AN: Originally posted in Tumblr, here's a sequel to Thousand Knives because why not.

Many thanks for Elficiel because she inspired me to write more about this!

(seriously, this was only supposed to be a one time thing, but now you're making me want to do my own modern!Mahad damn you)

It was embarrassing to admit, but he had forgotten about the man in the museum. There were just too many things that happened after, the God cards, the Ishtars, Battle City, his memories. A strange man who gave him a strange card and said a strange message was not something his mind prioritized, mostly because it hasn't killed him yet.

Battle City was a mess, if he were honest. And he doesn't think anyone could blame him for forgetting.

Still, one of the reasons he never told much about his encounter to Yuugi is because he didn't expect to meet the man again, nor did he expect the man to remember him.

Or actually, he didn't expect Yuugi to meet the man. Nor did he expect the man to come up to him and start a conversation.

"You're the boy from the museum, correct?" The man asks, smiling. "How are you? Was the card I gave you useful?"

He tries to hide his sheepishness from Yuugi, but with the way he was looking down at the Puzzle with suspicion, it wasn't working.

"I'm… okay?" Yuugi replies, mentally side-eyeing the spirit. "And your card was, uh, very helpful in duels?"

Yuugi didn't know what card the man was talking about, it could have been a calling card for all he knew. But given that this is his other self that he suspects the man is confusing him with, it was safe to assume it was about Duel Monsters.

"I'm glad," the man beams. "I know you joined a tournament recently, so I hoped that it would help."

Okay, this was getting a little creepy. He hoped this man wasn't an overenthusiastic fan. 'Other me?'

'… Remember that day when I asked to be alone?'

He did, he hadn't asked for details, he was just glad that his other self looked less troubled after his trip.

Wait, that meant. "This is the onion guy?" He blurts out, the one he suspects his other self liked? He had thought it was a plain, bookish kind of guy. Maybe part of the museum staff who was happy to educate a high schooler. Not someone who looked like he could be part of an expensive host club!

'Aibou!'

Oh, oops, he thought that out loud. Not one who looked like he could be Anzu's older brother - looks and kindess combined, he mentally amends.

The onion guy in question raises an eyebrow. "Are you remembering me just now?"

Oh, oops, he said that out loud.

'You didn't tell me he gave you that card!' He had thought his other self had just bought a pack again. Also. 'You didn't tell me he was interested in you!'

Silence.

'You didn't notice, did you?'

The spirit says nothing, having the urge to be buried deep into the labyrinth of his soul so that nobody would find him.

"S-sorry, a lot of things happened… and you do look familiar," Yuugi lies sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Say, uh, I never asked for your name, didn't I? And-" he eyes the man, pursing his lips. "-how old are you exactly?"

'Aibou?' The spirit wonders why he was interested in that.

"Ah, I'm twenty. I'll be twenty-one this December," the man replies, then he smiles wryly. "And I suppose it's fair you know my name, or else you'll just call me the onion guy," he chuckles. "It's Hadou Madoka, at your service."

"Madoka…?" Yuugi looks at the man some more.

"… Yes, it's girly," the man says dryly. "In my defense, I didn't choose the name."

Fair enough.

"Most just call me Ma or Mahou, by insistence of my… cousin," the man says, shrugging. "Or they call me by my surname."

He understood Ma but, "Why Mahou?"

"My part-time job, I suppose," he answers. "I'm a stage magician."

Huh. "Hadou Mahou… if you flip them, you'd get the word magical wave," Yuugi muses. "That could be a cool stage name."

"Don't give my cousin any reason to mangle my name as it is."

The man looked too amused with his wordplay, he didn't think it was that funny. "So what are you doing here anyways?"

"I've been hired for an event," he jerks his head at the booths and other props currently being built and set around Domino Square. "I take it you were invited to join?"

What?

"There's an event?"

"The CEO of Industrial Illusions is hosting an event to introduce a set of new Duel Monster cards he designed," the man explains. "You didn't know? I guess since the duel tournaments are only for beginners under thirteen, it wouldn't be under your radar."

Battle City wasn't even under their radar, they were just in the right time at the right place. If Yuugi hadn't planned the date, and if Kaiba wasn't being his typical dramatic self, they would never have known. "It's more of I haven't had time to be updated about anything, I've been busy."

If trying not to get magically killed could be counted as busy.

