DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi. Shadow's Mirror is my own original character.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Before anyone asks, yes this is a Yu-Gi-Oh! story. It's a slightly different perspective on things, but it is definitely a story.
Interview with an Authoress
Chapter 11: The
Eleventh Show
By Shadow's Mirror
Show aired December 24, 2007
Late in the afternoon on the day before Christmas, the house is oddly silent and still. In the computer room, the only sounds are the soft humming of the computer tower and the light patter of rain coming from the screensaver that shows an English cottage with rain falling around it.
A shadow portal fades slowly into existence in the middle of the room and suddenly there is a new sound. Voices come from within the portal.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean... breaking and entering is a criminal offence, isn't it?"
"We are not breaking and entering. We are portalling and entering. It is hardly the same thing. Besides, Shadow's Mirror said that I was welcome here at any time. So we were invited. More or less. Well... I was, anyway." The Dark Magician steps out of the portal just as he finishes speaking. He quickly moves out of the way so his companion can join him.
"Gee... thanks. That's so reassuring." D. Human tries to step through the portal and manages to get his leg out before he gets stuck. "Oh bother. Can you give me a hand? The camera's caught."
"Ah." The mage waves a hand and the oval portal bulges in the middle, forming a circle. He winces as D. Human pops out of it and almost runs headfirst into the chair sitting in front of the large desk that takes up a good portion of the room. "Careful. Just because we are not breaking and entering, that does not mean that you can run around breaking things."
D. Human sighs heavily and shoots his companion an annoyed look. "Where should I set this up?"
"Ah... over there, I think." As D. Human heads for the right side of the room, the mage looks around thoughtfully. "Then again, perhaps over there would be better." He frowns as D. Human changes course and heads for the left side of the room, instead. "No, I believe I was right the first time. Over there was much... No, I said over there, not 'put it down where you are'. D. Human? Are you listening to me?"
Ignoring the Dark Magician with a skill born from years of ignoring lectures by the Shadow Realm's long-winded elders, D. Human calmly sets his camera and tripod up in the middle of the room. "On air in three... two..."
The mage blinks at his cameraman in surprise. "What? No! Not yet! I'm not ready..."
"One!" D. Human grins as he starts filming.
"...yet!" The Dark Magician winces slightly. "Ah. Good afternoon everyone! Welcome to another thrilling instalment of 'Interview with an Authoress'. In today's show we actually will not be interviewing any authoresses. Instead, we have a very special treat for our viewers." He beams into the camera. "Here we are in this..." He gestures around the room and his smile freezes as he tries to come up with a word that will capture it's essence.
"Mess? Jumble? Site of some spell gone badly wrong? Zone of chaos?" D. Human offers helpfully.
"... charming..." the Dark Magician frowns at D. Human as he snickers, "... room, which has the great honour of being the place where the Authoress Shadow's Mirror writes all of her wonderful stories. Yes, this... quaint..." he again ignores D. Human's snicker, "chamber is where Shadow's Mirror cooks up her plots and stirs in such flavours as emotion and action and, of course, her trademark sense of humour." He gestures to the room and D. Human carefully pans the camera around it, making sure to get every messy area in the shot.
"We are here today... D. Human, I do not believe our viewers wish to see that stack of papers."
"Horizontal filing system." D. Human grins as he turns the camera back on the Dark Magician, just in time to capture the look of confusion on his face.
"Excuse me?"
"It's not a 'stack of papers', it's a 'horizontal filing system'. Dark Witch has one just like it. Only hers is more impressive." D. Human shrugs as the mage blinks at him. "Well, this one's only four feet high. Dark Witch needs a step ladder to add filing to the top of hers."
The Dark Magician winces. "Well, that certainly explains why she never answers my correspondence. She probably 'files' it before she replies and then cannot find it again."
"Oh no. That's not why." D. Human smiles. "She keeps your correspondence separate."
"Does she really? Oh how marvellous." The mage looks very touched.
