by Lethe
Chapter Three: Beginning
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(mumbles) I'm writing like Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket… ('Let's all be friends!')
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This has to be one of the shortest chapters I've ever written for anything.
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How did I end up here? thought Kaiba. He was in a café, sitting across from Jonouchi the mutt, who had actually asked to speak with him and was now finishing off a rather large bowl of ice cream. I wonder if he expects me to pay?
Kaiba took a last sip of water and put the cup to one side. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I just wanted to say something…" said Jonouchi hesitantly.
Well, spit it out! "Go on."
The words rushed out. "I'm sorry for insulting you. Can we be friends?"
"…What?"
Jonouchi gulped and repeated himself.
"Well…" said Kaiba slowly. Jonouchi was actually making an effort to talk to him, and he had apologized? This was unlike him, Kaiba had to admit, but could he have been sincere?
What should I say?
Do I really hate him that much?
Does he really hate me? Jonouchi watched Kaiba, waiting for his answer. Why shouldn't he? I've been so rude to him… though not without provocation, he thought glumly. Right about now, he'll probably get up and leave, or say something cruel, like –
"I'm sorry as well."
What?!
"I realize that…" Kaiba paused, and continued quietly. "I wasn't very polite to you either. I don't know what brought about your sudden change of heart… but…"
He's sorry too…?
"If you're really willing to forgive me, then I am willing to forgive you as well." Kaiba extended his hand awkwardly. "Let's be… friends."
Jonouchi grinned and shook Kaiba's hand. "Yeah."
"So…" said Kaiba seriously.
"Yeah…?"
"Are you going to pay, or am I?"
Jonouchi winced and pulled out his wallet. Empty. "I'll… uh… pay you back later, I guess."
"Forget it," said Kaiba, waving for a waitress.
***
"…So we're actually friends now!" said Jonouchi happily.
Yugi smiled. "I'm proud of you, Jou. Not many people would have the courage to do that."
"Yeah," agreed Anzu. Her eyes danced.
Jonouchi quickly spoke before she could turn this into a lecture. "And he paid for my ice cream, too."
"All right!" said Honda.
"That was really nice of him," said Yugi thoughtfully. "Of course, I'm kind of surprised that he apologized as well."
"Yeah, me too."
"Awwww," said Honda mockingly, "but who's gonna call our little Jonouchi a dog now? I guess it's up to-"
"Heyyy!" yelled Jonouchi. He pulled Honda into a death-grip around the neck. "Don't you ever-"
Honda flipped Jou over his back and onto Yugi's couch. "Don't I ever what?"
Then they all laughed and the conversation turned to other things.
Namely, what kind of pizza they should order, and how much they thought Jonouchi and Honda could eat.
***
Seto lay back in bed and reflected upon the day's events.
As he drifted into sleep, he smiled.
Thank you, Jonouchi.