Jounouchi groaned. His headache was getting really bad and the alarm next to him was making everything ten times worse than it was before. It was just another useless at the job for him, but it beat hanging around his small apartment with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.

Maybe I should do that.

I won't be able to keep living here for long.

Despite all of the blonde's attempts to be subtle, his father had somehow found out where he lived and broken in, then found Jounouchi's hiding place and took all the blonde's money. There was no way he'd be able to pay the rent that month and the landlord would kick him out in an instant. He didn't want that. Jou couldn't go back to living in his father's place. His bruises hadn't even healed completely yet and he'd been living apart from the man for two months.

As he was getting dressed, the dusty calendar hung on the wall grabbed his attention. He smiled slightly as he realized that it wasn't completely hopeless.

It's the thirteenth today.

There have been some shifts available since Wendy quit.

I could ask for those extra shifts and get enough money to cover what the old man stole.

Then, I would never be forced to leave this place.

"You're late" were the first words out of his boss's mouth when Jou entered the fast food place. He subtly glanced at the clock. Jou was actually five minutes early, but the later waiter who pointed that out to the boss got laid off on the same day for some bogus reason. Jou couldn't risk that. This job was all he had left, no matter how pathetic that was.

"Welcome to Cheesy Crisps! What can I get y-" Joey started, as he arrived at a table where two new customers just sat down. He stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed who they were, then gulped audibly before continuing as if nothing happened, "What can I get you?"

He prayed that the jerk would just order like any other customer and not make any trouble for him. He didn't get his wish. A bitter chuckling filled the awkward silence that followed Jou's question as Seto Kaiba smirked at him.

"Mutt. I am surprised to see you here. I never thought you would get any job, much less one so above your level of skill." the CEO said slowly as if Jou wouldn't comprehend what he was saying.

The blonde bit his tongue, stopping himself from lashing out at a customer. Doing that would surely cost him his job and Jou needed it. The blonde forced a smile and turned towards Mokuba who was glaring at his older brother.

"What can I get you, Mokuba?" he asked, hoping that Mokuba would order for the two brothers and save Jou the trouble of having to talk to Kaiba. Just before the younger brother could answer, Kaiba interrupted him.

"You could get us another waiter, preferably one who can hold a tray."

"I am perfectly capable of doing that. I'll show you if you tell me what you want to order." Joey gritted out, raising his voice a bit without realizing it. His life was already going down the crapper. He didn't need this from Kaiba, least of all today.

"Was that disrespect I just heard?" Kaiba asked, narrowing his eyes and raising his voice much higher than Jou's had been. People turned their heads towards them, and one of them was Jou's boss who was coming towards the table with a furious look on his face.

"Mister Kaiba, it's so lovely of you to join us today. Is he causing you any problems?" Jou's boss asked gesturing towards the blonde who was squirming under the unwanted attention. He telepathically begged Kaiba not to open his big mouth for once. He needed this job, not that moneybags would ever understand that.

"So far, I am not impressed with your newest hire," Kaiba said, then threw his and Mokuba's menus at Jou without looking at the blonde, "We'll have two burgers with a milkshake and fries for my brother, or is that too much for you to remember?"

"He isn't new, Mr. Kaiba. He just asked for an extra shift and got this one. If his presence is bothering you, I could change that." the old man said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

What is with him?

Sure, Kaiba's famous and all, but would it really matter if he lost one lousy customer?

"I'll let you know," Kaiba him with a smirk, still refusing to look at Joey. His boss turned around and sent him a death glare though.

"What are you still doing here? Mr. Kaiba told you his order. Why aren't you getting it? I'll dock your pay if that food ain't back here within the minute." the man spat. Jou swiftly turned and ran into the kitchen, tapping his foot impatiently as the cooks rang up the order, then bringing it back to the table all in 55 seconds.

"What is this?" Kaiba asked before Jou had even set down his tray.

"Your order?" Jou asked, getting a bad feeling about Kaiba's question.

"I wanted a chicken burger, not beef," the CEO said, then shoved the tray away disgustingly.

"You asked for a burger."

"Did I say I wanted beef?"

"You didn't say you wanted chicken, either!"

"You should've asked then, mutt. I knew your mind was too puny to comprehend a simple order."

Jou groaned and took the tray back to the kitchen, not wanting another confrontation with his boss. He should've known that wasn't the end of it.

"Mokuba's milkshake is supposed to be vanilla, not chocolate," Kaiba said casually as Jou brought back his chicken burger to the table.

"Big brother, just stop. It's fine." Mokuba pleaded seemingly hating the situation as much as Jou.

"No. It isn't. You're allergic and this mutt could've sent you to the hospital with his carelessness. How is that fine?"

Kaiba was raising his voice again and attracting the attention of the other customers. Jou had to make him stop. The blonde quickly grabbed for the milkshake that Kaiba was gesturing at, but his poor eyesight made him miss, slapping the milkshake towards the CEO instead of grabbing the cup.

Kaiba blinked twice, mouth agape and looking down at himself. His white trenchcoat drenched in chocolate milk. Jou had finally shut him up, but the blonde was far from pleased. If his boss cares about Kaiba's opinion as much as he claimed, Jounouchi would be fired on the spot. He had to do something!

"I am so sorry. That was an accident" he said, hurriedly grabbing some napkins and moving towards Kaiba.

"Yeah right!" the CEO yelled, getting up and telling Mokuba that they were leaving.

Please, stop!

My boss is coming over here.

"It was!" Jou pleaded, looking deep into Kaiba's furious eyes, begging him to understand how important this job was.

I am so hungry, Kaiba.

If I don't get my day's tips, I'll starve for who knows how long.

And I'll have to go back to my father.

"Jou, give me your name tag and apron, now!" his boss said, appearing right behind him.

"Boss, I-" Jou started frantically. His breathing was getting shallow. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Now!" his boss yelled. By now, all the customers had their eyes on Jou and the blonde could hear some of them laughing. He had never been so humiliated in his entire life. He wondered if Kaiba had ever felt this humiliated and hoped to God that the CEO would someday.

Jounouchi said nothing more, standing there with his head bowed down in defeat. The worst part was that, if there was even a tiny chance that begging the man on his hands and knees would've worked, the blonde would've gotten on the floor and kissed his feet in a heartbeat. But Jou knew there was no point. None of his coworkers cared enough to defend him. Everyone was too afraid for their own jobs, though Jounouchi knew most of them weren't as bad off as he was. As the blonde removed his apron and name tag and handed them over, a stray tear rolled down his cheeks and fell from his chin. Before the damn could break, he left the restaurant and sobbed loudly when he was outside. He just wanted to get home and the nearest bus stop was down the street. His thoughts were already consuming him.

I am going to have to have to beg pops to give me some money.

He couldn't have spent everything he stole, could he?

But, either way, I won't make enough to keep my place.

It took me months to land this job and that's because a neighbor knew the boss and pitied me.

I am pitiful.

Pathetic.

It's just not fair.

I've worked so hard for this.

I've never had to ask anyone for anything.

I've never had to beg before.

I've pushed myself so far to get where I am and now?

No apartment.

No food.

No job.

Nothing.

I knew you were cruel, Seto Kaiba, but I had no idea you could break me like this.

Though his tears were constantly streaming down his face and he was sobbing harshly, Jou looked both ways before he crossed the street. There was only one car coming his way and it looked very very far, but as he stepped off the sidewalk, he felt the wind knocked out of his as the same car ran right past him with the driver cursing at him to watch where he is going.

"Do you have a death wish?" the driver yelled as he drove past Joey.

I really don't know, stranger.

I really don't know anymore.