Fairytale Roulette
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes
Nothing on TV. Figures. Maybe I should've gone over to Yugi's and help wit' the store. Jounouchi grimaced his laziness earlier upon refusing kindly his good friend's offer. He dragged his lethargic body over to the kitchen and raided the fridge. "Dang. Dad must've eaten the rest of the pizza I had in here." He pouted as he pulled out a soda and shut the small door. At the pantry he sighed in defeat, "I guess its cup noodles. Maybe I can talk dad into take out when he gets home." He prepared his meal and went back to the couch.
He drifted off some time between the boring suspense movie and obnoxious infomercials and didn't hear his father enter. The older Jounouchi shook his head at his kid sprawled over the sofa, "Get up lazy bum." He chided shaking the teen awake. "Is that all you been doin' since I've been working?"
The blond yawned and sat up and made room for his dad to sit. "Pretty much. Did a whole bunch of nothin' while you were busting your ass." He replied nonchalantly.
The older chuckled with another shake of his head. "No respect at all. Where's dinner? The very least you could do is cook and clean since you sure don't support yourself." He retorted and made his way to the kitchen.
The younger still yawning, followed, "I can whip you up some shrimp flavored cup noodles, your grace. Or a more traditional bowl of rice if you like." He asked folding his arms across his chest. "I'd work and buy groceries but it's against school policy. So no lobster dinner, what would you like
Jounouchi senior snorted. "We ain't got anything." He reached into his pockets and pulled out some cash. "Here."
"Aw thanks dad. It isn't even my birthday." Jounouchi feinted jubilee.
"Very funny. Go to the store and grab something for us to eat." He reached for his keys in his back pocket. "Take the car, it'll be safer than walking. Also, no stunts or funny business. Last thing I need is for you to get arrested or caught without a license." He rolled his eyes.
"You act like I've been caught before. I'm a fantastic driver." He remarked. "And if its that much a worry, I can just walk. It is just a few blocks away. We're not in the shady part of Domino anymore so I doubt anything-"
"And its that kind of jinxing that causes terrible things to happen. While you in jail or bringing home a ticket would be a headache, having you harmed would be the worst-"
"Okay dad I get it. Don't go all mushy on me." The younger quickly interjected. A few jabs back and forth, he was in the car and soon on the road.
Minutes later, he pulled into the grocery store. "What should I get? Let's see..." He roamed down the meat section and studied the prices, "Chicken sounds good. It's on sale too. We have rice at home... Oh maybe I should make some curry. We haven't had it in forever and dad likes that." He mumbled to himself. Let's see, carrots, potatoes... Jounouchi continued gathering ingredients and a few typical daily items he knew they were out of.
"Jounouchi! Hey man, it's been forever!" A young familiar voice called, getting closer and louder. The blond turned in time to give the kid a high five.
He parked his cart to the side and gave the boy his full attention. "Mokuba! Hey what's up? Yeah it has been some time." It was the younger brother of the infamous Seto Kaiba. "It's a bit late for you to be out." He stated with his arms crossed. "Why are you out and on this side of town?" He asked curious.
"Oh, yeah we just got back from Kaiba Corp. It's not that late - besides I don't have school tomorrow. They're remodeling all of the classrooms so there isn't any school for the rest of the week- that last storm we had caused a lot of damage." He explained.
"Oh yeah it was pretty bad. But this is still quite a ways from Kaiba Corp." He commented.
"This is the only place that has a particular kind of candy." He held up a bag of assorted chocolate, "I mean, it can be purchased online but when you get a craving for it, this is the place to get it right away." He furthered.
"So all this way for candy. Well, at least you got your priorities straight." The blond chuckled. "Well, enjoy your chocolate. You better get goin' before your brother comes looking for ya." Because I don't want to deal with that asshole.
"Oh no the candy isn't mine. It's for Seto. Yeah, I better go and find him before he gets mad at me for taking off-" His eyes searched about and landed on named older brother. "Seto!" He waved energetically.
