A/N: Whoo! Another updated chapter and more Yusei POV! I've changed some story elements, so I'll have to go through every chapter. Once I'm done going through you'll start to see new stories. This story is also being crossposted on AO3 under the username penguinpasta. Enjoy!


"I activate my trap card! Harmonia Mirror!" The mirror reflects the image of Stardust Dragon. "With Harmonia mirror, when a Synchro monster is special summoned onto the opponent's field in a method other than Synchro summon, I can special summon that Synchro monster to my field!"

"I see. Of course you knew about that effect. That's how you used Stardust's effect to your own advantage."

"Soar, Stardust Dragon!" With Stardust back on my field, I'm doubly determined to end this duel. Jack shouldn't have assumed his own victory. "King! The real second act begins now! Do you remember what you told me? You never told me what it was. However, I've found the answer!"

"I'll listen to your answer."

"It's the soul of a duelist who believes in all his cards! That soul called Stardust back to me. There's meaning in every card that's destroyed and released. All of it was for this moment! Look, Jack! This is how Stardust should appear!"

"You've got this, Yusei."

I smile slightly at the vote of confidence from the girl whose arms latch around me. Pinoko's approval of my dueling skills unleash a swarm butterflies in my stomach.

I can't think about that right now. This duel is almost over, there will be time for that later.

Jack is laughing. "Yusei, you're successfully fulfilling your pathetic role. Fine. The King's excellent dueling will finish you in the second act! Bring it!"

I fully intend on it.

"My turn!" I draw from my deck. The perfect card, Silver Contrails, stares back at me. "I activate my Speed Spell, Silver Contrails! One Wind Attribute monster on my field gains 1000 attack points. Stardust Dragon, attack Red Daemons Dragon! Roar! Shooting Sonic!"

Everything feels normal when Stardust opens its maw, emitting a bright beam of power. My arm throbs, causing me to breathe in.

"My arm aches... What is this sensation?" I say it quietly, yet it draws the attention of my passenger.

"Yusei, what's happening? You're okay, aren't you?" The long haired girl rubs one palm along my back comfortingly.

I'm distracted by her touch and notice a helf second late that Stardust's attack didn't destroy Jack's dragon.

"Your attack is negated!" Road Runner shatters before my eyes. "It's my trap card Synchro Deflector. The attack against a Synchro monster on my field is deflected, and the monster with the fewest attack points on your field is destroyed. How foolish can you get? You caused your own destruction!"

I'm quiet in thought before announcing my move. "The effect of Silver Contrails has worn off. In that case, I summon Dead Gardna from my hand in defense position!"

"So, you're trying to protect Stardust."

"I set two cards and end my turn."

The throbbing returns as Jack's turn begins. "My turn! Let's have our dragons clash! Battle! Red Daemons Dragon, attack Stardust Dragon! Absolute Powerforce!" Dead Gardna swoops in front of Stardust. "So you've arrived, Dead Gardna!"

"Dead Gardna's monster effect changes the target of attack to itself! Dead Gardna will be the one to battle Red Daemons Dragon!"

"I knew that! When Dead Gardna is destroyed and sent to the graveyard, it lowers the attack points of one of the opponent's monsters by 1000 until the end of the turn. Now Stardust's attack points are greater than Red Daemons Dragon's!"

"I activate a trap! Counterattack Beacon! Counterattack Beacon activates when a monster on my field is destroyed due to your monster's attack! One of the monsters on my field gains 500 attack points, and it is forced to battle against the monster that attacked."

"Interesting. You also want to end things right here!"

"Battle!" I'm tired of Jack's taunting.

"I'm the one who will lower the curtains! I activate the trap Prideful Roar!" Jack yells, thinking I'm caught in his web. "By paying 1000 life points, Red Daemons Dragon's attack points become 300 more than Stardust Dragon's attack points! Battle! Take this! Scorching Crimson Hellflare!"

He doesn't know my plan. Jack can't see beyond how large his head has grown.

"What? Why can't it destroy Stardust Dragon? Red Daemons Dragon has greater attack points!" To enlighten him, Shield Warrior appears face up to display its monster effect. "Shield Warrior? But that was sent to the graveyard!"

"It's effect is meaningful when it's in the graveyard! By removing it from play from the graveyard, it can negate the destruction of a monster due to battle once. However, due to that attack, I still lose 300 life points. Prideful Roar's effect has also worn off. Red Daemons Dragon is back to 2000 attack points."

Red light slicks across the sky, slivers of it mixing among the clouds.