"You do look tired," the man says, faint disapproval lacing his tone. It reminded Yuugi of the times Anzu knew he was up all night playing games. "The booths aren't open and it's a bit messy, but would you like a tour? You might even be able to buy some items and see some of the performers practicing," he offers his hand. "It's not open, so we shouldn't entertain people yet, but I'm sure they'd give an exception to you."

Yuugi considers this man some more, he didn't look like he had any bad intentions. And honestly, after Battle City, his other self deserved another break. The date with Anzu had helped, but he remembered how relaxed the spirit looked that day he asked to take over and be alone with his thoughts.

The age difference bothered him, but he was sixteen (and he assumes his other self is at least that age too). So if it was just eating out and walking around, it wouldn't be anything bad. And if this man was some kind of pervert, well, they've faced worse. His other self could handle an ordinary man.

And to be honest, he doesn't think the man has any malicious intentions.

"Buy me some lunch and it's a date," Yuugi jokes, hands poised over the Puzzle, preparing to switch.

"I was planning to."

Oh, well, how could he say no to free food? Even one that he won't personally taste? He briefly closes his eyes to focus his energy.

The spirit stiffens at the large feeling of deja vu. 'Aibou, don't you dare-!'

And he was out.

Unlike last time, he does not sputter and shout at the Puzzle in an embarrassing display. He instead bites his lip to keep himself for screaming the words he had been planning to say to his partner.

It takes him less than a second to compose himself.

"As long as you don't feed me only onions," the spirit sniffs, hiding his nervousness at being placed in this situation. "And as long as you explain to me why you gave me that card." That was still a mystery to him.

"Have you tried falafel?" The man asks, he gets a shake of the head in reply. "Well, I know a place that makes very good falafel, I have a feeling you'll love it," he smiles. "And I gave that card because I wanted to, simple as that," he reaches out to touch the spirit's ear. "Hmm, speaking of cards, I actually have some more to give you… like this one!"

The man holds out a card that seemingly came from his ear.

The spirit was not impressed (that was a lie, he was kind of impressed).

"No," the spirit says blandly, keeping a straight face. He quickly reads the description of the card and has to stomp down the temptation again. Did this man have a penchant for giving him cards he likes? Either way, he was not accepting freebies again.

"Not even if I add these?" The man waves his hand, and violet sparks emit from his fingers. One blink and there were suddenly three cards on his hand.

The spirit looks at the cards. "… No."

"That wasn't very convincing."

"I'm not getting any more free cards from you, I know how hard it is to get support cards like that," especially ones for rare cards like Dark Magician. "I have nothing to pay you with."

"Duel Monsters is a trading card game, isn't it?" The man waves the cards in front of him, like he was a dog being enticed with the scent of meat. "Well, you're giving me your time, and I'm giving you these cards as thanks."

"My time is not worth cards that rare," he scoffs, a little insulted for Dark Magician that any of his support cards were considered that cheap.

"I think it's worth a lot more, but this is all I can give you right now," the man counters, grinning at the soft pink staining the teen's cheek. "And lunch."

He didn't know what to say to that.

'Say yes, because we get free cards,' his partner pipes up. 'Really good cards.'

'Aibou.'

'Right, right, leaving now!'

"Give me those cards, you manipulative onion-obsessed magician," the spirit grumbles, face still hot from what the man said. "And tell me more about this faferu thing you think I'll like."

"Falafel," the man corrects, giving the cards. He holds the spirit's wrist gently and softly tugs to the direction of the restaurant. "It's a dish that has..."

The spirit allows himself to be pulled, focused on the cards he has now. He wonders if this will be a thing, that whenever he meets the man he'll get cards related to his most trusted monster.

First was Thousand Knives.

Now these three.

Bond Between Teacher and Student.

Dark Magic Twin Burst.

Dark Spiral Force.

(he wonders why they're all related to Dark Magician)

He shouldn't be spending so much time with the people in this world, shouldn't be making more bonds that will just be broken, because he'll be leaving soon.

But he feels the warmth of the hand and hears the gentle tone of his voice, and he thinks it's just one bond. Just this one bond, one that is his alone and not Yuugi's. One that is not related to Yuugi's life at all, one that he found by himself.

Just one bond, it wouldn't hurt.

AN: Might be a two-shot, so I'm leaving this as incomplete.