Out of the frying pan

Chapter 8:

The next morning at I.H.O.S Marik was ecstatic to find Jim sitting at the front door when he and Malik came. Jim told him that he escaped from Curt and was now ready to get back to work. Although Marik was happy to have his favorite hobo back and working, Malik noticed Jim to be a little different.

When Jim had gone to the front counter to take orders, Malik took a chance to talk to his yami about Jim's sudden change.

"…What are you talking about, Malik? Jim's fine."

"You mean to tell me that you haven't noticed the slightest change in his behavior? He's so solemn and-"

"Curt is a mean and sick freak. He could've done anything to poor, sweet Jim. Jim's probably just reeling from what happened, that's all. It's not everyday you get taken captive by your manager's archrival."

"I guess…" Malik surrendered, not wanting to push it any further.

A little while later, the restaurant started it's lunch rush and Marik, Malik, and Jim got back to work. Jim was at the register when a young man with a brief case and a business suit walked through the door.

Marik walked out of the kitchen at the same time and saw the young man walking toward him. "Uh… Can I help you?"

"Yes. My name is Kevin. Kevin Kane." He paused, "I'm here from the Domino Health Department."

"Hmm… Yeah, what does that mean?" Marik said, starting to get impatient.

"I'm a Health Inspector. I got a call yesterday from a concerned citizen saying there is an unsanitary homeless man working here… I'm here to check it out."

An alarm went off in Marik's head, "Oh! Uh, no way, man! T-there's no hobo here!"

"Then you don't mind if I search the place?"

"…Sure! I mean, just a minute. I've… gotta go wash my hands." He stumbled backwards over to the counter and grabbed Jim's hand.

Before Jim could be noticed, Marik dragged him into the kitchen. Malik turned his head from the sandwiches and to Marik, "What're you doing?"

"There's a Health Inspector outside!" Marik let Jim's hand go, "And he's looking for Jim! Malik, you're going to man the cash register for a while, cause I gotta hide Jim."

Malik looked at Jim, "Well, whose gonna be back here?"

"I got it covered." Marik pushed Jim into the freezer and locked the door, "Sorry, Jim, but it's for my own good."

Jim just sat down on the cold floor looking forlorn. Marik turned around after locking the door, "Malik! What are you waiting for, an invitation?! Get out there!"

Just as he had shoved Jim, Marik pushed Malik out the door and to the cash register. Kevin was standing at the counter looking bored.

"Uh, here's my co-manager, Malik Ishtar. He'll answer any of your questions." Marik then scampered back into the kitchen.

"Well, Mr. Ishtar…" Kevin started off, "I heard from a very reliable source that there is an unsanitary man working here and serving food. I'm sorry but that is not allowed."

"What?! Aw, come on. You don't actually believe that, do ya?" Malik asked nervously, "I mean, that's just a stupid rumor."

"Still. I'd like to have a look around."

"Um… sure, okay. Let me give you the grand tour." Malik got up and opened the door to the kitchen. Kevin walked in and immediately headed for the back door. He opened the door and looked around the garbage cans.

Marik peeked out the backdoor and whispered to Malik, "What's he doing? I thought he was going to inspect the restaurant."

"Me, too." He whispered back, "But he seems to be really interested in the garbage."

Kevin lifted one of the cans and looked underneath, "Hmm…" he said, thoughtfully.

"Um, what does this have to do with anything?" Malik asked.

Kevin turned around, "I was told he lived back here, in the garbage."

"… Come here." Marik whispered while dragging his hikari back inside.

"What is it?"

"That guy said someone told him Jim lives in the dumpster."

"So what? It's true."

"Yeah… but how could anyone have known that for a fact?"

"…I don't get it. What's your point?"

"My point is that…" Marik's voice tapered off as he turned to face the freezer door.

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Inside the freezer Jim was frantically searching for the Extra-Strength potion. He went in and out of boxes, while searching under the mixed ingredients.

After looking in the fifteenth box, Jim sat in the corner. '… Man, I don't think it's here. And if I don't get that stuff for Curt, he'll chop me up into little pieces and people will eat me!' he rubbed his head.

Jim got up and took a quick look around the room; he noticed another box on top of a shelf. He walked over and took it down; 'Extra-Strength' is what it said on the side of the box.

"Found it!" Jim exclaimed.

