A/N: Hello world, here I am :P I think I might just go on a sabbatical or something to get some more writing done. Even finish the book I've been working on for like seven years or so. To bad I haven't got that kind of money. Still need to eat and all that… what a shame. Anyhow, got this amazing chapter (hopefully) done (FINALLY) LOL. I've been so sad since the changes, all those wonderful authors leaving and all. I will miss 'King's Jackal' from esama (even if she hadn't updated that story in like forever). We need more Harry/Yuugi/Atemu pairings! I like those two (three).
Since the manga goes from Yu-Gi-Oh! to Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist without another story line I decided to do a little bonding theme before Harry returns. I already stated that Duelist Kingdom will not begin until the summer. Oh, and since Atemu will be talking inside Yuugi's head he will be in
cursive but to not get too confused I will be referring to him as Spirit or Spirit of the Puzzle. He will become Yami and Mou Hitori no Boku (my other self) at some point.
Anyways no more delay, here's the new chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 7
Bonding over letters

Ryou became a permanent fixture on the Kame Game Shop, much like Anzu, Jonouchi and Honda were. Miho still came round but only when Honda wasn't in the shop. It seemed the guy had fallen head over heels for the blonde girl, but the shy and timid Miho just didn't seem all that interested. Either that or she was oblivious to the attention. "Maybe it would be better if he just asked her out or something," the white haired Brit muttered as they watched Honda drool in class.

Yuugi grimaced and looked away. It was a slightly disturbing sight to see. It would save him some heartache, a soft voice whispered in Yuugi's head which he had come to identify as his Spirit companion. The Spirit of the Puzzle chuckled inside his head and Yuugi couldn't help but smile. Yuugi had waved aside any apologies made by the man when they finally had the chance to have a heart-to-heart. The Spirit had tried to protect him and his friends. "And," Yuugi had said, "If you promise to let me watch, you can take over at times." It had been amusing to see the older Spirit of the Puzzle blush in his mind.

The Spirit had a slightly sadistic streak too, something Yuugi planned to alter in the man. Violence wasn't always the answer and kindness is rewarded with kindness. Whenever Kaiba Seto was near, the Spirit would hiss curses in a strange language he said he didn't remember. It sounded like Arabic, though Yuugi couldn't be sure. He figured that since the Puzzle originally came from Egypt that it could be possible, but the Spirit just shrugged his shoulders. The older man confessed not remembering anything from his past or how he ended up in the Puzzle. This was also part of the reason why Yuugi didn't mind letting the Spirit control his body whenever they found an interesting game to play (mainly the new card game Duel Monsters seemed to fascinate the older man).

"Leave him be," Yuugi whispered, half to his Spirit partner and half to Ryou. The white haired Brit chuckled softly as he continued to make notes. "Maybe I should make some for Honda-kun," Ryou muttered, glancing up at the board. Five more minutes before school's out. "He doesn't seem very interested in the subject though."

Yuugi choked and quickly stopped his laughter by clapping his hands over his mouth. Anzu looked in his direction with raised eyebrows before turning back to her own notes. The brown haired girl hadn't been as surprised to find out about the Spirit as the others had. She confessed to seeing Yuugi change in height and confidence every now and again when she or any of the others had been in trouble. Anzu had also expressed her worries over the Spirit inhabiting Yuugi's body, but once Yuugi explained that he was only trying to help she had shrugged her shoulders. "As long as you're sure," she had said. "And if he ever tries anything funny…" She sure could be protective at times.

Jonouchi had taking the whole 'Spirit of the Puzzle taking over Yuugi's body' thing with a shrug and a goofy grin. "We're here to help," he had said with his most charming wink. He confessed that as long as the Spirit kept beating Kaiba at Duel Monsters the older man was good in his books. Honda agreed to that too. The two boys seemed to like this more aggressive version of their usually timid friend. Jonouchi had also become a gaming fan. Honda didn't mind cheering his friends on, but he was more a sports fan then anything else. He learned how to play Duel Monsters by watching Yuugi play against Jonouchi a few times. The dirty blonde still couldn't beat Yuugi at the card game.

"And if you have all that then I would like to announce the test week starts this Monday," the teacher said. "This will be one of the subjects you will be tested on, so be sure you know it!" Many of the students groaned, muttering about the unfairness of it all. "That will be all," she ended just as the bell chimed signalling the end of the school day. "Study hard!"

