Leo and Luna: Hiya!

Teeny: *Confused face* Since when did you two come into this?

Luna: Just now... we thought we'd help you introduce your chapters

Teeny: Riiight...okay then

Leo: When are we next back? I'm bored!

Teeny: Soon, I just had to get the main characters backgrounds sorted

Leo: So we're not main characters? What are we? 3rd and 4th wheels?

Teeny: *Threatening* Do you want to appear in another chapter?

Leo and Luna: We do! We do!

Teeny: Then be nice to me :) Leo and Luna - please do the disclaimer!

Leo: Teenytiny111 doesn't own Yugioh 5D's

Luna: But she does own this plotline and her own characters!

Teeny: You heard it guys - bring on the chapter!

Akiza was sat on a window seat watching whilst a summer rain poured down and hammered on the window panes of the living room in the Izinski Manor. If anyone had looked in from the outside they would have seen a tall, slender young woman with skin as pale as a lily but as luminescent as a pure pearl with a light blush across her cheeks, defining her delicate bone structure. Her hair was a dark but rich red, that was short in length and she had very long tendrils that framed her face, whilst her fringe was kept in place by a silver device that pulled the hair away from her forehead allowing you to see perfectly shaped eyebrows. Her most prominent feature was her expressive eyes. Almond shaped they were a beautiful dark brown and framed generously by thick dark lashes.

Akiza sighed, resting her face on one hand, she let her gaze wander over the land that was part of the Izinski fortune, grounds that she loved to walk around. Akiza spent a lot of her time on the surrounding land and she did this as she feels stifled by her parents quite a lot of the time – this was the best way to calm her Akiza recalled one of her earliest memories of her as a child growing up in a wealthy family.

It was a spring day and Akiza was six years old. She was with her mother in the flower garden picking flowers to make bouquets for the house. She loved doing this – especially with her mother. "Do you think everyone will like the flowers I picked mummy?" Akiza asked anxiously. Her mother laughed.

"Of course you silly girl – who doesn't like flowers and I'll let you in on a little secret" Her voice lowered to a whisper "These flowers are extra special ones!"

"Why?"Akiza's eyes widened. Mrs Izinski looked at her daughter, her beautiful rose and smiled.

"Because, my special rose, you picked them! All of your happiness has seeped into the petals of these flowers and that means whenever anyone looks at them, they'll feel happy too" Akiza looked thoughtful. Picking up a newly created bouquet she stood up and started to walk back to the house.

"Akiza, where are you going?" Her mother looked up to see her daughter walking away.

"I'm going to go and give these flowers to Daddy!"

"Akiza stop! Your father's busy, he..." It was no use Akiza was too far away to hear her mother.

Akiza entered the house. Hearing lots of talking coming from her father's study she entered and found she was surrounded by lots of gentlemen. The room fell silent.

"Akiza! What are you doing here!" Her father looked angry.

"I brought you some flowers – I thought they'd make you happy" she smiled at her father and she saw his expression hadn't changed.

"Why would flowers make me happy? I'm very busy, please leave" Mr Izinski brushed his daughter away from him.

"But mummy said that if I gave you flowers you'd be..." That was the final straw, her father exploded.

"AKIZA! I told you to leave! I am not bothered by the fact that you've given me flowers and I can't see how they'd make me happy. I'm a very busy man trying to make a living and my job is important to me. So please leave IMMEDIATELY!" Mr Izinski threw the flowers on the floor as if they were a piece of rubbish and he shouted so loudly that even his business associates were scared. For a young child, the effect was different. Tears streamed down her face at the fact her father had yelled at her and threw away the gift that she'd made especially for him. Picking up what was left of the destroyed bouquet and still crying, Akiza left the study. The minute she was out the door, the gentlemen and her father continued talking as if nothing had happened.

Akiza ran through the manor, up the polished marble stairs and straight into her bedroom. Throwing herself on her bed, she proceeded to cry, letting emotions out the only way a child could. After her cries became whimpers she saw that she still clutched the ruined bouquet. She walked into her bathroom and wiped her face with facecloth. Looking in the mirror she saw a little girl with red eyes and a tearstained face. Composing herself with an ability that was beyond her years, she walked back into her bedroom. Looking at the flowers on her bed, she took hold of them and simply threw them in her bin, next to her desk.

"I'll never let daddy see me cry again, even if he yells at me"

That was the day that Akiza realised her father had changed from someone she thought she knew, to someone she definitely knew she did not. It was a harsh lesson for a young and innocent six year old and it was something she could never forgive. Not much had changed in the last thirteen years, Akiza hadn't expected it to. A knock at the door brought her back to the present.

"Who is it?" Akiza didn't really want to speak to anyone, especially if it involved having to go see her father.

"It's Cordi, Miss"

"Come in" The door to the living room opened and Akiza's maid walked in carrying a tray. Akiza glanced at her and could see that she was having trouble with the heavy tray, so she stood up to give her a hand. Cordi was reluctant to let Akiza help her – afraid that she may ruin her mistress's outfit. Akiza wore black trousers with a high waist and a green silk shirt that was tucked in. Smart dress was required at home in case anybody important came calling for her father, presentation was important when your father's the Senator. Akiza didn't really see why it mattered but to keep the peace – she did what her father told her to do. Placing the tray on the coffee table that was in front of the window seat, Akiza gave Cordi a small smile.

