Honda was Brave and Very Cool

The Border Between the Afterlife

"I feel strange," Honda said. "Light. Peaceful. I don't think I would have liked this a few hours ago." His voice was steady and softer. During that time, he'd been talking to Satiah about the present and what had been happening. "Yuugi's a dad. I wish I could have seen Yuugi when he found out." He smiled at her. "Then again? I'm hanging out with someone who became his wife, with us looking like this. Pretty sure he would want to kick my butt." He chuckled. "I died." He said it as he leaned away.

He was now fully clothed. Satiah had noticed that, but had kept quiet about it. Letting him realize it all for himself. "No one would kick your butt. They would be happy you were here."

"Yeah. Sure. See these?" Honda pinched a section of his yellow T-shirt. "I used to wear this all the time in middle school, and I wore it in high school. Until it finally got so ragged that I had to give up on it. It was the comfiest though. These pants were my favorite too. No way were they ever this big. I wore these in elementary. See the naturally worn out holes in the knee area?" He patted his knee. "Loved them. Perfect for summer. It gave a little bit more room when I was playing and jumping around back then."

He even pulled at his shoes to show them off. "These I used to wear in the sixth grade. Man, broke my own heart when my feet got too big. The color was my favorite, they always fit just right. They were the best shoes ever." He laughed. "Yep, no doubt about it. I'm dead." He shrugged. "At least I skipped the pain part of it all. Instant access, right?"

"Skipping pain is a benefit." She tried to make him feel better, but she hardly knew him. Only what Anzu told of him. "I am sorry you cannot play your game for Shizuka Kawai."

"Stupid thing anyway. I doubt she would have said yes," Honda said. "Shizuka was with me because I made her feel stronger. I was with her because she was gorgeous and sweet. Lovely person. I'd never hurt her, and she'd never hurt me." He chuckled. "Easy to admit now. I kept saying love over and over to myself. I wanted to believe that. I just wanted to move on with something new. A wife and kid with someone who was really sweet."

"There was nothing wrong with that." At least she could comfort him there. "Many women married when they were younger. Twelve. Thirteen. Boys tended to be more men. Sixteen to about twenty. Typically. There was no real officialing written down. They moved in with each other and simply learned to be with each other. Sometimes there was love before, and sometimes there was none."

"You learned to love each other. Huh. I feel a little less bad about that now," Honda admitted. "Pretty young though."

"Not really. Not many lived long lives. So, you were supposed to live it to the fullest that you could."

"I up and died on Jounouchi before this duel. That's going to make him mad. He was one of my best friends. This was? I know I was angry about it, but it would almost cement this idea that I was a part of his family. That I could be with Shizuka. Not that she would say yes. I guess I was bound to have a regret or two when I die unexpectedly, right?"

Satiah watched him starting to slouch.

"Okay, I'm a mess. This is kind of hard. I mean? I imagined that like one day I'd have that ," Honda blurted. "What Yuugi has. A wife and a kid. The simple good life with a butt kicking or two in the background. I mean, I was still friends with Jounouchi." He leaned his head back. "Leave this whining part out when you tell the Yuugi's about this. I want to be just the awesome hero that saved you. Okay?"

"Okay." She would do her best for him.

"Man. I am fumbly and awkward at death. It's almost like being too drunk to think straight. I did say to leave these parts out right? Make me sound good?"

"Yes." Satiah sat back down. "If anything happens to allow me to survive due to your cloth, I will find a way to honor you, Honda." Hmm. "If you hadn't died, perhaps I could have satiated you in some way."

Honda's eyes almost sprang to life slightly. "Now, you say that now-no. That's . . . that's not the words."

"If this is a way between, I believe I could have found some water," she said again. "You doubt it?"

That spring in his eyes seemed to disappear and was replaced with a smile. "Right. Water. Yeah. No, yeah, that whole thing really messed up my mind. Heh. Death makes you think funny things. Cause. I wish I could have helped." He started to close his eyes as he started to fade.

"Honda. When they win their game, they will bring you back," she assured him. "Don't doubt that. They will win. This isn't the end for you. Perhaps, you can still play that game for Shizuka Kawai?"

He was gone though now. Hopefully he heard her as his body faded away. His afterlife was not within an expired empire. It was time that he moved on.

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Gods Realm

Honda opened his eyes and found himself on the ground.

"Hirito Honda!"

That voice? That was familiar. Honda opened his eyes and instantly knew. Though she was so much older. "Ribbon." Yellow Ribbon. "Miho. Hi." It was the girl of his dreams in high school. He had tried so hard to win her heart. Okay, well he didn't write the message, and Yuugi did most of the work, but he did still try. Try to win her all those years ago.

She still wore a beautiful dress, that beautiful purple hair, that pleasing smile, and that unforgettable yellow ribbon. In fact, she looked exactly the same as she did in school. Not a day older. "Honda, Miho so glad to see you!" She jerked him up from the ground and hugged him. "Miho has been looking forever for anyone that Miho knew!"

Yeah. Anyone. That would include him. He enjoyed the hug from her. The terrified hug trying to hold onto some semblancy of a person. "Glad to see you too, Miho. Where are we?" He looked around. Damn.

They were in a paradise he'd never seen. There was nothing dead or not quite blooming. Everything was fully opened, the grass was entirely green, the weather was decently warm without being a burden. "Man, it feels like a paradise."

"Miho thinks it might be last paradise of life," her small voice squeaked. That squeak was still there in Miho."Why are you here? There is a whole bunch of folks scattered out and nobody knows what's going on. We have been here for days." She pointed to some trees nearby bearing fruit. "Although no one can starve. There is fresh food all around, and water is easy to find. Walk around ten minutes or so and you will find some." She sighed. "Miho hadn't found anyone she knew from Domino City though. You are the first."

"Well, I am glad to have found you," Honda said. He looked around. "There looks to be something in the distance. A palace?"

"Miho has been walking that way, taking breaks between," she admitted. "Miho doesn't go very far. It's scary. What happens when everyone gets to the palace, you know?" She shook her head. "Plus, Miho's clothes? I didn't leave in these. This dress is a favorite, the yellow ribbon is from high school, and these shoes were from elementary school. Miho thinks she might have died, and she's scared to know what's next."

Oh. Same clothes situation. "I think we are too." He wasn't usually bold with the truth when it came to her back then, but he couldn't lie to her. Not now. "That palace is our destination, Miho. Don't be afraid. You don't want to walk around here aimlessly forever, do you? It's time to take that next step." He held onto her hand. "We'll do it together, okay?"

Her eyes were filled with tears, but she smiled and wiped them away. She had always tried to smile. "Together, Honda! We'll go together."

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