The Magicians' Realm Chapter 69: So It's Settled, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Chapter 69, everybody! In which Yami plots to do something stupid, the document tries to screw me up by changing "Anzu" to "Yami," and the writer has to get some more work in on the next handful of chapters—I've got a good fifty-plus pages written out for the rest of Part 1, but none of it is consecutive. Daaah….

For those who might not be familiar with the term: when a person is being talked about, it is said that their ears burn; it's kind of like how the Japanese say that someone talking about you causes you to sneeze (in which case, my Mom is apparently a hot topic).

Movies this week are Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Strange Magic:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—this movie would have really benefited from the two plot lines being more closely related (as is, it feels kind of contrived that Newt Scamander would just happen to be in New York and misplace a few creatures just as some big thing happens there—if he had been called in as a consultant, it would have made more sense to me. And Word recognizes Scamander. How...). However—there is an actor who makes a very brief appearance towards the end of the movie (less than five minutes) who was not advertised, but made me and my family at least sit up and yell with glee. :D

Strange Magic—we were watching a bunch of movies on one of the movie channels and didn't much feel motivated to change the channel, so we watched this. It was actually really surprisingly good, although I called one pairing early on (which was funny when Mom initially said "get real" and then as the movie progressed, said "wow, you may be right"). I think it suffered from coming out at about the same time as Epic, so people already had that one in mind for fairies for the year. Be prepared for a lot of singing, though.

Angiembabe, thanks for the review! And here I am with the opposite problem—working tapes but no working boom box. Because it's hip, that's why (and because everything old is new again). Maybe…and maybe. Good question—Max! Stop that plotting! It isn't healthy!

FicReader, thanks for the review! Yeah! Scared me too….Yes you are! I hope you had a good one. Yes…according to my story notes, Book 1 of the Magicians' Realm starts mid-August and concludes on Halloween night. This is true….

FluffyIdiotIsI, thanks for the review! No, you're good. Yes…and yes…and yes…are you looking at my notes? Maybe. Good question—not too long, I don't think, but then again, there are instances of relatives looking ridiculously alike (case in point: any male Baldwin). I hope this one pleases! :D

Fromtheashtrees, thanks for the review! Yes….I know, I hate that. It is! Now I just have to get off my dead rear and write it…wait, that would have me writing standing up. Eh…I used to like those miserable days too, especially when I wanted to watch a movie or read a book, but now I find that I much rather prefer a hot day. Of course, there's such a thing as getting too hot…I prefer comfortable. And shorts. Hail? Oh my….

References:

Casper © 1995 Brad Silberling (the house in general is honestly based off of Whipstaff Manor)

Original characters, + setting © Kineil D. Wicks (myself, not the girl in the story)

The party had wound down somewhat, and Rocky and Calvin had worn out both the video camera and the regular camera with which they were taking pictures with. Teana hoped she had evaded any embarrassing shots.

She and Yami, meanwhile, were sitting in the solarium on a bench, drinking tea and admiring the moonlight streaming in and generally ignoring the snores coming from the assorted people passed out on the couch, the recliners, and the floor. It occurred to her now why there were ground floor bedrooms.

"So," Yami said, reaching for the teapot on the coffee table in front of them. "Aside from the party, how do you like it so far?"

"I'm not sure," Teana said. "Ask me in a week."

"Why a week?"

"Because I need to have time to ascertain whether or not I can stand the neighbors."

"You're not giving us a year? I thought you liked years."

"I do—but not when I'm living with people."

"Hmm," Yami noised, taking a sip of his tea—

And then promptly choking on it.

"What?" Teana asked, concerned; she thumped him on the back to try to clear his airways.

"It just occurred to me that we haven't even known each other a year yet, and yet here you are living in my house," Yami pointed out as soon as he could breathe again.

Teana opened her mouth to respond, was forced to concede his point, and settled for shaking her head. Oi.

"You could at least stop smiling about it," she told him.

"I'm so trying, I swear."

"It's not funny."

"It's at least a little funny."

"I'm still birdless."

"I'll fix that tomorrow—your little Starling friend is probably asleep."

"Probably wondering where I am," she muttered, sipping her tea.

"I told you, I'll fix it. There isn't a thing in the world I wouldn't do for you."

She stared at him for several long moments.

"Did you mean to say that out loud?" she asked finally.

"What? I would," Yami said. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because we're still basically strangers?"

