Return to the Old Ways

by kayono

The Pharaoh and King have returned, but the Fates and Destiny have yet to let them out of their grasp. There's more in the darkness than is known, but 'life isn't interesting unless there's a chance of dying.'

7. Interlude 1

Return to the Old Ways

Interlude 1: Lessons

Warnings: Sanity is not guaranteed. AND, swearing. Cursing. Cussing. Vulgar language. Whatever you would like to call it, this goes for everything. People swear in this, they use bad words. Namely 'kura, but others do, too. And some OOC-ness... but that might just be my perspective on Snape, hm?

Disclaimer: I do not own, you do not sue. Or the whole thing starting with "Kay-fuzz not own" and ending with "Kay-fuzz not a company. Kay-fuzz sad." And any other little quotes that end up in here are also not my doing. If they are quotes, they will be in quotes, high-lighted, and some kind of disclaimer here or at the end. M'kay? M'kay.

Recap: Yami (hereby referred to as Atemu) and Bakura return to their hikaris with Dani's help. However, the sudden influx of energies and magic from twenty different sources causes Yugi to collapse, and right before Dumbledore was going to try to 'talk' (con) him into attending Hogwarts. Dumbledore, feeling like the responsible old grandfather he is, drags Yugi to the Hogwarts infirmary, where he is supposedly 'nursed' back to health (aka different potions being spooned down his throat every five minutes or so, killing him instead of helping him). Bakura, Ryou and Malik realize this, and hatch a 'daring' (stupid) plan to get him back. They do, making friends with magical creatures, ghosts and teachers all at the same time. Yugi, Atemu, Bakura and Ryou are told to go live with Isis to get better training for their own kinds of magic.

Notes: Yeah... SOME people (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) didn't like the original chapter 3, and as I pointed out in a lengthy reply to Kim C., I didn't really either. But it was the chapter this whole story was written around! I couldn't just... not... post it! But... some... stuff, happened, and I was planning this whole big, stupid re-write. And then I got this brain-fart about how I could continue the story without too much editing- just switching around some ages and making certain things happen one year earlier (as stated in the beginning notes for the previous chapter). But I still wanted some thigns that I had planned to happen, and earlier too, and so- ta-dah!- we have this wonderful interlude that is basically one big flash-back. Don't you all love me? And I'm uploading it at the same time as the previous chapter, so there's more for you RttOW-starved people to read! Aren't you all soooo proud of me? No? WELL I JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, DARNIT! BE HAPPY THERE'S AN UPDATE AT ALL!

--------------------------------THIS IS A NEW SCENE-------------------------------------

The sun shone down peacefully on the roof-tops, leaf-clogged and dirty from there being a mysterious abscence of hydrogen dioxide in the area. Plants were wilting in the summer heat, trees were wilting in the summer heat, people were wilting in the summer heat- and, according to the weather report, there wouldn't be any significant change for at least two weeks.

Not that it bothered some people, though.

"Ah, this is how the weather should be! It reminds me of Egypt... hot, sticky, slightly humid if humid at all, constant sun, vegetation being scrawny and slightly dieing, if not completely dead... can we go back some time soon, Isis?" Malik asked from his spot at the kitchen table, glancing over his shoulder at the living room, where his Isis sat, Yugi opposite her, ancient books with age-old heiroglyphs spread out between them on the coffee table, Ryou behind him, quickly whipping something cool together to help with the heat.

"No, Malik. I have to stay where the exhibit is, and you three- five- have to stay where I am." She replied, not even taking a second to look over her shoulder as she continued to point out various things in the book to her young charge.

Said charge frowned, trying to pronounce the words, before quickly giving up and letting his body fall backwards onto the carpet. "Isis, I can't! I got the first nine chapters, can't we just wait for another day to finish this! And you shut up!" Yugi frowned at his yami, chuckling to himself as he sat on the couch in spirit form, Isis needing to use a slight bit of her heka to see him.

"Forgive me, aibou, but seeing you try to read out Ancient Arabic and Priest Heiroglyphics is amusing." He replied, using his hands to openly try and calm the other down.

"Glad someone thinks so..." Yugi muttered glaring at the edge of the book he could see from his position on the ground.

Ryou chuckled, walking into the living room (not that there was much difference, what with the open-concept and all), and placed the plate he was been holding onto the table after Isis finished closing the books and standing up to put them on one of the many bookshleves. "Maa maa, Yugi-chan." The other hikari glared even more at the way he had been called. "I would be in the same boat as you are- actually, I was for a few years, when tou-san used to teach me some of the older languages in England."

"Well aren't you lucky." Yugi muttered, closing his eyes and letting the air from the fan in the corner wash over him. He felt his bangs get blown into his face, but didn't move- it would take too much energy. He dimly heard the rest of the conversation as sleep began calling to him.

"Hey, Ryou, what'd you make this time?" Malik's voice sounded far away, as though he wasn't even in the appartment.

"Some icecream truffles that kaa-san and Amane-chan and I used to make. Choclate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon, organe sherbert..." Ryou's voice was soft and gentle, with that very slight, almost imperceptible edge that signified the other's yami.

"You made enough to feed an army."

"I needed to, with you guys around."

"Ryou, I don't suppose that you could teach me to make some of these things? Arabic food, as good as it may be, does get a bit boring after eating it all your life." Isis' voice got closer as it also got quieter, sleep letting it's presence be known by slightly warping the sound.

"Aibou is falling asleep, so I will see you all later." Atemu's voice was haunting, age-old, and spoke with a wisdom that, when the rest of the world could see him, seemed beyond his years. It was annoyingly comforting to the young light, and he felt sleep strike it's final bell, as three other voices signified the spirit's return to his soul room.

His eyes didn't want to open, his mouth nor body didn't want to work. The carpet and edge of hard-wood he could feel under his head seemed like the most comfortable bed in the world, and breeze that tickled his face was better than the softest hands gently running their fingers through his hair. With this in mind, or as much in-mind as it could be in his illusionary state, he let his body go, and was barely concious of being layed down in his bed in his soul room, before he fell to the comforting darkness.

--------------------------------THIS IS ANOTHER NEW SCENE-------------------------------------

Yugi woke up again sometime later, the fan's cool breeze no longer on his face. Eyes slowly opened to reveal gleaming amethyst, sparkling with mischief and renewed energy. He began pushing himself into a sitting position- or as much of a sitting position as could be achieved by the little area he had between his matress and Ryou's bunk above his own. At his feet he felt the edge of the bed, and he reached over his head to pull the curtains to close off his bunk from the other's- Ryou above him and Malik above Ryou- in case they were in the room and trying to fall asleep.

A button was hit on the wall, a steady, gently yellow-orange light flaring into life at the other end of his small hide-away. The set of three bunk-beds, recessed in the wall, were very closed off, secluded- from everything else in the room, and each other. Although appearing to just be a solid wall with curtains hanging down and drawers at the very bottom of it, three holes bored into the 'wall' were the oppenings to the bunks, big enough for someone to crawl inside. Shelves were along three sides- left and right of the bunks, and at the heads of the beds, where the holes were. Carved indents into the 'wall' showed where the 'ladder' was- not that it had been used all that often.

At the foot of the bunks, though, and- again- closed off from the rest of the room- was a small, padded area, big enough for three people to sit. Shelves filled with miscelaneous things covered these walls, also working as ladders to allow one to get from one bunk to another. The padded area stretched from Yugi's bunk on the bottom to Malik's bunk on the very top, had it's own little window, and had quickly become filled with everything- from personal possessions to garbage. Wooden screens, spelled to block out noise and light, sperated the bunks themselves from the padded area, called the Gather Room (or so it was dubbed by Malik on one of his sugar-highs), and could be closed easily enough with one's foot.

This Yugi did, making sure that he was completely serperated from everything and everyone else, the light still glowing brightly. He pulled down a golden box, kept on the shelves, and placed it beside him, opening it slowly and gazing inside. He felt Atemu look at it's contents from his eyes, amethyst being tinted slightly ruby, before he reached in and pulled out what it contained.

(-Tameaus, Cridius, Hellmos... why were the Legends returned to us? We are not even supposed to have any of the others, only Tameaus... so why?-)

Atemu's reply was cool, but gentle- exactly what Yugi needed to hear in this situation. ((Who knows, aibou. Do you want to try to figure it out?))

(-I'm having enough problems at the moment, thanks.-)

Atemu chuckled. ((We are blunt tonight, hm? What has brought around this change?))

(-Maybe the fact that it is stupidly hot here, and I... need... AIR!-)

Throwing caution to the wind, Yugi flicked off the light and wrenched open the curtains to the rest of the bed room, breathing in the slightly cooler greedily. His eyes found the tell-tale futons of Ryou and Malik- hot air rises, as they say, and their bunks were exceptionally hot at this time of year, it seemed. The two had vacated to the floor, finding it cooler than their own little recesses.

However, they were mysteriously absent, and a quick glance at the clock in the room explained the reason- nine o'clock on a Saturday night meant movie night, and, based on the barely-perceptible sounds from the other room, horror flicks were the choice of the night.

((Aibou, it's too hot to be moving around.))

Yugi rolled his eyes. (-This coming from an Egyptian Pharaoh. Relax, I'm just going to go see if there's any nice, cool food to eat, maybe watch a bit of the movie... the usual.-)

Atemu rolled his eyes in his soul room. ((Fine, but I'm tired.))

(-Then go to sleep, I'll be fine.-)

The light felt his other relax as he slid out from his bunk, taking in that he was still dressed in his black tank and black shorts that went down just passed his knees, belts to the right of the hole to his bunk. The shorts were probably one of- if not the only- baggy thing that Atemu would allow in his wardrobe, and that was only because they looked good with the belts.