"Uh huh. She says the parchment you write on makes a wonderful source of fuel for the fireplace in her sitting room." D. Human makes sure to get a nice close up of the Dark Magician pouting, knowing that Dark Witch will be watching this and will be highly amused by the sight.
"Ah. Of course. She would say that." The Dark Magician shakes off his disappointment and frowns. "Now then... where was I?"
"You were about to tell me why we're here today."
"Oh yes. I mean, no. You already know. I told you earlier, remember? No, I was about to tell our viewers why we are here today." The mage smiles into the camera as D. Human shrugs.
"Same thing."
Ignoring his cameraman, the Dark Magician smiles and moves over to the desk. "We are here today to get a special inside sneak peek." He leans against the side of the desk.
"For several years now, Shadow's Mirror has posted a special fanfiction update every Christmas Eve. Last year's update consisted of two oneshots written within the InuYasha world. Although she has been rather quiet during this past year, her recent return after several months' absence has sparked a number of rumours in the Shadow Realm."
"Most of them started by you."
"Most of them..." The Dark Magician splutters and frowns at D. Human. "I did no such thing!"
He coughs and attempts to ignore the heat rising into his cheeks as his cameraman snickers. "As I was saying... Today, I will attempt to uncover Shadow's Mirror's plans for this year's update!" He looks very smug.
"Should I applaud?"
Ego thoroughly deflated, the mage sighs. "Only if you wish to."
"I don't. But you seemed as if you were expecting some sort of reaction." D. Human shrugs. "So... how are you going to uncover her plans then?"
"Well I... Um... That is... Actually, I thought I might..." The Dark Magician suddenly looks a lot less sure of himself than he had a few minutes earlier.
D. Human slowly straightens and stares at the mage over the top of the camera. "You have no idea, do you?"
"Well... I would not say that, exactly. I am merely unsure as to the precise details of our investigation. Namely... where we should begin." He eyes the room and looks rather lost.
"How about that folder on her desk? The one with 'Christmas Update' written on the front of it." D. Human makes sure to get another close up shot of the Dark Magician's startled look, then pans out a bit so he can get a good shot of the mage blinking down at the folder lying on the desk right beside where he's leaning.
"Ah. Well... Yes... I suppose that would make a certain amount of sense."
D. Human takes the camera off the tripod and puts it on his shoulder to make it mobile, then moves in closer to get a good shot as the Dark Magician carefully opens the folder. Inside there is just a single sheet of paper. Both men sigh in disappointment.
"Shadows. I was sure we'd found something good." D. Human pouts, then arches an eyebrow as his companion suddenly goes still, his whole attention focused on the paper. "What is it?"
The Dark Magician looks up and smiles, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "It is a list."
"Of?" D. Human can't quite keep his rising interest out of his voice, the mage's excitement proving to be too infectious for that.
"The things that Shadow's Mirror has to do before Christmas, including the stories and chapters that she has been working on, along with progress notes on each of them and their current status." He is so delighted he's almost dancing on the spot.
"So what are you waiting for? Read them out already!" D. Human grins and makes sure the camera's steady so they can record this moment for posterity... or for blackmail material for Dark Witch to use against the unsuspecting mage at a later date.
The Dark Magician cleared his throat and began reading. "'Finish Christmas wrapping, put up decorations'..."
D. Human sighs heavily. "Not the whole list! Just the bit about the stories!" He shakes his head and mutters loudly about people who complain about shooting images of horizontal filing systems and then read out lists of chores.
The Dark Magician again chooses to ignore the heat rising into his cheeks. "Ah. Yes. Um... Ah, there it is. 'Life 4: emotional chapter but now up to the good bit. One or two more chapters to go.' Oh my, that is wonderful news! I quite like that one."
D. Human nods. "That's Alexander and Valen's story, right?"
The mage nods. "Yes. If it is up to the 'good bit', then it is likely that the setting has now shifted to the Shadow Realm, rather than that little European country it started in."
"Are we in that one?" D. Human frowns as he thinks back. "I remember it happening, but I don't think I had anything to do with it. Not sure about you or Dark Witch, though."
