Honda's Ghost Part 19

Despite all my preparations, people kept surprising me.

It was late, I was sleeping, and Honda poked me before yanking me into wakefulness in a state of panic.

There was a Yugi on our doorstep.

No. There was the Spirit on our doorstep, red eyes and all.

I blinked at him, dazed and more than a little bit sleepy.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, standing to the side and gesturing him in.

The Spirit looked me over, considering. “You have been avoiding me.” Before stepping inside.

Oh. Well I knew I had been missing Shadow games, I just didn’t expect...

Truth was best. “I used to. Then I realised I didn’t exactly have to try, our paths don’t usually cross unless I go out of my way.”

The Spirit frowned at that and I closed the door behind him and led the way into the kitchen, setting the kettle to boil. If we were going to do this, I was going to need tea.

“Why?” He asked, following me.

I busied myself making tea, giving me time to think.

“You aren’t around very often.” I said softly, “You are very reactionary. You only seem to come out when there is danger.”

The Spirit nodded at this, and I took the time to examine his body language, so different from Yugi’s.

“But if you seek to protect...” He let the sentence trail off tellingly.

My mouth quirked into half a smile. “I am more proactive. I try to guide my friends around trouble.” I shrugged, “I’m trying to prepare them for what will come.” I set a cup on the table beside him.

“The Game nights.” He said, picking up his tea and breathing it in.

“The Game nights.” I agreed, grinning internally that someone appreciated my brewing skills. “Not that we...” My mind darted to the game I had boxed upstairs. Dominion. The game I had ordered but hadn’t quite been willing to give to the children to play.

I wanted to play it first.

I had even translated all the rules over in my non-existent free time.

“How about a game? Just for fun?” I offered, grinning.

The Spirit paused. I could see him turning to idea over in his head. I knew he wanted to.

He rubbed at the puzzle before agreeing. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.

Dominion is an interesting game, it has some elements of a trading card game without the need to constantly buy new cards and update your deck.

Each player starts with the same ten cards in their deck, seven copper coins and three victory points.

Set up is equally as simple, there are three types of coin cards; copper, silver and gold, three types of victory cards, and ten action cards. Now it’s the action cards that make things interesting as you can choice different ones each time you play the game. They do simply things, like allow you to play two actions on your turn, or buy extra cards.

In theory you could win by just buying coins and victory cards, but a clever strategy could combat that, and if your hard was full of victory cards there was nothing you could do with them. It was better to buy the high value victory cards towards the end of the game.

I enjoyed it, win or lose. There wouldn’t be hard feelings on my part if the Spirit beat me at this game.

Judging by the interested look on the Spirit’s face, he was enjoying himself too.

We talked.

Which was probably the real reason he came.

“I’m surprised you haven’t tried Magic and Wizards if you like this game.” He said.

“I have.”

His eyes flickered to me, startled I think. “I must have missed that.”

“You miss a great deal but no, I have not acquired any of the trappings of a duellist. Honda does not wish to play, and I will not force him to when I know the dangers that lie ahead of us.”

I looked over the cards remaining on the table, counting and calculating both what remained in my deck and what was likely held in his hand. Another reason to love this game, most players could and did ignore what others did to build their deck, but I liked keeping track of things.

Counting cards, a skill that had been underused in the past months.

“I would like to duel you.”

I shook my head, smiling slightly. “Not today. Does this bore you?” I tapped a pile of cards, meeting his crimson eyes.

He gave me a look, and I grinned at him, my bad mood vanishing like mist.

“Why are you here?” I asked, curious despite myself. I hadn’t expected anything to draw the Spirit out unless it was a threat.

“I don’t know.” His answer was flat, none of the mild amusement of earlier, and I felt a flash of pain.

He wasn’t answering my teasing curiosity, and the dark shadows of the future loomed large in my mind.

I suddenly realised why he had come to me.

I stood suddenly and went over to the desk, picking up a folder that had been placed under a pile of paperwork, and handing it to him.

“I can’t tell you what the future will bring, I hear only echoes and they are distorted.”

The Spirit stared at me for a long moment and I held his gaze. It was the least I could do.

