I have changed the story title! Mostly to keep it from getting confused with my other story, A Modern Fairytale.

Thanks to the reviewers: Monkey Girl xD, s2Teennovelist, Leo112, SkaterGirl246,

Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!

Ever After

Something's Not Quite Right

Yami made faces at himself in his mirror. He LOOKED like his usual self, but it was still hard to go from magic and fairy tales, to a regular life. He wondered how the heroes in video games did it. 'How they could go from saving the world and protecting the princess one day to acting as if it had never happened the next?' He shook his head in an attempt to shoo the thought away. 'I can't think like that. My life here doesn't need to have anything to do with all this magic stuff. They will stay separated, thank you very much!'

The human sighed and pulled a green and brown stone from his pocket. It fit just in the palm of his hand and he ran his thumb over the smooth surface. Solomon had given Yami the stone in order for the human to come and go between their forest and his home at will. All he had to do was say 'me paírnei ekeí' (1) and name of the place he wanted to go and the stone would teleport him there. The old man had explained to him that the stone would only take him somewhere if the 'essence' of that place was magically infused into the stone. He hmphed and dropped the stone back into his pocket. He would deal with that later.

Yami grabbed his leather backpack and swung it over his shoulder as he left his room.

The house was quiet this time of day, but Yami didn't mind. He really enjoyed the peaceful silence that would soon be lifted by the hustle and bustle of the days activities. At least, he usually liked the silence. Yami shifted his backpack. Something seemed off. It had been ever since he had returned yesterday evening.

As soon as Yami had returned home it felt as is a great weight had been lifted off of him… but not in a good way. He was unbalanced and it was hard to walk or breathe. The colors seemed to have dulled in the short time he was away. Even his mothers garden, which was usually alive and vibrant, seemed droopy and gray.

The young teen scowled as he shut the front door and heard it's automatic lock behind him. Being outside seemed to help, but something was still wrong. The only thing he could compare this sensation to was being underwater. All his senses seemed to be dulled and it was unnerving for the teen who was usually very alert.

Yami opened the gate with his pen code and thumb, which now seemed like a silly was to keep people out. They could just climb the fence after all. 'or teleport with magic…'

He chuckled to himself at the mental image of his father having a fit over the security system being compromised and his mother trying to no avail to calm him. Yami loved his parents, he really did, but the youth couldn't help but wonder if they were to extreme in their thinking.

Yami scratched his head as he stood outside the large gates and listened to his stomach growl. 'I probably should have had breakfast…' He checked his wallet. 'but I do have my debit card… Oh! I've never been to that café near the school, and it always smells so good to….' With his mind made-up, Yami headed for the café.

Said café, Rainy Tuesdays, was a popular before school hang out place for the teens in the area. Yami had never been to the café, mostly because he had a gourmet chef at home, and also because he was a bit of a loner.

In fact, Yami didn't have ANY friends, he never had. In elementary school the other kids had considered him strange and stuck up, which he had to admit he was (and still is), middle school was when the bullying had really started, leaving Yami with a very pessimistic view on people. Everything had evened out in high school, but it was hard to make friends when everyone put you on a pedestal for being wealthier then them, even if he was in a private school for the rich.

Yami stopped outside the café and blinked rapidly. The red brick building stood out in contrast to it's dull background. Everything around it was the same bland colors that Yami had been seeing since coming home, but the café itself was bright and almost glowing. Yami shook his head, trying to clear his mind. 'What in the world is going on! Maybe I should go home and say that I'm not feeling well until my senses are back to normal…'

"You ok, Hun?"

Yami looked up, surprised. Standing in the doorway was a voluptuous woman in a short, black miniskirt and a white button up that seemed a few sizes to small for her large chest. Her long blond hair fell in waves around her face. She sauntered over to where Yami was standing and pinched his cheek.

"You're in a daze there, Hun." She said and gave him a flirtatious wink. Yami quickly stepped back and rubbed his cheek as his face grew hot.

"U-uh…. I-I'm f-fine." The woman wasn't dull either. She seemed to shine brighter then building had.

"Well are you going to come in, or just stare at me?"

Yami's blush deepened and he followed her into the café. Inside was an even bigger sensory overload for Yami. The first thing that hit Yami was the smell, it was almost heavenly. The scent of fresh baked bread, pies, and cakes mixed with coffee was overwhelming, but what he saw was what really got to him.

The contrast of vapid and vivid made his head hurt. The building and waiters glowed next to the dull customers. Yami grabbed his head and plopped down in the closest chair. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he had a feeling it had something to do with magic.

-oOOo-

1. me paírnei ekeí is Greek and what I got when I typed 'take me there' into Google translator.

Another hard to write chapter…. Sorry for the wait. I had major writers block and then I got grounded, but I'm now back in business!