Author's Notes: Well, here it is, the next part! And Happy Thanksgiving! If you don't celebrate it, then Happy 28th of November, day of the Lone Wolf! I love my reviewers! Some of whom I will list and thank here, due to Thanksgiving. Sorry; this'll take some time, but the story IS down below, if you don't want to bother reading my thankful list.
Evil Black Kitty (love the penname!) Thank you for being the first reviewer of YYMO. Usually, I won't continue if I don't get at least *one* review, so you ensured I'd keep going :D
Benign Sadist, thank you for reviewing every chapter! I really look forward to your reviews, since they encourage me A LOT.
Borath, Holy guacamole, I'm flattered you've reviewed! I love your stories; you rock! I'm also grateful for my shrine from the first chapter. Thank you!
Angel-soul03, thank you for reviewing as many of my stories as you have! Writing In YGO just isn't right until you've reviewed!
Talia Ali, thank you for the good luck in my home-hunting! And of course the idea of Yami's Teacher's Pet (now named Rupert Renfield)! That had me laughing like a madman for some time! *grins evilly*
K.A. Maples, you have also reviewed quite a few of my stories, which makes me extremely happy and also tends to make my self-esteem a tad bit big to fit through doorways!
Morning Mist: Thank you for your praise of Yami's sarcasm! Some people were a little leery of it, but as I'm unwilling to change the way I write him, I'm very glad you approve! Thank you for your support in my writing!
Meredith T. Tasaki, LoL, I loved your review! I'm a big fan of strange outburst-sayings; I'm adding yours to my list. See the story for details *grins*
Maria, your reaction to Yami's suit was exactly what I wanted! LOL!
Tatooinedweller, it's about time I saw another Star Wars fan here! I love your stories, and I recommend them highly to everyone!
Yugichii, thank you. Sometimes my humor is a bit dark or sarcastic, so it's really nice to know that you enjoy my writing.
KawaiiShinigami, I love to hear from you! I love Gundam Wing; I promise to r/r 'Glaring Dream' as soon as I'm not whacked-out-depressed! (You have permission to torture me if I don't R/R soon!)
Yamicat, Hehe, try to get your grandma to play sometime! LoL, if I ever get my grandma to, I'll post the picture.
Lena, thank you for the two-in-a-row reviews! It makes me really happy that I can hold someone's interest for more than a chapter at a time ;) I'm glad you liked the Haunted House, and that you got a kick out of 'Big Grandma'! (Winston is trying to make our mom into 'Big Mama' that's where I got the idea.)
Saendie, thank you much for the support of my Yami-writing!
SEPTEMBER 8:
Edith's one and only relative came over today. Is Saturday, so I have no classes and chose to sit around and eat applesauce. Very interesting show comes on in the mid-mornings, called 'Perry Mason'. Find it strangely addicting, as does Edith and her groupies.
Anyway, back to Edith's sole surviving family member. He is her great-nephew. He is 30-ish; he's also convinced he is Napoleon (apparently Napoleon was some sort of war hero or conqueror. All I know is I was better.)
Edith plays along for his sake, but filled me in on the 'he pretends to be a long-dead Frenchman' dealy after she sent him out to dig trenches. Found this unsettling; could he be like me? Is he in fact a spirit sealed away, trying to make his way in a modern world?
The answer....is no. He's just batty. But now that I know this, I can deal with it and not worry that he will try to kill me like Malik did.
Apparently Ted/Napoleon comes to visit her often. However, discovered my friend Edith is a player. Every other week she has a new boyfriend. Find this odd; she seems less than interested in romance, unless it is with Perry Mason. And she is not consistent with her 'type' of man. Some of them are angry old badgers; some are so nice they border on wimpy.
Asked her what happened to one very nice old man I happened to like (as he plays cards.)
I wasn't about to say I didn't like her new man, even though I detest him. Instead I asked, "What happened to Bill?"
"Bill? The nice elderly chap with the brown cap?" I nodded. "Oh, he's dead." Take a moment to digest this...he's dead? Realize that they're mortal, but Bill seemed sturdy enough to me. Expected he would last at least a few more years.
"He's *what?*"
She gave me a funny look. "Dead...haven't you ever lost someone? A cat, perhaps?"
"I know what death is! But..."
She smiled slightly and opened the fridge. "Well, everyone has their time, Yami. Is this your orange juice or mine?"
Find her total lack of sadness both admirable and a little frightening. Maybe she knows something I don't about this 'Bill is dead' situation.
Well, Perry Mason is on. Can't write. Must watch.
SEPTEMBER 13
Is Friday. I enjoy Fridays immensely. It is my official 'Test Day', and I often get asked out in discreet and not-so-discreet ways by some students. Have had to copy school's rules regarding the student/professor relationships, and enlarge it so that each letter is three feet tall. Then placed this all over the classroom. Begin to suspect some of my students cannot read; will dock them 30 points off of test for suspected cheating.
Students have given me a nickname, it seems. "Professor James Bond". Asked Yugi about this and learned it is because of my constant tuxedo-wearing. Asked if I should go back to my brown suit, and received very hasty and desperate compliments of my current appearance. And pleading not to wear 'vintage' ever again.
