Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Wizards in Training ❯ To study abroad in England ( Chapter 1 )

Chapt. 2: To Study Abroad in England

 

Yuugi's first reaction was a surprisingly calm one. //Aibou, would you like to go to this place?// he asked his companion.

The spirit thought a little before responding. /It's your invitation, Yuugi. You should decide./

//But I don't have any magical talent, do I? I mean, wouldn't you have mentioned something if I did?// Yami remained suspiciously quiet. //Wouldn't you have?// Yuugi asked again, sounding more accusatory.

/You never asked before,/ Yami replied, and refused to say anything else.

 

The next person Yuugi told about his mysterious letter was his grandfather. “…And I kind of want to go, but how am I going to explain leaving for a year to everybody?” he finished.

His grandfather thought for a minute. “Well, you could always say you were going to study abroad in England,” he said finally.

Yuugi frowned. “That'd take care of the school maybe, but what about my friends? I think it's supposed to be a secret.”

“Just tell them you're studying abroad, too!”

“They'd never believe I'd just leave…” Yuugi protested.

“No! My idea is perfect! I won't hear another word against it!”

“Grandpa! I have to explain it somehow!”

“Not another word! I'll call the school this instant!”

Yuugi sighed. Somehow, whenever he asked for his grandfather's help, it always resulted in a yelling match. “Whatever, Grandpa,” he said with a sigh.

“That's my boy. Now, if you'd help with the dishes, too…”

“I've got to pack! Dumbledor-sensei will be coming in a week!” Yuugi called back, already halfway up the stairs.

 

***

Seto's first reaction was a highly violent one. He fired nearly half his security, the company mail boy, and three random interns. Still furious, he sat down with Mokuba, staring into a lukewarm cup of coffee.

“What's wrong, Onichan?” the boy asked, his dark eyes watching his brother carefully.

“Nothing a new security system and some caffeine won't fix,” Seto muttered.

“'Fess up, Seto. I know something's gotta be wrong, you've never fired that many people at once.”

Seto dumped the letter on the table. “THIS! This is the problem. Some accursed prankster got an owl to carry this into my room, and actually expects me to believe it! And the blasted security let him!”

Mokuba took a closer look at the letter. “Um, Onichan, this isn't a prank… I know all about Hogwarts.” He began to rummage through his schoolbag. “I found this at my school's library. It's all about Hogwarts. It's right - ugh, it's heavy, isn't it? - here!” Mokuba plunked a copy of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone on the table.

Seto just gave him a Look. “So? Somebody read the same book you did. Good Gods, you can be so gullible sometimes.”

Mokuba looked tearful. “Fine. Believe what you want. But I'll make a deal with you. If Dumbledor-sensei shows up, you have to go with him. If he doesn't, then, then, then… Then I won't get any allowance for the term you would have been to Hogwarts.”

Seto sighed. He didn't want to make Mokuba cry. “Fine. But what am I supposed to tell everyone while I'm gone? That a wizard whisked me off to a foreign country?”

Mokuba sighed. “Don't be so sarcastic. You'll say you went to study abroad in England.”

 

***

As Ryou reread his letter, a voice began to echo in his head. \Did you sleep well, Baka-ra? I know I got a little… restless,\ the tomb robber teased him.

\\Do you think I went through all of middle school without being called that? Of course your insults would be old, you're ancient,\\ Ryou replied unconcernedly. He desperately wished Yami Bakura would restrain his urge to steal, but there was nothing he could do about it.

The spirit began to read the letter over his shoulder. \A School for wizards how excellent. I would love to get my hands on some of the stuff the keep in those places. Ah well, pity you won't be going.\

\\Oh? What makes you say that?\\ Ryou snapped mentally. What was that tomb robber insinuating?

