A/N: Chapter 11, 12, and 13 were all really short, so I'm splicing them together during the rewrite.


It's one in the morning by the time we've finished the adjustments. "I wish I could see the look on their faces when they see these Duel Disks." Yusei and I were up all night working on them, though I'd nodded off more than once.

"Yeah. They'll be happy, but we should go now before they wake up." Yusei is firm in his decision, not that I don't understand why. The twins had grown on me, however. Ruka and Rua remind me of my own sibling, so much it sometimes starts to hurt. But I'm learning to let those memories out.

He rises from the sofa, gathering his things into the D-Wheel for our departure. It's a short elevator ride to the parking garage, then it's smooth sailing down to the exit on street level.

We're driving on the surface streets when another D-Wheel cuts us off. Flashing green lights decorate it, black and white paint job a dead giveaway. Security!

"I was waiting for you punks!" Two sets of tires squeal against the asphalt, coming to a stop. "Now why don't you give up? I won't let you escape!" Ushio is on his own bike, challenging Yusei once again. He skillfully adjusts to Yusei's evasive manoeuvering, giving chase.

A moment later we're stopped again, this time the obstacle is a stately black car. Its headlights capture us in brightness. A man of small stature that steps out of the vehicle, hair in the color of lilac framing his tackily made-up face. "Investigator," the stranger begins. "Will you please let the Public Maintenance Department deal with them?"

"Public Maintenance Deprtment?" parrots the cop. So Ushio doesn't know him? I thought they were working together.

"I'm Yeager, Head of Special Investigations. Aren't you Ushio?" The man pulls an ID out of his long red coat, giggling eerily.

"Head of Special Investigations?" The repetition from the officer is getting old, quick.

"I have a message for him from Director Rex Godwin." That's the guy from the detention center... What does he want with Yusei?

Ushio points at the other duelist. "But they stole that D-Wheel from the security vault!"

The smile on the short man's face turns vicious. "Ushio, I don't think you should disobey the Director's orders, do you?"

"What does the Director want with me?" Yusei inserts himself before the two can carry on with the dispute. The lavender haired city worker approaches us at the prompting, extracting an envelope from his inner pockets.

"This." He hands Yusei the paper. The revelation at what Yusei handles is crushing. In his palm is an invitation like the one Rua showed us and a photograph of Rally, Blitz, Nervin, and Taka. Yusei goes stiff in my grip. "Please participate in the Duel of Fortune Cup. If you don't, the four in that picture will suffer pain that you can't even imagine. Don't assume the one beside you is safe either, not unless you can monitor her all hours of the day. Understand?" His laugh strikes dread in me. Chills run down my spine at the thinly veiled threat. I don't think he's bluffing.

My protector stares unflinchingly at the photo. The only movement he makes is to bump our helmets together, a silent signal of his support.


Saiga was proving to be an incredibly helpful ally as of late. Not only was he waiting for us once Ushio and Yeager departed, but he had even had a place prepped for us to stay and taken care of Rocky in my absence. "Saiga, thank you for doing this."

"Whatever, I do what I like. I'll bring your dog around tomorrow because I feel like it." Yusei is behind the two of us, following our lead while pushing his D-Wheel. What a stubborn man!

"Mm, I don't know, I think you're soft under that tough exterior," I shoot back. He's really not a bad guy. The brunette rolls up the garage door that lies ahead.

"Think what you want, but you two should stay here until the Fortune Cup," he says into the tenebrous apartment before hitting the light switch. Yusei backs his bike into the open workshop. "It doesn't have much furniture for a condominium, but it has the bare essentials. Ask if you want anything."

"No, you've already done so much for us. Thank you, Saiga," I insist.

The mechanic props up his vehicle. "This is plenty. Sorry about all this."

"I'm the one who should be apologizing." Yusei looks at him in query. "The marker is used for emergency situations, so security knows your location."

"Oh, is that all?" I chuckle, bringing my hand in front of my mouth. "You did your best. We appreciate that."

Yusei is quick to agree. "As she says. It doesn't bother me."

