I do not own Yugioh!5D's

Chapter 10- Characters in Motion

-We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests- Sheryl Sandberg

Change was what moved life along. After all, you could be living your life today, just as you would have any other day, and then something happens, something changes and that change affords a series of events. Ultimately, your life after that change will be different from the life you led before that change.

There had been a lot of changes in Yusei Fudo's life, the most recent change being the act of betrayal committed by his brother in all but blood, Jack Atlas.

Yusei had thought that Jack had come to understand the strength and importance of the Bonds that existed between friends.

But Jack was more a child of his environment than Yusei ever was. They grew up in an unforgiving world.

Satellite.

A desolate place with the power to make the people within it reflect its barrenness. He saw it every day.

But then again it wasn't Satellite's fault, at least not entirely. New Domino City played a hand in this as well.

Poverty and Prejudice – that's what the persons of Satellite experienced on a daily basis. But sadly, it wasn't anything new. The New Domino-Satellite situation was just an extreme reflection of what happened in societies all over the world.

Those who had power, took from those who didn't. Those who had infrastructure built, took even more using the labour of those who didn't.

A parasitic relationship existed between the two cities. New Domino City thrived off of the labour of the Satellite and the people there suffered as a result. Sadly enough, the mind-set of the majority of persons of both New DC and Satellite – 'Why try to fix something that can't be fixed?'

Satellite was that broken place that they thought couldn't be fixed.

It was enough to make a person empty and then fill them up with bitterness. That's what happened to Jack.

Jack wanted to show the world that it was wrong. The world that made him an orphan, the world that made him live in such a infertile place, the world told him that he was less from day one. Jack was nothing if not ambitious. He wanted to elevate himself and laugh at the world from where he was.

He had something to prove, but so did Yusei. First Yusei was going to prove to Jack that having bonds didn't make one weak or hold anyone back. He was going to beat Jack and get his Stardust Dragon back.

Then he was going to prove to Jack that no situation was hopeless. He was going to find a way to unite New Domino City and the Satellite and prove that joining with your friends, not abandoning them, was how you made an impact.

That's why he wouldn't let anything stop him. That's why he wouldn't give up hope that there was a brighter tomorrow for everyone. Maybe if he had given up hope he'd have ended up as bitter and empty as Jack.

Jack was a person that learnt the hard way and Yusei was more than willing to follow through.

He had been close to getting his Stardust Dragon back. Now he was left with more questions than answers.

After all, change was what moved life along and it came in many different ways and forms. He never expected that it would come in the form of a Crimson Dragon.

But before he could even begin to figure that situation out, he needed his D-wheel and his deck. To do that he needed help.

Here's to hoping that this 'Saiga' can come through for him.

If I've said it once, I'll be happy to repeat it.

Paperwork is evil.

I had to register my Runner, er, D-wheel (I really needed start using that name more) as all riders had to every year.

With that said, the registrar office was jammed with drivers of cars, trucks, bikes and D-wheels alike. And would you believe that they all had an appointment on the same day as me? And it was late in the afternoon too.

It'd just been bad timing that I had to be registering my D-wheel days away from the Fortune Cup. The fact that they were so backlogged was just the Fates laughing at me.

"Lua," I spoke through my cell, "I'm going to be home a bit late."

"Okay, take your time! Bye!"

I stared at the cell confusedly. 'He hung up in a rush.'

Which meant he was up to something.

…I rolled my eyes. Honestly, when wasn't that boy up to something?

I sighed as I made my way towards Tops Residential Area. I was really looking forward to resting for the remainder of the day. It had definitely been an exhausting two days. After having to deal with my D-wheel registration yesterday and then seeing to a few tune ups to it at the sister branch of DMI earlier today, I was more than ready to relax.

But the same time I was thankful for how busy I was. I was getting more and more nervous as the Fortune Cup got nearer and nearer.

I was expected to duel in front of thousands of people. I was expected to turbo duel in front of thousands of people. I'd never been on television before.

Of course that was the least of my problems. There was a high chance of me meeting Goodwin face to face. I'd have nowhere to run this time. I'd have to see Jacky again too and I'd meet up with 'I make the damage real' Akiza. Also –

Yusei was supposed to show up around the twins soon. But where was he?