As Jim looked inside the box, the door to the freezer flew open and Marik and Malik walked in and up to Jim. Marik stood with his arms folded across his chest and his hikari was already in Jim's face.

"You dirty no good bum!" Malik shouted, "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Uh, I-I can explain!" Jim stuttered, "Please, I was only trying to-"

"Oh, I know what you trying to do! You were stealing that potion back for Curt, weren't you? Don't try and hide it, it's already out in the open."

"But he forced me! He said he'd chop me up if I didn't do it! I really didn't want to, but…" he looked up at Marik, "Don't be mad, I was just trying to keep from being used as hamburger meat!"

"Ha, well it's not like it would have done Curt any good to send you out here. We already used the whole box." Malik grinned.

"Really? You did?"

Marik nodded, "Yup. It's all been used in our sandwiches."

"Wow… wait till Curt finds out." Jim shook his head, "…But, honest! Even if you didn't use it all, I would have figured something out in order to keep it from Curt."

"Yeah, right." Malik looked at his yami, "Marik's not going to believe that sob story. I mean, really. How dumb do you think he is?"

Jim started to make a small whining noise.

Marik waved his hand, "…That's okay, Jim."

"…R-really?" Jim smiled brightly.

"Marik!" Malik shook Marik's shoulders, "You've gotta be kidding me! He's the reason that we have to deal with that Health Inspector outside! He's helping a man that we hate to shut down our restaurant! A-and you're acting as if everything was fine and dandy! This is just wrong!"

"Malik, I think Jim was only trying to save himself. Besides, we've got bigger things to worry about."

"Bigger things? What bigger things?!" Malik put his hands on his hips, "Incase you haven't noticed… Jim has transferred to Curt's side!"

"No, I haven't!"

"Stop arguing, you two. If that Health Inspector finds Jim here, he's gonna shut us down for sure."

"So what should we do, then?" Malik asked.

"Kevin is probably back inside by now. I need you to take Jim out back and hide in the dumpster until I get rid of him."

"What?! Why do I have to hide in the trash, too? That's not fair!"

"Malik, now is not the time for you to whine. Now, go!"

Malik mumbled under his breath as he took Jim out the back door. Marik used the front door to get back to the kitchen. Just like he thought he would, Marik found Kevin searching in the cabinets and under the counters.

"Ahem." Marik said, "Shall we finish the hobo-free tour?"

Kevin looked up, "…Where's the other one? Malik?"

"Oh… h-he had to go home. He's got the flu."

"I see. Well, I'm almost done. I just need to look in one more room, the freezer."

"Right this way." Marik lead the way to the door of the freezer and opened it so Kevin could venture inside.

He kicked over some of the open boxes and looked on the shelves. After about ten minutes Kevin came back to the door where Marik was standing.

"I couldn't find that hobo I was told about…" he said, obliviously upset.

Malik smirked, "Told you. Well, I guess you'll be going, huh?"

Kevin nodded and was about to leave but a box he didn't see before caught his eye. The one with 'Extra-Strength' written on the side.

"Hmm… That's it." Kevin said.

Marik looked over at the box, 'What's it? That's just the empty potion box…Wait a minute, the only way he could recognize it is if… Hey! Kevin must be working for Curt!'

"Oh...that old thing?" Marik said, trying to hide his grin, "You can have it. We don't need it."

Kevin smiled and took the box under his arm, "Well… goodbye."

"Bye." Marik waved.

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It was less than ten minutes later when Kevin drove back to the McDonalds down the street form I.H.O.S. He got out of the car and went in the back room to Curt's office.

"I didn't find the hobo… but I did get the potion back from their freezer." Kevin set the box down in front of Curt.

"Wonderful. Now I won't have to worry about Marik causing havoc and stealing anymore of my precious customers away. Life just couldn't get much better."

Curt got out of his chair and opened the box, "What?! Kevin, I thought you said you got the potion back!"

"…I did!" He looked into the box, "Uh-oh."

"Uh-oh? What, uh-oh?"

"Well… I should have known that the box was empty when Marik practically gave it to me. I guess he used it all." Kevin shrugged.

"Don't act like it isn't a big deal! This is terrible!"

"I don't get it… what's so terrible about using that potion? You used it, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't use it! I ordered it, but when I found out the details of what it does, I was preparing to send it back to the Blackmarket company! If used on any meats or any other food, for that matter, it'll result in… chaos."

"Chaos? What kind of chaos?"

"Big chaos. And I mean that literally."