"Ugh?"
Waking up groggily, Jounouchi suddenly sat up, blinking in confusion.
"Huh?"
He found himself floating above a wrecked, glowing city below. Staring at the view for a moment, he muttered in disbelief, "Am I... flying?!"
Panicking at first, Jounouchi clutched his chest in relief when he realized he wasn't falling.
"Hahaha! What's with that reaction?" A familiar laugh echoed nearby. Jounouchi turned his head, surprised and excited.
It was Sakura Kyouko, dressed casually and floating in the air just like him.
"You..."
"We've been knocked out of the game, Jounouchi." Sakura's laughter faded as she gave him a regretful smile. "But... hearing you say you'd stop me... I was really happy." Her voice softened with gratitude, "Thank you!"
Turning to look down at the destroyed city and the crying people below, Sakura's expression filled with sorrow and frustration. "I could only watch as the Witch ravaged everything. It was unbearable."
Her eyes reflected the horror of seeing innocent lives taken by the Witch. In her heart, she had felt nothing but agony as the creature committed atrocities in her name.
But at her darkest moment, it was Jounouchi's voice that reached her, stopping her from fully descending into despair.
He hadn't given up on her—not even at the end. His resolve to save her, to even die alongside her if necessary, had moved her deeply. It kept her from losing herself completely.
"Eh?"
A soft tap on her cheek brought Sakura back to reality. She looked up, stunned, as Jounouchi's fist rested lightly against her face.
"I told you, didn't I?" Jounouchi grinned. "You messed up, so I owe you a punch. And don't think you'll get away with it just because you're a girl."
Sakura puffed her cheeks in protest, "Who do you think caused all this trouble, huh?! If it weren't for you slipping up, I wouldn't have had to use that stupid thing!"
"Heh, if you hadn't been outwitted by Rider, I wouldn't have gotten into that mess in the first place," Jounouchi teased back. "You should reflect on your own mistakes too."
Their playful argument escalated into loud, carefree laughter.
"Pffft!"
"Hahaha!"
Their hearty laughter filled the air, a symbol of their shared relief.
"But really, we owe an apology to all those people who got caught up in this," Jounouchi said, his tone becoming serious.
"I know." Sakura's face grew somber as she looked down at the destruction. She knew the weight of her actions and didn't shy away from the responsibility. "And... that card you gave me... It didn't work, did it?"
"Huh? **Monster Reborn**? Nah, looks like since we both died, it didn't trigger. But it's no big deal." Jounouchi waved it off nonchalantly.
After a moment of quiet reflection, Sakura broke the silence, "So... does this mean we're ghosts now?"
"Who knows?" Jounouchi glanced at their ethereal forms, both floating effortlessly in the air. "Saber and the others don't seem to notice us anymore."
"Hey! What's going on down there?!" Jounouchi shouted in frustration, his voice echoing through the sky. "Are we stuck here like spirits or something?"
"Don't be so morbid!" Sakura retorted.
---
Suddenly, the sound of clapping echoed from behind them, drawing both their attention.
"Not bad at all," a calm voice said.
They turned to see a white-robed figure whose face was obscured.
"That voice..."
"It's you!" Sakura and Jounouchi recognized it immediately. The voice belonged to the one who had invited them to participate in the Dragonball War—the god responsible for it all.
"What are you planning?!" Jounouchi demanded.
"No need to be so hasty," the god replied nonchalantly. "I just came to explain a few things since you both seemed... a little confused."
"About what?" Jounouchi asked, clearly irritated.
"Well, as I said at the start, the war is to grant the victor's wish. But only the one who wins gets that reward. I can't just send those who lose back home before the whole thing is settled."
"What do you mean?" Jounouchi scratched his head, not following the explanation.
Sakura sighed and clarified, "Idiot. He means that we, the losers, are stuck here to watch the rest of the war play out. We're basically spectators until someone wins and makes a wish."
The god nodded approvingly. "Exactly. It wouldn't do if you two went back and started spreading rumors that this was all a scam. I plan to host more of these wars, after all."
"So we just... watch?" Jounouchi asked, finally understanding.
"Correct. Once a winner emerges and their wish is granted, you'll both return to your own worlds. Until then, enjoy the show."
With that cryptic response, the god disappeared before they could ask anything else.
"So... does this mean we could get summoned again later?" Sakura mused aloud, picking up on the god's implications.
Jounouchi shrugged, "Sounds like it. But if I get called back, I sure as hell won't go out like this again!"
---
Meanwhile, in the real world, Lancer and Caster had been defeated. Two Servants had fallen, but the cost was heavy.
Archer had disappeared to nurse his wounds, and Rider was too injured to act for the time being. Only Assassin, Saber, and Berserker were still in decent shape.
But the most severe consequence was the panic that had gripped Fuyuki City. The destruction caused by the Witch of Battle was immense, and even with the church acting quickly to cover it up, the damage was done.
The chaos had forced the Tohsaka and Matou families to step in, using their resources to handle the situation. Whether through mass hypnosis or other means, it was going to be a difficult cleanup operation. The Witch had caused massive casualties and destruction, and the world had noticed.
As a result, there was an unspoken agreement among the remaining Masters and Servants to halt the fighting temporarily.
"I understand your position," Tohsaka Tokiomi said, ending his conversation with Kirei through a familiar. The situation had become complicated, and even the Mage's Association would have complaints about how things had been handled.
The open exposure of mysteries like this was unacceptable, and there would be consequences if they failed to clean it up properly.
"Such a blunder..."
Tokiomi sighed, knowing they had underestimated the strength of Lancer and Caster. It had taken a heavy toll on the Servants, and they had barely managed to eliminate the two.
"But at least, in the end, the most troublesome enemies have been dealt with," he muttered to himself. The chaos had been dangerous, but it was finally over. Now, the only remaining obstacle to his victory was Berserker. Once he found Berserker's Master, everything would fall into place.
---
**PS:**
I didn't forget about Monster Reborn. Its purpose was never meant to be used for Jounouchi and Sakura right now. Their return will come later, and the card's effect will play a role in their future. The story isn't just about fighting for a wish—there's much more to come even after they return to their respective worlds.
T/L: wow alrighty