Snow Day (school is closed and hijinks ensue)

[Scribbler]

[glow=red,2,300]Snow Day[/glow]

---

Dark clouds blanketed the sky over Domino City. When people awoke the next morning, it was to find everything covered in a covering of white, and fat flakes still falling. School kids crammed themselves against their windows, wondering whether it was enough. It had been snowing thickly all night and the previous afternoon. The roads had been gritted but cars skidded if they turned corners too sharply and most doors were frozen shut. Teenagers crossed their fingers and their toes, prayed as hard as they could and wished with all their might until the desired announcement came over the local radio station: Domino High was closed for the day due to bad weather conditions.

[cypsiman2]

"Come on Seto!" Mokuba said, most decidedly not pouting. "How often does it snow in Domino City?"

"Too often at the present moment." Seto Kaiba was at his desk, studying the road conditions and traffic in exacting detail to make sure that he'd be able to make it to Kaiba Corp. with a minimum of trouble.

"You know what I mean." Mokuba sighed in frustration. "Fine, I'll just go hang out with Yuugi and the others." Seto paused. Mokuba smiled. "I'm sure they won't influence me too much, I'm sure I'll still be following in your footsteps after a day of snowball fights and snowmen and friendship speeches..."

"Fine." Mokuba giggled in an almost devilish fashion as Seto called the office and informed them that he would be taking the day off.

....

"Still fits." Yuugi said with a bit of sadness as he put on his old snow clothes, one's that he hadn't worn in years and yet still fit just fine. "Lucky me."

[Scribbler]

“Yuugi?” His grandfather poked his head around the door. Even though they were indoors, he was wearing a pair of brightly coloured earmuffs. “Are you ready?” He stepped into the room.

“Grandpa, what are you wearing?” Yuugi asked in dismay.

“Brilliant, huh?” Sugoroku turned around to better show off the all-in-one suit. It was an eyeball-scorching shade of green that clashed horribly with his purple and pink earmuffs. “The lady at the store gave me a great deal on one for you too, just in case yours didn’t fit anymore.”

Of their own accord, Yuugi’s hands went to the edges of his coat and drew them tight across each other. “Uh, no, these olds ones still fit just fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Uh-huh.” Yuugi scurried past him as if Sugoroku was about to manhandle him into his very own grown-up romper suit. “JounouchiandHondaareprobablyalreadywaitingformeoutsidegottarunbyeGrandpa!”

Sugoroku raised a red-mittened hand belatedly. “Uh, bye Yuugi.”

….

Yuugi’s wellington-clad feet hit the outside world with a crunch. He tipped back his head, drawing his hood up even as he stared at the fat flakes falling all around him. On impulse he stuck out his tongue to catch one.

“You better hope that ain’t frozen acid rain, dude,” said a familiar voice.

[cypsiman2]

Yuugi glanced over at Jounouchi and Honda, and kept his tongue out anyway until he succeeded in catching a flake. "Just good old H2O." He rubbed his hands together and joined his friends. "This really is something though, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's been years since the last time it snowed." Honda said, scooping up some snow in his hand to form a tightly packed snowball.

"And to think, yesterday was cool and dry and warm..." Jounouchi's voice drifted as a grim expression overtook him. "What if this is some sort of weird ancient curse that's finally come to pass, and we're all going to freeze to death if we don't defeat a snowman in a two-on-one game of Duel Monsters?"

Yuugi and Honda stared silently at Jounouchi.

Then Jounouchi burst out into laughter.

"I totally had you guys going!" Honda rolled his eyes while Yuugi found himself relaxing from the momentary tension. "Come on guys, weather's weather, you don't need magic for weird junk to happen with it, am I right?"

"In this case, Jounouchi is right, Partner." Yuugi's other self, the nameless Pharaoh, appeared to Yuugi. "I can't feel the presence of a Millennium Item or any other dark power in all this."

"Right, today's just about having fun." Yuugi spoke to his other self, who then returned to the puzzle. "So what are we going to do first?"

"How about a snowman contest?" Honda said, hefting the snowball he'd made a moment ago. "It's definitely good building snow."

"Oh, a snow connoisseur." Jounouchi said. "Well, I say we get a snowball fight going." Jounouchi then got down and started making a snowball of his own.

"Or we could do snow angels." A new but still familiar voice called out, unerringly drawing Yuugi's attention.

"Anzu!"

[Scribbler]

She waved as she approached and kept stamping her feet even when she had drawn up to them. “It’s so cold my toes are all numb!” she laughed. “Might as well make the best of it, right?”

“I think that’s called hypothermia,” said Yuugi.

Jounouchi wrinkled his nose. “Snow angels are dumb. I’d rather build a fort and have a snowball war.”

“How old are you; ten?”

