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

The Butterfly Effect

Chapter LXXXIII

I wish I could say how long it took us to close that conversation. I wish I could remember what exactly we talked about or if we did nothing else but empty ourselves with the realization that there was nothing, nothing that could be done about what had been done to us and the only thing we could do was cope. I wish I could know how long it took for anything to come clear after that moment, after we, for lack of a better word, both broke down before picking ourselves back up with the realization that no one save for ourselves would manage to do it.

Instead, all I can say is that by the time Yuugi left with a promise to talk later — Yami wanted to talk to me about something he'd discovered — the sun had set and we'd long taken off. All I can comment is that by the time everything cleared and my senses returned to me, Malik was on board and whatever he was bringing with him would need to be dealt with. And all that I remember was both Yuugi and I agreeing that Malik was much more twisted than we gave him credit for, and that, whatever came, we should expect the worse.

… And knowing that I had support, that there was someone who understood what I'd gone through without me saying a damn word was more reassuring than it had any right to be.

I breathed. Gripped the sink as I exhaled before checking myself in the mirror for any trace of anything that could have been left on my face. I then pulled away, taking myself out of the bathroom and back to my Duel Disk and the cards inside it as I tried to adjust my hair, unable to help another deep breath once I was done.

It wasn't over yet. I still needed to put that new card in.

… I also needed to talk to Mokuba before -

"Attention, Duelists! Your presence is required in the central area!"

I glared at the intercom. Glared at it so hard, I hoped Isono sneezed himself into next Tuesday. Did he hear me thinking? Was Mokuba that antsy and worried? Or did Kaiba decide to take an executive decision that would get me off this ship faster? Did he realize that by doing this, he was only precipitating the events faster, right? And that they were more efficient ways to get me to apologize?

I sighed. Then shook my head as I collected my Disk, putting it on as I headed out. No time dwelling on it. What was done was done, and there was no changing it.

Just like there was no changing Kaiba's glare as he saw me, Yuugi's smile and wave as he came out of his room, or Jonouchi's gentle shouldering as he started walking towards the central area.

"Hiroto's worried. Talk to him."

"I will. I owe him an apology."

"Things went sideways?"

"And backward. But it's dealt with."

"Not gonna tell me, are ya?"

"No. And I won't tell him, either. Sorry."

"… That bad?"

"You have no idea."

Then again, I was grateful for it. I was extremely grateful for the stable ground as we arrived.

Because with what I felt behind us and finally got a look at when we arrived, I knew we were all going to need it.

Three out of the four that were left. Out of those three, only one of them was decent. A tall, chocolate skinned man with tattoos all over a quarter of his face, if those were even tattoos in the first place. The other two counted a teenager with platinum blonde hair and colored skin, along with a face shape that felt almost familiar, and the last…

"Hello, witch."

I felt my hand tighten into a fist. I felt my face harden as I watched the Thief wave smugly at me before facing forward, trying to look innocent. And I felt nothing more than hate as I quickly gave a look in the new blonde's direction, hoping for a reaction that he delivered on.

No subtlety. The Thief wasn't known for it. Made it easy to know what he was doing here and who he was associated to.

"Duelists, if I bring your attention to the television."

… Not the moment.

… That was my face. Number six. Something told me that was not a blessing, no matter how lucky even numbers tended to be for me.

"Each Duelists has been assigned a random number that will be drawn from this machine, again at random. The drawing will only happen before each duel, so you will only know your opponent before your match."

… Random chance? From Kaiba? Strange, but alright.

I gave Kaiba a look before turning my attention back to the machine as it drew the first number.

Number five. The Thief. Against… number seven.

My gaze immediately glued itself to Yami who also turned, but towards his opponent who simply grinned, but seemed resigned at the idea of not fighting me. I watched as Yami did not retaliate, instead following Isono as he led everyone to the top of the blimp, semi-encouraging the other duelists to come themselves. And I followed, only half-surprised when I noticed Mokuba already waiting there, pad in one hand and headset microphone in the other, trying to block the harsh, bitter winds from making his communication worse, and only slightly upset that he spared me only a quick look before working twice as hard, definitely doing all he could to avoid me.

I'd catch him after the duels. This issue needed to be closed. For now, though…

"DUEL!"

The Sky Sage: After TWO WEEKS, two freaking weeks of IRL problems with the AC not working, the internet going haywire, and lousy connections, I am finally, FINALLY in a situation that I can call comfortable. After two weeks of nightmares, I am glad to say that I'm back. I'm also glad that I already have these chapters already written and the only thing I have to do is publish them. Thank GOD.