Hauntings of the Past Chapter 5

Yugi woke up to the sound of his grandfather pounding on his bedroom door. "Yugi? Are you even awake yet? You're going to be late for school!"

Yugi glanced at his clock and jumped out of bed. He had five minutes before he had to meet up with Joey and Tristan. Yugi pulled one of his school uniforms out of his closet and quickly got dressed. Before he left the room, he grabbed the puzzle that had remained on the desk all night. "You're coming with me to school." He whispered, wondering if the pharaoh could hear him.

During the day, Yugi couldn't concentrate. The spirit was there in his mind asking him many questions about many of the class room objects, like the TV, computer and the overhead projector. Yugi replied calmly in his mind. It was getting kind of annoying, but Yugi was patient.

"Your homework for tonight is to read pages 115 to 160 and answer the questions on page 161 due tomorrow." Mr. Douglas, the history teacher, called just as the final bell rang.

"Joey!" Yugi called as Joey bolted out of the classroom, as usual.

"I don't know why we bother to stop him, Yugi." Tristan said coming up next to him as they walked to their lockers. "The minute the last bell rings he gets outta the school faster than if his butt was on fire." Tristan glanced at Yugi. "You ok, man?"

Yugi yawned and shook his head. "Wha? Am I? Oh sorry, Tristan, I'm fine. I just had a long night last night. I don't know what time I fell asleep. Oh look!" Yugi held up the completed Puzzle. "I completed it."

"Wow! That's great Yugi!" Tristan said grabbing the puzzle to look at it closely.

"Yeah, though my grandpa was wrong about it, though." He said as his friend gave back the puzzle. "He said that whoever finishes it will have one wish granted."

"What would you wish for? I know! You'd wish to be taller!" Tristan joked as they stuffed some books in their bags and headed out to where Joey would be waiting.

"I can't tell you my wish! If I do it won't come true! You know that, Tristan." Yugi snapped playfully.

"About time you two got here!" Joey was leaning against a tree outside the school. "I mean sheesh I've been here so long I don't remember."

Yugi mocked a serious face. "That is serious." He said in a low voice. "That man suffers from a serious condition. Undersized recollection."

"Say whaa?" Joey blurt out.

"Undersized recollection, or more commonly known as short term memory." Yugi said with a wink. "Wouldn't you agree, Tristan?"

"Of course. So what are we going to do today?" Tristan asked.

"I can't really do anything today. I've got to do my usual chores today and we got new shipments last night that I need to set out." Yugi said.

"Hey, Yug? When are the new Duel Monsters decks gonna come in?" Joey asked.

"They came in last night. You can come by later if you want." Yugi said looking up at his blonde friend. The game had been out for about four months and was an instant success. "If you want me to, Joey, I'll set a deck or two aside for you. I'll set some aside for you, Tristan, if you want."

"Okay, Yugi sounds great." His friends said at the same time.

"I'll see you two later!" Yugi called as he crossed the street to the store.

"Later, Yug!"

"Grandpa, I'm home!" Yugi called as he walked into the store. Yugi headed upstairs when he heard his grandpa yelling at someone.

".I don't care! You don't belong here anymore, Riko!" His grandpa yelled.

"What do you mean? I 'don't belong here'?" The guy called Riko called back.

Yugi walked down the hall to where the shouting was coming from and hid himself next to the door frame along the wall.

"I don't want you here, anymore. I can't believe the kind of person you've become, Riko." His grandpa had stopped yelling. "I want you to stay away from here."

"Why should I? I'm here to get the Boy and that's it, old man." Yugi peered around the corner. His grandpa had his back to him but the other man saw him before he could hide again. "Come here, Yugi."

His grandpa spun around and glanced at Yugi. "No, Yugi, stay there."

Yugi took a few steps toward his grandfather. "I agree with my grandpa. I want you out, Father." Yugi crossed his arms and glared at his father, Riko.

"So you do remember me." Riko said smugly. "I'm surprised. You haven't seen me in eight years. Now, come here and let you dear old dad see you."

"Leave Yugi alone. He did nothing to you." Solomon stepped in front of Yugi. "You were always like this, Riko. You picked on those who where weaker than you."

"Shut up, old man." Riko shouted.

Solomon ignored him. "I was surprised that you didn't kill Yugi when he was younger. I didn't raise you that way."

"I said shut up!" Riko hollered as he struck Solomon in the face.

"Grandpa!!!" Yugi cried. "Why'd you do that?" Yugi said glaring at Riko. "Get out of here!"

"Don't feel left out, Little Yugi, I have something for you, as well." Riko reached into his jacket and pointed a gun at Yugi. Yugi froze. "Now that I have you're attention, I want you to come with me."

Yugi glanced at his grandfather then back to Riko. "Ok, I'll go, but don't hurt my grandpa again."

a voice from inside his mind called.

Yami asked.

Yugi stated simply.



Yugi followed Riko out of the store. Yugi knew that his grandpa would have called the police the minute they left the room. To his relief, he heard police sirens coming in their direction. Within moments, the police had arrested Riko and had just finished questioning Yugi and Solomon.

After they left, Solomon closed the shop and walked to Yugi. "Are you ok, Yugi?"

Yugi nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. What about you? Riko hit you pretty hard."

"I'll be fine, I've had worse." Solomon didn't seem surprised that Yugi had addressed Riko by his name.

"I wonder how he got out." Yugi thought out loud.

"Don't think about it. Let's talk about something else, shall we?"

Yugi was grateful for his grandpa changing the subject. "I finished the Puzzle you gave me." Yugi held it up for Solomon to see.

Solomon laughed. "That's my grandson!" He studied the puzzle. "Did you learn anything about it?"

Yugi considered telling his grandfather about Yami, but decided against it . "Nope, not yet."