There Yugi stood, in broad day light, with a familiar dueling disk on his left arm and pack of cards in his right hand. He knew Marik would arrive soon. He realized that this would be his first real duel against him. He didn't count all the battles leading up to Battle City, because those were his cronies, not him. He remembered Battle City with some fondness.

He also remembered, with an uncomfortable air of vividness, when he had first met Ishizu, Marik's sister. Besides her appearance, she was nothing like him. She had long, straight black hair, dark olive skin, judgmental blue eyes, and tall, slender model-like figure. She was beautiful. Around her neck she adorned herself with the Millennium Necklace, which she valued as highly as Marik his rod and Yugi his puzzle.

They had met at the Battle City finals. She explained the history of his puzzle, acting as if it actually possessed a pharaoh. Yugi thought back to his many days in doctors' office, events that still occurred, realizing he too believed it. She also explained the dynamics of Marik. Why he acted the way he did. It was sad, really. She wanted to help him, show him the light.

"Marik has lost his way," She had said. "He was really a good boy when he was younger, but you have to understand how our life was..."

She went on to explain that they were tomb keepers, that Marik had spent his entire life in the depths of a pyramid, under strict rule from old world parents. Yugi wasn't sure why she was sharing that much with him and his friends. He just knew she wanted help however she could get it.

"No offense," Joey had said in that rude way of his, "but I don't see why I have to help your brother. He nearly killed Tea and Mokuba."

"But Mokuba's obnoxious," Duke had said quietly.

"He didn't kill them!" She had said, suddenly angry. She looked away and regained her composure. When she continued to speak, she had obvious tears in her eyes, "I just want to help him and I think the only way to do so is for you-" She looked at Yugi straight in the eye "-is for you to talk to him. Maybe duel him. Then maybe he'll get better."

"Why would that help?" Yugi had asked.

She explained how Marik had delusions that Yugi was the pharaoh and, because of Marik's great disdain towards the pharaoh, if the pharaoh apologized, explained himself, or even rightfully won his title, Marik would "see the light."

"I think he's a freak," Joey had grumbled.

Ishizu gave Joey the death stare, but continued. She explained more about their past, when Tristan interrupted and said, "No offense, but why don't you just bring him to therapy."

She began slowly, choosing each word carefully, but still stumbling as she spoke, "Well, you see, the dynamics of our culture-"

"No, you know why? Because Marik probably has done more shit then any of us can name. He's probably done more than just kidnapping and his sister, Ms. Hero, is afraid that he'll go to jail. Well you know what? He should go to jail. He deserves it," Joey hollered.

Everyone knew it was true. They looked at Ishizu. She couldn't deny it. She swallowed her thoughts, curtly stood up, and left the room. The door closed as they heard her footsteps slowly disappear.

Yugi looked at Joey, "Was that really necessary?"

Joey shrugged without any regret.

"All duelists to the main foyer," a voice had announced through one of the many speakers.

Yugi's memory was hazy from there because, he now realized, he must have dissociated.