Author's note: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to all the unexpected twists life can throw our way. Lord knows fate can pull a fast one on you every once and a while, and it usually leaves your head spinning and turns your world up side down.
Reviewers:
Taichi Prime: Here you go, another chapter, enjoy!
Evil Furby Queen: I had a feeling you would like that part. About the whole 'capturing Marik' I don't know where that came from actually, sometimes crazy things like that just pop into my head. But that's what I love about writing for Marik, can be as outrageously insane as I want!
Warnings: slight language
Disclamer: Read my words, I do not own Yu-gi-oh!
All I Want for Christmas Chapter 13: Meet the KaibasIt was a big blur once the group entered the mall, several men in suits rushed up and pulled them along the empty corridors into a back room.
"You must be the workers." A woman in business attire said, "You're ten minuets late."
"Wait, you mean we don't have to apply?" Ryou asked.
"Look, I'm pressed for time, do you want the job or not?" the woman said briskly.
"Oh no, it's fine, right guys?" Joey answered for everyone.
"Good, then I'm going to have to ask you to sign these." The woman then began to pass out forms of some kind.
"What are these?" It was Mai who asked this question.
"Just contracts, basically it says, we're not responsible if any of you are harmed, you won't do anything dangerous with the children…" The woman said, examining her nails.
'This seems a little too easy.' Malik thought.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Joey asked, signing his name.
Duke however, wasn't too thrilled with the blonde's choice of action. 'He didn't even read the contract!' the teen thought. If Duke learned anything from running his own game shop, it was to always read the paper work.
He quickly scanned the paper, the teen's eyes widened when they came to rest on a familiar name. "Wait guys, don't sign it!" he yelled.
"What's wrong man?" Tristan asked.
"Just read it!"
By signing this contract you have given up all freedom from this point on till eleven pm of December 24, you will be expected to participate in the charity event being held at Domino Mall and at the formal event, taking place at Town Hall later this evening. You will be paid for your services if your work has been deemed satisfactory. If you have any questions don't bother me with them, because frankly I don't care.
Seto Kaiba
They all stared at the name at the bottom of the sheet.
"Kaiba's holding the event?" Tea asked in disbelief.
Joey's face grew red in anger. "I just agreed to be Moneybags slave for the next eleven hours!" he went to tear the contract, but the woman was just to quick for the blond and snatched it out of his hands.
"I'm sorry but you singed the contract." She said adjusting the glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"That's it, I don't care what a piece of paper says! I'm out of here, See yah!" Joey declared making a beeline for the door.
Two blurry men in suits stopped him before he could get through, and the woman spoke again. "You will do as the contract says!"
"Or what?" Joey demanded, "What are you going to do?" He, and a few of the other males in the room took several different defensive positions.
"I'll do nothing Mr. Wheeler." She stated calmly glancing at Joey's name on the contract. "But there will be many disappointed children if you don't, do you want that?"
Joey hung his head in defeat, "Fine." He growled out.
"Its not so bad Joey." Tristan said trying to cheer the blond up.
"How can you say that? I just became the Devil's advocate."
"Come on Joey, we're all here." Yugi said signing his contract.
"That's right, it's only for eleven hours." Tea said doing the same.
"Wow, thanks guys."
"I really have no chose mate." Ryou said with a smile. "So I guess we're in the same boat."
"I don't like it, but I'll do it. Besides I did say I'd help out." Mai commented.
"And we can't let down those children." Serenity declared.
"Wow Serenity! Your so selfless, it would be an honor to work with you!" Duke said signing his own name.
Tristan snorted at Duke's statement, but did likewise and wrote his name on the sheet.
"What do you think Isizue?" Odion asked.
"I shall consult the Millennium Necklace."
"Well, what do you see?" Malik asked eagerly.
"23,1,17,…" Isizue said in a monotone voice.
"It's no good, it's only showing her lottery numbers." Malik concluded.
"Hey wait! I'll write them down!" Tristan said, "Anyone got any paper?"