"You mean we haven't moved past that to acquaintances yet?"

She gave that some thought. "All right, fine, we have. That's still a lot of commitment you're stating."

"I think it's worth it."

"I think you're weird."

"It comes with the territory of being me," Yami said, extending a pinky when he sipped his tea this time.

"Weirdo."

"I love you too."

"Now I know you didn't mean to say that out loud."

"I did."

She looked sharply at him.

"Your jury is still out, but mine isn't," Yami declared. "I love you, plain and simple. And I'm willing to wait as long as it takes."

Teana gave it some thought, edging slightly away from him as she did so.

"I'll think about it," she said finally.

"All right, but I'm going to need an answer by the end of the year," Yami said, taking another sip. "That's when we get the new stationary printed."

"You haven't already pre-ordered Mr. and Mrs. Skellington, have you?"

"Do you know they sell monogrammed towels?"

"You're hopeless."

"So I've been told."

Teana smiled, shook her head….

And after much deliberation, scooted closer to him on the bench. And then, after a lot more deliberation, she leaned on his side. He obliged by wrapping his arm around her.

All in all, not a bad way to spend an evening.

*/*\*

Greg came home late again that night, searching for Yami and finding him…in his room. Okay, that was one hurdle down.

Now for the simple fact that he had had a whole day of brainstorming, and nothing had come to mind as far as telling him anything. Well, except the obvious: hi son! Okay, good news, I know why you were held back. The bad news: you're related to the most reviled Head Mage of all time. But at least now you know why you were held back, right?

No, nothing was forthcoming. But he had to say something; this had gone on too long.

So, he finally knocked on the bedroom door.

"What?" Yami's voice drifted out, rather flat.

"Can I come in?" Greg asked.

"Sure."

He came in, found his eldest laying on his stomach in his bed, staring out his window. From that angle, he had a spectacular view of the roof, but Greg suspected that he was staring at nothing.

"May I sit?" Greg asked.

"Sure," Yami said.

Greg sat down next to Yami on the bed. Okay, now what?

"So," Greg said. "Anything new you want to discuss?"

Yami glanced at him—yes, there was something—before returning his gaze to the roof and saying nothing.

"All right," Greg said. "Anything old you want to talk about?"

Yami's expression now said that was ironic somehow.

"How about we talk? With actual words?" Greg asked. "You know, conversing in more than monosyllabic responses?"

"You know, I don't really feel like talking," Yami said.

"Ah, he speaks," Greg muttered. "And I really couldn't tell."

They sat quietly as the sun faded. Maybe this was all Greg needed to do; let Yami know he was there for him.

"Why didn't they ever tear Skellington Manor down?"

Greg started at the sudden question. "Huh?"

"Skellington Manor," Yami repeated. "Why wasn't it ever torn down?"

"It's supposed to be cursed from the shingles down," Greg said. "Why? What brought this up?"

"We…well, we walked by it this morning and…the question came up."

Hmm. "I couldn't tell you because I don't know. Some things in life are mysteries, I suppose."

"That sounds suspiciously like a cop-out."

"So is answering a question with only one word."

"Touché," Yami said, rolling onto his back so he could look at Greg better. "Jonouchi said they cancelled Punkie Night."

"They did."

"Why?"

"Something about excessive celebrating," Greg said, scratching the back of his head. "I personally think they're just sore about the fact that they can't celebrate the way they used to."

"Throw their back out or something like that?"

"Something like that," Greg agreed. "You sure you're doing all right?"

"As well as can be expected."

"Again, that isn't really an answer."

"It sucks."

"I suppose that's an answer."

"Well, what am I supposed to say?" Yami asked, sitting up on his elbows. "'I can't believe I'm being punished for doing better than everyone else boo hoo woe is me'? It sounded stupid in my head—why would I say it out loud?"

Greg waited a few beats. "Feel better?"

"A little bit," Yami admitted. "You sound like Anzu."

"Anzu is the girl from the Masquerade Ball?"

"Yes."

"Maybe you should hang out with her more."

"Funnily enough, she said that too."

"Smart girl—I like her already."

"I do too."

"So what have you been doing all day?" Greg asked, leaning back. "For the record, it better not be anything you can't tell Kitty."

Yami looked at him in confusion before figuring out what he meant. "Ew! No!"

"Well, at least there's that. So what are you doing?"

