A/N: Dude... this fanfic's gonna be siiiiiick. Inspired by ペンコ's "Team Emotion" artwork. Events for this chapter take place between Episodes 75 and 92.

"There's a really cool D-Wheel in front of the Academy!"

"Where? Where?"

Aki looked up from her notebook to see her classmates crowding the windows of the classroom. It was probably some rising star Duelist who wanted to show off their vehicle to get some unpaid interns or more fans from the stream of students heading home for the day. Aki had training after school with Yusei. She didn't have time to be gawking at other duelists when she still needed to perfect her driving skills.

Though, doing research on any and all possible opponents in the WRGP would help a lot with figuring out how to build a good strategy and team coordination. Aki pushed past her classmates to stare out the window. The D-Wheel was sleek white with red accents, it was unmistakably Sherry Leblanc's D-Wheel. Wait, what was Sherry doing at her school?

Aki answered her own question when she left the building in a hurry and Sherry was standing at the school gate with her helmet tucked under her arm, a strange smile on her face appearing as soon as she noticed the student. The blonde had been waiting for her. "Good afternoon, Aki," Sherry greeted. "Sorry for showing up at your school all of a sudden. I heard you got your license and you're officially able to have Riding Duels."

The student shifted nervously. "Yeah, I'm a Duelist for real now. I'm not that great yet but Yusei is training me," Aki confirmed. "Did you want to duel?"

"Why of course. I want to get to know the duelist who saved my life." Sherry held her helmet in her gloved hands. "Is your D-Wheel nearby?"

"There's no escaping this! Chevalier de Fleur attacks your Black Rose Dragon!" The Signer dragon shattered into a million shining fragments. Aki's hands tightened on her handlebars and she let out a shaky breath. The wind chilled her to the bone. Her Life Points were hanging at 100 and the only monster on her field was Botanical Lion. Sherry had 2300 Life Points and Chevalier de Fleur was guarding her alongside a face down card. "I end my turn. Show me how you can turn this around, Aki!"

With Sherry's encouraging words, Aki put her hand on top of her deck and drew. "I draw!" Aki declared, checking the card she'd drawn. A Monster card, one of her most powerful ones. "I activate Rose Lover's effect in my Graveyard! I banish it to Special Summon a Plant monster from my hand! Come forth, Tytannial, Princess of Camellias!" The princess emerged from a shower of red petals. "Battle! Tytannial, attack Chevalier de Fleur!"

"You forgot about my Trap Card! Floral Shield! Your attack is negated and I get to draw a card," Sherry declared, a white flower appearing in front of Chevalier de Fleur. Tytannial slashed through the flower with her fists, scattering the petals across the road. "What?!"

"A Plant monster summoned through Rose Lover's effect isn't affected by Trap Cards for the rest of the turn!" Aki pushed the gas pedal, accelerating forward. "Tytannial, destroy Chevalier de Fleur!" With a swift uppercut, the knight was destroyed, shattering into fragments of light. "Botanical Lion, attack her directly!" Steam ejected from Sherry's D-Wheel and she braked to a stop. Aki slowed down her vehicle to stop right by Sherry.

"... mazing..." Sherry muttered, waving the steam from her face.

"What'd you say?" Aki asked, lifting the cover of her helmet. "I couldn't hear you."

"You're an amazing Duelist," Sherry said. "I apologize for not fighting you with my full strength. I was, for lack of better words, testing your abilities."

The redhead pouted. "You weren't taking me seriously? I feel a little insulted."

"Well, if I duel you at my best, you'll figure out a way to counter me at the WRGP," the Frenchwoman reasoned. Aki's lips pressed together and her eyes cast downwards. "You're not competing in it?"

"I..." Aki trailed off. "Crow, Jack, and Yusei are the ones who'll be dueling for the team. I'm not experienced enough to take part."

Sherry stared at her, as if looking for something. "Your skills are wasted with those boys," she stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "It's unbelievable you're not even considered as a side option for the team. If you'd like..." Sherry offered her hand to Aki. "You can always join my team instead."

The redhead burst into laughter, giggling into her helmet. "Sherry, you're quite bold," Aki said between laughs. Her face straightened into a serious expression. "But... I know your real target is Yusei. Don't think you can recruit him just by getting friendly with me."

"I know better than to poach someone through their teammate." Sherry revved her D-Wheel. "I want to see you blossom further than the path that your friends can offer you. Think about it." With that, the Frenchwoman drove off, leaving Aki on the side of the dueling highway.

Aki checked the time on her D-Wheel and cursed. She was late for training with Yusei.

On Sundays, the Signers (and Rua) would meet at one of the numerous public tracks to practice the baton pass motion, scope out the competition, and laze about between practice duels. Carly was there to get the latest scoop from them. She was a cheerful girl that Aki didn't mind being stuck with, especially since Jack and Yusei were both too focused on their strategy building to pay attention to them.

