Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the long-awaited, long-anticipated first chapter of The Magicians' Realm! Or am I deluding myself?...

Anywho….This story was started in 2008—I've been working on it on and off for years, and I realized if I didn't start posting it now, I'd keep putting it off for an indefinite period of time, and who wants that?

This is what those in the fan-fic-business like to call heavily AU, and will be juggling a couple of timelines, which will be delineated by markers. This story will also be split into three different parts—yes, it's that long.

As my writing style has changed over the years, a few chapters (like this one) may appear less polished than others. My apologies. ^^;

The characters are primarily from Yu-Gi-Oh!, with a lot of original characters and characters from other media—I debated for a long time on whether or not to put it in the x-overs section of the crossovers, but eventually decided on posting it here because the Yu-Gi-Oh! characters factor so heavily in comparison to the others. References will be listed in every author's note in every chapter, so you know what characters you're seeing. There are also original characters dotting the landscape too, just so you know.

Anything else?...Yes: there will be a lot of Judeo-Christian tenets referenced throughout—characters attending church, Bible reading, Sunday school, etc., et al….The setting is also heavily based on America in the 1950s and 1930s. If you don't like either one, then this story is not for you.

As for the schedule: We'll be updating this story every Monday until further notice (Tuesdays for those on the other side of the globe). Gives Monday a nice connotation, doesn't it? :) The updates will also tend to run long (at least for me), so….Make sure you have a fresh drink nearby.

Is that it? That's it. Perfect! Let's get started! Welcome to the Magicians' Realm! :)

References:

Yu-Gi-Oh! © 1996 Kazuki Takahashi

Anzu Mazaki sat at the café, nibbling on beignets and scanning want ads.

Wanted: assistant at Most Potent Potions, working knowledge of plants required….Wanted: assistant to help with spell experimentation at the Administration Building, working knowledge of spell reversal needed….Wanted: assistant at Charmed, must know how to spell items….

She circled another potential ad, regarded it for a moment, then scribbled it out, flinging away the paper with an irritated moan.

She leaned back in her seat with a sigh and rubbed her vibrant blue eyes. There was no way she could find a satisfactory job, not with her limited skills. She poked at her remaining beignet; she really didn't want to be a librarian's apprentice all her life.

She stared at the wrought iron railing of the café, tracing its intricate design in an effort to calm down and focus.

It wasn't working.

She looked beyond it at the bustling main street of her home town of Delvaire and sighed.

She wasn't anything important; she couldn't do magic or speak to animals or anything like the Grand Mages she had read about could do…she couldn't even do basic spells, for crying out loud! And since the beginner spell classes had been cancelled at the Administration Building, she was up the proverbial creek without a—

She paused in her ranting, having noticed a young man followed by a cluster of young children. She could see a schoolmarm behind them, trying to rein them back in. but the man himself—he had to be a magician, he had to be. No one else dressed that eccentric. He had a top hat on his spiny, black and red hair, and was wearing a belted shirt, dark pants, two waist belts, sharp-looking belted shoes, and a flowing collared cape that went down to his waist. There were dark bands around his wrist, white conductor's gloves on his hands, and a strange, golden, triangular pendant hanging from a lace around his neck.

He seemed to notice the cluster of kids, turned to look at them; yellow lightning-bolt shaped bangs framed his face. His violet eyes sparked as he threw up his arms and roared at the kids.

They all leaped back laughing, obviously not intimidated, and clustered forward again.

He dropped his shoulders and stuck his hands in his pockets, head cocked to one side, as though contemplating the knot of kids. Suddenly, his hands flew back out with a flourish. Birds and sparks flew, to the children's delight.

Anzu laughed, delighted. That was just the sort of thing she needed to lift her mood.

The man glanced over at her laughter before waving at the schoolmarm and the children, who waved back delighted. He ambled over to Anzu and leaned against the railing.

"Was something funny?" he asked. He had a broad, toothy grin across his face.

"You," Anzu answered simply. She wanted to try to act casual. "Was that magic?"

"It was," he answered, cocking his head. His hair and his hat exaggerated the movement. Anzu started to feel some color come to her cheeks; nothing like asking a question with an obvious answer. She struggled to find something else to say.

"My name's Anzu," she said finally. She folded her hands and tried to look demure.

"Really?" his eyebrows were lost in his lightning-bolt bangs. "Well, my name's Yami. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Anzu replied, mostly to keep the conversation going. Oi, she felt like an idiot; next she'd be commenting on the weather—yeesh.

Yami's head cocked again as he looked her up and down; she felt like she was under a microscope.

"Are you going to the Masquerade Ball this Friday?"

Of all the questions she was expecting, that was not one of them.

"Um, well, no, actually," she stammered. "As far as I know, only important people get to go."

He grinned. "Congratulations, you are now officially important." He whipped out a ticket, so fast she was sure he pulled it out of thin air. "I happen to have an extra ticket, and—if you don't mind—I'd like you to go."

She looked at the ticket, and then to the person offering it. She tried a coy smile.

"You'd like me to go?"

He faltered; apparently, he wasn't used to being questioned like that.

"Yes, I'd like you to go."

She raised her eyebrows.

"With me. On a date," he finished quietly.

