Disclaimer: Stupid little disclaimer...obviously it's not mine.

Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews, guys! It's greatly appreciated and I'm glad to see so many interested in this story. I don't think I would've continued without such wonderful feedback. You've made my day!

I'll be honest, this update will probably stink. I've been dealing with a respiratory infection for the past few days, so I've been writing this off and on between my lethargic intervals. Nyquil is my new friend, and since speech is impossible, I've been pretty much mute to everybody. I think my parents forgot they had a kid. Ha, not really.

So be honest if it stinks, because I'll want to know so I can rewrite it. Sorry in advance for any grammatical/spelling errors. I have a crappy spellchecker that sometimes doesn't catch things, and my eyes are too unfocused now to catch things. So, let me know.

3. Tell Me More

© Ethereal Fae, November 2008

"Excuse me?"

Atem seemed to be utterly confused by my question, which had me questioning his intelligence.

I waved my hand in the air as I replied, "What's your story? Where you lived, who your parents were?"

"Oh."

I waited impatiently for him to continue, and huffed loudly when he didn't. "Today, please."

"Why should I disclose any information to you? I don't even know you." His eyes narrowed.

I rolled my eyes, deciding that he was- indeed- dumb as a post and rolled my chair closer to the bed. "My name's Anzu Mazaki. I'm 5'5, and I've been in dance since I could walk. Oh, and I talk to dead people." I gave him a rueful smirk. "There, now you know me."

He scoffed. "That was hardly an autobiography."

I pulled at my hair, cerulean eyes darkening in frustration. "Look, I don't have time for this. Could you please just tell me your life story before I find the resolve to exercise you?"

His fists clenched and I immediately regretted opening my mouth, but instead of releasing ninety-odd years of pent up anger at me, he sighed heavily.

"What is it you wish to know?"

I thought for a moment. "Anything you feel comfortable telling me."

I wasn't exactly sure what I would get out of him. He was being increasingly difficult, despite my efforts at being polite. Well, as polite as I could manage, given the fact he wasn't being very considerate either. I was slightly surprised when he opened his mouth to reply.

"I was born in 1915, to a Japanese father and Egyptian mother. My father was an archaeologist working in Egypt; that's how they met."

"So, is that where you're name comes from; your mother's heritage?" I asked curiously.

He nodded. 'So, he's partly Egyptian. I thought I heard a bit of an accent.'

"That's cool." I smiled. I saw the faintest lift in the corner of his mouth, but no real smile. That was okay, I'd get one out of him eventually.

"Anything else?" He asked in a bored tone.

I thought for a moment, grasping at straws for something deep and well thought out; something that wouldn't hit a sore spot...

"How did you die?"

His face became pained and I mentally smacked myself. 'Smooth, Mazaki; real smooth.' He played with the cobweb fabric of his shirt sleeves, conflict gracing his already hardened expression.

"You don't have to—"

"There was a fire." He said, staring at the carpet.

"Wait, a fire?" I asked, eyes widening when he nodded slightly. If it was a fire, then maybe he did know this other entity; maybe they went to school together.

"I take it you heard about your school?" He asked, eyes blank with nostalgia.

I gasped. "So the rumours are true then? Students were locked in?"

His nose scrunched up irritably. "What? No, of course not. It's just...there was so much chaos from the fire; most of the students couldn't make it out in time. I was one of the unlucky saps."

I went to grab his shoulder, but felt embarrassed when it merely fell through and hit the bed. I knew he wasn't solid and yet it didn't stop me from wanting to comfort him. Despite his aloofness before, I realized it wasn't because he initially hated me, but that he was hurting. He'd missed out on all the great things life could offer. It made me feel foolish for ever complaining about my life.

"So," I looked meekly at him, picking at the already chipped pink nail polish on my fingers, as I moved to sit beside him, "When did it happen?"

"1934. I was seventeen." A year older than me.

I shifted nervously. If I was going to find out anything about the new ghost, I had to ask while Atem was still open with me.

"How did this fire happen, or do you remember?"

He laughed starkly. "I only knew what had happened after I found out I was dead. Apparently overheated steam pipes ignited nearby wood joists. The fire spread quickly and sent all of us into such a panic, we couldn't stay calm long enough to get out the doors. We kept pushing and pulling, but half of us couldn't make it out the doors in time. Most of us were dead – including me – before the flames even reached us; smoke inhalation, I guess."

I bit my lip, unsure of what to say. "That's awful."

He gave another bitter laugh. "Tell me about it."

I had to think of some way to bring up the phantom from this morning. Perhaps I could help him too, if I knew more about him. He didn't seem the friendly, open type, so Atem was my best bet.

"Did you know anyone in particular that died?"

Atem gave me a curious look. "Why do you ask? Did you have an encounter at school? I'm sure you must've run into at least one while you were there."

I nodded. "I did. Although, I'm not exactly sure what to make of him. He kind of made me feel on edge."

Atem seemed to ponder this for a moment. "What did he look like?"

I kicked at the plush, beige carpet. "Well, let's see. He had a mop of white hair- well, it looked white to me- and cold, brown eyes. He was a little tan, too."

"Bakura."

"Gesundheit."

Atem narrowed his eyes at me. "I mean his nameis Bakura."

I blinked. His name was the same as Ryou's last name? Could Ryou be a descendant?

"Well," Atem continued, "It's his last name anyways. He never let anyone know his first name. He said it was stupid or something of the sort."

