The Sky Sage: Important update and format change information at the end of the chapter.

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

The Butterfly Effect

Chapter LXXVII

"Where do you want to go?"

"Find me Kujaku Mai."

I felt the helicopter shift beneath me after an easy take-off, Mokuba simply looking ahead before staring at a pad and giving instructions to the pilot and shifting from his seat to watch the ground below us move. I took a deep breath as I settled into the seat I'd been asked to sit into, unable to stop myself from bringing a hand to the headset I had been handed and required to wear before reaching for my fanny pack, pulling out both my deck box and another box that I hesitated to open. And if I was able to stop myself from closing my eyes at the sight of three Puzzle Cards in my deck box, I did not accomplish it as I felt my back hit the backrest of my chair, eyes opening back up to the ceiling before drifting to the pilot.

Part of me wished, longed for the older Kaiba's silent presence. To have someone who knew, could semi-understand the position I was in, even if we didn't talk about it. Kaiba was terrifying, yes, and always seemed to single me out of the group — the fact that I tried hanging out with his brother had no doubt helped him do that — but he would have made for a nice pillar, and, maybe, a nice reminder that, even if I was doing something morally reprehensible, there was a reason for it. There was a reason why I was trying to advance, and, to a certain extent, not hesitating in taking someone's deck, if only as a reminder to never, ever plunge that deep.

But he wasn't here, no amount of wishing would magically take him away from whatever duel he was fighting now, and I still had to move on. I still had to swallow the anxiety, the nerves as I sorted through my cards, trying to figure out what to take out for the card that, I knew, was making its way into my deck one way or another.

Fallen Angel Marie was the best addition and the best reminder. Not Dragon Egger which had to be the rarest card in this deck, and certainly not any of the cards that I had in my deck and, as I had worked my way through them earlier, had proven to be fakes.

Yep, her Dark Elf, Dian Keto, all the way down to the God's Pronouncement that Lilith had had in this deck were fakes. The only cards that had been real were the ones that didn't match mine. So she'd either been unable to obtain the cards herself, or this was also a statement. A statement about the fact that she believed only in my actions, not any reasoning I would give them. She'd believed my reasons for participating as fake and was willing to prove it to any extent.

… Just how far could one person go to prove a point?

Considering that one of my friends was still struggling at the hands of something, someone to the point where none of us were sure he would ever make it alive or sane, far. Very far. So far that people were willing to kill themselves to prove said point, or even endanger other people's lives, whether be it friends, family, or acquaintances. So far that I was doing the worst offense of stealing off of someone's corpse if only so that I could reassure myself and not become someone that hadn't hesitated to kill herself just to get to me.

… In war, there were no heroes. There were only struggling people who believed what they were doing was right, but would commit atrocities along the way no matter the situation.

… Just another reason to push Kujaku Mai out of the way.

I was not any better. I was not any better than Lilith, in some ways. Willing to put myself in danger, to take other people's chance to make it to the quarterfinals. Didn't matter if I knew what was coming, what I was trying to get those people to avoid, they deserved better. Better than their hopes being crushed, better than what awaited them.

But, if I didn't, what would they find? What would be left?

I didn't want to imagine the possibility of someone innocent, someone without the knowledge that we had finding themselves in the pathway of someone who would do anything, even kill, to achieve their goals. I didn't want to imagine someone as joyful as Jason, or as dedicated as Miss Kujaku simply stop breathing because they had simply been in the way. They hadn't volunteered for this bullshit. Hell, they didn't even know of its existence. Jason had no idea who the Ghouls were from the fact that he'd been hoping that they play fair. And while I knew Miss Kujaku had her tricks… something told me she wouldn't get a chance to see beyond the quarterfinals.

So the only thing I could do was take her out.

"Megumi!"

I took out North Wind & Sun to slide in Fallen Angel Marie before looking to Mokuba who was motioning for me to join him. I unclasped my belt and joined him, trying to follow where he was pointing while doing my best in controlling my racing heart and my swimming vision.

"You sure about this?"

And I nodded at the question before following Mokuba back into the helicopter as he told the pilot to land.

I didn't have to like it. I didn't have to enjoy the fact that I was looking to take out someone that deserved to go into any other quarterfinal more than I ever would. I just had to do it.

… And hope that I got a chance to explain myself afterward.

I was glad Miss Kujaku stopped when she saw that our helicopter was landing in her vicinity. I couldn't help but take a breath as she stayed near the landing site, probably thinking that a referee wanted to talk to her, only to raise a brow when she saw Mokuba give her a quick look before turning to me as I stepped off the vehicle.

But if I was happy that she started to smile when she saw me leaving the landing area only for the helicopter to take off, I was not able to determine it at that moment.

"When I said if I met you guys, we'd fight, I didn't mean to go looking for me."

Not with my racing heart and the thought that, if I failed, then I had done nothing. Nothing to change any outcome.

"I have my reasons."

"Oh, I'm sure you do. Just like I'm sure you have a reason for all those bandages."

And something, something had to change. Something, somewhere, had to change.

"So, care to explain?"

"After the duel. You promised me a fight, Miss Kujaku."

… Or it already had, and I'd failed to notice it.

"You're a stickler for promises, aren't you? Alright. Strap in, girl."

The Sky Sage: Hey guys! Sorry for the sudden change in format when it comes to my author's notes, I just don't want to detract from the chapter and these are, technically, easier to ignore if you're only here for the story.

So, to those who are sticking around to read these, hello! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and agree with me in saying that this one is a doozy. Hopefully, this all works out.

As for the changes, I am going to stop with the chapter names. Not because I hate it, but because I'm currently over a hundred chapters — no, I'm not kidding — and I've barely finished Battle City/started Millennium World. So, from this point on. The chapters will no longer have titles. I'm sorry. The story is just too big to bother with the titles.

As for my update schedule, I've decided that I will publish these chapters every Friday. I've been doing it so far on Saturdays, so during my break times of not working on the story itself, but this is, technically, work for the story so I will add it to my Fridays because of that.

This means that on the 24th, there should be a new chapter available for you guys to read. Yes, this also means that you guys are getting two chapters this week. After it, though, it's going to be once a week until I'm done with Millennium World. Then I'll see what to do because I have way too many chapters.

I hoped you enjoyed the chapter and have a wonderful day!