A/N: YAY! This story's reviews broke an 100! Here's an update! Here we have Bobby and the classes (since I finally worked out who would go where). Thanks to those who applied *grin*.
Here's the role:
Yami's 'good' Class: (2nd)
-Meredith T. Tasaki
-Llyxius
-Dreaming Dragon
-Jasmine (Water Goddess)
-Aliana (Starr)
Yami's 'bad' Class: (4th)
-*Weevil
-*Renfield
-Tilena
-Lena
-Borath
-ObiWan Girl
SEPTEMBER 22: (after getting shoes on)
Big Grandma gave me keys and direction to her sister's house. Then had to get on bus for the first time since my search for an apartment. Hmm. Hope my dealings with Bobby go better than Apartment Hunting did. Also hope that Bobby is fully house trained.
Great, now I'm nervous again. Not to mention, bus driver seems to be slightly drunk. Will get off soon...I hope.
LATER: (at home again)
Can't begin to describe this weird, crappy turn of events. Will try. Here goes:
Got off the bus about a block from Bobby's home and walked the rest of the way, to ensure safety from the soused bus man. Found a little house with a herd of plastic pink flamingoes on the lawn and wind chimes hanging from the drain pipes, the shutters, the trees, the bushes, and even a few of the flamingoes. Felt the corner of my lip curling in disgust.
Anyway, got inside without any trouble, but was bracing myself for stench of neglected house pet. To my shock, there wasn't decaying animal-stench, or even the reek of a messy litter box. It smelled like mothballs and prune juice and old flowery perfume.
After searching postage-stamp sized backyard and calling "Bobby!" about a thousand times, I decided this was not a dog that was placed in my care. After my sigh of relief, I looked up and felt rather stupid.
"Bobby's Room" was spelled out in quilted letters on the door right in front of me. Like this was a *baby's* room.
Question: Why give your pet its own room when your rent is doubled for every bedroom in the apartment?!
Slowly opened the door, watching the floor for a cat trying to run past. Nothing but silence. Was kind of eery.
Found a big 20-foot long glass cage sitting against the opposite wall, but couldn't see anything in it. Had to step closer, even though my heart was pounding in my ears. Slowly crouched in front of the cage and searched for Bobby.
Cage was decorated in desert scheme, which I found promising. I know lots of desert animals- rabbits, snakes, jackals...
On a rock on the other side of the cage was a black scorpion the size of my hand, fingers included. And if I thought for an instant that this thing had killed the real Bobby, and maybe Ruth's sister, I saw a portrait of the old lady holding the scorpion (the *scorpion*) and smiling like an idiot.
That did it.
Immediately, I pulled out my cell phone and called Yugi.
"Hello?"
"Yugi."
"Yami? Why are you whispering?"
"There's a..." for some reason, the word just didn't want to be said. "Scorpion."
"A scorpion?" Heard me whimper. "Don't worry, Yami, if you give him your money, he'll leave you alone."
Well, that was surprising. But Yugi knows all about modern life, and modern scorpions, so I took out my wallet and dropped it in the cage. "Ok. Now what?"
"He hasn't left? Where are you? Are you sure it's a Scorpion and not a Tiger?"
"I'm at Ruth's sister's house. Of course it's a scorpion! I lived in the desert, I know what a scorpion looks like!"
"...You mean it's a *real* scorpion?!" Yugi's voice squeaked. Is funny when he does that. Would have laughed, if Bobby the Monster Scorpion wasn't looking at me from atop my wallet.
"Yes! His name is Bobby!"
"I thought you meant the *gang* Scorpion!"
"What should I do?"
"Don't panic. Call animal control, and make sure you don't let it sting you!"
Like I *would*?! He made it sound like I *wanted* to get killed. "No! Wait, Yugi. I can't let Ruth win." Turned a glare on the scorpion. "All right, Bobby. You may have had the upper hand before, but-"
"Yami, I don't think-"
"-Not anymore! You're coming home with *me* and that's the end of it!" With that, I hauled the 20-foot cage over my shoulder and walked out the door.
The phone was still very close to my ear. "Listen to yourself! No, listen to me!" Really wished Yugi would stop yelling in my ear. Gave me a vicious headache.
At home:
Calmed down when I saw Edith parked outside in a huge pink Cadillac that can fit 8 dead bodies in the trunk (though in our case it just held all of Bobby's things). She gave me a brownie and told me that she'd sort everything out when we got home. Made me feel better, if a little childish...even though I'm older, and she'd better not forget it.
Ruth brought over two of her grandchildren, who are now interested in Duel Monsters, except they can't defeat their grandmother at the game and so came to me for advice. Like I know how to do that. I only know how to win; still don't know how my abilities rubbed off on Yugi, but I can tell you it wasn't because I gave him lessons.
Locked Bobby in a closet before Ruth and co. came over, by the way. Can hear his scuttlings and hissings, and it's really starting to freak me out. Stupid 10-inch scorpion.
SEPTEMBER 23: (at school, in 2nd period)
Was too freaked out by appearance of vicious, man-killing scorpion to want to give class a test. Even though I said I would, and technically I'm not supposed to go back on my word. Want to know how good the people are in my class?
After I just sat there, even though class had started and no papers had been handed out (I think I might have given the impression of hiding behind the stack of test books on my desk) Jasmine raised her hand.
I, listlessly, eyes sort of darting around looking for little black shape with a pointed tail, called on her.
"Mr. Yami, weren't we going to have a test today?"
Mind wandered for a bit, back to the death trap that is my house. "...Let me ask you all something." Stood up and drew a huge picture of a scorpion on the whiteboard. "What is this?"
Students looked at each other. Studied them, folded arms over my chest. Finally, Aliana raised her hand. "It's a scorpion, isn't it?"
Turned to look hatefully at the drawing. "No! It's a cold-blooded killer! It waits in darkness for you unsuspecting mortals to stick your feet in its path! The instant it finds weakness, you are *dead*!" Paused for breath. "But thank you for answering, Aliana. You can expect twelve extra credit points on the next test."
Students looked back and forth at each other. Meredith spoke. "Mr. Yami, does this have anything to do with Prince Amonhotep's death after a scorpion found its way into the palace?"
I laughed. "It didn't find its way, I put it there! And...no. You see," I sat down on my desk, drawing my knees up to my chest so as to avoid Bobbie, if he'd followed me. "My friend's sister kicked the bucket and I got stuck with her pet."
"An Emperor scorpion?" Llyxius asked.
"Yes, exactly! Ten extra credit points on the next test, Llyxius. Do you know what they eat, if I can't get him enough human flesh?"
She shook her head. Jasmine raised her hand, so I called on her. "They eat crickets, Mr. Yami. My sister used to have one."
"Your *sister*? Ladies, these are vicious, life-sucking, grave-dwelling, stinger-armed scorpions! They're not toothless puppies for you to coo over!" Took a deep, calming breath. It didn't work. "But I'm glad they eat crickets. You'll have no more homework for the rest of the term. In fact, class dismissed, I have to go find some crickets. If I keep it full, it won't come after me!"
Snatched up my jacket and ran out the door. I got on the next bus, where I wrote everything out in my journal. For history. The history of terrifying pets.
Oh great galloping Anubis, what if Bobbie's already gone after Edith?
FURTHER A/N: Here's the picture I promised a few chapters back. Not the finest work I've ever done, but it's the first time I've ever used a computer to color, so I'm not thoroughly disappointed.
(then click on the third album. Should say "Silver's Fanart" or somesuch.)