Me: I feel like posting a new chapter to this every day.

Jack: Whoop de do. Can I leave now?

Me: No, you're in this chapter. *In sing songy voice* Will you do the disclaimer thingy?

Jack: Fine. Shimmering-Sky doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh 5ds. Or any of its characters. Emphasis on 'any characters'

Me: On with the chapter!

Me: Well, my updates are far from daily now, and Jack would definitely not do the disclaimer for me, but I'm still trying to get out updates. Rudolph needs time, since he's just a wee Probie.

Sky: *Sighs, shakes head* You've been watching NCIS, haven't you?

Me: Among other shows. I even found this old file on my flash drive that I don't remember writing, and it's a mix of this 'You know you're a fan of' for crime solving shows. It's pretty funny.

Yusei: But you don't plan on posting it.

Me: Mmm, I'll stick it on my profile. Anyways, here's the updated chapter 3! Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Peeling open one eye, I look at the clock. 7: 30. It's too early for me to wake up. But I remember what day it is. Yusei's birthday… and the anniversary of the event that has been dubbed Zero Reverse, in which both of our parents died in. I have really mixed feelings about this day. I should be happy, since it's my little brother's birthday but I just can't… And that's why the past six times this day has passed, I leave the orphanage and wander around Satellite for the day. I just can't face Yusei today.

I quickly change out of my pajamas and grab my ever-present bag off of my nightstand. I'm fully prepared to leave like I normally do, but Martha walks in. "You better not leave again," she says and crosses her arms. "Every year, Yusei asks if you're going to be here today. I'm going to give him a different answer this year."

"But Martha…" I start to argue, but then I stop. It is kind of pointless to argue with Martha. Especially if she's holding her ladle. That thing hurts if it whacks the back of your head really hard. "Okay. I won't leave today."

Martha uncrosses her arms and smiles. "Good. Now since you're up this early, do you mind helping me set up?"

Well, since it's for Yusei… "Just show me what to do."

XXX

By the time the other ten kids come downstairs, Martha and I have set up the downstairs, to the best of our ability, to represent a birthday party. Materials like balloons and streamers are extremely scarce in Satellite, and yet Martha somehow had a couple of helium-filled balloons and some streamers to decorate with. The cake in the fridge was homemade, but Martha had some store-brand frosting on it. I can only wonder where she got everything.

Yusei's face lights up when he sees me. "Sky! You're here!"

My heart breaks. How could I have tried to avoid him? I shake my head, trying to get rid of my doubt, and smile. "Of course! Now come on, we have a wonderful breakfast prepared for you."

A grin crosses his face. "Chocolate chip pancakes?"

I smile right back at him. "You know that's right."

XXX

As a sort of tradition at Martha's house, the birthday boy or girl has to wait until after lunch to open his or her presents. Yusei is no different. And, leading up until that time, I see Yusei as I've never seen before. He's just about impatient as Crow and Jack when it comes to this. It's slightly unnerving.

But the happiness I see when he opens the presents from everyone else settles my unease. While the presents aren't much, and they're only wrapped in paper the kids decorated themselves, Yusei loves everything he gets. When he opens the last one in the pile, he looks at me. "Did you get me anything, Sis?"

For a few seconds I freeze up, how could I have forgotten? Then I remember the Deck that Dad had given me. He had said it was for Yusei. But I can't part with all of the cards. They're the only things I have that used to belong to him. So for now, as I take the Deck out of my bag and say, "Of course I do," I slide one of the cards out of the Deck. Stardust Dragon.

He doesn't notice the missing card, as the ones still in the Deck are impressive and near impossible to come by in Satellite. Especially the Synchros. "Wow! Thanks Sis!" Then Yusei practically tackles me to the floor in a hug—another side of him I haven't seen.

"I'm glad you like it," I say once he lets go and I sit up again. "I'm sure Dad would be happy as well." After a brief flash of sadness, followed by a quizzical look from Yusei, I add, "He's the one that gave it to me, to give to you."

"Then…" He trails off. "Then I'll make sure this Deck stays safe."

"C'mon Yusei," Crow butts in, "let's go check out the cards!"

That pretty much breaks up the circle of kids, and all of them run outside to play with their own cards. I'm pretty sure Yusei was actually the only one here that didn't already have a Deck. "That was real kind of you," Martha says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You know how much he's been wanting a Deck."

"Yeah."

"He wouldn't have gotten it if you'd left."

"I know." She doesn't need to make my guilt about that even worse. I stand up from my position on the floor. "I should probably go make sure nothing happens to them."

The last time all of the other kids were left alone, a few of the older ones (not older than me; just older than the other kids), had started picking on Yusei. Yusei, being Yusei, hadn't tried to stop them. Jack, on the other hand, had stood up for his friend and gotten into a fist fight. Crow joined and ended up with a black eye, and Jack didn't have a mark on him.

"You go do that," Martha says. "If you need anything, I'll be in here."

To be continued…

Me: Okay chapter done! Oh, next chapter skips to Yusei's thirteenth birthday.

Yusei: Why exactly is that?

Me: I'm not telling. Oh, please review. I AM OPEN TO FLAMES. Seriously, I could care less about what reviews I get.

Me: Yep, I still want as many reviews as I can get. And I'm pretty sure Crow would love it if someone flamed this.

Sky: Where is he, anyways?

Me: Don't know, don't care.

Yusei: You don't care?

Me: Well, he does want to kill me.

Yusei: Good point.

Me: I know. Well, I'm going to leave this here! Please review!