Born of Shadows

Imminent

By the time evening rolled around, a shipment of supplies had been delivered and set in a back room for Seto’s disposition. It was stacked and shrink-wrapped and set on a pallet with a pallet jack resting under it.
Jou inspected it, with Seto supervising and they were both well satisfied.
“I think this will take both of us to store,” Seto suggested. Jou looked up at him.
“You want to go with me?” he asked.
“No one else will be there, and I’d like to see it. Are you against this?” Seto returned.
Jou shook his head, and rolled his eyes. “Nah, I just wanted to make sure you were serious. Let’s get this delivered now.” And he turned away from the load and reached out his hand. Within seconds he was shifting the substance of Shadow and widening the entrance. It took less than the time it would take to say, “It’s time to Duel,” before he was ready to move the load.
Seto had lifted it with the jack and was angling it toward the rift. Jou grabbed the handle and pulled while his partner pushed from behind and they were soon through and into the kitchen of the shadow house. Seto looked around and smiled.
“Nice set up. I couldn’t have asked for a better kitchen in my mansion. Where are you going to expand?”
Jou looked around and pointed. He climbed onto one of his stools and indicated the one next to him. Seto sat there and watched as Jou concentrated and the area in question began to shift before his eyes.
Walls morphed and adjusted and cabinets grew on their lengths. The counters stretched and filled with marked containers and bowls for storage. When he was satisfied he turned to the brunet and raised his eyebrows in question.
“Very interesting and well done, too. You are truly amazing Master!” the last was spoken with obvious overdone enthusiasm and Jou didn’t miss the sarcasm intended.
“It’s true, pet. Now, let’s get this done. I think we may be too tired to actually come back by the time we get it all put away.”
It took three hours to stow the supplies to their mutual satisfaction, and Jou was correct in assuming that they would be tired. When the stepped out of the Shadows into Seto’s bedroom they both dropped into immediate sleep, just barely stripping out of their sweaty clothes.
The morning brought them to the realization that they should suspend the invitation to go to shadows for a few days, and then they could truly relax when they arrived.
Mokuba was coming home for his school vacation the next day and then the weekend would afford them a fun day with the others in their group of friends. Sunday would be the best night to venture back to the Shadow mansion. It was decided.



In a welcome home atmosphere, the group of Domino High Alumni joked and talked. Mokuba was doing well at the university and the rest were all looking forward to the coming festive season. It was fun and Jou didn’t think anything could spoil it for him.
Yugi and Yami were running late and the rest of the group had moved into the game room for a few hours of recreational game play. Seto was challenging Marik to a game of table tennis as a few others had engaged in a killer game of ‘go fish’. The door was heard and Jou headed there to let in the delayed King of Games.
“Hey, Yug, Yams. Bought time ya got here.” He said as the two stepped through the door.
“Hey, Jou. Sorry, but Yami had to do something important. I gotta go see how Mokuba liked that teacher he was concerned with.” And Yugi rushed off. Yami stood in the entry hall and watched the shorter of the two run off.
“Yams. Got a problem? Can I help?” Jou offered, immediately wishing he could retract the statement as soon as it was out of his mouth. “Eh, within reason, of course.”
“Jou. It is time.” Yami said. Jou blanched as the ex-pharaoh stared at him, his face a mask of seriousness. “The next time you venture into shadows you must be prepared.”
“Oh, okay Yams. I got it covered. Can I take everyone with, or is it just me?”
“Take whomever you wish, but make sure that Kaiba is there. It all hinges on him. He will be given his deepest desire in return for his participation. Jou? Shadows are building in intensity. The creation of something big is imminent. I am counting on you.”
“Okay, Yami. You got it. We were going tonight anyway. I guess I’ll see you when I get back, huh?” Jou asked.
“No. Yugi and I will be visiting you in Shadows. I have always been able to go to your house.” Yami smiled a devious little smile. “Let’s go see what the others are up to, okay?”
“That sounds great, Yams. Let’s go.” Jou said watching the little pharaoh suspiciously.


“Is that really what he said, Jou?” Seto asked for the third time.
“Word for word. What is he talking about, Kasshoku?” Jou asked. Seto shook his head quickly, and dropped onto the bed. Jou sat next to him, and reached out to rub his arm in an affectionate way.
“I refuse to even consider what that little man was spewing. I am going to sleep.” The CEO said, sliding under the covers and rolling away from Jou.
“Your deepest desire. Sounds like one of those far too magic for Kaiba Seto issues. Let me think,” Jou said, leaning against the headboard. “What would you desire that you couldn’t get with money or influence? Well, besides me, cause you got that.” Jou tapped his chin as he thought.
“Drop it Jounouchi,” Kaiba said from his side of the bed, not shifting or turning his way.
“No way. This is important if it’s the whole reason the shadows are in uproar. I intend to figure it out. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. Something you can’t buy or intimidate. That rules out a lot, huh?” Seto sat up and glared at him. “Planning on telling me?” Jou said looking innocent. Seto huffed and dropped back against the headboard.
“Jou, it’s impossible. I would have to change who I am. It’s not going to happen, so forget it. Even your magical shadows cannot do this.”
“That’s what you think.” Jou said, looking at the stubborn CEO. Jou tilted his head as he began wondering about the deep-seeded longing that was making his lover act this way. What could he possibly be keeping locked away. Maybe Mokuba would know; he was the closest person to Kaiba after all. But it was late and the kid was asleep. Jou couldn’t ask Mokuba unless they put off the visit to Shadows an extra day.
And if Seto was going to act like a baby about it all, how was he going to . . . . . . ?
Wait a minute. A new train of thought has just left the station. Kaiba couldn’t. He wouldn’t. But, maybe he just. And, if it’s possible. Oh, my God!
“I think I got it!” Jou shouted. Seto looked up in shock.
“What have you got, now?” he asked.
“Oh, no. If you won’t tell me, I’m not telling you. But, if I’m right, I think you are totally wrong. So, let’s just assume that we both are right and see what happens. Okay?”
Seto shrugged at the messed up logic that he had just been subjected to and slunk down under the covers once more. “Hey, Kasshoku? I still love you.” Jou said, reaching down and pulling the brunet to him once more. Seto allowed this and wrapped his arms around Jou’s shoulders once more. He wasn’t sure what the blond was thinking, but at least he wasn’t pressing him about foolishness any longer. And they were going to spend a long time in the shadow house, so Jou wouldn’t be bothering him about it again for a long time. He could relax for a while.

:::Okay, so now to answer a couple of reviews

Anon: You're so cute. If you glomp me one more time, I think I will just fall in love. Your reviews did save my fic, and they just keep on inspiring me. You know just what to say to help me overcome my insecurities about this story. I love you, TONS.

dramaelf: I understand that concept but I don't think it applies here. I don't want to sound insulting, but I don't see either of them as submissive. I have known many D/s couples, and these guys don't fill the bill. They are both too strong to be passive. By the way, it is spelled Dominant.

Mu-chan: Sorry to make you wait. It's a fact that my stories tend to run long, and for that I would apologize, but I like to build to the climax. Probably explains how a short story I was writing turned into an 18-chapter book, huh? This is an Mpreg fic; I just haven't got there yet, so please be patient. If I had left that out of the Summary, those who don’t want to read it would have raked me over the coals. Damned if I do, etc. I will be there in the next chapter I promise. I bet you can already guess who the lucky mother is, too.

Hopefully I can get that next chapter up in a day or so, and then we will see if everyone guessed correctly.

Much Love, Anna