DISCLAIMER: If you recognise it from somewhere else, it isn't mine.

Friends Til the End Part IV

Kaiba guessed he should've have been surprised that Yugi's gang bang managed to find them. He, for one, was just glad Sharee was the closest one of them standing next to him. He found her far more tolerable than the others. Thing was, she seemed to have positioned herself on purpose. It was clear she had some sort of an idea.

'The card I hold in my hand is the key to my victory,' Marik said. 'As soon as I play it, your world will crumble as you sink to your doom.'

'Not if I can set Joey free from your control first, Marik!' Yugi snapped.

'The moment I've been waiting for is about to arrive. It's all over, Yugi.'

'No!' Tristan cried.

'There's gotta be a way to put a stop to this duel,' the other guy – the one he didn't know – insisted. Why were there always new people in Yugi's little gang?

'They'll hurt Téa.' At least Mai was reasonable.

'What do we do?' Serenity asked.

Sharee turned her head. 'Hey, Duke. That rock next to your foot. Hand it to me.'

Duke looked confused but he leaned over and picked up the rock sitting next to his foot and handed it over. Sharee examined the palm-sized hunk of earth, then glanced over at the crane operator before looking back at it. Her hand went to her waistband and stopped there. Because she wrapped her hand around it, Kaiba noticed what he hadn't before. Along with all the pouches she had, Sharee was also carrying a slingshot. Her intentions became clear.

Mokuba made a sound of frustration. 'Seto, isn't there some way we can stop this without putting Téa in danger?'

Kaiba looked over, examining the Rare Hunter himself. He ignored Téa as she attempted to call out again. She didn't seem to understand that opening her mouth was only irritating people. It was certainly irritating him. She'd already given Yugi all he needed and now it'd be better for her to sit back and shut up. That was obviously beyond her comprehension though.

'Come on, you guys. Time is almost up! You have to stop this duel now! Forget about me! Just save Yugi and Joey! If you don't do something soon, they'll both be in major trouble! Please, just do it! I'll be fine!'

Suddenly the Rare Hunter got out of the truck. 'I wouldn't listen to her.'

'We can't, Téa!' Mokuba insisted. 'He'll push that button!' Mokuba turned. 'Come on, Seto. We can't let Téa get hurt. She saved my life.'

Kaiba looked at his duel disk. Sharee had an idea and it was clear what it was to anyone who'd been paying attention. It'd take more than flinging a rock to get her out of there. There may be a way to stop these Rare Hunters. He reached up and took a hold on the microphone in his collar. 'It's me. Now listen up.'

YGO

'Come on, Joey!' Yugi called. 'This is your last chance to break free!'

Joey was standing there, staring at the card in his hand. His teeth were clenched like he was uneasy. That look was beginning to come back to him. There was something different this time though. Maybe this would be it. Yugi realised, with a burst of insight, that his best friend just needed a small push.

'This is it, Joey!' he called. 'You have to remember who you are – now!'

Joey's head shifted and his eyes widened. 'I am…Joey!' His hand lifted to his head. Pained sounds came from him.

Yugi knew he'd been right. This was it! 'Oh…'

'It's faint,' Joey said. 'But I also remember my friends.' He groaned. 'I remember…going to Duellist Kingdom and duelling my hardest to get to the top. My past…It's real!' His eyes suddenly widened. Marik must've been trying to invade his mind again. Both of Joey's hands clamped to his head as he threw it back and screamed to the heavens.

Yugi looked over at Sharee. The others were all watching in horror – even Kaiba. She had a smile on her face though. She saw Yugi looking at her and raised her hand. As she said something to the others, she gave Yugi the "okay" sign. So this is meant to happen when someone's breaking their brainwashing. Yugi looked back at Joey.

Joey collapsed to his knees. 'Get outta my head!' He threw his head back and screamed again. 'I can't! He's my best friend! I won't destroy Yugi!'

Yugi didn't even want to know how many times Sharee had seen this to be able to stand there calmly while it was happening. Joey, still on his knees, rolled forward. He didn't quite fall flat on his face, but it was a near thing.

'Yugi's my pal!' He clearly needed support to get through this.

'Fight it, Joey!' Yugi called. 'You can do it, Joey! I know you can! Be strong!'