"Staying busy."

"Again, that's not an answer."

"I'm hanging out more with my little brother; that's something, right?"

"I suppose. I missed dinner the past two nights—is Yuki still in one piece?"

"Yes, he's still in one piece," Yami said, rolling his eyes. Greg looked pointedly at Yuki's empty bed, prompting Yami to continue. "He's on the roof right now, talking to some little magpie or something."

Greg grumbled as he stood and headed for the window. "I told you about sitting on the roof," he said as he stuck his head out the window. Sure as sure, there was Yuki, precariously close to the edge of the roof. "Yuki! Get inside before you fall off the roof!"

"I was talking to Lil' Stevie!" Yuki said.

"You can talk to him later—now get in here!"

Yuki whined a little as he did, but it was preferable to him slipping off the roof and falling to his doom. Not that he couldn't be patched up at a Magician doktor if he broke something, but if he landed on his head and killed himself, nothing was bringing him back. And Greg would rather avoid that if possible.

"Okay, now that you're both in," Greg said, closing the window behind Yuki and locking it for good measure. "Go to bed. Good night you two; I love you."

Similar pleasantries were exchanged, and Greg left their room, leaving the door cracked a little, before heading to his own bed.

"So?" Jenna asked when he walked in, arcing an eyebrow but not looking up from her book. "How'd it go?"

"I think it might have gone rather well," Greg admitted, taking his cape off and working on his suit. "We talked, words were exchanged, conversation happened, I scolded Yuki for sitting on the roof again…."

"I was wondering how their clothes were getting so gritty."

"Wonder no more." Greg finished getting into his pajamas and got into bed, kissing Jenna on the cheek. "And then I tucked the boys in bed, and here we are."

"Here we are," she agreed. "So how'd he take it?"

"Some grumbling was involved, but I'd rather have that then a broken neck."

"Okay, maybe we should get on the same page: I'm talking about Yami; which kid are you talking about?"

"Oh. We talked."

"And?"

"And what did you talk about?"

"Girls, a little. And he hasn't been saying anything about being held back for fear of sounding whiny, apparently."

"And you didn't tell him."

"I didn't tell him," Greg sighed. "But at least we're doing better than we were."

"At least there's that."

*\*/*

Maxwell had every intent of availing himself of one of the guest rooms for the night and then skedaddling the next morning before Yami woke up. With that in mind, he had switched over to tea long after everyone else stopped teetotaling. As it were, he was pacing past the solarium entrance when he spotted the 'lovely young couple,' as Mitzi styled it.

Maxwell styled it as playing with fire.

Maxwell watched them for a few moments, noting their positions in relation to each other, their body language—happily in love, watching the stars.

Made him sick, to be honest.

And while he was being honest, this was Yami being at his stupidest. Already on thin ice with the Administrators, although he didn't know it, and now courting a Commoner. Maxwell was surprised Yami's ears hadn't burned off yet, what with all the talk centering on him at the Administration Building.

Granted, she was good for him—she actually had some bite to her, and right away, as opposed to Yami's longsuffering attitude. She and he together were honestly dangerous.

He shrugged, sipped at his tea, and continued on to the guest rooms.

So long as he could duck away in a timely manner, inner-office politics were none of his concern.

*/*\*

Yami lay on his bed, staring out at the moonlight on the roof, long after Yuki's breathing had evened out.

Skellington Manor had, quite simply, left him with more questions than answers. And he honestly didn't know how he was going to get any more. Well, maybe the tapes—man, he hoped Bakura was careful.

But here he was, once again facing a wall. He still had ten months of his held-back sentence to go, and he had once again run out of things to keep him distracted. If only he could talk to somebody about this!

But there was no one to talk to. No one wanted to talk about the Boogie Mage. And it wasn't like Skellington was—

Wait.

The idea that occurred to him then made his stomach writhe, like icy lizards were running all around inside. Summon Skellington—not in his entirety, just his skull. The skull was enough to talk to, despite the creepy Hamlet vibe, and then he could find out what happened right from the horse's mouth! As soon as he reanimated it—which was a forbidden magic, but some notations on it were in the spellbook; he'd be able to reverse-engineer it easily enough with that.

Granted, this was dangerous—exceedingly dangerous. Even a skull could wreak havoc.

But he was tired of living in the dark.

He wanted answers.

And so help him, he was getting them, one way, or the other.