To state the obvious, I've been away for a while. I had a new job, was miserable with it and it impacted things. I no longer have that job and have marked that off that career path as "No-no, not for Yinnie." So in between bouts of misery, I've done my best to keep going with this chapter. I will admit I had planned to go bigger with it, but found I was going too big and that wasn't going to work. That may be made up for in future chapters. For now, please enjoy my version of "The False Prophet".
"Get back! Get back!"
Female students wearing star headbands and beads lined the hall. They surrounded a gray haired boy wearing a green mantle over his uniform and also wearing a star headband and beads. He lifted his head to show his pudgy face and smirk.
"Kokurano-sama is passing by. Open the way!" ordered one of the female students.
Everyone jumped to the side as the female students escorted the cloaked boy in lines of two. Yuugi and his friends watched them go by.
"What is this?" asked Jounouchi.
Anzu turned to him. "You don't know?"
"It's the recently-famous boy with supernatural powers," Miho answered.
"Boy with supernatural powers?" the boys repeated.
"Yeah," replied Anzu. "He can see into the future. And he's pretty accurate, they say."
"You know how the girls are gone during lunch?" asked Miho. "They all go to him so he can tell their fortunes."
"He was also right about a recent fire at a student's home from class A. He became famous because of that," said Anzu. "Well, I don't believe in stuff like that though."
Mahou watched the students pass by with their beads and headbands. This wouldn't have been possible a few weeks ago. Mahou then glanced at the Millennium Puzzle hanging innocently from Yuugi's neck.
Jounouchi eyes lit up. "I'm going to get my fortune told!"
Anzu shoved his face away.
"He's almost always right," he defended. He turned to Yuugi. "Yuugi, let's go get our fortunes told!"
Yuugi smiled and lifted his hands. "But I really don't want to."
"Yeah!" Honda declared passionately. "Don't let a shady motivation like that trick you! It's absurd! As a beautification member I can't overlook it! Yuugi, let's go!" He wrapped his arm around Yuugi's neck and picked him up in a chokehold.
"I can't breathe," Yuugi told him.
Jounouchi got in front of him. "Wait! That's not your job as a beautification member."
Honda dropped Yuugi.
"In the end you just want your fortune told, too!" Jounouchi accused Honda. "Like your compatibility with Miho."
Honda balked. "What are you saying, bastard?" He grabbed Yuugi by the hand a started dragging him after the female students.
"W-wait!" Yuugi cried.
"Man," Anzu said. "Miho. You're not going?"
"Miho isn't interested," she said brightly. "Miho's future is to obviously marry a prince with a big inheritance."
Anzu sighed. "Some like you can probably do that. What about you, Mahou?"
Mahou shook her head. "I don't want my fortune told, but I am curious about it all. You two have lunch. I'll go with them." She followed the boys into another classroom.
Kokurano sat at the back of the classroom where a small booth had been made. Behind him was the sign reminding students to keep things in order in the classroom. It was being used as a sign for those wanting their fortunes told to behave.
"Kokurano-sama has arrived!"
The classroom was filled with mostly girls, but a few boys in the class sat at the front to have their lunch. The girls applauded enthusiastically.
"My first customer please?" said Kokurano.
Mahou was able to get a better look at him now. His eyes were closed at the moment, but they looked large compared to the rest of his features, especially his small nose that looked like it was a piece of barely worked clay stuck onto his face.
A rather large girl sat in front of him. "Kokurano-sama. I'm at the dawn of my beauty; will it last long?"
Kokurano opened his eyes. "I see it! It will be that way until you die."
The girl turned around in the chair. She had a large mouth and beady eyes. She held her cheeks and blushed. "I'm so pleased!"
"What an amazing person . . ." someone commented.
Jounouchi looked around the room. It's all girls, how embarrassing! I'd look lame if I asked him to tell my fortune. All right! Gotta cover it up!
"Oh man! Honda loves fortune telling so much he dragged me along!" Jounouchi said loudly.
Honda turned to him. "You bastard! Don't drag me into this!"
One of Kokurano's attendants pointed at them. "Over there! Be quiet!"
"Sorry . . ." Yuugi apologized with a bow.
Mahou followed his example. She glanced behind her and saw Jounouchi and Honda ready to fight each other.
"Kokurano-sama is focusing all of his nerves. The negative energy that you guys have will disrupt him. If you're going to be noisy, get out," scolded the attendant.