'Gotta…be strong…' Joey's body shook as he fought the invasion in his mind.

Joey's gonna do it. I know he is! Our friendship is strong and so is his will. Marik's Millennium Rod's got nothing on that. He's just gotta keep fighting. Yugi looked up at the timer. They had just under two minutes left. And break free before that anchor falls into the ocean, taking us with it. Come on, Joey. Time is running out. He looked back over at his best friend. We can beat Marik at his own twisted game as soon as you wake up. Yugi raised his voice. 'Marik! You hide like a coward, but wherever you are I know you can hear me and I've got some news for you. There will be a loser in this duel, but it's not who you're thinking. It's not me, and it's not Joey either. It's you, Marik! You will lose this duel!' Somehow he felt the shift in dimensions. He still couldn't see him but it was like he was standing opposite him. 'You may have thought you could force Joey to destroy me by taking over his mind, but it looks like there's something you didn't take into account when you made your plan. The strength of Joey's bond with his friends! Time maybe running out, but Joey's back and we're in control of this duel now. Your power over Joey has been removed and, I'd say, that means you lose!'

'Yug…' Joey murmured.

'That times may run out, but since Joey is free you can't be considered the winner of this duel,' Yugi said. 'Get it? Since you're not duelling anymore, how can you possibly win this duel?'

YGO

Sharee chuckled. 'Brain the size of a pea. I'd almost feel sorry for Marik…' She folded her hands behind her head.

'What does Yugi think he's doing?' Kaiba demanded. 'That fool!'

'Obviously, Yugi just cut through Marik's influence over Joey,' Sharee said like it was the simplest thing in the world.

'Is my brother safe yet?' Serenity asked.

Sharee lowered her hands and her eyes narrowed. 'Not quite. Like I said, "brain the size of a pea". I don't think Marik's quite absorbed it yet. He'll keep trying. In the meantime, Joey's gonna have one ugly headache.'

'Yugi!' Téa called. 'Time is running out!'

Sharee turned her head and yelled over. 'Then will you let the man work?' That was probably mean, but de-brainwashing someone was a delicate process. Distractions had to be kept down to a minimum.

'Come on, guys,' Mai murmured. 'End this.'

YGO

'What are you gonna do now, Marik?' Yugi demanded. 'Just wait in your little hideaway until you lose this duel? This is your last chance for victory! So come and get me! Joey can't be controlled so it's up to you!'

The card in Joey's hand glowed. Joey looked at it and his limb started to shake. 'I…can't!' He grabbed his head again and thew it back, screaming once more. This time a visible glow extended from the card and outlined him. Somehow he got his feet under him. The glowing eye appeared on his forehead, meaning that Marik had exercised the full power of the Millennium Rod on him. Sure enough, a look of pure mindless insanity came onto Joey's face.

'It's over, Yugi.' This was now purely Marik. He played the card. 'I activate Meteor of Destruction!' A glowing purple vortex appeared over their heads. Lightning flashed around and a fireball began to come out of the eye of the vortex.

Yugi gave a cry of alarm.

'You dare to disrespect my power?' Marik crowed. 'Looks like your friend is weaker than you thought. Who's loosing now?' The fireball shot down, heading right for Yugi. He watched it come, knowing exactly how to stop it but also aware that Joey needed that extra incentive.

Yugi wasn't sure how he felt the burst of power but he heard the loud grunt from Joey as he broke free from the effects of the Millennium Rod. He grinned. 'You did it!'

Powerful purple energy streamed out of Joey's body as he screamed. Then he slumped. For a few moments, he stood there like that. Joey suddenly lifted his head, eyes wide and alarmed. 'Yugi!'

Yugi nodded. He felt the tears in his eyes. I knew Joey's heart was too strong for Marik. There's only one thing left to do. 'Trap card, activate!' His face-down card lifted, revealing itself. 'Mystical Refpanel will stop Marik's meteor. The meteor in question collided with the sprite, holding the panel, that'd emerged. The effects would still be seen within through. 'My trap card has absorbed the effects of Marik's Meteor of Destruction card. 'Now my Mystical Refpanel can redirect the Meteor's attack wherever I want. I'm not going to put you in danger, Joey.'

Joey looked at him, surprised. 'Yugi…'

Yugi smiled and nodded again.

