Prologue
My name is Kariana Ushimato; I am nineteen years old and just finished my last year of high school. It's been about a week now and it seems that all my friends know what they're doing with their lives. But I'm still stuck. I'm an average girl with average grades and no real talent. I wasn't the best in class, I wasn't the best in PE and I can't even play Duel Monsters; what my town is especially know for! But that's only the least of my problems; my parents just kicked me out of the house. They told me I should be able to take care of myself now, that I'm an adult. I've never even had a job! How can they expect me to survive like this?! Anyways, so now I'm staying with my friend Tea until I can get my own place. So the first thing on my list is to find a job! One that will work around my schedule-if I ever get one of those-, that doesn't require any real experience, and pays good…Man am I screwed.
"So did you find anything, Kari?" Tae asked as she sat down at their booth in the café.
"No." Kari groaned, setting down the newspaper in her hands. "I just want to give up." She sighed.
"I don't want to sound rude, but I don't know how much longer you can stay at my place."
"I know, I know. You've stretched enough of your parent's rules for me." Kari stated, "Of which, have I told you how much I really, really, really appreciate it? I mean I really-"
"Okay, okay." Tae laughed, putting up her hands, "I'm sure I can get my parents to let you stay for another week or two."
"Thank you so much Tea! I love you, really I do."
"Let's not go that far."
"And why not?" Joey grinned, standing at the side of their booth.
"Oh, hi Joey." Tea said flatly, put off by his comment. Kari pulled the newspaper up to her face hoping Joey didn't already know who she was.
"Who's yer friend Tea?" he asked.
"Oh, um…" Tea didn't respond, knowing Kari didn't want him to know.
"You have a name doncha?" Joey asked Kari, pulling down on the newspaper. To Kari's dislike he got it away from her. He stared at her before busting a gut laughing. "I remember you!" Joey grinned, "You're the girl who-"
"Joey!" Tea scolded, looking at him harshly. Kari blushed, sinking down into the booth seat. Joey looked around, seeing all the people staring at them.
"Oh…oops." He took a seat next to Kari. "Sorry bout that. I'm not trying to embarrass you."
"Then don't say anything about that." Kari pleaded. The café was full of people who had graduated from their class and she did not want any of them to know that she was the one who-
"Hi, Tea!" Yugi chirped as he and Tristen entered the café as well.
"Hi, Yugi!" she smiled back.
"What you guys up to?" Tristen asked, hands in his pockets.
"Trying to find Kari a job." Tea replied, jabbing her thumb in Kari's direction. Tristen and Yugi looked at her a while before realizing who she was.
"Hey, aren't you the girl who-" Tristen started to ask as Yugi blushed.
"I know, I know!" Kari groaned, praying for any kind of escape. There was a paused silence.
"Um, some people are interviewing for a job one block down from here." Yugi said, "I'm not sure what it's for but they say it pays well and you don't have to of had working experience."
'You've got to be kidding me. No way that's for real.' Kari thought, 'But who am I to complain? An escape is an escape!' she stood up, pushing Joey out of the booth so she could get out. "Thanks, I think I'll go check it out." She said before running out. The group watched her leave then looked at Tea awkwardly.
"What? She's…desperate?" Tea stated, trying to make up an excuse for Kari's weirdness.
~*~
After Kari jogged a few strides away from the café she started to walk. 'Thank God,' she sighed, 'I'm still alive.' She looked up ahead and saw a sign that read 'interviews here' with an arrow pointing into a small shop. She would have to cross the street to get to it. She stopped and waited for the walk sign to turn on, surrounded by a few other people. She noticed a small boy about fourteen with long black hair and blue-grey eyes up in the front of the crowd. He looked a bit antsy but she didn't think much about it.
The traffic light turned red and the walk sign changed, saying it was safe. But in all reality it wasn't. Kari saw a red car speeding down the street with no sign of stopping. She looked ahead and saw the young boy step out into the street, unaware of the danger he was in.
"Look out!" Kari yelled as she pushed through the people after the boy. She caught him and they rolled to the side just as the car flew by. The driver never realized what had happened. She held the boy close to her body as she lay on her side in pain. She let out a wince as she sat up, letting him go.
"We need to move." The boy said, unsure of what else to say at that moment. He took Kari by the hand and helped her up and out of the street. He sat her on a nearby bench and looked at her sincerely.
"I'm sorry." He apologized as Kari look at her cut up arms. "It's my fault you got hurt!"
"Nah, it's not your fault." Kari reassured him, "That dumb driver didn't stop. You had the right of way." She smiled, easing his feeling of guilt. "I'm Kariana." She said, sticking out her hand.
"Mokuba." He said, shaking her hand.
"Well, Mokuba, where are you in such a hurry to?" she asked. Mokuba's eyes widened.
"Oh no! I'm late!" he grimaced, "I'm so sorry but my brother's waiting for me! Thank you so much Kariana!" he bowed before running off. Kari chuckled before standing up and making her way to the interviews with a slight limp.
'Can't believe I'm still going after all that.' She thought, 'Interesting how no one else jumped out let alone see if I'm alright.' She rolled her eyes at them mentally. She got to the shop and stopped. It was a type of nick-knack shop and the lighting was a bit dark. She shrugged it off and entered, having no idea what was about to happen.