In The Shadow Of The Prophecy

Disclaimer - I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I own Carmen thought(turns to guys in blacksuits) Am I free to go ? (MIB wannabes : Yes you're free to go)

Chapter five - Black Sheep

There was a man in car tying to talk to me,

Drove a Pontiac, red, 1963,

Shouting numbers and neighborhood streets,

I said, " I wouldn't know. I wouldn't know ,"

And then I said to myself, " What's he lookin' for ?"

An illegitimate son with an open door,

Or else the calling from God he could not ignore

I didn't know, I didn't know

- Dakota Moon

-CCC-

That night, a certain blond haired teen sat, hunched over a ton of homework # Argh! I can't unda' stand any a' dis stuff # he growled aggravated. He seriously regretted sleeping through second hour now, damn it, why didn't he think to borrow anyone's notes? He sighed heavily, getting up and headed into the kitchen for something to soothe his parched throat. The refrigerator was pretty much bare, with the exception of a carton orange juice and his old man's booze. Joey opted for the OJ and started chugging it right from the container.

BBBRRRIIIINNNGGG!

BBBBBBRRRRRRIIIIIGGG!

" Yeah, yeah, I'm comin' " he mumbled, picking up the receiver" Moshi-moshi ".

" Hey Anee-san " came the voice from the other end. Joey's brief annoyance at his homework vanished instantly.

" 'Ay sis', what's up " he asked keenly.

Well, I gonna get my operation " she replied" Thanks to you ".

Joey scratched his head uncomfortably, trying to remain humble" Really ! Awesome " it wasn't really working.

In the background Joey heard the doctors talking, a few second later, Serenity got back to him" Sorry Joey, I have to get off now. Its 'lights out' for patients " she said. Damn quacks bum-rushing their phone call, but there was nothing they could do.

" I unda'stand, I'll see ya soon, promise, 'kay " he told her.

" Okay " she said tearfully" Goodbye ".

" Bye sis' ". The blonde set the phone back on the hook with what was left of his self control and a gave a jubilant " WHOO-HOO " kicking up his heels.

-CCC-

" What do my cards say ".

" Do me, Do me " a crowd of students had gathered around Yugi, Carmen, Tristen and Te'a's little pow-wow. " Hey Yugi, let's read your fortune next " suggested the blue-eyed, brown-haired girl chirpily.

" Alright " he agreed with an eager nod. Maybe these tarot cards can give us a hint about who's after the millennium puzzle . Joey strolled into the room, whistling contently. He spotted the crowd and meandered over to it.

" Yo guys " he greeted" what's up ".

" Hey Joey " replied Yugi cheerfully" Carmen brought some tarot card, see " he held up the deck of mauve and gold cards he was shuffling for the blond to see before handing them hand back to their owner. The pink-haired girl cut the cards into three piles.

" What a' dey for " he asked curiously.

" They are supposed to tell your fortune" interjected Carmen. She turned over the first card ; it was The moon" this card describes your past, you used to be lonely right ". The amethyst-eyed boy blinked in surprise That right, before I solved the puzzle, I didn't have any friends besides Te'a . Carmen turned over the next card, the two of wands" This card says you're restless ". She was right again, He was restless, but he hadn't voiced that to anyone, so then how? Carmen noted the surprise shadowing his eyes as she turned over the last, the three of swords. Anguish she realized with shock herself, this wasn't a very good reading. She put on a bogus smile" I think my cards are being mean today ".

The teacher swooped into the room like a hawk, breaking up their circle and starting his lecture. The amber-eyed teen sigh inwardly, relief washing over her Phew, saved by the bell she said to herself.

-CCC-

" Bye " waved Carmen, turning to go home.

" See ya tomorrow " they called after her. Yugi smile failed once she was out of sight I wonder what the three of swords signifies he thought I guess its a bad thing since Carmen didn't tell us what it meant .

/ Hmm, perhaps your grandfather will have a book about it in the shop, since they are cards said his dark side through their link.

Oh, that's right he realized , a spark of excitement igniting inside him We can check when we get home, Yami .

Meanwhile...

A few patrol cars were parked outside of the apartment complex when Carmen got there, but it was a pretty shady neighborhood and there were always cops parked there, so she didn't think anything of it.

Must be a drug bust, or something she decided as she jogged up the stairs to the floor she lived on. Thump! Thump! Thump!

A collection of black suited men were banging...on her door What the... she blinked. " Hey, that's the one right ". Shit she cursed silently, they spotted her.

Another, The one in charge, who wore security-detail sunglasses and hair shaped like an antennae, took a photograph out of his breast pocket and cross referenced them" Yeah ". Carmen didn't stick around to hear the rest, she broke off in a full run back down the staircase. The man's subordinates stood there dumbly" What are you waiting for " he barked" Go get her ".

" Yes sir " they yelped fearfully, giving chase. Fortunately the strawberry haired teen had gotten a serious head-start and for once, her petite build worked in her favor. The two men hounded into the area between that and another building, but when they got there, she had vanished into thin air. The two scratched their heads in bafflement and looked at each other.

" Where's the girl " asked there leader impatiently when they rejoined the ranks.

They winced nervously" Um, sorry sir, she got away " they reported.

" See to it you find her, or Mr. Seraph will have your jobs " the antennae-head stipulated fiercely. Car doors slammed and engines roared to life as the patrol drove away.

Once the sound died into the distance, Carmen lift the lid up and climbed out of the dumpster, pulling an overripe banana off her head. My family is after me she asked herself But how...and why . She wasn't sure, but one thing was clear ; she wasn't safe here anymore. The longer she lingered, the more trouble she'd fine herself in.

To Be Continued ...

Author Commentary -

The alcohol in Joey's fridge - In the manga Joey's dad is a full-time, stay-at-home drunk.(That's probably why Joey and Serenity mom left him) But, like in the anime, he's not really in my story.

Tarot cards - These cards are used by some people to predict the future and do fortune telling. I'm not a expert on them, but I do have the Tarot for Dummies book on the chair next to me!

Tarot card #1: The Moon - This is the first card in Yugi's reading and as Carmen said, it can represent feeling alone.

Tarot card #2: Two of Wands - Signifies seeking change, opportunities and in Yugi's case, restlessness.

Tarot card #3: Three of Swords - forecasts Betrayal and anguish, as well as pain and trauma. Not a very nice card to have in your reading.