"Those people in the Tops Area really irk me!" A gruff voice yelled.

As I neared the entrance to the Tops Residential Area, I saw a car parked up by the main gate. It didn't seem as if whoever drove the car was going to get in, nor was his companion who leaned against the car looking nothing but disgruntled.

I shrugged my shoulders. It wasn't any of my business.

"Otome-san," I said as I bowed respectfully, if only to appease the notoriously uptight, er, upright security guard.

"Kameyo-san," he greeted in turn as he moved to open the automated gate.

I was about to enter through the gate when the same man who stood against the car hollered at me. "Hey kid!"

I could've not turned and looked at him, really I could've. But would that make me any different than many other snooty Top residents? I so didn't have time for social discrimination.

"Watch out okay, Satellite scum has infested the neighbourhood," he growled.

Huh, it seemed as if the officer couldn't tolerate being on the receiving end of discrimination but he could sure dish it out.

Nonetheless –

"Satellite scum?"

"You don't need to concern yourself with this man Kameyo-san," I watched as the guard's usually impassive face gained a small smirk, "These Public Security Officers were just leaving in order to get the proper documents needed to search the premises."

The burly officer literally growled and seemed as if he were a lion waiting to pounce but thought better of it.

"Kid – "

I didn't stop to listen to what he had to stay, having already broken out into a sprint towards the tallest building within the area.

Could Yusei have already appeared?

I hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary when I had arrived home last night…at least I didn't look for anything out of the ordinary.

It didn't take long for me to get to the building and into an elevator (though the ride seemed to drag on even more so than usual), then after that it was a simple thing to get to the entrance to the apartment.

I reached towards the panel by the door. One push of a button and the door would be open.

But I hesitated.

What if Yusei was really beyond this door? What would happen then?

…Okay so I know what would happen, but…this could be my last chance to well, turn away. If I were to disappear, things could probably go the same way they did in the original version of the series.

The twins probably wouldn't forgive me if I were to just walk away, nor me myself for doing that to them. But the choice was still there.

I ruffled my hair frantically as I groaned.

'Arrgh!'

"Forget this," I muttered softly, finally deciding to just open the door and let whatever was to happen, happen.

Before I could reach for the panel, the door slid open.

Black hair with gold highlights jutting out in all directions, a jagged criminal mark on the left side of a tanned face and finally royal blue irises immediately locking onto my verdant ones – that's what immediately filled my vision.

I really wasn't prepared for this moment. I know that I should be, but I wasn't. I always preferred simulations to reality either way. I could think of a million and one ways in which multiple situations could turn out, but I hesitated in the execution. Always.

That feeling one got when one's every movement was being watched seemed intensified by a thousand time under his eyes. His gaze was penetrating and unrelenting, analysing me. I wasn't used to persons trying to see beneath the surface – trying to see more than what was presented – right off the bat.

It was unnerving.

It needed to stop.

Now.

"Nii-san!"

Huh?

I snapped my attention to the twins, who were now crouched down in front of me and hovering around the figure that was now on the ground.

I repeat – Huh?

Royal blue irises found my eyes once more, this time the owner of the irises clutched the side of his face. I stared wide eyed, before looking to my right hand to see it clenched into a fist.

I slowly unclenched my hand.

…Whoops.

"Nii-san if you want to apologize just apologize already," Lua whined. Currently we were all situated in the living room. Yusei sat in the couch, while the twins and I stood opposite to him, the coffee table separating us.

"~I wanna duel him~"

Lua tugged at my sleeves, but my arms remain folded.

"Who says that I wanna apologize you brat?" I ground out as a blush spread across my face.

I eyed Yusei up and down. He…looked exactly like he did in the anime only more…real?

"Wasn't that a normal response when one finds a complete stranger in one's home?"
Maybe not a complete stranger, but then again I knew him only from what I had seen.

I snapped my gaze to my left, where both twins were. "And how you hid an entire person for the entire night is a conversation that we are going to have."

I gave them a hard stare. This world could be just as cruel to children as in the real world.

My stare didn't relent even as they seemingly withered beneath my gaze – Lua looking away from my stare and Luca nervously playing with her pigtails.

"Sorry."