“Hey, snowball wars are timeless and ageless.”

“Uh-huh.” Anzu rolled her eyes. “I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back.”

“You’re on!”

She looked startled. “What?”

“You just agreed to a snowball war,” Jounouchi grinned. “I claim Honda for my army!” He grabbed his friend and yanked him almost off his feet.

“Well, uh, I claim Yuugi,” Anzu said uncertainly, possibly because they were the only people on the street outside the game shop.

“Cool. Gather up your reinforcements and we’ll meet you at the park in an hour.”

“An hour?” Yuugi echoed. “Why an hour?”

Jounouchi’s grin was sharp as an icicle. “Because we gotta have time to make some ammo, right?”

Both Anzu and Yuugi gulped.

[cypsiman2]

"Yuugi." Anzu said, arms crossed across her stomach. "You don't suppose that when Jounouchi said to gather our reinforcements..."

"He and Honda are probably already trying to figure out who they're going to recruit for the snowball war." Yuugi breathed into his hands. "When did the snowball fight change into a war anyway?"

"Who knows, you expect me to figure out how Jounouchi's mind works?" The two laughed nervously.

"Well, who do you think we should ask to help us out?"

"Don't know. How about we just walk around and see who we come across?"

"Sounds good." Really, it sounded great to Yuugi, and he was very thankful that his other self limited his commentary to a thumbs up; hearing the ageless spirit say how this would be a great chance to show off how cool he was to Anzu would have turned Yuugi's cold pink face a hot scarlet.

As was, the two teens walked down the sidewalk, keeping an eye out for any of their other friends when a limo drove up and parked right next to them. The back window rolled down and Mokuba Kaiba stuck his head out. "Hey guys!" The boy said, sounding quite excited. "You up to anything?"

....

"Base command, we've got a problem." Honda muttered to himself. "Cadet Jounouchi has currently vacated the premises." Then again, it had been a while since Battle City since Jounouchi had last seen Mai Kujaku, who despite a thoroughly practical winter outfit that covered all her skin, still struck an alluring image.

Then Mai turned her head and looked right at them. She smiled.

[I'd like this before DOMA, since this is supposed to be a hijinks centered story, not a drama.]

[Scribbler]

[Sorry, but my inner continuity fairy threw a tantrum at the idea of making this pre-DOMA, since a major plot point of DOMA was that Mai had no contact with her friends at all after Battle City. I’d rather make this post-DOMA in that nebulous time before Bakura reappeared and the AE arc started.]

Then Mai turned her head and looked right at them. She smiled. There was still a strained edge to it, but it was genuine and held none of the darkness that had plagued her only a few short months ago.

“Hi,” she greeted them. “Why aren’t you two in school?” She looked momentarily worried, though she masked it almost instantly. “This is a weekday, right?”

“Snow day,” Jounouchi said triumphantly. “Total freedom for the entire day.”

“Really?” She looked at the drifts and nodded. “I guess I can see that.”

Jounouchi’s eyes gleamed. “Hey, Mai, are you busy?”

She gestured to the big bag of heavy shopping in her hand.

“Can you stash that? We’re prepping for a snowball war against Anzu and Yuugi. You should join us.”

Honda twisted his mouth into a semblance of a smile. Nope, no ulterior motives there. He understood that Mai had changed since Dartz’s defeat, that despite his protestations Jounouchi was head over heels for her and that spending time with them was the best thing to heal her many psychological wounds, but he still had a hard time trusting her. It was illogical and he would never bring it up to his best bud, but part of Honda was still just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Until it did, however, he was willing to make nice. Jounouchi had enough rough breaks in life – sometimes literal with his dad – and he deserved a chance at actual happiness.

Mai regarding her bag. She had sold her car when she joined DOMA. Apparently something that had lasted form that time was an ineffable love of motorcycles. Surely she couldn’t have been dumb enough to ride one on the icy roads in weather like this, though?

“Are you bussing it?” Honda asked.

Mai frowned. “Me on a bus? Puh-lease, darling. I’m renting an apartment not far from here. I was actually wondering whether to walk back and drop off this stuff and come back to you guys, or invite you to walk with me so we can discuss strategy.”

“You mean you’re up for snowballing?” Jounouchi said joyfully.

Mai’s smile was sharp. “Of course.”

[cypsiman2]

[Fair enough, I just don't like DOMA but that's neither here nor there.]

"Hey Mokuba." Yuugi said. "Anzu and I are just going to be in a snowball war with Jounouchi and Honda and whoever else they can round up."

"A snowball war?" Mokuba looked from Yuugi to Anzu and back again. "Cool. Hey Seto, how about we join in?"

"...Yuugi, you said that Jounouchi was on the other team?"

"Yes."

"And this snowball war will take place where?"