Yugi had to agree.

Sliding the belts on and maing his way to the slightly-opened door, he noticed that the spirit refused to sleep- he had been this way since news of another convict, on death row for over ten different murders had been on the evening report about a week ago. And this was AFTER the incident with Dumbledore, Atemu having become noticably more alert after Isis, Ryou, Bakura and Malik explained what had happened and their theories about why. If Yugi went somewhere that might pose a problem, Atemu was awake, alert, and ready to take over and send whoever was causing trouble to the Shadow Realm upon first contact.

The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, rolling his eyes at his other's anticts. Two heads turned to greet him; he raised an eyebrow in both a way of saying hello and asking a question. A nod and another raised eyebrow were his answers, Ryou continuing, "Isis went in to the museum- one of the guards had reported finding something strange around part of the display."

Yugi nodded, eyeing the fridge in the kitchen. Ryou chuckled, causing a very strange sound to be heard as it was at the same moment someone in the movie screamed- Malik was already glued to the screen again. "There's some ice cream truffles left if you want them. And come join us- it's not that bad a movie, even if it is apparently almost five hours long."

Yugi winced after grinning at the coolness of the fridge, sliding down to sit beside Ryou, Atemu appearing to take up position resting on the floor, leaning against his light's legs, the spirit-form becoming more corporeal to only his light and other, non-living objects. Bakura, it seemed, had chosen to the do the same, and both decided that it was high time they tried some of the truffles.

Yugi saw their hands coming for the plate, and noticed five left. One for each of them, probably. He lifted the chocolate to his lips, passing the plate in the general direction of Ryou and Malik, both of whom waved it away. Yugi frowned, replacing the plate on his lap, the two yami's hands grabbing an orange and strawberry truffle from the plate and popping them into their mouths.

"What movie is this?" Yugi asked the other hikaris, eyeing the strange-looking room, where the floor was apparently a mirror as well.

"Rose Red. It's based on a novel by Stephen King." Ryou replied, whispering so as not to ruin the mood.

Malik, from his position on the other side of the couch, must have seen Yugi's brief look of confusion, as he leaned across again, and continued the explanation. "It's basically about a house that eats people."

Yugi rolled his eyes, another scream being heard in the movie and therefore drawing his own attention back to the screen.

Without noticing, Atemu reached up to grab the last of the truffles again, Bakura having stolen the second-last one when no one was looking. His eyes wandered up to his aibou's face, and he frowned as he saw something on the other's forehead. However, it was gone as soon as it had appeared, and Atemu wrote it off to a trick of the light from the movie. He grabbed the vanilla truffle, but frowned when he noticed Yugi's hand attempting to reach for it. He pouted, and was about to place the truffle back on the plate, when Yugi looked down, noticed the truffle in his dark's hand, smiled at him, and went back to watching the movie, hand falling back to his side.

Atemu continued to frown, staring down at the delicious piece of consumable materials he held gently in his hand. His gaze wandered back up to his light, then down to the truffle. He raised his other hand to it, broke it cleanly in half, and popped one half in his mouth. Licking off his fingers, he raised Yugi's hand and put the other half of the truffle in it, grinning up at the hikari now. Yugi blinked, looked at the little ice cream truffle in his hand, looked at Atemu, and grinned widely.

Another scream from the television set brought their attention back to the movie, Yugi's eyes widening from a mix of amazement and fright- though mainly fright. Having seen people be killed and have their souls forcefully ripped from their bodies did not make a people-eating house movie as entertaining as Malik and the yamis might have thought.

Ryou had actually grabbed onto Bakura's shoulder, body bent down to be as close to his yami as possible.

Yugi quickly stuffed the half-truffle into his mouth, easily finishing it off and placing the plate on the coffee table as five sets of eyes once again became rivited on the movie.

----------------------------------THIS IS THE THIRD SCENE CHANGE------------------------------

The sun shone high in the sky, but was not where one would normally find it after talking about a night scene. No, it was further in the sky, the movie one night past- making this glorious afternoon a not-so-glorious, down-right horrible Monday afternoon.

And the heat didn't help, either.

"Senei, can we go swimming for Phys. Ed?" Jou asked the moment he stepped into the classroom where the students of the Domino High School did their theory work for the aforementioned class.

The sensei of this class, however, was not to be trusted- in the sense that if he said something, they'd more than likely do something else. So when he said, "Sure, of course!" the class knew it was doomed to live in heat exhaustion.

Yugi groaned, letting his head fall onto his desk. Between school work, the heat of summer fast approaching, studying and training with Isis, he was getting little to no sleep, and it was always restless- he felt like he didn't get any sleep at all. Opening one bleary amethyst eye, he gazed around the class room, to see that most of the students were in the same condition as he- only they didn't have their heads on their desks, and were mostly paying attention to the sensei.

Trying to sit up, he found he couldn't be bothered.

((Aibou, do you want me to take over? I am an Egyptian you know.))

(-You were also a Pharaoh,-) Yugi pointed out irritably. (-Which means you would start complaining and asking for things to be done your way- which people would think would be me asking for things to be done my way. Thank you for the offer, but I would rather take this class myself. And all classes for that matter.-)

Yugi felt a slight pressure against his own soul, comforting and relaxing, and pretty well knew that Atemu did not take anything he said to heart. The pressure was most welcome, creating a cooling sensation on his skin, tricking his body into believing that it was cool enough to not sweat so much. The moment that his mouth felt dry, Yugi pushed Atemu's presence away.

(-Stop it- you're distracting. And you're making me heat up even more.-)

((I'm sorry, aibou. Would you like me to go into my soul room, or-))

(-It does not matter to me.-)

He felt a door closing, and knew that Atemu had retreated to the wonderful solace of his own, private crypt. He knew from experience that the Pharaoh's soul room was still the ridicuously complicated maze that only served to endlessly annoy most visitors- but by regaining his memories, Atemu had come to know the maze as well as he did his aibou, and Yugi in turn began to feel more and more comfortable wandering around the maze, and not worrying about anything.

Sighing, he turned his attention back to the Phys. Ed class. Sensei was going on about... something. His fogged mind couldn't comprehend what was written on the board, and he forced his hand to stay down, trying desperately not to ask Sensei to translate what was scrawled up there in such neat writing into Ancient Arabic or Priest Heiroglyhpics. That would have certainly been a strange request...

Yugi felt humour echoing down his link, and unconciously growled, startling a few of the students around him. But he paid them no mind, instead focusing on the board and Sensei to try to understand what was going on.

However, the heat, haze, humidity, and just plain normal late May, early June, pre-summer weather caused his mind to swim back to his lessons with Isis, which tonight would be joined by both Malik and Ryou- and, of course, the yamis. He had been learning the Ancient languages to make the teaching easier for everyone involved- most of the scriptures that Isis was planning on teaching them from were in the Old languages, which the yamis, Malik and Ryou already knew- the yamis from living in that timeline, Malik from his upbringing, and Ryou from his father and the occasional little lessons from Isis.

Isis, it seemed, wanted to start them off with the most basic kind of heka around- aura. In other words, how to control and manipulate one's aura to, er, influence others around oneself- make them seem more on-edge, or more calm. Or, as Malik put it, "Manipulate your aura, manipulate your friends." It seemed the leader of the Tomb Keepers clan was looking forward to this lesson, as Yugi, Atemu, Ryou, and Isis had forbade him from using the Rod to control anyone.

After that, Isis- oh so kindly- had arranged for them to travel to the local Mark Mage school and learn as much as they could in three months time- unlike most of the other Wizarding schools throughout the world, the Japanese Dragonscale School of Witchcraft and Wizardry focused more on the practical aspect of that certain type of 'magic', though up to this point, the three hikaris and two yamis had their doubts that anything less than the fourth kind of heka should been even related to the word magic- unless, of course, it refered partially to the kind of 'magic' that the sideshow preformers used. Then they simply scoffed at it.

The three months would only take away from the beginning of the next term of school, and a small amount at the end of the school year they were about to complete- exams would finish quickly, and they would have to be there for those, but the ceremonies and awards and what-not given out at the end (none of which the three of them needed to be there for) would be missed- skipped, as they had no longing to attend.

And that was as far as their plans went. Depending on how much they learnt at Dragonscale, Isis would elongate her part of their training to incorporate more spells and incantations into their soon-to-be-slightly-bigger pool of knowledge. And if they had learnt a sufficient amount to move among the Mark Mages as though being one of their own, then they would have a month break to catch up on what they missed during the time they were at Dragonscale, and Isis would start on probably the most useless kind of heka of all seven- Mio.

Although being quite powerful, and used by Mediums and Seers often, Mio (apparently) needed so much prep-work, that unless your opponent in a duel or fight decided to take a break and have a five-course dinner, you'd be dead before you had fully formed even the smallest part of the incantations and spells. Most commonly, those capable of Mio could use the next level up, Spirit, but it took months, possibly years of training (most of that spent trying to figure if you in fact were capable of using Spirit), to use Spirit. Those who could use Mio instead trained as Mark Mages, practicing Mio on the side to enhance their own powers and prowress with Mark.

Isis has said they wouldn't spend long with Mio- less than a month, thankfully. She couldn't see the practicality of knowing Mio, but was determined to give her three/five students the best education possible of all different kinds, so that they might at least become Adepts of everything, if not Masters.