"The King doesn't lose. Speed spell!" He throws his arm out, card in hand. At that second, the pulsing in my arm returns. The woman behind me knows something is wrong.

"Yusei! Your arm...!" She scowls at it, bringing my gaze to my right arm. It's emitting a red glow.

"What's this feeling? This is..."The red fog around us thickens. It condenses and swirls until it takes form. "What?" I can't stop the surprise in my voice, nor can I stop staring. Pinoko leans around me.

"Your eyes, Yusei, they're... they're red! Talk to me, please!" she cries.

"Pinoko, I'm okay, but... I don't know what's happening." I wish I had something more concrete to offer.

It looks like a dragon.

Jack shouts as though confused, but quickly resettles on the duel. "This is the final act! I activate a speed spell! The End of Storm!"

I have a trap card in wait. Jack has already lost. The wind is picking up.

"I'm counting on you, Stardust! And this will be the final act!" I'm ready to end this duel. "I activate my trap card!" But we will never see the end of the duel. The wind gets rougher, causing both my and Jack's D-Wheel to spin out. The machines spew dark smoke as the three of us bounce off the asphalt.

The heat is unbearable. This feeling is...

"-sei! Yusei, please be okay! Look at me!" Someone's hand is on my cheek. I crack open my eyes.

"Pinoko... It's hot." My voice sounds rough, begging for relief. She tears the helmet off my head. She had already relieved herself of the one she had worn.

"Are you injured?" She asks. I rip off my right glove, feeling warmer by the second. My arm's glowing.

"What is this?" I say as if the answer will jump from the void. I wrench my gaze upward, catching Jack standing there. The same red mark alights his wrist. I stand to face him while the soft light fades, being replaced by a yellow one to the side. The darkness we were ensconced in recedes, letting spotlight take its place. I lift my arm to shield my eyes.

"This is Neo Domino City Security! Satellite Citizens are not allowed into Neo Domino City without permission! By order of the Public Maintenance Bureau, you are under arrest."

Damn it. Pinoko... I'll get you out of this.


"Inumaki Pinoko!"

They split up Yusei and I. My only saving grace is that City Security didn't perform a cavity search. I pray Rocky continues to sleep at my bosom. Any noise and he would also be seized.

"The authorities have confiscated your belongings. You were caught trespassing into Neo Domino City along with Fudo Yusei. Satellite citizens trespassing in Neo Domino City is a heinous crime. Therefore, the Public Security Maintenance Bureau has rendered the following verdict: One count! You will be inscribed with a marker!"

What looks to be a face shield lowers from above, blocking my eyesight. The sounds of whirring machines make my insides curl. An burst of agony on my right cheekbone lights up my brain. My own screaming reaches my ears. The laser harshly sears a mark into me, a golden teardrop-shaped tattoo. My voice turns hoarse, torture to my own senses. I'm slumped in the chair by the time the helmet lifts.

"Under Neo Domino City jurisdiction, this mark symbolizes incompatibility, it means you are not allowed to live in our jurisdiction!" A guard graps my hair, ensuring the mark is proper, scanning it with a handheld device to verify.

"One count! Inumaki Pinoko will participate in a reeducation program at a detention center for one month!"

"Please, I-"

"There will be no appeals! After finishing the program, you will spend six months at the Neo Domino City expansion factory before being sent home to Satellite." The door shuts soundly as the two guards from before lead me away. I can only hope Yusei is sent to the same detention center.

Please. Please don't let me be abandoned again.

I try to examine my surroundings. I'm being placed in a line with other detainees. "Eyes down!" shouts a guard who whacks my back with a nightstick. I hiss, obediently lowering my gaze. No use in getting beat up now, before knowing if I'll ever lay eyes on the man who has brought me so far. With my eyes trained down, I can only tell we are in a warehouse of some sort. All is quiet as they march us into the back of a Humvee. Once I'm ahead of the guards, I chance looking up. Yusei sits on the left. I swiftly skitter over, planting myself as close to him as I'm able. A few last prisoners board, doors slamming as they lock up. The Humvee rumbles and starts to move.

"Yusei!" I cry out as I finally hug the man. "Thank God! I was really worried I'd never see you again." A few tears slide down my cheeks, stinging as one passes the new marker on my face. I pull back, carefully examining the duelist.

"I never meant to get you involved like this, Pinoko. I made too many missteps-" Yusei's head is in one hand, looking deflated and shameful.

"No! I wanted to come with you, that was my choice. If anything you were probably thrown off having a second person riding with you, I know you're not used to that." We separate. I whisper conspiratorially, "Rocky's hidden in my shirt. Don't tell anyone."