"It's too bad," Carly moped, snapping pictures of Jack arguing with Crow about something or another.

"What's too bad?" Aki echoed. She was so bored out of her mind she was beginning to regret not bringing along her physics homework. At least then she'd have something to do.

"That you're not one of the duelists, Aki." The redhead flinched at the words. "You'd make a great addition to the team! Besides, it's not like it's required that only Jack, Crow, and Yusei duel." Aki followed the moving black, white, and red blurs on the track with her eyes. "I wrote an article about you back when you were still the Black Rose Witch, ya know. It got at least thirty thousand hits so any proper research done on you would have landed them on my article."

Aki exhaled sharply through her nose. "Are you insinuating that my past would give me an advantage over my opponents?" she asked.

"Absolutely!" Carly exclaimed, looking up from her camera. "You were really scary back then, even I was shaking in my shoes when I first saw you at the Fortune Cup. And you could've played it up even further by claiming your clothes were dyed with the blood of your enemies!"

The redhead chuckled. "If only the past version of myself had you as a PR agent," Aki joked. Silence blanketed the two.

"Recently," Carly started, digging into her bag for something, "I discovered that my Fortune Fairies had cards stuck onto them. Take a look at these." She pulled out a deck box and handed a full deck to Aki. The psychic looked over the cards, raising an eyebrow. Fortune Ladies instead of Fortune Fairies. Aki recalled in the back of her mind that Jack had dueled against Carly half a year ago and these were the cards Carly had used at the time. Cards that Carly had used as a Dark Signer.

"They look really cool. I can see that they'd be fantastic for Synchro Summoning because of their level manipulation," Aki complemented through her teeth. Yusei had mentioned a while ago that Kiryu had retained his memories and his new Infernity cards. Perhaps it was destiny that Carly would eventually come face to face with her past again. Aki didn't want to bring anything up that Carly wasn't ready for yet. "Do you plan on getting into Riding Duels too?"

"Hmmm..." The bespectacled woman crossed her arms in thought. "Well, Jack is a Duelist and he plans on being the King again someday. And, and, I have a five hundred step plan on becoming the perfect woman for him! Of course the first step has to be that I have to become a Duelist that he recognizes!" A pause. "So yeah, I'm gonna become the best at Riding Duels! I'm aiming for the top!"

"I'll be rooting for you, Carly." The two continued chatting the afternoon away.

"Are you sure I should go with you to this interview of yours?" Aki questioned. She'd just left school for the day and Carly was dragging her along the busy streets towards a café. "It's kind of you know... an interview. Isn't that sort of thing supposed to be between two people?"

Carly continued pulling Aki by the hand. "Well yes and no. A lot of interview shows like the Today Array have an audience and lots of camera and stage people!" Aki rolled her eyes. "Besides, you're the most powerful person I know. You can just summon Rose Tentacles or something and help me in case something bad happens."

"Hey! My psychic abilities aren't meant for violence anymore!" Aki protested.

"Self-defense, it's just self-defense. And we don't even know if you'll be using them," Carly reasoned, pushing through the door of the café. It was completely quiet inside save for the quiet bubbling of coffee. The cashier greeted them and Aki searched the room for anybody else. "Oh there she is! Heyyyyy!" Carly let go of Aki's hand and ran towards an occupied table. There sat Sherry sipping on something from a white cup. Her green eyes caught sight of Aki and she gave the redhead a warm smile.

"Carly Nagisa, it is a pleasure to meet you and to be interviewed by you," Sherry greeted, setting down her cup. "And Aki. I didn't realize you were friends with this reporter."

"Oh," Carly said in realization. "Do you two know each other?" Aki grabbed a chair from nearby and set it at the table to take a seat. "Oooooh I should interview the both of you at once! Double interview!"

"We know each other as rivals," Aki clarified. "Sherry's the reason why I became more curious about the world of Riding Duels."

"Juicy details here," Carly noted, writing this all down on her notepad. "And you, Ms. Leblanc, why do you duel? What drives you?"

Sherry thought on the question for a moment before answering, "I duel because I wish to find the truth. Dueling is the best way to get to know someone, to feel their emotions, and to see into their soul. In seeing other's truths, perhaps I will find my own some day. And please call me Sherry. Ms. Leblanc was my mother's name."

"That's so beautiful, Sherry," the reporter complimented, wiping a tear from her eye. "So, what's your ace card? Can I see it?"

"Very direct. I suppose I will relent. After all, it's not much of a secret," Sherry admitted. She pulled a card from the deck box at her waist. "Chevalier de Fleur is my ace monster. It's the crux of many of my strategies, though I won't be revealing any of those."

The interview continued for another hour before Carly finally closed her notepad. "Thank you for this wonderful interview, Sherry," she said. "Oh but I have one final question! Could you duel me?"