"No, it was only the elders in that one. Oh, and the Magician of Black Chaos, if I recall correctly. Although I may possibly get a mention towards the end. Shadow's Mirror hinted at it a few weeks ago, when she came over to borrow a book."
The Dark Magician looks at the page again. "Anyway, moving on... 'Beginning 2: tricky chapter needing lots of research but now up to the conversation I lost a few years ago during my computer crash. Unknown chapters remaining.' Ah! So that is why she wanted to borrow that book! It was on the life and death rituals of the Ancient Egyptians. Quite a fascinating subject, really."
D. Humans pulls a face. "Sounds rather boring to me. Does she usually do research for her stories?"
"Not often, but if there is something that she needs to know to keep her story accurate, then she will look it up. As I understand it, this story centres on the judging of the souls that was believed in during Ancient Egyptian times. That was quite a specific ritual."
The Dark Magician looks at the paper again. "Now let me see..." He goes very still, his eyes widening in shock.
"What?" D. Human edges nearer. "Read it out, already!"
"Oh! Of course. Forgive me. I was just... Oh this is truly wondrous news." The mage beams into the camera. "It seems that Shadow's Mirror has finally completed the next chapter of 'Source'."
"All right! Well it's about time!" The camera jerks as D. Human does a happy little dance. "I'm mentioned a few times in that one, you know."
"Yes, yes, I know. Will you please try to keep that camera steady?" The mage frowns at D. Human, then refers to the paper in his hands again. "Let me see... 'Source 33: story plan sorted out and I am back on track with it. One, possibly two, chapters remaining.' Oh my." He blinks at that. "So soon? I was certain she had more to go than that! Oh this is... well..."
"Wonderful?" D. Human grins. "She's been working on that one for so long, she must be happy to be so close to the end."
The mage nods. "I am sure she is, however, I would imagine that there is also an element of sorrow to it. She has put a great deal of effort and energy into that story. For it to be ending..."
D. Human nods as well. "That's true. Well, she'll sort it out. It's not over yet, anyway. I can't wait to read it, though!" He grins and his companion smiles back.
"Neither can I. So, that brings us up to..." Again, he freezes, his eyes wide.
D. Human arches an eyebrow. "Now what?"
The Dark Magician wets his lips and softly reads out what is written on the page. "It says, 'Hearts 6: one mystery solved and another one revealed. Still some way from finishing, but the story should begin to move faster from this point."
A low whistle of appreciation comes from D. Human before he grins. "That's great news! That's the one you've been waiting for, right?"
Beaming happily, the mage nods. "Indeed! I have not been so beside myself with delight since the day I accidentally cast Multiply on myself while watching the elders walk past my tower and head for the forest instead."
D. Human blinks, then shakes his head. "I have a feeling I don't want to hear anymore of that story. So how about telling me... oh all right, the viewers, more about Shadow's Mirror's stories, instead?"
"Very well." The mage smiles at the page, obviously very happy to see that Hearts has been updated at long last. "The next one is... 'Interview 11: something a bit different.' Um..." He blinks at the page and then turns it over as if checking for more on the back, then turns it back over again.
His companion blinks at him. "Is that it?" At the mage's nod, D. Human shrugs. "Well, nothing more we can say about it then, is there? Moving on!"
The Dark Magician sighs and nods. "I suppose so. Next up is 'Shadows 4'! Oh my! She really has outdone herself this time around!" He beams at the page and then at D. Human. "You know, that means that she is updating all of her ongoing stories this Christmas. That is wonderful!"
D. Human nods and grins. "Maybe she felt guilty after her tiny update last year."
"Perhaps." The mage smiles. "Now then... 'Shadows 4: the tournament begins and I have a plan to work on for the rest of the story. Unknown number of chapters remaining.' She has a plan for that one, that is quite unusual, I believe. Shadow's Mirror does not normally plan a great deal."
"Maybe that story needed her to be a bit more careful, so that everything went in that needed to. It's one of the stories that links in with a few others, right?"
