Title: Spark of Darkness

Summary: Kiryu and Carly have a casual conversation at the Dark Signer's Lair, and Kiryu sees the first hint of that Carly really does have the attitude of a Dark Signer. Kind of a drabble.

Notes: Fulfilled request from Paul-Kun. Takes place after A Hummingbird Without Her Wings and close before Doomed.

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds.

Carly glanced at Kiryu next to her. He looked bored and had a scowl on his face, leaning with his elbows on the rail of the balcony. She mirrored him and looked up at the stormy sky.

"Kiryu – san?" she said timidly, and he groaned.

"Seriously, stop calling me that," he snapped. She recoiled slightly.

"So…so just normal 'Kiryu'?" she verified.

"Yeah." He gave his head a quick nod.

"…Kiryu?" Carly tried again.

"What?" he answered.

"Thank you for teaching me more about better dueling tactics-" she began to say, and then he interrupted her.

"I told you, you don't need to thank me. You can thank me by beating Jack in your duel," He snickered. "If you do that, after I beat Yusei Fudo all who'd be left to destroy is Crow…" he chuckled darkly, sending a slight chill down Carly's spine.

"Well, Kiryu…can I ask you something?" Carly questioned.

Kiryu replied, with a roll of his eyes, "You just did ask me something. Shoot."

Carly hesitated. "Never mind, I'll just ask Misty later."

Kiryu was annoyed. "Sheesh woman, just ask me."

Carly hesitated once more, then asked anyway.

"Kiryu? Do you think…if I beat Jack in my duel…I could make him become a Dark Signer too?"

Kiryu whipped his head to look at his fellow Dark Signer. She wasn't looking at him, rather out into the distance, and was biting her lip nervously. Her eyes were far away and distant.

Kiryu growled, "First off, why the heck would you try to save Jack if you managed to beat him? And second, is that even possible?" He shuddered in disgust at the thought of Yusei Fudo joining Kiryu's Dark Signer family…Kiryu respected Rudger and Demak and emphasized with Misty's need for revenge...he understood THAT only too well. Even Carly had grown on him with time. He had helped her improve her dueling skills, not just because he wanted to see Jack dead as well as Yusei, but because he had to admit it would make him kind of sad if she died for good.

Carly blushed, slightly flustered at Kiryu's reaction to her question. Then, she sighed and told him, "Never mind, I'll ask Misty like I was going to."

Kiryu couldn't resist adding, "Really, are you stupid or something?" He suddenly felt a bit bad for saying that, but Carly's reply surprised him.

"Maybe." She sighed, and stopped leaning on the rail and stretched out her arms. She looked at Kiryu, and added with a bit of uncharacteristic venom in her voice, "But if I wasn't, I wouldn't have fallen in love with Jack in the first place, or have gotten myself killed and met you and Misty. So I'm okay with that." She then strode away into the Dark Signer's Lair with a toss of her hair.

Kiryu blinked after her a few times in surprise. Then a slight, twisted smile appeared on his face.

He chuckled darkly to Carly's retreating back, "Now that sounded more like a Dark Signer."

The End

Author's Note: Yay, fourth story! Even if this is just a drabble. I guess I'm best just writing about Dark Signers, huh? This was inspired by a request for a Carly/Kiryu story, but I don't see them as a romantic couple (Carly belongs with Jack!), so I made it a friendship. I hope everyone seems in character. I know Carly doesn't seem in character at the very end, but that's the point. The darkness is taking over, and it builds so she is the way she is when it comes to her duel with Jack. Remember, well written reviews are loved and flames are not. So…review away! ^ _^