Author's note:
My first ever drabble! So naturally, I have to write notes that are longer than the theme itself!
The events of Battle City present some really different challenges than pre-canon, where we only saw little bits and flashes and there are so many holes to fill. That lends itself to a more traditional narrative style.
Battle City, on the other hand, is pretty solidly explored in canon with very few holes to fill. And yet, it's the only time in canon where Jounouchi and Shizuka spend any significant amount of time together (and it's the first time in seven years they're together at all) so I didn't want to gloss over it either. Not to mention the fact that some really major events happen to them.
So… for the next several themes, the writing style will be less narrative and more esoteric; an exploration of Jounouchi's and Shizuka's reactions to the events with which fans are already well familiar. It's something of an experiment, so if it doesn't work… well, it's better than a straight retelling of canon, 'cause (yawn).
Rating: K
#10 #10
The first thing Jounouchi did when Honda and Otogi hauled him out of the water onto the solid wood boards of the Number Ten pier was kiss the wood planks. He'd never been so happy to be on something solid, to be out of the water and able to breathe.
The second thing he did was sweep Shizuka, who had been hauled out of the water just before him, into a huge bear hug. He held her in his arms, grateful to have her in his life.
He'd always wanted to be her hero, but today, she was his hero.