"Did you get all that?" Ryou teased Honda as the browned haired teenager snapped out of his daze. "Yeah man," Jonouchi said, clapping his friend on his shoulder. "You looked like you were ready to fall asleep. Were you planning on making the exams at all this year?"

Honda growled and pushed the hand away. "It's not funny man," he whined childishly. "How can I concentrate with such a beauty sitting only a few feet away?"

"Didn't she already reject you?" Anzu asked, looking a little annoyed with the conversation.

The love struck high school student looked after his obsession in defeat, nodded pathetically. "Leave him alone Anzu," Jonouchi said, looking at his best friend with an annoyed look. "If the man wants to pine over his obsession even if she broke his heart, then let him be."

Honda snapped out of his pathetic state by grabbing his blonde friend in a headlock and holding him there till Jonouchi gave up. "Let's go outside before we get caught up in their fight," Anzu said with a roll of her eyes. Yuugi chuckled and Ryou was smiling at the display of friendship. "How's the shop?"

Yuugi shrugged his shoulders. "It's getting quiet and since Haruto isn't there I think Jii-chan is getting bored. His friend from America is coming over around Winter Solstice, so we might go to see him. It all depends I guess." Talking about his little brother was still painful even if he had been overjoyed when the little raven head had found a way to send him a letter. It took his friends, his grandpa and even the Spirit of the Puzzle to convince him not to go looking for this Hogwarts place. At least they were able to communicate now.

"Do you think they'll allow him home?" Ryou asked softly.

The shorter boy's eyes flashed dangerously. "If they don't, I'll collect him myself!"

Yuugi clutched the letter a little tighter, noticing the tear marks on the heavy paper. I'm wondering about this creature Haruto-chan wrote about, the Spirit muttered while he scanned the letter again. How could such a thing enter a school full of children? They are Magicals, are they not? Why was it allowed? Yuugi frowned at that. "I don't think they would allow such a dangerous creature to roam the school," the short teen muttered back, staring at the sentence.

It was so large it almost reached the ceiling and the ceilings here are high! It stunk really badly and was green. It reminded me of those creatures in Dungeons and Dragons! Neville told me it was a Troll. Anyway, Hermione said…

"At least he has found a precious friend there," Yuugi whispered smiling faintly at the description of the girl called Hermione. "Sounds like Anzu-chan, just younger." The Spirit chuckled inside his head and Yuugi could feel the faintest touch from someone ruffling his hair. That is someone I would like to meet, the older man said and Yuugi felt a pang in his chest he wasn't sure what to do with. Instead of wondering about it, he left it for what it was. She sounds a lot smarter than our Anzu-chan though.

The shorter teen nodded turning the letter in his hand, frowning slightly. "I don't like the sound of that sensei though." Which one, the Spirit asked with an amused smirk gracing his lips. Yuugi rolled his eyes. "The one with the turban. I mean if Haruto is feeling sick just being in the man's presence… but what could that mean? He tried to describe it again. Here."

This place is so cold, but no one seems bothered by it. Just like the sensei with the turban, the one who is supposed to teach us how to defend ourselves but can't talk properly. But I think it's an act. I fell asleep once when I was in his classroom. There was this scary voice talking about how it was going to make me hurt. I couldn't tell if the was a Shadow or if it was something else. It sounded like it came from the sensei, but not from his Shadow. Like he has two Shadows; one acting and the other always watching. Did I tell you about what the Twins…

Hmm, the Spirit of the Puzzle muttered. I can't really make up my mind about that. It all sounds so odd. You've told me about your brother's explanation about those Shadows, but I'm wondering what he means by it. Is it something his mind lets him see on purpose or by accident?

"Are you saying my Otouto is mad?" Yuugi said angrily, forcing his voice louder then he should. What if his grandfather heard? Sugoroku would think his grandson had finally lost it.

Not at all little one, the older man replied quickly. He gestured for Yuugi to calm down, an understanding expression on his exotic face. I'm merely wondering how it is possible for Haruto to see these Shadows, while no one else seems able to. You first thought it might be his magic, did you not? Now it seems that even they can see these Shadows, which proves that it is something different entirely. You also mentioned that he might have been able to sense me even when the Puzzle had not yet been completed.