No don't call that jerk over here! Jounouchi cringed and began side stepping away. His hand firmly on his shopping cart, he was ready to dash but those long dark pant suited legs were too quick and upon the younger and himself. "Looks like you found a stray mutt. Don't feed it, otherwise it might follow us home."
It took everything in the blond not to blow his top. "Seto, come on. That isn't nice at all. Don't be so rude to Jounouchi." He could hear the younger Kaiba plead.
The blond faced the bane of his existence with a mustered up false smirk. "No worries Mokuba. Your brother's bark isn't that bad. I don't care about his egocentric opinions nor does anything he say affect me because unlike him, I am a mature adult that doesn't need to belittle others to feel better about himself." Jounouchi remarked bold. Though inside he was raging.
Kaiba chuckled. "Very good mutt. A nice change of pace from your typical routine of yapping away in some pathetic attempt to insult me. I would almost believe this mock-maturity act if you weren't so bad at hiding your pissed off glare in your eyes. How silly. Unfortunately you still manage to make yourself look the idiot." The taller quipped coolly.
"You asshole. I am not an idiot. You're the one-"
"Oh see. There is the im-mature dog I know."
"Seto. Stop. He didn't do anything to you." Mokuba cut in frustrated. "Leave him alone." He insisted angrily.
Kaiba sighed heavily in relent. "Very well. It isn't like he is worth my time anyway. Let's go, Mokuba." With that the two brothers left Jounouchi.
The blond rolled his eyes and turned back to his cart. "Well that wasn't any different than any other time." He sighed with a shake of his head. "I suppose it could have gone worse - I could have tried to hit him again." He exhaled again. "He would have dodged and I woulda been on the floor - an idiot just as he states." He muttered to himself. His eyes glanced back and watched Kaiba disappear around the corner at the end of the aisle. Obnoxious jerk!
"Big brother, why are you always so mean to him? You don't do that with anyone else." Mokuba asked his brother as they stood in line.
"I act no differently to that pathetic monkey than I do everyone else." He insisted.
The younger shook his head in disbelief. His brother surely didn't think him a fool. "That's a lie. You go out of your way to antagonize him." He chided with a pout.
"I don't."
"You do."
"Mokuba, that's absurd. And this discussion is over. If he wants to stop being reminded of what he is, then he should start by bettering himself instead of remaining a waste of life." He stressed. I don't need to explain my dislike for that moron. He just shouldn't exist. The blond really did get on his nerves. He hated the other's personality, his voice - everything. That damn blond hair, those dark brown eyes, his stupid smiles and dopey expressions. He's pathetic. He's arrogant, too trusting, too- Kaiba mentally listed everything about the blond nuisance. He couldn't stand him!
The line continued to build with no advance. Two people in front of Kaiba and Mokuba got out of line to find a faster one. This put the two brothers next. But it was a little old lady that was holding up the line. "I'm sure I have it here. Hold on just a moment." She continued to dig inside her purse. It was apparent she was having a problem paying. A few minutes later, the lady sighed heavily. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I know I had more money than this. Please just take off the milk and sugar." She glanced up at her total and frowned. "And I guess you can take off..."
Mokuba pulled on his brother's sleeve, a sad puppy dog expression on his face. The brunet shook his head. "You're such a soft-hearted kid." He whispered before pulling out his wallet. He stepped up to the old lady and looked at the cashier. "Keep her items on, I'll pay the difference."
"Oh no, honey. I can't ask you to do that. It's over twenty dollars! I have money, I just-"
Kaiba frowned and handed the cashier the rest of the cash. "I have money too and you're not asking me, I'm doing this of my own volition." The cashier handed him the receipt and change. He gave it to the lady.
She smiled warmly. "Oh thank you. You are wonderfully kind and a generous young man. I haven't seen such kindness in a long time." She bowed slightly in gratitude.
The clerk began ringing up the brunet. "While I can definitely agree with you about the morals in today's youth, I am not as kind as you may think. Please just head on your way, I accept your thanks." He replied as nicely as he could. Her constant appreciation was growing tiring.