"Uwaaa! No, Fortune Lady Water!" Carly exclaimed as her monster was destroyed by Centaur Mina. Her Life Points hit zero. "Aw man, I lost." Carly removed her cards from Aki's Duel Disk and returned the device to the redhead. "That was fun though, Sherry. We should duel again some time."

Sherry didn't respond, completely lost in her thoughts. Aki stored her Duel Disk in her school bag. "Sherry?" she called out. The blonde put her cards back into her deck box and deactivated her Duel Disk as well.

"Carly, would you like to join my team at the WRGP?" Sherry asked directly.

"That's a funny joke!" Carly laughed but when Sherry remained still, she immediately quieted. "Wait, you're serious? You really want me to join your team? But, but, I lost! I'm just a reporter!"

"I see great potential in you as a Duelist, Carly. You already told me you have a license to use a D-Wheel." Sherry gestured at her own parked right behind herself. "It's just a matter of practicing and getting you a D-Wheel before the tournament."

Carly thought about it. "I'll join," she said in the most serious voice Aki had ever heard.

"Wait, you can't be serious, Carly," Aki interjected. "You're really going to join Sherry's team just like that?"

"Aki, I want Jack to see me as not only as a friend but as a Duelist! I can't woo him if I don't face him head on!" Carly reasoned. "That kind of guy responds best to direct confrontation. And I'm gonna confront him and I'm gonna duel him at the WRGP!"

Aki made a face. "... I did promise to root for you so I'll have to do it even if you're on a rival team."

"That's what friends are for!" Aki rolled her eyes as Carly cackled.

"Since that's settled, I'll see what I can do about finding a suitable vehicle for you," Sherry said, writing something down on a piece of paper. "Carly, let's arrange a day to get you a proper riding suit. Here's my contact information. Let me know when you're available." Sherry walked to her D-Wheel and put her helmet on. "I must get going. It was lovely seeing the two of you, especially you, Aki. Do let me know if you change your mind." She sped off down the road, her long blonde hair trailing behind her.

When Carly and Aki were alone once more, Carly slowly turned her head to Aki. "Did Sherry try to recruit you too?"

"Yep."

"You should say yes!"

"What would that even give me?" Aki snapped. "I love my friends! I can't betray them like that, even if Yusei is ignoring me because some weird amnesiac guy named Bruno or whatever showed up at his place!" She breathed in deeply, steeling her nerves. "I know that the team doesn't need me to function during the WRGP but I can't leave them for a chance at glory."

Carly placed a comforting hand on Aki's shoulder. "It's okay, Aki. You don't need to cross that line. Just root for me, okay?"

Aki gave Carly a small smile. "I'll always root for you, Carly."

Bruno was proving to be a greater sponge for Yusei's attention than previously anticipated. On Wednesdays when Aki usually got tutoring from Yusei for homework, she was pushed out of the workshop by the wave of disinterest that Yusei gave her. He had more important things to worry about. She wasn't one of them.

Crow noticed her despondent expression. "Yusei ignoring you too?" he asked bluntly. "Don't take it too seriously. He gets like this from time to time when he's really focused on something. Though this is the first time it's been a somebody."

Aki sighed and adjusted her school bag. "I'll just go somewhere else to get my tutoring from now on." She looked around. "Where's Jack?"

"He's on a job hunt again. Hope he actually starts making some income and not spending all our money on coffee again," Crow grumbled.

Aki turned her head towards Café La Geen. "Hey, isn't that him sitting right there?" she pointed out.

"Why that idiot-!" Crow stomped angrily towards Jack sipping his incredibly expensive coffee and Aki left before she could be caught in the area of effect of the two men's argument. She made her way to the railway station and felt her phone buzz in her pocket. A short text from Carly asking for her to meet at a Riding Suit store.

A short ride on the train later, Aki was standing in front of the store where she'd also bought her own suit about a month ago. She entered and was greeted by the cashier. Carly was in the far corner, burying into a rack of different suits with Sherry watching in amusement. The reporter popped her head out from under a great pile of leather and cactus leather.

"Oh hey, you're here, Aki!" she squealed. "I need help with picking out one of these!" Carly raised up at least thirty different outfits with both of her arms. "Which one do you think would look best on me?" Aki pinched the bridge of her nose.

"That's way too many to pick from!" Aki reasoned in a stern voice. "You need to start eliminating the ones you like the least."

"You have a point," Sherry agreed. "I was letting Carly's heart decide but perhaps some direction is in need here."

The three spent the next twenty minutes slowly taking away outfits until finally a single suit remained. It's main color was turquoise with thick orange accents running down the sides. The collar was high but flexible and comfortable. Carly did a little jig in excitement as she ran to the dressing room to try on her suit.