YGO

Yugi has quite a predicament on his hands. Thanks to the Mystical Refpanel, he has the power to control the outcome of this duel, leaving him with a difficult decision. He can either direct the attack towards Wheeler…Kaiba thought broke of as he gasped and realised what Yugi was really going to do. '…Or chose to destroy himself.' He redirected his gaze. 'And if either of them try to escape, then Téa's done for!' Unless the plan works. But time is running out.

What was taking that chopper so long?

YGO

Joey looked down at the Puzzle in his hands. He looked at his friend in confusion. 'Why am I wearing your Millennium Puzzle?'

'Because I gave it to you, Joey,' Yugi said. 'When I was trying to help you remember our friendship.'

Joey was officially confused, and he told Yugi as much. 'I'm confused.'

'Marik tried to turn you against me.' Yugi explained it. 'But our friendship ended up being stronger than his powers. And giving you my Puzzle helped you to break free. You're my best friend, Joey, and no evil magic can take that away. And now I have to put an end to this duel. But, remember, we defeated Marik together, Joey.'

Why was he talking like that?

It sounded suspiciously like a farewell speech.

YGO

Téa called out to them again. 'You guys better do something soon or…'

'Or what?' Joey asked.

'Or you're both in trouble!' Téa insisted.

'Joey, allow me to make more sense.' Sharee had enough of Téa's panicking. 'You and Yugi are both shackled to that anchor hanging above your heads.'

Joey looked up with a cry of alarm.

'When that timer runs out, the anchor drops, taking both of you with it.' Sharee continued. 'Unless this duel has a winner, in which case the box at the winner's feet opens, then gives them a key and thirty seconds to unlock their cuff.' She paused. 'And that's exactly how long you have to win or lose.'

To her right, Kaiba tensed. He knew as well as she did that it was too late. Maybe Sharee was just better at this sort of thing because she was used to people trying to kill her and she saw it as "another day at the office". Sharee suddenly heard chopper blades and she, along with everyone else, turned. Kaiba's helicopter flew over the top of the warehouse.

'It's one of Kaiba's choppers!' Tristan stated the obvious. 'But who's flying that thing?'

'No one,' Mokuba said. 'It's remote controlled.'

Kaiba looked at her. 'Have you done this sort of thing before?'

'Naturally.' Sharee yanked out her slingshot. In a single motion, she loaded the rock into the slingshot and aimed, then she released the rock. All of this happened in under a second. The projectile sailed across the pier and hit the Rare Hunter, smack in the face, just as he hopped out of the truck. He fell back and didn't move. The rock had hit him in the temple.

A ladder was cast down as the chopper swooped overhead. Sharee timed herself and jumped up, sliding her foot into the lowest rung. Her arm slid around and wrapped around one higher up the ladder. Her slingshot went back to her waistband. She felt a tug in her side, but ignored it. As the chopper flew her over, Sharee noticed that the crane operator was the only Rare Hunter around. The chopper flew her over and Sharee hopped down, landing right next to Téa.

'Sharee, don't worry about me!' Téa insisted. 'You've gotta stop…'

Whap! Téa started as she was cut off. It was clear she hadn't been expected to be even lightly slapped across the face. She looked up at Sharee, shocked. The other brunette leaned on the back of the chair and smiled.

'Téa, do us a favour, yeah?' she said. 'Don't talk when you're panicking. You're just repeating the same things over and over again. It gets really annoying.'

Everyone looked up as the chopper caught the top of the crane and dragged the whole lot into the ocean. There was an explosion, causing a massive wave that splashed both of them. Sharee hit the switches that released Téa from the shackles. She straightened up and turned as the others called out.

'Téa!'

They were all running over – except Kaiba. He was walking over. As Téa and the others babbled amongst each other, Sharee watched the CEO. He stopped by the Rare Hunter and nudged him with his foot. Then he bent over. Kaiba straightened and looked at Sharee for a moment. She could get in a lot of trouble.

No one but Sharee saw Seto Kaiba push the body into the sea.

YGO

'There's not much time left,' Yugi said. 'If one of us doesn't win, we'll both be pulled under. And there's no way I'm gonna let that happen Joey.'

'What are you saying, Yug?' Joey had a nasty feeling he knew.

'I'm saying that I've decided to save you, Joey.'

Joey had been afraid of that.