She laughed lightly. "Of course. I won't take much more of your time. You are truly a beautiful spirit. I must bless you with a reward of some sort."
Kaiba chuckled. Mokuba took his brother's wallet to pay while the lady kept talking. The older brother gave her a wry smirk. "I definitely don't need a reward. No offense, I have more than enough money. I don't need to take from the elderly." He assured.
"Oh no. I didn't mean money. I'm not a wealthy lady. I meant, a wish of some sort. A blessing. I'm sort of famous for helping those find their true happiness. Maybe I can help you find your true love?" She asked excitedly.
The brunet couldn't help but chuckle slightly disturbed. "Right... This conversation escalated to crazy territory rather quickly. No thanks. I don't believe in all that fairy tale mumbo jumbo. Have a nice night." With that he took the bags from Mokuba and the two made their way out the door.
The little old lady watched them go and she smiled. "Oh how strange. The spirits tell me you have already met your true love..." She sighed. "But your heart is closed and clouded in a thick curtain of denial." She said to herself a few inaudible words in his direction before heading out herself.
"That lady was kinda weird." Mokuba said as they stepped in the car.
"Exactly why I don't let you out with your friends so late - all the crazies come out." Kaiba stressed to the younger. "You need to be careful with who you help, while I think your heart is in the right place Mokuba, it can be dangerous." He warned.
"Aw you should have let that lady tell your fortune or whatever it was she wanted to do to you. You could have found your one true love, Seto." Mokuba mock scolded. A giggle escaping him.
Kaiba rolled his eyes and chuckled dryly. "Right. And I could live happily ever after in a Disney castle full of pixie dust and faeries." He added.
Mokuba laughed some more. "Well, it's a nice thought. What if you did find the one person meant just for you?"
"As if that would happen. There isn't such a thing as a fairytale ending. I'll say some people find someone they care for but the chances of a forever are so slim, it's laughable. I am perfectly happy with my life, I have a great company, more money and fame than I could ever need, and most importantly - I have a wonderful little brother. There isn't anything more I require." He assured.
Mokuba smiled, "Maybe one day you will find someone Seto. But you gotta be a bit more kind and open-minded if you want that person to find you." He said with a chuckle. Kaiba shook his head some more. The older started the car and they were gone.
Jounouchi exited the store, bags in hand. He checked his watch, "Okay. I took a bit more time in there than I planned. Ah wells, Dad'll just lecture me about dawdling like he always does." He mumbled with a lazy smirk. As he made his way to the car, he caught glimpse of an older lady seeming to have a problem with her vehicle. The blond put his things away in the back of his dad's car, and then made his way over to her. "Hi there, sorry I couldn't help but notice, is something wrong?" He asked kind.
The old lady shook her head in depressed glum. "I don't have any idea how it could have happened but I came out with my groceries to find my back tire is flat. Today has been a very stressful day. I've been trying to get a hold of my son but he isn't answering."
Jounouchi nodded slowly, surveying the tire - it was completely flat. "Yeah it's gone. Do you have a spare by chance?"
"In the trunk but I don't know how to do any of that. I wouldn't know where to begin. My husband used to take care of those things." She sighed.
The blond nodded and stood back up. "Alright. I have some tools in my car, let me grab them and I can change it for you." He made to do just that but she grabbed his arm gently.
"Oh no, that is too much to ask of you. Really. My son should call back any time now, I've already caused enough problems for others today. I don't need to inconvenience another-"
He shook his head and removed her hand from his arm, "It isn't an inconvenience. I want to help you really. What kind of person doesn't try to help others in a time of need?" He walked over to his car and fetched some tools. He returned with his dad's tool box and set to changing out her busted tire with the spare.
"I really appreciate this. It's hard to find young people with big hearts and I was blessed to be helped by two this evening. I should reward you for your kindness."