"So you knew him then?" I said, getting up to push my chair back to the computer. I wanted to see if I could find anything on either of these spirits.

"Briefly. He wasn't exactly someone to hang out with. He was a hooligan from the beginning; always getting into trouble. I guess the rebellious behaviour started when his mother died. Other than that, I know very little of him."

"Any reason why he would stick around the school?" I asked, distracted as my hands flew over the keyboard.

"Not that I would know. That's something you would have to ask him."

"Peachy. While I'm on here, is there anything else you'd like to tell me about yourself? Like a last name, maybe?"

"My last name is Motou. No doubt you've heard of it." He seemed to be unfazed when my hands stilled over the keys.

I turned from the monitor. "Yeah. How did you know?"

He seemed bored, like he had been asked this a million times. Then again, maybe he had.

"My mother had another son- my brother- after my death. He carried on the Motou line, eventually leading to the Motou you met today; Yuugi."

I blinked, giving him my undivided attention now. "Wait, how did you know I met Yuugi? Have you been spying on me?"

He smirked, a fatal gesture. I felt the heat suffuse my cheeks. Just what I needed; a stalker ghost.

"No, I merely went to school to see what had changed. Clearly the school hasn't seen a good waxing in decades. I overheard Yuugi introduce himself to you as I was exploring."

I felt a little foolish assuming Atem would follow me around like a puppy; not that I wanted that or anything. "Oh. So, you must have heard about Ryou too, then?"

Atem waved a hand airily. "Vaguely. Do you think he might be a descendant?"

I thought about this, turning back to the computer screen. "I'm ... not sure."

I typed in a web address into the browser, waiting anxiously for the page to load. When it did I typed in 'Atem Motou' in the name box.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped, feeling the unexpected cold air on the shell of my ear. Atem was leaning inquisitively over my shoulder, soaking the information on the screen in like a sponge. 'A very attractive sponge, even if dead.'

I heard the metaphorical brakes in my conscious squeal. What had I just been thinking? Atem? Attractive? Oh for the love of...this wasn't happening! It was the hormones, it had to be. That, and maybe the fact that I was at the stage in my life where- like most teenage girls- I was interested in dangerous things.

"Um," What was I doing? Oh, right. Ancestry. " I was going to see if I could find any documents on you in the Ancestry database."

"You probably won't find much. The Clerk's office that held most of the older records burned in 1956. So, chances of finding anything before that time are slim to none." He said wistfully.

"Geez! What didn't burn down in Domino?"

"Um..this house...and maybe a few..."

"Atem." I looked up at him, irritated. "I was being sarcastic."

"Right. I apologise, for my lack of understanding."

I felt my fingers pause over the keys again. "You know, I appreciate you trying to be a little more polite, but I think I liked you better when you were chewing my butt out for being in your room." I said, adding the air quotations on 'your room'. "At least you were a good temper to argue with."

He seemed almost satisfied with my conclusion. "I'm sorry to have been lax in my temperament. I'll make sure to throw something at you tonight."

I crossed my arms, turning the chair to face him again. "That's not what I meant. I meant you can be sarcastic and moody. You don't have to sugar-coat everything because you think it'll scare me off. I don't scare easily, Mr. Motou, and I'm certainly not afraid of you."

"That's debateable." He smirked, seeing the tiniest hint of a lie behind my expressive eyes. I could kill my mother for passing them down to me. They were like a door to my soul. You could see everything.

"Don't you have children to scare or something?" I asked; glad to be irritated at him again. At least I didn't have to beat my hormones quite as harshly into submission.

"Anzu! Come down for dinner!"

I blinked warily. I hadn't realised I had fallen asleep. Looking around I noticed I was still seated at the computer- which explained the aching in my back- and Atem was nowhere to be found.

'I hope he didn't take my question seriously.'I mentally laughed, half-heartily.

Not wanting to try my parents' patience, I sprang from my chair and ran- if a little stiff- out the door and down the stairs. If there was one thing I learned throughout my life it was never keep my dad waiting for his dinner. I learned on past occasions that the man was cranky when he didn't get his food at a certain time, and well, I didn't want to be yelled at this evening.

The smell of teriyaki sauce and steak with vegetables filled the dining area as I seated myself on one of the cushioned mahogany chairs. Dad was already stabbing a slab of meat before my body even hit the chair.

"So," He said through a mouthful, "I heard you made some friends on your first day?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, Yuugi Motou and Ryou Bakura. They're really nice."

Takuma Mazaki seemed to be lost in thought before a smile spread across his face and he let a gruff laugh escape. "Well, Yuugi Motou, huh? His grandpa, I hear, owns the game shop downtown; sells Duel Monster cards. Wasn't that what your schoolmates back in Tokyo played?"

I nodded, taking a bite of vegetables.

Duel Monsters was a big fad in Tokyo right now, and apparently making its way through Domino. I had never been interested in it, but one of the kids I'd gotten to know- Marik, I think his name was- was really into it. He tried to teach me how to play, but it just never really was my thing. Like anything else not involving the dead.

After dinner, I helped Mom clean the dishes and made my way up to my room. I had to finish that report for Biology, but that was easy enough. Atem didn't bother me anymore. In fact, he didn't even make a sound even after I had climbed into bed and made sure my alarm was on this time.

'It better stay on.' Was my last thought before sleep found me.

Tbc

Okay, so this probably isn't my best update. I'll re-write if you guys think I need to. Gah, my throat is killing me. I'm going to take some Nyquil and hit the hay. Leave me some reviews, if you please?