"Sorry, sorry!" laughed Jounouchi, rubbing the back of his head. "Don't say that. How about telling my fortune?"
"Hey you. You're a bit off," said Kokurano.
"Huh?"
"I am not a fortune teller," said Kokurano. "Palm reading, divination, water reading, fortune telling, feng shui, astrology: previous fortune telling was merely found based on previous information. It's nothing more than the past. However, my power is a super ability that lets me see visions of the future! It's prophecy!"
"Huh. Well, whatever," said Jounouchi. He held his hand out. "Okay. Take a look."
"You don't understand at all, it seems," said Kokurano.
Honda slid in between them. "Wait, wait! Before anything else, what is this?" He pointed to the cleaning reminder behind Kokurano. "Using the sacred cleaning tool for something like this! As a beautification member I can't just overlook . . ."
Kokurano interrupted him. "I see a vision of you happily marrying the girl you have your heart on."
Honda cut off his angry rant.
Honda and Miho were standing outside of the church dressed as groom and bride.
"Let's be happy, Miho!"
"Dear!"
Honda smiled, daydreaming. "I knew it."
Jounouchi pushed him aside. "Me! Me!"
The room started to shake.
"It's an earthquake!" Yuugi cried out as girls screamed.
A moment later it stopped.
"That was a pretty big one," Jounouchi commented.
"Kokurano-sama, are you okay?" asked an attendant.
"Of course," he said calmly. "I knew about it, after all." He reached inside his cloak and pulled out a slip of paper. "This writing is of a future vision I had this morning."
Jounouchi took it from him. "'Today there will be an earthquake'," he read.
"Applaud Kokurano-sama!" the attendant said.
The girls clapped.
"He's the real thing!" Jounouchi said in awe. "It's real!"
Honda scratched the back of his head. "Of course! I never doubted him for a second!"
Yuugi was not impressed. Neither was Mahou. But while Yuugi's expression was flat, Mahou fought to keep the nervousness off her face.
They went back to their classroom and found Anzu and Miho eating their lunch at Miho's desk.
Miho's face lit up. "They're back."
Anzu turned around in her chair. "How'd it go?" she asked them. "It's just harmless fun like I said, right?"
Jounouchi clenched his fist. "Fool! That's the real thing!"
"Again with that . . ." Anzu said resignedly.
"It's true!" Jounouchi insisted. "My future is to be a policeman in Los Angeles it seems!"
Anzu shrugged. "I don't believe it."
"What?" snapped Jounouchi.
Honda crouched down in front of Miho and folded his hands. "Miho-chan. Let's create a happy family."
Miho stared at him.
Yuugi glanced at Honda and Jounouchi. Seems like they completely believe in it. Those kind of prophecies are usually just tricks though. Well that's fine. This is also a kind of game. Exposing the trick would be against the rules, right?
After school, Yuugi and Mahou were putting on their street shoes and getting ready to leave. Anzu walked around the row of shoe boxes.
"Yuugi. Mahou. Let's go together," she said.
"What about your job?" asked Yuugi.
"I'm off today," replied Anzu. "How about stopping by a tea house on the way back? I'll treat you both."
"Okay," Yuugi agreed.
"Are you sure, Anzu?" asked Mahou. "You don't need to pay for us."
"It's fine," Anzu told her. "I never got to repay you for getting me the meeting with the sensei-tachi."
"Okay," Mahou conceded.
Yuugi silently cheered.
"Okay, let's go," said Anzu, taking a step towards the door.
Kokurano and two of his attendants suddenly appeared.
"Masaki Anzu-san," he addressed her.
They turned their attention to him.
"Kokurano-kun," Yuugi acknowledged.
"Aren't you interested in your future?" Kokurano asked her.
"Huh?"
"No. Just you, Mutou Mahou, and Nosaka Miho are the only female students who haven't visited me. Well. Nosaka Miho can't be helped since she doesn't take life seriously. But why don't you come? I'm worried."
Anzu put her finger to the side of her mouth and thought for a moment. "Why indeed. Sorry. But I don't believe such things. You create your own future, right?"
"How rude!" barked an attendant. "You doubt Kokurano-sama's power?"
"Whether I believe or not is my own choice!" Anzu shot back. "I'm not getting pushed into getting my fortune told! Let's go, Yuugi."
