Ami watches the life points counter drop to zero.
And let's out a sigh of relief.
She'd won. The girls whooped and cheered, running towards her. Excitement and relief on their faces.
And as the dust settled from her final attack, Kaiba became visible, head bowed, in... contemplation?
"Kaiba…" Jounouchi approaches somewhat hesitant. The girls stop talking for a moment and turn, looking equally unsure at Kaiba.
And suddenly, he's laughing. A raucous and unbridled sound.
A cautious smile adorns each of their faces.
"This is exactly what I've been working on! A duel between dimensions! And you've brought it to me," Kaiba explains. "A duel of the future."
"Yeah, it was incredible. And you were an admirable opponent, Kaiba," Jounouchi cheered.
"Thank you, everyone," Ami began, aiming a smile now at Kaiba, "that was quite a duel!"
Kaiba's expression turned serious once more. "I'll honor my promise now, and continue helping you find Chibiusa."
"Thank you!" Ami said, smiling in relief.
Using the communicator sewn into his coat collar, Kaiba called for backup. As personnel, prepared to search the area, Usagi produced a wallet sized photo of Chibiusa. "Maybe it'll help," she offered.
With a nod, Kaiba took the photo for copying. "It'll come in handy if we need to officially report her as missing."
Fear crossed Usagi's face.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Kaiba said, noting her distress.
"Hey, Jounouchi, what's going on? Honda called, pulling up on his motorbike.
Jounouchi waved, jogging over, "a little girl's gone missing," he showed him the photograph, "they're here searching for her… but uh, not from this dimension," he gestured to Rei, Ami, Minako and Makoto.
Honda's gaze seemed to linger on Minako, before his attention was brought back by the worry on their faces. "What?! Well… I can help out. I've got sometime before I've got to head to work." He revved up his bike, "any of you lady's care to join me?"
Minako excitedly raised her hand, and raced over to join Honda on the back of his bike. "I'll help keep an eye out with you!" she exclaimed, smiling widely.
The girls gave her a sidelong glance.
"Right, the rest of us will spread out and search for her," Rei said, taking charge. "Usagi, Makoto and I will go left, the rest of you go opposite."
"Agreed!" everyone called.
And so, the search continued.
Ami was surprised to find that this city didn't differ much from the one they'd come. But they certainly had some more advanced technology here.
Ami and Kaiba strode alongside one another in silence, with Jounouchi in tow.
"How did you come to start Kaiba Corporation," Ami inquired, curious about this equally intelligent man.
"I took it over from my adoptive asshole of a father. He used to develop weaponry." Kaiba answered.
"And you converted it to a gaming company," Ami mused, "that's brilliant."
"My hope is to a be a doctor someday. It's challenges like these, that keep me strong," Ami continued.
"With your smarts, I'm sure you'll succeed," Kaiba responded, taking in the girl, as if seeing her anew.
"Keep searching you two!" Jounouchi called.
And they carried on, peering around planters and into shops. But sadly, to no avail.
Abruptly, Kaiba stopped, raising a hand to his collar. Ami could faintly hear the voice on the other end.
"Mr. Kaiba, we've located the girl."
At last!
"Where is she?" Kaiba answered back.
"An unfamiliar address was recited back, but it sounded like a park.
"It's not far from here," Kaiba said, turning to Ami and Jounouchi. "Let's go."
And they made their way, half racing to the nearby park.
Once there, they found Kaiba's personnel, surrounding Chibiusa, keeping her from leaving.
She was huddled on a park bench beneath some Sakura, clutching the Space-Time Key to her chest
"Chibiusa!" Ami called.
Chibiusa looked up, "I won't go with you!" she cried out. "I have to find a way to help Hotaru!"
"I'll go alert the others," Ami said, as they were scheduled to meet at their original location soon.
"Please keep her here, the others will want to talk to her!" Ami called back, racing off, eager to alert her friends.
Unsure of what to do for a moment, Jounouchi sad down, next to Chibiusa.
"Your family seems really worried about you," he said.
"Yes, but I need to save Hotaru" she said, sniffling, still clinging to the necklace she wore.
Kaiba took a seat on the other side of her.
She looked up for a moment, first atKaiba, then taking in the park around her. This is just like the spot Hotaru and I first met at. My hat had blown away… "ooh! I'm just not ready!" And the key in her hands began to glow and Chibiusa rose into the air.
Remembering Ami's plea, Jounouchi and Kaiba grabbed on to her arms, "wait!" they yelled.
But it was too late, they were falling, in darkness, and then they were falling in a town, bright and beautiful by the water, not unlike their own. Until they came crashing down in front of a home.
Kaiba and Jounouchi quickly scrambled up, wary, not strangers to such phenomenon.
But Chibiusa was faster, she'd made it to the door and was inside before they could yell her name.
"I guess we go in to," Jounouchi mused.
"Since she's our way home, yes," Kaiba responded.
They stepped inside the modest home, and were just taking off their shoes when they were promptly greeted by a woman with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at them.