"You really have guts," Saiga tells him. Yusei stalks back into the night, gazing up at the city lights. The brunette addresses me after. "But I think you're just too forgiving."


At my elbow, Saiga rests upon the red sofa. "I think he grew while you were away."

"Sure he did! He's still a puppy, he's got a lot of growing to do." I rub the dog's belly while I speak. He's nearly double the size he was when I picked him up outside Yusei's home, but he still fits in my bra. "Anyhow, what do you think of the D-Wheel? Yusei and I have been tuning it all morning, you know!" Seeing Rocky again, it made perfect sense for me to take a break, but Yusei doesn't know the meaning of the word.

"Hm. It's nice. Clearly he keeps you around for a reason."

I can't hide my smile. "Thanks, but I'm just the help. Yusei is the head of this operation." I look to aforementioned man, cheeks going pink at his bare arms. His body is strong yet lean, built from years of hard work hauling and fixing things. I look back to the brunette, hopefully before I'm caught staring.

"You're a great assistant." Saiga shakes his head good naturedly at Yusei's interjection.

"I bet the D-Wheel isn't the only reason why the Public Maintenance Department is keeping their eye on you two. No matter how nice it is."

I place Rocky down on the concrete floor. "You're correct. Who know what they're planning, though?" Yusei removes the soldering iron from where it's clamped in his teeth, reaching into his jacket and producing the invitation. Saiga catches it when it's thrown to him, opening it to inspect the contents.

"Your friends?"


"In Satellite," I clarify. "If I don't enter the Fortune Cup, they're in danger. Pinoko as well, unless I can keep her by my side always." I'd like nothing more than to never lose sight of her or our friends in Satellite.

I can't keep telling myself that it's only the bond of friendship between us. Surely she's noticed my clumsiness around her by now.

"Isn't that a threat? Do you know why they're going so far to target you?"

"No." The only hunch I have has to do with the red mark and the Crimson Dragon, but I don't have anything conclusive.

"I see." The former duelist looks down at the picture. "Can I borrow this?"

As he rises, Pinoko watches him. "What will you do with it?"

"I'll investigate how they're currently doing." He's on his way before I even look back.

"You have connections in Satellite?" I ask.

He ascends the stairs to the front door. "I'm a guy who can do anything. Besides, this is your bond, right?" The door swings shut as he leaves.

"That guy... He acts like that, but he's actually a kind person."

I look at the woman still idling on the pull-out sofa. "Yeah. He's a bit like you in that way, always helping in different ways."

"What do you mean by that?" Pinoko is taking a short break right now, so I've taken charge of hardware and software, but I couldn't match her skill level when it comes to coding.

"I was remiss to focus so intently on the mechanics of the D-Wheel rather than the programming. You showed me what immense changes I could make with just a few lines of code." I keep working, one hand typing away while the other grasps the soldering iron. "Like you, he's trying to help in his own way."

It only takes a moment for her to reply. "If you say so. Now, back to work!"


"Input 180 psi for the front wheel. 200 psi for the rear."

"Yes, sir!" The woman from Satellite happily registering the numbers I give her. She never seems bored doing this kind of task with me. It feels almost domestic. "What kind of damper do you have in there? There's nothing on file."

"There isn't one." The revving of the engine punctuates our exchange.

She sighs. "No wonder it wobbles! You should think about it in the future. If you aren't able to use the autopilot, it could be the difference between winning and losing a duel on a rough track."

I smile inwardly. She always has some nugget of information to give. "We'll just have to find one."

"Okay," comes the response. Despite her frazzled demeanor under pressurre, she's quite laidback at times like this. "Hey, do you see this? The ping isn't coming back from the front tire suspension sensor." She indicates a spot in the program. It's tiny, so much that i have to lean over her shoulder to see the readings on the command prompt.

"It seems so." I reach around her, scrolling up to see the previous inputs. She had pinged it three times to make sure it was unresponsive. "Good. I'll check the connections." Moving back over to the front wheel, I inspect the area. With the access panel open, it's clear the jumper cap has been disconnected, resting on one of the two

She points to another spot on the screen, drawing my eyes away from the bike. "What about the revolution limiter here? It's got kind of low parameters. We can bump it up for a faster acceleration."

