Honda's Ghost Part 11

I walked into the classroom, Kaiba was down and out.

Yugi, no, the Spirit,  looked up.

“Wait.” I said, hands spread wide. “I know.”

His eyes watched mine.

“I have my own secrets, Spirit.” My eyes flickered to Kaiba.

“You are not Honda.” He said carefully.

I nodded, “No, and you’re not Yugi.”

“Stalemate.” He declared, a slow smile gracing his face.

“Possible Ally.” I declared.

He raised an eyebrow. “A possible enemy.”

I shrugged, “We walk the same path, Spirit. Would it not benefit us to aid each other?”

“Yet you do not offer friendship.”

That... may have been a mistake.

“I have seen what you have done Spirit. You may seek Justice. You may seek Revenge. You may merely be protecting your host and his friends.”

“And yet I have not seen you.” He sounded slightly annoyed at that.

“I am good at remaining hidden. I plan to protect my host and his friends. Even from you if necessary. Is it?”

That he looked startled by. “No. No, I don’t believe it is...” He trailed off, sounding somewhat troubled by the thought, then glanced up. “Why have you revealed yourself to me?”

I laughed, oh, that felt good.

“Because you shall drag that boy,” I gestured at Yugi, “Into dangerous waters, and his friends will follow. If it not better that I tell you now, so that you might consider all our resources, rather than later when you are likely to attack anything suspect?”

He looked offended, “I shall not!”

I almost sighed in relief, “Then you do seek to protect the boy?”

The spirit grasped the puzzle hung around his neck. “He freed me from the Eternal Shadows, asking for nothing more than a friend.”

I nodded, “You do not see the Destiny that hangs heavy on you both. The World will require your cunning Spirit, and far more beside.” I tried to convey my meaning to his crimson eyes, “The boy is strong, you will need to show him that.”

The Spirit hesitated, and I couldn’t help but wonder at that. That sure confidence shaken by little old me. “And you?”

“Can we be friends?” I asked, curious. The spirit I had seen before, that was surely the face he showed his enemies. “I would treat you as such if I could. If not, an ally would be welcomed, a truce could be called for, or we could consider each other honoured enemies until the danger we face together is past.”

The Spirit considered my words. “A truce, for now. A friend would be welcomed, as you say. We can attempt it.”

I grinned, several of my worries falling away, like mist in the sun.

“Thank you.”