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

The Butterfly Effect

Chapter LXXX

I suppose it was to no surprise that I would greet my brother with a hug. That I would enthusiastically greet him before asking if everything had gone alright, leading him to look to his left, to a girl that looked maybe a bit confused and felt calm and kind. I guess it would come as a shocker to no one if I said that I introduced myself to Shizuka who smiled even though she couldn't see me, apparently happy to finally meet Honda's sister. In fact, after the beginning of the tournament, it would come as expected.

"Hey!"

But, even with the expected, there were still a few surprises.

It felt unnatural, surreal even, to be able to turn my attention to Kujaku and feel the giddy happiness smooth out into something calmer. It felt almost impossible to believe that I apologized to the lady as my brother and Shizuka stepped back to let me close my disk, and chuckled when she replied with aplomb, hating the fact that I had called her Miss Kujaku.

But it was there. I was calm. I was breathing incredibly evenly. And I felt unbelievably proud as she approached with a shake of the head, only to laugh as I held out my hand for her to take.

Three matches, one of them leading to a near-death situation, had done what months of training hadn't been able to, and while part of me was surprised, the other… honestly just drew parallels with a saying that, I'm sure, most of us would agree with.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, helped shape a person than actual experience. Nothing changed a person than actual, real-life situations that could never be relived.

I was here. I was changed. Grateful for it, too.

"… I'm not taking that."

Just like I was grateful that some parts of me hadn't changed.

"… Are you seriously pulling a Yuugi on me, girl?"

"Megumi. And don't get me wrong, I am taking the Puzzle Cards, I'm just not taking Harpie's Feather Duster."

"The rules say–"

"And I say no. I am not taking a card that has synergy with your deck. If anything, give me Dunamis Valkyria. Angels are my domain, not yours."

Well, maybe a little from the fact that I was just transferring to another card, prompting laughter from both Mai and my brother, but I still trying to be fair. To be kind. I understood the ante rule. I didn't have to agree with it.

"Looked like life points were more your domain."

"I run the Agents and all of them save for Mercury require life points to play."

"So I guess you could find a space for protection, then?"

And, from the smile and the fact that Mai was now going through her deck again, she was happy about it. Not about the fact that I was denying her obeying the rule, of course, but the fact that I was being courteous.

She put away the Feather Duster and held out another card. A trap, this time, and one that left almost familiar.

Silver Screen — Mirror Wall. At the cost of two thousand life points per turn, I could protect my monsters by halving my opponent's monsters' attack. A little expensive, but I could see this being useful considering what was coming.

I held out my hands, and she gently put it in along with the three Puzzle Cards she'd had with a congratulation I only smiled at, mind already debating what to exchange for Mirror Wall. I was pulled out of that process almost immediately, though, as my brother grabbed me and gave me a noogie, leaving to laugh as Mai began to talk with Shizuka, the girl getting a chance to introduce herself as Jonouchi's sister which had Mai smile in a fashion that spoke even beyond words.

She knew. She had figured it out during Duelist Kingdom. And, from the look Mai was giving, she was attached to Shizuka already.

"So what are you doing out here? Wouldn't you be better off with your brother?"

And of course, she would. Shizuka was honest and kind from the little I had gathered from her already. It was no wonder Jonouchi would be protective of her and that Mai would want to help out.

"That's why we're here. Honda said he knew someone who could find him easily."

Although what that meant for me was something I honestly could not have anticipated.

I gave my brother the most deadpan look I could manage as Mai went from curious to confused. I watched said brother flounder a little as I called him out, sighing, "Big brother..." while he tried, and tried really hard to save face.

"Hey, it's better than searching the whole city. And I didn't say who it was."

"And you think she isn't smart enough to figure it out when you ask said person?"

Before Mai interjected, obviously trying to put everything together, "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying that Megumi can find people?"

At least she would figure out what happened during Duelist Kingdom. That was a plus, right?

"It's a long story. One I'm not comfortable explaining."

Well, probably not as much as my brother looking uncomfortable, but I'd take it.

"So… can you find him?"

"We'll see. Gimme a second."

I closed my eyes before exhaling, trying to pinpoint the exuberant, always alive energy of my brother's best friend, using the latter as an anchor point as he settled his hand on my shoulder. I frowned before projecting, searching further, hoping to come up with something, anything despite the distance, the fact that was covering maybe a little too much already draining at what little reserves I had.

And I could only gasp as I staggered, coming back to reality at the explosion of light, of both whirring energy fighting to come alive and a sun that flickered out the moment I was back within myself, finding my eyes blinking at the ground as my brother held both my shoulders, concern all over his face as I looked up, trying to understand what I'd just felt and knowing, knowing without the shred of a doubt that something was wrong.

That bundle of energy… That was Jonouchi. Had to be. And that sun… I'd recognize that light anywhere. That was the Puzzle.

And it had just called for help.

"Megumi?"

"We need to find them. Now."

The Sky Sage: See you all next week...