"Okay." He giggled quietly. You can always count on Anzu.
"Hey. Hurry up." Anzu tugged on his backpack as she walked by.
Mahou moved to follow.
"And what about you, Mutou Mahou-san?" Kokurano asked after her.
Mahou paused.
"You came this afternoon, but did not ask about your future. Why is that?"
"I have no interest," Mahou answered. "Please excuse me, Kokurano-kun." She quickly followed after Yuugi and Anzu.
The attendants looked at each other.
"So there are people that don't believe in Kokurano-sama's ability," said one.
"Well, that's fine," Kokurano said. "Soon they will know my power." He chuckled.
The next day at school, Yuugi, Jounouchi, and Honda walked out of a classroom in their gym clothes: white sweatshirts trimmed in green and light green shorts.
"What's wrong?" Anzu asked, coming up behind them with Miho and Mahou, all in gym clothes, but theirs had red instead of green. "You look terrible."
Jounouchi scoffed. "It's nice to be a girl. You get to play tennis. I have to do judo. Judo! I'm all stiff!" He started down the hall.
"What are you saying?" Honda called after him. "Judo is the basics of being a man! It's a pillar in a household. Gotta become stronger." He ducked his head and blushed a little.
"Wish I could learn," Mahou said quietly.
Jounouchi let out a shout of excitement. "The boy with supernatural powers!"
Kokurano had just come out of an adjacent classroom with his two attendants.
Jounouchi slid up to him on his knees. "What do you have to tell me?" he asked with folded hands.
"N-no," Kokurano said awkwardly. He cleared his throat. "I just had three visions. I came to tell you."
"Vision?" repeated Anzu.
Kokurano pointed a finger right at Jounouchi. "You! Be wary of light coming at you."
"Wh-what? Me?" asked Jounouchi, pointing at himself. "No way."
Kokurano pointed to Mahou. "Mutou-san. Success will be revealed to you by a guiding star."
Mahou blinked. "Huh?"
Kokurano then pointed at Anzu. "Masaki-san. In places you don't know, there is a man watching over you."
Mahou tried not to choke. Yami!
Yuugi looked at Anzu.
"What's that?" Anzu asked nicely, not believing any of it.
"If you want details, come to me," said Kokurano.
"I don't really want to know though," Anzu brushed off.
"Really?" asked Kokurano.
Jounouchi scooted in front of him again. "Kokurano-sama, what is this coming light? Could it be something ominous?"
Miho came up behind Kokurano. "Hey. What's under this mantle?" She gave it a tug.
Kokurano pulled it out of her grip and held it tightly to himself. "No! Hey!"
Miho laughed.
"Stop it! I have no business with those who mock life!" he snapped at her.
Miho continued to try to look under his mantle.
"Kokurano-sama! Tell me! Tell me!" Jounouchi continued to pester.
Anzu looked at the scene with disinterest. "How stupid." She walked to gym class.
Kokurano finally got free of Miho and Jounouchi. He looked over his shoulder at Anzu's retreating form. Masaki Anzu. There's no way she can ignore my prophecy. She will definitely come to me. Definitely.
Jounouchi reappeared with a smile. "Tell me."
The girls played tennis outside while the boys practiced judo in the gymnasium. Honda was sparring with Jounouchi and Yuugi was off to the side practicing how to fall on his back safely. Yuugi laid back and looked up at the ceiling.
Is there really a man watching over Anzu?
Honda tripped Jounouchi and threw him. Jounouchi landed on top of Yuugi.
"I can't breathe!" Yuugi wheezed.
Honda laughed. "I am invincible right now."
Jounouchi got off of Yuugi. "I'm pissed! Honda . . . Do you want me to get serious?"
Honda stood with his arms crossed. "There's no way you can beat me, my future is all rose colors."
Jounouchi lunged for him. "Shut up!"
The two started grappling again, but it was more like a street brawl this time. Above them, a light swayed loosely.
Outside the girls were wrapping up their tennis games. Anzu was standing by the sinks and washing her face off.
In places I don't know, there is a man watching over me . . . Really? She thought. She closed her eyes. "No way. There's no way there is one."
Miho crept up behind her and threw her towel around her eyes. "Anzu! What are you doing?" Miho laughed.
Anzu shook her head, trying to get the towel Miho was blinding her with off. "Hey, Miho! Stop it!" she laughed. She froze.
