A/N: Yay for another chapter and more reviews, yays! You guys just inspire me to write more and more. There may or may not be a chapter tomorrow that may or may not involve some Jack/Carly stuff among others depending on how I feel and how lazy I am at the time. Have fun and review, guys!


"Jack?" Carly whispered. "What's going on? Where's Kiryu? What happened?"

"Calm down," Jack said quietly. "It'll take a few minutes to get use to this."

Carly gasped and choked as her lungs refused to work properly. Jack smiled a little and sat at her side, gently rubbing her back until she calmed down.

"It's ok," he said. "You're just thinking about it too much. You don't need to breathe anymore, just don't think about it and it'll happen through habit. It's all habit now."

Carly shook her head, sobbing quietly. "No... no, I'm not..."

"Sorry, Carly. Just try to relax."

"Wait! I thought there were five Dark Signers, what about me?"

"Well, I suppose you're going to learn the truth soon enough," Jack said quietly. "Might as well be now, I guess. For about six months ago, Kiryu turned Rudger, his sanity has been slipping since he lost Misty. He got rid of him, and more recently Demak. He's a good leader, when he's thinking clearly, just don't cross him."

"He can't be that bad," Carly snapped. Jack laughed. "Really? Is he going to be really mean to me now?"

"Well, not really mean," he said with a shrug. "But he can be a little difficult. Just remember he prizes loyalty above all else and you should be fine."

"Loyalty?"

"Yeah. It's how he's always been, as long as I've known him anyway. It's a good thing though, sometimes. I know he's on my side as long as I'm on his."

"But what about Rudger?"

"Rudger treated Kiryu like an impatient child. Which, let's face it, he often was."

"But I'm... I'm really... I'm dead!"

Jack frowned. He suddenly felt terrible. Carly was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. He reached around her shoulders gently and hugged her to his chest. Everyone reacted differently to the transformation. Rudger had once said Kiryu had been still and silent in his room for days after his change. Jack had wanted to destroy everything around him. He wasn't surprised this was how Carly reacted.


Two days later and Melinda was sitting on top of a pile of scrap. Down below, Crow and Yusei were working on a dark purple D-Wheel that was slowly taking shape. She sighed and rested her chin on her hand.

"Sorry it's taking so long, Milly," Crow called up.

"Whatever," she said quietly. "It's not like I'm managed to stop you doing it anyway. You realise this isn't going to end well, right?"

"Stop complaining," he laughed.

"I wasn't complaining, I was just saying."

"If you want to talk about something, why don't we talk about Kiryu?"

"No. Did you have a girlfriend back home, Yusei?"

"Not so much a girlfriend, no, but there was a girl I think... maybe... you know?" Yusei muttered, not looking up from the engine. Thunder rumbled in the distance, catching his attention. "You get the storm season here too then?" Crow nodded. "It's eased off back home, it's partly caused by all the pollution, and I'll bed this dark fog that the Dark Signer's use doesn't help. It's like the Satellite has its own weather system."

"It'll hit by tonight," Crow muttered. "You going to rendezvous with Kiryu again?"

"I'm amazed you know a word like that, Crow," Melinda growled. "It's a little big for your small brain."

"If it's going to be as bad as the last one, we should get this inside," Yusei said, standing slowly.

"I'm not having a load of D-Wheels in my house again," she said. "You can stay with Crow and the kids, I'm sure he won't mind."

"Not at all," Crow said.

"I don't want to leave you on your own, Melinda," he argued. "You're a target for the Dark Signers, what if they come after you while I'm not there?"

"You can stay with me too," Crow offered.

"No," she laughed awkwardly. "No, I'm ok on my own."

"I could just leave the D-Wheels with Crow if you'd feel safer."

"Yusei... I appreciate your concern, really, but it's not needed. I've looked after myself for long enough. I promise, I'll be fine. I'll keep my phone on so you can check up if you want, anytime you want. I'll keep it right by me all the time."

"Alright, alright," he said quietly, shaking his head. "I give up, you can have your night on your own. Promise you'll keep your phone with you?"

"Yes."

"And you'll call if anything even a little suspicious happens?"

"Yes. Stop worrying."

"After what happened with Divine the other night, I have every right to worry."

"Aw," Crow laughed. "You two are unbelievably cute. How he's all over protective and you're all independent. It's like some crappy romance novel. You two are going are going to be in bed within a few weeks."

"Oh stop it, Crow," Melinda snapped.

"Come on, you've not have a boyfriend since Kiryu, it's about time you got someone new," he argued.

"Let's go, guys," Yusei said before an argument could break out. "Your D-Wheel will run fine, Melinda. It's not the prettiest thing, and there's still some fine tuning to be done, but it's ok to ride back with us."

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Yes, it'll be fine, I swear."

"Alright."