Yugi smiled in rememberance as the images of the long, annoying, boring, and yet interesting and hilarious conversation about the difference of Adepts and Masters between the yamis and Isis. The terms hadn't been used in a long time- not since the last Era of the Shadows- and it took a while for the three hikaris to try and understand what the other three were talking about. It turns out that being an Adept was highly prized in Egypt- all the Priests were always Adepts, but never Masters, no matter how strong they were- only Pharaoh was ever presented with that title. But, as Bakura so loved to point out, that only if the Pharaoh had truly earned the rank of Master would he be called one- if not, they were never called Adepts, and instead any sort of title refering to that was left out of one's full title.

Bakura had worked hard to earn his Mastery, if not knowing it as a Mastery at the time, and Atemu was sure that there was no need for the two of them to re-learn everything.

Isis had stated simply that they were now considered Ryou and Yugi's guides- therefore, they would be considered the same as Ryou and Yugi, and would therefore not have their previous titles until their hikaris earned them.

This caused some trouble (namely from Bakura) but soon an agreement was reached, and life continued peacefully- or as peaceful as one could get having six people living in a medium-sized appartment, especially with two being Tomb Keepers and two being five thousand year old spirits, who had (with direction from Isis and Shadi, amazingly) learned to affect the material world around them like a real person.

Yugi's eyes found the black board again, surprised to see that there was nothing new written on it- and that Sensei was looking at him with a stern look on his face. He blushed (though it wasn't noticable with his already red cheeks from the heat outside), and mumbled, "Sorry, Sensei."

Sensei continued to frown, walking down the isle, and lifting up Yugi's head. He started- Sensei had never touched a student before unless he was slapping you on the back from a good run or helping you off the field whenever some kind of 'accident' happened and you just so happend to have... broken an ankle? Sprained a wrist? Cracked a shoulder? Bruised a hip... or any other random injury one might sustain from having people who looked like body-builders in your class. Sensei turned his head this way and that, frowning.

"Mouto-san, what's on your forehead?"

Yugi frowned. "Gomen, Sensei, demo... something's on my forehead?"

Sensei touched a single point on his forehead, and he felt a strange warmth wash over him, but it was gone within an instant, and Sensei moved back, shaking his head, muttering something about "imagining things".

Yugi was quite happy to agree.

----------------------THIS IS A SCENE CHANGE----------------

"Alright. I want you all to sit on the floor in a circle- no, Yugi, no fan. An open door, maybe- NO ARTIFICIAL COLD OR HEAT SOURCES! Thank you. Now, sit. Yes, the yamis too. No, not in each other's laps. Re help me... Yes, around the table. Why do you think it was set up like that? In front of each of the basins... I said no artificial heat or cold sources, not no heat or cold sources at all! Yes, Ryou, like that... no, Bakura, NOT like that... Malik, put the Rod back down, we're not using it. No, we are not using any Sennen Items... no, definitely NOT, Malik... I don't suppose you could help, my Pharaoh? ...Pharaohs?"

Yugi and Atemu suddenly had identical, slightly evil looks on their faces- which, to Isis, who (even after asking them for help) stood off to the side, worried dearly about.

"I don't suppose you two would like to... play a game?" Yugi directed this question, casually, towards Malik and Bakura who looked ready to start dunking each other's heads into the basins.

Both looked up, Malik with a slightly worried look on his face, Bakura emotionless.

Atemu followed his light up.

"Maybe... two on two? And, from what I can tell, the Shadows are getting hungry again..."

Yugi glanced slightly at his dark. "Maybe Bakura misses his home?"

"Maybe Malik wants to go visist Marik?"

"Or maybe they want to pay a visit to-"

"ENOUGH!" Malik called out, glaring slightly at the two spikey-haired teens, sitting down in front of his own basin. Bakura grumbled, sitting beside Ryou, as Isis sighed in relief.

"Thank you- NO, Malik, no dunking your OWN head into the basins either."

Malik glared at her next, but complied.

Isis sighed, looking weary, but sat down at the final space in the table, Malik across from her. Bakura sat on her right, Atemu on her left, Ryou and Yugi between their yamis and Malik. She breathed in once, and heard the others start the breathing pattern as well- barely a day after both Yugi and Ryou had been turned over to her for custody, she had taught them the always-usefull skill of meditation.

The moment she felt they were all in the right state of mind- open to everything around them- she opened her eyes slowly and gazed at the basin. "Place your two finger tips on either side of the basin." Her voice echoed, sounding not her own, and her charges complied, resting tips lightly on the edge, along a small, handle-like protrusion, finely carved from Bronze, as all the basins were. Different shapes the wrought bronze took, empowered by those who now used them- demons, gods, symbols, heiroglyphs, and other patterns and designs, each different, each specific to each.

The water within the basins began to shimmer, switching between different colors- and each pattern of colors, if it could be called a pattern, was different for each person/spirit sitting around the table, each different if not nesecarily in colors than in the swirls and patterns within the complex maze of lumineence.

Isis stared at her own basin, calming herself, and slowly prodding it to become one single color- a gentle yellow color that spread out to encompass her whole body. Atemu and Bakura immediately felt the happiness that seemed to emanate from her very being, wanting to back away but being held in place by invisible wards they had not known were layed.

Isis looked at each of them in turn, before gesturing with her hand to indicate the basins in front of each person. "You will eventually learn to do this- and hopefully, within the week. But for now, let's start with the basics..."

------------------------------AND HERE'S ANOTHER SCENE---------------------

One week later, and Malik was grinning proudly, happy with himself that he was able to Master Aura in such a short amount of time. Yugi and Ryou trudged along side him, looking at the other behind Malik's back, nothing anywhere near a smile on their faces.

Malik, as oblivious as he was, somehow realized what the other two were thinking.

"Oh, come on! Cheer up! We're finally past Aura, and we don'thave to start studying again for… well, a while!"

Yugi rolled his eyes, barely covering a yawn. "Malik, it's- yawn!- before 8 am. How can you be happy?"

Ryou nodded, eyes drooping, barely managing to keep awake. Yugi yawned again as Malik frowned at the both of them. "Oh, come on! It's not that bad this early!"

"Because you got to sleep!" Ryou managed to say, indignant. Even after Malik had fallen asleep, it felt as though he had been practicing with Aura, seeing how well he could control it- and the 'happy' and 'excited' vibes that ripples off him were enough to keep the other two hikaris wide awake for the better part of the night.

"If I could, I'd still be back at the apartment, sound asleep." Yugi muttered, raising his head to the sky and letting the sun shine down, trying to wake himself up.

Ryou gently slapped his cheeks- before nearly walking into a lamp post.

Malik sighed at the two of them. "Completely useless, the both of you."

They both managed small grins. "At least you won't try to use us in your little schemes, like you did the other day."

Ryou nodded. "Karita-sense looked like he wanted to kill us at least three times each, while you got off the hook!"

Malik huffed. "It's not my fault that you guys just so happened to be in the right place at the right time."

"You mean the wrong place at the wrong time." Yugi retorted, thouroughly exhausted and feeling as though he had a right to be as bitter as possible.

They passed through the school gates in silence as Karita came out of nowhere and eyed all three of them. Puzzle, Ring and Rod were either underneath clothes or stuffed in backpacks, their uniforms as perfect as could be- especially considering that certain wardrobes were comprised of only pants and jacket that could be considered 'uniform' material.

They waited until they were safely in their classroom before sighing- a breath of relief that wasn't missed by anyone nearby.

Anzu, Jou and Honda were on them at once.

"What happened? Are you three okay?" Anzu was first, having nearly stalked them from the front entranceway of the school.

Yugi shook his head, covering a yawn as Ryou nodded a 'Good Morning' and sat down at his desk, head falling onto it within seconds.

Malik frowned at them. "No. Karita decided to come and escort us through the school gates."

Anzu's eyes widened, as Honda eyed the three of them. Jou frowned, looking them over. "So the rumours are true?"

Malik blinked. Yugi groaned. Ryou snored. "What rumours?" The Pharaoh's light was nearly panicking.

"Er… that something happened in the gym yesterday after school, and that you three were in the middle of it." Anzu said uncertainly.

Yugi banged his head upon the desk. "Ask Malik. (yawn) Everything is his fault."

"Great, thanks for your help!"

The other three had rounded on the Tomb Keeper, eyeing him angrily, nervously and confusingly. "Malik, what happened?" Jou asked slowly, eyeing him.

Malik opened his mouth to protest when the teacher entered the room and everyone sat down, some shooting glances to the three sitting near the windows and back corner.

--------------------------ANOTHER OTHER NEW SCENE----------------------

Hours had passed, school had continued, and Yugi and Ryou had been told- more times than they'd care to count- to "Pay attention!" and, "Wake up!", as well as a rude, "Didn't you slackers get enough sleep last night?"

Of course, the teacher hadn't used the word 'slackers'… but we'll just leave it there, shall we?

School was finally out, but Yugi and Ryou were forced to remain behind due to their numerous missing notes and sleeping spells during class.

Both were grateful that their yamis hadn't decided to do anything about it.

Malik strolled casually around, waiting for the other two. He had seen Karita a few times, and was sure that the oaf would be following him, making sure he didn't do anything. Malik began strolling towards the gym, a plan to get rid of the evil gym teacher forming in his mind.

A noise to his right, where the student doors and lockers were located, caught his attention, and he turned towards it. He fingered the zipper on the right side of his bag- the small pocket (well, smaller than the other pockets) in his bag contained his Rod, and only the Rod. He had practiced different ways to get it out of the pocket earlier, the night before he had first started at Domino High, and was ready to use it at a moments notice.

He rounded one of the corners, the zipper already half-way open, gold glinting through the hole, when he caught sight of what had the noise. A large senior student was leaning against the wall, eyes trained to the doors outside. A lighter open and closed in his hands, and dark black, short-cropped hair stuck up in random spikes. What looked like a cigarette stuck out from his mouth, and the other teen gently dragged on it.

