Chapter 2

Ken led his sister through the sewer tunnel, holding her hand. She covered her nose and mouth so as to not breathe in the stench but it was to no avail. The smell of septic fluid was so strong.

"Going through this smelly place is so worth it!" Ken's sister exclaimed as they climbed up a ladder. He pushed the manhole out of the way and checked the road above. "I can't wait to see Cassandra, big brother!" she giggled as he pushed her through the hole. He climbed up behind her and covered the hole before running into a dark alley with her.

They ran through the alleys of the city towards Club Domino. Far away, they could hear the whirring of a duel runner.

Yusei stared at the road ahead as he drove his duel runner towards the center of the city. He was taking a big risk coming here, he could get sent to the Facility for this, but he had to make Jack pay. It was all he could think about since Jack left. He was his friend, how could he just leave like that, and with Yusei's Stardust Dragon. Yusei angrily thrust the throttle and went faster down the road.

The driver opened the door of the limousine to reveal a horde of paparazzi that came for Princess Cassandra. Squeezing through them was the news crews, trying to get info out of Goodwin.

The director got out and helped Cassandra onto the red carpet. They walked arm and arm past the throng that was held back by security guards and red velvet rope. Lazar walked behind them, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Princess Cassandra, what will you be singing tonight?" an interviewer asked her, but Cassandra only smiled and waved. Goodwin didn't want her talking to the paparazzi because Cassandra always got into a long conversation, that's why they walk together now, so she wouldn't dawdle.

Young girls about Cassandra's age begged for her autograph and Goodwin allowed her to, but he stayed close.

"Thank you Cassandra!" they shouted excitedly.

Finally they entered the club and were showed to their table, which sat in front of the large stage at the end of the huge dining room, which was probably bigger than Goodwin's dining room.

"Too bad Jack couldn't be here," Cassandra moped as the waiter pulled out her chair.

"Maybe it was for the best. He would probably complain the whole time anyways," Lazar smirked as he sat down to her left as Goodwin sat down on her right at the circular table.

"Yeah," Cassandra gazed at the white table cloth. She could hear her name being said around her. They couldn't wait to hear her sing the opening number.

"Now when you go up there, make your speech short," Goodwin told her as the waiter placed a glass of orange liquid in front of him. He took a sip and gazed at Cassandra, "Thank them all for being here, thank the Director, and God bless you all. Or whatever you can possibly think of. Just don't keep them waiting for the song."

Cassandra nodded and took a drink of water. She always wondered if she was annoying to Goodwin. She never bothered to ask, in fear that she would become even more annoying.

"Princess, will you come up now?" Mr. Clark asked as he came up to the table.

"Good luck," Lazar waved to her as she got up from her chair.

Goodwin gave her a soft smile as she gazed back at him on her way to the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to have this young lady here to sing for you tonight," Mr. Clark said on the mike as Cassandra waited on the steps in the dark, "I present to you, Princess Cassandra!!!"

As Cassandra walked up onto the stage, waving to her adoring fans, they burst into shouts and whistles. Mr. Clark handed her the microphone and left the stage quietly.

"It's a pleasure to be here tonight, thanks for coming!" Cassandra said as she set up the microphone stand to her level, "I would like to thank the Director for everything he's done for me and this city. Without him, we'd be nothing." Some of the crowd hooted but some made sounds of disagreement. As the musicians began to play behind her, the crowd soon quieted down.

"Are we there yet?" Ken's little sister asked as she bumped into him. They were crawling through the air vent of Club Domino.

"I think so, I can hear her music," Ken replied and tried to move a little quicker. He came upon a vent and looked down through it. Right below them was Cassandra. "Here, sis," he said as he leaned up against the wall of the vent and let her crawl up beside him.

A gasp escaped his sister's lips and he was satisfied that she was happy as she watched the idol perform on stage.

Yusei could hear another duel runner in the distance. It was coming up behind him. He pretended not to hear as he focused on the road but as a white duel runner came up beside him, he glanced over to see Jack, wearing a grin.

"So did you come to see my sister perform or did you come here for your Stardust Dragon?" Jack asked him.

"You and I both know I came for my card, not to see Cassandra who isn't even your sister," Yusei replied.

Jack only glared at him at the remark about Cassandra. "Okay then, let's go!" Jack pulled the throttle and went speeding down the lane as Yusei tried to catch up. Together they raced down the road towards the Kaiba Dome.

Everyone clapped and demanded an encore from Cassandra when she had finished her song. She gazed at Goodwin for permission and he gave her a nod. The musicians started up again in a slow and sweet melody.

"She's going to sing again!" Ken's sister whispered, "I want to be just like her one day."

"Fat chance," Ken grunted as he rested his cheek against his fist. His sister glared at him angrily but turned to watch Cassandra again.

