Wow, it's another episode. So, let us begin with the reading and reviewing now!

Midori carefully put the chair out and pulled herself onto it. Sayer smiled at her, while her grandfather watched Sayer with a suspicious glare.

"It's very nice to get to meet you, Midori. I've heard quite a bit about you."

She crossed her arms on the table and rested her head.

"Yeah, you must have talked to one of the neighbor kids. I'm not a weirdo."

He laughed. "I never said you were. I think you're very special Midori. I heard you can see things that nobody else can. What kinds of things do you see?"

"I don't remember what I see…but people say I talk about stuff when I blackout."

"Oh really, what kind of stuff?"

"Memories, stuff that happened to people." She mumbled. Sayer leaned in slightly. Etsuo grunted warningly.

"That sounds like a very useful ability…Tell me, do any of the people in the Satellite treat you badly, Midori?"

Midori blinked as she looked up at Sayer sleepily.

"You mean pick on me and stuff?"

"Yes, something like that." He replied. She excused herself for a moment to collect her cards and bring them back to the table. She fiddled with them as she replied to Sayer's question.

"None of the adults are ever mean to me. They usually are very nice when they're not busy. But usually I'm busy, too." Sayer peaked over to see Midori's deck mostly consisted of Spellcaster type monsters, many of them with the Water attribute. He made a mental note of it before asking her about other kids.

"Some of them pick on me because I'm short. I've always been really little compared to other kids. Only a couple of them have picked on me because of my blackouts. I usually ignore them even though it hurts. My grandpa says I'm the stronger person by just brushing them off and not letting it get to me."

"Ok…overall, are you happy here Midori? Do you ever wish that you were with other girls who were more like you?" Sayer asked, a little confused. How could this girl not be angry? Was she even scared?

She gave him an honest smile. "This is my home, Mr. Sayer! I don't want to leave my grandpa…or my friends! I do have them. I mean, it might be nice to have someone I can relate to, but I don't want to give up the people I already care about so much."

He started to feel tense. She continued.

"I am scared, but I can face it as long as I have people who love me."

Just then, as she finished her statement, her voice started to fade off. Her eyes grew distant, and her face seem to grow less expressive. Etsuo's eyes widened. Sayer turned around and smirked at his expression.

"I guess she's having a blackout now, isn't she? I get to witness it first-hand." He turned his attention back to Midori. She stared at him blankly. He was surprised at what she said when she spoke to him.

"You're so full of anger, Mr. Sayer."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, it makes sense. Why would you be building an army?" She asked. He stood up, shocked. Etsuo was also taken aback.

"I can see it. You were pushed around and you want payback. So, you are collecting people like me from around the world to build an army…of psychic duelists. You want to declare war on the society that rejected you and others like you."

Sayer narrowed his eyes. "That's right. So you have seen my hardships?"

"I am just another soldier you hope to collect for your army. I am correct in saying this is true for others you have collected, like Senator Izayoi's daughter?"

Sayer laughed, his anger was starting to surface. "Why on earth…?"

"I refuse to join you. You're angry and just want revenge. I won't let you use me like you use the other people who join you. Nothing will ever be better for you or anyone else if you stay mad. Be the better person, Sayer. Move on."

Midori grabbed her head as her expression returned to normal. Pain was throbbing through her head like a rushing stream. Sayer's fists were shaking. Without being aware they she was coming out of her trance, he verbally lashed out at her.

"You don't know what you're saying! You have no right to tell me how to live my life! You really don't know anything! You're just a little girl!" He saw the tears starting to form as she looked up at him with a terrified look on her face. Sayer realized the mistake and attempted to apologize.

"Midori…oh my gosh! I didn't realize you were in a trance, I'm sorry." He lied. But, it was too late for him to take back what he said. Etsuo grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him away from the table and forcefully escorted him to the door.

"I told you that if you made her cry, you'd be out of here!" He kicked the door open. Sayer looked at him, unimpressed. Midori wiped the tears from her own face and approached him from behind.

"I'm sorry if I said anything that made you upset, Mr. Sayer!" He laughed. She really didn't remember anything she had told him. Such a gullible little girl. He wouldn't have to worry about it as long as she couldn't remember what she said to him.

"Don't worry, little Midori. I'll come back. Maybe things will be better next time." Etsuo scoffed at him.

"Yeah, whatever. Just so you know, I'm not ever going to let you see her again, so don't even try coming back here." Then, Etsuo pushed him out the door. He almost fell but managed to retain his balance. He brushed off his coat before skulking away.

Etsuo pet his granddaughter on the head. "Don't worry about anything he said. I think you're a very smart girl. Why don't we go finish our game?"

Midori nodded happily. "Ok, Grandpa!"

(End Flashback)

"He came back every six months, attempting to change my mind and let Midori go with him. But I never changed my mind or even considered it. Besides, I didn't like the way he looked at her when he first saw her. He looked like some dirty rotten scoundrel when he looked at her." That concluded Etsuo's tale. Crow nodded. Martha walked back into the kitchen.