She climbed down the pile of scrap and Yusei handed her a helmet that matched her D-Wheel. She twisted her dark hair up slightly and pulled on the helmet. The pair of boy swung onto their own D-Wheels and she followed their lead. Yusei was right, it didn't look as nice as theirs but she was sure Yusei would do as he said and work on that. It was amazing how quickly he and Crow had put it together. The trio rode slowly through the Satellite, the boys either side of Melinda. She seemed to have a natural sense of balance, which was good- having to go skating again would just take too long- and they slowly picked up speed. She was a natural. At least that was one thing going his way.


"Wow, Kiryu, Jack," Carly gasped. "This is so beautiful. What's it for though?"

Jack and Kiryu glanced at each other with a smirk. The orange and black D-Wheel stood between Kiryu and Jack's. She knew well enough that Kiryu and Jack- and Bommer to some extend- looked after their D-Wheels like they were a girlfriend. It wasn't unusual, she'd covered enough tournaments to know that duellist could get very possessive over their D-Wheels; that they could spend all their time and money cleaning them and tuning them to perfection. It was like an obsession for many D-Wheelers. Anyone else touching their pride and joy was unthinkable.

So obviously, she appreciated the beauty of the new D-Wheel, and the glow of pride the boys had meant they'd obviously put it together.

"Wait? This isn't the really dirty old security D-Wheel you guess bought in the other day, is it?" she cried. The pair smiled. "That's incredible."

It was still slightly dirty and the engine was still exposed so they weren't done yet. Two days ago they'd dragged in a rusty, dirty half broken D-Wheel, all be it one of the newer models. Somehow they'd managed to turn it into something to match their own. She smiled.

"Is this for me?"

"This new Signer is a D-Wheeler," Kiryu said. "I want to face him in a riding duel. But, if he's as good as Milly's confidence in him implies then we might have a problem. I like having a backup plan."

"Divine said he could beat the Signer," Carly said quietly.

"What?" he growled, turning to her sharply.

Jack smirked and stepped back slightly; he really didn't feel like standing between Carly and Kiryu today. And after a comment like that in Kiryu's presence, he wasn't sure Carly didn't deserve it. It wasn't like it was a secret Divine and Kiryu hated each other. Carly seemed to have realised her mistake.

"He- he said he could be the Signer by using Melinda," she stammered.

"Now you listen to me, Carly, and listen very carefully," Kiryu snarled, leaning in close to her face. "Divine doesn't know anything. The only reason I haven't duelled him to the death yet is because he's useful and I want to see him suffer for everything he's done. If you want to support him in killing another innocence young woman, you go ahead, but I will see you dragged to Hell with him for it. I am in charge here, we do things my way. If you have a suggestion, you talk to me. If Divine thinks he knows how to do it better than me, he's welcome to run his plan by me but I have the final say. Don't forget that."

He smirked and stormed out of the room. Jack tried not to laugh as tears welled up in Carly's eyes. But as her tears began to fall, he suddenly felt incredibly bad. He sighed and gently patted her shoulder. Carly looked up at him tearfully and sniffled.

"Did he really mean that?" she whimpered.

"Well... not quite to that extreme, no," Jack replied, trying to be delicate. "This is only your first offense, after all, and it was only a comment. And if that had been me or Bommer he probably would have at least tried to hit us, and you don't even want to think about what he would have done to Divine. You're lucky you're a girl."

"He was never like this before," she sobbed.

"You're one of us now, you have to realise that he's a different person when you're working for him. Not to mention, you brought up Divine. Learn that lesson quickly, don't even sound like you're on Divine's side."

"Right. I'll try to remember that."


Melinda jumped off Yusei's D-Wheel and went to her door. Yusei swung off as well and followed her inside. Crow had stayed with the kids, and they'd already dropped off Melinda's D-Wheel. Inside, she shook her hair from her helmet.

"Are you sure you'll be ok?" Yusei said quietly.

"I'm sure," she said, nodding slightly. "I am going to enjoy myself and relax and have a girly night in to myself. Tonight I'm going to make myself a glass of some drink, or maybe a nice cup of tea, and have a nice, long, relaxing bubble bath, then maybe I'll stick on some cheesy chick flick or maybe get an early night back in my own bed on my own for once."

"I said you could have your bed back and I'd sleep on the couch," he chuckled. "All you had to do was ask. And remember to keep you phone on and with you, and don't drink too much or you won't answer or you'll end up too drunk to realise you're in danger."

"Yes mum."

"Melin-"

"Milly... you're as much of a friend- and I use the term loosely- as Crow, so, call me Milly. It feels weird having you constantly say Melinda."

"Milly, you know it's only for your own good. You weren't a target until they figured out you were protecting me."

"I don't know about that."

"You mean your relationship with Kiryu?" She nodded. "If he turns up, call me, ok? I mean it, he might act like he cares but he doesn't. Don't trust him."

"Stop worrying. I'll be fine. If you get worried, just call me and I'll reassure you, and you can always come straight back here if you think I'm in danger."

"I will. Just be careful, and lock the door and don't do anything stupid."

"Goodbye, Yusei, I'll see you in the morning."

"Alright. I'll go. Goodnight, Milly."