"The park." Anzu answered.

Seto was silent for a long time. "Get in." Seto said, no change in expression or tone. Yuugi and Anzu were taken aback, as was Mokuba. "Well?"

Then Mokuba opened the door. Yuugi and Anzu stepped in; Yuugi had been in one of Seto's limos before, but this was Anzu's first time, and so despite herself she was unable to hide how impressed she was. "I guess if the Grinch's heart can grow three sizes, yours can manage at least half of one." Anzu said as she took her seat in between Mokuba and Yuugi.

"Hopefully it will grow no more than that." Yuugi couldn't help the quick chuckle that escaped him; no matter how much Seto changed, he could just be so stubborn about appearances. "And in any event, I will not be participating in this war myself, as I can't side with you, nor with Jounouchi. I will instead be referee and make sure that nothing happens to Mokuba."

"Oh, lighten up Seto, it's not like any of us are going to stick rocks in the snowballs or anything like that." Anzu said, her protective nature managing to come at odds with Seto's.

"And I will make sure of that."

[Scribbler]

“A snowball war is just for fun, you realise?” she said pointedly.

“Fun is winning,” Seto deadpanned. “Fun is beating your opponent and proving yourself stronger.”

“Oh, lighten up! You could turn anything into some epic boring struggle battle thing.”

“Your powers of description are awe-inspiring, Mazaki.”

She responded by sticking out her tongue and folding her arms. Mokuba hid a giggle behind his hand and Yuugi smiled at their exchange.

“So what now?” Mokuba asked.

Seto eyed Yuugi’s old scarf and Anzu’s threadbare, much-darned gloves. “First we ensure you are all properly attired to defeat your enemy.”

,,,,

Mai’s apartment was austere and looked like she had just moved in. if not for the fact there were no suitcases around Honda would have thought she was just passing through or on the verge of making another run for it. There were no pictures on the walls, no personal items or decorations. She didn’t even have curtains at the windows.

Mai seemed embarrassed the moment their feet crossed the threshold. “We won’t stay long.”

“It’s a nice place,” Jounouchi attempted.

She shrugged. “Whatever.” She disappeared into the bedroom, where they heard her knocking about until she eventually emerged in various winter clothes in shades of purple, mauve and lilac.

[cypsiman2]

"So tell me captain, does this Pretty Winter Suited Soldier pass her inspection?" Mai said to a most befuddled Jounouchi.

"I, that is, um..." Jounouchi then felt Honda put his hand under his jaw and close it for him.

"You look fine." Honda said perfunctorily. "Now lets hit the park before Anzu and Yuugi can set up shop." Honda stepped out of the apartment.

"He doesn't forgive easy, does he?" Mai said, and Jounouchi's head found its way back onto his neck.

"Guy likes to look out for me, and nine times out of ten I appreciate it."

"So what are you saying Jounouchi? That I'm ten out of ten?" Jounouchi's blush burned while Mai laughed. "Come on, one way or another I'll get that lug to relax around me yet." Mai then led Jounouchi out of her apartment and closed the door behind her.

....

"I feel like I couldn't afford to breathe in a shop like this." Anzu said, and truth be told she'd felt herself far out of her financial circle the moment they'd arrived at the parking lot of the mega mall.

"I know what you mean." Yuugi said, vaguely worried that someone with a monocle would show up and express shock at his wild hair.

[Scribbler]

“I have this urge to use a scrunchie.”

Anzu cut him an odd look. “That hair? There isn’t a scrunchie in the world that could hold it in.”

“If you two are quite finished,” Seto said irritably. “It is freezing out here while you gabble like a pair of old washerwomen.”

“I swear,” Anzu muttered under her breath as they entered the Mega Mall, “I’m going to find a new place to stash some icicles – and I bet they don’t melt while they’re there!”

Yuugi sniggered into his scarf, especially when Seto threw them an imperious look over his shoulder and Mokuba dropped back to walk beside them instead of his brother.

“This is so cool,” he enthused. “Well, uh, maybe cool isn’t the right word given the weather, uh … hey, look, a pretzel stand.” He pointed. “They have every kind of food outlet you could want in this place. I bet after we’re done getting you guys some warmer clothes, Seto will let us stop for something. Load up on fuel, y’know?”

Anzu raised her head to sniff the fragrant air. “Mmm, yum. But we’ll pay for our own, Mokuba.”

Mokuba blinked at her. “Uh, okay, I guess. C’mon, Seto’s leaving us behind.”

“And wouldn’t that be a tragedy,” Anzu muttered as they hurried to catch up to his long-legged stride. “Hey, Kaiba, wait up, will you?”

“It isn’t my fault if you dawdle.”

“Dawdle? Who even uses a word like that anymore?”

