Born of Shadows

Prophecy


The office was cold and bright, just the way it was supposed to be.
Seto sat at his desk, working on his most recent innovation. If he was to remain on the top, his company would have to continue to grow, and it was his job to aid it in its growth.
The intercom buzzed and he tapped the button, subconsciously.
“Kaiba-san, there is a Motou Yugi here to see you. Should I let him in, he does not have an appointment?” His secretary asked.
Seto thought about it and leaned in to the machine. “Let him in and hold my calls.” And he sat back in his chair, after minimizing his program on the computer.
Yami walked into the room, surveying it as he went. Seto watched him and cocked his head noting the differences immediately.
“Motou Yugi?” he asked.
“I don’t like to explain to people about myself, Kaiba. It was easier to just use Yugi’s name.”
“So what is it you want, Yami?” Seto asked.
“I have something to tell you. I have waited as long as I can, Seto.” Yami responded to the taller man’s use of his personal title.
“And?” Seto asked. His distrust of the world was notorious, and even though he had come to consider the small gathering of his former schoolmates as friends, he was locked into the cycle of that distrust.
“May I sit?” Yami asked. Seto nodded at a chair and the young man sat. His eyes looked directly at the CEO with intensity. Seto squirmed slightly and tapped his pen on the desk. “Your future is in turmoil. There is a problem and it must be solved. The future of the Shadows is depending on it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Seto scoffed.
“I know of your disbelief in magic, but this is not about magic, yet. It has to do with destiny. You have been cheating your destiny, and it will alter the course of the world. You must accept your destiny. It will mean the fruition of your deepest desire. The Shadows wish to bring about a prophecy and you are at its core. Accept your destiny, and the prophecy will give you your fondest wish, you hearts desire, and its own needed element.”
“You do realize that you sound ridiculous, right?” Seto said, rolling his eyes. He would never admit to Yami that he too felt something stirring in the shadows. Only for him, the shadows were only the dark recesses of his world, not the Shadow Realm that Yami played with. He could only imagine what the ancient pharaoh was talking about, but as for his deepest desire, there was no way. It was an impossible desire and that was why he kept it deep. The whole thing stank of fortune telling and tarot card readers, Mystic Astronomers that could weave a web of half guesses to keep their audiences paying for more
“And yet you believe me, Seto. You too, see the need for action. I can see it in your eyes. Your destiny will call to you. Answer the call. I sense it will all come about in the next few days. You need only be a willing participant.”