"She's well on her way to becoming a proper Duelist," Sherry commented. "Did you just leave school?"

"Huh? Yeah. I was supposed to get tutoring from Yusei this afternoon but he was busy," Aki responded. "He always tutors me on Wednesday. It was a schedule for us but now, he has better things to do I guess."

"Homework? What's the subject?" the blonde asked, her interest piqued.

"Physics. I'm not very good at pure mathematics and I can't remember a lot of the equations very well," the student explained. "Yusei's always been good at math so I ask him for help from time to time."

"I could tutor you instead if you'd like. I may not look it but I built my D-Wheel from scratch." Sherry flexed her arm in an exaggerated manner and Aki laughed. "I was also given a proper education from Mizoguchi. I'm sure I can tutor you."

"Tutor me after Carly is done shopping." The two women shook on it just as Carly burst out of the changing room with her suit on.

Carly struck a dramatic pose, giggling maniacally. "How do I look, ladies?" she asked, spinning around for Sherry and Aki to see the full look of the suit.

"Perfect. It fits you wonderfully," Sherry complimented. Aki watched from a distance as the other women talked excitedly about the D-Wheel that Carly had rented recently. She remembered when she'd been that excited, talking to Yusei about her Duel Runner and trading Speed Spells with Jack and Crow. She missed it. They were all too busy for her now. Even Rua and Ruka were busy with their own studies.

Aki thought about it. "Perhaps I should go my own way after all," she thought. She reached into her bag, grabbing her deck box. She pulled out Black Rose Dragon and stared at the card, her eyes tracing the silver and black border. A symbol of her position as a Signer if the mark on her arm wasn't proof enough.

The collective struggle against the Earthbound Immortals brought them together. But with their leader distracted, Aki could feel the distance growing between her and the others. She felt selfish to think it but Yusei really was her only connecting point with the others Rua and Ruka were in the same Academy as her but their relationship had grown outside of the team dynamic.

Aki put the card away. Her Signer mark pulse gently under her sleeve as she followed after Sherry and Carly.

Every other day, Aki would join Sherry and Carly at the public track to watch them practice. From time to time, Aki would give Carly advice on her dueling and suggest different combos. With how easy it was to adjust Carly's strategies, it was a counting game to make sure she didn't overshoot her monster's levels for Synchro Summoning.

The D-Wheel that Carly had rented out (with Sherry's money) was a sleek dark blue color with orange accents running across the sides. It wasn't as slim as Aki's Bloody Kiss and had a sturdier body for better balance since Carly was used to the weight of her car when driving. For the time being, Carly affectionately nicknamed her vehicle "Lady Luck."

"Y'know, like my Fortune Ladies! And sort of an homage to Jack's Wheel of Fortune!" Carly had explained earlier, though Aki didn't really need an explanation to figure out the meaning behind the name.

Aki felt jealous that Carly had a reason to enter, to duel so fiercely. She felt stuck, balancing her waning friendship with the 5Ds team and her growing friendship with Sherry and Carly. She breathed in deeply and picked up her belongings. "Hey, I'm getting going now," she told Sherry. "I have to be home soon or my parents will worry."

"See you soon, Aki. We'll be here tomorrow as well." Sherry waved her good-bye and focused back on Carly's crooked turns. "No drifting! You're not ready for that yet!" Aki left the track and went straight for the garage where Yusei, Crow, and Jack were staying. Oh and Bruno. He wasn't so bad, just a bit odd. He always took time to greet her when she entered the workspace.

A short train ride later, Aki was walking the five minute distance from the station to Popo Time. The clock announced the new hour with its wooden puppets. The garage door was open and the redhead saw only Yusei and Bruno inside talking excitedly. "... your Scrap monsters are amazing. I didn't realize you were such a great Duelist, Bruno," Aki heard Yusei say, his voice filled with excitement. "What do you think about being a benchwarmer for us?"

A spike of ice found its way into her rib cage and she felt her mind reel. She turned around, sprinting for the train station. Her eyes burned from tears, her lungs froze from the cold night air, and her heart hurt. Aki collapsed on a bench at the station and sobbed into her hands, unable to board the first nor second train to arrive at the station.

Soon, Aki's tears dried and her sobs became sniffles. She boarded the third train to pull into the station. She arrived home late and wordlessly entered her room, unable to answer her parent's barrage of questions as to why her eyes were red and why she was home so late.

"I should've known," Aki thought, burying her face into her plush pillow. "I wasn't even an option for a benchwarmer. I... who am I to Yusei and the others now? Am I still part of the team?" Her exhausted eyes closed and she fell into a deep sleep. Under her uniform sleeve, the right claw of the Crimson Dragon glowed a brilliant red, its talons tinted in dark amethyst.

A/N: yeah uh the next chapter's gonna be like twice this chapter's length lol. have fun reading it.