Oh jeez, I am sooooo sorry for not updating! Blame it on Mr. Eibs. No, seriously – if any of you have done History Day, you'll know what I'm talking about. I'm actually ignoring the fact that my rough draft is due Monday in favor of doing this!

Wands and Stories

'Seeing the Grim Reaper get frazzled is one of those rare sights in life you just have to cherish…' mused Yusuke, walking down Diagon Alley. Botan had been trying to become the leader of the group – and the group, most assuredly, did not want to be led. Dumbledore had disappeared upon reaching the bank, claiming he had other business.

"All right – all right! So we've all agreed not to go with Wizarding robes. We've sent the finalized," at this remark, Botan glared at Bakura, who had changed books three times, "Book list. Is there anything else we need?"

A babble broke out from the group.

"Dumbledore-sensei said something about getting wands, didn't he?"

"I'd like to look at pets before we go, as well."

"Knives are always an option…."

"Hn…."

"I want a broom! Did you see those ads? These things are as fucking fast as Hiei!"

"They are not, baka."

"Let's get ice-cream!"

Seto raised his hands for silence, accomplishing the quiet that Botan had failed to gather. "Wands first, everyone. Then we can go on….side expeditions of our own choosing. Fair enough?"

A mumbled assent was murmured, and the group followed the brunette into a shop marked "Olivanders".

(((A/N: At this point, the authoress looked back at what she had written, swore, swore again, and then tried to get herself out of the mess she had just created.)))

Heading into the shop, the first impression was that of a musty, dingy old store lined with boxes. Shelves, windows, walls, even the desk all sported large cracks running through them, giving the store a shattered, shabby look.

The sense of magic in the air was positively stifling to all the members that entered, whether they realized it or not. It was so thick that it actually weighed down the air, settling over everything like a thick blanket. An ancient looking man came out of the back rooms, carefully pushing a stray box a little farther onto the shelf as he squinted at the newcomers.

"Ano, we're here to buy wands?"

The man chuckled. "Only very rarely do people come here for anything else. However, seeing as there are eight of you, I shall have to take 2 at a time, in our back room. The rest of you may stay outside, should you wish it. If you will, Misters Mouto and Urameshi." He gestured towards a door behind the counter.

The two, only slightly jolted that he had known their names, quickly filed towards the door, leaving the other six inside the entrance.

Thirty minutes of uncomfortable silence between those left behind found the two walking back through the door, looking relieved and a little elated. As they joined their friends again, each respectively standing around the room (((No one had been brave enough to trust the rickety chair with their weight.))), Ollivander called out Mokuba and Botan. The two seemed to have hit it off directly, and walked towards the door, chatting about various ways to keep their hair in check.

"So, what's it like Yugi?" Ryou asked, sounding slightly fearful.

"Ano….it's –"

Yusuke cut him off immediately. "It's bloody cool! He hands you a wand and you wave it and stuff blows up! It's like having a Spirit Gun," Kurama flinched automatically and Hiei's eyes flashed dangerously, "Without ever having to use energy! And it blows stuff up! …..The old man said that wasn't s'posed to happen, but that's not the point!"

Yugi watched him with laughing eyes, not comprehending what was said. "We ended up getting these," he gestured with the wand he was holding at arms length, a flurry of sparks erupting from it's tip, "After we destroyed a few grapefruits, of course."

Kurama glanced worriedly at the sparks. "Grapefruits? And point that thing somewhere else, if you will."

Yugi nodded and complied. "There were some on the shelf. I'm not really sure why – but they're not there anymore!" He grinned. "It was kinda fun…."

"You've still got some pieces in your hair, by the way." Bakura scoffed at the two in front of him. "Though I've yet to figure out how it got there – you'd think the gel would reflect something like that."

Atemu bristled and advanced on Bakura, taking over Yugi's body for the time being, flicking a piece of the offending fruit away from his well maintained spikes as he glared at the thief. "Your point being…?"

Seto smirked and turned his piercing gaze onto Yusuke. "So? What are the materials?"

"Hn," added Hiei in an affirmation of curiosity.

Atemu disappeared and Yugi flickered back into control. "Oh! Mine's gold – and Ollivander said that the core was made of – what was it again, Yusuke? Oh, that's right! A hair of a sphinx tail. Isn't it cool?" He once again began brandishing what was quickly becoming deemed a dangerous weapon in the eyes of all onlookers, sending a wave of energy out and breaking a nearby window. "Oops."

"I believe I asked Urameshi."

Shift, shift, and a mumbled, "Kwanzan."

A smirk. "Would you repeat that?"

"Kwanzan, okay? Kwanzan! A stupid, fucking, showy, flowery cherry tree!"

Hiei barely suppressed a snicker. "What else did you get, baka? A daisy in place of your Spirit Gun?"

"For your information, it's a phoenix feather." Yusuke shoved his nose in the air for emphasis. "A blue one…."

