The Magicians' Realm Chapter 22: Tie Talk, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Chapter 22, everybody! In which we find out just where that tie comes from….And wow! This has to be the shortest chapter yet! :O

Angiembabe, thanks for the review! Yes! I wouldn't be surprised if he did enchant it so it talks. :D Yeah, I kind of need a better segue-way for when one of the characters is recounting a story….Yes, he was talked into it….And yes! If your name is Yami, then trouble finds you no matter where you go. :)

Fromtheashtrees, thanks for the review! Too true, too true….And thank you for clarifying that in your review on The Frost King—for a moment I thought I got ahead of you somehow. *-* Yes, it should keep everyone busy (myself included). I am devoutly thankful that I did—although after hearing how my country ranks worldwide in the mathematics business, I'm somewhat regretting it (and then my brain reminds me of the pain I had with plain old physics). Yes! Go! Live your dream! And buy Grim Fandango Remastered (I, personally, am going to try to get into Minecraft and Dwarf Fortress over the holidays—I'm just a little iffy about it because I have to purchase it from their websites instead of off of Steam).

References:

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

The first natural place to go hunting was the library.

As a matter of fact, Yami was sorely tempted to go to the library first, and see Anzu.

But he knew that if he went there first, he'd stay there the entire day, and probably not get anything done. So, he turned his footsteps to the northern part of town, heading uptown and to the Administration Building.

He took a more winding approach, knowing that his appearance at the Administration Building's library so soon after being denied advancement might cause a stir. What a pity he didn't know any self-transmogrifying spells. But those had been denied to him.

He huffed and glanced around. The stores here had large plate-glass windows showing their wares, and the road had nicely even cobblestones. Every ten feet or so, a tree stretched to the sky, shading the road at appropriate points. It was early enough that he was walking a fairly empty street.

He inhaled, breathing in the warm summer air. It helped.

And it enabled him to clear his head enough to think of something else to try that day.

He turned his attention to the first of the little consignment shops, one of many in town. They were always fun to poke around, and occasionally they gave up nice little gems.

Like old books.

*\*/*

"Vote for Skellington!"

"Presenting Skellington for Head Mage!"

"Vote for the one with the hair!"

"Will you two stop?" Yami hissed.

"But this is the best fun I've had all week," Skulduggery tossed back. "You as Head Mage—who nominated you?"

"That would be me," Kineil said.

"You failed to mention that when you told me he was running."

"I wanted to see your reaction first."

"I do have wonderful reactions," Skulduggery agreed, opening the door for her. The bell at Bespoke Tailors dinged merrily, alerting the proprietor to his customers.

"Ah, Skulduggery, good to see you!" Ghastly Bespoke declared. "And look there—our recently nominated Head Mage in the making!"

"Ha ha, you're not funny," Yami Skellington declared.

"Then it's a good thing I went into clothes. What do you all need?"

"I'm seeking a new suit," Skulduggery declared, glancing about. "Or maybe an ascot—I've decided I like saying that word. Any suggestions?"

"Oh, look at that!" Kineil chimed, pointing at a higher shelf.

Skulduggery glanced up. "Ah. Ghastly, I don't want that tie."

"That tie wouldn't suit you," Ghastly agreed.

"Well, I didn't say it wouldn't suit me—I can make anything look good. I just don't want it."

Yami could certainly understand why. It gave him the impression of a bat or a cat, with its pointy spread at least as wide as a man's shoulders. It was a monochromatic nightmare.

"I had an inspired moment," Ghastly declared, indicating the tie. "I like it, personally."

"I do too," Kineil said. "Hey, maybe Yami should wear it—it'd make an impression."

"Like being seven-seven with wild hair doesn't do that already," Yami muttered.

"So you admit your hair is wild."

"I'll admit it's unique."

"It's wild," Ghastly said.

"Spoken like a man jealous of another's follicles," Skulduggery said.

"I'll remember that when you're bald."

"Please—my follicles are too strong for that."

"Can I see the tie, Ghastly?" Kineil asked, pointing.

"Sure," Ghastly said, taking the tie off the shelf and handing it to her.

"Thanks." She kicked a stool over to stand on and held the tie against Yami's neck. "What do you boys think?"

"It suits you, Yami," Ghastly said.

"It takes a certain man to wear that tie," Skulduggery agreed.

"I'd rather not," Yami said.

"I'd rather you did," Kineil insisted.

"No."

"Tell you what," Ghastly said. "I'll give you that tie as a victor's present."

"I'm not going to win."

"If you win, will you wear it?" Kineil pressed.

"I'm not going to win."

"Say for a minute that you will."

Yami squinched his eyes shut for the longest time.

"Fine," he said finally. "If I win, I'll wear it. I'll wear it every day for the rest of my life. I'll use it to pin the Magician's cape I'd have to wear."

"We'll hold you to it," Ghastly said.

"That's what I'm afraid of."