Sorry for the long wait! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Of Cards and Mascots

Mako shuffled his deck for what seemed to be the hundredth time, as he stole a glance over at his brother who was laying on his bunk reading a new novel that Ronan had picked up in the last town.

It was day four into their journey to the Dueling tournament and almost a month since the last dream that had roused Ronan from his slumber. Ronan had not seen the black-haired boy or any other visions that had seemed to haunt his subconscious. Mako was a bit thankful that the disturbing dreams had stopped. His affection for Ronan was very deep and he hated to see his brother in any pain. Mako silently hoped that the dreams were gone for good, and Ronan could move on adjusting his life as a Tsunami. He smiled quietly to himself as he remembered that soon it would be a year since Ronan had come into his life. The year had been bumpy between helping Ronan's physical health return as well as dealing with the dreams that could easily put Ronan into a sad or anxious mood.

"If you keep shuffling, you're going to wear the cards so thin that your opponent will see through them."

Mako looked up at his brother. Ronan gave a soft smile, "Are you nervous, brother?"

Mako shrugged, "Just thinking."

"Penny for your thoughts?" Ronan pushed.

Mako shook his head, and forced a laugh, "Its nothing, Ronan. I was just going over strategies."

"While you were looking at me?" Ronan said with a smirk.

Mako grinned, "Yes, a duelist often looks at his source of inspiration when he wants luck."

Ronan let out a snort and rolled his eyes. "Right. How am I your source of inspiration? I mean, how can I be better than whatever source you had before I came?"

"My source was my friends, but since they aren't around much they aren't an efficient source, are they?"

Ronan shook his head, thought he was mildly amused that he and Mako were even discussing this subject further than it was really needed.

"Therefore, since you are around me all the time, I can name you my source of inspiration." Mako grinned.

Ronan laughed, and turned towards his book, "Right. So when will I be upgraded to 'Official Mascot?"

Mako cut the deck three times, before gathering the cards to shuffle them, "When I win this tournament."

One card hit the table at a high force. Another followed in suite, and then another in rapid succession. "Where is it?" Mako growled as he frantically shifted through it deck, searching for the one card that held the key to his deck.

The tournament was starting in less than a week, and his most prized magic card, Umi, was now missing.

There was a knock on the cabin door, "Nii-san? Whats going on?" Ronan's concerned voice asked from the other side.

"Have you seen a duel monsters card lying around? I think I lost one."

Ronan peeked through the door. "Was it a pink colored card, with an ocean on it?"

Mako's head shot up from under the bed, where he had been searching on his hands and knees, "Yes! Thank yo-"

"You don't need that card." Ronan said simply.

Mako's jaw dropped. "What?"

Ronan approached his brother and knelt besides him, "I have something for you brother. I bought them in the last town we stopped in. I was so glad they had the cards."

Mako continued to stare at his brother, "I don't understand."

Ronan pulled three cards from his pocket. "Here, these are 'Legendary Ocean' cards. According to my research this would work much better in your deck than Umi"

"R-research?" Was all Mako could say.

"Yes, I've been reading up on duel monsters. What do you think all those books I bought were on?"

"Something other than Duel Monsters, seeing how bad you reacted the last couple times we played. Whenever you did try to play you became upset"

Ronan ducked his head with a quiet snort of laughter, " I don't know why I I have such anxiety when I try to duel, but I do know that I like the game. So I figured I'd try to help you improve your game, because I want you to be the best one day, and so I've been studying up on card and game strategies."

Mako blinked and quietly formed an 'o' with his mouth. This was something different. Ronan had never shown a competitive side before now. As unnerved as he was by this development in his seemingly gentle brother, Mako was interested in what Ronan had discovered. It was a relief that Ronan was finding interest in the game. Mako had felt guilty for indulging in something used to upset Ronan.

"So tell me, how is this card going to improve my game?"

"Well, I noticed that you have three Amphbious Bugroth in the deck; and when Umi is on the field, it allows them to attack your opponent's life points directly. Umi works nicely, but with a Legendary Ocean card you can increase each Amphibious Bugroth's attack and defense by 200 points, letting you deal 1700 point direct hit to your opponent's life points per Amphibious Bugroth. Plus, as long as a Legendary Ocean is in play, it's treated as a Umi so all your cards, that are dependent on Umi, such as your Tornado Wall, will still work."

