Chapter title: Amnesia
Word count: 3.589
Chapter: 4/16
Chapter summary: Yami meets the ghost face to face
Chapter warnings: A little bit of cussing
Pairings: -
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Chapter 4: Amnesia

Yami could feel the cold sweat dripping down his neck. Would he turn tail and run or confront the spirit?

He immediately put on the charm, and opened up the bag of salt. With a deep breath to calm himself down, Yami threw open the door and waved wildly with the bag, his eyes closed. When the bag was near empty, he opened his eyes.

The spirit was sitting on the bed, in the same position he first found him, the duvet was again hanging half on the floor. The expression of the ghost was astonished, with tears still leaking from his eyes. Yami guessed he never expected his door to be thrown open and someone randomly sprinkle salt in the room.

The boy gasped as he got over his surprise and saw Yami standing in the threshold of his bedroom door. "Y-you returned." Was that happiness in his voice? The spirit released his knees and stood up, immediately levitating in the air. Now Yami could see it all clearly.

There were several stab wounds on the body of the boy. None of them seemed too fatal so Yami concluded that he probably bled to death. He was wearing light blue colored pajamas with yellow stars on them. On his neck, he wore a dog collar. His hair was astonishingly similar to Yami's, just like the picture he had unintentionally stolen. Yami knew for sure now that this ghost was the boy on the picture. Perhaps a little older.

He reached out to Yami again as he neared the teenager.

"Stay back!" Yami yelled as he held out the charm and sprinkled more salt around. The spirit flinched and stumbled back a bit. Tears started rolling down his eyes again as he resumed the sitting position on the bed and continued sobbing.

A nagging feeling tugged at Yami. He knew very well the name of that feeling.

Guilt.

"W-what happened?" He stuttered. He was talking to a ghost for crying out loud.

"I don't know." The voice was muffled since his face was buried in his knees. "How do you not know?" Yami asked as he stepped further into the room. "I just don't know." The boy muttered.

"Then what is your name?"

The spirit was silent, except for his occasional sob. "You don't remember your name either?" Yami asked. He had gained the courage to sit Indian style in the middle of the room, his bag of purifying salt forgotten. It seemed like it didn't even affect the boy for he was not in pain or being repelled by it.

Yami saw the boy shake his head, still buried in his knees. Yami felt truly sorry for the ghost. "Why can you not rest?" Yami asked. The spirit raised his head and looked at Yami.

"I don't know…"

"Maybe… because you don't remember your name?" Yami suggested. He had once read that only things with a name exist. If something did not have a name, it did not have a soul or something in that direction. He could not remember it exactly, but maybe that was the reason he could not pass on, because he simply did not exist.

The spirit's eyes widened as he listened to what Yami said. "Will you help me?" He asked hopefully.

Yami chewed on his bottom lip. He would like to help the spirit, but how was he supposed to help this boy, focus on school and keep Yoshida at bay?

"I would love to but I…." He trailed off. The boy sighed and rested his cheek on his knees.

"I understand." He said, voice full disappointment, tears still rolling down his cheeks. That tugging feeling came back. Yami sighed and took out the picture from his bag. "Look, I'll see what I can do okay? Can you perhaps tell me who these people are?" Yami asked as he showed the picture.

The boy stood up again and floated closer, cautiously. He did not want to get yelled at again. He took the picture from Yami, the boy in question freezing in fear as the spirit was too close. The spirit ran his hand over the glass. "I don't remember them… But I know they were dear to me." He said. His fingers stopping over the faded part.

"Is this me?" He asked Yami. The teenager tried looking everywhere but the eyes as he talked to the little boy. They were still as dead and sad looking as ever. "I'm pretty sure it is you. I did find it in your room after all. By the way, sorry for taking it like that, I panicked. But I have no evidence it's you, it does look like you but a little younger." Yami explained.

The boy nodded and handed it back to Yami, floating back to the bed to sit down. "Is there something you can tell me, that might help me find out your name?" Yami asked. The boy looked up at the roof as he thought, letting out a sob or sniffing every now and then.

"The only thing I know…." He started. He then looked back at Yami. "Is that something dear to me is missing." Yami looked at the ghost with a deadpan expression.

"And what is this dear thing you are missing?" Yami asked a bit agitated. The ghost sensed the annoyance of the teenager and looked away. "I don't know." He said softly. Yami sighed through his nose, something he did to show extreme annoyance. How was he supposed to help the boy if he knew nothing about him?

