Daily
by Lethe Seraph
Entry One: Providence
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4.23.04
What is 'Daily'? Basically, it's my idea of a challenge to myself. I want to post one chapter of this at least every other day. Each chapter will be a short Yu-Gi-Oh! story based off of a word that I pick randomly from my handy-dandy Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Chances are that the chapters won't be related to each other, but we'll see.
^_~ In other words, expect sporadic updating and to add at least a few new words to your vocabulary.
I hope it's interesting. ^_^;;
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providence (n.) 1 a often cap : divine guidance or care b cap : God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny 2 : the quality or state of being provident
-Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 921
-
Yugi was the golden child.
There seemed to be a glow left in the air after he passed; people talked more cheerfully for his coming. He could bring a smile to anyone's face, and everyone knew who he was. He hadn't failed yet to make friends with anyone, even those who had wished to see him hurt.
Why?
He was special.
With the gleaming Puzzle ever present at his chest, Yugi seemed to be above injury. He was safe, protected by the unseen force within his mind.
Why him?
He was Yugi. There was nothing more to it.
There had to be something to it.
"You're insane," grumbled Honda as he ran his hands through Jonouchi's hair. "Completely, utterly, insane."
"There has to be a reason Yugi is treated the way he is!" said Jonouchi forcefully. "Okay, I think you have to go a bit more to the right. It feels off."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm working on it."
"Okay. That feels better. How does it look?"
"I told you that you were insane, right?"
"Only about three hundred times."
"Okay, then, as long as the message has sunk in."
"So, how does it look?"
"Like you got a bad dye and gel job from your best friend."
"Oh, crap. You followed the instructions, right?"
"Of course. What do you take me for?"
"You remember third grade?"
"…Okay, enough said. My mirror's over there."
"All right. Is it safe to, uh, get up?"
"Well, if his hair doesn't get messed up for the entire school day, I'd say you have a pretty safe bet."
Jonouchi nodded and stood, tentatively holding his hands at the side of his head. When he realized that his hair really wasn't moving, he sighed and put his hands at his side. He walked to the mirror.
"Holy crap!" cried Jonouchi. Honda began laughing.
"You asked me to do it, Jou!"
"I mean, crap! Holy…! I look like… like…"
"Like a really freakin' tall Yugi?" suggested Honda.
"Like a really freakin' tall Yugi! Honda, you rock!" Jonouchi ran to Honda, dyed and gelled hair bouncing slightly with him, and hugged him tightly. "You're great!"
"I'll keep that in mind come my birthday," said Honda with a grin, prying Jonouchi off of him. "You're actually going to go to school like this?"
"Hell, yeah!" Jonouchi beamed and twirled around as though he were a schoolgirl trying out a particularly 'cute' outfit. "After we spent all that time getting it right? I can't wait to see what the others think!"
"I can tell you that already," said Honda.
"Oh, shut up, you," said Jonouchi cheerfully.
"Why are you doing this again?"
"Dude! He's Yugi! I explained this all before, didn't I? He was the one who got the Millennium Puzzle and the luck with cards and all, there had to be a reason for that-"
"Like his personality, maybe?"
"Aw, come on. I can't be Yugi. But I can try out his hairstyle! Maybe the girls'll like it…" mused Jonouchi hopefully.
"Yeah, right…"
"Mock me all you want! But this is obviously the new trend!"
"Dude, Yugi's the one who set the trend."
"It's only a trend when there are a lot of people following it! I'm the one starting it. I should get credit for that, right?"
"Sure, whatever. But you owe me big. And now I'm going to go wash all this crap off of my hands, if you'll excuse me, Juugi."
"What was that?!" called Jou after Honda.
"You're Jou-Yugi! Juugi! Or would you prefer Yunochi?"
"Eh, too girly."
"Juugi it is, then!" Jonouchi heard the sound of running water, and a loud sigh of relief from Honda. "Much better. Ugh."
Jonouchi glanced at himself in the mirror again. He gave himself a thumbs-up and grinned. He really looked like another Yugi, except … taller. And with smaller eyes. Now all he needed was a lot of black leather, ha ha. I don't think I'll go that far, he resolved mentally.
"Oh, Jou?" said Honda upon his return.
"Yeah?"
"How are you going to sleep like that?"
Jonouchi swore violently.
-
"I can't believe I'm doing this," grumbled Honda. "It's three-thirty in the forking morning, and here I am, putting at least a gallon of hair gel in your hair… why me?"
"Because you're my best friend and you love me," supplied Jonouchi.
"Nah, I think it was the whole bribery thing."
"Well then," harrumphed Jou jokingly. "I guess I know where I stand, huh?"
"Yeah. In between me and my sleep."
"You're so witty in the morning. What, do you use up all your afternoon brainpower or something?"
"Funny. I laugh. Just remember who has the hair gel here."
"How do you think Yugi does this on his own?"
"After so many years of putting it like that? It's probably naturally that way now. Like braces or something, right?"
An image came to Jonouchi's mind: Yugi, ramming a spiky steel structure over his head. He laughed. "Yeah, that's great."
"Isn't it?"
"But then how do you explain your hair?"
"Let's not go there," said Honda. "Let's just not."
"Is it even real? Is it some kinda wig, or a fungus?"
"Hey! Just remember who's here at three-forty in the morning doing your hair!"
Jonouchi sighed. "Meanie."
"Say what? I'm the nicest person in the world, Jou."
"Yeah, sure."
"Okay, there we go – oh, shoot. Stay still."
"What did you do?!
"Nothing at all. Be quiet, your head moves when you speak."
"Crap, this has to be bad-"
"Quiet, I said!"
Jonouchi glared at the wall and was silent.
-
"All right! Done!" said Honda, two and a half hours later. "You have twenty minutes to get ready for school. Are we going on my bike?"
"Yeah, sure," said Jonouchi. "Jeez, you take forever."
"You try it sometime!" said Honda.
"You don't have enough hair. So, is it real?"
"Shut up and get ready for school, Juugi."
"Quit calling me that!"
"Anything you say, Yunochi," said Honda cheerfully.
-
Yugi was the golden child, protected by the spirit from all harm.
But even the spirit hadn't expected this.
"Hey! What's up, Yuug?"
"What the…?!" cried Anzu, staring at Jonouchi as though he were Satan incarnate.
"Just believe in the heart of the cards!" Juugi flashed the peace sign and grinned.
They burst out laughing.