Kaiba sat in the back of his limousine and watched the buildings pass his window. He looked up and read the few billboards that peppered the town. One was a display of a large bottle of some new perfume, and the caption told of the aroma’s ability to bring sexual release with just a whiff. Kaiba scoffed at it. It would take more than just a scent to give him that sort of fulfillment. The next was a Jeans add. Kaiba rolled his eyes. Didn’t the advertising agencies around here have anything else to sell? He took note that the picture of the back of a man’s jeans looked familiar.
He had seen it or something in the picture before. He watched it until it was gone from his view. The answer hit him fast.
“Driver, turn the car around. Take me to this address,” he said pulling a card from his wallet and handing it to the stunned limo driver.
The car worked its way through the streets and pulled up before a plain looking storefront. Kaiba got out before the driver had a chance to shut the engine off.
The CEO pushed the door open and rushed inside.
The store was not so much a store as a small museum or art gallery. Kaiba walked around the rows of pictures and other framed works.
There it was, the full picture of the man in the jeans add. It was taken in the gardens of Kaiba’s home and by one of his few friends. The picture portrayed a man standing in the middle of a garden, alone with a locket hung from his fingers. His back was to the viewer and his face away, but the stance and the body language portrayed deep loss, and his shoulders slumped in uncharacteristic dejection. It was a picture of Kaiba Seto, the day that Mokuba had gone off to college and the group of friends had given him a send off. Kaiba had slipped out into the garden to be alone, away from the throng of well-wishers and the sound of his brother’s happiness. He had felt so lost; he just wanted to be away from it for a minute or two. Jou had followed in concern and snapped the picture before announcing his presence and aiding his friend with anecdotes about his own sister’s trip to America. The picture was titled ‘Alone in My Paradise’. It had been given several awards and was currently on display here, but not for sale.
“Just visiting, Kaiba?” came a voice from behind him. Kaiba turned around slowly and was face to face with the Art gallery owner, Jounouchi Katsuya.
“Actually wondering if I am going to reap any of the benefits from the Jeans Company.” Kaiba returned.
“Now, you know darn well you signed away the rights for that picture. I have the document. But you do get the benefit of having the best looking ass to ever wear those pants. And think of all the girls in town drooling over said ass right now.” Jou responded. The banter between the two had gone from hostility in public to private innuendos and slightly colored comments about each other over the past few years.
“And now I can never wear them in public again. Not that I ever did.” Kaiba retorted. “And you? How are you benefiting from it, making enough I hope so you can keep on supporting yourself to this level.” He said, gesturing the store, knowing full well that Jou kept the apartment over the store.
“Got a prime for it, and they keep begging me for more. What do you say? Want to add another half mill to that vast fortune you rarely spend anyway? I could use a good model that can actually make those scraps of denim look presentable.” Jou leaned against the wall, his arms crossing his chest. Kaiba looked at the picture once more.
“You want me to pose? I didn’t even do this one. I don’t know . . . .” He hedged.
“What do you want, Kaiba?” Jou asked.
“I’m sorry?” Kaiba asked back.
“Seriously. You didn’t come here to ask about the weather, or about my business. You have something on your mind. So, spill it. I may not have the answers but I am a good listener. Just trust me, or someone for a change.”
Kaiba lifted his hand to touch the glass that covered the picture in the frame. His world was so cold, and yet the picture was filled with warmth. Oddly the average viewer wouldn’t see it, but Kaiba Seto did. “I think you do have answers. You did that day. It was just what I needed. And you know it, too. So, how can you help me today?” Kaiba turned to the blond. Jou pointed to the stairs and then went to the window and turned the key as he shifted the sign to say ‘closed’.
Kaiba followed Jou up to the apartment and sat with the blond on the well-worn couch in the center of the room. Jou rested in the corner and waited.
“I had a visit from Yami, today. He told me that I was avoiding destiny. So, I told him he was full of crap.”
“Was he?” Jou asked.
“No. But, you know I hate to admit anything to him. How do you do it, Jounouchi?”
“ME?” Jou asked, eyes wide. “What am I doing?”
“Yes, you. You are happy. You have what you want, do what you enjoy, and just be happy. No worrying about whether you are upsetting the way the world runs, or messing up someone’s fate.” Kaiba sighed and stretched against the fabric of the sofa.
“I worry. I want to . . . . Well, what I really want could change someone’s life, and so I don’t do it. Is that close enough?” Kaiba looked up and Jou turned away. “We all have to consider someone else, before we act. Otherwise, we would all end up like Pegasus. I don’t want to cross that line.”
“You have a crossed-destiny problem? And so, you just don’t act. I guess that would work for you. But, what if my destiny is intertwined in some future that is needed and I don’t act?”
“God, you have been talking to Yami. Apparently you listened more than you talked, Huh?” Jou added.
“I guess so. I have tried to ignore it all for years, but after some of the stuff we have all been through it is a little hard to rationalize away all the magic stuff, you know?”
“Yeah, from personal experience. Don’t discount it till you’ve tried it. I hear you use to be a major magic wielder yourself, in some past life.”
“That’s what the tabloids would say. I don’t read that trash.”
“Well, I find it refreshing. You should read what they say about you. I have it on good authority that you and a certain secretary have three love-children and are planning on escaping the country to live happily-ever-after in some small town in America.”
“Me, in America? I hate coffee, Jou. And, I could never live in a country that’s main food is from a bovine!” Kaiba scoffed, sarcastically.
“So you don’t deny the three kids?” Jou asked, mentally noted that the man had called him by the popular knick-name he had gotten in school.
”I didn’t think that was even a rational theory. You know more about me than that.”
“Yeah, you don’t fraternize with secretaries.” Jou waved the topic away.
“I don’t fraternize with women, period. I have given up any thoughts of reproduction. I don’t see myself with any children, or living happily ever after anywhere. I will just endure the life I have with my lonely little mansion on the hill.”
“Need some cookies for this pity party?” Jou said, “Poor little Seto, in his little house. I don’t know, I picture you adopting or something. That would fill your rooms up, at least.”
“If it weren’t for the way you all love to come over for the parties you give each other at my expense, I would have sold it off years ago. I don’t need that house. I don’t really want it, anymore.” Seto sighed. “And just because I was a great orphan doesn’t mean there are any others. I am not taking in the refuse of the city.” Jou laughed.
“God, if the women of this town could only see you. Here sits Kaiba Seto, the sexiest eligible man in all of Domino, and he’s as gay as a feather duster. They’d be jumping out of windows from the top of Kaiba tower.”
“I certainly hope not. Think of the insurance premiums. That is another way you have it over me. You can date whomever you want and no one cares. No secrets, right?”
“From you, or Them?” Jou asked thumbing at the doors to the outside world. “Actually, I can’t really claim that either. I can’t date who I want, cause he isn’t available to me. But, I can do the next best thing. Date someone who is second best. Like me, the runner up.” This time Seto laughed. Jou smiled up at the man, and his eyes twinkled.
“Thank you, Jounouchi. You have given me some help. Maybe not the answers; but help at least.”
“You know, I think I will have to make it a rule. If you want to get help from me, you have to call me Jou. How’s that sound?”
“Right, Jou. I’ll remember that.” And the CEO rose from the couch. Jou followed and let him out.
“See ya round, Seto.” He said, as Kaiba was let into the limo by the driver and the door closed. Jou returned to his gallery and stopped in front of the picture of the CEO. Jou made a decision.
“Maybe your answers are in Shadows, Seto. That is where destiny is clearest, these days.”


