by Lethe
Chapter Four: We Are Both New Here
(otherwise known as The Story of the Picture)
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Side Note: I had never actually thought about what the picture would be. But I got a ton of reviews wondering what it was! So, I racked my brains, and am now devoting an entire chapter to the subject. ::grins:: You have not gone unheard.
Disclaimer: I also don't own El Hazard. (Watch it! It's good.)
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"What picture?!" demanded Seto for the thousandth (actually, seven hundred and thirty-fifth) time that day. "Show it to me, Katsuya."
"It's nothin'!" protested Jonouchi. He was obviously lying; his face was flushed a bright and rather pretty shade of crimson.
"It is obviously not nothing," said Seto. "Show me, or I'll get Shizuka to. While Mokuba's watching."
Jonouchi gulped. "But… It really is kinda embarrassing…."
"I won't laugh, all right? I just want to see it." Seto raised an eyebrow. "Unless it's something involving naked people-"
"NO!"
"Then show me!" said Seto, who knew already that he had triumphed. "Otherwise, I'll never know for sure…"
"Fine…" said Katsuya. Contrary to common belief, he did know when to give up.
**Two Years Previous**
"Shizuka!"
"Hi, big brother! …Sorry I'm late," said Shizuka.
"It's all right, sis. I'm just glad you came." Katsuya grinned. It was his birthday, and he had invited Shizuka over. He would party with his friends, of course - later - but he wanted some private bonding time with his sister. They had, after all, been separated for a long while.
"So, what are we doing today?"
Jonouchi shrugged. "I dunno. Figured we could spend the day hanging out in town, then maybe rent some movies. That sound okay?"
"Yeah!" Shizuka nodded enthusiastically.
"Good." Jonouchi patted the girl's head. "Where to first?"
"You tell me. It's your birthday."
"…Right."
-
Jonouchi laughed. "Aw, man, that was great. How'd you get so good at video games?"
"Huh? I didn't do that well," said Shizuka.
"Who are you kidding? You had the high score, you were playing for almost three hours on one coin, and you think you 'didn't do that well'?" Jonouchi crossed his arms and sighed. "If I could be as 'lousy' as you, I'd have it made."
She grinned. "Okay, fine. I'm good. Let's get the movies now!"
"All right. I think the rental place is nearby…"
-
"El… Hazard…?" said Jonouchi, examining the case. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" said Shizuka excitedly. "All of my friends say that it's a really good anime!"
"Uh…" began Jonouchi before Shizuka interrupted him.
"It's about a boy named Makoto Mizuhara who's transported to the world called El Hazard along with his teacher – Masamichi Fujisawa – as well as Nanami and Kazuhiko Jinnai! They're all separated, and Makoto finds Fujisawa and together they save a really pretty lady, who turns out to be Princess Rune Venus. Oh! Also, they find out that Fujisawa has superhuman strength! And there's this race called Bugrom, and they're really evil and Kazuhiko Jinnai meets them and-"
Jonouchi raised an eyebrow. "If you know all this already, then why do we have to watch it?"
"Because I haven't seen it yet!" said Shizuka, employing her Cute Face.
Jonouchi shrugged. "All right," he said. Shizuka let out a cheer.
-
"Huh?!" cried Jonouchi. "What's going on?!" He had been saying that for the past half hour or so, and each time it got a bit louder. Shizuka paused the movie to explain again.
"See, Katsuya, they mistake Makoto for Rune Venus's sister, Princess Fatora, because the two are almost identical. And Fatora has been kidnapped by the Bugrom."
"So…"
"So there's a big inter-tribe meeting coming up, or something like that. They don't want the other people to know that there's trouble!"
"And, uh, what?"
"So they ask Makoto to fill in for Fatora!"
"But isn't Makoto a guy?" said Jonouchi confusedly.
"Exactly," sighed Shizuka. "They're making him dress up as a girl, and that's what's happening."
"Oh," said Katsuya. He was quiet for a moment. "So… he's in girl clothes right now."
"Yes." Shizuka smiled, thinking that all was peaceful again and they could get back to watching. Jonouchi frowned.
"Heck, I would make a better girl than that guy…" he mumbled in annoyance. "They could at least dress him in more girly-looking clothes…"
Shizuka leaned closer to Katsuya. "What was that?" she said. Jonouchi noticed immediately that the tone of her voice was that of someone setting a trap, and he shrank backward.
"Er, uh, nothing, Shizuka! Let's just… watch the show, shall we?"
"You said you would make a better girl, didn't you!"
As Jonouchi retreated to the edge of the couch, Shizuka advanced. "N-n-no! I was just joking! I didn't mean- Noooooo!"
**Present Day**
Seto stared at the picture, his eyes opened wide. He then clamped his hands over his mouth and doubled over, shaking.
"I didn't do that by my own will, all right?!" said Jonouchi.
"I- know- you- wouldn't…" struggled Seto, before bursting into laughter. "Oh my God! She- she- even tried to tie your hair up!"
Jonouchi winced. "That was a long time ago… Hey! It's not that funny, is it?!"
Seto had collapsed to the ground, and gone so far as to begin crying in sheer mirth.
"You said you wouldn't laugh…" said Katsuya with a pout.
"S-s-sorry… you just look so…"
"Go ahead, say it," said Jonouchi. "I looked stupid."
Seto shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "You look so pretty!" And he started laughing again.
Jonouchi groaned.
-----The next day.----------
Anzu, Yugi, and Jonouchi were walking to school as always.
Then Anzu looked at Yugi. And Yugi looked at Anzu.
They both looked at Jonouchi, and began cracking up.
"I never should have told you, either," muttered Jonouchi as the two giggled insanely.