"Midori is a stronger person than I thought." Crow said, surprised.

"Well, despite the fact she is timid most of the time, and is pretty small, she has her moment of being brave. Everyone does, even the most timid of us."

"I wonder if she'll have the bravery to come back here after what's happened to her." Crow sighed. Etsuo laughed.

"Well, she's got to come back to see her grandpa! And her new friend…"

Crow blushed at the tone of voice he used. "Beg your pardon?"

"Well, you seem like the kind of guy she could relate to. After all, you're not so tall yourself there, are you? No offense meant. That's all I wanted to say."

Crow breathed deeply with relief. "Ok. Let's just hope everyone is ok back in New Domino City… I have a feeling things will get ugly sooner or later."

…

Everything was black. Somehow, the blackness seemed familiar to Sidney. It was like when she was unconscious after the accident when she first met Goodwin, Jack, and Yusei. But, somehow things were different. She seemed to be floating in an ocean of darkness, with the roar of empty silence causing her ears to ring.

But, it seemed to clear away as a light began to shine forth. In an instant, she found herself floating on her back in the lake where the stone room was. She wondered if there was a reason she kept coming back there or and where "there" was, exactly.

The silence was broken by the sound of a person's voice. She had expected it to be Midori's, since she had seen her here before. But, it seemed to be the sound of a little girl's voice. Was it Luna? No, it sounded like it came from a girl even younger than her.

She swam in the direction of the noise, which seem to come from the island where the stone room stood. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw a figure hunched over, resting its back on the wall. The little girl seemed to be wearing a yellow spaghetti-strap shirt and a white skirt, and had long pink hair covering her face. Sidney felt like she should know this girl.

Tears were falling from the girl's face and she could hear her whimpering.

"Are you ok?" She heard herself ask. The little girl shook her head.

"No. My parents are scared of me and everyone thinks I'm a freak. Everyone I care about has abandoned me, and now I don't have anyone…"

"That sounds awful." Sidney replied in shock, "Maybe you could come with me?"

The girl stood up and looked at her, revealing angry, orange eyes that blazed like fire. Sidney gasped when she realized where she recognized the face.

"Aki?" Sidney had started to call her Aki, at least to herself. But, at one point when Sayer and Akiza were traveling to the warehouse when they kidnapped her, Sayer had called her that. She hoped to appeal to her emotions, but failed.

"Don't call me that! My name is Akiza."

"I know. But…we need to get you out of here. You were unconscious…and you might be hurt." Sidney approached her, but the little Akiza suddenly grew to her full size and her clothes melted into the outfit she normally wore. She pulled a card out of thin air and a gust of wind pushed Sidney back.

"Stay away from me if you know what's best for you." She said angrily.

"No, you need a friend. Yusei wants to be your friend…I want to be your friend, Akiza." Sidney stood up and tried to walk toward her. But, she felt a vine creep up under her foot and wrap around her ankle, preventing her from coming any closer.

"You say that, but then you'll just ship me off somewhere. That's what my parents did. Besides…Why would someone like you or Yusei ever care about me?"

"Because he likes you a lot…I can't explain it. But you mean something to him…makes me kind of jealous, actually. But, I want to be your friend more. And I want to be your friend…because you and I are more alike then we are different. And because I think anyone would be a fool to give up on you." Sidney explained.

"You don't know me!" Akiza snapped at her.

"You're right, I don't. So why don't you try opening up?" Just then, Sidney felt a throbbing pain in her chest. She looked down in terror to see a black, whip like thorn had pierced her chest, just barely missing her heart. Blood seemed to trickle down lightly. If she pulled the thorn out, she would probably bleed to death.

But this was just a dream, right?

"Stay away from me. Or you'll regret it." Black Rose Dragon appeared behind her, apparently the source of the thorn that now kept Sidney from death. Sidney gripped her fingers around the thorn. Akiza's eyes widened.

"No. I'm not giving up on you. Nobody is."

Just as Sidney was extracting the thorn from her chest, everything went black. She found herself waking up, bolting up in bed. Looking down, she saw not even a mark on her chest. But, it still hurt. She was still in her regular clothes, but her shoes were off to the side and her jacket was hung up on a coat hanger. The room had a pane of glass as the wall where the door was, surrounded by three other white walls. The blue tile floors seemed to glow with the light from the florescent bulbs above.

On one side was a sink and nightstand, and on the other a door leading into a bathroom. There was also a chair pulled up near her bed. Was there someone in her room earlier? It was slightly more comfortable than her other room was when she first was in the hospital after the accident. Her arm had a heart monitor attached, as she pulled her arms out from under the light blue sheets.

She looked around, and out into the hall, and drooped when she saw nobody was there. She guessed they were more worried about Akiza then her. But then again, they should be. Akiza needed support more than she did, especially if Yusei was here at all.

"Why did I even bother getting up?" She wondered to herself.