The numbers on the screen support her hypothesis. "Hm... Right again. Do your thing, Pinoko." I twist the throttle, revving the bike so she can define the maximum capability.

"This should be good. The cooling system won't be very useful if I put it higher. Let's make sure though."

I rev the bike again to check our work. The bike is too loud to speak over with the limiter upped. I don't sense anything until Yanagi pops into my peripheral. "Hey! It's Yanagi!" He greets, prompting me to cut the power.

"Yanagi! Himuro!" Pinoko vaults herself over the D-Wheel at our past cellmates. "Saiga, you brought our friends!" She clings to them tightly. Yanagi yelps. The cracking of his joints can be heard over the excitement.

"Hey Pinoko, Yusei. Are you doing well?" questions the tallest, watching me over the woman's head with no difficulty given her short stature. She lets go of the men once she's had a moment.

"Himuro, Jii-san," I greet, flummoxed by their appearance here.

"Well? Surprised to see them?"

"An-chan, thanks to you, we were able to leave." The oldest joins his hands behind his back. "They even rescinded the half year of forced labor. It's good to have a strong duelist as a friend!"

"The Director must have arranged this for you because you won the unfair duel against Takasu. Thanks." He looks at the machine between us.

"An-chan, by the way," the old man begins, stars in his eyes. "Have you and Pinoko gotten together yet?"

I close my eyes, striving to keep my composure through the blush upon my face. "I told you it's not like that." I'm saved by Himuro's interjection.

"So this is your D-Wheel? I heard from Saiga that you two retrieved it from security. You guys are incredible."

Shyly, the other Satellite responds. "It was Yusei that did all the work. He's able to find a way out of any bad situation with his cards."

"Yeah, he's an excellent duelist," Himuro assents, glancing down at the woman. "How about it, Yusei? Why don't you duel me with your own deck?"

The oldest brings up his clenched fists. "I want to see that too!"

"You haven't seen anything yet, Yanagi! Yusei's deck is so well coordinated!"

I nod at my four companions, looking forward to spending time with them all. However, we never get to have our duel.


The two duelists face off in a small park, tightly packed clay covering the grounds.

"I wish you could've seen it!" I turn to my friends, half listening to Yanagi's tales. "At the facility, An-chan used my deck against Himuro. It felt so good when he won!" Turning back to the duel, I'm lost in thought about the past week.

Himuro and Yangi were both let out, but they're not being threatened. Why? Why would he return our city friends just to use our Satellite friends against us?

"Duel!" the two men declare, but they don't get very far at all. The whirring of an engine tugs my eyes away from them. Where is it coming from? The answer comes in the form of a one wheeled bike being piloted by the one and only King of Games. Everyone is focused on him when he pulls between the opposing duelists.

"Jack."

"King!" Himuro, it seems, has met Jack before. I try not to let my surprise show in front of my protector's rival. He dismounts, standing across from Yusei, and removes his helmet.

Yanagi's frozen by the sight. "Why is the King here?"

I answer the older man. "He... he was once Yusei's friend." As the words flow out, the King sharply turns to eye us, observing our small company.

"I din't think I'd meet you again, King." But the King only looks back at Yusei. Himuro is clearly spurned by Jack's dismissive actions, but closes his mouth at the mechanic's signal.

"What do you want?" Yusei demands. It's apparent how little Jack cares for the audience. He's only here for his rival. He opts to keep up his silence, pulling something out of his inner coat pocket. Yusei tenses when he sees it.

"I heard you're entering the Fortune Cup."

"How did you know?" With blue eyes glaring, he adopts a confident stance.

"That doesn't matter. I came to give this back to you. It makes sense for you to use Stardust. Use it so we can settle things from that night." The way he talks, it sounds like Jack has something to do with our friends in Satellite and Yusei's forced entry. I don't know the King personally, so I can't put it past him.

