Rent to Own

Author's Note:  Hey everyone! Thanks again so much for sticking with me... It was really interesting to hear all your thoughts in the reviews - thanks for giving me some things to chew on.  This is going to be the first of at least 2 parts I put up today - this one is short, and they'll be more plotty, but the next update after these will make up for that. :)

"What is it now?" He didn't even look up from the proposal he was reading. The boy didn't WANT to interrupt his work, but if he waited for a moment where he wasn't working... he'd be waiting forever.

Seto bit his lip. He was worried about his stepfather's reaction, but he had to know.  The curiousity had been burning in him for weeks now.  "Umm... I was wondering... if there was a Mrs. Kaiba."

The papers smacked down onto the desk as Gozaburo Kaiba glared up at his newly-adopted son. "What, hoping that a woman would go easier on you?"

"No! But you have a--" (don't forget to say it or he'll hit you again) -- "real son, so I thought--"

"--there must have been one? Oh, there was, all right." The smirk on the older man was downright disturbing. "You want to know what happened? I'll tell you. Go ahead, sit down," he motioned to the chair across from him, and Seto quickly climbed into it.

"So, how much is KaibaCorp's net worth?" he tossed out first, as usual. He never gave Seto anything he wanted before asking that.

"Two point six billion dollars," Seto quickly answered, hoping that his figures from the morning weren't already out of date.

Gozaburo gave a begrudging nod. "That's right. But it SHOULD have been around 4 billion by now. Can you guess what happened?"

Seto shook his head. "No, sir."

"That bitch ex-wife of mine ran off with the other half, that's what." he growled. "Ten years, she managed to trick me."

"Trick you? Sir?" Seto added quickly, remembering what happened last time he interrupted.

Gozaburo crossed his arms, sizing the child up. "You still believe in Santa?"

He shook his head solemnly. "No, sir." Mokuba still did, though. He'd have to find a way to keep it that way this Christmas...

"Easter Bunny? Tooth Fairy?"

"No, sir. I know they're not real." He tried to keep his poise as mature as possible, even if his legs were dangling off the chair.

"Good. Add this to your list. Neither is love, kid." He laughed, like telling a miserable child the world was even WORSE than he knew was fun.  "Never trust anyone. Anyone who tries to get in is either a pathetic weakling that'll leech you to the bone, or a scheming bitch that'll just use you. Either is more trouble than it's worth. Fear is real. Respect can be real. But love? Forget it." Gozaburo's eyes had that dark, 'remember this or I'll beat it into you' look to them again.

So Seto remembered.

He remembered when he watched orange-skinned women in sequined cocktail dresses, smiles botoxed firmly in place, sidle up to Gozaburo at all the stupid galas and events.

He remembered when he got a little older, and their creepy pageant daughters started sidling up to him.

He remembered when one of the rent boys would snuggle against him afterwards and try to talk about how he fucked LOTS of big stars, and he was just 'plain old Seto' to him. He could UNDERSTAND him. This wasn't just a transaction, this was DESTINY.

He remembered when one of the kids who had used to beat on Mokuba back at the orphanage's resume landed on his desk. He'd called them in for an interview just for a laugh, to hear the "I always knew you guys would make it, man!" spiel. As if someone stupid enough to fall for that would end up in a position like Seto's.

And he'd remembered when that scruffy lowlife Joey Wheeler had given him those blasted puppy eyes the moment he found out they both played Duel Monsters. As if that was going to make them instant BFFs.

There weren't a lot of lessons Gozaburo had given him that Seto took to heart, but that had been one of them.

At least, that’s what he thought…