"She has talent," Lazar said but Goodwin didn't seem to be listening as he watched Cassandra sing. "I've said that ever since you took her in," he saw that Goodwin still wasn't listening and he wrinkled his nose.

"I know that Lazar," Goodwin finally acknowledged him but he kept his eyes on Cassandra even as the waiter placed their orders in front of them. He could remember how long ago, when he had first taken Cassandra in, she would sing to herself when she thought she was alone. He enrolled her into a music class to hone her skills. It was amazing how she rose above her teacher in just a few short years.

Suddenly Lazar's cell phone rang and he quickly answered it. Goodwin turned toward him as Lazar handed him the phone.

"It's Zigzix," Lazar told him.

Goodwin growled under his breath as he took the phone and went outside. Cassandra watched him and frowned for a split second. She hated for Goodwin not to be there for her performance. It happened most of the time and she should be used to it but she wasn't. Lazar shrugged at her with an apologetic look when they locked eyes and she began to smile again, for the crowd.

Outside in the alley, Goodwin put the phone to his ear and leaned up against the brick wall. "Yes, what is it Zigzix?"

"It's Jack, he's here with some other duelist!" Zigzix shouted worriedly through the phone.

"That's why you are there. Record everything that happens and keep me updated, through text if you will. I'm trying to watch Cassandra's performance," Goodwin told him sternly.

"Yes, very sorry director. Good-bye," Zigzix said. Goodwin sighed and closed the phone before walking back into the club.

People were clapping as Cassandra walked her way back to their table. Goodwin frowned, unhappy to know that he had missed the ending.

"She was absolutely brilliant, Mr. Goodwin," Lazar said excitedly as he joined them.

"I'm sorry I missed it, Cassandra. There was something back at the office. It is all straightened out now," he said before beginning to eat. Cassandra gazed down and ate slowly at her mashed potatoes.

"Come on, we've got to get back home, Kimiko," Ken said as he turned in the vent to go back.

"I want to meet her!" she whispered.

"No, come on!" Ken said as he pulled at her raggedy dress. Kimiko moped but reluctantly followed her brother back through the vent. He could hear her weeping and he stopped to gaze back. "What's wrong, Kimi?" he asked her as she sat up in the vent as she was small enough.

"I'm tired," tears came to her eyes and she rubbed them.

"I know, but the sooner we get home-" Ken stopped as he heard something bad. The vent let out a groan. He looked down and saw the metal opening up under him. It couldn't support both of them when they were so close! "Kimi, hold on to me!" he shouted as he grabbed his little sister and held her to his chest as the vent cracked open and they fell right into the Director's table.

"What in the-" Director Goodwin let out as he backed up, his chair falling behind him.

Lazar and Cassandra were up against the stage, trying to escape from being showered with food and glass and everyone was jumping up and rushing to see what happened.

"Are they alright?" Cassandra asked as the little blonde child moved atop the broken table.

"Big brother," she whispered as she shook at him. He groaned but his eyes refused to open.

"They're Satellites!" a man shouted. A woman shrieked and Goodwin tried his best to keep everyone away so he could check the children as he dialed for the ambulance.

"Lazar, get the limo ready," Goodwin whispered to him when he had come up to his side for orders, "Cassandra, help me with the children."

Cassandra grabbed Kimiko and held her at her hip as Goodwin looked over Ken. If he landed on a shard of glass, he didn't want to pick him up off of it or else he would bleed to death. Kimiko was so worried about her brother; she didn't even realize she was in the arms of her idol.

The moon was high above the Kaiba Dome as the lights flashed on and the duel runners lined up at the starting line. Yusei glanced over at Jack, who sat confidently in his runner. Suddenly, they heard the sirens of the ambulance and Jack's cell phone rang.

"Yeah, what do you want?" he answered it rudely.

"Get back to the mansion, I'll explain when you get there," Goodwin told him and hung up.

"Damn Goodwin," Jack growled as he shoved his phone back in his pocket, "I'm sorry to leave you like this right before the duel, Yusei. You'll have to get your card back some other time," Jack grinned before he raced out of the stadium.

Yusei slammed his fist on his runner. Something had to come up! He cursed under his breath as he drove out of the stadium. When would he have the chance to duel Jack again? He thought to himself as he rode back towards the Satellite. Jack would let him know, the double-crosser. He can trust him to do that, at least.

"The girl is okay," Cassandra told Goodwin as they watched the ambulance put Ken on a stretcher and take him out the door.

"We'll have to find her parents in the Satellite tomorrow," he whispered to her as Lazar's security guards helped them to the limo.

Cassandra glanced up at Goodwin but he wore a distant and slightly angry face. Things didn't go as planned, she thought as she gazed down at the sleeping Kimiko.

To be continued...