Malik eye the other, frowning. Something didn't feel right. He let his hand drop and walked casually around the corner, startling the other teen.

He jumped and glared at the other. "Damnit, newbie, don't fucking scare me like that. You know what I do to bad little boys?"

Malik glared at him, walking over to the window the other was leaning beside, able to see into one of the classrooms from here, where a familiar spiky head of hair appeared over the window sill. He smirked, shooting the other a look from the corner of his eye.

"What? It wouldn't have anything to do with lighters, thugs, guns, or sharp, pointy objects, would it?"

The elder blew smoke in his face. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Malik nearly gagged, but held his ground. "Actually, no, I wouldn't. I wouldn't be caught dead with the likes of you, nor anything that you've ever had in your possession."

"Well, isn't that too bad for you? Because if anyone comes by now, they most certainly won't think that you don't associate with me."

Malik desperately wanted to glare at him, threaten the other- maybe, possibly, whip out the Rod and claim that the fool tried to attack him with the lighter or something along those lines when the Pharaoh and Thief King came sprinting around the corner to know why the Rod had been used. But, he knew the rules.

Somewhat.

He turned and walked away, careless. "That's a good warning. Now, if only you'd listen to other people's warnings, like those ones plastered over the cigarette carton you probably have in your pocket, and life would go so much easier."

Carelessly waving his hand over his shoulder, Malik set off into the bowls of the torture chamber called 'school' again, flipping the other off in the process. What he failed to see, however, was the smirk on the other's face as he turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

--------------ANOTHER OTHER OTHER NEW SCENE-----------------

Malik glared at everyone standing around him. "I will swear on whatever the hell you want me to that I have no idea how that got in there!"

It was only a minute or so after the encounter in the student's entrance with the smoker, and Karita had somehow managed to corner Malik for some God-awful reason that had absolutely no basis in truth.

They were standing in the hallway just outside of the prison cell in which the other two hikaris were currently being kept, and Malik was sure that hey could hear every word spoken.

He didn't want to think about what the Pharaoh and King would say.

He most certainly didn't want to think about what Isis would say.

Karita waved the small box in front of his face. "Oh? But how did they get in there? Hm? There must be some reason! And if you don't tell me the reason soon, boy, you won't be able to set foot in any school in any part of Japan ever again! And I will personally see to it!"

Malik growled, nearly to his breaking point. This… this… fool, this… mortal could think that he could get away with threatening the Tomb Keeper, because he might be slightly older? 'Senior in age, maybe, but most certainly not in wisdom, nor brains.'

"I will swear on my parent's graves that I have never smoked, have never touched a cigarette, a cigarette packet, a cigarette lighter, nor do I know how those… heinous abominations to consumable goods got in my bag." 'Besides, they were in the same pocket as my Rod… I would never sully the Sennen Rod with such evil. Marik would be a better evil than those things- Re, don't take that seriously.'

But did Karita know that? Did Karita even know what the Sennen Rod was, even if Malik had said that aloud? Did he know who Marik was?

Sadly, the answer is 'no'. He, apparently, also did not know that Malik's parents were dead, and therefore a swear on their graves meant a lot.

"Too bad, punk. I've heard that 'swear' more times than you could count. You're coming with me!"

Malik was about to struggle when he felt the large, thick fingers close around his collar and start dragging him off, but decided against it. At least it would get him away from the other two.

Three hallways, two stairwells and one outside trek later they were in Karita's office, Malik glaring at the other man sitting on the other side of the table.

"Mr. Ishtar…" The gym teacher's voice was amazingly soothing when he wanted it to be. Alas, it was merely an act- and Malik was obviously not falling for it, making Karita even angrier. The elder swore and stopped the 'nicey-nice' imitation, instead focusing on making the young man talk. "You will tell me how they got in your bag, what you were doing with them, and how you got a hold of them."

Malik returned the glare evenly. "I don't know how they got in my bag, I wasn't doing anything with them, and I have no clue how I got a- DAMNIT! Kuso, that freak in the entrance way…."

Karita looked slightly intrigued. "Freak in the entrance way?"

Malik nodded, forgetting who he was talking to, as he plotted what could only be considered a very… violent revenge against the other. "Yeah, he was flicking a lighter and it was annoying the hell out of me. Went over to talk to him- I had opened the pocket to see if I couldn't do something with the Rod… we talked, pissed each other off, and I left. He must have snuck those damn things in then! When I see him… NO ONE touches the Rod except for me…."

Karita ignored all the mentions of 'Rod' and anything that might fall under the 'angered student planning revenge' category, and focused more on the other. "What did this other look like?"

"A student, near perfect uniform. Short, black spiky hair, lots of jell. A senior, probably- students entrance."

Karita nodded, pulling a piece of rope from behind his desk. Malik yelped.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!"

Karita was on him within seconds, securing Malik to the chair to make sure he didn't leave. "Just a precaution. I'll be back soon enough- you wait here."

Malik growled. The teacher would pay dearly for this…. The plan for the senior soon turned into one for the teacher, and Malik smirked. But it entirely relied on getting Karita to think he wasn't completely horrible…

And Malik had the perfect way.

-----------SECONDS AND/OR MINUTES LATER-------------

Karita reappeared, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Well, now that that is done…"

He eyed the prone figure in the chair. Malik's head was turned to one of the windows, giving no indication that he had heard the other enter, or even acknowledged his presence. Karita frowned, walking around to see the new student fully.

His hands were relaxed by his sides, his eyes mysteriously blank, and shoulders slack. The rope around him was still as tight as he had left it- the knot he had tied made the rope contract if anyone tried to struggle out of it.

Apparently, this boy hadn't.

A pulsing, calming wave seemed to emanate from him, and Karita found himself trusting the strange boy more and more. He knew his place.

"Alright, Ishtar, snap too."

Malik blinked his eyes a few times, erasing the blank look, and focused on Karita, the blank expression on his face remaining. Karita was a bit disturbed, but let it slide.

"The punk you told me about? With a little… persuasion, he told me everything. He's been dealt with. But now- we have to deal with you."

Malik eyed him carefully, warily, prey eyeing the hunter. Karita grinned inside at the thought, but outside remained motionless. "You still had a pack in your bag, and you willingly snitched on a fellow student. Not exactly admirable qualities. But you seem to know enough on how to get on in a school like this, and how to deal with others.

"I'm no counselor… so let's send you to him."

Malik seemed to panic, putting on a scared face. "Please, not him! He's too… easy on students!"

Karita blinked in surprise. A kid who wanted a hard punishment? Forget that- a kid that thought the resident counselor, the Devil himself, was easy on students?

Was he on drugs, or just being miss-fed information?

Karita scowled at him. "What? You want to run a good eighty laps of the track?"

Malik didn't need to do anything at all that time- he instinctively paled. "Re, no."

Karita frowned, feeling the calming sensation again. This kid was just so… hard to get angry at, it seemed. Easy when he was being contradictory- but that just seemed to be in public places. Karita happened to know for a fact that another two well-known trouble makers, Mouto and Bakura, had happened to be inside the room that he had cornered Malik against. And the three hung out often- bravado in front of friends?

Karita leaned back in his chair, refusing to make any decision regarding this kid. It was a matter for the counselor, not him. But he-

He felt calmness wash over his mind, clouding instead of clarifying his judgement. He stared at the other for a moment, until one final wave swept across him, and he found himself unable to resist.

"Alright, whatever. Get your ass out of here, and don't let me catch you doing anything inappropriate again!"

Malik nodded, keeping his expression carefully blank. Blank as Karita stood up, blank as he untied the ropes, blank as he was shown to the door, blank as he was handed his bag back- and only when he was back inside the school proper, on his way to meet up with the other two outside the school gates, did he allow himself his smirk, petting the Sennen Rod in his hands.

----------------------SOMEWHERE… ELSE----------------

It seemed that either Yugi and Ryou had been let out early from their detentions for 'falling asleep in the middle of a number of very important lectures', or they had snuck out- and, based on the crimson and amber glaring at him instead of the normal amethyst and chocolate, he had the feeling it was the second option.

He also had the feeling that Yugi and Ryou were probably in their soul rooms at the moment, preparing to cheer on their yamis in whatever they were going to do to him.

Nonchalantly (trying not to look like he knew what kind of shit he was in), he strolled over, Rod firmly back in his bag after a good wipe-down with one of the sterilized cloths from the nurses' office.

He walked by them, turning in the direction that led to home. "God, Thief King, now I know why you turned that 'teacher' into a miniature. He's so damn freaking annoying!"

Bakura growled and left it at that, allowing the other spirit to do the talking.

"Malik, stop."

There was some kind of imperial tone that certain people implied when they really, really wanted something. The way that far-too-innocent best friends can make you buy anything for them. The way that not-so-innocent friends can make you buy anything for them.

The way one Seto Kaiba talks to everyone he meets.

It was this kind of tone that was in Atemu's voice, and Malik was sure that he had been forced to perfect during his 'Pharaoh-training'. Accordingly, Malik stopped in his tracks, turning around to face the two yamis who were currently in control of his friend's bodies.

"I don't suppose you could answer why we felt the Shadows pulse for a moment about five minutes ago?" The Pharaoh's tone was harsh, strict, straight- leaving no way for Malik to not answer him.

"Er… well… Karita was going to have me permanently kicked out of school- and you know that I couldn't just leave Yugi and Ryou to fend for themselves-" at this both of the others snorted, glared at each other, then at Malik, who repressed the urge to snicker- "and I had to make him calm… er."

"So you used the Shadows?" Bakura's voice growled out.

