Jou gets a job!

Chapter 1: Hotdogs on a Stick??

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, the various restaurants mentioned, or much else, excepting my iMac and my 2003 wolves calendar. Even the fundraiser thing is from my school. Therefore, you cannot sue me. ^^

And everyone! Just pay pretend that they live in the USA for this! Okay? Good! ^^

***

Well, Jounouchi was broke. How did he discover it? His school was hosting a fundraiser for those who were going on the trip over the spring break. What was the fundraiser? Selling candy. One dollar each. And Jou? He was lucky enough to have Yuugi selling candy. Of course, Jou immediately pounced on his best friend and demanded some. Typical Jou! When Jou pulled out his wallet, he discovered something very interesting...there was an entire penny in there! Unfortunately, a penny isn't enough for the candy bar. Jounouchi left that day without a candy bar.

It continued for about a week before it finally hit Jou-he WAS broke, and it wasn't just him. Well, that made him happy to no end! As soon as he got home, he sneaked into his sister's room to grab a few dollars. But...

"Onii-chan, what are you doing in my room?"

"Errh!" Jou spun around guiltily. "Nothing, really..."

"Okay then. Now get out!"

Jou scrambled out of the room, and Shizuka slammed it shut. The boy sighed. Okay, that didn't work, now what? Jou dived for the phone, and dialed the first number that came to mind-Ryou's.

"C'mon, answer already!" After a few rings, Jou slammed down the phone, just as Ryou picked it up, leaving the boy confused. Jou growled, and dialed another number. Anzu's. Who did, in fact, pick it up right away.

"Hello?"

"Anzu! It's me!"

"Great...what is it this time? And I'm not doing your math for you again, Jou!"

"Aw, but--wait, that's not it! Can I borrow some money?"

"Jou, why don't you just get a job and get that money yourself?"

Jou stared in wonder for a moment. "I never thought of that..."

"Do you ever think at all, Jou?"

"Yes. Thank you Anzu!" Jou slammed down the phone. Get a job! How simple! And he knew the perfect place-the mall. More importantly, the mall's food court.

But it wasn't as good of a place for jobs as he thought. McDonald's was fine, and Taco Time didn't need any helpers...

There was one place that actually needed help. And begging at all the others didn't help much, so he just took the job. It turned out they had only two workers out of three for one of the shifts, and they needed help. Jou took the job and went home, happy.

The next day, Jou went into the place about four hours early. He sulked against the wall for a while, then fell asleep to pass the time. Three hours and forty-five minutes later, he woke up, and looked around. He sighed, and sulked around the area for the remaining fifteen minutes. He looked up at the place's name.

"'Hotdogs on a Stick?' What kind of a name is THAT?"

He looked at the uniforms, which were hideously bright yellow, blue and red. The boy shuddered. Being too obsessed over the fact he was getting money, he didn't realize where he was working. Or who he was working with. Or anything, for that matter-he just wanted a candy bar.

Muttering to himself, Jou changed into the bright costume, By the time he returned to the restaurant he found out who else he was working with.

Seto and Otogi.

"That's it!" The blonde screamed. "I'll actually WORK, and wear these nasty uniforms, but there is no way in hell I'm staying in the same place as you two!"

The other boys looked at each other, sweatdropped, then stared back at Jou. Jou glared back then suddenly looked confused.

"Kaiba, what are you doing here? You don't need a second job..."

"I do now."

"Why?"

Seto glared. "It's none of your-" Otogi broke in with a snicker.

"Kaiba's little brother got his hands on his credit cards...and Mokuba bought lotsa stuff...namely a giant 200 feet tall teddy bear stuffed with jewels! So now the billionaire's broke!" Two of the employees dissolved into laughter while Seto wished that looks would kill, because then both would be dead.

"It's not funny."

"Yes it is!" they shouted back. Seto growled in response, then ignored them. So the shift started.

***

Jou sighed, slumping over the counter. It was so boring...Seto, noticing that Jou was falling asleep, started screaming for him to work. Jou glared in return, then looked down at the hot dog he was supposed to be serving. He glanced sideways and smirked. Turning quickly, Jou flung the food at the unknowing Kaiba, with perfect aim. The boy started giggling, though stopped dead when Seto hurled a soda in return. Pretty soon, ketchup, relish, and hot dog buns were sailing through the air between the enemies. Otogi sighed.

"You bakas, what th-" Otogi immediately got a face full of mustard. Growling, he seized a hot dog and flung it at Jou, Jou surprisingly showed enough initiative to duck, and it smacked into the side of someone else's face. The food stopped, and everyone stared for a while. All three gulped, recognizing the pale hair, at least. Otogi cringed, and ducked in an attempt to hide as Bakura stalked over. Jou and Seto looked at each other.

"Dice boy did it!"

Otogi appeared, cursing at them both. Bakura nodded, the dove across the counter, throttling Otogi and screaming profanities in Egyptian. The pother boys backed away, and Ryou, who was nearby, smacked his head. After a while, security ran up, pried Bakura off Otogi, and kicked all four boys out for 'causing disturbances within the peaceful air of the mall,' or some weird crap like that. Anzu and Mai, who were going to go inside, stared at the pile of people and food. Both sighed, and Anzu prodded Jou experimentally.

"Tried your luck?"

Jou glared. "'Get a job!' you said. ' Make money!' you said! Well it didn't work!"

"That's because you were busy disturbing the peaceful air of the mall!'" The girls rolled their eyes and walked around the heap. The said heap growled, thrashed for a moment, then parted, glowering at each other.

As he went home, a thought struck Jou. He still didn't have enough money for a candy bar. Jou kicked the curb out of spite, then started to hop on one foot the rest of the way home. Damn, that hurt!

Shizuka looked up as her older brother hopped inside, cursing Seto, Otogi, hot dogs, food, candy bars, Bakura, uniforms, fast food places, money, and 'that damn curb!' She blinked.

"Onii-chan, how was your day at...work...?"

Jou responded with a new volley of curses, and stomped-well, hopped-off to go take a shower. Shizuka blinked again.

"I think he's unhappy..." She sighed.

***

Jou was now sitting in normal clothes on his bed, trying to pick a piece of relish that he missed out of his hair. Flinging the offending thing aside, the blonde flopped onto his back, muttering about the waste of a perfectly good Saturday. And still, no candy bar! Jou grabbed a pillow and flung it against the wall. Stupid fundraiser, stupid price, stupid stupid stupid! How the hell was he going to get money now!? He groaned, flinging an arm across his eyes. He could try working there again, but after that? Jou winced. He began to muse, then discovered he still had bun crumbs in his hair. Screaming curses, Jou went to take a second shower.

***

And that ends chapter one. And considering the fact I wrote that in school, that wasn't that bad...and reading is the most evil subject EVER!! GAH!

Seto: Serves you right.. ~.~ (picks a similar piece of relish out of his hair, stares at it)

Otogi: So then, is Jounouchi a natural blonde?

Jou: Har har, very good, dice boy! 'Specially with hitting Bakura in the face!

Otogi: Shut it. -_-

Jou: ...What the hell is a penny?

[facefaults] Dear Ra...JOU!

Jou: What?

Just...nevermind...that's it, you WILL be watching Pokémon now! BWAHAHAHAHA!

Jou: NO!

Hey, you'll get money for it...

Jou: Money...pfah. CANDY!! YES! Review so she continues it...and...I...get...CANDDDDYYY!

That's right Jou... oo

Errh, right, review so...Jou can get his candy bar. If I decide to *let* him...

Jou: You will! YOU MUST!!!

Right. Review so Jou can get his candy. On the count of three!

...THREE!