In The Shadow Of The Prophecy
Disclaimer - I dno't own Yg-UO-Ih, or the snog lrycis bleow, hwoeevr Craemn and her wohle dyufsnitcnoal fmaily are mnie.Tahnk you.
Chapter six - Bad Blood
I'm standing on the bridge,
I'm waiting in the dark,
I thought that you'd be here by now.
There's nothing, but the rain,
No footsteps on the ground.
I'm listening, but there's no sound.
Isn't any one trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
-Avril Lavigne
-CCC-
Two days later...
" Aww Man, I lost again " cried a dismayed Joey as a certain brunette wiped out his life points, yet again.(and no, its not Seto)
Tristen guffawed"You still stink at this game ".
The blond growled threateningly at his friend" Can it Tristen ". The other boy only continued to laugh, further infuriating the russet-eyed duelist. In fact Joey was about to clobber him when he realized Yugi wasn't trying to break it up. The teen in question was sitting at his desk with a troubled expression settled on his soft features. " 'Ay Yug', somethin' buggin' you " the blond inquired.
" Huh " the amethyst-eyed boy snapped out of his reverie, focusing on his friend who were all eyeing him concerningly" Yeah guys ".
" Are you okay " asked Te'a worriedly" you've been really quiet ". Yugi wasn't sure what to say. Abruptly, Joey looked around :
" Any a' you know where Ca'men is " he asked.
" Hey that's right" replied Tristen thoughtfully" she not here today ".
" Come to think of it, she wasn't here yesterday either " added the blue-eyed girl thoughtfully.
-CCC-
" HOW MANY OF YOU TRAINED PROFESSIONALS DOES IT TAKE TO CAPTURE ONE TEENAGE GIRL " roared a bleach blond middle-aged man with icy blue eyes, slamming his fist on the desk.
Kemo retreated slightly with his head bowed" Sorry Mr. Seraph " he said.
The man sighed irritably and massaged his temple" keep an eye on the her apartment and the high school " ordered Mr. Seraph" get any information about her social life you can and I want someone stationed at every bus, or train station incase she tries to run ".
" Right away sir " Kemo assured him gruffly, exiting briskly as his employer red-haired wife, Morgana, sauntered in and approached his desk.
" Hey Nicky " she purred"Any word on our dear little granddaughter ".
" Not yet love" replied Nicholas, running his hand through her scarlet tresses with a heavy sigh" She's managed to slip through our finger so far ". The redhead pouted spoiledly.
" We have to take her out of the picture once and for all " she said.
-CCC-
Thunder rumbled as rain fell from the coal black sky, soaking everything on the ground below. Carmen held the useless, sopping news paper over her head for reprieve. Most of the other people were under the shop overhangs and umbrellas, wrapped in ponchos and raincoats. She shivered violently in her water sodden uniform, her once pristine white socks were dingy brown with mud. At some point she'd switched off her loafers with a pair of sneakers, which, now that she thought about it, were soaked too. She spotted a Greyhound station across the street and ran towards it, finally some actual shelter. Carmen flopped onto one of the benches, tossing the newspaper into the wastebasket.
FlAsHbAcK -
" Vincent-nii-san ".
" Hmm " came the languid reply as the girl and the raven-haired male teen lied on the roof. The ten-year-old girl flopped across the older boy's stomach.
" Tell me a story " she requested. The boy sat up with a sigh :
" What story do you want me to tell you " he asked.
The youngster chewed her bottom lip" Tell me about your Mommy and Daddy, what were they like " she said.
" Hmm " he began thoughtfully" well, my Dad was a big man and he had a beard like this " Vincent traced the shape of the beard so she could see" and my mom... well she was born here like us, but she was the real thing with long black hair and eyes like yours ".
" Were they nice? Did your Daddy love your Mommy cause she pretty on the inside too " inquired the amber-eyed child.
" Well yeah, of course " replied the raven-haired teen.
EnD fLaShBaCk -
" Hey I won fair and square " said Yugi" you owe me two burgers ". The two high schoolers were headed to the Kame gameshop before Joey went home himself.
" Are ya sure you n' big Yugi didn't douba' team me " said the blond.
" Oh c'mon, Joey, it was whack-a-mole " laughed his friend as they came to the fast food eatery. " He doesn't like whack-a-mole, that's why you picked it ". Joey grimaced, he'd been found out.
He saw a scene over infront the bus station, some big guys in black suits were wrestling a willowy, pale-haired girl out. Wait a minute... " Yug' ! Dat's Ca'men " he realized and grabbed the other boy by the shoulder.
" Huh " Yugi gaped with confusion.
Joey told him to stay there and ran after the suits...