My eyes shifted to Yusei, who spoke for the very first time in my hearing, "It's my fault, don't blame them."

"Yusei," Luca spoke softly and I had to wonder exactly what his deck had told her.

"I should get going going," Yusei said as he rose from the couch and headed towards the door. His Runner, er, D-wheel was near the door as well. "I don't want to cause any more trouble."

How had the twins managed to carry a grown man and his D-wheel and then hide both from me? I had seriously underestimated them.

"No Yusei wait!" Lua exclaimed running towards the closest. He rummaged through it for a bit, before taking out a blue duel disk. It had been the duel disk that the Academy had given him, Lua had gotten one for herself, only pink. I had been meaning to get them new ones because the Academy ones were too big.

"You're no trouble at all," Lua spoke as he bounced up to him. "Besides, I want you to duel me. And you have to accept – a duelist always accepts any challenge he's posed!"

"Now you're causing trouble Lua," Luca spoke up from beside me.

Had I suddenly become invisible or something?

"But Yusei looks like a tough and I wanna duel against tough duelists!" Lua gave his sister a resolute stare before turning back to Yusei. "Let's play, Yusei! I don't even care if I lose. Nii-san always says that win or lose you always learn. And the more you learn the more you hone your skills."

I couldn't help the small smile I directed towards Lua. The twins really did take most of what I said to heart.

"Is that right?" Yusei replied with a small smile of his own as he too looked at Lua.

"Yeah! So let's play! Let's play! Let's play!"

'Such a kid,' I thought as I watched him wave his hands excitedly, only to have his duel disk slip down his arm.

I chuckled at the embarrassed sigh that escaped his sister.

"Fine. Let's play," Yusei announced as he watched Lua fumble with his duel disk.

I twitched. I felt ticked off in a way.

Lua and Luca weren't usually like this towards strangers, but I thought back to how the twins and I had met. I knew that it was much more than Lua getting some kind of feeling from me and my cards. What connected us was the Crimson Dragon. From the very beginning the Signers were fated to come together. This…whatever it was that seemed to be forming between the twins and Yusei was only the beginning. This was to happen to all the Signers.

Connected by Destiny (Fate?), friends by choice.

But what was this dropping feeling in my stomach all about?

"Nii-san," Luca shook my arm.

I blinked and gazed down at her.

"Yusei said that he'd duel Lua but only if it was okay with you."

I hummed at the information. Had he?

"You spaced out again didn't you?" Luca sighed.

"Don't worry about it Yusei. Nii-san's been spacing out a lot lately."

I felt my cheeks warm at Lua's declaration, especially since both of them, including Yusei, were staring at me.

"Fine," I said looking away. So maybe I wasn't invisible. "Have your duel."

"Alright! This is gonna be awesome!"

I watched as Yusei adjusted Lua's duel disk, so that it'd stop slipping off of his arm (at least for the time being). We had moved the duel pool-side.

Not something I was particularly comfortable doing. I couldn't swim, and though the twins could…well, if they got into any complications, I wouldn't be able to help.

I guess as long as we stayed by the shallow end…

"No one else is here?" Yusei asked. I wasn't sure who he directed the question towards – me or the twins? He didn't seem very chatty. It was a pity I couldn't remember exact character details. But that was expected wasn't it? It's been so many years after all.

Lua answered. "It's just us on this floor."

Luca picked up the conversation. "We've always been together, just the two of us."

I sighed at her comment. It was true and it wasn't a good thing. Children need their parents when growing up. The twin's parents were always so busy, the most the twins got were the occasional phone calls and rare video chats. I knew that the twins were sad about it.

'Mother' and 'Father' – the words for God on the lips and hearts of children. That's how important parents were. I felt that I'd been partly cheated out of having that – parents, I mean – in both lives.

That's something else that the twins and I share, unfortunately.

Of course, they had me but I wasn't their parents. I wasn't enough for them, at least that's what I thought.

"But then came the day that Nii-san kidnapped us!" Lua said happily. "So now it's the three of us!"

This time I was conscious of what my fist did. I thumped Lua at the back of his head, not too hard to cause any permanent damage of course.

