DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
Chapter 6: Wild Magic
By Shadow's Mirror
At the sound of the Spirit of the Books' voice, the small figure who had just entered the library turned to look over at the table, his arms tightening for a moment around the large book that he carried.
The Shadow Monster had the appearance of a human child around 12 years old. Light ash-brown hair tumbled in gentle waves to just below his shoulders, the colour a stark contrast to the black of the wide brimmed witches hat perched on the back of his head. A simple black robe draped over his small, slender form, the enveloping folds covering him from his shoulders to the floor and leaving only his face, neck and hands bare. In the soft light of the mage orbs, his eyes appeared to shine silvery-green. Perhaps it was the eerie light, but the boy looked pale and drawn with dark shadows beneath his eyes.
Talons clicked against the stone floor as the Spirit of the Books hurried forwards. "You should not be out here, my boy." His voice was stern, but with caring rather than anger. "You are supposed to be in your room, resting." His voice became gentle. "If you needed me, you should have used the bell."
The boy bowed his head. "I know. I'm sorry." He peeked up at the librarian from beneath his fringe. "It was just that…" Trailing off, he silently held out his book. The Spirit of the Books chuckled.
"Ah! I see! You finished your book and wanted another." As he accepted the book with one hand, his other hand lightly patted the young Monster's shoulder. "Very well. I will get it for you. But next time…" A talon slipped beneath the boy's chin, gently lifting his face. "Next time, use the bell."
"I will." The boy smiled slightly.
The Spirit of the Books nodded and turned away, talking as he moved. "Another book of fairytales?"
The boy's smile widened. "Yes, please."
As he raised the hand not currently holding a book, the librarian's eyes narrowed in concentration. His hand began to glow with a faint golden light; similar to the one that had enveloped his body earlier in the night, when he had located the books that Yugi needed. This time, only one book responded to the magical call. Instead of flying up to get it though, the Spirit of the Books merely nodded. The book shimmered and faded from its position on the shelf, reappearing a moment later in the librarian's hand.
When the book was given to him, the boy's smile seemed to chase the shadows and pallor from his face for a moment. "Thank you."
The Spirit of the Books looked down at the little Shadow Monster and his beak somehow managed to curve into a gentle smile. "You are welcome, my boy. Now, off to your room with you." The boy nodded and turned towards the door, pausing when the librarian spoke again. "If you need me…" The Spirit of the Books paused, eyeing the boy expectantly.
The young Shadow Monster smiled over his shoulder. "I'll use the bell. I promise." He opened the door and was gone as suddenly as he had arrived.
For a moment after the young boy's departure, the Spirit of the Books remained where he was, apparently lost in thought. Finally, he gave a heavy sigh.
"Um… Spirit of the Books? Is something wrong?" Yugi's tentative question made the librarian gasp and whirl around. He stared at the boy with wide eyes.
"Oh. Oh my. I completely forgot… Yes, I was in the middle of signing out your books, was I not? Oh dear. I do apologise, Master Yugi!" He hurried back to the table and flicked one hand. A massive book appeared in front of him, along with a quill pen and pot of ink. He reached for the quill and started to dip it in the ink, then blinked as a hand rested lightly on his. He looked up and blinked again as he met Yami's serious eyes. "What…?"
Yami eyed the Spirit of the Books in concern. Since the boy's appearance, he had been feeling rather uneasy and he wasn't sure why. But he intended to find out. "Something is disturbing you. Is there any way we may assist?"
"Oh! No! There is nothing…" The librarian trailed off with a sigh as Yami frowned at him. "No. You are quite correct. There is something. However, I fear that it is out of even your hands, Master Yami." The ex-Pharaoh raised an eyebrow at that.
"Try me."
The Spirit of the Books started to shake his head, but paused as Yugi suddenly spoke up. "That boy just now… it has something to do with him, doesn't it? Who is he? He didn't look very well."
"You are very observant." The Spirit of the Books smiled slightly. He thought for a moment before nodding slowly, apparently making a decision. "Very well then." He took a deep breath.
"Every now and then the Shadow Magic becomes… a little wild. It usually lasts no more than a week or two, but during that time it has certain effects on things here. The most obvious is that the weather becomes unpredictable, however we creatures of the Shadows are all affected to some extent also. Tempers become short and the weaker among us will lose control and attack more quickly than usual. But it also means that the power of the Shadows does not respond as readily when we call it. Normally, it enhances our own power. However, at times like this, it has the opposite effect. It weakens us, mentally and physically." He paused for a moment, absently toying with his quill pen.
