Snapshots on Human Nature

By: ACE329

Disclaimer: I do NOT NOT NOT own Yu-gi-oh! ©

Summary: Seven sins, seven individuals who are particularly predisposed to a certain one. Who is a victim to wrath? To gluttony? To lust…? Find out. Ficlets.

Author's Note: I've been thinking about this idea for a while. I already have it determined who will be what, but if you want to see a certain character under the influence of a particular sin, let me know and I'll see what I can do ;)

Temptation 1: Greed- Seto Kaiba

It's a rich man's world.

At least, that's what they say.

Better yet, that's what I say.

If you want anything in life, the only way to get it is through waving a few wads of cash in the air.

Humans are selfish creatures. Once you look past the lies and recognize that money can persuade a person to do anything, only then will you be able to move up in the world.

Just name your price.

My brother is young and can't seem to understand this. Don't all children come into the world uncorrupted, untainted by the harsh reality we live in?

But I will make him see.

Last night, I was walking downtown with Mokuba. I had wanted to witness and observe- with my very own eyes- the success my newest dueling tournament was thriving in.

Even in the latest hours of the night, duelists perused up and down the streets frenziedly, looking for their next victim…or would they in turn become one as well?

Lights were flashing and music was blaring from seemingly everywhere, which sounded more like noise to me when mixed in with the excitable babble of the restless.

I could hear vendors advertising their products. I could hear bouncers arguing with rowdy- and undoubtedly inebriated- people. I could hear duelists' cries of victory and of defeat.

I could hear the laments of the poor.

Beggars thrive in the most convoluted and populated areas. My dueling tournament- which had gathered a few thousand extra people to this downtown location- was the perfect place for them to park themselves, unwanted, on my streets and plead for money.

It makes me sick.

I don't believe in charity.

It's all about Darwinism- survival of the fittest. Or, in this day and age, survival of the wisest. Most competent. Wealthiest.

So, upon passing an aged woman with a child by her side, when Mokuba had discreetly dropped a small amount of yen into her bag, I was furious.

"Have I taught you nothing?" I had hissed at my little brother as I ushered him away, "Beggars get nowhere with money."

But Mokuba stared up at me with his dark eyes, unflinchingly, as he said, "There's no way you could possibly know that. That lady had a kid with her-"

"It's a prop," I interrupted, brushing him off, "People do that all the time, dragging brats around to bring out the pity party. You shouldn't have wasted your money."

"I still don't regret it," Mokuba said stubbornly as he looked away.

I icily stared down at my little brother, my alleged protégé.

"Have you listened to one-too-many of the cheerleader's speeches on friendship and goodness? It's all verbal garbage."

"You mean Anzu? No. I think you're just overreacting-"

"And that's how you survive in this world, Mokuba," I snapped. "If you allow pathetic cases such as these nickel and dime your bleeding heart, you'll end up with no money. And then you'll be just like them."

"…Money isn't everything, Seto," Mokuba finally whispered, almost inaudibly.

I made a sound of disgust as we continued to roam the streets in a dead silence, for the rest of the time. I didn't talk to Mokuba, nor did he want to talk to me.

I didn't care.

I'm now sitting behind my giant mahogany desk in my grandiose office, polished to perfection. Crystalline lamps sparkle dimly from the faint glow of the light radiating beneath them, casting long shadows on my marble floor. Innumerable papers are scattered on my desk, mostly regarding contracts, bills and various other financial statements.

From the mail I had received today, the only envelopes that are in the trash are charity pleas, unopened.

Hm. With the sudden downturn in the economy, I had been getting a lot of those recently.

I am tempted to mail these organizations back. And on the inside of my letter, I'll be sure to write, "Stop wasting your time. You might have better luck looking for loose change in the seat of the couch you're probably lounging on, or in a gutter."

But I wouldn't want to waste a perfectly good envelope.

An annoying fly is corrupting the silence in my office. Without an apparent sense of direction, it buzzes by, back and forth, vacillating between corners of the room.

I stare at the disgusting creature warily.

The fly makes the mistake of coming near me.

Within a split second, my hand lashes out, brutally smacking the vile insect to the ground.

I no longer hear the buzzing.

I turn back to my work, basking under the glow of my computer screen.

Somewhere on the floor, a fly give its final twitch, dead.