"How many times have I told you to stop telling the story like that?" I grit out with no real heat. But seriously, persons could start to see me as some kind of paedophile if he kept on saying that.

"Fine, then came the day Nii-san accidentally kidnapped us," Luca told with a sly smile. Luca wasn't always one for teasing, what with her demure nature, but I welcomed it. I loved seeing her come out of her shell.

I couldn't deny the warm feeling that spread across my chest. My heart beat a bit faster.

"Brats," I announced affectionately, watching as they mirrored the smile that was no doubt on my face.

"I see," Yusei spoke as he rose from his crouch having finished with adjusting Lua's disk. I could have sworn I saw Yusei smile as he rose. I wonder what he saw as he looked on.

"You're all set. Let's begin."

"Thank you Yusei!"

"Don't mention it," Yusei replied as he began to distance himself from Lua. "We'll begin on your turn."

"Okay!"

I chuckled as Luca and I sat on the nearby bench to watch the duel. Lua was always excited to duel.

I watched as both duelists activated their disks.

The stage was set. My eyes travelled between the two. Time to see what I was working with.

Normal people would constitute the day he was having as just plain terrible.

He had gotten his D-wheel and Deck from the detention center only to be intercepted yet again by Ushio. He ended up crashing into garbage. Thankfully he walked away mostly unscathed, with only a headache to remind him of the accident, because it could have been worse. He could have gotten amnesia.

Then he woke up and for a short while thought he was seeing doubles. Fortunately, they were just twins. In fact one of them reminded him of Rally.

Innocent and open-minded, if not gullible. They had to be to not have run when they had seen his marker. They also gave him refuge, doing their best to goad him into staying.

He didn't want to cause any trouble for children who he knew were leading a better life than he had when he was their age.

He had made to leave, he still had unfinished business with Jack, but as soon as he had opened the door he got punched. A unique greeting.

Now he was about to duel one of the 12 year old twins – the boy whose personality reminded him of Rally. He didn't mind though. He'd allow himself this small break. Besides, he's already anticipated Ushio and other Security members staking out the entrances and exits of the Tops area. He'd let them stew and get antsy for a bit.

If he were to be honest, the events of the day thus far were the most normal things to happen to him in comparison to the last few days.

…He wasn't even going to even go there…

Normal people would constitute the day he was having as just plain terrible –

But he wasn't complaining.

I watched on in interest. Lua was the one who initially had the upper hand but he was still too cocky and more focused on getting all the cards he wanted together on the field than he was with pre-empting his opponent's next move. More often than not, Lua failed to counterattack his opponent's move.

He needed to get past that. He needed to realize that not every 'winning' combo that he came up with would win. Whenever Lua's key card or combinations gets destroyed he thinks it's the end of the duel.

He still had a lot to learn…and so did I of course.

Yusei had switched all four of Lua's monsters' battle modes (there went Lua's Deformer Army defense or his 'Magne-lock' as he called it), so his Magnet-U's were now in attack mode, while his Deformer Mobaphon (that was definitely not the name I remember from the English version of the show, so even now it sounded so weird) and Deformer Chakkan were now in defense positon.

I watched as Yusei Synchro summoned back to back ultimately ending up with Nitro Warrior. My nose twitched. It was an impressive combination. I'd never been able to pull off something like that so early on in a duel before.

The end result of the duel was as I expected – Yusei won. In just four turns too. I sighed as Luca rose from the bench and went towards Lua whom Yusei had gone up to as well, no doubt offering words of encouragement.

Yusei and I were definitely at different levels. Nonetheless I wonder how I'd fair in a duel against him.

I finally rose from the bench with a small clap. I watched as Lua ducked his head nervously and suddenly I saw an image of myself from eight years ago. I blinked the image away as I smiled.

"I lost," he mumbled sadly.

I couldn't resist ruffling his hair. Pouty Lua was adorable.

"It happens," I admitted, "I look forward to seeing how you use this experience in future duels. Nonetheless, win or lose – I believe in you."

"It seems like you've got a good teacher." I smiled at Yusei's words.

"You're awesome Yusei!" Lua declared. The boy bounces back fast, I'll give him that much. "You're really tough! Will you duel me again?"