Yuugi nodded, already calming from his sudden anger. The Spirit seemed very good at calming him down, even if the short teen didn't seem to be able to do the same for his companion. Let us not dwell on it now, the older man said with a kind smile even if worry was clear in those ruby coloured eyes. Where is that last letter? Haruto said something about the Winter Solstice in that letter.

The short teen turned to shift the ten letters on his desk, finding the last one he had received three days ago. "What was it again," he muttered softly as he scanned the page. There, the Spirit said as he reached out to the letter with a spiritual hand.

Winter Solstice is only three weeks away and Snape-sensei still hasn't said anything about going back home. Neville has been helping me though. He sent a letter to his grandmother to ask if she knew a way to help me. Instead of replying with a letter Longbottom Obaa-san came by the school to talk to us. Even all the senseis were shocked by her appearance. At first I was a little frightened because Neville has told me a lot about his uncle Algie who tried to force his magic out of him. Longbottom Obaa-san is a very kind Lady though. She was surprised that I was being kept here even if I didn't want to be here. She said that Snape-sensei shouldn't have been allowed to take me to Hogwarts since I am the only living Potter. I don't really know what that's supposed to mean but Longbottom Obaa-san seemed to find it really important. She also asked if Jii-chan adopted me or not and when I said yes she looked really mad. She promised to look into it and that I shouldn't have to worry about not returning home for Winter Solstice. Longbottom Obaa-san said that I should go on the train with Neville-kun when the holidays start. I think it'll work out Onii-san!

Yuugi stared a bit at his brother's carefully written Hiragana and Kanji. He had even tried to write the foreign names in Katakana but had penned down the names in Romanic letters at the bottom of the letters. He had even drawn a few pictures. One from his friends while the others looked like strange creatures. On the last letter had been a drawing of a familiar fuzz ball. Yuugi frowned, reaching for his Duel Monsters card deck. As he shuffled through the monsters he noticed some of the pictures Haruto had drawn with pictures on the cards. "Look," the short teen whispered, holding up a particular card and the drawing of his brother. But that's Kuriboh!

It shouldn't be possible. Haruto was in a secluded school which had nothing to do with anything non-magical. Yuugi doubted his little brother even knew the game existed until he had told the raven head in a letter. But to draw the creature with such detail Haruto should know what Duel Monsters looked like. That looks like Mystical Elf. And this one like Beaver Warrior. How is that possible?

"Let's have a look then," Ryou said, gesturing towards the letters and the cards. Yuugi numbly handed the other teen his brother's letters and his Duel Monsters cards. Jonouchi frowned while looking over the white haired Brit's shoulder. Suddenly the Brit looked depressed and let a pout destroy his face, fake tears rolling down his cheeks. "How can Haruto-san his Kanji be this perfect?" he cried out dramatically.

"What?" Yuugi asked sharply, trying to calm his racing heart which had started to beat frantically the moment his friends had arrived.

"I've been studying Japanese for years and still haven't got the hang of most Kanji, especially when it's written in someone else's handwriting," Ryou moaned. "Your Otouto looks like he's lived in Japan his entire life!"

"Yeah Yuug," Jonouchi said in clear awe. "Haruto's calligraphy is awesome."

They were quickly hit over the head by Anzu who took away the letters and cards with a huff. Honda wasn't much help either because he was almost rolling on the floor laughing. Anzu pulled the brown haired teen up by the ear, threatening to silence him permanently if he didn't stop laughing. "You are worrying Yuugi!"

Yuugi, however, had already calmed as he was embraced by his Spirit partner. A small and faint smile played on the short teen's lips and the Spirit of the Puzzle smiled at the scene before them. Anzu was forcefully trying to get the three High School males to act more mature while trying not to laugh herself. They were sitting in Yuugi's room; Ryou and Jonouchi on the bed, Honda on the desk chair and Anzu on the chair from Haruto's room they had dragged into Yuugi's room. The short teen was sitting on the floor, but he didn't mind. Watching his friend interact with each other was something he wanted to share with the whole world. He just hoped Haruto like his friends too. I'm sure he'll love them, the Spirit whispered.

