Listening to:

Walk Away From the Sun, Seether

Bonfire, Third Eye Blind

Casualty of Me, Slaves on Dope

Twilight Soundtrack

*7* Jounouchi *7*

When I woke up I could feel the small spaces and hard wood against my back. I blinked open my eyes and waited for them to focus before I sat up. I looked around and found that I was in the school courtyard and apparently I had been sleeping on my memorial bench. The last thing I could remember was being in Seto's conference room and vengeance was about to be mine. I remembered feeling weak. I remembered watching my hand disappear and then nothing.

I sat back on the bench and glared up at the sky. What a tease. I mean I never finished my unfinished business but I kinda hopped that the gods were ready to accept me. Nothing in my life was easy and it was true for my death as well. I looked out over the courtyard and replayed memories as I saw familiar corners of the school. To the right, leading behind the building was a drainage system. Behind the building, where I couldn't see, I knew there was a classroom. I remember trying to teach Yugi to be a man. I remember so vividly tossing a piece of his puzzle into the drainage system.

He should have hated me for it, not that he knew it was me, but Karma should have taken care of it. That night I learned what true friendship was. I used to think that it was lame but you don't understand a bond like that unless you experience it. I kicked my feet out in front of me and the dirt swirled a bit before dying down.

I felt strong here. I stood and studied my hands, I looked more real here. I glanced at the bench. Could the bench have some sort of well of power stored up for me? I paused. I remembered feeling this strong and real before. Yes. When I ran into Kaiba's shower door. I rubbed my nose remembering the feeling.

Before I had time to analyze things I noticed a certain small Kaiba brother bound onto school grounds. "Hey, Jounouchi." He said to the bench but I didn't get my hopes up, I knew he couldn't see me.

"Hey, kid." I said anyway. I decided to indulge myself in feeling alive for a bit.

"You know if you could see Seto right now you'd be surprised. I've never seen him like this." He said.

"What are you talking about, he's still a prick. He won't believe in things even when they are right in front of him."

"He's taking your death harder than when we lost our parents. Even more than when our stepfather started abusing us." He continued. I had no clue about what happened to the Kaibas when they were younger. I always thought they had the good life. I sat down on the bench once more, next to Mokuba.

"I miss you too though. Before I knew what happened I got mad. I was waiting for you at the arcade. I feel so horrible."

"Ah, kid it's not your fault. Don't worry about that." I said. I wanted to let Mokuba know it was okay. I had to somehow. I reached out and with all my concentration and tried to ruffle his hair. A few of his hairs moved but it wasn't enough. I glared and swept my hand over his hair a bit harder. This time his hair moved forward like the wind was blowing through it. Mokuba sat up. There wasn't any wind today.

"You're here, aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes" I said and smiled at him. He looked at me but his eyes passed through me. It was enough though.

"cool." He said.

"Not the word I would use, more like frustrating." I said and we sat there in silence until the clock struck that school was letting out for the day. After a few moments my friends wondered out of the building. They were all talking to each other about something I couldn't hear. They spotted Mokuba and ran over. They stood silent in front of my bench to prey for a moment and could feel strength fill me.

"Hey, Mokuba." Yugi said. "What's up?"

"I'm feeling a little down…" he admitted. It was easier for him to be true to his feelings than it was for his brother. Concern filled Yugi's features.

"What's wrong?" Yugi asked finally. Anzu already had her arm wrapped around Mokuba's shoulders in a small gesture of worry.

"It's Seto." He said. "Ever since…" he paused but everyone knew and so he continued, "well he hasn't been the same."

"What do you mean?" Honda asked. "He looked okay on the cover of GQ magazine, and on the news talking about his new project."

"No, the business side is fine… it's…" he shook his head and I could tell it was hard for him to find the right words. He knew that none of my friends really cared for Kaiba. They cared but in the way people care for each other in general. He never quite treated them right even after all they had been through. At the same time, I knew that my friends would always give him a chance.

"He's different." Mokuba finished.

"I guess you would know that better than we would." Yugi said. "Maybe we can do something to cheer him up." That was Yug' for ya. I smiled.

"I don't know what would work." Mokuba said.

"We'll think of something." Anzu said. "For now, let's cheer you up." Mokuba Blushed. Did the little guy have a crush on the old Anzu? I smirked and then frowned; I wouldn't be able to tease him about it…

"Well I was actually here to see if you had time to go to the arcade today. I have a feeling that Jounouchi is here with us and I made a promise to him." He said.

"That sounds fun." Yugi said and together we walked to the arcade. The conversation consisted of what everyone did at school and I was happy to listen because I felt alive again. In no time we reached the arcade and went inside.

Eventually everyone drifted off to their own favorite games and Yugi and Mokuba played a zombie killing game. It was better to play with Yugi than against him. I smiled as Mokuba laughed and enjoyed himself. It was great to see him happy again.

I glanced around the room and spotted Honda siting in the seat of a car game looking at the high scores. I walked over and sat in the seat next to him. My name was on the top, but his was beneath mine.

It started after the gangs, when our friendship was still new. I smiled at the memory. We had spent all summer trying to best each other in this racing game. When someone got the high score the other would beat it the next day. Every time since then it had been a tug-a-war for the top space.

Anzu came over and placed her hand on Honda's knee. "I could have beaten his score just now… but I just couldn't let myself do it." he said to her. "If I did that then… I guess that would mean he was really gone."

"Oh, Honda…" she said. She couldn't say much. What was there to say? I stood up and I could feel anger surge through me. I had to get Kaiba to help me somehow. I had to move on because I couldn't stand to see my friend suffering anymore. Because if I couldn't let go then how could I expect them to. I left the arcade and I headed toward Kaiba's mansion.

When I got there the sky was a dark violet and there was only one light on in the house. Seto's room. I watched from the front gate as his silhouette paced past the window. I slipped through the fence and walked through the door.

It was hard to navigate in the dark but I tried to remember the path to Seto's room and when I came to his door I stopped. I had no idea how I would convince him but I wouldn't give up. I placed my hand on the door hoping it would pass through but deep down I knew it wouldn't. Sure enough I could feel the cold wooded object against my fingers.

I reached for the handle then pulled back to knock. I waited for a moment and Seto pulled the door open. Surprise flickered in his eyes but it was only for an instant. "Somehow I knew it was too good to be true." He said and paused, "If you are a ghost then why are you knocking?"

"I don't know." I said. "Every time you are around I can't seem to go through things." I paused… I hadn't noticed it before but now that I thought about it, it was true. "I've never been dead before, how should I know how it works?" I said, a little angrier than I wanted to.

"I see." Was all he said before he pulled back from the doorway in invitation. "It seems that the only way to get rid of you is to help you." He said. I walked into his room and he shut the door behind us.