seers-of-a-lost-paradise: Glad I hooked ya. No, there's not a companion fic. Sorry.

anime freak yokai: Sorry about the long wait.

Ish: Calm, everything will be explained.

Curtis Zidane Ziraa: Yeah, the suspense it great, isn't it. And though I've mentioned two other stories in the beginning, it has no connections.

Ryua Malfoy: Yeah…you gotta go to my profile.

Talon and Skittles: Planning to.

JadedKatrina: Well, everything's cool now. And, no, sorry, there is no companion, but you will find out what happens to Yugi and so forth. Everything will be explained. Promise.

Cherry-San: I'll see what I can do about Yami. And I'm glad you like the new HP characters.

Ch. 5

Say Hello

Yugi woke with a sleepy yawn and stretch the next morning. He had almost forgotten about the new job and his current residence. Actually, he had forgotten, until he opened his eyes and saw the stone-walled room that lay before him. The soft sunlight of the new day filtered through the small window in the wall and fell upon him. He squinted in the light for a moment. The bright glow took him by surprise. He sighed as he stood up and got out of bed. He moved to his chest of drawers and pulled out some clothes. This disturbance caused Magic to wake up to the sun as well. Magic blinked a couple of times and looked at Yugi.

"Morning," Magic greeted.

"Morning," Yugi agreed.

"You ready for today?" Magic asked.

"No, not really, but then again, I don't have a choice, do I?" Yugi looked at his companion.

"No, you really don't, but you'll do fine, I know it," Magic nodded.

Yugi gave a faint smile and slipped his clothes on. He was unsure about whether he could really do anything today. He was so nervous. He really wished it was like old times, and his friends were here. They weren't though. He missed them. He hadn't seen them since they had all graduated from High School. After that, they all had gone their separate ways. Yugi had stayed in Domino, Joey too. Tea had finally gone to New York, and as for Tristan and Duke, and Serenity, and Mai, and even Kaiba, he hadn't a clue. He just wished he had some one he knew here. And he wished that his scar would stop hurting.

After had pulled himself out of bed and dressed himself, he walked into the classroom. He sat down at his desk, bewildered at what has happened. He couldn't believe all that had happened, and how fast it had happened. It made his head spin just to think about it.

Magic walked down the stairs and over to Yugi. Sitting down beside him, Magic chose his words carefully before speaking.

"Aren't you going to join the other teachers for breakfast?" Magic asked.

"No, I'm not sure I could," Yugi sighed.

"Yugi, it's best to show up at breakfast to keep them from worrying," Magic stated.

Yugi looked at Magic, his eyes pleading with him to not make him go, which he knew Magic would. Magic stood up, and pushed Yugi out the door.

"I'm going to lock this door until breakfast is over," Magic threatened Yugi as he looked at him through the classroom door.

"You wouldn't," Yugi called as Magic closed the door, and then Yugi listened to a soft click, stating the door was locked. "Apparently you would," Yugi mumbled smally.

Yugi trudged down to the Great Hall for breakfast. When he took his place, he looked out at the students. He thought that he would be teaching all of them. His stomach tied itself into a knot and he lost his appitete. He looked for Hagrid, but didn't see him. Kye was sitting on the other side of Dumbledore, and seemed to be going over lesson plans as he ate. Dumbledore seemed about ready to dismiss the students from breakfast when the doors of the Great Hall banged open. Every head turned to see the late arrival.

It was a bedraggled blonde haired man, about the same age as Yugi. He looked as though he had just stumbled out of bed. His hair was mussed up and unruly and his white shirt was very rinkled. The black jeans he was wearing were fading and tattered. He rushed up to Dumbledore.

"Sorry I'm late," he apologized, bowing slightly.

Yugi listened closely. He knew that accent. He knew that face. He hadn't seen it in a while though. He looked up at the blonde, who's hair hung down in his face.

"Joey?" Yugi asked, shocked.

The man turned his head towards Yugi.

"Hey Yuge!" Joey smiled.

"So, you two know each other?" McGonagall asked.

"Yeah, Yuge's my best friend," Joey nodded, turning towards her.

Dumbledore smiled at Joey and told him, "That's okay, it's good you showed up. I'm glad you could get here on such short notice," and then he stood to his feet. "Students, I'd like to introduce you to your new Care of Magical Creatures instruction, Proffessor Joseph Wheeler."

"What happened to Hagrid?" someone called out.

"He had a family emergency come up and will be out for the rest of the school year," Dumbledore explained. "Mr. Wheeler will be taking over all of his responsibilties for the year. You will treat him with the same respect of the other teachers."

Joey turned his honey brown eyes to the students. His eyes showed much more confidence than Yugi's did. He smiled as the students clapped.

"You may sit by Yugi, if you want," Dumbledore told Joey.

"Thanks," Joey smiled, looking back at Dumbledore.

Joey walked over to Yugi and took the seat beside him, which would've been occupied by Hagrid had he been there.

"So, how's things been for ya?" Joey asked, looking at his friend.

"Okay," Yugi stated, feeling much better to have his best pal there.

"You ready for the first day of classes?" Joey asked.

"No," Yugi moaned, shaking his head.

"Oh? Well, I don't have classes right off, you want me to stay with you for your first class?" Joey wondered.