"The irony of our situation never ceases, does it?" Kurama looked thoughtfully around the room just as Botan and Mokuba bounced through the door.

"Nii-sama! Look at what I got! It's gold just like Yugi's and it's got a red phoenix feather in it! And it only took me one try!"

Ollivander appeared behind him. "It's about time someone in this bloody realm found their match on the first try. I've never seen something quite like that happen before." He gave a kindly smile. "Now, Misters Kaiba and Hiei, if you would follow me, we can get this over with."

The two followed him into the room, both making it all too clear across their features that the didn't need a wand, thank-you-very-much, but would humor the rest of the group for their own personal purposes of amusement.

Kurama turned to Botan, still smiling at the look that had been spread across Hiei's face. "What did you get, Botan? You seem very pleased with yourself."

Botan beamed. "I am! While Mokuba got his wand, I talked to Koenma. He insists that we tell these four exactly what we're about! Won't it be fun?" She beamed again, her next comment almost lost through the outbursts of Yusuke and Kurama. "And Mr. Ollivander let me use my oar as my wand, seeing as it shrinks at need."

"Botan, we can't!"

"Yes we can! I already explained myself to Mokuba, and he seemed just fine with it!" She glanced across the room at the younger Kaiba brother who nodded rapidly at the last statement.

"She's the Grim Reaper, Bakura! Isn't it awesome?"

Bakura and Atemu, who had been silently watching the exchange between comrades, suddenly came to life. Atemu nodded to Bakura, who allowed the more dignified spirit to take over negotiations. "We'd very much like to know exactly what you're talking about, if you please."

Botan nodded. "Then I'll start." She took on a slightly more calm air and stated calmly, "Hello, my name is Botan. I'm the ferrygirl of the River Styx, and in many cultures I'm known as none other than the Grim Reaper. I also assist Yusuke when he gets into too much of a tight spot." She glared at Yusuke and Kurama. "Now tell them who you are or I'll have to do it myself – and I guarantee that I'll be a good deal less flattering."

A look was exchanged between the two remaining tantei, and Yusuke stood first. "I'm Yusuke Urameshi, Spirit Detective for Lord Koenma. I….well, I died, and Botan came to take me away, but they didn't have a place for me yet, so someway or another I wound up with this job. One of my first….erm….expeditions included Kurama and Hiei." He neglected to include information about Raizen, and Botan did not scold him for it, so he let it lie.

Kurama stood up when Yusuke had finished. "He met me when Hiei, I, and another demon were trying to steal the three Spirit World artifacts." Here, he smirked and let the Youko run loose a little. "You see, Bakura, I am the greatest thief. What you dabble in is child's play compared to my past life." Bakura was held back by Atemu (((Barely))), and Kurama continued. "I am also known as Yoko Kurama, Kitsune and master thief of the Reikai. I was shot by a bounty hunter, and retreated to this body in the human world." He sighed dramatically and played with a stray lock of hair. "A pity, but necessary for survival, I suppose."

Atemu had finally deemed it necessary to slap a stray piece of Shadow Magic over the white haired thief's mouth, and effectively bound him to the chair with the same means. Trying to retain a small bit of dignity, he bowed to Botan. "I thank you for telling me the truth about your lives. In return, I suppose we should tell you ours."

Mokuba rolled his eyes. "Atemu, stop being so damn formal! And let Yugi tell the story, please." The spirit took his suggestion and Yugi's violet orbs were soon seen in place of the crimson.

"Umm….I'm Yugi Moto. About, ano, six years ago, I finished this." He held up his puzzle for inspection. "It's called the Millenium Puzzle. It released Atemu, who's pretty much known as the Nameless Pharaoh. We went through a bunch of tournaments that played Duel Monsters – cards like these." He shuffled around for his deck. "After a while we figured out that they come to life for people that have a Millenium Object like my puzzle."

Bakura had by now wriggled his way around the Shadow Magic, but switched to Ryou. "The same sort of thing happened to me. My father gave me the Millenium Ring, and then Bakura came. We competed in the same tournaments as Yugi, with pretty much the same results."

"Except, of course, for the fact that we kicked your butt." The pharaoh smirked at the thief.

"Atemu, that was uncalled for." Mokuba shook his head as Bakura, now in control of Ryou, stood, eyes gleaming.

"Well, perhaps, my dear," he took Botan's hand, spinning her in a small circle, "A demonstration is in order."

/Bakura, NO/

/Bakura, yes/-

Reviews!

Well, thank you to Chelley Angel, Green Phantom Queen, TJ, PenPusherM, milleniumduelist01, stinky-chan, Dymond, Utah's Shadowed Moon, Inu-Ice-Dragon, Rosedark, Crazy Hyper Lady, Miko, RainOwl, and CANON. I love you all for reviewing! I'm so glad you're all enjoying the story!

It's apparently against rules to respond to you guys inside the story (((Arrghhhh!))), so all I can do is say your names!

Ja ne and I love you all!