Jounouchi spared her a glance and smiled. "I don't need anything really. I'm quite happy with just knowing I could help someone. That's reward enough." He insisted.
"Oh that just makes me want to help you even more." She took a deep breath and snapped her fingers. "I am known in my neighborhood as the old godmother, you know. I'm known for helping those find true happiness." She informed.
Jounouchi quirked a brow and laughed nervously. Oh great. This lady is crazy, isn't she? "R-really?"
"I know, you young kids today don't believe in magic anymore but that is alright. When I look at you I can see it. You have someone that you really like. Someone you like but..." Her eyes narrowed as if she were trying to figure out a complicated riddle. "This person is very much someone you don't like. Hm. I sense a lot of turmoil and fear." She nodded. "And your true love."
Jounouchi chuckled. "True love? Like in a little girl's fairytale book? I don't think that exists in this day and age. And I'm not interested in anyone in particular." He tightened the bolts up and gathered his tools back in the box. "All done."
The lady nodded and waited for him to put the old tire in the back where the spare once resided. "Sometimes it is hard to see what is right in front of us. And it's scarier to let ourselves feel, when we're used to guarding our hearts. It's amazing but you're the second young man that I've read tonight where both have met their true love."
Jounouchi shut the trunk and picked up the tool box. He shrugged with a lazy sigh. "Oh yeah? And what did this other guy say? Did he believe in your fortune telling? Sorry, I'm not tryin' to be rude or cynical, it's just you gotta know it sounds a little weird."
She laughed. "Oh quite. But like you, he was very similar in writing this off as ramblings of a crazy old lady. But he helped me just as you helped, so I only feel the need to nudge you two in the right direction. You don't have to believe me, or do anything out of the ordinary. It is up to you to admit your true feelings after all. Have a great night and I really wish the best. Thank you again for helping a silly old lady."
Jounouchi walked away slowly and put his tools back in the trunk of his dad's car. He checked the time and grimaced. "Yeah he's gonna be pissed." He buckled up and took off towards home.
Just as he expected, his dad was waiting at the door, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. He tried to explain the little old lady and flat tire but it sounded only as a made up story. Jounouchi made dinner, his dad finally calming down after seeing he had chosen to make curry. Jounouchi entered his room and stretched. "Man that was some good food." He plopped down on his bed and yawned. "What a weird day." He muttered and soon drifted off to sleep.
Jounouchi's eyes opened to find himself surrounded by greenery. His ears twitched to the soothing sounds of leaves swaying in the wind. The smell of grass and subtle fragrance from flowers tickling his nose. "Where am I?" He rubbed his eyes and winced as a sharp fingernail scratched his cheek. "Ow. My nails are... long..." He studied his hands, fingernails were indeed in desperate need of a clipping! "Wait a minute... Why am I wearing an overcoat?" He stood to his feet and noticed his clothes were fancy, very fancy. His cheeks reddened as something else swinging behind him filled him with dread. "A tail? I have a tail?" He pulled hard and bit his lip in pain. The sound of rushing water caught his attention and he rushed through the woods to find it. Huffing slightly, he peered down into it to glimpse his reflection and he yelped! "I'm- I'm a..." He put his hands against his pointy ears atop his head and shouted, "I'm a fuckin' dog!" He grimaced.
Kaiba slid into the cold silky sheets and pulled his comforter over himself. He reached over and flicked the bedside lamp off and rolled onto his side. "I feel so exhausted today." He yawned as if his body agreeing with his spoken thought. Kaiba was stirred awake by the sound of... of all things, a rooster crowing loudly. Sun flittered in and warmed his features, he winced as its brilliance shone across his face. "Morning already? Impossible." He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He swung his feet over and instantly froze as his feet hit a hardwood floor. His blue eyes widened and he was speechless at what greeted his vision. "What the..?" What is this - a cabin? What..? Kaiba stood slowly and looked over to the window letting the light in. He pulled open the blinds fully and saw nothing but trees and hills. His eyes took in the cabin's interior and he just stood there dumbfounded. "Where am I?"