"All right then. I'll ask around, see if someone knew who lived here. Do you by any chance, know how long you've been dead?" A shake of the head. "Very well, the residents of the old abandoned house should suffice I guess." Yami looked at the clock on his cell phone. Yami noticed the boy looking at his phone with awe.

"I have to go now. I have school early in the morning and it's already near midnight." Yami said as he stood up. "Do you mind if I take the picture with me? Maybe someone will recognize one of these people on the picture." Yami said.

The boy immediately stood up. "Don't leave." He whimpered. Yami stepped back as the boy floated forward. "Please, I am so lonely here. It hurts."

Yami bit his lower lip again, he could taste blood this time. "I'm sorry… I can't…. But I promise I'll return as soon as I find out something, okay?" Yami said in a soothing voice. The boy looked at the floor and twirled his thumbs. "Okay." He whispered.

"Oh by the way, my friends came here after I… left." He did not want to admit that he fled. "Why was the stain covered?" Yami finished as he indicated to the bed. The boy followed his gaze and sat down on the bed.

"Those two scared me." He muttered. Yami snorted before bursting into full-blown laughter. The spirit looked at him confused. He did not see the fun in it. "I never imagined those two being able to scare a ghost. I mean, yeah they can get really creepy, but a ghost fearing them?"

"I thought… if they saw the blood… they wouldn't leave."

"Good thing you did, because they wouldn't have left indeed. Anyways, I'm sorry about the salt. I promise I'll be back when I find out something, okay?" He repeated to assure the boy. The unearthly boy nodded and watched Yami leave.

Yami had put the framed picture back in his bag as he descended the stairs. To his luck, the front door was open this time so he didn't have to break it down. He picked up his bicycle and started peddling home. Just like last time, the boy watched him leave from the window of his room.

The teenager picked up speed as he saw what time it was. He was going to be very late and probably look like a zombie as well when he arrived at school. Did he regret going back to the house? He did not know. He had taken the burden of helping the ghost boy, but at least he would be able to sleep alone and with the lights off again. Probably.

After minutes of peddling, he had finally arrived home. He unceremoniously dropped his bag in the hallway and went straight to his room. He swiped the discarded school supplies to the floor and crawled into bed, not even bothering to take off his pants and the sweater.

-o-o-o-o-o-

"Sennen Yami."

Yamada-sensei sighed. "Probably late again." He muttered to himself and continued the attendance. Jounouchi sighed as he looked at the empty desk in front of him. 'Yami should really get rid of the habit to get late.' He thought to himself.

The blond boy was getting worried as Yami still did not show up after the second class. The teacher for English walked in and greeted the class. He held out his hand and asked for permission to use the bathroom. To his luck, he was granted.

As soon as he got in a stall, he whipped out his phone and dialed the number of his best friend.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Yami groaned and turned around as an annoying beeping sound reached his ears. The beeping didn't stop, so he tiringly sat up and glared at the device that was making the noise. He picked it up, not looking at the screen and snapped it open.

"What." He snarled into the receiver.

"Wow, is it that time of the month again?"

Yami rubbed the bridge of his nose as the familiar voice of his best friend reached his ears. "Sorry man, I had a horrible night of sleep."

"Is it because of the house?"

"Yeah… sort of."

There was a short silence before the blond started speaking again. "Is that also why you didn't come to school?"

"Sort of, I just overslept is all." Yami replied in a yawn. "I should be able to make it to lunch." The teen said as he glanced at the clock.

"Care to tell me why you didn't sleep?"

"I'll tell you during lunch, see you then." Yami said and hung up. He didn't even wait for a reply. He stood up with much difficulty and wobbled to the bathroom. He took a quick shower to wake up completely and dressed in his school uniform.

He then headed to the kitchen and retrieved his bento box from a cupboard. The thing was a bit on the dusty side since he never had time to make lunch in the mornings. Yami fixed himself a quick lunch and arranged it in his now clean lunch box.

Not feeling like walking, he unlocked his bicycle and peddled to school. Just like he had promised Jounouchi, he arrived just in time for lunch. His friend was already sitting at their usual table. The moment Yami's butt touched the chair, Jounouchi bombarded him with questions.

"Okay, what did you do last night? Who were you with? What's his name? Did you do it?"

