EchoGirl: This chapter's really short, I know, but I think you'll like it. I was thinking about that old dueling gang that Kalin, Jack, Yusei and Crow used to be in and I kind of wanted to reinforce that idea. The gang's gonna be getting into some real trouble soon. Misfits, just like their parents (shakes head sadly).

Goldfish: Misfits. Psychopaths. Mass-murdering machines. Kind of like me.

EchoGirl: Oh, just shut up and do the disclaimer already!

Golfish: (sighs) EchoGirl319 does not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. Happy?

A Rose in the Stars

Chapter 6

Destiny was distant, she had been ever since she had learnt the truth about her mother. And Jake was sick of it. He, Chris, Mark and Vanessa were all hanging about in Destiny's room doing nothing while Destiny sat, curled up on the windowsill, staring outside dumbly. It had been like this for the past half-hour.

"My mother," Destiny whispered hoarsely, the right side of her head pressed against the glass, "was the Black Rose."

"Look, Destiny," Chris stated suddenly, he too was sick of her current attitude, "it could have been a lot worse. I mean, she could've been a rock, or something."

Everyone, including Jake, sweatdropped. Chris wasn't helping in the least. But it did gain a reaction out of Destiny, which was good.

"Chris," she swivelled around to face him, "my mother is not a rock. Having a rock for a mother is biologically impossible." She rolled her eyes, "idiot."

Chris glared at her, "well sorry, genius, I'm just trying to help."

"Well, you're not exactly doing a great job. Did your mother injured, and possibly kill, dozens of people? Was she a bedtime story used to scare little children? Answer, no."

Chris opened his mouth to retort, but before any words could come out a distinct yell of "shut the hell up!" came from Jake's direction. All eyes turned to him.

"Chris," he looked at the ice blue haired boy, "you're not helping. Destiny," he turned to the girl in question, "quit whining. The Black Rose is your mother and there's nothing you can do about it, so there's no point in moaning!"

"Yeah," Vanessa piped up, "and there must have been something good in her, because you're definitely not a witch and remember what Uncle Yusei said about those Arcadia Movement weirdos."

Mark nodded, "yeah, he said that they were controlling her or something like that."

Destiny smiled at them. "Thanks, guys. You're probably right, it just kind of, shocked me, you know?"

The others nodded simultaneously. Shocked was an understatement.

"But it's not just that," Destiny admitted, "I've been having some pretty weird feelings lately?"

"What do you mean?" Jake asked suspiciously.

"I've been feeling some emotions that, you know, aren't mine. It's like there someone else's. Just last night I felt so sad that it threatened to break me. I don't know what it was, but it was really creepy." She curled her body inwards, drawing her knees up to her chest.

"Maybe you should go see a doctor," Jake suggested carefully, "there's a pretty big chance that you're going nuts."

The next thing the blond realised was that a pillow had collided with his face.

"I do not need to see a doctor!" her voice was serious but, to everyone's delight, there was a smile on Destiny's face as she spoke, mocking offence. Of course, anyone would be smiling if they just had had the satisfaction of slamming a pillow into Jake Atlas's face.

"Evidently not. People, I believe we have our Destiny back."

The raven-haired girl smiled, pushing a magenta streaked strand away from her heart-shaped porcelain face as the rest of the room's occupants let out a series of cheers and whoops.

Wait, why I'm I noticing these? Jake mentally berated himself.

Because you think she's pretty, that annoying little voice in the back of his head replied.

What? I do not think that she's pretty!

Beautiful, then, the voice was smug.

I can't believe that I'm having a conversation with myself! Maybe I'm the one who needs to see a doctor. And I do not think that she's pretty or beautiful!

Denial, the voice said, the first step to acceptance.

Shut up!

"Jake?" Mark asked, waving a hand in front of the blond's face, "Jake? Yoo-hoo? Are you there?"

Jake swatted the hand away. "Back off."

He was still disturbed by that mental conversation that he'd been having. He glanced at Destiny, who had now joined them on the floor. Maybe she was pretty. But just a little bit.

"So," he asked, "now what?"

"Well," Chris drawled, "if we really want to find out some more about Destiny's mom, I know how."

"How?" asked everyone. None of them, however, had a good feeling about this. Chris got some pretty weird ideas sometimes.

"Okay, so your mom's last name is Izinski, right, Destiny?"

Destiny nodded, not sure where this was going.

"Well in the phonebook, I saw the name of a certain Senator Izinski so I decided to look the guy up on the internet and it turned out that his name is Hideo, he has a wife called Setsuko and apparently they have a daughter who disappeared – took off, poof, just like that about fourteen years ago."

Everyone stared at him, gaping.

"So," Destiny spoke very quietly, "you think these people are my grandparents? You mean, they've just been living here in New Domino for the past fourteen years and I've never even seen them?"

"Yep," Chris nodded, "and they probably know the most about this whole Black Rose thing, so I suggest that we go pay gramps and grams a little visit."

"You mean break into their house," Jake asked, "don't you?"

"Uh-huh."

"You're a psychopath."

"I know. So, what do you guys think?"

"I think that you're going to be responsible for a murder before you turn twenty-one." Jack replied, shuddering. "Creep."

"I say we do it," Destiny spoke up, "I, personally, want to know about my mother. I don't know about you guys, but it'll be kind of like those stories that Dad, Uncle Jack, Uncle Kalin and Uncle Crow used to tell us about. Their old gang back in the old Satellite. The Enforcers." She smirked, "but the second generation. Keep the legacy alive, you know."

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Chris exclaimed, hi-fiving Destiny, "what do you say?"

"Count me in," Mark responded, grinning at his twin.

"Me too!" Vanessa added, her voice bubbling with excitement.

They all stared expectantly at Jake.

"Fine." He replied, a small smile tugging at his sharp features. "Let's do it."

EchoGirl: So, yeah, they'll probably be in a heap of trouble in the next chapter. I mean, breaking into your grandparents' house? And what's this? Jake hearing voices? Oooooh, cliffhanger! R+R please!