Honda's Ghost Part 9

I had a surprise when I woke up a few days later. Honda had left a letter.

Robin

Just how dangerous is Yugi? I know what we saw. He could have killed with that little trick with the ice.

What was he thinking? That was dangerous.

I can’t connect the Yugi I’ve known for the past few days, the Yugi Jonouchi is friends with, to the Yugi we saw that night.

Is he one of the dangers you warned about?

He broke off for a while there, the handwriting suddenly changing.

And if you want to help me out, how about some tips about handling girls?

Honda

I stared. It was perhaps one of the longest notes he had left me since we first negotiated.

I thought, long and hard, much as I wanted to immediately put pen to paper, first I had work to do.

Honda

The Yugi you’ve known for years is not the Yugi you saw standing against Goro, anymore than I am the same as you. Currently Yugi does not seem aware of this other Spirit. I would like to say Yugi is not dangerous, but that would be a lie. Instead rest assured that neither of these Yugi’s wish to do you harm, and both have acted to protect you.

I don’t believe that protection extends to me. If either were to discover my presence I expect to be facing an attack soon afterwards. I intend to tell the Spirit Yugi at some point in the future, a secret such as me is dangerous if it comes out at the wrong time.

I would prefer that Jonouchi know before I attempt to inform the Spirit Yugi, but that is in your court.

There are other dangers, befriending Yugi will make you a target to the Spirit Yugi’s enemies, but I suspect you would have found yourself a target anyway due to Jonouchi. You have gained his protection so you are probably safer than most of the students in that school.

As for girls? I would ask that you befriend them first. Show them respect. Show all girls respect, even the ones you dislike, doing otherwise puts a black mark against you.

I paused and considered the letter so far before signing it and placing it away. I could say more tomorrow if it was needed.

If he responded. I hoped he would. I needed him to.

The day passed in a daze as I waited impatiently, the past few days had not been easy as I buzzed with anxiety whenever Yugi was near. Thanks to Honda’s sudden turnabout on Yugi, he was near a lot.

After school, Jonouchi dragged us on a magical mystery tour of the seedier parts of Domino while he hunted.

I couldn’t help being amused in that dazed, I haven’t slept enough, frame of mind.

I was tired, but being near Yugi meant I couldn’t drift off, it was too dangerous, I was too scared, anything might happen.

Junky scorpion? That’s almost as bad as ‘Rise Up’, or ‘Pantsdown’. I snickered at the name, people pick the weirdest things when naming their stores.

I snapped into high alertness when I saw the scorpion. Squee! Wasn’t it cute? Aww! Look at the shiny little thing. Why tie it up like that? Was the scorpion ok?

I never did have much of a claim to sanity, but I felt almost punch happy at this point.

You squee over a scorpion, yet completely ignore Blanky.

I blinked, that had sounded like Honda.

The dog’s annoying. That is cute. I sent back, but he didn’t respond again, Jonouchi was jumping in where angels fear to tread.

I blinked at the price, Jonouchi could afford to drop that sort of money on a pair of shoes? My mind automatically translating it into the currency I was familiar with. Even at half price those were still two hundred and fifty pounds! I wouldn’t have spent more than a hundred on an excellent pair of running shoes. Maybe one fifty on walking boots.

Note to self, acquire more shoes.

I should probably get Honda’s input on that... clothes shopping is not something I should do alone, at least not until I had a better idea of what he wanted to wear.

Jonouchi was skipping down the street, you had to admire someone with that much self confidence, the sheer nerve of that guy was impressive, much as it caused Honda to cringe away in embarrassment.

We didn’t notice the gang come up behind us.

I was drifting off again, being on high alert all the time just wasn’t possible, and breaking my habit of falling asleep after school was proving difficult.

I always seem to have an excuse ready for these sort of things. I should be better, know better, react quicker.

I wasn’t very good at this being in peril sort of thing. I kept screwing it up.

Honda was better, but getting hit from behind while someone tire’d Jonouchi? We needed more training, we needed to be more alert.

Fury warred with fear, these jerks didn’t have a clue who they were dealing with.

Honda’s fury, my fear.

What would the spirit do?

“Damn.” Groaned Jonouchi, “Didn’t have those sneakers for two blocks.”

“It was them,” Honda replied, “The Hunters.” My interest perked up, as Jonouchi and Honda shared a look. What had I missed? I felt like I was a wheel spinning in place and catching no road.

Jonouchi turned to Yugi, “Yuge, I’m sorry I got you into this.”

“It’s okay. I’m alright” Yugi responded wearily. I quietly breathed a sigh of relief, no Spirit. I didn’t know what the Spirit was up to,  but that was most certainly Yugi.

“Yugi, can you get home alone?” Jonouchi asked seriously, and I felt something like dark amusement filter down.

Yugi looked between us, confusion on his face, “But what about you and Honda?”

Revenge? Seriously guys?

I guess I now knew what Honda had been getting up to when I woke up a little bruised and battered.

Yugi hung back, but in a fair fight these guys had no chance against us, the leader weaselling on the guy who hired them at the first opportunity.

I couldn’t understand how the pair of them could be so tough, but then go down to a thug like Ushio.

I felt a flicker of power behind us, a flare of danger.

Honda... didn’t.

When Jonouchi and Honda finally got done with the Hunters, Yugi was gone.

Honda scanned the arcade, looking for that familiar spiky head of hair.

Robin?

Oh. Was he trying to talk to me? Was he willing to listen?

Dark Yugi made an appearance.

Honda nodded once, turned to Jonouchi. “He’s not here.”

Jonouchi frowned, crossing his arms and leaning back. “We told him to stay back.”

Honda looked away, moving out of the arcade, onto the street. “I bet he headed back to that shop.”

“What?” Jonouchi exclaimed.

Honda scanned the street, just in case Yugi had been hanging out outside.

There were a few kids, nervously watching us after that violent display, but no Yugi.

“Come on.” Honda said, “Don’t you want to give that guy a piece of your mind?”

There was an ambulance outside the shop, just driving off as we arrived, Yugi standing outside the shop with the sneakers looking small, confused and worried.

While Jonouchi congratulated Yugi on his bravery, Honda rattled the door of the shop, it popped open and he poked his head inside.

Jonouchi looked up, “Honda?”

“Did they take the scorpion?” He asked.

“No,” Yugi replied, “It ran under the counter, no one was willing to get it out.”

“Alright.” Honda held out the reins to me, you said it was cute. I grinned.