Seto turned a sharp left into a store called Vincenzo’s Clothing Emporium. Usually shops called ‘emporium’ had delusions of grandeur, but not this one. You really could imagine an emperor giving his stamp of approval to a place like this. Anzu and Yuugi stared. Yuugi even gulped.

“We’re going in there?”

“Will they charge us for breathing?” Anzu wondered.

[cypsiman2]

"Good, good, we're here before Anzu and Yuugi, that means we get that head-start on setting up our fort and armory." Jounouchi rubbed his hands together, maniacal glee in his eyes.

"All right then, I'll work on the snowballs while you two set up our fort." Mai Kujaku said. She crouched down onto her knees and started scooping up the snow. Honda grabbed Jounouchi's head and forcefully turned it away from her.

"Dude!"

"I know this is going to sound weird, but you really need to show that you've grown-up since Duelist Kingdom. Now come on, help me set up the snow fort."

....

"Good day Mr. Kaiba, how can I help you?" It took Anzu a moment to realize that the young woman addressing Seto was not just an employee, but was in fact a Personal Shopping Assistant.

"I need you to find something for them," he indicated Yuugi and Anzu, "that will endure a snowball war."

Anzu blew a strand of hair out of her face; it figured that Seto would have no problem saying they were going to be in a snowball war but he couldn't mention their names.

The Personal Shopping Assistant looked at Anzu, then at Yuugi. She paused. Then she squealed, the cool professionalism from a moment ago gone. "You're Yuugi Mutou!" The woman rushed him, squeezing him in her arms, causing every hair on Anzu's head to stand on end. "My name's Mirai Kinomoto, and I'm a huge, huge, huge fan of yours!"

"Th-thanks." Yuugi was paralyzed, his face burning red.

Then Anzu cleared her throat.

[Scribbler]

Anzu cleared her throat. “Hi there. Could we get some service?” She tried to adopt the same tone as Seto, figuring that was the best way to make someone take notice when she looked like something that had just crawled out of a thrift store winter-wear bin. Voice and attitude could go a long way to commanding respect.

The woman blinked at her for a second. Putting Yuugi down she stood taller, incrementally pushing out her boobs in the eternal silent battle stance of the modern female. She even canted her hips slightly to one side in a very unprofessional manner, which looked slightly ridiculous in her demure but expensive blouse and skirt.

“How can I help you today, ma’am?”

Anzu pointed at Seto. “What he said. Snowball war clothes. Uh, pronto.” Jeez, she wanted used to talking to women like this. Should she add ‘chop-chop’ or would that be taking the mickey too much?

The woman nodded stiffly. “Right this way, please.”

….

Jounouchi whistled. “How many snowballs are you gonna make, Mai?”

“We need a good supply, right?”

[cypsiman2]

"Well yeah, but unless Yuugi and Anzu bring a literal army with them, I think you could have stopped like a hundred snowballs earlier."

Mai looked upon the pile that she'd just added to, neat and organized in little rows spaced most efficiently. "I suppose you have a point there." Mai stood back up and patted the snow off her legs.

"This isn't your first snowball war, is it Mai?" Honda rolled his eyes and bit his tongue to keep silent as he added to the outer walls of the snow fort.

"Surprised?" Mai said.

"Kind of." Jounouchi rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, it doesn't quite fit with the picture I've gotten of your past, you know?"

"That picture of yours is all broad strokes; it's accurate but there's plenty of little details missing here and there." Mai paused. "But we can talk about that boring junk some other time."

"Yeah, another time." Jounouchi chuckled nervously, wondering if it was possible to tie a tongue that had already been tied.

....

"So tell me, Mr. Mutou, is this coat fitting you properly?" The personal shopping assistant said as she tugged on Yuugi's sleeves while Anzu felt her head getting distressingly red.

[Scribbler]

Yuugi turned this way and that, trying to look at himself from all angles. “Um, it’s great,” he said awkwardly. “Really, uh, warm.”

The assistant beamed. “Wonderful!”

Yuugi remained uncomfortable. “But it really is too expensive for me to –”

“Oh, but it’s all already been paid off, sir,” she smiled. “This entire bill will be charged to Mr. Kaiba’s account.”

That just made Yuugi feel worse. “Uh …”

“Say one more word and I’ll put a Christmas tree where none should go, Mutou,” Seto growled. “I have no love of shopping and I’m already tired of being in here. Pick a coat and get on with it.”

Yuugi looked in the mirror once more. “This one is fine,” he said quickly.

“Whatever.” Seto snapped his fingers at the assistant. “Get him a hat and gloves to match.”

She glanced at Yuugi’s hair. “Uh, a hat, sir?”

“Yes, a hat.”

“Are you sure –?”

“Get. Him. A. Matching. Hat. And. Gloves.”

She gulped and scurried away.