"Sometime later," Yusei announced as he turned away from us. I had never thought of Yusei as a man of few words, but with what I've been seeing I'm beginning to think just that. "Thanks for your help."

"Where are you going?" Luca spoke, which was odd. It wasn't often that Luca beat Lua to the punch, she usually just let him have the first word.

He paused and turned halfway in our direction, using his thumb to point at the marker on his face. "Look at this marker. If you hung around me, I'd only cause you trouble."

I simply watched as the twins tried to convince Yusei to stay. I relished the fact that if it had been me in his position, if it had been me who was being subject to the twin's 'Please Oblige' routine, I would have lasted longer.

When Yusei looked over to me, silently asking permission, I remembered that I was the authority figure in this situation. In retrospect though, letting a marked stranger duel my pre-teen ward in the very building that we lived, where we were the only ones on that floor didn't seem like the choice a wise authority figure would make.

"I'll get started on dinner."

I've already come this far.

I had put the twins to bed. Dinner went unexpectedly well and wasn't as awkward as I thought it'd be.

With that said. I couldn't just fall asleep and leave Yusei in the home unattended/unwatched. I was still a bundle of nerves and there was so much that I wanted to talk to him about. There was so much I wanted to say.

If there was anyone who would be able to handle the burden I had it was Yusei. What a pity it wasn't like a relay race. If I had my way, I'd pass the baton forward to Yusei, finally ending my leg of the race.

I walked down the stairs to find Yusei on the couch, Lua and Luca's duel disks on the table in front of him. Without much ado, I sat in the only arm chair in the room. I had always thought that the house was too big for the three of us much less the twins alone.

I sat down and overtly observed him as he worked. The fact that he was able to fix the duel disks and go through the motions so fluidly was testament to his mechanical skills. Neither of us spoke for what felt like hours.

I eventually decided to try my luck. The big hero of the story was right in front of me, how could I let this opportunity pass by?

"Public Security has the exits staked out."

I had noticed a few of them by the West gate when I had gone to empty the garbage. Yusei paused for a moment before continuing his work on the disks.

"It's almost midnight so if you're planning to leave, the best time to do it will be in about half an hour or so."

There was silence for a while until Yusei finally decided to speak.

"You don't question the fact that those kids just found and took in a total stranger?" Yusei asked with a raised brow. I couldn't help but bristle a bit at having him scrutinize my babysitting skills.

"They may be kids, but they're good judges of character, especially Luca. I have no doubt that she sensed something different about you." Though I thought I'd see Yusei react to my words in some way, he didn't. And naturally the first thing he says to me and it's a criticism.

"Besides, that's what I'm here for. I don't know you, and I don't trust you." I actually know about you and trust what you can do. "Hurt my kids and Public Security will be the least of your worries. Promise."

It surprised me how I had taken to the kids during the months I've spent with them, given my tendency to try and not get attached to persons. Was this to be the same with all the Signers? I was their Keeper after all, but was that merely a job or was I destined to form bonds with them more so than with other persons?

It would make sense. If I was emotionally attached to them, then I'd do nothing less than my best to protect them.

Would I really be their Keeper then? Or would I be more of a martyr?

Green locked onto blue as I sought to convey my seriousness to the man across from me. Something flickered across Yusei's eyes – acceptance (approval?).

"Thank you for helping me." I rolled my eyes, tired of hearing him say that. He held out his right hand. I had figured a long time ago that the Y5D's world seemed to function under some kind of quasi-Japanese/American motif. I was okay with that.

I shook it firmly, "I'm Skylar."

Indeed, I took this long to officially introduce myself.

"It's good to meet you…Skylar," he spoke. A pulse suddenly travelled through my right arm and I let go of Yusei's hand as if burnt.

I quickly looked at Yusei only to see that he now gazed at me, an eyebrow raised, his expression cool.

'I hope he doesn't think I snubbed him.'

But hadn't he felt that?

I raised my eyebrows in turn. My pride demanded that I not back down from him. In any case wouldn't backing down be an admission of guilt?

"If you're finished," I gestured towards the now newly customized disk on the table, "I'll see you out…of the building."

A small smile flitted across his face for some odd reason, but he nodded nonetheless and made his way towards his runner which was nearby the entrance. I followed behind him quietly.