Kitty stretched and stood.
Yes, that was his first day in the Shadow house, and Master had explained it all to him. They had stayed in the house for three days, and during that time he and Master had explored all of the rooms and seen each of the pets that had come to visit. All greeted him, and he sensed that each was relieved by his presence. Though he explained the rules of the house and had told of the various ways that his pets enjoyed their play, never once had he more than lightly pet Kitty, and though part of him was happy, part of him wondered why he was denied this treatment.
He had believed it a dream, and when he woke the next morning, he was surprised at the feeling of urgency to reach his bathroom. He could only muse on it so long before he called Jou, leaving a message on his machine. And then headed off to work.
“Kaiba-sama, there is a Jounouchi Katsuya to see you. He says you called him, but I don’t have him in your schedule?” his secretary asked.
“Let him in, and hold all of my calls. Also, cancel my two o’clock, I think I will be leaving for the day.” And he clicked the machine.
Jou entered and sauntered up to the large desk, dropping unceremoniously into one of the deep chairs set before it. He looked up at Kaiba and for once his smirk was plainly visible and held power.
“You wanted to see me . . . Kitty?” he said.


:::I withdraw my threat, and wish to apologize for my rant. I only wish to let it be known that most authors are sociopaths by nature. We need our attention and must have some form of stroking or we begin to doubt our work and ourselves. Please, bear in mind that though I write because I cannot stop myself, I still have that innate need for constant reinforcement that someone out there likes what I am sharing. I will continue and the fact that I have already nearly completed the sequel to the book that has not yet been released is testament to that. I think this story has a lot of fun potential and I really want to continue on this theme. I don't even know how many chapters it will end up being, though I am running low on one-word titles.