"Although we are all linked to the Shadow Magic, some of us are linked more closely to it than others. Monsters like myself, with our own magical abilities, rarely require more power than we can supply ourselves, and so we remain relatively unaffected at times such as these. Then there are others whose abilities require more power than they can provide naturally. They end up restricted in their actions, since they weaken if they call upon the magic. However…" The Spirit of the Books sighed heavily.
"However, there are a few who are extremely sensitive to the magic of this Realm. For them, it is like a living, breathing shadow. Wherever they go, whatever they do, it is constantly with them. A part of them. When it becomes unstable, they are the first to know. The first to be affected." He paused for a moment, his head bowing. When he spoke again, his voice was very soft, and more than a little sad.
"That boy, Fire Sorcerer, is one of those few. He has been ill for a few days now."
There was a moment of silence and then the Spirit of the Books looked up. He somehow managed to look reassuring. "But please, do not be concerned. As I said, this has happened many times in the past, and I have no doubt that it will continue in the future. Once the Shadow Magic calms, everything will return to normal and those who are ill will become well again. In the meantime, there is really nothing that can be done. We can only wait."
Yugi was obviously upset at this. Yami put a hand on his light's shoulder, squeezing it gently in reassurance. But the gesture had little effect. "Are you sure there's nothing we can do to help?" Yugi looked up at the Spirit of the Books, his normally wide eyes even wider with worry.
The librarian shook his head. His eyes met Yugi's, the gentle compassion in them calming the small boy immediately. "Thank you, but no. I am certain. All that is needed is time. Please, do not worry. Things will sort themselves out. They always do."
Yami nodded. After a moment, Yugi did too. The Spirit of the Books' beak curved into a slight smile. "Now then… I believe I was checking out these books for you…"
When Yugi and Yami left the library a few minutes later, they were far more serious than they had been when they had entered. As if the Spirit of the Books' words had awakened their senses, they were both now aware of a strange feeling to the air. Yugi kept very close to his yami as they walked back to the shimmering dark portal that would take them home. When Yami slipped one arm around his shoulders, Yugi was quick to lean into the comforting warmth.
Yami looked down at his light, a slight frown creasing his brow. It wasn't like his light to be so quiet. They had found what they been seeking. Normally Yugi would have been chattering and bouncing along happily a few steps ahead of him. What the Spirit of the Books had said was weighing on both their minds, but hadn't he also said that they shouldn't worry about it?
"Yugi, not even I know everything about this Realm. How could we know what is natural here? The Spirit of the Books said that this has happened before. I did not detect anything in his tone or actions to suggest that he was lying, or that he was particularly worried about it. He was concerned, yes, but I believe that was solely due to Fire Sorcerer's condition. If it were you… I would feel the same way."
Yugi looked up at his yami. "You would?" He smiled slightly. "Thanks, Yami. I'd be worried about you too, if you were ill." His smile faded and he looked away, returning his attention to the path. After a moment, he started talking again.
"I feel sorry for Fire Sorcerer. It surprised me too. That a Shadow Monster could get ill, I mean. I guess I never really thought about it before. But you're right. There isn't anything we can do, so there's no sense in worrying about it. Although…" He looked back up at his Yami, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "Do you think maybe we could bring Fire Sorcerer a get well present the next time we come here?"
Yami chuckled softly. That was so like his thoughtful, gentle light. "Of course we will, Yugi."
As he smiled down at the small boy beside him, his earlier streak of mischief reappeared in the form of a sudden thought. More than anything at that moment, Yami wanted to lighten the serious mood that had surrounded them.
"Yugi, when a boy carries someone's books for them, it has some special meaning, does it not?"
"Huh?" Yugi blinked up at Yami, momentarily confused by the change of topic. "Well, sometimes, yes. It can mean that they like each other, or that they're dating. Why?"
Yami smirked. "Oh, I just wanted to be sure it meant what I thought it did. So… does that mean that this is our first date?"
Yugi froze, forcing his yami to stop walking too. The startled light stared up at the taller boy. "W…what? " he finally managed to squeak.
Yami's smirk widened and he glanced down. Yugi's eyes instinctively did the same. His gaze fell on the library books his darker half had insisted on carrying home. He gasped, his cheeks flooding with colour as he realised what Yami was talking about. For a moment he was speechless, then he seemed to catch sight of the gleam in the other boy's eyes. Or perhaps it was the waves of amusement echoing through their mind link that clued him in on the joke.
"Yami!"
The ex-pharaoh was still laughing as he ran through the portal to home, his irritated light in hot pursuit.