Malik gulped nervously. He was surprised that the spirit hadn't gone into the assassination job by now. "Er… actually, Aura, but it didn't work, so I kinda had to-"

"Aid it? Malik- do you know what that could have done? What were some of the first rules we had to learn, you fool!"

It was the first tounge lashing he had ever gotten from Atemu, and although it was pretty mild, with all things considered, it was like the other had physically slapped him.

"I… I know, but-"

"Malik, Malik, Malik…" the thief's tone now was akin to mocking laughter. "You really don't get it, do you? There are no 'buts' in this. You're either all in and willing to face ever consequence thrown your way-" Atemu's snort showed what he thought about that comment, "-or you're all out, and willing to hand over the Rod to someone who would use it properly…."

"Unlike you." Atemu finished. Whether he directed the 'you' to Bakura, Malik, or both of them, they were equally insulted. "Regardless, Malik, we just can't let this pass. Use of any of the Seven upon an uninvolved member who might have happened to get on your bad side one day is punishable by- well, you know what it is."

Malik frowned. "Why is it so severe again?"

Bakura, for some reason being frozen at the way that 'Seven' had been said, snapped out of it. "Shadows and Charter, bakayarou. In combination- Necromancy. One alone is bad enough, but mixed with any of the others, and you can only have one real punishment for the misuse."

Atemu nodded, as Malik frowned. "That's unfair."

Bakura rolled his eyes as Atemu sighed. "What's unfair, Malik-" Malik winced, knowing what was coming, "-is that we are technically bound to uphold the punishment. But- we could… er… overlook this little mishap and merely put more restrictions on you. Re knows I've gone too far in my dealings occasionally, and Bakura-"

"Don't speak for me, Pharaoh, unless you want a one-way ticket to the Realm instead of Malik."

Malik glared at them. "What restrictions?"

The answer was prompt. "No unauthorized usage of Aura and any other of the Seven until we know you can be trusted without this restriction on you to not use them whenever you feel like it."

There were pros, there were cons. Both about equal- until he thought of Marik. That left only one choice:

"Restrictions, then."

And he took off running.

------------------LATER----------------

Half an hour later found Malik entering Alturist, grinning at the different culture around him. So easily things were hidden if they didn't want anyone to know about it….

The old Guardian of the Gate nodded to him, his crooked smile helping to make Malik feel better about the whole ordeal.

He had crossed a line- an invisible, unspoken, very much so hard-to-define line, but he had indeed crossed it, and was now paying the price. Restrictions? He could deal with those. What he couldn't deal with was the look of… hatred? No… not so strong, he comforted himself. Anger, surprise… disappointment…. The last hurt the most to accept. Not just one- both had held those things against him, both had been angry, both had been surprised… and both had been disappointed.

Although, he was sure, for very opposite reasons.

He wasn't sure what hurt most- but instead focused on not the hurt and pain, but on the sense of wonder he felt whenever he came to Alturist. Not exactly an out-of-the-way destination- but not very well 'in' the way, either. A little side-trip simply for enjoyment purposes, the other 'culture' here seemed to blend seamlessly with that which surrounded it on the outside.

He pulled up a chair at a small outdoor café (a recent addition to the Alley, from somewhere like America), and ordered the most caffeinated substance he could find on the menu. The young woman who took his order (a witch, by the look of her robes) frowned, but nodded appreciatively, and set off for the small bar just inside the doors.

Malik leant back in his seat, relaxing in the sun and calming himself down. Now he just had to hope that the other two forgot about it, or decided his punishment was suitable for what he had done.

A light voice broke his reverie, familiar, though a little… strained?

"I don't suppose that anyone else is sitting here, Mr. Ishtar?"

Malik opened one eye to confirm his suspicious, before motioning flagrantly with his hand to the other. "Sit if you want. I just ordered- but I won't be here long."

The witch came back at that moment with the drink, and Malik took it gratefully, gulping nearly half of it down. He fished in his pockets and pulled out one silver and two bronze coins, handing them to her.

She looked at his companion expectantly, before realizing who it was and hurriedly offering him a menu as well, blushing at her ignorance.

"P… Professor Dumbledore sir! What brings you to this side of the world?"

Professor Albus Dumbledore (who everyone always seemed to know) smiled gently, asking for simply a Rice Crispy Square ® and a Passion Fruit Ice Tea (also ®), before letting her go off to complete her rounds. But not before answering her question with a simple, "Visiting some friends."

The waitress had suddenly not looked so peeved at having to serve a teenage boy in a muggle school uniform.

Malik raised an eyebrow. "For some reason, I don't think that we've actually called ourselves 'friends'."

"And who, Mr. Ishtar, said I was referring to you?" The other brow raised. "I happen to know the Headmaster of the School here, and am merely visiting him, as my schedule allows me. I have the feeling that next year is going to be far more hectic than I care to think of."

Malik snorted. "In case I've forgotten, Professor, you only have one real life to lead- that of a wizard."

"Ah, yes, but even one person in one life must play many parts."

The waitress returned with Dumbledore's order and hurriedly scurried off, as the two sat in silence, eating or drinking whatever was in front of them. All the while, they were subtly eyeing each other, readying themselves for whatever question came next.

Finally Dumbledore broke the silence. "I must say, that I did also come here to talk to you and your friends. You would all be almost seventeen soon- just old enough to attend my school. If you would even think for a moment-"

Malik sat up abruptly, easy demeanor gone, and working hard to not use Aura or any of the Shadows. "Old man, let's get this straight. School has been nothing but a pain in the ass for me. I don't want to talk about it, think about it, or do anything relating to it. Okay?"

Dumbledore didn't look in the least fazed. "Am I to assume that something happened, and that is the reason you're walking around here in such obvious muggle clothing?"

Malik didn't blush, didn't look down, didn't look abashed like anyone else would have- but nor did he glare, or scowl, or show anything emotion. He took a deep breath and fixed the elder with a level gaze.

"I would appreciate it if you did not assume- anything- about me." He leaned back as Dumbledore nodded. "Alright. How is- er… your life?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "If you do not want to hear about school, then why inquire after a Headmaster's life?"

A shrug. "Conversation purposes?"

"Why not magic?"

"Heka? There's too many- you'd think I'm talking about one, when I'd actually be talking about another. And that's another reason why I'm wandering around here in muggle clothing."

Eyebrows raised. "Improper training?"

"Proper training and put in an uncomfortable situation that I didn't know any way to get out of other than using… that. Apparently, there were other ways… but I also apparently couldn't seem to find any."

A nod of understanding. "When put in a tight spot, sometimes the best courses of action do not appear to us until long after we've finished with said situation. Am I to assume there was a recourse for this action?"

"Restricted for an undisclosed amount of time- they're probably fighting over how long, though, as the person I used Aura on has never been exactly on their 'like' list, but as an 'Authority Figure', he is to be respected… at least, that's what the damn schools here want you to think."

"Authority figure? …a teacher?"

"Strictest, stupidest, evilest gym teacher you could ever find. You're three seconds late, and you have to run thirty- THIRTY- laps around the track."

"How long is the track? 200m?"

"400, sadly. Double the distance." A glare. "Why are you interested in muggle affairs?"

The other man coughed. "Well… let's say that one aspect of my chosen career includes looking after my students, and that sometimes involves in dealing with muggles- it's always easier to talk to someone and get them to relax if you can have a conversation."

"Like this?"

"Indeed."

Peaceable silence, the waitress returning to get them more to drink. When she left with their new orders, the elder turned back to his companion.

"You mentioned two things earlier I found interesting…."

"Really? Someone finds my life interesting? I find it boring and a pain in the-"

"You mentioned 'Aura'. I've heard of the other kinds of ma- heka, but never by name."

"So what do you use? To use your heka, I mean."

"Wands, mainly. With an incantation, whether said aloud or in one's mind. Sometimes potions, for cures or curses- whichever is needed."

"Hm… Mark, then. One up from Aura… and you're really good at it?"

"I would like to be modest about myself, if it does not bother you."

"That powerful? Alright, no more questions from me."

"But more from me- and no groaning," he quickly added, as the Egyptian opened his mouth to do just that. "Aura… is not as powerful as our- my kind? Is it well known, though?"

"Well known? You go to any fair, festival, or anything in between and all you see are 'physics' who steal your money and say that they can read auras and palms and whatnot… well known isn't exactly what I would call it. And they can't even do it right! You don't 'read' auras- you feel them, like happy, or sad, or excited… and if you known how to use them, everyone around you feels the same… though, sometimes it takes a bit of prompting-"

"And that's why you got in trouble?"

It was formed as a question, sounded like a question, looked like a question if it had been written in the air- but it most certainly was not a question. And as such, Malik felt no need to answer. Instead, he continued: "So, that's Aura in a nutshell."

The waitress came back, and both thanked her for their drinks, Dumbledore picking up the tab this time, much to Malik's disdain.

"Hm… makes enough sense to me. Controlling another's will-"

"Not. Aura doesn't control another's will, it merely makes them feel- emotionally- whatever the main person is, or wants them to feel. It's up to the people to decide if the emotions they feel are there's, or whether they want to act on them. Someone who uses Aura merely pushes the person in a general direction- but everyone has a choice."

"Textbook answer combined with personal knowledge of the situation- were the pusher or the person being pushed, as you eloquently put it?"

"Both. I was pushed by… another to do something that I had been raised not to. I didn't realize that I was being pushed, but instead decided it was my own will. With that in mind, I pushed others to do what I asked of them, to help me in my own endevours."

"But they were not your own, correct?"

"It depends how you look at it."

"Understandable. This… Aura… merely influences what people feel and possible solutions for problems or choices they encounter- but the solutions are entirely their own design?"

