In The Shadow Of The Prophecy

Disclaimer -If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh! Yugi and Yami would be mine. Bakura, his yami and Malik would be my sister's and Tea would be eaten by a horde of rabid Kuribohs. Sadly, life is horrendously unfair and they don't, I don't even own the song lyrics below, but Carmen is mine.

Chapter four - A Friend in Need

-CCC-

Joey's golden-brown eyes stared fixatedly over his hand, Tristen waited for friend to make his next move. A gleam stole into the blond's eyes as he played his next card" I summon Avril Lavigne an' I'll 'ave her bitch slap your Brittany Spears " he said, next he sat another card down behind the first" Then I activate Opps I Did It Again and attack your nude points directly ".

" Hey, what the heck are you guys playing " inquired Te'a, having recovered from being kidnapped the day before and was craning her next over to see what the hell they were doing.

" Yeah, that doesn't sound like Duel Monsters " agreed Yugi. The two rushed to cover up the cards before the others saw them.

" C'mon, let us saw them " argued the blue-eyed girl, trying to snatch a few, which was easier said than done since both Joey and Tristen were guarding them ruthlessly.

" Yeah, whats so secret you have to keep it from us " chimed his spiky-haired best friend.

" Its nuthin', really " said Joey trying to wave it off. While the boys were preoccupied, the were oblivious to the fifth member of their group who'd walked up inaudibly behind them. Carmen picked up one card and looked at it :

" AHH " she yelped painfully, seeing the image of a nearly naked Christina Aguilera (A/N: as if those are hard to find)" It buuurrnns". She dropped the card, feigning to scratch her eyes out with her fingers. The four whipped around as the some of the girls scolded Joey and Tristen :

" Are you trying to corrupt Carmen with your dirty card games ".

" Your guys are such pigs! Te'a, how can you stomach them ".

" I ain't tryin' ta corrupt no one " snapped the blond defensively, taking the card from the floor where Carmen had dropped it and put the perverse deck in his pocket. Tristen followed to suit.

" Are you okay " Yugi asked his amber-eyed friend.

She nodded in reply, but failed to return eye contact" Yeah, just give me a minute to wash my brain " she said. Yup, she was gonna be alright, he confirmed to himself.

-CCC-

" Hey boss, look over there " said a male student with claret colored haired that was cut short and slightly messy.

" They're just a couple of high school kid, they ain't got nothin' worth anything " said his boss, a lean, muscular man with slicked-back, black hair.

" But take a peek at what they're packin' " said the crony, indicating to the shimmering headband worn by the girl and the oddly shaped pendant worn by the boy. This peaked the black-haired man's interest, if it wasn't costume jewelry of course.

" Flank 'em " he told his underling" we'll push 'em into the alley ". The red-haired teen nodded and took off, meanwhile the black-haired man pulled out a pistol and loaded it, going the opposite way to cut their targets off.

Yugi and Carmen had reached the corner of the street where their ways home diverged. She turned to leave when he called after her" Hey Carmen, Joey, Te'a and Tristen are coming over to my house on Saturday, do you wanna come ".

The pink-haired girl thought about it for a moment, she didn't really have anything planned herself" Sure, why not " she replied smiling" where's your house ".

" The game shop, we live upstairs " he told her.

A hand settled on Yugi's shoulder intimidatingly" 'Scuse us small fries" said the hand's owner" but we've lost our wallets and we need to call our moms ". A second young man joined the first, flashing a nine millimeter handgun at them.

" Now be good and step into the alley " he directed coolly. The four backed tensely into the deserted, dead end. The boss eyed their items with a greedy gleam in his eyes ' Heh, looks like real gold ' he said to himself. " Hand over the headband" he ordered the boy" and that funny necklace of yours too ".

/ Aibou ?/ came Yami with his impeccable sense of timing, having sensed the alarm from his partner's end of the link. Through Yugi's eyes he saw the two thugs with the gun and guess what happened. The black-haired man became impatient and grabbed the amethyst-eyed boy's shirt collar" Hey kid, you deaf or something " he growled.

" Just let go already " snapped the red-haired teen, clouting the girl with his fist and ripping the golden circlet from her. Carmen rubbed the sore side of her face, wincing slightly.

Carmen he thought as the puzzle emitted an ominous glow...

! YU-GI-OH!

I've got that weird feeling in my chest said the girl to herself, feeling a cold tingling sensation throughout her body. The black-haired brute grabbed the chain around the youth neck, but the boy's hand came to rest ontop of his own as he met his attacker's gaze. ' What ?' the assailant froze. The aura gravitating around him churning powerfully as the amber-eyed girl watched I can see the light around him, but... it different than before . " Take your hands off me " Yami commanded his aggressor with a tone that hinted severe consequences if not obeyed. Abruptly the young man removed his hands from the youth, ' What, who's this kid to tell me what to do ?' he thought with a snarl. The spirit smirked" Good, now we can begin the game ".

'Game? What game ?'. Yami took his deck out of his pocket and drew a card ; the Summoned Skull. Both gangsters gaped in shock as an eye manifested on his forehead and brought the monster on the card to life.

" AAHHHH " the two thugs wailed, dancing around lightning bolts from the demon and ran out of the alley screaming like little girls.

" Hmph, that ought to teach them a lesson " he decided satisfied with showing their attackers what was what. The crimson-eyed teen turned on his heels to his friend, who was hiding behind the industrial-sized dumpster, " Carmen ". He stretched his hand out to her, Carmen looked at him uncertainly with something akin to fear in her golden eyes and pulled away. This guy...he isn't normal .

Yami couldn't understand why she pulled away, did she think he would turn on her? Was it the shock of seeing his shadow powers" Carmen, its okay, I protected you ". He extended his hand to her again, but she was still eyeing it as thought it were going to grow fangs and bite her. Then, slowly...tentatively she reached out with her own hand poking his with her finger to test it. The spirit smiled and grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. " Here" he added, putting the circlet in hands" you should take better of this ".

" Uh-hm, yeah " she replied absently with a nod, the two teen stood in silence for what felt like forever, " well, um, I see you Saturday then " and left hastily. Yami watched her turn the corner and disappear / Do you think we were too forthcoming/ he asked his light.

Yeah, she looked really scared replied Yugi from inside of him.

/ I apologize/ said the spirit / I shall refrain from using my powers infront of your friend since it seems to upset her/ .

To Be Continued ...

Winged Tormentor :Another chapter bites the dust and now, since I liked this: its time for joke time With Carmen and her Yami!

-CCC-

Carmen : Hey, how many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Yami Carmen : (mildly interested) I don't know, how many ?

Carmen : One, but the lightbulb has to want to change.

Yami Carmen : ARE YOU CALLING ME CRAZY !

Carmen : Nooo, but if the shoe fits

Yami Carmen : Fine, whatever, carry on.

Carmen : How many Dark magicians do you think it takes to change a lightbulb?

Yami Carmen :(still aggravated) I don't know.

Carmen : Me neither!

(uncomfortable silence ensues while Carmen thinks of something else)

Carmen : How many Joeys does it take to change a lightbulb ?

Yami Carmen :(sardonic laugh) Ha! Are you kidding? Even if there was a hundred of them they'd never figure it out! We'd just be standing there watching the horde of Joeys rack their brains for the answer!