Nodding, the Dark Magician considers that. "Yes. It does. It is a separate story on its own, but there are some things that are mentioned in other stories. Such as Ryou learning about Evien Sanders' inclusion in the tournament. That was actually in one of the chapters of 'Source'."
"Really? Cool!" D. Human grins. "Do you think Shadow's Mirror will make a list of what's in what story once they're all done? It sounds a bit confusing."
After a moment's thought, the Dark Magician nods. "That sounds like quite a good idea. Perhaps you should suggest it to her the next time you see her."
"I'll do that. So if that's all of her ongoing ones..." The camera jerks a little as D. Human shifts his grip on it. "Is that everything in the update?"
The mage studies the list and frowns as he taps one item on it. "Apparently not. According to this, Shadow's Mirror has also written a oneshot. A special Christmas story about Bakura and Ryou titled 'Midnight Sneakiness'. Well, that does sound most intriguing. I shall have to read that one." He smiles happily.
D. Human grins. "That sounds good. I wouldn't mind reading it myself. Do you suppose it's around here somewhere?" He looks hopeful.
"Most likely, but I have no idea where. It is probably somewhere in this... machine..." He gestures at the computer and pouts at it.
"Dark Witch could probably find it." At the mage's astonished look, D. Human grins proudly. "She did a course a few months ago."
The Dark Magician blinks. "So that is why she came to the human world those times? I see." He thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "No, actually I do not. Why would she need to know how to use one of these?"
"Because it was something that you had no knowledge of." D. Human smirks as the mage sighs.
"Ah. Of course. That explains it."
His companion chuckles. "Shall I call her?"
"No!" The mage clears his throat and tries not to look as panicked at that possibility as his outburst just revealed him to be. "Er... no... I think not. We really should not go looking. Besides, she will deliver the latest updates to the Royal Magical Library in the Shadow Realm, just as she always does." He smiles. "We may not be able to read them in this world on these machines," he gestures to the computer again, "but at least we can still read them."
D. Human nods. "True." He looks around. "So, is that everything, then?"
"I believe so." The Dark Magician smiles into the camera. "So there you have it, folks. The final tally for this year's Christmas Update by Shadow's Mirror is six new chapters, one for each of her ongoing stories, and a new oneshot written especially for Christmas."
He waits a moment while D. Human puts the camera back onto the tripod, then delivers his closing statement. "Thank you for joining me for yet another show and I hope that you will join me again, next time, for another 'Interview with an Authoress'."
"Looked good." D. Human grins as he begins to pack up his camera.
"What looked good?" The voice comes from the doorway.
"His closing for the show we just did on Shadow's Mirror's Christmas update." D. Human blinks at the Dark Magician. "Hey... are you all right? You've gone really pale?"
"Oh, don't worry. He's probably just really glad to see me."
D. Human blinks again and then slowly turns to look at the hooded and cloaked girl standing in the doorway. "Oops. Uh... Shadow's Mirror... Hi. Um... This isn't what it looks like!" As she arches an eyebrow, he smiles nervously and begins to edge towards the portal. "Um... maybe it is... but... he'll explain everything! Bye!"
As the flustered cameraman makes his escape through the portal, Shadow's Mirror turns her attention to the mage trying to sneak away through another hastily summoned portal. "I'd really like to hear this explanation of yours."
"Oh dear. I would love to, however... I left the teapot on the fire. Perhaps another time!" He jumps through the portal so quickly he hits his hat on the top of the portal.
Shadow's Mirror sighs and shakes her head as she crosses the room and puts a sheaf of papers on her desk. "Apparently they've both forgotten that I can follow them. Shadow Realm, here I come!"
One moment and a shimmering portal of shadows later and the room is again quiet and still, with only the sounds of the humming computer and the patter of the rain on the screensaver to break the silence.
On her desk, the title of the story she just got back from her beta looks deceptively innocent.
'Another Source of Magic - Chapter 34: The Book's Secret'
A note attached to it reads, 'Checked and beta'd, found nothing as usual. I can't believe you went and finished it on me. I'm going to go read Source from the start again now. Vash'
To be continued...