"…something like that."

"You also said they-"

"They. Two… people who you should never cross."

"Power?"

"Power, influence, popularity… and good. People you want to seek the approval of, no matter what it costs you. Problem is, their opinions on situations often differ, so if you're in tight with one, you're at ends with the other."

"No good middle ground?"

"Good? Er… two people close to them, really. Be in good with those two, and you're in good with them. And if not, then the only 'middle ground' when they agree on something is when something happens like…."

"What happened earlier?"

"Can we please stop talking about that!"

"Of course. But… would I happen to, er, know, any of these people?"

"Why? You actually- oh. They're standing right behind me, aren't they?"

Turning around slowly, who should grace the Tomb Keeper's eyes but another two hikaris- both of which looked a strange mix of angered, annoyed, abashed, embarrassed, and not-so-pleasantly-surprised.

"Er… hi?"

"Malik! Why did you run off like that! Hello, Dumbledore-sensei." Ryou commented, narrowing eyes slightly at his friend, grinning slightly at Dumbledore.

"Because I needed some time alone- not that I got it." He muttered the last part to himself, not loud enough for anyone else to hear.

Yugi stood off to the side, unsure of how to approach this man who the other two seemed to know. Dumbledore was the first to notice it, and he extended a hand as Yugi walked over slowly to the last empty chair at the table.

"Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United Kingdom."

"Yugi Mouto… er… nice to meet you?"

The English was slightly flawed, and had a mild Japanese accent, but was passable and easy enough to understand. Dumbledore nodded, motioning him to join them as he called the waitress over- again- and ordered something called 'Butterbeers' for all of them.

They sat in silence, not quite uncomfortable, as Yugi enjoyed the scene around him, surprised to have taken control again in some kind of shopping alley he had never seen before without much of an explanation- of anything.

When the waitress returned with the four Butterbeers, each took a grateful sip from their own mugs before Dumbledore lowered his first and looked between Ryou and Yugi who were sitting on either side of Malik.

"I don't believe you'll remember me, Mouto-san," Dumbledore winked at them as they stared at him, startled that he knew Japanese, "but I do believe that I have been at least partially responsible for a little blacking-out incident about three weeks back or so."

Yugi was nervous, but nodded, replying in Japanese as well. "Er… you're right- I don't remember. But I assume that you didn't do so… purposefully?"

"Heavens, no, Mouto-san. Is it alright if I call you Yugi-san instead?" At a nod, he continued. "Completely accidental. And then to have you disappear in the middle of the night, and not too long after I first met these two wonderful companions of yours-" Malik rolled his eyes as Ryou coughed slightly into his drink, "-well, it was simply a shock. Had our nurse, Madam Pomfrey, fretting continuously, until we did some… preliminary scans and found everything to be alright, and that you were safely back with these two.

"I don't suppose why you never mentioned that you were brothers?"

Ryou really did choke this time, Malik dropping his head unto the table, and Yugi sat there shocked, all sweat-dropping. "Er… we're not brothers…" Yugi said slowly, finding this conversation at least slightly confusing.

Ryou shook his head, able to speak again. "Malik's sister, Isis, is an Adept at nearly every kind of heka, and, upon talking with Yugi's and my own guardian, has taken temporary custody and is in the middle of teaching us the different kinds of heka."

Dumbledore nodded. "Always the best way. 'Tis why Hogwarts is a boarding school." Three more sweatdrops followed this as the elder took a long swig from his mug.

Conversation lulled as a large group of teenagers, dressed in matching robes with five different crests came parading through, waving banners and signs and other random objects that flashed and whizzed and popped and sparkled and did all those other things that big, large, fun and enchanted objects have a habit of doing (when their owners are trying to attract attention, usually).

Dumbledore turned back to them, afterwards, eyes sparkling. "Ah, the end-of-term-slash-graduation celebrations."

They were all still ogling the display that had by now moved further down the street, three elder humans (two wizards and a witch) ran past, hurrying to keep up with their students. Malik sniggered at their antics.

"Now that's a celebration."

-----------------LATER LATER-----------------

Hours later found them back in the apartment, Isis towering over them, homework and Texts piled on the table- and Yugi no more wiser where he had been all that time. Isis, however, didn't seem to care, and set to work immediately arranging the proper schedules and whatnot, especially now that Malik had Restrictions (which had finally been decided upon- two months doing no kind of heka whatsoever).

She didn't seem to be able to get over the fact, however, that although she was amazingly angry at them, they were on first-name, sit-down-and-drink-while-talking-about-everything terms with the greatest wizard ever.

The three hikaris (and the two yamis present) were sure they should head for the hills- whether because of the anger or the constant questioning, none could be sure.

Isis paused her tirade long enough to shove them into the kitchen, tell them to eat, give them mail (which, Yugi had thankfully realized, was substantially less than what he got at home), and pass along a message:

"The school counselor called- Tsuroka, I believe. Malik, you have an appointment with him tomorrow after school. Yugi, Ryou, you have an appointment with him tomorrow before school." There were groans all around the table, although Yugi didn't feel quite so bad- Tsuroka, he was sure, still remembered the consequences of the 'Game Chase' that had ended up with Jou and Honda tackling the counselor, knocking off his toupee, and taking back the game with no consequences to either him, Jou, Honda, Anzu, or anyone else that had somehow gotten involved.

Isis, however, was not finished. "Oh, and Yugi? Jou called- he wanted to know if you wanted to go to the arcade on the weekend."

He looked guiltily over at the other two, but Ryou shrugged. "I still have an assignment to do, and Malik happens to still have to play 'catch up', so it's no big loss for us."

"No big loss! Come on- it's not WORKING. Even you can appreciate that, can't you?"

Ryou looked away disdainfully. "I'm not sure whether you're talking to me or Bakura, but either way, we're insulted."

Malik pouted as Yugi and Isis tried to stifle giggles (which didn't work), before they all set to work, Isis thankfully forgetting her tirade- for now.

----------------------REALLY LATER------------------

Two months later, Malik was still tormenting people in his new-found, no-need-for-heka way, Yugi had beaten Kaiba at least another four times, Ryou was second in the whole school (Kaiba still having that title at least), Isis had finally finished her continuous lecture about the 'proper use of heka', and Yugi's name was on the 'top score screen' on every game at every arcade within ten miles of Domino City's outer boundries.

Needless to say, everything had gone pretty well since the meeting with Dumbledore in Alturist. But there was one little problem- Isis had arranged for them to learn Mark magic from the Headmaster of the local wizarding school during the summer- and Yugi still knew more about muggles, Aura, and Shadows than he probably should with little to no knowledge regarding Mark.

"It's not that hard to understand, really!" Malik told him once, trying to explain where they had been.

Yugi had only blinked- coolly- at him. "Considering your whole explanation involved something along the lines of 'It's a place where you learn magic', I'd have to disagree."

Malik never had been sure if it had been Yugi or Atemu replying that time.

Regardless, two months also meant the end of school, and with the summer time approaching quickly, everyone was all set to finish exams and spend a month or so relaxing. For certain people, however, this 'relaxing' time was to be short lived- all 18 hours of it.

Finally, Yugi was able to find an actual, possibly understandable explanation of where he had been, in a textbook that had been sent to them in preparation for the months ahead.

"'Hidden Alleys, like Diagon in England and Alturist in Japan, are main centers of the world-wide economy, shops, stalls, restaurants and cafes lining the Alleys from wherever they happen to begin to wherever they happen to end. Usually accessed by floo powder, they have limited access points to the muggle worlds and cities that live right among side them'

"The outside access points are usually concealed within brick walls, where tapping a certain area on the wall will unlock the doorway (Diagon Alley- ask the Leaky Cauldron's barkeep, Tom, to show you the proper sequence), or within statues, plants, hillsides, or buildings.

'With the exception of Alturist, most Alleys are in either large cities or muggle capitals, where witches, wizards and muggle alike tend to congregate, for easier access.

'The Alleys serve as hubs of each community, and are widely valued- and closely guarded. Some have been known to place Guards by every access point- fireplaces, outside access points, and common apparating locations.'"

Yugi couldn't recall seeing a Guard, but dismissed it, glad to finally have somewhat of an idea where he was- and who exactly witches and wizards are.

"Normal humans who use wands to blow things up!"

Not his exact words- but pretty darn close.

They said goodbye to their friends when school finally ended, and headed home to make any last-minute preparations. Finishing that, Malik and Ryou went head-to-head on their new PS2 (Isis had finally figured out- on Malik's request- how to change galleons, sicles and knuts into Yen), while Yugi ducked out and hurried across a number of streets and intersections and sidewalks and a park or two, until he arrived at a very familiar store.

"Jii-chan!" He called out cheerfully, entering the Kame Game Shop. The old man behind the counter, grey hair tucked none-too-successfully underneath his bandana and wearing his typical overalls, was Sugoroku Mouto- or, more commonly known as, 'Sugoroku Jii-chan'.

Everyone called him that, everyone knew him. An interesting conversation partner, a well of knowledge, and one of the kindest hearts the world had ever known, if it was slightly tainted by his days as a roving gambler who happened to have too much time, too much money, and far too much skill- or dumb luck, as all his opponents ended up calling it.

He grinned kindly at his grandson. "Ah, Yugi! Where have you been!"

Yugi giggled, hopping over the counter easily and landing on the other side while the elder 'tsk-ed'. "I wanted to come by and say 'hi'- at least, before I say 'good-bye'."

"Oh? Not another tournament on some far-away island with souls at stake is there?"

Yugi rolled his eyes, Duelist Kingdom memories coming back full force. "No, Jii-chan. Isis decided that we could get better training in Mark from another person, so she's shipping us off to a boarding school somewhere for the summer."