\My dear intellectually challenged vessel,\ Yami Bakura began sarcastically, \they do not actually want you. No mortal alive, sane or insane, willingly invites untalented morons to their school. What must have happened was that they picked up on my superior talent and - \

\\Your superior talent? What talent? If I remember correctly, you can't break into the world's dumpiest bank without bringing the police down on us.\\

\Not on us. On you. That was a set-up, baka. I wanted you to get a feel for what it was like being a thief. I was hoping you might actually have a talent for it.\

\\And how in the name of Amateratsu was that supposed to show you? Admit it, you messed up, and dumped me with the blame.\\

\Believe whatever your feeble mind wants, \ Yami Bakura snapped. There was a moment of blessed silence, before the tomb robber spoke again. \You know… Maybe we should go. I heard they keep all sorts of treasure at that place. And I'd love to have some real gold in my pockets. \

\\For once we both want to do something. I want to learn magic that doesn't involve lock picking or charming guards. But what excuse could I make? I can't just leave.\\

\Well… you could always say you wanted to study abroad in England…\

 

***

At breakfast Marik proffered his letter to Ishizu. “I'd sort of like to go, but I thought we agreed that the Ishtars should stick together.”

Ishizu smiled. “You were the one who decided that, Marik. Actually, I'd like to have gone to some of those colleges, but you were so set against it, I just couldn't say that. I think it would be fun to study in England.”

Marik still looked disconsolate. “Oh, cheer up. You'll get to meet plenty of nice people your age, who you aren't plotting to destroy, and you'll know how to do something other than mind control, which, by the way, is illegal in England.”

“And how is that supposed to cheer me up? More people to tease me. And it'll be worse, because I'll be with a bunch of little kids.”

“Well, they ought have more foreign exchange students. Let's see, Hogwarts has four houses, doesn't it? That means that they'll probably send off four transfer letters, hoping that they'll have one student per house. Maybe some of your friends from Japan will be there.”

Marik perked up a little. “Maybe Yuugi will be there. I think I wouldn't mind just meeting him as a… peer.”

“That's it,” Ishizu said encouragingly. “And, while you're off at Hogwarts… I can go to whatever university I want! I can finally learn high-level transfiguration!”

For the first time since he was ten years old, since he became a Tomb Keeper, Marik smiled without hidden malice. “We'll both get to study abroad in England!”

 

***

Later that afternoon, Yuugi, Jonouchi, Anzu, and Ryou were all at the arcade. With a deep breath, Yuugi decided to admit he was leaving for England in a week. “Jonouchi, Anzu-chan, I've got something to tell.”

“Can't be more importint than dis,” Jonouchi said without looking at him. “Die, you freaky alien thin'!” he hollered to the video game he was deeply immersed in.

“Shut up, Jonouchi,” Anzu said firmly. “Yuugi's been looking like he's received a death sentence all day, and when he finally starts to tell us, you just have to act like a jerk! So like a boy!”

“You jus' made me lose, Mazaki! I lost innough money on dat thing already, and now ya waste my last yen!”

“Well, excuse me for having feelings, Mr. Obsessed Idiot!”

Ryou laughed. “Neither of you is letting Yuugi talk, you know.”

Anzu looked embarrassed. “As you were saying, Yuugi?”

“I've decided to spend a year studying abroad in England,” he said quietly.

“What?!” Ryou exclaimed. “You are, too?”

“Okay,” said Anzu. “Is this a conspiracy or something? Neither of you have ever said anything like that before.”

“B-but it'll be cool. I'll get to see the Rosetta Stone, and the treasure of King Tutankhamen, and Big Ben, and the Eiffel Tower - “

“Lissen, Yug, even I know the Eiffel Tower's in France. If you've got a secret, dat's okay. But if you feel like you need to protect us or somethin'… That's a bunch of rubbish.”

“No, it's nothing, really. Or at least, if it is something, I can't tell you. But don't worry. Ryou and I'll have a great time.” He smiled kindly at his friends. “Listen, let's just enjoy the week we have left together!”