..." Be a good girl and get in the car " commanded Kemo, while two of his flunkies tried to toss the struggling teen in the back seat.
" Go to Hell " the amber-eyed girl spat in return, continuing to flail.
" 'Ay you" said a tough Brooklyn accent" put my friend down, unless ya wanna deal wit' me ". He cracked his knuckles to accentuate the point, but the two men just scoffed.
" cha-right kid, you don't scare us " they heckled. The blond balled his fists and lunged at them. One shoved Carmen into the other man's arms and took his stance. The Joey and the man traded punches while his partner shoved Carmen into the back seat. The second underling picked up a rock from the ground and swung at the teen with it. Joey managed to evade the underhanded maneuver and the subordinates ended up smashing into each other. # Dis' is my chance # he told himself.
" C'mon " he grabbed the girl's wrist, jerking her out of the black car and pulling her along as he made his getaway.
Kemo chased after them until they got out onto the side walk and disappeared into the crowd. " Damn, Mr. Seraph isn't gonna be happy about this " he grumbled fustratedly.
-CCC-
Fortunately, Yugi's grandfather had already turned in by the time the three of them got to the game shop, so they wouldn't have to explain anything at least. " You should take a bath " said the spiky-haired boy, reminding Carmen that she was a soaking wet, muddy mess. She nodded, he pointed her to the bathroom and left her alone to wash up.
The violet-eyed boy returned from the hall scratching his head absently and collapsed on the couch next to his best friend. " Hey Yug' " said Joey wearily.
" Hey " he replied with a yawn" Any idea who those guys were ".
" Hmm " the blond's brain fell asleep for a moment" oh, Kemo n' his flunkies. Nope ". He notice his buddy's eyelids drooping, he was fighting to stay awake, Joey yawned himself and stretched. " Well, I'm gonna head 'ome now " he said. /p
" Hmm ..." Yugi looked up" you are ".
" Yeah, its late " he replied waving" See ya ta'ma'row man ".Yugi nodded goodbye, secoming to the sleep in his brain. His friend exited quietly.
-CCC-
He rolled over subconsciously and shivered slightly as the chill air met his bare shoulders. Instinctively he pulled blanket tighter to himself, it was scratched across his skin uncomfortably.
Lay down your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You have come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distance shore
That voice...so beautiful he thought drowsily, was is real, or imagined? Yugi's eyes glazed half open curiously. Blurry shapes of the open window and someone sitting on a chair leaning towards it entered his brain Yami . The spirit had a habit of midnight worrying that the youth had caught on more than one occasion.
Why do you weep
What are these tears apon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your pain flow away
" Carmen " Yugi sat up on the couch, the blanket falling away from his body. Her voiced died away sharply and the girl's gaze fell on him alight with panic. " I didn't know you could sing like that ".
" You never asked " his eyes fell on the clothes she'd donned" sorry, I kinda raided your dresser " she said.
He didn't mind.
Her going through his dresser that is. They look good on her anyhow he decided, then he heard chuckling from the spirit's side of the link. Oh no. He didn't...
... He did, Yami heard the whole thing. Yugi felt like smacking himself in the head with the pillow. Carmen shut the window and softly padded over to the couch next to him. The violet-eyed teen shook his head wildly to compose himself and turned to face her" Carmen, who were those people" she shot him a questioning glance" The ones who were... that were trying to ...um, uh " well he wasn't really sure what they were doing to be honest.
" You mean the guys that were trying to...kidnap me " she finished for him.
" Well yeah " he nodded.
She sighed softly in thought" Well, I want to say its kinda complicated, but then that would imply that my life was simple and then I'd be lying ". Carmen never met his eyes with her own, she just kept staring of the window steadfastly. " Those men were working for my family ".
" Your family " he cried in disbelief.
Carmen gaze hardened" they're not my real family " she replied crossly" my family died in a fire when I was little, they just took me in ".
Yugi's heart sank in his chest" I'm sorry ".
She smiled" Don't be, I can't even remember them" she told him" so its not like I can be sad about it ".
" So did you run away, or something " he asked. She nodded bitterly" but why are they after you now ".
" Because... they're afraid " she told him" see, my 'family' founded the Seraph Software Corporation " the name sounded vaguely familiar to him" and when I turn twenty-five I receive over half of the company in stock, they're worried I'll dismantle the company to get back at them ".
Yugi couldn't see her doing it, she seemed so introverted" Would you ".
A sad smile" No, I may not like them, but I don't hate them enough to " she replied.
To Be Continued ...
Author Commentary -
Seraph Software Corporation - The Microsoft of the Yu-Gi-Oh world, at least in my story anyway. Its run by Carmen's family, but the Seraph are evil and corrupt.