all, your his only real family, aren't you? Come on! Don't ruin Mokuba's whole day with your stubbornness!"

Kaiba sighed, "Fine, Noah. I'll be there. But only for an hour. That's all the time I can spare for your pitiful holiday celebrations."

"That's good enough for me," said Noah as he headed for the door. "See you tomorrow, Seto. Oh, and I won't tell Mokuba how much you fought me about this. Wouldn't want your little brother thinking you're a scrooge, now, would we?" He winked as Kaiba glared at him.

Kaiba sighed. Joey shuffled his feet. Kaiba glared at him, wondering what this worthless employee of his wanted now. "Spit it out, Wheeler."

Joey jumped about a foot in the air. "Well, see, the thing is, if you're going to your brothers' this year, I was wondering if I could, maybe, have tomorrow off? I mean, it's Christmas!"

"Don't remind me. We have too much work to do around here. But I'm feeling generous, so I'll make you a deal. I'll let you have tomorrow off on the condition that you show up earlier and stay later the next day. Understood?"

Joey nodded. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Kaiba scowled. "Get out of here, Wheeler."

Joey hurried out of the room. Kaiba groaned, certain that Noah had caused his employee to ask for the day off. After all, the fact that he had agreed to go to that stupid Christmas dinner had probably just encouraged the deadbeat to ask for time off. Kaiba made a mental note never to cave to his stepbrother's demands again, even if his real brother was brought up in the conversation.

Packing up his things, Kaiba headed home for the night. Grudgingly, he told the secretary to inform the rest of the employees that the company would be closed tomorrow. Giving that punk Wheeler the day off meant that if he didn't give everyone the day off, he would be hiring all new employees after the holidays.

Maybe I should fire Wheeler for causing me so much trouble, Kaiba thought as he climbed into his limo.

"Mr. Kaiba, a moment of your time, if you don't mind."

Kaiba turned, irritation showing clear on his face, to face the man—or men—who had the gall to ask him for his time.

"What? Do I know you?"

One of the men shook his head. Kaiba noted, with distaste, that the pair was carrying a collection tin. "We're collecting donations for the poor. We were just wondering if you had any money that you would be willing to contribute."

"Hmm... 'The Poor.' I'm afraid I don't know anybody by that name, nor do I care to."

"No, sir, you see, this money is going to benefit those less fortunate. I'm sure they would all appreciate it if you could donate something, however small."

Kaiba pretended to think about it for a moment. "I'll make you a deal: I'll loan the poor some money, and they can pay me back in small increments."

"But, Mr. Kaiba, that's the whole reason we're giving them the donations! They don't even have money for food, let alone to repay a debt!"

"I don't do freeloaders!" Kaiba snapped. "If they want my money, they either have to earn it or be willing to pay it back, with interest. Is that clear?"

The men both shot Kaiba looks that quite clearly said they considered him less than human. "Yes, sir. Crystal."

As those nuisances walked off, Kaiba climbed into his limo, thinking of that song, "The Twelve Pains of Christmas." Wasn't charities one of them?

"If there's one thing I hate, it's people asking others to give up what they've worked so hard for just because they're too lazy to work for it themselves," Kaiba muttered. "Give my money to the poor... They can stay poor for all I care!"