SailorStar9: With Chapter 59 uploaded, I present Chapter 60 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra and Ami's dueling deck.

Chapter 60: Heartless Duel - Yuugi vs. Jonouchi

"Those two should be on their way shortly." Marik remarked, leading his group, along with the brainwashed Jonouchi and Anzu to the designated dueling ring. "To save their precious friends, that is. Jonouchi and this girl have become my pawns." I'm looking forward to the show that's about to unfold.

"Marik-sama." Rishid voiced. "Just as you ordered, I have secured 12 Puzzle Cards for the Battle City finals."

"Good work." Marik nodded. "That's just like you. You took on enough Battle City duels for two, and won every one of them, with that Trap strategy of yours. There's no need to take control of you, because I knew you would never betray me."

"Now, please accept these Puzzle Cards." Rishid handed over 6 of the 12 Puzzle Cards he won.

"Now, I'm qualified to enter the Battle City finals." Marik grinned. "Rishid, along with you. Give Jonouchi the deck of 40 cards we've prepared for him."

"And now Jonouchi's deck has been transformed into a Banned deck that can be used to assassinate a player." Rishid handed Jonouchi the modified deck. "There is one more thing, Marik-sama. The owner of the Millennium Scales is the human incarnation of the Goddess Maat."

"This is indeed troubling..." Marik pondered.

On the helicopter...

"Jonouchi, please to safe.' Yami Yuugi prayed.

"How naive." Kaiba rebuked. "If he truly has the power to control people, then Marik probably already turned Jonouchi into a wild animal with its fangs drawn at you. If I were him, that's what I'd do."

"Kaiba, I don't know what he's up to, but if it means saving Jonouchi, I'll gladly put my life on the line." Yami Yuugi snapped.

"Yuugi, I'm already aware." Kaiba replied "You made a serious self-contradiction when you decided to follow that self-righteous path you're always preaching about. In our Tag Duel with those Rare Hunters, you showed me the power of unity. But if you and Jonouchi are forced to fight one another this time around, then tell me where this 'power of unity' lies then."

"There's someone down there." Mokuba looked out of the window. "Is that... Jonouchi."

At the pier...

"Jonouchi." Yami Yuugi exited the helicopter with the Kaiba brothers and Ami.

"I've been waiting for you to show up, Yuugi." Jonouchi smirked.

So, he really is being controlled by Marik. Yami Yuugi realized.

"Jonouchi almost seems like a different person." even Mokuba noticed the personalty change.

"So, this is Marik's power of controlling people?" Kaiba frowned.

"Jonouchi, you have to wake up." Yami Yuugi insisted.

"Wake up?" Jonouchi snorted. "I'm wide awake. I'm more than awake enough to beat you to a pulp. Yuugi, you can't run away from me or this duel: a duel with our own lives on the line, fighting til our last breaths."

"It's no use, Yuugi." Ami pulled the duelist back. "His mind is already being completely controlled by Marik. When Jonouchi's totally focused on the duel, I'll try to eject Marik from him."

"The Millennium Scales' power..." Yami Yuugi mused. "Alright. Jonouchi, listen to me." he addressed the brainwashed duelist. "I want to duel you in Battle City from the bottom of my heart; but as true duelists, with our pride on the line. This battle is a trap set by Marik. This isn't the true duel we promised each other."

"Follow me, Yuugi." Jonouchi instructed. "The stage for our duel of death is over here."

"Anzu, too?" Ami turned, seeing the brainwashed Anzu walk down the docked ship.

"Jonouchi has become my puppet and his emotions and memory are being controlled by my anger." using Anzu, Marik explained. "Now then, Yuugi. Jonouchi is waiting for you at the stage of your death duel."

At the dueling ring...

"This setup..." Ami frowned, giving the death trap a quick look-over. "How unoriginal."

"This is our duel stage?" Yami Yuugi wondered.

"Before the duel starts, you will each attach these handcuffs to your ankles." Anzu brought out a pair of black ankle cuffs.

"Sorry Anzu, but this is for your own good." Ami spoke, appearing behind the possessed Anzu and pinched a pressure point on the back of the other girl's neck, knocking her out.

"How..." Mokuba gawked as Ami pulled the unconscious Anzu back to the sidelines.

"Pressure point." Ami shrugged.

"An unexpected glitch, but no matter." using Jonouchi's body, Marik continued. "Yuugi, you get to go first."

"'Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts', Defense Mode." Yami Yuugi played his turn. "Turn over."

"My turn." Jonouchi took his turn. "My card is 'Raigeki'." he took out 'Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts'. Then, I play 'Alligator's Sword' on the field. Directly attack the player. What's wrong, Yuugi?" he mocked. "You're not so tough after all. But it's way too early to start fearing me. Now, bring it, Yuugi."

"My turn." Yami Yuugi took his turn. "'Big Shield Gardna' in Defense Mode. Turn over."

"It's no use pulling out a Wall Monster." Jonouchi scoffed. "My turn. I'm gonna use this against you. 'Hinotama'." the Spell Card instantly caused 500 damage on Yami Yuugi.

"Magic Cards that directly damage the player are banned from this tournament." Kaiba snarled.

"Kaiba, I don't think Marik actually cares." Ami retorted.

"How's it feel?" Jonouchi taunted. "The power of the illegal player assaulting banned card, ' Hinotama', that is."

I really don't want to fight you. Yami Yuugi mused. This isn't the duel we wished for. But I have to fight him. I know Jonouchi's duelist heart still hasn't disappeared from within him.

"It's your turn." Jonouchi drawled. "Come on now, Yuugi. How long are you gonna buy time for? Hurry up and put up a Monster."

Jonouchi has 'Alligator's Sword' with 1500 Attack Points on the field. Yami Yuugi pondered. And I have 'Big Shield Gardna' with 2600 Defense Points. And I don't have any cards right now strong enough to fight 'Alligator's Sword'. I'll have to strengthen my defense and try and buy some more time for Ami to ready herself. "I set a reverse card. And then, I call 'Kuriboh' to the field in Attack Mode. Turn over."

"'Kuriboh' in Attack Mode?" Jonouchi snorted. "Are you kidding me? If my 'Alligator's Sword' attacks your 'Kuriboh', Yuugi, your Life Points are gonna take a serious hit. 'Alligator's Sword', attack 'Kuriboh'."

"Reverse card open." Yami Yuugi countered. "'Kuriboh' is shielded by the 'Spellbinding Circle'. And the 'Spellbinding Circle' stops 'Alligator's Sword' from attacking."

"That's no use, Yuugi." Kaiba barked. "That won't work against his Banned deck."

"And so what of it?" Jonouchi scoffed. "It doesn't matter whether I play a Monster or not, all I need to do is drain your Life Points. So why don't you eat this once again?" he played a second 'Hinotama'.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.