A/N: Written for the Yu-Gi-Oh Drabble Challenge on livejournal, for prompt challenge #87 (prompt=isolation), and wound up in second place (of three) with 6 points. Also written for the 5,10,20,50,70,100 fandoms challenge, fandom 34.
To a Bigger World
The crystalline base was too cold, or her grip too hot. It had a simple enough design, through perhaps a little prettier than some of her others. A closed dome covered the hollow interior, and where the handles would normally protrude was instead little angel wings catching artificial rays of light. It only took a single rotation in her hands though before she had her fill of it.
It had been a very disappointing tournament as a whole, but she supposed she could expect no less with something as large as Battle City on the horizon. And yet...
'I can't believe I lost to you.'
Mai turned a little, catching the twig-like shadow hiding successfully from view.
'Grow up kid,' she snapped, remembering the sallow-faced junior high school boy she had defeated in the finals. Those flat cheeks seemed to follow even the inflexible shadow curving around the jointure of two walls. 'A loss is a loss.'
He stepped out from his hiding place and the woman turned a little to snap him into view. He was nothing much to look at, even by the standards of his age. Not even in league with her own standards. And the way he folded his arms showed nothing but immaturity from a boy whom the world had spoilt far too much. A boy who was used to gaining things on a silver platter. A boy who had no idea what – or who – existed in the world beyond his childhood ideal.
Her own ideals hadn't been so merry, her building blocks not so fortunate.
The boy stamped his foot, and her lips pursed – moreso at the words that punctuated it. 'It's not fair.'
'Life's not fair,' she rebuked, turning her head and tossing her mane of blonde her a little for emphasis' sake.
'My cards are better.' His eyes were black: closed.
Mai shrugged. 'It's not about the cards, kid.' She considered a moment, then continued: 'Here's a bit of advice: there's a large world out there. There's power out there you'll never find in your mother's skirt.'
Even without looking, she knew his face was becoming a red blotch, and she didn't bother confirming the notion. At one stage pretending psychic powers had been entertaining, but too many people lacked the fortitude to entertain her with a proper acquaintance. There were few people in the end she chose to remember by face and name, few people worthy enough to be committed to memory. Few people…to whom she was more than the sore winner of some little baby-tournament in town. Few people…to whom she was more than a nobody in that bigger world.
After all, Kujaku Mai might have a little trophy, but what did that matter?