Cordelia or Cordi, as she preferred to be known as, was more than Akiza's maid, she was her best friend and they had known each other since they were little. Cordelia de Chevalier was orphaned when she was seven. Mr and Mrs Izinski had known her parents for years, since their university days and they had been loyal friends of theirs. The Chevaliers had gone out one evening on their anniversary and Cordelia was spending the night at the Izinski Manor. They never came back, they'd simply vanished off the face of the earth and their fortune had disappeared too. With nowhere to go and no other family, Cordelia was offered a paid position at the manor – as Akiza's maid. Despite being a maid, Cordelia was eternally grateful to the Izinski family and never complained. Because Akiza and Cordelia were the same age, they were more like friends than mistress and maid – but Akiza knew until Cordelia leaves the family's employment, she is still a maid.

"What's this for?" Cordi hesitated before answering.

"It's upon Mrs Izinski's request..." Akiza raised an eyebrow.

"This means that she wants something of me – how unsurprising" Akiza sat back down on the window seat and glanced back at Cordi. "When is mother coming to talk to me?" Before Cordi could answer, the living room door opened again and in walked Mrs Izinski. Standing just by the door, Mrs Izinski waited whilst her daughter gathered her thoughts.

"Cordelia, would you mind leaving us please? I think my daughter and I have a lot to discuss" Mrs Izinski said quietly. Cordi looked at Akiza and out of the corner of her eye she could see her shaking her head. Cordi, knowing she could never disobey Mrs Izinski, nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her without a sound.

Mrs Izinski came and sat next to Akiza on the window seat. Folding her elegant hands, that no longer worked in the garden, in her lap; she waited until Akiza was looking at her before speaking. "My darling, what's wrong? It seems that all you ever do lately is sit here in this room looking out the window." Her voice was full of concern.

"You know why! Father just wants to keep me cooped up in here so that he can keep an eye on me"

"Akiza, your father just wants what's best for you and keeping you safe is one of our highest priorities. You need our protection!" Mrs Izinski tried reasoning with her daughter but Akiza wasn't having any of it.

"Your protection yes, suffocation not so much!" Akiza wanted to scream with frustration – her mother simply didn't understand. Mrs Izinski sighed and poured two cups of camomile tea. Stirring in some honey, she handed a cup to her daughter and after watching her take a sip and visibly seeing her relax, she spoke again.

"I know your father and I come across as being overprotective and uncaring but we do love you and that's why we don't like you going out by yourself – around the grounds is fine, but things are different now..."

"Different? As in the Satellite being part of the city now?" Akiza placed her cup on the coffee table and took her mother's hands in hers. "Mother, this is a good thing – can't you see that?"

"I'm afraid I can't. I don't suppose you've noticed that the majority of them have criminal marks?" Akiza's mother quickly pointed out. Akiza let go of her mother's hands.

"Maybe so, but I'm pretty sure that the majority, as you put it, were wrongly accused of the crimes they supposedly committed"

"Can you prove that?" Her mother countered. Akiza sighed because despite what she believed in – she knew her mother was right, she couldn't prove it.

"No, I can't. They may resent us, but they have a good reason to." Mrs Izinski raised one eyebrow (a mannerism her daughter got off her).

"Why would that be?" Akiza couldn't believe her mother actually asked this question. Out of sheer frustration she replied.

"Because we took away their rights, we made them feel like they weren't equal to us and we treated them like slaves! Everyone deserves the right to live a decent life and who are we to say otherwise?"

Mrs Izinski resigned and changed the subject. "Well, let's move on. I actually came to speak to about a different matter." Staring at her daughter intently, she continued. "We have received an invitation to attend a ball and we'd like you to attend as well"

Akiza was surprised, her parents didn't like her attending such events because of the possibility that she'd wander off and never come back. "Really? Who's hosting the ball?"

Mrs Izinski smiled. "Mr and Mrs Tanaka – they arrive tomorrow from Europe" Akiza gave her mother a sunny smile.

"That's great – they're lawyers who fight for human rights, they'd be great to talk to!" Akiza looked at her mother and saw she had an unreadable expression on her face.

"I believe they have two children, they remain in the city whilst their parents are working" Said Akiza's mother changing the subject from human rights...again.

"That's odd – I suppose they have staff as well." Noticing her mother was distracted Akiza asked "What's wrong mother?" Mrs Izinski sighed and said quietly.

"Your father has arranged to make an important announcement – it's regarding you my darling"

Before Akiza could open her mouth her mother held up her hand and said plainly. "I don't know what it's about but it's your father's decision – not mine". They finished their tea in silence. Patting her daughter's hand, Mrs Izinski got up and walked to the door. Opening it and before leaving the room she turned around and spoke.

"Perhaps we could go dress shopping tomorrow and find you something appropriate for a woman of your standing?" Akiza nodded without saying anything. Mrs Izinski smiled and left the room closing the door behind her. Looking into her cup of steadily cooling tea, Akiza was deep in thought.

"What could the announcement be about? My mark? Or is it something that will make me regret going to the ball? I wish I knew".

Suddenly sunshine streamed through the full length windows in the living room, making the raindrops still left of the glass shine like diamonds. Feeling enlightened, Akiza smiled. Picking up the tray she walked towards the door. "Perhaps I'm worrying too much, it can't possibly be anything too serious otherwise Father would have spoken to me about it" And with that thought, Akiza took one last glance at the "diamond" covered windows and left the room with a smile on her face.

Luna: That was a little sad... poor Akiza! Does it get better?

Teeny: It will, don't worry ;)

Luna: *Sighs with relief* But Akiza has some attitude - I like her! Do we get to meet her?

Teeny: You will soon.

Leo: This chapter was alright I suppose. Best bit was the babe.

Luna: You mean Akiza?

Leo: No, I mean her Mother! Of course I meant Akiza!

Teeny: *Growls* My chapter was amazing thank you very much!

Leo: *Scared* I know!

Teeny: Right you are - rate and review please!