A/N: Inspired by the horribly evil weeding I had to do today. (Sobs) And I'm still not done! At any rate, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: (Checks self)… I have a Yami plushie!!
Store clerk: (Frowns) Give that back or pay for it already!
Divey: Le pout.
Store clerk: Le…what?
Divey: (Cackles in sheer fatigue)

Code:

/ flashback /

Brainfarque 05:

The Back Yard

Yami stared in horror. His eyes closed once, and then again, as if mere visual refusal would make the terror ahead of him disappear.

No such luck.

Facing him, the greenery of weeds waved dauntingly. Standing where he was, the tips of the spread managed to brush their jagged edges against his (thankfully!) leather-clad legs.

He'd completely forgotten about weeding the back yard. And any minute now, his aibou and Grandfather would return from their month-long vacation.

Yami stumbled quickly backwards at the menacing sight ahead of him. He let out a startled cry as he tripped on something, and landed firmly on his butt.

"Ow…" he complained. Rubbing the offended area, Yami looked to see what had tripped him. Right in front of him lay the weed-digger and the trowel. They were barely visible, though, due to the hated overgrowth that had swarmed over the once-pristine tools.

He blinked. So that's where they'd disappeared…

From inside, the grandfather clock began to chime in the late hour. Normally calm eyes widened in ruby terror, and Yami lunged for the tools with a desperate denial hovering before his lips in the humid air. Using all of his strength, he began to pull and tug frantically at the weed-digger, trying to free it from its encompassing prison of entrenched roots. As he struggled, his mind flashed back to the events of a month prior.

/ "Yami! Guess what?"

"You and grandfather won the raffle for an all-expense paid trip to Jusenkyo springs in China?"

"Wha-? How did you know that?" An ominous pause. "You didn't go into my thoughts again, did you?"

Yami sipped his tea. "Of course not, aibou. I just heard the results announced on the … rai-dee-oh."

"Oh." Another pause. "Yami?"

"Aibou?"

"…Would you mind watching the shop while we're gone?" /

After the circumstances had been explained, Yami had reluctantly agreed, comforted only by the fact that he knew his aibou and grandfather would be kept under constant, secret surveillance.

He had Kaiba to thank for that.

Of course, to return the afore-mentioned begged-for favour, Yami had to promise to duel Kaiba.

He'd vowed to do the weeds right after that, having previously promised his aibou that he would take care of the lawn. At least he'd had the chance, before he'd gone off to shame Kaiba again, to put the fur-tee-leye-zer in the front and back lawn.

He'd come back from the duel – having won it, of course – and had managed to deal with the front lawn, but then…

Ah, but then Anzu had come over for tea. Since he knew it was most impolite to send visitors away without being entertained, Yami stopped working immediately and had amused his aibou's good friend.

How that had turned into a whirlwind, all-night party with Jou, Honda, Ryou, Bakura, Marik, Malik, Seto, Mokuba, Anzu, Otogi, and a score of others…

Yami didn't know. He also didn't know how a sugar-high Marik had spun from the ceiling fan for a good 15 minutes without breaking anything.

And then, after the party, Yami had to clean up all the mess. By himself.

He paused in his frantic struggles with the weeds to grumble briefly under his breath.

And then, after the party, there'd been that ice cream sale at the grocery market.

And the duel competition.

And the finals for Dungeons and Dragons.

And the chess tournament.

And now it was the end of the month, and the backyard had turned into the forest that time had forgotten! And Yami had promised his aibou that he'd look after everything!

Aibou was going to kill him.

Yami sighed. His "never-say-die" spirit had fled ages ago at the first sight of the elephant-sized weeds. He knew now that he would never get this done before his aibou returned with grandfather. A small, metal tool would not be enough. By Osiris, an army of bulldozers would not have been enough!

He was going to die.

…

Again.

…

Unless! Suddenly, Yami was hit with a fabulous idea, born out of sheer desperation. He let go of the weed-digger and, with a grunt of effort, tapped into his Puzzle. Soon, a field of Darkness completely swarmed over the backyard, the sinister shadows writhing subtly in contentment.

Yami nodded to himself in satisfaction. He knew that the Shadow Realm had to be good for something!

Just then, he heard the patio door click open, and he whirled about to face the new arrivals. His eyes widened. "Aibou! Grandfather! You've returned!"

"Yami! It's great to see you again! How did things go?"

"Oh, fine. Fine. Ne, aibou, look! I won the duel tournament in your name! See the trophy?"

"Wow, Yami! Thanks!"

A pause.

"Yami?"

"Yes, aibou?"

"Why are your pants covered in mud?"

"Eh?"

"For that matter, why is the backyard completely dark when the sun is shining so brightly?"

"Uh…"

…………………………………….

A/N: That was fun. (Grins). Oh, and kudos to anyone who caught the Ranma ½ reference. (Grins wider)