Honda's Ghost Part 20

I did wake up, chilled from the floor, but having slept better than I had in a long time.

Yugi was still asleep, the puzzle clutched in his hands, his breathing steady and peaceful.

I watched him, wondering how deep a sleeper Yugi was.

Not very if my memories held true, too many nightmares. Or maybe all those nightmares would make him a deeper sleeper.

I didn’t know.

I inched over to my desk, the sleeping bag making a hissy noise from the movement, and grabbed an assignment off the desk.

I worked for an hour before Yugi began to stir, the peace so familiar, some days I missed my Joey so much.

I slid out the room, moving as quietly as I could and began to get breakfast ready.

It was several minutes later that a rather confused Yugi came down the stairs, wiping the sleep out of his eyes and peering at me curiously.

“Honda?”

“Morning Yugi. Sleep well?” I asked, turning down the heat on the hob to look him over.

I almost laughed at the confused look on Yugi’s face, but I suppose I really shouldn’t. I couldn’t help feeling amused, but part of me felt ever so guilty.

I was keeping secrets from every one of those I hoped to call my friends.

“Why...” Yugi trailed off, glancing behind me to the saucepan, “What are you cooking?”

“Eggs and bacon, how do you like your eggs?” I asked.

“Scrambled.” Yugi answered, shaking his head. “Wait, why am I here? The last thing I remember...”

How was I meant to deal with Yugi’s memory gaps?

The Spirit needed to tell him.

“You don’t remember?” I asked cheerfully, letting my amusement creep into my voice.

Yugi pouted, and I started cracking eggs.

He couldn’t have been entirely awake yet, I could see his mind mentally review his evening.

He still hadn’t answered when I set our plates on the table.

“Yugi.” I said softly, “You would have said something if there was trouble, right?”

Yugi glanced up at me, looking so lost I just wanted to ruffle his hair.

I grinned at him, and did just that, it wasn’t like I could make it any messier, “It’ll be fine Yugi, trust me, I have your back.”

He laughed and ducked away. I let him, returning to my breakfast.

I didn’t really know what to do with Yugi, he seemed so young compared to the Spirit, and we had rarely talked beyond greetings. I supposed I had spent all that time pushing Honda to interact with the kid when not making the effort myself.

Yugi dug into his breakfast. I suppose he didn’t know how to talk to me either.

“Have you heard the news about the new indoors amusement park?” I asked, seizing upon the first idea that came into my mind.

That may have been a mistake.

“Why?” He looked up, honestly curious.

I shrugged. “I have tickets to the opening day. Thought you might be interested.”

Maybe I should have just dropped the tickets in his desk...

“Really?” Yugi exclaimed, looking happy and excited.

“Really really.” I said, smiling slightly. I felt a bit like a parent dispensing treats. “I have four extra tickets, I figured you and Jonouchi would like to go.”

Yugi grinned, “That would be so cool.” He tilted his head, “Who else are you going to ask?”

I knew who I wanted to invite, but Honda wasn’t all that close to them.

I gathered up our plates and put them in the sink, running the water over them while I considered the question.

I glanced over to Yugi again, he was watching me, curiosity on his face.

“I’m not sure, who would you suggest?” I asked.

“Anzu and Hanasaki?” Yugi offered, his eyes bright and hopeful.

Honda stirred, far earlier than usual.

I hesitated to transfer control while Yugi was watching.

“Come on, we need to get to school.” I said, heading back upstairs to get changed.

Yugi looked ever so guilty as we walked, I just had to ask.

“Did you phone your gramps? Let him know where you were?”

Yugi blushed and shook his head. “Unless I did it last night...”

I considered, I didn’t want to worry the old man. Then again he might not have noticed Yugi leaving last night.

I should have asked I suppose.

No, I should have walked the Spirit home, things would have been far less awkward if I had.

Jonouchi was waiting at his usual spot, staring at Yugi, glancing between the two of us in confusion.

“Hi Jonouchi.” Yugi waved.

“I wasn’t about to let Yugi walk home alone last night.” I said, answering his unasked question directly.

“Alright.” Jonouchi agreed, “What happened last night?”

Amusement flickered, I stretched and yawned. “Well I didn’t get the full story...” I glanced at Yugi, “And Yugi doesn’t remember turning up on my door step last night, so I guess...”

Yugi shook his head, “I was heading over to Hanasaki’s, to borrow some paint for my garage kit.”

Jonouchi snickered, “And you ended up at Honda’s?”

“I don’t remember...” Yugi pouted. It was probably meant to be a frown, but Yugi couldn’t quite pull it off.

“A little bruised, a little battered, a little bit out of it. You probably hit your head last night.” I offered, “We talked for a bit, played a game.” Honda was drifting below the surface of my thoughts, interested but not insistent.

Yugi rubbed his head, “I don’t feel like I hit my head.”

I grinned, mischievously “Well then, maybe you were possessed. I hear there’s a lot of that going about these days.”

Honda wasn’t anywhere near as amused as I. I could feel a vague sort of annoyance.

“Possession?” Jonouchi asked, interest flickering in his eyes, “Like ghosts and things? You think...?” He trailed off, thinking rapidly.

Not the way I intended to tell him, nor the way Honda wanted him to figure it out if the flare of panic was anything to go by.

“Well I would know, right?” I said, meeting Jonouchi’s eyes, and pushing Honda forward.

His eyes widened.

My eyes were grey. Honda’s were brown.

“Honda...?”

Well this was going to be interesting.