"Anzu, Mahou-san, let's go."
Anzu pulled the towel away and stared off into the distance. It can't be . . . It's that person?
"What is it, Anzu?" Miho asked.
Mahou, who had followed Miho, was confused as well by Anzu's sudden change in demeanor. "Anzu?"
Anzu shook her head. "Nothing. That can't be."
A group of girls came running up to them.
"Hey!" one of them called to them. "Did you hear what happened in the gym? A light from the ceiling fell. Jounouchi-kun nearly got hurt!"
Mahou gasped.
"Be wary of light coming at you."
"There's a big ruckus over another of Kokurano-sama's prophecies coming true!"
"Really?" asked Miho. "Probably just a coincidence. Right, Anzu?"
Anzu stared off again, this time in shock.
"Anzu?" Miho asked, trying to get her attention.
"Anzu, what's wrong?" asked Mahou.
When classes were done for the day, Anzu walked down the hall to Kokurano's classroom with Yuugi and Mahou trailing behind her.
"Anzu. Why do you suddenly want to go see Kokurano-kun?" Yuugi asked.
She paused and turned around. "I just want to," she replied.
Yuugi glanced down to the side. "Could it be . . . You can think of a man that is watching over you?"
Mahou fought to keep her face neutral as her stomach dropped. Yami . . . But Kokurano can't possibly know about Yami . . . Right?
"No . . ." Anzu looked away. "Not really, but . . . Jounouchi's prediction was right, and . . . It might not be bad to see him once." She walked away.
Yuugi reached out for her. "Anzu . . ."
But she didn't respond.
"Anzu . . . wait!" Yuugi ran to catch up with her.
The three of them entered the classroom to see Kokurano sitting at the back with his attendants.
"Masaki Anzu-san. Mutou Mahou-san. Welcome," Kokurano greeted. "I knew you would come." He reached into his mantle and pulled out two predictions.
"'Masaki Anzu will come after school'," Yuugi read aloud. "'Mutou Mahou will come after school'." Yuugi looked back at them. Anzu and Mahou were both unnerved.
"Well?" Kokurano smirked. "You have no more reason to doubt my power, right?"
It's a trick, Mahou assured herself. It has to be a trick!
Anzu rubbed her face nervously. "So, can you tell me about the vision you saw of me?"
Kokurano smiled. "Very well. Let me see your hand."
Anzu held out her hand and Kokurano took it in his. She turned herself away, disgusted that he was touching her.
"What a soft hand!" he commented as he ran his fingers over it.
Anzu grimaced. Ge! How gross!
Yuugi gritted his teeth at the scene. Anzu's hand!
Kokurano fondled Anzu's hand. Masaki Anzu . . . I've admired her for so long! And to be able to touch her like this! It feel so good! Then there's the mysterious Mutou Mahou . . . I hear she had a hand in the rules relaxing. I can use her as an attendant. But first . . .
Kokurano released Anzu's hand and began his dramatics. He stood up on the desk with his hands raised in the air.
"I see it! I see it! It's a vision of you! The man watching over you from the shadows will soon show himself before you!"
"Really?" Anzu asked, genuinely curious.
"Today at six. Wait in the science room," Kokurano told her. "There you will probably put yourself in his hands."
Mahou choked.
Yuugi gasped.
Anzu blushed. That man with that voice . . . she thought dreamily.
Yuugi clenched his fist. Anzu . . . It seems like she believes that prediction!
He darted forward and separated their hands.
"Yuugi," Anzu said in surprise.
"This . . . this is a fraud!" Yuugi yelled angrily.
"What?" snapped an attendant.
Kokurano stood up. He chuckled. "What an interesting thing to say. So my super power is a fraud?"
"Because . . . because I've seen tricks like this before," Yuugi explained.
Kokurano's expression twisted into anger.
"For example, the time when Anzu and Mahou went to you," Yuugi continued. "You could have written a bunch of them, and picked the one for when they really arrived. It'll make it look like you predicted it!"
It didn't escape Mahou how Kokurano tugged his mantle close to himself.
"I see," Kokurano said calmly. "It's true there are tricks like that. But what about the other predictions?"
Yuugi drew back slightly. "Oh . . . I don't know . . . But a prediction that there is someone watching over her is a lie!"
