SailorStar9: With Chapter 60 uploaded, I present Chapter 61 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 61: Reach Out! Red-Eyes Black Dragon of Friendship

"My deck's been powered up way too much with these banned cards." Jonouchi laughed. "I don't even need Monsters."

"Jonouchi..." Yami Yuugi muttered. "Don't you feel pain in your duelist heart?"

"Duelist heart?" Jonouchi snorted. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

"The pain I'm feeling right now isn't from the burning sensation of your cards." Yami Yuugi got back to his feet. "It's the pain of my sadness seeing you lose your heart as a Duelist."

On his docked speedboat..

"It's pointless no matter how much you scream." Marik grinned. "I've implanted Jonouchi with the memory of my hatred. He's become my loyal puppet, living only for the sole purpose of killing you."

In the duel...

"Yuugi, I'll crush you." Jonouchi swore. "It's your turn."

Other me. Yuugi cut in.

"Aibou?" Yami Yuugi blinked, pulled into their shared Soul Room.

"This is the first time I've felt you hurt so much." Yuugi admitted. "Maybe I can cut that pain in half. So I have a favor to ask. Let me fight Jonouchi. A long time ago, when I was afraid of everyone, Jonouchi called me his best friend. Jonouchi has always been helping me, so this time, it's my turn."

"But this duel is too difficult." Yami Yuugi was worried.

"I know that. Yuugi argued. "But you once told me this: that it wasn't the power of the Millennium Puzzle that allowed me to make friends, that I made it come true on my own. I want to prove that in this battle. If I can bring back Jonouchi's heart, then I really will make a wish come true on my own. I'll then feel I can say that proudly."

"All right." Yami Yuugi relented. "But if I ever feel your life is in serious danger, I'll be taking over that very instant."

"Jonouchi, I'll be your opponent now." Yuugi declared.

"That's Yuugi's vessel?" Marik frowned. "He's going to fight?"

On his docked speedboat..

"A vessel's nothing more than a mere vessel and nothing more." Marik cursed. "Just destroying the vessel; unless I beat the Pharaoh face-to-face, I won't be able to satisfy my grudge. Never mind." he changed his mind. "Forget it. If I beat this vessel to a bloody pulp, there's no way he'll be able to just sit and watch."

In the duel...

"It's my turn." Yuugi took his turn.

"Aibou, there's only one card sleeping in this deck that holds the ability to awaken Jonouchi's heart." Yami Yuugi reminded.

I better draw that card. Yuugi focused on the duel. 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon'. The card Jonouchi fought with for so long. Everything depends on it. "I'm gonna fight to get your heart back; to prove our friendship." please, red-eyed dragon, speak to Jonouchi with your soul and awaken his Duelist heart.

"Come on already." Jonouchi urged. "What are you waiting for, Yuugi? It's your turn."

I have two Monsters on the field. Yuugi pondered. 'Kuriboh' and the 2600 Defense Power ' Big Shield Gardna'. If I sacrifice these two Monsters, I can Summon the 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon'.

"Aibou, we only have 1300 Life Points left." Yami Yuugi reminded. "Proceed with caution."

Five cards in my hand. Yuugi gave his hand a look. There's something I want to make sure of before I play 'Red-Eyes' this turn. But if it doesn't work... I believe in Jonouchi. He erased his doubts. "'Exchange'." he played the Spell Card.

"I take it your hand must really suck." Jonouchi mocked. "If I must," he walked over to Yuugi's side. "I bet you only got junky cards." he noted, giving a look at Yuugi's hand. "Red-Eyes?" he gaped.

"Come on, Jonouchi, take whichever card you want out of these five cards." Yuugi offered.

A falter in his brainwaves. Ami had been waiting for the moment. Now! She activated the Millennium Scales and entered Jonouchi's mind.

On his docked speedboat..

"I knew the vessel was inexperienced as a duelist, but I didn't imagine he was this bad." Marik laughed. "Giving us his Rare Card just like that... what the..." he gaped when he sensed an intrusion in Jonouchi's mind.

In the duel...

"Hello, Marik." Ami greeted the portion of Marik's conscious within Jonouchi's mind.

"You..." the Egyptian gasped.

"I know," Ami drawled flatly. "I really don't appreciate you invading my friends' minds like this. I'm pretty sure your subordinate mentioned me to you." a shuffle on the ground indicated that Ammit had curled at her feet. "So, unless you want Ammit to turn you into a mid-day snack," she glared hatefully at the older teen. "You will leave Jonouchi's mind."

"Very well." Marik gritted his teeth, knowing better than to incur the wrath of the 'Devourer of Hearts'. "I am not foolish enough to fight a battle I can't win." left with no choice, he left Jonouchi's mind, relinquishing his mental grip on the blond Duelist.

"Yuugi...?" now, freed from Marik, Jonouchi blinked in confusion. "What am I doing here? And why am I dueling you?"

"It's a long story." Yuugi replied.

Just then, Mai, Honda, Otogi and Shizuka arrived to the scene, just in time to see Jonouchi declare his forfeit.

"Shizuka, your eyes..." Jonouchi saw his sister's bandages were removed, revealing that she had regained her eyesight.

"You've given me more than enough courage, onii-chan." Shizuka nodded. "We were separated, but now I'm by your side again, because your friends supported me. At last, I found you, onii-chan."

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