Sugoroku chuckled. "Are you sure it isn't because you're driving her crazy?"

Yugi laughed with him. "It might be that, too. Malik finally got his PS2- now he just wants a new motorbike. His whining and begging might be doing it."

"And you never?"

"Oh, no. I'm a good little boy."

((Depends who you're talking to.))

"Watch it, yami."

((You might be a good little kitten instead.))

"Will you stop with the cat references!"

Sugoroku laughed easily, glad to see that his grandson seemed to be getting on fine- still- with the Pharaoh. "I don't suppose either of you want food?"

The conversation was immediately dropped and Yugi vaulted over the counter- again- to run to the door and flip the sign to 'closed'. Another vault, a quick dash, and he was in the kitchen, sitting patiently at the table.

Sugoroku shook his head as he noticed his grandson's expression darken lightly as Atemu made another off-comment. Although he only ever heard half the conversation- if that- it was more than entertaining.

One giant plate of… well, lots of sugary substances later, and Atemu had taken control, leaving Yugi in his soul room to get over the effects of too much sugar in his system.

Sugoroku chuckled as the Pharaoh winced again. "I guess not having him around made me forget about the effect sugar's always had on him."

"I'm around him 24/7, and I forgot the effect that sugar has on him. Isis has kept most sugary substances far away from us, having to deal with three hikaris. If something has sugar in it, she knows exactly how much, and makes sure there's never too much."

"Sounds like Isis is a good influence." Sugoroku commented idly.

Atemu watched the elder man carefully for a moment, before venturing, "You're worried."

Sugoroku paused his playing with a napkin that happened to be on the table, and nodded. "I am. I'm getting old, Pharaoh- not as old as you, but old for a mortal. I am worried that something will happen-"

"To yourself?"

"To you and Yugi. If something should, and I'm in no condition to help you out-"

"Yugi has me. He always has, and always will. Egypt takes care of it's own." The conviction in Atemu's voice carried easily through the air, causing the elder to jump slightly. "That includes you, Jii-chan. It will always include you. If you have need of anything from Yugi or myself, and therefore from any of the Priests and Mages, all you need is to ask."

"Then I ask of you something very important."

"Of course." Atemu was serious- Jii-chan was everything to Yugi, and would therefore be just as safe-guarded as Yugi was.

"Whatever you do… never let Yugi be hurt."

The request was surprising, but Atemu immediately complied. "Never."

"Not physically. That will happen no matter how careful we are." A nod in understanding. "And emotionally… not too bad, of course, but even Yugi must grow." Another nod. "But spiritually… Yugi's always been something special. An inner light that no darkness can over-shadow- not too mean anything, but-"

"I understand. Continue."

"Well… I'm not sure how to say this. His mind and emotions may become tainted, or change over time, but his spirit- his soul- it should stay the same. Should. It needs to be pure, unchanged. Light, if not innocent. For some higher reason that only the Gods in the Heavens know, I'm sure- but I know at least that it needs to remain like this, and I would ask that you do anything- everything- to make sure that he remains- in soul in spirit- how he is now."

Atemu nodded silently, looking at the elder. "Of course, with my life. But, what has spurred this conversation?"

Sugoroku finally met his eyes, determination and conviction clear in them. "There are very few times in my life when I have been so afraid that I might die from stress or a heart attack. Once when I was so much younger, two years maybe older than Yugi, again a little after that, when I found the Sennen Puzzle- and now, barely three months ago, from the moment you moved onto the afterlife."

Atemu stopped his listening for a moment, thinking. Sugoroku was afraid… "For yourself?"

The elder gave him a flat look. "Yugi."

"Always Yugi."

"Of course."

There was no scolding, no anger, nor annoyance- simple trust, plain sincerity- and a heardfelt desire.

"I have always sworn to protect Hikari-sama… and now I extend that to include and revolve around what you have said. Jii-chan, thank you."

Sugoroku smiled lightly, a lop-sided that could only bode ill. "I don't suppose, then, that you could help an old man organize his stock, hm?"

---------------ANOTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER SCENE---------------------

The towers in front of them rose high from the ground, the barrier they had nearly-effortlessly broken through re-sealing itself behind them. Upon completing the re-building, the seal glimmered faintly like a rainbow, before fading away again.

The clouds skittered quickly across the sky, in a race that no one knew about but themselves. The winds blew gently, tossing hair, cloaks, and golden 'pendants' hanging from chain and rope around, settling down, before blowing again. The sun warmed the land, and the cold, stone walls before them- that didn't seem so cold at all.

Yugi reveled in the elements, feeling better than he had in a while. Clean air, sun, wind, calming scenery- and the impending work load and more-than-likely-to-happen life-threatening situations that loomed on the horizon- quite literally- came together to make it feel like this was heaven on Earth.

Glancing over at the two beside him, he had the sudden feeling that he wasn't the only one feeling like this.

Maybe it was that rushed breakfast they had this morning that seemed to consist of nothing but some kind of sugar substance that Ryou had found at the market….

He turned back to the 'era of the warring states' style castle in front of them, the roof of which was barely visible above the long, upwards hill/road that they would have to climb, stone statues of what would have been 'normal' guards during the time period the castle had been built standing still as lifeless as they had ever been- and yet energies flowing just below the surface of the stone appeared occasionally, alerting anyone with the proper Sight that these statues were not as lifeless as they seemed.

"Shall we get going?" Yugi asked cautiously, eyes tracing some of the energies flowing in the nearest statue apprehensively.

Malik watched him for a second, looked were the Pharaoh had been looking, and smirked. "Heka-propelled or not, they're still statues. We have every reason to be here, and they can't do anything about it."

Ryou cocked his head at the Keeper. "Does that mean we can go up the hill now?"

Malik, from his pose beside the statue, sweatdropped and turned around quickly. "Indeed it does! Onwards, men!"

Ryou, being more… reserved than the other two followed somewhat apprehensively, suitcase trailing behind him, Yugi bringing up the rear.

((Ne, aibou, what's wrong?))

Yugi paused, turning around to look over his shoulder at the forest not too far away, though still out of the barrier. (-I don't know… ever since we went to visit Jii-chan last night, I feel like something's different.-)

There was a definite pause before Atemu gave his answer. ((Hm… nothing to worry about. If it's something bad, we'll get through it- like we have every other person and/or groups of people that have tried to kill us or steal our souls. And if it's good… then why are we complaining?))

With or without the pause, the spirit's words still made sense, and Yugi grinned, feeling somewhat better, the sun and wind and general peace and calm of the area helping to lift his spirits as he hurried after the other two lights.

(-Though, Yami, it probably won't stay this calm for much longer- not with Malik and Bakura in the same area.-)

((We've- somehow- managed to live through everything they've done in the past. I doubt anything that could happen here would be much worse.))

(-Careful, Yami. Famous last words, you know.-)

-----------------BLAH------------------

"TOMB KEEPER!"

That was about all the warning the three teachers currently within the ancient school building had before what appeared to be two tornados ran into the Hall, around it a few times, disrupting everything that got in their way, and out the doors- again.

A few waves of their wands, and every looked like it had been moments before.

The elder man in the middle of the two professors shook his head, staring at the three empty places at their table.

"I'm almost surprised that we're so used to this by now, considering that most of our students aren't quite so… out of control."

One of the other professors, a dark-skinned young man, grinned right back at the elder. "Come now, Professor Kimiro, I thought you said that Isis-sama said that they would be a little hard to control, all things considered."

Professor Kimiro, the Headmaster of Japan's Dragonscale school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sighed wearily. "I hadn't thought that either MPD or ADD would be the issue."

The final teacher currently residing at the school, a middle-aged woman with a stern face frowned. "It does not appear to be ADD that is the issue, though I won't don't you on MPD."

The younger man frowned as well. "Unlike you two, I have a barely-functioning knowledge of muggles, and nothing of all the wonderful 'diseases' they find. Professor Itumi, would you care to explain?"

The female glared at him. "Of course, Professor Zumaki. It is very simple- ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder, where someone can't keep their attention on a single thing for even a short period of time, and MPD…."

"It's not really a disease." Kimiro cut in. "MPD, or Mulitple Personality Disorder, really just means extreme cases of mood swings. A nice, kind, caring, absolutely harmless personality one second-"

"And a savage, psychotic, and generally violent one the next? Even for a wizard, that seems a bit far-fetched."

"And to think that muggles deal with it so much better." Itumi quickly said, smirking at the look on Zumaki's face. "I'm surprised that these three have kept all this hidden for so long."

Kimiro nodded. "Especially considering that one of them is basically a celebrity."

Zumaki was about to ask another question when the doors opened, and two worn-out looking teens entered, hair and robes askew, faces red from exhaustion. The back of their robes was strangely taut, and when they were allowed to walk properly again, the third member of their little party was visible- though it was a wonder how he could not have been, considering the crown of hair.

They stopped feet from the table and bowed respectively to the three sitting there. Kimiro stood, as did Zumaki and Itumi, and the three bowed back, before all six took their places around the table, food appearing within seconds on the plates and platters which lay scattered about.

"Itadakimasu!"

Malik went to it with a will, Zumaki not too far behind him. Ryou looked disgusted for a second, before seeing what was before him and piling his plate high enough to nearly vanish behind. Yugi, on the other hand, looked at Kimiro who he sat opposite from, waiting for the Heamaster to finish his mouthful before speaking.

"Sensei… sorry about earlier."

Kimiro looked up, startled. "Earlier? Oh- don't worry, we're used to it. And I know that you weren't a part of that whirlwind- if I couldn't tell who was the cause of it, what kind of Headmaster would I be?

