Author's Notes: If one must write their stories during 'busy time' (such as work, school, church if you go, etc.) Then do not, under any circumstance, leave your notebook where you can't rescue it if need be... Especially when the writing happens to be in Tengwar. Then certain 'parental units' (take my father for example) will think it's gibberish and throw it out. So, if you were wondering about the delay, uhm...now you know! I've also decided to do dates/times in caps, because it makes it easier to edit when I don't have to look around for where I left off.



AUGUST 27:

Continued search for roommate. Met an auto mechanic named Jimbo. Was a very interesting man. Very much like Miss (oh, excuse me, *Ms.*) Hansen, only he is very pro-men, and wouldn't let me forget how much weaker women are.

May have considered him for my list of possible Room Mates, except found his obsession with strength rather annoying. Decided to help him overcome his flaw (and Ms Hansen's) instead. Set up time for them to be alone together.

Sent Jimbo to her classroom not one hour ago, after bribing Hansen's only friend so that Hansen would believe Jimbo was a repairman. Feel quite clever at the moment. How did I get Jimbo to go to her? Promised him it would be a "good time". Read that saying off a restroom wall. Was warned by Yugi not to read anymore bathroom walls, but curiosity dictates that I must.

Went for a walk at lunch, and found a little "Egyptian" store. Wasn't that authentic, but met very nice old lady named Edith. She is really only 63, which is some 1,000 years younger than myself, but I let her think I am in my 20's.

We chatted for around 3 hours and now I am her roomy. Made me promise not to call her granny at any time, because that's where the last guy messed up. Shouldn't be a problem; more worried that I'll slip up and call her 'young one'.

Wait. She's had roommates before? Why is it so hard for me to get someone to share the rent?! Must reevaluate my persuasive people skills. Must tell Yugi today, as I have a place to go now.

Also, can tell him of my many new adventures. Yay, events and reflection of this day has left me feeling brave and attractive!



SEVERAL HOURS LATER:

This is how our conversation went:

"Yami? Are you home- What are you doing?!" (I was taking posters off of 'our' wall and trinkets out of 'our' drawers; note that Yugi is much less charitable when gifts he has given me are no longer available for him to use and/or view. Suppose I am infecting him slowly with my Yami-ness, but would rather blame Bakura or Kaiba.)

I stood up and faced him. "Aibou...Yugi...I am a History Professor and, as you are moving up in the world, I must move out." (Upon further reflection, I realize I was probably making him feel guilty. Oops. It seems to be much easier to talk to him in the Puzzle.) "I'm living with a nice woman named Edith uptown."

Yugi's mouth dropped open. Was a long moment of silence, which I considered breaking by telling him he looked like a fish and probably ought to close his mouth again, but he spoke first.

"You what?!"

It felt like I'd said a lot. Am not a talkative person. Considered which parts to repeat, but again he spoke first. "You can't, Yami! Since when did you live uptown? Did you just say you're a History professor?!" I nodded, feeling strangely calm. For some reason, I thought we'd stepped into that TV show, 'The Twilight Zone'. Started humming the theme song in my head, but as Yugi hears much of what goes on in my head when we are together, this turned out to be a big mistake.

"Aren't you listening to me?" Kid was practically in tears. Suddenly I felt like a jerk. A big jerk with 'Stupid' stamped right across his forehead. Except I already have a stamp on my forehead (it only appears when I get angry or when I'm standing under a black light) so 'Stupid' would have to go somewhere else, like my mouth. Except it seems my mouth is occupied by my feet most of the time. Leaves only a few other 'Stampable' places which I will not go into.

"Of course I am listening to you, Yugi," I said, trying to get him to calm down. "But we both have lives; that doesn't mean I won't still have the time or energy to swoop in and rescue you or your friends when you, inevitably, find yourselves in danger."

He didn't seem to comprehend what I was saying. My mind had already moved on to another topic, much more fascinating than our argument if I do say so. "Oh, speaking of danger, Yugi, while I was house hunting I found the strangest places. Did you ever see 'The Exorcist'?"

Yugi shook his head. Was going to continue rambling, but he wanted to go back to arguing. "Yami, listen to me!"

Wasn't he listening to me? Because I already told him I was listening to him!

"You don't have to move out! I'm sorry if you've felt ignored, or...or left behind or something."

I nodded. "I want to move out. I want to have the wild parties, but with the Faculty instead of beer-hogging freshman. No offense intended. The Faculty, why, most of them look older than I am! It makes me feel wise, Yugi. I think this is a wise decision." Hah. My logic has rarely been outdone by him, so I assumed he would agree. He didn't like it, but conceded that it was in fact my life (or afterlife, depending on how you look at it) and I had as much right to move out as he did.

Grandpa Motou walked by then. He burst out laughing and pointed at Yugi, screaming "Now you know how I feel! Now you know how I feel!"

Took that opportunity to hug Yugi (which was awkward, due to the fact I was juggling three boxes of my things) and ran out the door. So here I sit at a bus stop, waiting for a bus which may or may not arrive before I have to take out a group of vandals.



AUGUST 28:

Have learned new game from Edith. It is called 'Canasta'. She had her friends come over; all of them are over 70, Edith turns out to be 68 and the youngest, but still their ages added together don't even scratch my awe-inspiring years.

Even so, have become very good friends. Felt very welcomed after a while; at first they called me 'son' and 'kid', but I began using archaic phrases and they now think of me as one of them. ("them" being "potential groupies at a rest home").

Beat all of their socks off, told them story of my reign as the Game King. Learned about Selma's time as a baseball player back during 'The War'. (What war? The last war I remember involved those barbarians from the far desert.) So asked them to describe 'The War'. Didn't understand most of the terminology, but the stories were very amusing.

Tried Edith's Prune Juice. Was at first disgusting, but seem to have developed a taste for it. (Am in fact treating myself to a nice glass now, as I am writing). Her friends made both of us dinner, since we just moved in and have boxes all over. Joey sent me a cookie. Tristan and Tea bought me a couple of oranges. Yugi's presents seem to have backed up the post office, so will receive them whenever they come. Anyway, am tired now and going to bed.



SEPTEMBER 3:

Have had no time to write this past week. Have my classes scared of my large, spontaneous, sometimes unanswerable tests and so they have all bonded together as a family and study every spare moment they get. Feel very proud of myself. Am the envy of the faculty, seeing as how the grant the government gives to a few teachers every year will probably go to me.

Also, Edith and her friends are very obsessed with their games, and we all stay up late into the night playing Rummy, Gin, Canasta, Poker, Speed and now Duel Monsters, to name a few.

Reminds me: I sent Ruth down to the Hobby Shop for a beginner-league Duel Monster tournament, and she is now known as 'Big Grandma' by adolescents everywhere.

However, feel something strange is going on with Edith. Not sure how to even describe it; dangerous isn't the right word. Oh well, probably nothing, so will get back to work.