"Would you really?" Yugi asked happily, looking at his friend.

"Sure," Joey shrugged. "Anything to help a friend," Joey smiled. "Especailly you, Yuge."

"Thanks," Yugi smiled.

The pair stood up and walked to Yugi's classroom. Magic was nowhere to be found. Joey looked around the room approvingly.

"I love what you've done Yugi," Joey grinned. "Reminds me of the old days, eh?"

"Yeah," Yugi nodded.

"Hey there Joey, whatcha doin' here?" Magic called from the top of the stairs.

"Haoye there!" Joey smiled.

Magic ascended the stairs with more grace and speed than Joey had seen in a long time. Magic grinned up at Joey.

"Good to see you pal," Joey stated.

"Yes, it is good to see you too," Magic agreed, standing on his hind legs, which he rarely did.

"Very good to see you too," Joey grinned, shaking Magic's offered paw.

A few students made their way into the classroom, to which Magic dropped promptly back onto all fours.

"Sit where you like," Yugi told them a little shakily.

He turned back to Joey. The two talked and caught up as the rest of the class filed in. The later arrivals heard from the early ones that they could sit where they wanted, and did. Soon, all seats were filled.

Daniel walked into the class and was shocked, at first, at its appearance. Of all the things he expected to see, this was not one of them. But it did have a homey touch to it.

"Daniel!" Eddie called from the opposite side of the room.

"Hey Eddie," Daniel called back, making his way between the futons and across the room.

"Strange place, don't you think?" Eddie asked, looking around at all the wallscrolls.

"Maybe just a little, but I kind of find it as a nice change from all the stone walls all the other teachers have," Daniel shrugged.

"Yeah," Eddie agreed.

"Hey Yuge, looks like you have a class, if I do say so myself," Joey teased, pointing at the class.

Yugi stiffened and turned around slowly. Joey watched as the color drained from Yugi's face. Every single seat was filled. Joey waited for Yugi to do something, but all he did was stand there. Yugi was petrified. Joey shook his head.

"One moment please," Joey told the class.

Then, he grabbed Yugi's arm and dragged him into the living quarters. Almost imediently after the door was closed, Yugi unfroze.

"I can't do this Joey!" he exclaimed. "Did you see how many people there are out there?! I can't do this!"

"Yugi, calm down and listen to me," Joey said, taking his friends shoulders into his hands. "I remember, back in high school, how you were always saying that you wanted to be like Yami. You wanted to be couragous and strong. You were too. You were couragous and brave and strong. And then Yami left, and you think that your courage and bravery and strength left with him. But it didn't. You still have all that. It takes courage to do what you do for a living. It takes courage to even wake up every morning. It took courage to even bring you this far. And even though you can no longer see Yami anymore, he's still with you. He will always be with you. He's never completely gone, Yugi. He's always been right there, and he always will be. So, are you ready to teach these kids a thing or two about magic?"

After a pause, Yugi looked up at Joey, confidence returned in his eyes. He nodded. Joey was right. Yami was still with him, he could feel him. Yami was always right there, always had been. Yugi had just been blind to it. But now he knew the truth, and was ready to face the unknown that awaited.

A fire began to burn deeply within Yugi's heart. It was a fimiliar fire long forgotten. It was the courage that he thought he had lost. It had always burned there, but it began to burn brighter now. Joey was right, the same courage and bravery was still there. It had just laid dormant inside Yugi because he didn't want to go on. But now, he knew he had to. He had to press forward and make the most of his life. No longer would he wade in the shallow pool he had been standing in for all too long. No longer would he be afraid of those things that he thought he was. No longer would he neglect his strength. This is what Yami would want. So, that is what Yugi would do.

Magic watched the whole day, and was shocked to see that Yugi wasn't acting like the scared Yugi he had turned into. He was acting like the Duelist Kingdom and Battle City Yugi that he knew. Even after Joey left, Yugi's confidence continued to grow with every class and by the end of the day, he had once again unlocked his inner strength. Magic smiled to himself. All Yugi needed was a little encouragement. And who better to give it to him than the ever blunt Joseph Wheeler? It gave Magic comfort in knowing that Yugi was back to his old, teenage, self, be it good or bad.

It was the last class of the day when Magic finally decided to come down and talk to Yugi, who really hadn't seen him all day. As the class filed in, Magic sat by the stairs and watched. Yugi noticed this and walked over to the wolf and sat down, smiling.

"So, how do you think I'm doing?" Yugi asked with a hint of pride.

"Incredibly well, I think Joey snapped you out of your flunk," Magic stated.

"Yes, I believe you are right," Yugi nodded. "It seems that's exactly what I needed to hear."

"Joey was always good at that," Magic noted.

"That's what friends are for, right?" Yugi stated with a grin.

"So, you feeling good?" Magic wondered.

"Still a bit shaky, but much better," Yugi replied.

"Good, good," Magic nodded approvingly.

Elsewhere….

"Sir, I have bad news," a shadow responded.

Shadu: Sorry guys, I'm getting tired of playing the Yugi's-scared-of-his-own-shadow card. If you liked it, sorry, but Yugi's going back to the way he was. And sorry about the long wait. Please review.