Anzu stared at her friend. Yuugi.
Kokurano jumped up on the desk with his hands in the air and grunting.
"Kokurano-sama!" cried the attendant. She whirled on them. "Are you saying you don't believe in Kokurano-sama's power?"
"I see it! I see it! It's your future!" yelled Kokurano. He jumped from the desk and pointed in Yuugi's face. "Countless words will fall from heaven! A great misfortune will probably befall you!" He panted and smirked. "You should be careful."
Yuugi was startled by the prediction.
"Yuugi . . ." Anzu said quietly.
The three of them left the classroom after that. Yuugi walked with his head hung. Anzu and Mahou looked at him with concern.
"Yuugi. Cheer up," Anzu encouraged. "It's not like all predictions come true."
Yuugi stopped. "But . . . Anzu, you're going, aren't you? To the science room?"
Anzu rubbed the back of her head and laughed. "I guess I am a bit interested. It might be just a stalker though. A-at any rate. Don't worry, Yuugi. Bye!" She dashed off.
"Anzu!" Yuugi called after her. He sagged. "I guess it's none of my business. If Anzu falls in love . . ."
"Yuugi . . ." Mahou said softly.
"Exposing the trick just 'cause I got jealous . . . I broke the game's rule . . . I hate myself . . ." He startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Ah! Mahou." He had been so wrapped up in his feelings that he forgot she was there.
"Don't hate yourself," said Mahou. "You're worried about Anzu."
"Yeah, but . . ." Yuugi sighed and trudged in the opposite direction of Anzu, Mahou following.
They didn't get very far before they spotted something on the floor. Yuugi quickly picked it up. It was a book.
"This belongs in the book room," said Yuugi. He looked around.
"We should return it," said Mahou.
The two of them went into the book room. Yuugi checked the spine and led the way to its proper shelf.
"Um . . . guess it's around here," he said, looking at the books on the shelf.
There was loud crashing behind them.
Yuugi jerked up. Countless words!
Mahou turned around and saw the bookshelf behind them falling.
There was a bright flash of light.
Mahou felt her arm being yanked hard. She jumped and landed sprawled on the floor.
"I see. Countless words, eh?"
Mahou pushed herself up onto her arms to see Yami standing next to her. He was looking down the aisle of books. She caught a glimpse of green fabric as it disappeared out of sight.
"So Kokurano is just making his own predictions come true himself!" said Yami. "Some super power. Then that means next . . . Anzu's in danger!"
Mahou tried to get up. "Ah!"
Yami whipped around. "Mahou-san!"
Mahou looked behind her and saw her left foot was trapped under some books. She turned back to Yami. "Go help Anzu! Go!"
Yami nodded and ran out of the library.
Mahou tried to turn around to reach back to unbury her foot. She hurried to pull all the books away from her foot until there was enough space where she could move it. With a yelp, she freed herself and clamored to her feet. Mahou hobbled out of the library and to the science room.
Mahou ran as fast as she could to the science room, her ankle throbbing the entire way. Yami was standing just inside the door as she arrived.
"Kokurano, it's game time," Yami declared.
Mahou stood behind Yami and saw Kokurano standing over Anzu's unconscious form.
"To challenge someone with supernatural powers like me . . . You've got guts."
Yami held up something. "Your beloved chloroform bottle. We will use this bottle in the game. If you win, I won't say anything, and I'll leave."
"I see," said Kokurano. "That's fine. And? How do we play this game?"
It only took moments for Yami to have the game set up. Chloroform bottles hung from the ceiling by strings and those strings were then gathered and attached to the clock at the minute marks.
While he was setting up, Mahou had carefully dragged Anzu to the side of the classroom and out of the way of the game. The taller girl hadn't twitched while she was being moved. Mahou knelt next to her, not sure what she could do.
"Listen," Yami began to explain. "Starting now, after every minute the long hand will cut a string. It's unknown which string connects to which bottle. We'll take turns catching the cut-off bottle."
Kokurano looked up at the bottles, sweating nervously.
"If we're too slow, well, the bottle contains chloroform," said Yami. "You'll lose consciousness in an unsightly way. It'll be very close. You only have a moment to decide. Here I go."
Mahou watched the minute hand move and cut the first string.
The bottle dropped into Yami's waiting hand. "Looks like I got the first one right."