Yami stared at his best friend with wide eyes. "Dude! I told you it was about the house." Yami retorted. "And I went back there, I was with the ghost, I don't know his name and no." He answered. "Okay, good I don't want you to get hu- WHAT?"

The whole class stopped what they were doing and stared at the two. Yami kicked his friend's shin from under the table and hissed for him to be quit. Jounouchi chuckled awkwardly and the rest of the class continued their chatting and eating.

"What?" Jounouchi asked again but this time in a hiss. "I don't know why, but I really had the urge to go back. He was there again and we… talked." Yami explained, sort of. "And." Jounouchi urged. "Well… he can't pass on for unknown reasons, he does not remember anything except for that something dear to him has been taken, that he is lonely and is afraid of Marik and Bakura." Yami said as he casually opened his bento box and started eating.

Jounouchi stared at his friend, mouth agape and the sandwich he was holding dropped on the desk. Yami, who was too scared to sleep alone a couple days ago was here talking as if he and the ghost were friends.

"You have to be fucking kidding me."

"I'm not."

"Wow." Jounouchi breathed. "Anything else happened?" Jounouchi asked as he picked up his sandwich and took a huge bite out of it. "He asked me for help." Yami said now serious. "I think that he might rest if he knows his name." Yami explained.

Jounouchi hummed in thought. "Or maybe he just needs that important thing to him."

"Yeah, one problem. He does not know what it is."

"Do you think I can meet him too?" Jounouchi asked. Yami shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, I'll ask him if he would mind the next time." Yami answered, popping some diced apple into his mouth.

"You're going back there?" Jounouchi asked with incredulous tone. "Yeah… he was crying… and… I couldn't say no." he quickly finished. Jounouchi shook his head. "You really should learn how to say no."

"Believe me, if you saw him, you would immediately take pity on him. It was those eyes that persuaded me to go back."

"So… you going to help him?"

"I did promise to go back once I find something… I never promised to actually help." Yami said unsure. "So… are you?"

The teenager sighed. "I think I will. If I don't, who will? He might be there waiting for another hundred years if he can't find rest."

"You really are a good person you know that?" Then he leaned closer and whispered to Yami. "If I were gay I would probably worship you." He whispered teasingly. Yami blushed and kicked Jounouchi under the table again.

"S-shut up. Stupid." Jounouchi laughed out loud, attracting the attention of their classmates again. This time two delinquents included. "Hey Yami, where were you this morning. Was Yami-chan having nightmares?" Bakura cooed. Yami punched the white haired male in the arm for his teasing.

Marik wrapped his arm around Yami's shoulders and pulled the boy against his chest. "Ish Yami-chwan afwaid of ghowts?"

"Guys, cut it!" Yami growled as he pushed Marik away from him. "Besides, I'm not afraid of ghosts." Yami said bravely. Marik and Bakura looked at each other before bursting in laughter. "You were so scared you saw a ghost you pissed yourself!"

Yami hushed him angrily. He did not want the whole school knowing what transpired that evening. "Okay then Yami. If you claim you're not afraid of ghosts, then why don't we go back there." Marik suggested.

"Sure." Yami gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. "But I'll only be able to go Saturday evening." He added. Marik and Bakura looked at each other again. This time they were confused. "You sure?" Bakura asked. "Yep."

He pulled Marik with him out of hearing distance. "Marik, I think we broke him." He whispered.

"Yeah, I wonder what happened… why isn't he scared anymore?" Bakura shrugged his shoulders. Just then, the bell rang, signaling the break to be over. Their English teacher walked in and told everyone to sit down and grab their books.

The students listened and everyone searched out their desk. Yami bent down to get his English book and notebook.

'Shit.'

He had completely forgotten he had dumped out his school supplies in change of a pair of paints and ghost 'hunting' supplies. He awkwardly raised his hand. When the teacher acknowledged him, he chuckled sheepishly and scratched his cheek.

"Sensei, I forgot my book."

The teacher rolled her eyes. She too was used to Yami's gawkiness. "Very well, Sennen-san, you may work together with Jounouchi-san." Yami nodded and turned around his chair, hogging Jounouchi's book. The blond was good at it anyways.

"What's in your bag? It looks so puffy." Jounouchi whispered to the spiky haired teen. Yami blushed slightly as he eyed his bag. "Pants, the picture and a flashlight." Yami whispered back. Jounouchi snorted, disturbing the class and making the teacher scold them. Yami glared at the blond who had a huge smile on his face.