Did I mention that Yugi and I speak everyday on the phone? He is doing well. I think. Doubt he would tell me if he is failing classes, me being a professor and all. Anyway, he has decided to get me a cell phone so we can chat anywhere, anytime. Am worried about this; I saw the commercials, and certainly do not want some guy coming around trying to sell me a green couch or any such crap.
Ruth does not trust cell phones, car phones, or pay phones. Makes me feel smug; I am long past the fear of modern machinery. Except tanks. Find those strangely intimidating, but as they exist only in TV world, I don't lose any sleep over them.
.....Student just left an apple on my desk. What was his name? Renfield I think. Rupert Renfield or something. Ah, I remember him now. He is the only student in second hour class who does better than 60% on most tests.
Second hour is either very honest or very stupid. Will have to up their work load until they match my 5th hour class.
Napoleon is very busy of late digging trenches. According to Judy and Ruth, he is always busy though. Wonder just where he is digging? Doubt that it would be acceptable at the apartment complex. Have decided to spend a day following him around.
A FEW HOURS LATER:
Have begun my mission. So far, Napoleon has entered the apartment and accepted what he believes is wine from Edith. Edith hates grapes, and so the chances of Napoleon ever really having tasted wine is highly unlikely, instead she gives him water, but he is content to believe what he will.
Was asked by both of them why I was dressed the way I am.
Edith asked, "Yami, are you all right? Why are you dressed all in black?"
Napoleon demanded, "Explain your manner of dress, Soldier! What are you doing out of uniform?"
Both got the same response. "My dog died." Will note that at this point, Napoleon offered to dig a trench for me!!!!(!!!) Am beginning to really wonder about these 'trenches'.
After the wine break, Napoleon set out. I made a flimsy excuse and went out shortly after him. He trotted down the hall like he was riding a horse; miming as if he were holding the reigns and everything. Is a very good thing he never met Yami Bakura. That would have been bad and probably bloody.
Followed him several blocks away to an abandoned warehouse. Was strangely void of any hoodlums' graffiti; wonder if Napoleon is more capable of self defense than he looks. The floor inside was dirt; a jack hammer and several piles of broken concrete solved that mystery. He took out a shovel and dug a nice deep hole. Then he left.
Am now suspecting amusing, possibly illegal scenarios for my roomy and her nephew. Possibly this scheme goes deeper than I think; could it be that Judy and Ruth, maybe even more, know about whatever Napoleon is up to?
Will have to pry it out of them tonight during poker.
SEPTEMBER 14
Saturday. Laundry/grocery day is more like it. Who invented weekends? Why couldn't they just assign us each a maid to do the boring things I would rather not waste valuable time on? Really miss being Pharaoh.
Am at 'Sudsy Laundromat' waiting for clothes to wash. Would have read a magazine, except they are all have names like 'Gentle Hunters' or 'Expectant Mother'. And the ones I would consider look suspiciously sticky; will not fall victim to little demon child's "drop soda so Yami gets disgusted" ploy.
Had trouble with the first machine. Determined it was broken and had to find another one, but all were taken up, so dumped someone else's clothes in the broken machine. Now have to keep an eye out for the returning anonymous volunteer. Will record how my poker/information gambling went last night.
I was the dealer, since my hands are arthritis-free. "How long have you known Napoleon, Judy?"
Judy is deaf in her left ear. Couldn't remember if it was left or right, so spoke a bit loudly into the good ear. Judy is nice and acted normal. "Oh, twenty years or so."
Marked her down on mental list of people to interrogate. "What about you, Ruth?"
Big Grandma looked up. Noted she was wearing the black choker Yugi gave her; is proof that he has accepted her as a worthy opponent. Even Joey hasn't received one yet. Haha! "Since he was 6. He was a small fry then! Oh, I even remember the accident that made him start this Napoleon business."
This was interesting, and sidetracked me for a bit. Turns out he was attacked by a rabid donkey. Not sure that qualifies as an accident, but went back to the subject. Unfortunately, by the 'Who Knows Napoleon' question, they're *all* highly suspect.
I casually dealt out new hands. "Who are you all dating now a days?"
They all giggled. Found this suspicious. They are making me into a paranoid, senile Pharaoh.
"I don't date anymore," Laura said. "I'm way too old for that! And my children, bless their souls, they just wouldn't understand if I went to the 'Home' and picked up a new man."
Edith laughed. "You don't need to go to the Home, Laura. The line at the prescription counter is where I found Bob and Tom and George."
"Oh, but you've got a much keener eye for the right ones than I do!" Laura said.
Keener Eye. Right Ones. Trenches. Hmmm.....
Gotta run. The Washing Machine guy has returned; have to distract him, stuff my clothes into a dryer, and return his clothes to their rightful place.
Further Author's Notes: Here's a trivia test: thoughts on Edith and her band? Anyone....recognize it? Also, does anyone want to see a pic of Yami in his Brown Corduroy Purple Polka Dot Bow Tie suit, or even (if you remember his first job) in his Lemonade Stand uniform?