"So you were the one who sold out Rally and my other friends." At the King's confused response, the mechanic pulls out the photograph.

"A man from the Public Maintenance Department brought me this photo. If I don't enter the Fortune Cup, Pinoko and our friends in Satellite will be in danger." Jack is either a great actor or he truly had no idea what had made Yusei joing the Fortune Cup. He returns the picture to his inner pockets. "The reason I'm participating is so that I can fight against the corrupt Public Maintenance Department."

Jack tosses the card to the other duelist. "Then you really should hold on to Stardust. That's all. I came here this time. Next time, you come to me." The taller man resaddles his D-Wheel. "Let me say one thing. The Crimson Dragon you saw that day is only the beginning." The tension in the air leaves with him.

I took off toward Yusei. "You got Stardust back!" I beam at him once I'm close enough, the others right on my tail.

"Show me the dragon!" Yusei does as the old man asks, flipping the card to face him. "Finally! It's called Stardust Dragon? How cool! An-chan, that means you're a Signer! It can't be... Was the person you were dueling that night..."

The mechanic is still weary from the interaction, taking his time to formulate his responses. "It was him."

"The King? How shocking! Then..."

"Yes." I take over the job of explaining the circumstances to Yanagi. "Jack is also a Signer. He has a dragon just like Stardust, a one-of-a-kind monster."


"There so many people here," I say to the others. The boys wanted to watch a street duel this afternoon and who was I to deny them joy? The streets were stuffed with others who'd already found a spot to watch from.

"Yeah. Don't go too far."

I hum. "I know what Yeager said, but I think... Well, I don't know but I don't think he'll come after me as long as you enter."

"I'd rather be sure. Your hero won't leave you."

"Agh, I never should have said that to you. Will you ever let me live that down?" The grin he displays speaks for itself.

"Yusei, Pinoko!" Himuro calls our names from a few yards off. He's found a place we can see from. Gathering around the entrance to the back alley, our group observes the battle. The others can see the duel, but...

"Mm. I can't see very well." I'm in the same boat as Yanagi, the card collector standing at the same height as me.

"Want to get on my shoulders?" Saiga's teasing voice resonates behind us. Stomping a foot, I cross my arms and ignore the man. He continues. "Yusei, I made preparations so that I can sneak into Satellite. I'm leaving tonight."

Yanagi is awed at the suggestion of moving freely between the cities. "I'm surprised. You shouldn't be able to travel back and forth between the city and Satellite."

"Officially, you can't," Saiga responds. "However there's a system where garbage leaves here to be recycled and returned, so there are work boats that do the job. I've arranged it so that I can get on board a boat."

Himuro puts his hands up. "As expected of the jack of all trades."

I'm over my fit about his teasing, turning to the brunette. "You did say you could do anything, master of none. But if you're going to see Rally, you have to bring something for me."

"Alright, I'll bite. What is it?" Rather than a what, it's more of a who. The caramel dog had gotten too big to carry around in my pocket and the lifestyle we have now isn't best for him.

"Rocky. He's at the condo, but..." It's hard to give him up, even for a trusted friend, but I've made my choice. "I'm sure if Rally saw him with you, he'll know you're a good guy. That and, well, I want Rocky to be there. He loves Rally and he'll help protect him once you find them."

Saiga gazes down at me, his expression neutral, but I know there's more under the surface. He lets a beat pass before he replies. "I can do it." I hug the man tight but only get snark in response. "A verbal thanks will do."

A ruckus in the crowd forces the old man's gaze ahead. I follow it, letting go of my unwilling captive. "It's true that we won't be noticed here."

Himuro voices his agreement. "Since they have markers, they can't go into the city. But they also don't want to fall to Satellite. This is the area where those kinds of people gather and live."

"Everyone here is a criminal," I gulp. "Are you sure it's alright to leave you guys here?"

"Ha! Don't worry about us, Pinoko-chan! We're old, we have our ways."

"I'm nowhere near your age, Jii-san!" The former pro duelist objects. I look back, feeling a hand on my shoulder. Saiga sends Yusei and I a warm smile.