Mako's jaw threatened to drop lower. "Y-you learned all that from reading."

"Just the basics. As soon as I began studying your deck, I decided to find variations that would allow you to play more efficiently." Ronan beamed.

"Anything else?" Mako asked, smiling at the card Ronan had gifted him.

"Well your magic cards, and traps are good and very effective, all I would add would be a few effect monsters like Magician of Faith and Sangan. Magician of Faith allows you to return magic cards from the discard pile once it is flipped over. This would be ideal incase a Legenday Ocean or in in worse case scenario, Umi is destroyed, then you can keep using them. Sangan is good monster to sacrifice in order to get a monster with an attack of 1500 or less onto the field so you have something to use either to summon or protect your life points."

Mako was speechless, as his eyes continued to dart between the cards in his hands, and back to his brother's proud face.

"I-I..don't know what to say."

Ronan looked quizically at his brother, "Is there something wrong, brother? Are my strategies incorrect?"

Mako shook his head, "No, they are perfect, Ronan. Its just weird hearing all of this come from you."

"I was hoping to surprise you." Ronan said with a smile. "I wanted to find a good way that would allow you to quickly defeat an opponent. From what I've gathered, Joey Wheeler uses a lot of chance cards that either buy him time or help him gain a lead. I figured these cards could help you secure a way of beating him."

Ronan handed over the Umi card that had been concealed in his pocket. "Sorry for taking it, but I wanted to see if there was anything that could help or support it."

Mako accepted the card. "Its alright. I was just worried that it had fallen over board or something. It's a very rare card that I used in conjunction with my favorite card, The Legendary Fisherman."

Ronan's eyes lit up, "You have that card? May I see it brother?"

Mako shook his head. " I don't have it anymore. I lost it in Battle City to Joey."

Ronan scratched his head trying to smooth over silence that followed Mako's statement, "Well maybe you can win it back from him, using this strategy I made for you."

Mako smiled, "I don't need that card anymore, brother. Its in Joey's deck now, and that's where it will stay as a reminder of our friendship."

"But, why? It is a powerful card and it would go well-" Ronan began.

"Because as powerful and effective as it was in my deck, its better off in Joey's deck. For every time Joey plays it or looks at it, it will remind him of not only of our bond but of the reasons we both duel for. As much as you want me to be the best, Ronan, Joey's got a better chance at the top than I do. I am content that a piece of me will help him and be with him when he gets there."

Ronan sighed as he picked up the strewn cards and began to shuffle them. "Wow. This game is more than a game to you and your friends, isn't it?"

Mako smiled, "I guess so. Some people identify with certain cards, so its natural for them to take their dueling a bit more seriously. I've seen some pretty macho guys break down in tears when their favorite card is destroyed. Its like a part of them was killed in the duel."

"Did you, when the Legendary Fisherman…"

"A little, but like I said before, it was an honor to loose to my friend."

Ronan handed the neatly shuffled deck to Mako. The other boy had a bemused expression on his face.

"Mako?"

"Its nothing, Ronan, but I have a feeling when your strategy helps my game, I'm going to have to upgrade you not only mascot, but 'to strategic analyst' as well.

Ronan laughed, "I hope I can handle it."

"I'm sure you will be able to. C'mon depending how the weather is, if we can raise sail, we can perhaps get to the next town to pick up those other cards you mentioned."

"Ok Nii-san."

That night a white dragon appeared in Ronan's dreams.

tbc...

Whoo! Another chapter down. Damn this one was hard to do seeing as I am not a big player on the TCG. I had to do a bit of research (hehe, Ronan's rubbing off on me!) on Mako's deck and some strategies using a water deck. All credit for the research goes to my bud Firechaos on the Kokoro no naka forum board. Thanks a bunch dear!

Aww Ronan's competative side is showing…Is our dragon duelist coming back to us?..Stay tuned for the next chapter…now to study for my government exam that I have in 14 hours…..oi.