The school bell rang and all students left the school grounds. Yami and Jounouchi walked casually to Yami's home, intent on finishing their project there.

"So, did you get something good out of the Battle Pack I bought you?" Jounouchi asked as they waited for a red pedestrian light turned red. Yami gasped as he opened a side pocket of his bag and fished out the unopened booster pack.

"I honestly completely forgot about it." He said.

"Well then, open it!" Jounouchi demanded. After they had crossed the road Yami ripped off the top and pushed up the cards. He flipped through them once and sighed. "Nope, I already have these." He handed the cards to Jounouchi. "You take them, they will be a good addition to your power based deck."

Jounouchi took the cards from Yami and looked at them. "Yeah, thanks man!"

After they had settled in Yami's living room, Jounouchi asked the thing that had been nagging in the back of his mind.

"Hey Yami, you said you had a picture in your bag right?" The boy nodded. "What picture? Didn't you thrown away the one from the house that same night?" Yami got the picture from his bag and handed it to Jounouchi.

"Yeah, it's the one from the house." He told. "I got it back after we left Yamaoka's house." He then pointed to the boy with the faded eyes. "I think this boy is the ghost. But he does not remember who he is or who these other people are. I hope to maybe get some clues with this picture."

"This might help you indeed. From what time is it?" Jounouchi asked, their project pushed aside for now. "Well… I'm guessing fifty or sixty years since it's a black and white photo."

"Don't they usually put a date on the back of photos?" Jounouchi asked. Yami hummed and turned the frame around. He undid the holders that kept the back in place and lifted it off, taking the photo out of the frame.

"There is no date." Yami said disappointed. "Well, I still think you should ask old people. The picture is definitely old."

Yami put on a fake smile. "Hello. My name is Yami, I have been asked by the ghost of this boy to help him find out his name. Do you happen to know who this is?" He asked in a sweet voice to no one in particular. "Yeah, as if that's going to work."

Jounouchi rolled his eyes. "You might try at some retirement homes." Yami shook his head. "This man." He pointed to the one with the hat and the grey spiky hair. "Is probably already dead." He then pointed to the woman and the man. "These two should be about seventy or eighty then." He concluded. "They might still be alive or they might be dead."

"You just said so yourself, they might still be alive."

Yami sighed and put the picture back in the frame and fastened the bindings before shoving it back in his bag. "Let's forget about it for now and focus on the project. What is left to do?" He asked to change subjects.

"We just have to finish up the report and then go to the museum to take pictures." Jounouchi said. Yami nodded and set to work. They had to write a report about an Ancient Egyptian subject. He and Jounouchi had chosen to write it about Egyptian beliefs in magic. They were almost done, just needed to write the conclusion, take picture and hand it in.

The conclusion was written fairy quickly and the two headed to the museum. After taking the required pictures, Jounouchi had to leave for home. Yami said his goodbye and sat down on the steps of the stairs there. He looked through the pictures they had taken, in case some didn't turn out right. They had taken pictures of six artifacts, of which the ancient Egyptians believed contained magic. He had read on the plaque that there were seven of them in total but that one was never found.

He put the camera away and sighed, his mind wandering off to the picture again.

"Why the distressed sigh?" A feminine voice asked behind him. He gasped and turned around, but relaxed as soon as he saw who it was. "Ishizu, you startled me." He said with a smile. She returned his smile and sat beside him. Ishizu, better known as Marik's sister, was manager of the Egyptian exhibition. "So tell me, what is bothering you." She said as she soothingly rubbed his arm. Yami felt a bit fuzzy on the inside, she was the sister he never had.

"You see, I got this picture from… a friend. He wanted me to find out who the people on the picture were but I have no idea where to start looking." Yami explained. "Show me, maybe I can help out." She said sweetly. Yami chuckled. "I doubt you will, but I guess it's worth a shot." He said as he handed the picture to the Egyptian woman.

Ishizu stayed silent as she stared at the photo, her eyes widening.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Author Notes: The reason Yami sprinkles salt is that in Japan they think that salt purifies and/or repels spirits.

I once read somewhere that if a thing didn't have a name, it did not have a soul. And if something does not have a soul, it does not exist. I believe it was something Japanese but I really don't remember. I do remember something that even stones can have souls.