"You two leave Satellite to me so that you can wreak havoc at the Fortune Cup."

"Yeah," the blue-eyed mechanic assents before looking ahead. I follow his stare, eyes widening at who I see. I leave the others behind rapidly. "Pinoko!" Rua and another boy are standing at the edge of the crowd. The strange child wears glasses on his nose, brown hair falling straight around his face.

Ignoring the man's call, I creep up behind them, listening to their waffling.

"They say that when the witch's monster attacks, the ground actually shakes," prattles the brunette youngster facing Rua.

"They say that when she activates a trap or spell, it actually happens." The response from him causes the bespectaled boy to shiver.

"So the story about her making people disappear might also be true," he whimpers. The other boy teases his friend.

"Are you scared, Tenpei?"

"I'm not scared!"

I've listened long enough to this back and forth.

"You should be!" I startle them with my sudden presence, both turning to me in fright. "I can't believe you, Rua. Are you trying to get involved with dangerous things? I thought better of you." Despite the verbal beat down, his face lights up when he realizes who I am.

"Rua, that's..." but the other kid trails off, unable to finish. I'm unused to that reaction. It's fear. My marker, I almost forgot about it. This "Tenpei" must be scared.

"Pinoko! I missed you!" He turns his head to and fro. He rounds on the boy at his side who chooses to keep his distance from me. "You don't have to be afraid of her, she's like a big sister, or a mom! And since she's here, that must mean Yusei is here! Those two are always together."

"Well," I begin, stammering. "He's here, but we aren't together all the time!" I join him in looking around, finding the man approaching us at a stroll.

Rua runs to meet him in the middle, dragging us both along. "Tenpei, come over here! He's the guy who cusmotized my Duel Disk!"

"You mean customized. And just so you know, we both adjusted your disks." I don't have the confidence to tell him I was only following Yusei's direction.

"Yusei!" the green-haired boy cries.

The response he gets is less jovial. "What are you doing here? This isn't a place for children. What happened to Ruka?" Himuro, Yanagi, and Saiga come up behind him.

"Yeah, Pinoko already gave us hell for that. She's home alone."

"Hey, Rua!" Tenpei has more volume this time, gaining the attention he seeks. "That's... Those are markers."

"But he did this for me!"

My foot taps irritatedly. "As I told you, it was both of us."

"Who are you kids?" The old man is never one to get his hopes down, even when Tenpei recoils.

"Are you Yusei and Pinoko's friends?"

Rua addressed the party as a whole, but Yusei answers for us all. "Yeah. Guys, this is the kid from Tops who hid us."

"I'm Rua!" He pulls the quieter boy to stand side by side with him. "And this is my friend Tenpei."

"H-Hello."

"Tenpei, this is a great opportunity to get Yusei to duel you. He's really strong." Though he's less shy now, the brunette boy still seems hesitant. Despite that, he's heartened by the paper Yusei clutches in one hand.

"Isn't that...?"

"Woah! Yusei, that's an invitation to the Fortune Cup! Are you also entering?" Yusei's affirmative sends him into a tizzy, hopping up and down. "Yes! I'll be able to duel Yusei again! Yusei, I won't lose ever again. See Tenpei? Yusei is an incredible duelist who has the skills to enter the Fortune Cup!"

Amongst all the happiness of the reunion, I feel like things are starting to look up.

It all goes to shit rather quickly.


A/N: Thank you to all of my wonderful readers!

In response to the guest review on chapter 10: I'm so glad you think they're nicely written! To be honest, YuseixOC moments are hard to fit in because of Yusei's typical personality, but just for you, I put a little something in this chapter. I hope you like it! (Edit 09/2022: That "something" was removed from this chapter, but I assure you there will be more!)

1. A steering damper is a component that helps the rider go straight over bumpy terrain and reduces wobble. It also assists in steering the bike with less physical exertion on the handlebars.

2. A jumper or jumper cap is a little piece of plastic that connects two pins on a curcuit board. There is a small bit of wire running through the plastic, so when you place it over two pins, it connects them.