Steward to a Pharaoh

[madimpossibledreamer]

In this universe, it's Katsuya who becomes King of Games, with some help from friends (including one persistent ghost).  It's an interpretation of what might've happened if Yami had come too late (due to Katsuya's interference, but they still become friends anyway).  As scared as Katsuya gets of ghosts, it's a neat idea to have him interacting with a ghostly Yūgi.

Main Points:
Yugioh Fractured Pharaoh universe
Chapter Summary: Katsuya wakes to something unexpected...
Word Count: 685
Rating: teen

               Katsuya wakes with a feeling of worry.  That’s unusual, and usually means that his father’s been drinking and is nice enough to lay off on the beating until after his son wakes up.
               So he tries to pretend he’s asleep as long as he can, but eventually he has to get up or he’ll miss a whole day of school.  His dad won’t care, but the police (and his boss) might, so it’s with trepidation he rolls over and opens his eyes.
               And barely stifles the scream.  There’s that one—kid—sitting on his bed, leafing through one of his more racy manga with interest.  The outfit’s a little different than when he’d seen the shrimp last.  The bondage leather and chains is definitely not anyone’s idea of a school uniform (well, not anyone that could implement it, anyway).
               It’d be weird enough, if the guy wasn’t dead.
               “I swear to you, I d-didn’t know Ushio would go that far, please—”  He’s whimpering, begging, hoping that this is just a guilty conscience and not a friggin’ Onryō.  Because if it is, he is probably dead.  Worse than dead.  That’s still not enough from stopping him from lowering his voice to avoid his dad hearing any of this, because if it’s just a conscience the fallout would be equally that bad.
               The kid—Yūgi—looks up at him with wide, astonished, innocent eyes that annoyed him so much in life.  “Wait, you think I’m angry?  I couldn’t be angry!”
               All…right.  So much for stories of avenging specters, but with every moment that passes this is looking more and more like reality.
               “I mean, it was hard enough stepping in to protect you.  I was so scared—and I wasn’t even hurt before that!”  There’s a swift, nervous smile.  “Besides, like you said, there was no reason to think he’d go that far.  It wasn’t like his reputation, after all.  He can’t collect money if anyone’s—dead.”
               “He got arrested,” Katsuya offers nervously, feeling hysterical and yet somehow calm at the same time.  “Dey sent ‘im on ta be tried as an adult, ‘cause of how bad it was.”
               Yūgi’s soft plum eyes harden just a little.  “Good.  Hopefully he won’t hurt anyone else.”
               “So—why are ya here?”  It’s probably not the best question to ask, but he’s tired of waiting for the inevitable.
               Yūgi fidgets a little, playing with one of the studded bracelets and not looking at Jounouchi.  “I’m—lonely?  And bored?  I tried talking to Anzu, but she didn’t hear me.”
               The blond blinks a little before a thought occurs to him and he pulls a familiar gold piece out of his briefcase.  He’d fished that out, still feeling guilty.  “Ya think maybe dis is why?
               Yūgi’s eyes sparkle as he smiles with pure joy.
               Katsuya debates telling a ghost something that might anger him, but figures the shortie finding out after the fact would be worse.  “I don’t deserve your thanks.  I threw it away m’self.”
               Yūgi briefly looks like he’s going to cry, but he quickly wipes away any potential spectral tears.  “Well, you got it back, so…”
               He stares in astonishment.  “Are you for real?” he demands, and earns a breathless chuckle as an answer.
               “Well, I’m kind of, you know, a ghost, but other than that, yeah, I’m pretty sure.”
               Katsuya’s tempted to keep staring at (or through) the ghost, but realizes that he’s going to be late.
               “I gotta get goin’!”  He jumps up, throwing on his uniform haphazardly and grabbing his briefcase.
               There’s a chuckle, and Yūgi’s beside him, racing him.  It’s a bit of a cheat, given that Yūgi’s muscles can’t get tired, and he doesn’t have to strain his lungs.  Still, with those stumpy legs, he needs every advantage he can get.
               Yūgi’s glancing at him now, a little worried.  Is this okay? his eyes ask.
               Katsuya considers it for all of two seconds before he nods, which earns one of those huge smiles, and then Yūgi picks up the pace.
               And that is the story of how Jounouchi becomes friends with a ghost.