'There's no point in both of us going down.' Tears were visible in Yugi's eyes. 'And if I lose, you're safe.'

Joey's whole gut reacted against that. 'But…' Yugi was his best friend. He couldn't let him die for him! 'I can't let you do this, Yug.'

Tears rolled down Yugi's face. 'It's my decision. So now…'

'No, Yugi!' Joey ignored the tears in his own eyes. How could he even think of looking tough right now?

'Take care of my Puzzle,' Yugi said. 'Now it's time. Refpanel, direct your attack toward me!' The Refpanel turned and faced Yugi. The fiery meteor shot out of the panel and headed right for Yugi.

The scream came out of Joey's mouth without any thought. 'Yugiiiiiii!'

When the fire and smoke cleared, Yugi was lying on the wooden boards. His life points dropped to zero and the box at Joey's feet opened, revealing the key to the shackles.

'The key! But I can't just save myself.' There was no way Joey would let his best friend die. 'I gotta help Yugi too.'

Yugi lifted his head. 'Joey, free yourself now. You've only got thirty seconds to make it out, then the anchor falls. You have to unlock your chains now. Come on, Joey. And hurry, before the anchor falls and pulls you under.'

How could Joey only save himself though?

YGO

Sharee stopped next to Serenity. She'd stayed right where they'd left her. She could see what'd happened. Yugi was quite a guy for self-sacrifice, but Joey could be just as bad. He shook his head.

'Forget it!' he insisted. 'No way am I letting my best friend become shark-bait.'

Yugi struggled to pull his duel disk from his arm.

'We're in this together, Yug, and there's no way I'm letting you take the fall! We're gonna make it outta this.'

Yugi got the duel disk off and set it aside.

'Don't give up, Yugi!' Joey shook in fear. 'I'll think of something!' Then…he seemed to. It seemed to be an attempt to get the Red Eyes to wipe out his life points too. It was a good idea, but it fell flat. Yugi's box opened but he couldn't grab the key.

Sharee laid her hand on Serenity's shoulder as Joey came up with an alternate plan. 'You can take the bandages off now.'

Joey was talking to Yugi. '…this time, Joey's gonna be the one doing the rescuing! You taught me about courage and never giving up.'

Serenity's bandages dropped around her neck, and she cast them away. For a moment she stood there with her eyes closed. Then, slowly, she opened her eyes. It would take a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light again. 'I can see.'

'Hang in there, Yugi.' Joey took off his own duel disk and the Millennium Puzzle. Then he grabbed the chain on his side of the field. You'll be outta those chains in no time.' He ran and jumped.

Serenity's first sight was her brother swinging across the water, on a chain, to his best friend…with some kind of weird battle cry. Her eyes widened. 'It's Joey.'

Joey reached out. 'Almost there! Gotta beat the clock!' His hand wrapped around the key. 'Got it!' The timer hit zero. The bomb exploded and the anchor plunged into the water, taking both boys with them.

'That anchor is going to drag both of them down!' Téa exclaimed.

Tristan, at least was more productive, but not really that logical. He charged after them. 'Joey!'

'Tristan!' Joey called.

Tristan tried to grab his hand but he fell short and Joey went under with Yugi. Téa gave a shrill scream that really rubbed on Sharee's nerves. She then collapsed to her knees on the floorboards, crying out.

'No! Yugi! Joey!'

Sharee looked around at everyone. They all looked dejected and mournful, like the boys were already dead. 'Oh, for the love of God!' If they hadn't inhaled any water, yet, they'd be fine, for now. 'What's the matter? Can't anybody swim?' That said, she grabbed her lock pick and dived into the sea.

Lesson the first: sometimes people die because other people give up.

YGO

When Sharee went under the water, a small amount of blood floated up. Tristan felt a rush of worry. Besides, she was right…that and he hadn't realised she actually had a lock pick on her. Bearing all that in mind, Tristan dived into the water too. The saltiness stung his eyes but he forced himself to keep them open.

Tristan could soon easily see where the others were. Yugi was floating in the water, with Joey at the cuff on his leg and Sharee swimming towards them both. Tristan swum down. As Joey got Yugi free, Sharee grabbed him and pulled him up. She looked towards the surface, seeing him coming, she smiled. Tristan wasn't too far behind her so she just passed Yugi up to him.

