Chapter 4

The next morning, the limousine headed out to the hospital so Kimiko could visit with her brother. She sat between Cassandra and Goodwin, washed and dressed in one of Cassandra's old dresses from when she was young that she had kept in her armoire. She beamed, feeling as beautiful as Cassandra in her dress and make-up. Goodwin stared out the window, disgruntled with his hands folded in his lap.

"Ken will be so surprised to see you, Cassandra!" Kimiko exclaimed as she threw her hands up in the air.

"He will certainly be happy to see you, Kimi," Cassandra smiled down at her.

"He has been anxious to see that his sister is in good health," Goodwin added.

People gathered to see the director and the celebrity walk into the hospital. A nurse led them to Ken's room where he lay in his bed, watching the television.

"Brother!" Kimiko shouted as she ran and jumped up onto the hospital bed, wrapping her arms around her brother's neck.

"Kimiko, you're okay," Ken said, relieved.

"I've been with Cassandra!" his little sister smiled, "She has a HUGE room and a bunch of pretty dresses. She gave me this one that she kept when she was younger. She was just like me when she was eight years old!"

Ken looked up at Cassandra, who was enjoying Kimiko's enthusiasm. "Thanks for taking care of my sister but we need to be getting home. Our mom is probably very worried," he told her as he swung his legs over the bed and put on his shoes.

"We can take you home," Cassandra told him, "It would be safer for you, and a lot quicker."

"I don't need your charity," Ken grunted and took his sister by the hand, leading her out of the room. Cassandra turned to object but Goodwin laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Let them be, they don't want any more trouble," he told her with a calm smile to make her feel better. Kimiko turned and waved sadly before they turned the corner and left. Goodwin turned to Cassandra, still wearing his smile. "Speaking of charity, the orphanage has requested that you sing at their fundraiser this afternoon," he told her as he offered his arm to her.

Cassandra took it and they began to go back down to the parking lot to get in the limo. "But didn't I do one of those just a week ago? They raised over five-thousand dollars!"

"Yes, but five-thousand dollars cannot support those poor children. It only goes so far," Goodwin said. Cassandra contemplated along the way.

"Why can't we just donate money to them?" Cassandra asked when they got into the limo.

"I've already donated a part of the city's budget, more than what the people are comfortable with. The orphanage is old and it needs repairs," he took a deep breath, "Please, Cassandra, leave the matters to me."

"Alright then," she said, still not satisfied.

Goodwin had rented out the Performing Arts and Entertainment Center in town for Cassandra to perform at. The seats were soon filled, along with the darling children in the front row. Cassandra changed into the usual blue dress and wore her mother's necklace. Goodwin was not pleased but the reaction from the audience after she sang changed his mind. The people seemed to be content with the same old thing, for now at least.

Lazar was waiting by Goodwin's office when they got back to the mansion. Goodwin dismissed Cassandra to her room and entered his office with Lazar.

"Have you found them?" Goodwin asked him as he sat down in his chair. Lazar stopped at the other side of the desk and shook his head.

"There are several who may be what we're looking for. But we know both Yusei and Jack are Signers," Lazar said to him.

"No matter, just more competition, more chances for the remaining two to show their powers," Goodwin rested his head on his gloved hands. Lazar let out a laugh. "I'll make arrangements for the Tournament, in the meantime; try to find the true remaining Signers."

"Yes, sir," Lazar bowed and left the room. Goodwin lowered his gaze to a photo graph in a wooden frame on his desk. It showed him as a man in his prime with shoulder-length brown hair, holding young Cassandra in his arms.

"Could you be one of the signers, my darling Cassandra?" he whispered as he touched the photo. He wore a frown. He hoped she wasn't a signer; he didn't want her to have to duel and get hurt. She had been such a delicate flower since he took her in.

The moon cast a faded white glow across the garden outside Cassandra's window. She stood by it in her nightgown as she brushed her hair. Goodwin had put the garden there for her. It was simply a bunch of rose hedges formed into a maze that led to a center area with a bench under a pergola. But it was a beautiful and enchanting garden of several shades of red roses. Cassandra stopped and peered when she thought she saw a shadow run through the entrance of the garden. Was it an intruder? How did they get here? The mansion sat on an island in the middle of the lake in the city and Goodwin made sure there was heavy security.

The shadow dashed through the light and into the shadows, out of Cassandra's sight as they were under her window. Her feet froze in place. She wanted to go and get someone to protect her; she didn't know who this was.

She could hear scratching and scraping below and then a face appeared in the window. She backed up, surprised and she raised her brush up in the air as a weapon. She gazed harder at the face and saw that it was Ken. Part of her was relieved while the other half was fearful of his sudden appearance.

He tapped on the glass quietly and Cassandra opened the window. He leaped in and took a deep breath.

"Please, don't ask how I got here. I had to talk to you," he said quickly.

"Okay, have a seat," Cassandra offered but he shook his head.

"In short, my mother was so happy that you, my sister's idol, was there to help us and she wanted to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night," he told her, "I really don't want you to come but my mom won't stop bothering me."

"Why do you not want me to come? Kimiko loves me," Cassandra said, hurt inside.

"I don't want you to come because you're just like the rest of them that look down on us. I'm embarrassed to have rich people in my home and it would be embarrassing to have a girl over too," Ken looked away with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Cassandra could see his cheeks were bright red in the pale moonlight.

"Embarrassing!?" Cassandra said loudly and then she lowered her voice, "You don't even know me and you just assume I'm some stuck up celebrity!" she hissed.

"'Coz you are!" Ken retorted. Cassandra was furious, she wanted to slap him, but she kept quiet and at a safe distance. Ken gazed at her, his annoyed face disappearing. "Sorry, I guess you can come. I don't care, as long as my sister is happy," he said as he made his way back to the window.

"Where is your house?" Cassandra asked him.

"Ask around for the Makoto family, you'll find us eventually," Ken said as he climbed over the window sill. "Try not to embarrass me tomorrow," he said before descending down the wall.

"Bye," Cassandra waved slightly. But he either didn't hear her or simply ignored her. She laid her brush on her desk and crawled into bed, her stomach fluttering. Was this what it felt like to be in love?


Have you guys checked out Koda's Notebook yet? It's in the crossovers' section: Yu-gi-oh! 5D's/Death Note. ;)