Anzu smiled and gently took the ticket. "I'd love to."

He smiled broadly, until someone else started talking.

"So, did you ask her?"

Yami sagged. "Yuki, go away."

Anzu had to laugh. What looked like Yami in miniature had just come bounding up; she realized that he must have been watching from afar.

Yami gestured helplessly at the young, wide-eyed version of himself. "Anzu, this is my little brother Yuki, whom our parents will not let me get rid of."

Anzu smiled at his little brother. Yuki was wearing a light green jacket; his hair, similar to Yami's, was also unruly, and his eyes were light blue, unlike Yami's deep violet. He looked no older than twelve.

Anzu extended her hand for Yuki to shake. He did so.

"Yes he did," she told him. "And I said yes."

"Oh," Yuki said slowly. "You should know that he has a big ego."

"Really?"

"Yeah, that's what Kels says anyway."

Anything else Kels said was cut off as Yami grabbed his younger brother's shirt collar and gently dragged him away. "It was lovely meeting you. The time and location is on the ticket. Don't forget!" He snapped at the edge of his hat brim as he said this last statement; a few sparks flew.

It wasn't until the two brothers rounded the corner that Anzu let the breath she was holding in out in a long, drawn sigh.

*\*/*

Teana couldn't help but sigh.

How did it come to this? She was scraping by on little odd jobs: waitressing, laundering, coat hanging, and now playing busboy—er, busgirl—at the Masquerade Ball.

The only good news was that she would be able to dress up for this, and she planned to go all out. She had spent her meager savings on a beautiful dress, and she was now late to work, thanks to the dressmaker's insistence that the dress be properly wrapped.

Now she was trotting down the street as fast as she possibly could while carrying an awkward bundle. She heard the town clock gonging the time, poured on the speed, turning a corner—

—And ran smack into someone.

She fell backwards as the bundle went flying. Well, at least the lady knew what she was doing. Then again, she thought as she twisted to pick it back up, if she hadn't bundled it up, Teana wouldn't be late.

Someone bent down in front of her and picked up her bundle.

She gasped. This must have been the person she ran into. And he was tall. And thin.

"In a hurry?" he asked; he had a deep voice, like rich velvet. He offered her his hand and hauled her back upright.

"Yes, I am, and if you don't mind, I have to get to work." Teana grabbed her bundle and started off again, faster this time.

He went with her, long legs enabling him to keep pace with her quick step. "Do you run into people often, or only when you're late for work?"

"What makes you think I'm late?"

"Would you be hurrying if you weren't?"

"Point taken." She stopped before she ran into a carriage and turned to the man; she had to crane her neck to look him in the face.

"Listen, if you want an apology, fine: I'm sorry I ran you over. Can I go now?" She huffed off again, hoping to leave him behind.

No such luck.

"Actually, I was hoping for your name," he said from next to her.

Boy he was persistent. "I don't give out my name."

"Why is that?"

She looked at him sharply. "I hear that magicians can use your name to make you do their bidding, and to be honest, you look like a magician."

He looked down at his black suit, confused. She rolled her eyes; she had actually meant the long cape and the unusual tie holding it in place, not to mention the odd hair. "And I hear they aren't too terribly bright, either," she added.

"Oh?" he noised; her suspicions were confirmed. "Well then, how about this: my name is Yami. It's a pleasure to meet you." He flashed her a grin. "Now, if you're a magician—and you certainly act like one—then you can go ahead and use that against me."

She stopped and stared at him. "Okay…" she said slowly. "Yami, go away."

She set off again; he followed with a grin on his face. "See? That's just an old-wives'-tale," he explained.

She rolled her eyes; those muscles were starting to get tired. "Or," she sighed. "It could be because I'm not a magician."

"Do you dabble?"

"No."

"Pity," he said, putting a gloved knuckle to his mouth. "I'd bet you'd make a great one."

"Ah," she said, turning her head slightly. "But if you notice, I am an average citizen, and average citizens cannot become magicians."

"Says who?"

"Oh, let me think," she said, turning another corner. Her workplace was in sight now. "The Administration, the Civil Branch, my boss, my mother, my friends, society in general." She stopped in front of her workplace and put her hand on the door handle. "Listen," she told him. "I'd love to stay and chat. Tea, cake, the whole shebang. But I have a job to do, and you have a cape to iron."

He raised his eyebrows slightly and smirked. "Well then," he said, placing a white ticket on her dress bundle. "There's a ticket to the Masquerade Ball this Friday. We can do the 'tea, cake, whole shebang' thing then."

She glared. "Do you think I need that?"

"If you don't, then give it to someone else." He bowed, reached past her to the door, and opened it for her. Her boss looked up sharply.

"I'm terribly sorry," Yami said to her boss. "It's my fault that's she's late. I hope you don't give her any trouble for that."

"Oh, no sir! I won't!" her boss said, suddenly standing to attention.

Teana stared; her boss never did that for anyone.

Yami leaned over to her as he backed out of the store. "Time and place are on the ticket. Don't forget!" he smiled at her and nodded at her boss as he left.

"What just happened?" Teana asked, looking at her boss. "Do you two know each other?"

If she had to guess the noise her boss made, she would liken it to a long, tremulous, drawn out sigh.