"Now hurry and eat before out friends here steal everything and we're left with the scraps!"

Yugi muttered a second, "Itadakimasu," before ladling some soup into his bowl, other foods finding their way to his plate.

((Aibou, what's wrong now?))

(-You always know, don't you?-)

((How can I not?))

Yugi grinned around his food, drawing a multiple of quick glances from Kimiro, who tried to look busy eating. The teen's amethyst eyes were mysteriously blank, turned inwards, and- more than likely- doing the same kind of 'meditation' that he and Ryou at least seemed so fond of. Malik, on the other hand, seem to try as hard as he could to not do the 'gazing within one's soul' that the other two seemed to do on a near-constant basis.

(-Can we talk about it later? Kimiro-sensei is staring at me.-)

He could feel Atemu smirk. ((Later, then.))

---------LATER… AGAIN--------

Yugi sat on his futon on the floor by the 'window', Ryou against the opposite wall and Malik on the wall opposite the door. He starred out the wall-length gaps, back leaning against the frame of the sliding shutters, and feet hanging over the edge. The window was more like a door- but as there was really only six inches- max- of floor or anything beyond the frames before it dropped off into space, the word 'window' was the best way to put it.

The hangings that would normally cover said gap fluttered in the barely-existent breeze, gusting just strong enough to move his bangs very, very slightly.

((Aibou, now will you tell me?))

His eyes turned inwards again, before suddenly, sharply, focusing on something opposite him, leaning against the other frame- and yet, wasn't really there at all.

(-Alright, Yami.-) He replied still within their minds, refusing to wake up the other two within the room.

The spirit's usually-corporeal body had now become solid enough for Yugi, and Yugi alone, to touch, and he did so, sliding over till he sat beside the ancient Pharaoh, said Pharaoh scooting over so that Yugi would still be sitting in the moon light.

There was silence through the link, and Yugi realized that Atemu was waiting for him to start. He gulped- but finally did.

(-You remember a month ago, when we first came here?-)

((Yes, and I'm surprised how much we've learned since then. Such simple, simple things.))

Yugi gently whacked the other on the arm, giving him a mock-glare. (-Do you want to hear about this or not?-)

((Of course.))

Yugi took a moment to compose himself, before continuing. (-Well… remember when I said that something felt… different… after we went to visit Jii-chan?-)

Atemu visibly stiffened, and Yugi was almost curious as to ask what had happened, but left it alone, and ignored the other's movements. (-Well… it goes back a bit further than that.-)

((It does? What does?))

(-It… I don't know. But there was also that time in class when the nice gym teacher asked me what was on my forehead, remember?-)

((Of course I do.))

(-You sound like a broken record.-)

((So do you.))

Not an insult, a fact, and Yugi found himself unable to take offence, imagined or otherwise. (-Well… I… found something.-)

((Oh?)) Atemu's interest was clearly spiked, tenseness completely in the past. ((What?))

(-I'm not sure- a record of some kind, maybe. I asked Zumaki-sensei what the book was, and he asked me if I was joking, since Dragonscale had never had a book like that, and he should know- he cataloged them all.-)

Yugi reached towards his bag, pulling from within it an old, leather-bound book that looked to be at least centuries old.

((Not from my time. We wrote everything on papyrus scrolls.))

(-Don't I know it. But here's the thing…-)

And, upon opening the book, Atemu's senses, whether real or Shadow-made, were bombarded with lights, sounds and images. Upon said bombardment quieting down, he was surprised that the other two still hadn't woken up.

He looked over at Yugi who was staring at him curiously.

(-What happened?-)

((It was like… like everything I've ever felt just ran through my body…only magnified a thousand times.))

Yugi nodded, motioning to the now-closed book. (-Open it again and see what happens.-)

Atemu did so, bracing himself for another onslaught, but was surprised when nothing happened, and the only thing on the first page was a circle with a triangle drawn in the middle of it.

((What is that?))

(-I don't know, but all the pages are like that. But… it feels the same as whatever's been happening has felt like.-)

Atemu frowned. ((Aibou, we're keeping this book with us at all times.)) He flipped through, confirming Yugi's words at the very next page he flipped to, as his senses were bombarded again. ((And we're going to figure out what this means- soon.))

---------------END OF SUMMER TRAINING------------

Yugi couldn't help but beam in appreciation as Professor Kimiro presented him with a small, solid-gold medallion on a silver chain. The medallion had a small, detailed carving of an wand over what was undoubtedly a scale with flames on it- the international symbol for the school.

Kimiro moved down the row to Ryou, then finally to Malik, each being presented with the medallion. It was the only symbol they would get- they had never really 'attended' Dragonscale, and the medallions merely proclaimed they were Adepts of Mark (although, in most places they would just say that one graduated).

The medallions hung lightly around their necks, spelled to remain inconspicuous by others until checked with a wand.

Kimiro bowed to each of them as they bowed back, Itumi and Zumaki bowing with them. No words were spoken- all farewells and whatnot having been exchanged the night before, as was the large to-do dinner celebrating their quick learning of Mark. They still had a long way to go before they attained their Mastery, but, as Kimiro had said:

"Once you know the basics of Mark, it's not hard to really learn the rest. You read a book, pronounce the incantation, and wave your wand a certain way. It just takes skill, endurance, and will- you have to be able to hold and sustain the spell, and have the willpower to do so. That's it- endurance, strength and will."

They had all agreed later (after a few of the wizarding specialty 'Butterbeers') that it also took a guardian who wouldn't mind you blowing up all their belongings.

And now they were leaving Dragonscale, with the promise of aid and assistance from Kimiro, Itumi and Zumaki should they ever need it.

Half an hour later found them at the bottom of the long road up the hillside, where they had first laid eyes on at least the roof of the old school, the barrier shimmering impatiently, as though wanting them to break it again to let them leave. Their luggage was probably already back in the apartment, having been sent there last night after they were in bed, only some muggle clothes, one small bag each, and a set of ceremonial robes and long, dark cloaks left in their possession.

Said cloaks now swished around their feet as they turned and strode purposefully away, even from this distance feeling the eyes of their three mentors on them. The barrier actually didn't need breaking- medallions aglow, it let them through easily, closing quickly once they were on the other side.

Turning back one final time before the barrier finally closed, they were greeted by the sight of a sliver of the Ancient Castle fading into nothingness, a wide field with the edge of the forest close by replacing the proud, majestic school.

No words were spoken- today was a day of not celebration, but reflection. Mark would be Mastered within the month, of that much they were sure. But the rest….

The book he had found long ago felt heavy in Yugi's bag, as though not wanting to leave Dragonscale. It was like an extra weight that he carried with him, memories of a time now past- and yet, if the new symbols they had uncovered in it (and the fact that by now there were at least five hundred of said symbols on each page, like a text or novel), it pointed more towards the future.

---------------END--------------

Alrightie, so ends Interlude #1: Aura and Mark. Mind you, there are seven different kinds of heka, as I've been calling it, so at least two more interludes for all you wonderful people.

I've now gotten a number of reviews regarding chapter 3, "The Axis", and I need to clarify a few things it seemed.

If you would read through the chapter, near the beginning, you would see that Yami gives Agni a brief description of what happened. It's pretty damn close to what actually did happen, and will certainly appear and go more in-depth later. After all (if this is where the confusion lies), the yamis at the very least know how to use the Shadows pretty well- but the excuse Atemu gives is that it was a botched Shadow-warping that caused it. Lie? Hm… you'll just have to see….

The point of The Axis? A filler? No. Definitely not. It's more than that- a good more. I hinted at some stuff in there that will be showing up later. And my usual curse of the OCs? snorts Not this time, if I can help it. So far, I think I've really only used 4 important OCs- the rest are just background, REALLY supporting characters that probably won't ever pop up again. The three newest hybrids are (obviously) always going to be there (GET USED TO THEM!) and Dani… well, let's just say that her story didn't finish when she killed herself for Bakura and Atemu in AE, shall we?

Yeah… no clue if I got any more complaints, other than it was confusing. But hints, damn it! Lots and lots of hints and clues! Don't quote me on this- the, er… 'answers' will probably only pop up should they need to. Loose ends? Nawh… everything is going to get used. In what order and what effect it will have on the story is the question, though- and such a good question it is.

bows Alright, enough blah-blah-blah. I'm off to finish the pre-thingy (that's really just a prelude to a prelude), and to extend chapter… 6, I believe. Which is actually going up before this, so this is really out of order, isn't it?

Well, hope it wasn't too confusing. If it was… don't blame me. I have around twenty or so plot bunnies doing the conga line to the theme song for the Amazing Race (how they can do that, I have no idea. I tried and ran into a table). Blame the plot bunnies. Especially the one with the scary sword that recently popped up… damn Redwall, invading my plot bunny space…. ;)

Song:

Ave Maria! snorts sorry, cousin bought us a Blackmore's Night CD (a really good group, btw), but she bought us a 'Romantic Collection'. As much as I love her (fave cousin), and as much as I love Blackmore's Night… sighs one song is really good, though. Whenever I hear it, I suddenly have the urge to write about a hikari (specifically, Yugi) dying. Oh, iz called, er… "Ghost of a Rose" I think. So yes, that's the song. Oh, yeah, 'Beyond the Sunset: The Romantic Collection' also comes with a DVD and a Christmas CD… guess which one I've been listening to lately?

"…dancing to the setting sun as he watched her.

And ever more he thought he saw a glimpse of her upon the moors forever…

He'd hear her say:

Promise me,

When you see,

A white Rose you'll think of me.

I love you so,

Never let go…

I will be

Your Ghost of a Rose…."