“What is this?” He asked, flipping open the folder. He frowned at it, and I knew what he saw.

I had gathered all my research in that folder, everything I could discover about the Kaiba brothers, Magic and Wizards, the history of the game, the companies involved in the game industry and the major players at each of them.

I started to pack away the game, knowing it would take him some time to go through my research.

“I like to be prepared.” I said, “Know thy enemy.”

“You said I would duel Kaiba again.” His eyes flickered up from the newspaper articles. I was proud of those, trailing through the gossip pages was not my idea of fun.

“He is ruthless, relentless, he will not take his defeat at your hands lightly.” I said carefully, “Neither of them will.”

“Mokuba...” He said, as if trying out the word. “He never gave his name.”

I placed the box aside, thinking carefully.

“He will do anything for his big brother. Lie, cheat, steal. Anything to gain his approval.” I felt sorry for the little guy to be honest, but it was a small thing compared to the safety of my friends.

“I see.” He slid the folder back over. “They appear to be very popular.”

“I have tickets for the Grand Opening.” I said.

“Is that an invitation?” He asked, something dark in his smile.

“If you wish. I expect Kaiba will try something. I wouldn’t advise arriving together.”

I reached under the desk, for the envelope I had attached to the underside.

The tickets were within. I considered, “I should give these to Yugi.” I glanced at him, “I was going to give them to Jonouchi.”

“I am sure that if Kaiba intends to act out revenge against me, as you believe, I doubt he would leave our encounter to chance.” The Spirit said carefully, looking up from my notes.

I frowned, shook my head. “No, he wouldn’t. Not the Kaiba I knew.” I hummed.

“You knew?” The Spirit asked, eyes darkening.

“What?” I jumped, uncertain what had caused the sudden change in mood, “I knew what?” I traced back over my words, and trying to think what I had said.

“Kaiba.” He growled at me.

“Oh.” I blinked at him, the late hour started to catch up with me, “No. I never knew him. I didn’t mean that. He doesn’t even know I exist. No one does.” A sudden bout of melancholy caught me unaware. I drew away, not sure what to do with my grief but unwilling to show it to this stranger.

I yawned, worn out and unused to being awake this late.

I wanted to sleep. I needed to rest.

My mind had reached that point where I couldn’t even think clearly anymore.

“Are you staying the night?” I asked, thinking over that question, glancing towards the clock. It had gone two. How late had it been when the Spirit had arrived at my door?

It had been late. I knew a couple of hours had passed.

“No, don’t answer that, I’m not letting one of my friends walk home alone, not at this time of night.”

I jumped up to fling open the door on my wardrobe.

“You think someone will attack me?” The Spirit asked, sounding amused.

I gave him a flat look and sad as dryly as I could. “No, I think Yugi will catch a cold.” I tossed over a set of sleepwear and went hunting for the sleeping bag I had stored in here.

“And if I decide not to part take of your hospitality?” The Spirit asked, and I almost laughed at him. Almost, because it might be slightly suicidal to laugh at a murderous spirit.

“Spirit.” I said carefully. “I am tired. I intend to go to bed now. You may stay, you may leave. It is truly your choice. I merely offer shelter. Your host requires sleep. I would feel far better, and sleep far easier if I knew my friend was safe.”

He narrowed his eyes are me. “I do not require your protection.”

I almost growled at him, my patience worn thin, and oh look, my temper was back.

“I don’t care if you require it or not. You suggested we could be friends. Or have you decided against our friendship?”

I grabbed the sleeping bag, slipping it out the bag and half throwing half unrolling it out on the floor.

“Take the bed, I’m going to use the bathroom.” I grabbed Honda’s usual tee and sweatpants to change into.

By the time I came back, the Spirit had changed and crawled under my covers, red eyes watching me warily.

I turned off the lights and slid into the sleeping bag, wiggling until I felt somewhat comfortable.

“Sleep well little Pharaoh.” I murmured, turning on my side, my back to the Spirit.

I could feel him watching me.

I wondered if I would wake.

Too sleepy, didn’t care anymore.