Tristan grabbed Yugi and pulled him up onto his back. He swum upwards and Sharee started manoeuvring herself down to Joey's cuff. It seemed harder than it had been for him to get to Yugi. Tristan broke the surface. There were cries of alarm from all their friends. He pulled Yugi over to their friends and Téa was the first one over, pulling Yugi up. He gasped in the much-needed oxygen as she slumped against the wood. But at least he was safe.

'Where's Joey?' Mokuba asked.

'Still down there,' Tristan said. 'Sharee's having trouble getting to his lock.'

Before anyone else could move, there was a second splash. Everyone – except Yugi – twisted around. Serenity had dived in after her brother. God, was it a family trait, putting your own safety aside like that?

YGO

It was more that the stupid thing was jammed that was Sharee's problem. She knew people could only hold their breaths for so long before they inhaled water. It'd be easier if she had the key. Oh, well, going up to get it would take far too much time. She had to get the lock like this.

Sharee suddenly felt a disturbance in the water again. It didn't come from her or Joey, but it did ripple against her skin. She turned her head and looked up again. She wasn't really surprised, to be honest, not to see Serenity Wheeler swimming down. She was more surprised at the speed the younger girl was moving.

She swims pretty fast for someone whose been in and out of hospital most of her life.

It must've been a natural talent. Something was clenched in her fist as she swum down. When she swum down alongside Sharee, she saw what it was. Serenity had grabbed the key. She must not have seen the lock pick in Sharee's hand – which was understandable – or she wouldn't have bothered getting it.

Serenity quickly unlocked the cuff around Joey's ankle and both girls grabbed him, pulling him up to the surface. When they broke through the water, all of them gasped for breath. Sharee turned and swam over to where their friends were. They'd already pulled Yugi out.

'They did it!' Téa cried.

Sharee chuckled and pulled herself up so she was sitting on the edge of the boards. 'Téa, it isn't that hard to unlock a shackle…' She grinned at Serenity. '…when you've got the key.' In fact, Sharee already liked that girl.

As they chuckled, Joey looked down at his sister in concern. 'Serenity, but how?'

Serenity lifted her head and smiled. 'Tristan and Mai brought me here after we tracked you guys down.'

Yugi suddenly noticed that he was not the only one to escape. 'Joey, hey!'

Joey looked over at them and gave a wide smile. 'Yugi! What's up?' He and Serenity swum over.

'Not that I want to interrupt this reunion,' Mai spoke up. 'But I've been meaning to ask you something, Sharee.'

Sharee looked at her. 'Go ahead.'

'When you dived into the water some blood came to the surface.' At Mai's statement, everyone looked at her in concern.

'Huh?' Sharee stood up. 'I must've pulled some stiches with that helicopter stunt then.'

'Stiches?' Yugi asked.

'Hm.' That had to have been what the tug she felt was. Sharee lifted her shirt enough to show her bandages. They were still bound tightly around her middle. The bandages were white and clean now though. She had to be right. 'Well, I'm not bleeding at present.'

'How come there's no blood on the bandages then?' Serenity asked.

Duke answered that one. 'Because the salt water would have washed it away.'

Sharee tugged her shirt down again. 'Okay. No biggie, then.'

YGO

The sun was going down. Everyone was out of the water, but those that'd taken that swim were still a bit damp. Sharee had finished ringing off her hair, at least. Yugi was always amazed and the amount of water she managed to get rid of. Right now, they had something else to deal with though.

'Yugi, I'm, uh…' Joey tried again. 'Well, er…' He forced it out. 'I'm sorry, man!' He growled in agitated.

'It's okay,' Yugi said. 'It's not your fault.'

'But I almost destroyed our friendship!' Joey insisted.

Yugi lifted his head. 'Yeah, but in the end, not only did you save our friendship, you saved me.'

Joey turned back to him. 'I had no choice. Once I realised what I was doing to you…I had to make it right or do myself in trying, Yugi. Ever since we've been friends, we've always kept any eye out for each other. I wasn't going to let some Rare Hunter creep change that. Even if…' His fist shook in anger. 'Even if my brain was turned to mush!'

'It's okay,' Yugi said.

'But that Marik made a complete fool outta me,' Joey protested.

