The Sky Sage: So I'm about to prove that I read you guys comment big time... I think. Reason for this is that three of the four reviews I received presented an interesting speculation that I hadn't even thought about, but is still something that could be possible.

Mahado's connection with Megumi.

I saw both propositions, and while I don't want to shoot anyone down, I will just say this. No. There's no special connection from Mahado to Megumi, at least nothing that links her directly to him. I won't add any more on the subject because I would spoil most of what's coming up, but before you guys start epiliptic trees, I'm going to nip you guys in the bud. No direct connection. There is a connection and I won't deny it (It's pretty obvious, too), but nothing direct.

As for Ren7720, your request has been thought of about already and will be happening in the future. I was planning on having Megumi meet Mahado later on (Saying nothing on the circumstances, that would be spoiler), but there will be no other POV than Megumi's in this story. I want to keep the "unreliable narrator" aspect (Because she isn't, no matter how much she might believe she is) and it's also a challenge for me to do the entire story in first person perspective. So your request will happen, just a lot, lot later in the story. Don't worry, though, it's worth the wait.

Now, for this chapter, I only have this: Kaiba Seto is and always will be a bastard.

Disclaimer: I don't Yu-Gi-Oh.


The Butterfly Effect

Chapter XLVIII: Being Useful

Ishizu Ishtar

Owner: Millennium Item

Power: Sees the future (Glitching)

Alignment: Neutral to Good

Predisposition: Neutral to Hesitant

Cautions: Does not seem hostile, but her hesitation make it obvious that the timeline is moving although it seems clear. Apparent "glitches" in power says that power of her Millennium Item might be not completely reliable.

My pencil left the paper for a moment before the eraser went to tap the heavy cherry wood of the table. I did not like it. I did not like knowing that I'd messed up the timeline so bad, Miss Ishtar's Millennium Item was on the fritz. It hadn't completely shut down yet, so that meant that whatever course of action was coming wouldn't change no matter who intervened – and, now that I thought about it, the only thing anyone could do was prevent the oncoming battle and, after seeing the look on Yami and Yuugi's face, I wasn't willing to deny them a chance at knowing more – but it was glitching. It was glitching and that did not reassure me.

Just like Miss Isthar's lack of answer to my last remark.

It wasn't that she'd decided that she had enough with my interrogation, oh no. And it wasn't even because I'd had gotten enough waiting for an answer that wouldn't come. I had enough patience to wait for her to thaw out. It was her answer that had managed to disturb Yami so badly, he had forced us to leave before things got nasty.

"Your remark is noted and I hope you will note mine. You might have a good eye, but you are a poor concealer."

It hadn't taken a genius to decipher that comment, and it had taken Yami less than a second to realize what Miss Ishtar meant as her eyes lingered on my scarf.

She'd felt the Millennium Item I was wearing. She'd felt it long before she'd pointed it out and had expected the fritz around us. How and why was what I couldn't figure out, but she knew that someone had done something to affect the timeline, and, with a bit more time and thought, chances were she'd figure out it was me.

And, right now with the fact that I was concentrating my efforts against a Ring that wanted my death, I couldn't afford any more enemies.

"Wow, that's... very descriptive."

But it didn't mean I didn't have time for friends.

Another week gone and my promise for research had mostly flown out the goddamn window along with my homework. Only reason I wasn't dragging in class was because of mom's insistence on doing my homework as I came home from school, but Friday, as I was quickly finding out, was becoming dedicated to all the information that needed writing down. Screw homework, screw everything else, I was writing in my notebook like no tomorrow, freeing my mind and allowing for more space.

Which was quickly being crowded with the same dreams I'd been through while "dead".

There were subtle changes. All the angels featured in one dream in particular before I'd wake up and the length would depend entirely on how long until they threw me off a cliff or something along those lines. But there was nothing specific to indicate why they were there, why they stuck around and why, why did that red angel insist on having my weapon.

Freaking weirdo.

"Ishtar Ishizu didn't leave that good of an impression on you, did she?"

Made me glad that I had someone like Mokuba to hang around with.

I gave him a smile and finally answered, "Could have been worse. I just found it a bit weird. Like she knew everything and not at the same time. Good read on the concrete, but little details that could have been crucial moments, she couldn't. I mean I know the future isn't exactly set in stone, but... it seemed very strange that she had to... compensate? Is that the word?"

"Might be. What else did you get from your museum visit?"

Before I chuckled at his enthusiasm, flipping the notebook a page back to watch him blink before looking apprehensive.

"Um... Megumi, you know it's rude to-"

"I know, don't worry. It's not your brother. He's... tied to him, but it's not him. Don't ask me why, though. I can't figure it out myself just yet."

"Might be like you?"

"I doubt it. You see your brother walking around telling us what to do?"

Mokuba snickered, "You mean more than usual?"

And I joined in with a laugh, "Now that's rude."

Before it all died as the door to the dining room opened, startling us both as we looked up, swallowing any other kind of reaction we might have.

I might have been happy for Mokuba's presence, but there was one I could definitely live without.

Definitely, definitely live without as Kaiba Seto stepped into the room and snatched my notebook from me, ignoring my "Hey!" of indignation and my silent fuming as he began to flip through it. Did he – Did he not know privacy?! Or did he expect my fear to stop me as he paged through my life without hesitance?!

"So you are of use."

From the sound of it, the former. Definitely the former as he trust my notebook into my hand with the simple order of "Come", only incensing me further.

That prick.

"Why should I?" I grit my teeth as I stood up only to have something thrown at me that Mokuba caught as simply went to shield myself from whatever he'd thrown at me before I dared to look.

... A card? ... No. Not just a card. There was a pulse to it, a beating like drums attached to the card. This – This was...

"Flip it."

Mokuba did as asked and I felt my breath catch in my throat before I looked at the open door Kaiba had left behind. I gently, carefully grabbed the card with a thank you before rushing after the selfish idiot who, from the fact that he didn't turn at my arrival, had known exactly what he'd done.

"Who gave you this?"

"Ishtar Ishizu."

"Why?"

"Partnership."

"What did she want?"

"For me to collect the other two and give them back to her."

"And why show this to me?"

"You're as interested in the God Cards as I am."

"For different reasons."

"Do reasons matter?" he asked as he came to a sudden stop turning to a door before holding out his hand. I very reluctantly gave the card back, and he continued, opening the door and going down the steps. "We have a common goal, I have something you want and you have something I want. Reasons behind said agreement are not important."

"They should be," I snapped, earning myself an impassive look from cold blue eyes.

"Does that mean you're refusing the opportunity I'm about to give you?"

"... Opportunity?"

"Like I said, Honda, you have something I want and I have something you want. You want a chance at figuring out your apparent mysteries behind these cards, I want the cards themselves. If they return into Ishtar's hands, we lose. Do you want that?"

I breathed, "... No."

"Then we have a mutual goal. And if your entire point is to be kind, then you will help me."

"With what?!"

"With this."