Yuugi nodded, a sense of longing filling him as he thought about his younger brother. "I think so too," he whispered earning confused looks from his friends who heard the silent comment. The short teen grinned sheepishly. "That is so weird," Honda said and Yuugi's smile fell. Did that mean… "I mean weird in a good way. When you answer aloud to the Spirit it's like hearing only one side of a conversation."

"Sorry," Yuugi whispered softly.

"Hey it's not your fault," Jonouchi said nearly falling of the bed as he tried to ruffle his friend's hair while staying seated. "It must be quite annoying sometimes to hear the guy talk inside your head. You will let us know when he's being an ass right. We'll kick his butt."

Anzu raised a delicate eyebrow, crossing her arms over her bosom. "Oh and how were you going to do that without hurting Yuugi? You do realise that they are sharing the same body?"

It was quite amusing to watch the blonde blush under the stern gaze of the only girl of the group. "Well… I meant… uh… well Yuug knows what I meant, right Yuug?"

Yuugi chuckled, his almost violet eyes twinkling. "Yes Jonouchi-kun, I know what you meant. And thank you for that. The Spirit of the Puzzle has been nothing but kind though, so nothing to worry about there."

Little one you shouldn't… the Spirit started but Yuugi interrupted the older man, this time remembering to answer in his head. We've already discussed this. I'm going to help you regain your memories and if that means that you take over my body while playing Duel Monsters then so be it. Now suck it up. The older man blinked in surprise before laughing, causing Yuugi to blush in embarrassment.

In the end the group of teenagers had calmed down enough to take a serious look at the letters and compare the drawings with the Duel Monster cards. They could identify five of the six Monsters Haruto had drawn, making everyone wonder just what the last Monster could be. It had been late though and they had agreed to meet tomorrow at the Arcade. A new shop had been opened, entirely devoted to Duel Monster cards. Maybe they would be able to find a card which looked like the last Monster in Haruto's letter. Yuugi would take the letter as a reference. "Do you think we'll be able to find the last Monster?"

The older man shrugged in his mind, looking thoughtful. We won't know till we try.

Yuugi nodded and moved back into the kitchen. "Well that sounded like fun," Sugoroku said, sitting on the kitchen chair while drinking his evening tea. "I was wondering if they were going to stay the night, but I guess you are too old for that." His eyes twinkled kindly, his mouth formed into a hearty smile.

"Jii-chan," Yuugi whined, sounding much younger then he actually was. Sugoroku chuckled and prepared another cup of tea. He gestured to his grandson, asking silently if he would like one as well. Yuugi shook his head with a smile. "I'm going to bed now," he said and in a spur of the moment he kissed his grandfather on the cheek before running to his bedroom.

Are you alright little one, the Spirit asked when Yuugi flung himself on his bed and buried himself under his covers. The teen nodded, closing his eyes to meet his Spirit companion in his mind. "Do you think he'll be alright?" Yuugi whispered, finally letting his weakness show now that he was alone with the Spirit. "Do you think… will he still love me after I left him all alone?"

"Oh little one," and without further warning the older Spirit took his young companion into his arms. The Spirit of the Puzzle let the young child cry out his insecurities and worries. The older man rubbed soothing circles on Yuugi's back, muttering words of comfort to the teen. "Haruto's letters are more then clear that he misses you very much. I'm sure that ones you see him once more he will never leave your side again. He will tell you everything he has written in his letter and will ask if you've missed him at all. You will introduce him to Ryou and Honda, though I would suggest keeping him away from Jonouchi. I fear that the blonde will have a bad influence."

Yuugi giggled a little through his tears and sniffed, letting his head rest more comfortably on the man's chest. He felt so comfortable in the older man's embrace. Was it because they had been spiritually linked that he felt so at ease with this, almost, total stranger? His body was tired and even in his mind Yuugi's eyes closed slowly.

The Spirit suddenly shifted and Yuugi first thought that the man was moving away from him, but instead the older man took him so they were sitting on the floor. Yuugi blushed at the situation he was in now, sitting on the lap of the Spirit while the man still held him in a comfortable embrace. "Sleep little one and before you know it Haruto will be with us once more."

Yuugi nodded into the strong chest, a shy smile forming on his lips as he made himself more comfortable.

I'll see you soon Onii-san!

"Sleep tight Mou Hitori no Boku."

"Good night Aibou."

Updated 22-07-2013