Smile
Part Two
by Lethe
Chapter Nine: When the Light Burns Out
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You know, I'm not exactly sure when in Battle City this takes place.
I'm not fond of this chapter either. _ Argh. Lately, I've been writing a bunch of junk, and this one took forever! There was so much schoolwork, I was practically writing two sentences every other day… (Well, not really, but it felt like it.)
And, in other news…
Wow. I've written more than fifty pages of this…?
My word. I have no life. ^__^
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Jonouchi smiled and began humming a cheerful ditty to himself as he walked on a sidewalk of downtown Domino. Things had been going really well lately – his grades, Seto, life in general – and he was in a good mood. Yugi's birthday was coming up, and he was out shopping for a present.
Seto hadn't been able to come with him; he had been persuaded to go with Mokuba and visit Shingo's family. (After a lot of pleading and sad faces, Jonouchi imagined. Seto hadn't seemed incredibly fond of that dog.) Jonouchi was kind of disappointed, but not too much so. He liked having time alone every now and then.
Now, what should he get for Yugi?
A memory flashed into his head.
"Wait, wait, I can guess this one…" said Anzu. She closed her eyes and pointed. "You, Jonouchi, want Duel Monsters cards. Honda, you want a new jacket, good shoes, or both. And you, Yugi, also want Duel Monsters cards." She opened her eyes and grinned. "Am I good or what?"
That was perfect! He would just get Yugi a bunch of booster packs. The only question now was, where to go? He couldn't go to the Kame Game Shop like he usually did – Yugi might be helping his grandpa at the register or something.
What about… Aha! That shop Otogi opened! Jonouchi mentally patted himself on the back. Katsuya, you're a genius.
"Thank you! Have a nice day!" said the boy behind the register cheerfully.
"Right back atcha," said Jonouchi. For some reason, he had expected Otogi to be there, but he should have known better. After all, the guy had a business to run. Too bad… he had almost been looking forward to seeing him again.
"Jonouchi?"
"Huh?" He turned around. "What are you doing here?"
Mai frowned at him and crossed her arms. "We haven't seen each other for a long time, and the first thing you say to me is 'What are you doing here'? Thanks."
The fact took a moment to register in Jonouchi's brain, but it did: Mai was standing in front of him. Huh. Look for Otogi, and find Mai. How weird was that?
"Uh, I mean, hi. So what are you doing here?"
She held up a plastic bag. "Shopping. What else?"
"…Right."
"Well, you're certainly talkative today. Are you going to take me out to lunch, or what?"
"Huhh?!" Jeez, she hadn't changed a bit. Come to think of it, though, Jonouchi had been getting hungry… "Yeah, I guess."
"This is the best you could come up with?" said Mai, surveying the place with mild disdain.
"Hey," said Jonouchi. "You're not allowed to complain unless you pay. Besides, I happen to think that Burger World's food is very good, thank you."
"You would," she muttered before relenting and entering the restaurant.
"How's it going?" said Jonouchi after their food had arrived.
"All right," she said with a shrug. "Battle City's been a breeze so far. Just the occasional weirdo to look out for…"
"Like the Eliminators?" Jonouchi snickered and took a bite of his burger.
Mai glared at him. "No. They're not that bad. It seems like Kaiba's rules are enforced quite well."
Jonouchi remembered several instances proving otherwise, and then decided not to comment. "So…" he said.
"So?"
"I don't know. Got anything to talk about?"
"Not really."
They were both silent.
"How are things going between you and Kaiba?" said Mai after a long moment. "Is he still picking on you? You didn't even twitch when I said his name."
"Uh…" said Jonouchi awkwardly. For some reason, he didn't want to tell Mai just yet. "Nah. We made up." And we made out, too. Bet you didn't know that.
"Huh!" said Mai. "I didn't expect that. So, what happened?" she said curiously, leaning forward.
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 smiled at the memory. "Not much. I just told him that I was sorry, then he said that he was sorry too, and we decided to become friends. We've been friends since… last autumn? I can't remember."
"Wow," said Mai. "It's been a while, hasn't it? Since we last saw each other, I mean."
"Yeah."
"I almost missed you," said Mai casually.
"I missed you too. The world is a quieter place without you." Jonouchi grinned.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She finished off the last her fries. "You know, this stuff isn't half bad," she commented.
"Took you long enough."
"What were you shopping for?"
"Huh? Oh, this?" Jonouchi displayed his bag. "It's Yugi's birthday present. His birthday is in a week."
"Really?" said Mai. "Well, tell him happy birthday for me."
"You could tell him yourself," said Jonouchi hopefully. "We're throwing him a surprise party."
"I'll see what I can do," said Mai, smiling.
"Well, see you," said Mai. "I've still got some major shopping to do."
"All right," said Jonouchi. "See you."
He turned around and began to walk away, when she called after him again.
"Jonouchi!"
"Huh?" said Jonouchi.
"What do you think Yugi wants?"
"Duel Monsters cards!"
"Great! Thanks."
"Bye, Mai," he said, beaming. All right! She's coming!
Mai smiled to herself as she went on her way. Next time we meet, Jonouchi… I'm going to tell you.
I wonder what you'll say?