The Magicians' Realm Chapter 10: Pokers and Books, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Chapter 10, everybody! In which pokers are used and the writer laments that she's not any better at writing romance-y stuff…apologies in advance if it comes off as mushy tripe. ^^;

Angiembabe, thanks for the review! Too true—and I shouldn't think it'll take much longer before things get messy. Haha, thanks! Yes, I remembered that—"the lone paperboy." I thought it'd be a nice touch to include it here. :D

Fromtheashtrees, thanks for the review! No, he isn't—he just doesn't know it yet. All right—definitely on the list. Don't worry, we've all been there—I think it's a combination of teen-stuff kicking in and the realization that their children are growing up. It'll iron out sometime in your twenties, I think. Aw, man, more socks bite the dust! Ouch—try Vaseline: that's a literal miracle substance, that is. And yes, they can't stop us weirdos from networking anymore. :D Pfff—I can picture that, actually (plugging in Harper's Ferry memories as there's no hills or inclines in my area). Ooh, enjoy your holiday! :D

References:

Original characters + setting © Kineil D. Wicks (myself, not the girl in the story)

Teana, through a great deal of self-control, continued on with life as she knew it.

She was currently at her noon job, the one she had been hurrying to when she had bumped into Yami that first time….

Stop that, she scolded herself, shoving that thought out of her head and turning back to the inventory list she had been checking. All she wanted was to forget that night and the people involved.

The bell rang as the front door opened. "Mr. Senders is out to lunch," Teana announced, not looking up from her work. "How can I help you?"

Feet tap-tapped over to the counter where she was sitting at. She arched an eyebrow, annoyed, but still didn't look up. "I said, how can I help you?"

"For starters, Miss Gardenier, you could have said a proper good-bye last night."

Teana slammed her pen down and jerked her head up, caught completely flat-footed. There in front of her was that tall, dark and nutty magician Yami Skellington. Who was also Head Mage.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped before she could recover.

"I was looking for you, actually," Yami said, indicating her. "And here you are! What a lovely job; you don't have to be here until noon."

"That's because I have five other jobs I have to be at," she hissed.

"That seems like a lot."

Teana stiff-armed him out the door. "Git!"

He gave her a bemused expression. "Really?" he asked sardonically.

"Did I stutter?"

"No," he said, putting his hands in his pockets and rocking on his heels. "But seeing as this is a free country, I don't have to leave if I don't want to."

"Don't you have anything better to do?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Like, I don't know, run the country?"

"What makes you think that I do that?"

"I'm sorry, what was it you do for a living?"

"As little as possible."

"Oh, I can believe that!" she laughed harshly. "I've seen for myself what comes out of the Administration Building!"

Yami blinked and tilted his head; she had the feeling he was finally catching on. "And you think I'm like that."

It wasn't a question. "Yes," she said, without hesitation. "I saw Miss Wicks pull you aside. What was she doing, chastising you for introducing yet another date?"

"She was criticizing me for having a member of the waiting staff for a date, actually."

"And after that, I'm sure you were eager to get rid of me."

Yami clearly took offense to that. "If I was so eager to get rid of you, then why did I go through all this trouble to see you again?"

"Because I walked out on you," she announced, walking around to the stove. "Obviously, I embarrassed you."

"No, not really."

"Then you wanted the necklace back."

"I gave it to you, so no."

"Hmph," she noised, stopping and turning. "Well, you've wasted enough time here. Good day, Head Mage."

Yami had a look of consternation on his face. It was soon replaced by a look of understanding.

"Ah," he said finally. "You didn't walk out last night until after Dr. Sumbinix announced me."

"I'm surprised you noticed."

He tilted his head again. "And why does that make such a difference?"

"It makes all the difference in the world."

"Why?"

"Because!" she exploded, then reined herself back in. she pointed back towards the door. "Out."

He turned to look at the door, then back at her, and took a step forward instead.