'Don't feel too bad.' Sharee grinned. 'Marik made a bigger fool out of himself. He already attacked my family, which completely failed by the way, and then I kicked his butt. Then I warned him that some people just have too strong of wills to be controlled for very long.' She chuckled 'Guess he had to learn it the hard way.'

'I guess that makes me feel a little better,' Joey said. 'Still, how can I show my face at the finals now?'

Mai suddenly came over. THWACK! In a move Yugi wasn't expecting, she slapped Joey across the face. 'Will you get a grip, please? You showed some real courage out there, Joey. So who cares about how you looked?'

Joey looked at her in surprise, nursing his cheek. 'Just like the courage you showed at Duellist Kingdom when you duelled for your sister, remember that? What she did today, she did because of you. You're her idol…ding-dong!'

'What kind of idol gets turned into a zombie and then almost destroys his best friend?' Joey demanded.

'A real one.' Sharee cut off the rest of what he was about to say. Joey looked at her in surprise. She smiled. 'When most people have idols, they're shown as something more than human. That leaves a person with unrealistic expectations. They get let down and become angry and pessimistic later in life. At least with a real idol, a person will see how things really are and not just what's glamorous.'

Sometimes Yugi wondered if Sharee really was sixteen.

Joey hesitated. '…I guess.'

'Stop feeling sorry for yourself!' Tristan snapped. 'Serenity gets her strength from you! That's why she waited til now to take her bandages off.'

'Huh?' Joey twisted his head. 'Serenity, you can see now!'

'Hm-mm.' Serenity nodded. 'I was afraid at first, but hearing you save Yugi inspired me. After I took my bandages off and opened my eyes, you showed me what courage was all about, Joey.' Tears gathered in her eyes. 'I just had to dive in.'

Joey turned to her. 'Really?'

'I made it through my operation because of you,' Serenity said. 'You've always been there for me.' She lifted a hand to her eyes and sobbed once. 'Today, it was my turn to be there for you, big brother!' She shot forward and hugged him.

Joey smiled and hugged her back.

'Joey, I'd say we're a pretty good team,' she said.

Yugi smiled as they watched this. 'I'm glad we're all together, guys.'

Joey looked over. 'You said it, Yug.'

YGO

The sun had gone down and everyone had now dried off.

'Well, I'm sure glad that's over,' Téa said.

'Ditto,' Tristan remarked.

Joey put the Millennium Puzzle back around Yugi's neck. 'Hey, Yugi, I believe this is yours.' He stepped back and smiled. 'Thanks for everything, pal.'

'Thank you for saving my life, Joey,' Yugi said.

'Hey, Yug.' Joey grinned. 'I'm glad that Millennium Puzzle is back where it belongs.'

Yugi looked down and took the Puzzle in his hands. That reminds me: I owe a big thanks to you too, Pharaoh. You trusted me enough to let me handle this on my own. I could never have broken through to Joey if you didn't believe in me. You and I make a great team, but it's also nice to know that I have the strength to hold my own if I have to. And you helped me find that strength, inside myself.

The Pharaoh looked at Yugi, thinking. That had been quite an episode. It'd brought something to his attention that he hadn't thought of before. Shamee came from Sharee's Bandanna and stopped next to him.

'What's the problem, Pharaoh?' she asked. 'You look pensive.'

The Pharaoh looked at her. 'With his kindness, Yugi is going to surpass even me.'

'That's a bad thing?' she asked. 'They've got a saying in this time period: the best way to thank a teacher is to surpass him.'

They looked at their young charges and their friends.

'Hey, anyone hungry?' Tristan asked.

'I'm starving,' Joey said.

The Kaiba brothers turned and started to leave.

Yugi called after him. 'Hey, Kaiba.'

Kaiba stopped. 'Hm?' But he didn't turn around.

'We couldn't have gotten out of that mess without you,' Yugi said.

Kaiba looked back. 'I did what I had to, Yugi. Got it?'

'Well, thank you.' Yugi was still polite enough to thank someone when they helped him, no matter what the reason.

Kaiba continued on. 'I'll see you at the Battle City Finals.' With that, he and Mokuba left.

'Guess that means "you're welcome",' Tristan remarked.

In all this insanity, I forgot about the finals. That could be where Marik will strike next. This fight is far from over and whenever Marik comes back, I'll be ready for him.