[A/N]: I was determined to get this chapter out before I went away for the weekend and I did it! 8D Kudos to me! There's not a lot going on yet, but it'll come in future chapters, I promise you! It's all about build up, RIGHT?
Reviews would be appreciated muchly.
-Confetti-
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of the characters! Never will, nope.
The time he had spent overviewing his work load seemed to tick away at the speed of light because by the time Jonouchi looked away from his computer and his half-assed research it was already well after 5 o'clock.
5:45PM to be exact.
He was going to be late.
With haste Jonouchi sprung to his feet and bounded down the stairs, hauling his jacket from the coat rack and exiting through the front door in a flash lest he be accosted by his parents and their nosy inquisitions.
Though he wondered how, by now, his parents could still question where he was headed.
To him it seemed rather obvious that he spent his Friday's out with his friends, eating supper, goofing off or just plainly sitting around playing video games. Often times they'd all wind up sleeping over at Yugi's.
It had been this way for a couple of years now.
However, much to Jonouchi's dismay, he knew that if he was going to get some of his demanded research done for Kaiba, he was going to have to ditch early and make his way to the library.
Kaiba's notes claimed that the project had to have at least three text references, meaning research via the computer was off-limits.
He didn't even have a library card.
And with a sudden realization he stopped dead in his tracks to check his watch; it was 6 o'clock on the dot and, of course, the library closed at 7 o'clock on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Jonouchi groaned and dragged his hand down his face, aggravated beyond belief. He would never be able to live this one down, already able to hear Honda's irritating, unwanted remarks.
Emitting an agitated growl, Jonouchi pivoted and turned around, startling a couple who had been passing him.
He would have to apologize to Anzu profusely later for missing her birthday. It didn't all seem like a total loss because he'd forgotten her present at home due to his haste.
6:20PM.
He had minimal time to acquire a library card and search for any appropriate books on his subject, but at least he made it.
He poked his head through the front doors and surveyed the area.
It was reasonably stocked with people who were either, reading, browsing the shelves or taking advantage of the libraries computers. They all seemed to be melded into what they were doing, each set of eyes focused solely on the task at hand.
To his left were a multitude of kiosks, though only one was occupied by what was obviously the only librarian on duty; and, of course, she had a line.
Jonouchi felt his spirits sink even lower as he made his way toward the line-up, standing at the very rear of it.
There had to be at least eight people.
How long did signing up for a library card even take?
He couldn't help but feel that Lady Luck was laughing at him somewhere. Or maybe she'd simply forgotten about him. Either seemed likely at this point; if she had forgotten about him, she would certainly enjoy his misfortune upon noticing him once again.
How cruel.
Jonouchi could have sworn that time was going in slow motion, like the entire world had been doused in cold molasses—or at least his mind.
What had felt like nearly forever went by before Jonouchi heard the librarian shout, "Next!"
Jostled into motion, he approached the kiosk, meeting the eyes of an old (and seemingly cranky) woman.
Her squinting eyes hid behind a large pair of glasses of which were shamelessly ornamented by rhinestones. Her hair was an odd colour, grey with a hint of 'not-quite-blue'; it was pulled back into a tight bun. Lastly was her thin mouth which was pursed into a severe line.
Over all, she didn't look too sociable. She seemed like the sort who would whip out a wooden spoon from her bottomless handbag and swat at her grandchildren for misbehaving.
"What can I help you with?" was her next line.
Jonouchi could feel her eyes boring into the very core of his soul.
"I was looking to get a library card," he said, matter-of-factly.
She nodded and leaned back in her chair to open a drawer, "I.D.?"
Jonouchi must have looked confused because she looked up from her task and sighed before explaining.
"You're required to have a piece of I.D. in order to acquire a library card, kid…"
Lady Luck was indeed laughing at him, amused by his calamities of the day.
"Come back when you've got a piece of I.D." she said coldly, "I'm too busy to sit here and watch you gape like a fish."
If Jonouchi's spirits weren't already crushed into a fine powder, he might've retorted, defended himself. But, he knew it would be useless to argue with the woman; he'd only make himself look like a jackass in the end.
Reluctantly, Jonouchi relinquished himself from the line-up.
When he came back tomorrow, he hoped she was still here because he was going to choke her with his I.D.
His irritation was only increasing in volume. Not only had he wasted his time poking about in the library, he had missed Anzu's birthday and rendered himself vulnerable to relentless teasing.
Maybe this was why he didn't try to do school work; it seemed like every time he tried something would go horribly wrong. It seemed like a lot less effort to just coast on by.
If he had gotten partnered with anyone other than Kaiba, then he'd of continued that habit. He didn't understand why he was suddenly putting in effort—failed effort, but effort nonetheless.
Stupid Kaiba and his stupid project; it was his entire fault.
Kaiba, that was it; he was bound to have books on the subject.
Screw the library! He was going to high-tail his way to Kaiba's house, unexpectedly.
As Jonouchi saw it, his suffering was caused by Kaiba and his project, and so he would deliver suffering to Kaiba. An eye for an eye, right?
He glanced down at his watch for the thousandth time today.
It was 6:40PM.
It was somewhat late, but his plan was set. He was going to Kaiba's house.