Kokurano smirked. "Okay. My turn. I see it. The next bottle that will fall." He turned his attention up to the ceiling.
Which one? Kokurano panicked. Which one will fall? If I don't make it . . .
A chloroform bottle shattered on the floor and Kokurano was deeply asleep, snoring and drooling. "What's going on?"
Kokurano shook himself out of his thoughts. "Come!"
The string was cut and Kokurano dashed to catch the bottle. He laughed loudly. "What do you think?"
Yami smirked. "Pretty good."
Mahou was tense. This game is not just about predicting, but reflexes and coordination. They can be right about which bottle, but if they're not fast enough . . .
The next bottle dropped. Yami sprinted to get it, eyes focused on it. Kokurano stuck his foot out and tripped him.
Mahou gasped. Cheat!
Yami recovered and threw himself towards the bottle. I can't make it!
"I win!" gloated Kokurano.
But instead of hearing glass break, there was thud. Yami was on the floor with his arm thrown out. The Millennium Puzzle was embedded in the wall, pinning the string of the fallen bottle that now dangled an inch from the floor.
Kokurano stared. "What? Th-this . . ."
Yami got to his feet. "Kokurano. Is tripping people your super power?" he asked casually.
Kokurano threw his hands up. "I don't know anything about that."
Yami huffed. "Fine." He retrieved the Puzzle and the bottle. "If that is your supernatural power . . . then this is my supernatural power." His smirk never wavered.
Kokurano growled.
Yami took his place next to Kokurano. "Now it's down to the end bottles; this will be the toughest one. If you're wrong, then there's no cover. But if you have supernatural powers, it should be a cinch for you to see which one it is."
Kokurano brought up his fists and shut his eyes. "I can see it!" He moved to the bottle closest to the door. "This one will fall. Now, come!"
The minute hand cut the string.
"The door of darkness has opened," said Yami.
The bottle at the other end of the room started to fall.
"Oh no!" Kokurano panicked, trying to get to the bottle before it fell. It hit the floor and shattered.
Yami smirked at Kokurano's splayed and snoring form. The mantle that Kokurano diligently kept close was open, showing off the pieces of paper lining it.
"My my," Yami commented. "Many predictions under his mantle. Looks like he couldn't predict his own wretched future."
He walked over to Mahou and Anzu.
Mahou rose to her feet, carefully putting weight on her left leg. She grimaced a little.
"Can you walk, Mahou-san?" Yami asked.
Mahou nodded.
Yami scooped up Anzu in his arms and they left the science room. Mahou hobbled slightly, her hand resting on Yami's shoulder should she need the support. Yami moved slowly enough for her to keep pace.
Anzu's eyes cracked open. She saw the shadow of the person carrying her. The hair was spiky and long down the back. The person carrying her seemed to be moving slowly, almost carefully.
I was saved again. She noticed a wound on the person's hand. He's hurt. Got to give him medical attention . . . medical . . .
She drifted off again.
It came out the next day that Kokurano was a fraud.
"Damn it! I believed in him so much too!" complained Jounouchi as they walked down the street. "All of it was fake."
"I told you it's better to not know the future," said Anzu.
Miho smiled brightly. "Miho knows it though."
Anzu glanced over at her. "Never mind you."
"But he's the one who got the most damage this time," said Jounouchi.
Honda walked ahead of them all, head hung and shoulders slumped miserably.
Miho jogged up to him. "Good morning, Honda-kun! No need to be so down. You have to get your own future."
Honda lightened up. "M-Miho-chan."
"Let's do our best together!"
They both punched the air and cheered affirmatively.
"Does he know what future Miho is thinking of?" Jounouchi asked.
Yuugi looked over at Anzu. "But Anzu and Miho-chan are right. Who knows what the future holds."
Anzu hummed in agreement. In the end I didn't find out who it was.
"It's game time."
Miho waved at them. "Hurry, you three! If you don't hurry you'll be late!"
"Oh!" cried Yuugi. "Anzu, Mahou, let's go!"
Yuugi started running, Mahou limping slightly right behind him.
Anzu's smile dropped. The back of Yuugi's hand had a wound on it, the same place the man carrying her had.
Why?
"Why is Yuugi . . . ?"
Six months of writing next to nothing and then about five scene rewrites later, we have a finished chapter. Let's hope the next chapter doesn't cause me problems. But happy to be back and seeing you all.