As we exited the house I hid a wince. The twins were not going to be happy with this development.

The ride down from the 50th floor was almost as long as the ride I took up yesterday. The elevator was spacious, spacious enough for two people and a D-wheel. Silence reigned for most of the journey. That is until we got to the parking lot. Yusei had mounted his Runner (and I vaguely thought it a pity that he had to leave so soon. Maybe if he stuck around long enough I'd have the guts to…well spill my guts).

"Remember when I said that Luca probably sensed something different about you?" Yusei nodded though I could see his shoulders tense a bit.

"They did the same to me over a year ago and I haven't gotten rid of them since." My lips quirked up into a fond smile. "Chances are you won't be able to get rid of them either."

"And you?" I've had just about enough of Yusei's unwavering, soul-searching stare.

Definitely won't be able to get rid of me, none of you signers will.

I smiled mysteriously (at least I hoped it looked mysterious and not self-depreciating) at him, just letting the question hang in the air.

I tossed Yusei's helmet to him, he caught it deftly.

"Drive safely, Hero." I turned and walked away. I stopped only when I heard the sound of a duel Runner revving and I glanced back to see Yusei speed off.

"…'Drive safely, Hero'?" I repeated under my breath as I made my way back to the elevator. I groaned.

Where had that come from?

My mouth opened by its own volition and then those words came out. Where did I get off trying to act all cool? Was I subconsciously threatened by the seemingly imperturbable disposition that was associated with Yusei Fudo?

I shook my head. That wasn't possible.

…Even so what had I been thinking?

I could be so lame sometimes.

Everything was progressing as expected.

Soon the Signers would be gathered. At the end of this Fortune Cup he was sure that he'd have all the signers in the palm of his hands.

Soon his present day Utopia, his New Domino City would become perfect and the rest of the world with it. One way or the other he'd get it done. He could only trust himself after all. There was no one else but him.

He was the sole builder. Everyone beneath and around him were his tools. A builder without tools could still find a way, but tools without a builder were useless. And currently there were several tools scattered within New Domino City who were in need of their builder.

Which was why it had been necessary for him to rise to the top, why he had had to attain power. His power and influence made it so much easier to find his tools, which would ultimately make the reconstruction plans go all the more smoother.

He heard the door to his office slide open. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, before he turned his gaze away from his view of New Domino City.

"Has it been done?" he asked as he strode towards his desk, passing the figure that had entered moments ago. He sat at his desk as he met the eyes of his assistant.

A loud snicker travelled through his office.

"Why of course Director," Lazar spoke his lips rising in a smirk. "The last of the invitations have been distributed and I'm happy to report Fudo-san's…agreement. However reluctant and forced it may have been."

Yes, everything was progressing as expected.

Word count: 5193

A/N: So this chapter is the longest chapter thus far. Skylar's Runner/D-wheel is based on Yamaha's Tesseract four-wheel motorcycle (2007). You can check out images of it online. And with that said- I've got a few thoughts on what to name Sky's Runner. I'm not too sure what name I want to give to her D-wheel, but I'm working on it. If you have any suggestions put them in a review or simply PM me. I might just simply call it the 'Tesseract' (and note that I'm keeping to a turtle-theme thing).

In terms of duels, I won't be re-writing any duels seen in canon unless there is some change, or if I'm going in depth on what a character is thinking/feeling during a duel. Hence why only the latter part of Lua vs Yusei was shown. And you will see Sky dueling...eventually.

A reviewer asked me about why the twins called Skylar 'Nii-san' (Older Brother) as opposed to 'Nee-san' (Older Sister).

Well, when the twins first met Skylar they thought she was a guy (Sky, with how she dresses (and looks) can pass as an effeminate male). Hence why Lua addressed her as Nii-san when they first met her. They do know that she is a girl though. And I am aware of the differences between 'Nii-san' and 'Nee-san'. Think of it as the title 'Nii-san' just sticking and them calling her that is more of a joke/thing between the three of them. Sorry for any confusion caused.

Whew, lengthy chapter, lengthy A/N.

Super special thanks to those who reviewed! Thank you to those who viewed/favourited/followed.

Constructive criticism/comments/questions/suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Please review guys.

Thanks for reading.

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