It was time. Aladdin and Judal walked onto stage as the curtain rose. The crowd went wild. The applause was so loud! Aladdin was giddy with excitement and Judal felt the still familiar rush of performance starting to wash over him once again. He had missed this. It was nice. Aladdin spoke first. She addressed the crowd, talking a bit about Alma Torran's expansion. Judal picked up where she dropped off. They talked about themselves and what they had been doing. The crowd made noises to express what they felt as Judal and Aladdin went back and forth talking to them. This was as much an explanation as it was a show for the audience's entertainment.

This was the very first place Aladdin had performed as an artist for Sindria, and the last place Judal had performed in the U.S. before he had gone on that horrible European tour. To them, this place was historic.

~~~Sinbad~~~

That voice made him cringe. Hakuei had taken his blindfold off as the curtain had started rising and she kissed him to pull his attention away. He pulled away from her when he heard Aladdin's voice though. This was not good. Why had she brought him here? He listened to Aladdin and Judal talking. He didn't want to be here. Maybe she was just clueless. She hadn't seemed like it up to this point, but it could have been an act. It was hard to tell with some celebrities.

"Is something wrong, Sinbad?"

"Don't worry about it, it's nothing."

"Tell me."

"Well, Aladdin just left Sindria so seeing her so soon stings a little."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it mattered to you."

"Of course it does. I worked quite closely with her for a while. It almost feels like a betrayal that she left me for another."

"Isn't her father the leader of Alma Torran? It doesn't seem like that much of a surprise that she moved from Sindria to Alma Torran."

"It isn't just that. We were friends until recently. It feels weird not to have been warming up with her beforehand." Hakuei laughed. "What's funny?"

"Just the things you are saying. I mean really? A betrayal? Friends? You really are a pedophile. I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but everything everyone else said was true. Unbelievable. You are truly a sick and despicable person."

"Hakuei, what are you talking about? What are you doing?"

"This is how I express my love."

"You have a very strange way of expressing your love. I can't say this is the most effective method ever used on me."

"Oh, I'm sorry. It seems you have misunderstood what I was saying. My love isn't for you, it's for Aladdin. This is my way of repaying her for everything she has done for me. Even though I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, I planned to do this from the very beginning. You hurt her, and there was no way I would let you get away with that."

"You played me?" It hurt; he had actually liked her.

"Of course. This is the first time I've ever done something like this, but I'm willing to help Aladdin any way I can. Kouha's methods weren't subtle enough for my taste. For someone like you my approach is much more effective. I'm sorry to have hurt you so badly, but you almost sent Aladdin over the edge. I watched her go from a bright light to a dim one in just a few months of working with you. You did so much to hurt her, I just couldn't help it."

"I can't believe this. You were so kind."

"I am kind. You are just an exception; so special. And you didn't just hurt Aladdin, you hurt my family too."

"Your family?"

"Those "stupid redheads" you have been attacking are my cousins. My last name is Ren too. And you were thinking that I was clueless when you saw that this is where I brought you. Look who's clueless now."

"This is ridiculous. I don't understand why you would-"

"I just explained it to you. Family sticks together. I started seeing Aladdin as my little sister a long time ago, and the rest of my family is important to me too. Just watch and see Sinbad. We are going to destroy you and there is nothing you can do about it."

"You won't win. I've been in this business longer than any of your siblings have. Solomon doesn't stand a chance, and in a few minutes your family will be done for too. Don't be so smug, Miss Ren. It isn't over yet."

"We will see. I wonder whose family is stronger, mine or yours. I wish you luck in this war you have declared."

Sinbad's body shook with anger and hurt. He had been played by this woman. He had truly fallen for her and she had thrown it all back in his face. Well, if that was how she wanted to play so be it. Two could play at this game. He sent a text out. It was time to destroy the competition.