Just then, she heard footsteps coming down the hall. She retreated underneath the covers and lay on her side. Whoever it was, she didn't want to see them right now. Sidney closed her eyes to pretend she was still unawake.

The door creaked open as she head the person walk inside. She steadied her breathing. The chair squeaked a little as she heard them take a seat at her side. A gloved hand caressed her shoulder.

It was probably Goodwin, but more likely Jack, she thought. Even if he only had a "skin-deep" interest in her, and she was being forced to accept his attention, at least he showed up to see her. A wave of guilt came over her. She shouldn't be so jealous. How could someone trying to be a friend to another be jealous? It just wouldn't be fare to Akiza. She took a deep breath to ease herself.

But, the voice she heard wasn't Jack's at all.

"Sidney?" No, it can't be, she thought.

His voice seemed to echo slightly in the spacious room.

"It's me…"

"Yusei…" She mumbled. Now there were other footsteps coming as she turned over on her other side and opened her eyes. Yusei smiled at her.

"I'm so glad you're awake!" He spoke with relief in his tone.

"You…came to see me?" Sidney asked hesitantly.

"Of course I came to see you. I was really worried about you." He told her reassuringly. She took a hold of his hand.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

Yusei nodded. There was the sound of others coming down the hall.

"Is Aki going to be ok?" She suddenly recalled her dream and what happened just before she was knocked out. Yusei turned his head in the direction of the door.

"She hasn't woken up yet, but the doctor's say she's in perfect condition otherwise. They haven't let any of us see her yet…so I am a little suspicious." He said solemnly, closing his eyes. Sidney loosened her grip on his hand.

"Well, maybe if they'd let you see her, she'd wake up." Sidney suggested.

Yusei gave her a curious look.

"You're right, that's a stupid idea." She said, misinterpreting his expression.

He shook his head. "No, it isn't."

"I just…you'll never believe me. But, I had this dream about her, Yusei." Sidney said as she went over it in her mind. Yusei nodded for her to tell her dream. But, before she could begin, there was a knock on the door.

Two people were standing just outside. Sidney didn't quite recognize them, but bid them to come in. They entered cautiously.

One was a woman with dark rose colored hair and reddish orange eyes like Akiza. She wore a long, light blue dress and earrings. She looked very worried. The other was a tall man wearing a dusty brown business suit. He had combed back light brown hair and a beard, and had similarly colored eyes to the woman.

"Excuse me, but we're looking for Yusei Fudo." The woman said apologetically.

"I'm Yusei Fudo." Yusei replied. The man seemed to sigh with relief.

"If you please, Mr. Fudo, I wish to speak with you about something. It's very urgent." Yusei stood up and was going to follow them outside when Sidney was able to recognize the man.

"You're Senator Izayoi, aren't you?" She asked.

He turned back. "Yes, I'm Akiza's father."

Yusei seemed to grimace for a moment.

"So…you're Dad. Not to flattering, if I may, Senator."

"I know…BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT!" The Senator clenched his fists. The woman, whom Sidney now assumed to be Akiza's mother, tried to reassure him. He took a deep breath.

"My daughter is in the hospital and she won't wake up because…she's suffering from some heartbreak…and it's all my fault…" His voice faltered.

"Heartbreak…" Sidney remembered how Akiza had told her of her heartbreak in the dream. Suddenly, the Senator blinked, as if to remember something. His wife looked at Sidney, and soon got a similar expression on her face.

"You're James and Gale's daughter…" The Senator exhaled.

Sidney's eyes widened. "You know my parents!?"

Yusei blinked. Then, he looked back at Akiza's father.

"Akiza owes her life to Sidney." He mentioned. Akiza's mom gasped.

"Then I must thank you. Would you come with us, if you're able?" He offered. Sidney slowly pushed herself out of bed, as she slipped into her shoes and jacket. She followed them out and down the hallway, to where Akiza's room was located.

Along the way, Akiza's parents explained the origin of her powers, and how they had been afraid of her. They had pushed her away, and even sent her away to Duel Academy. Because of it she had become the Black Rose and joined the Arcadia Movement. Her father felt especially responsible. He wished to make amends with his daughter and hoped she might forgive him and her mother, and that they could be a family again. Sidney felt both bitterness and sympathy towards him.

In a way, he reminded her of her own father before he passed away. He had always regretted that Sidney grew up without a mother and that she didn't have much in the way of friends. But, in some ways, she and Akiza were more and less lucky. Akiza had both of her parents, and Sayer, at least as far as it seemed. But, Sidney had good friends, who always stuck by her.

She hoped she could be of help. It was mentioned that Yusei or herself may need to duel Akiza in order to heal her broken heart. It didn't matter to her, she would do whatever it took to show Akiza that she was in the company of people who cared about her.

To be continued in the next episode. I actually got this one done a little early. But, I hope you will all like it just the same. Be sure to also review and read Yuki Shiro and the Five Dragons (by me) and A Futuristic Fairytale (by Coke head). See you all back here for the next episode.