"It isn't your fault. Without you there, things would've gone the same." Yusei's hand grabs mine discretely. It relaxes me to have the contact, knowing a trusted friend is close. He takes a moment to think in silence.

"Hey." A voice coming from Yusei's other side distracts me. Yusei looks toward the voice, but immediately looks the other way, pointedly ignoring whoever spoke. They lean around Yusei to get his attention.

"Woah! Too close!" A face appears suddenly before me, causing me to retract. An older man with white hair grins at me.

"Hey, hey. I heard you lovebirds were caught trespassing. Same here. My name is Yanagi." He pats his chest and holds out a hand. "Nice to meet you." Yusei continues ignoring the man who bears a gold tooth.

"You were caught at the Duel Stadium, right? I was nearby at the time. It was incredible. All the lights went out. But what surprised me most was that red dragon! Weren't you inside the stadium at that time?" Speaking on the red dragon we saw is the only thing to pique Yusei's interest.

"What do you know?"


We depart the Humvee when it opens. It's parked near a huge stone building. A guard scans Yusei's marker while he's focused on checking that I'm following behind him.

"Right, then. Number G2MA2-88... Starting today, you'll be referred to by your number." The guard grabs my chin, tilting my face to scan my marker. The rough treatment does not inspire any hope for the rest of our stay here. "Same goes for you, Number G2MA2-87."

"Don't stray," my companion says simply. Being led through the halls of the detention center, society's rejects reach out for me.

"Girly! Come a little closer..."

"Hey, bitch! Come see me during free time, I'll take you under my wing!"

I hurry my steps to stay by Yusei. I give a wide berth to the cell where a man stands silently. The look in his screams danger. The danger lies in every direction, however. I feel my skirt lift from behind.

"Red panties? That's sinful! You're really trying to rile me up!"

"Kyah!" I fold my hands against my backside, holding down my clothing. "Oh my stars, you are depraved! Don't touch me!"

A hand comes around to rest on the small of my back. I turn toward the offender, ready to lash out. I calm upon seeing Yusei. His expression is disquieted. "Stay close, Pinoko."

"Stop! This is your room! Enter!" The guard is short with his words. I stick to Yusei like glue, even when a third person follow us in. "The reeducation program starts in the afternoon. Until then, you should think about what you did."

Yanagi? Why won't this old man leave us alone? Wait...

"Hold on, sir? There's only-" The door shuts in my face. "-two beds. Cool. Yusei, are you good to share?"

"I can just take the floor."

"Yusei, we're in prison!" I'm exasperated with his self-sacrifice. "You've been pulling all our weight, you can at least sleep in the bed. If you're uncomfortable, I could take the floor," I protest.

"No. I wasn't raised like that, you'll sleep on the bed."

"Then we're sharing or we're both sleeping on the floor tonight!"

Men.

He chews over the ultimatum. "Fine."

"This place is big. And it's also new." Yanagi is looking out the window during our squabble. All this ruckus seems to have woken my pet.

"Bark!"

"Rocky, no. If anyone finds out you're here... Don't worry, I'll feed you later." The dog pops both front paws out from my breasts, resting on my collarbone to lick my nose. "Haha, you like the sound of that, huh?"

"You haven't answered my question yet."

"About what?" the old man queries, hanging from the high windowsill.

"About the red dragon."

"An-chan." He drops from the window and races over to Yusei and I. We sit on the bed patiently. "Did you bring a deck? We can talk afterwards."

Yusei looks pained. Not having his cards must be hurting his soul. "We're not allowed to bring one."

"Yusei... I'm sorry. If only we had more time, I could've hidden your cards. They only searched the obvious places. I'm sorry you had to give them up." I cover his fist with my open palm. The only person in the room with positive energy is the older man.

"Ta-da!" He shouts, pulling cards from different places on his person. "After visiting various detention centers, I learned you always need a deck."

"You're allowed to duel in here?" Yusei sound doubtful.

"It's the same inside as outside. Even in a detention center, there are ones who are in control and ones being controlled. Who's who is decided by a duel!"

"A duel?" The question he asks makes the old man smile and nod. He's happy until someone busts open our door.


1. An-chan is a term Yanagi uses to refer to Yusei, typically translated as "sonny" or "lad." The dub translates it as "sonny" I think?

To the guest that reviewed chapter 3:
Thank you! I started this story because I wanted it to be different. Also, here's the next chapter! I hope you like it! ^.^