Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or situations involved in this fanfic, and am not making any profit whatsoever off of it.
Story Title: Five Reactions To Juudai's Adulthood
Characters: Yuuki Juudai
Story Word Count: 500
Timeline: Post season-four
Notes: This is written in the style of the "Five Nevers" drabble challenge, but it's not really a "never" because as far as I'm concerned, this is how they felt.
Summary: Five people react to Juudai having grown up.

I have but one regret of the time that Juudai spent conquering Dark World: that in that time, we did not meet and duel one another. While the duel I had against Yubel in Johan's form was all that I could have wished and more, to duel against the true darkness would have been beyond words. Haou against Hell Kaiser: truly a duel for the ages.

Perhaps it was for the best, however. That duel needed to happen, not just for me, but for Juudai. He promised that he would shine more brightly than I ever could: and he did.

A lot of duelists have two sides to them. Even I do. I hated Aniki when he turned to that other side at first, but I got over it. Because it's still him. Still my Aniki. They had to become one, Yuuki Juudai and Haou Juudai. It made him a whole person. I hadn't thought he wasn't one before, but I guess he wasn't.

He's more serious now, but it's better, because you can really see how he cares. He helped me get control of the Tails deck and now I've got the Cyberroid deck. Thanks, Aniki. You're the best.

I think it's about time that Juudai grew up. Yes, he showed me that there's still supposed to be fun in the game, and since all of that mess with the Light of Ruin and Saioh was dealt with, I felt like I owed him something. But he still needed to do it.

It isn't surprising, though. Juudai's deck is all fusion this and fusion that. So, he fused being serious and having a good time. What else would he do? Fusion is just what Juudai does. It's what he is.

I guess that I'm still learning from him. Damn.

I knew who Haou was from the start. Yubel showed me it all, from the moment that Juudai and the others entered that world in search of me, until O'Brien went to duel him. I saw it all. I saw him hurt and be hurt. I saw him want revenge more than anything.

She put me to sleep before I saw the end, but I had faith Juudai would be all right, and he was. He grew up so much, into the person I always knew was there anyway: a person who I am quite proud to call my friend.

I made a promise once, but then I died, was reborn, and I forgot. It still hurts. I've got my share of blame to hold because of that. There's enough to go around, but some of it will always be mine.

I regret what I did. I won't let my friends be hurt because of me ever again. It won't be easy, but I've learned if it's worth doing, it isn't.

There's so much out there in the world and I'm going to give seeing it and helping people my all, and try to not do anything I'll regret again.

The End

Notes: It should be obvious, but just in case, the points of view are, from top to bottom: Ryou, Shou, Edo, Johan, and Juudai.