"For all we know they could be the lottery numbers for somewhere in Germany." Odion said, abruptly stopping the brunet's frantic search for paper.
"Oh."
"Well, where is Kaiba?" Joey asked still upset at the day's latest events.
"Hmm, Hmm, Hmm," a cold chuckle filled the room. A tall brunet with steely blue eyes entered the room. "My, my, Wheeler, I didn't expect you to be so eager to get started. Does this mean you'll be a good puppy and do as your told?"
"Kaiba! Don't start with me if you want to keep all of your teeth!" Joey said brandishing his fist.
"Calm down mutt!" Kaiba snapped, "For the next eleven hours I own you and the rest of your loser friends, so I'd give my mouth a rest if I were you."
Joey growled under his breath and was going to reply, but a touch on his arm from Serenity quieted him.
"Now I'm sure you all have your reasons for coming here." The C.E.O. said walking over to a desk in the room. He took a seat, and rested his chin on inter-lacing fingers before he continued to speak. "But I could care less about what goes on in your lives."
"Man he's a regular saint." Tristan whispered to Duke, who nodded in approval and stifled a laugh.
"All I want is for this event to run as smoothly as possible. That means…" Kaiba said in a deadly low voice. "If there are any screw-ups, each and everyone of you will regret it for the rest of your pathetic lives!" The C.E.O. shouted at the group, who all took a step back at Kaiba's sudden outburst, like it was a slap in the face.
"Do I make myself clear?" Kaiba finished with his usual calm composer, a small smirk gracing his face.
"Ha, ha," Ryou chuckled weakly. "Crystal."
"Oh, lighten up Seto." Said a young boy with long, unruly, black hair. "After all it is Christmas."
"Mokuba." The C.E.O.'s demeanor changed almost instantly, from cold and calculating to an almost playful one as the younger Kaiba entered the room. "I'm glade you're here little brother, it looks like we can settle our little wager now."
"What are you talking about Kaiba?" Yugi asked.
At this the younger brother sighed, "I made a bet with Seto, I said that he couldn't get all of you here to help with the charity event. If he could I'd have to stop spending all my allowance money on Capsule Monster Chess pieces for two months."
"I suppose I should thank you," The older Kaiba said, "for playing into my hand."
"You mean you're the one who slipped Joey that flier?" Tea asked
"I knew if the mutt found out about it the rest of you wouldn't be far behind." Kaiba stated matter-of-factly.
"I feel used." Duke commented.
"Get over it." Malik told the other boy.
"But Seto, did you forget about our other bet?" Mokuba asked.
Suddenly Seto Kaiba, C.E.O. of Kaiba Corp and wielder of the three blue-eyes white dragon cards, looked nervous.
"Oh come on Seto, of course you remember," Mokuba continued slyly. "I said I could eat five pounds of cookies in under fifteen minuets, and if I did, you would have to participate in the event too."
Kaiba cleared his throat, and said under his breath, "I might have agreed to something of that nature." He then spoke directly to his brother, "But I still can't believe how you did it." With that the young billionaire pulled out a sheet of paper from his trench coat. "I did the calculations and there is no way you should have been able to have eaten so much so fast."
"Hey genius, you forgot to carry the one." Joey pointed out. He had snuck by, and peered over the other teen's shoulder to look at the calculations.
"What?" Kaiba blinked at where the blond was pointing. 'He's right!' The blue-eyed teen's eyebrow twitched.
Joey, Tristan, Duke, and Malik took that moment to burst out laughing from watching the C.E.O in his obvious frustration.
At the sound of laughter coming from his own expense, Kaiba glared at the four boys, who immediately ceased their merriment. "Go ahead," Seto Kaiba spoke in a deadly soft whisper, "remember, I control the next eleven hours of your lives."
All four boys swallowed simultaneously. 'Yikes!' Joey thought. 'What have I gotten us into?'
Well now you know how Joey got that flier. Chapter 13 is done and the next one should be up soon.
Next Chapter: The gang finds out exactly what they will be doing for the charity event, and our three favorite yamis are out on the streets.