Instantly she grabbed what she had come over for. He stopped and looked down at the poker tip touching his stomach.

He looked back at her, a wry look on his face. "Are you threatening me with a poker?"

"Are you really that dense that you have to ask? No wonder everyone says we're run by idiots."

"There's that everyone again—who is this everyone? I'd like to set them straight."

She pushed the poker a bit. "Get out. I never want to see you or your silly tie again."

"I like my tie."

"Out."

He shrugged and turned for the door. It dinged merrily as he opened it, a sharp contrast to the tension.

Or so she thought. When he turned to face her again, it was with that same infuriating smile.

"I hope you know I don't give up that easily."

"Do I really have to throw this poker at you?"

He shrugged. "Good bye, Miss Gardenier."

"Good riddance," she announced as the door swung shut.

*/*\*

Anzu's job at the library spanned a number of responsibilities: stamping books, organizing books, cleaning books, shelving books….

It all boiled down to books.

Today, however, she was reading books, specifically books on Delvaire genealogy.

It didn't take her long to track down the Montgaus. Within the span of a couple of hours, she had learned quite a bit about not only Gregor Montgau, but Edward Montgau—his father—and Thomas Montgau—the famous mage who took down Skellington.

That was all fine and dandy. But now Anzu was looking for something on Skellington, and it was proving to be a difficult feat.

She shoved away what proved to be another fruitless book and massaged her temples, sighing. What was going on? There were no records of Yami Skellington—not even any trace of a Skellington family. It was like he had vanished into thin air.

"Something wrong, dear?"

"No, Miss Binder," Anzu began, and then changed tacks. "Well, yes, there is, sort of."

"Hmm," Miss Binder noised, and then picked up one of the books. "Researching your family tree, dearie?"

"Not mine. When I was at the Masquerade Ball last night—"

"Oh! How was it?"

"Wonderful, but I heard about this mage named Yami Skellington, and I can't find any record of him at all."

"And ye won't, dear," Miss Binder said, shaking her head. She looked as though she were trying not to cross herself, and then gave in and did so. "It's always been thought that names give power, and the common superstition is that if his name is said, it could bring him back."

Anzu digested the notion. "But who was this guy? He sounded absolutely horrid, but last night was the first time I ever heard of him!"

Miss Binder hesitated, then sat down next to Anzu and patted her hand.

"Dearie, there are some things that you're better off not knowing. That mage….He wasn't a good person, from what I heard. Wiped out a whole village once, so I'm told. He fought the Administration tooth and nail….They were lucky to defeat him."

Anzu grew quiet for a moment. "Thomas Montgau," she said finally.

"Yes," Miss Binder nodded. "He was the only one who could match him. He was a great man."

"Is that why all the Head Mages since then been Montgaus?"

Miss Binder nodded, then shivered slightly, placing her hands in her lap. "Why don't we get off of that subject? How was last night, dear?"

Anzu couldn't help but smile.

"It was wonderful. I met this boy—"

"Oh, look at you! What is his name?"

Anzu couldn't help but giggle at the irony.

"Yami Montgau. He was why I was looking at these books."

"The eldest son of the Head Mage," Miss Binder mused. "You certainly caught the eye of the best, didn't you dear?"

Anzu nodded, then hesitated. "Miss Binder, why would the Head Mage name his eldest son Yami? I mean…." She trailed off, letting her silence speak for her.

"Ah," Miss Binder noised, thinking. "I'm not sure, dear; he could be named after the first Head Mage, Hallowen. You'll have to ask him when you see him."

Anzu was quiet for a minute. "What if I never see him again?"

Miss Binder chuckled. "I doubt that, dear. If you felt a connection, then I'm sure you two are meant to be. And if you never meet him again….Well, that was meant to be, too."

Anzu frowned at that. "Why can't I make my own decisions?"

Miss Binder laughed.

"Of course you can, dearest! That's what free will is for!"