Light Amongst Shadows

Author’s Note – Well, instead of a psychotic computer, I’m now stuck using my husband’s. Mine officially died, and it’ll take time before I can afford another one. I’ve been looking around, drooling, and dreaming over a few models. Nothing too fancy – mainly an E-machine over at Best Buy. Sweet Isis, wish I could get my hands on close to six hundred dollars. Even the lower end computers aren’t cheap!!! -sighs- It’s been ‘fun’ trying to work a computer use schedule around my husband. Even worse is trying to write with him around, not willing to leave me alone as he wants to show me stuff he downloaded the night before. GAH!!!!!

So, on top of that, working a seasonal position that happens to be kicking my proverbial ass, and trying to find a full time job, I have had a serious time getting motivated and inspired for writing. I do thank you, sweet readers, for being so patient with me. Special hugs go out to DracOnyx, ladywolf_terri, silvershadowfire, and a few others who know who they are. I couldn’t do it without your friendship and support. You guys are the best!

Disclaimer – I do not own YuGiOh or any of the characters that are being used in this story. Am I happy about that? No, not really but they are fun to play with!!!

Chapter Three – Life is Life

Yami shrugged into his light leather coat, listening to the sound of Yugi humming in their shared room upstairs. His hikari had come inside a short while ago, nearly glowing with happiness in a way that seemed to light up the room around him. The pharaoh didn’t ask any questions, somehow knowing that his smaller look-alike had finally been able to offer his heart and had received Ryou’s in exchange.

Crimson eyes lightened for a second as he slid out of the house, shadows dissipating as he thought about Yugi. The hikari had been head over heels in love with the thief’s hikari for a long time, which had been one of the reasons Yami had backed off the sexual relationship the two soul partners had once shared. Yugi knew everything he needed to make a physical relationship work and now needed his yami for emotional support as he began this new relationship with Ryou.

In truth, Yami hadn’t minded the change in their relationship at all. He was ecstatic for Yugi and as he walked down the street, he could only offer a prayer to his gods that his aibou’s relationship with his fellow hikari would grow and deepen over time. Ra only knew how much those two deserved to be happy, having given up so much of their lives and time to their yamis.

The crimson eyed pharaoh shrugged as another thought drifted through the happier ones, dimming his own joy and darkening the garnet orbs. The thought brought a shudder that racked the slender but powerful frame of the small yami.

Now it was official, he was the last one of the group that was without a lover.

Not that it should surprise him much. Even in his past life, the gods had not brought anyone into his life to fill the void that had been with him since he could remember. For some odd reason, it seemed as if he was cursed to spend his days without the true happiness that was now flooding through his aibou’s soul.

A part of Yami basked in the warm glow radiating down their soul bond, but another part of him shied away in envy and pain.

Sometimes, life just sucked.

Bakura and Marik, who had decided to run and get some alcohol before settling in for the night caught sight of the smaller figure walking down the deserted street.

“Yo! Pharaoh!”

The slender man didn’t even react to the mocking voice of Marik, which amazed both of the yamis to no end. Usually, Yami was one to react, even if it was as simple as flipping them off.

“What the fuck is wrong with him?”

Bakura shook his head in quiet response to Marik’s comment, watching the slender form of the man as he moved silently away from him. Yami was definitely acting odd, and it had been going on for a while. Whatever it was that was bothering him, it seemed to be getting worse instead of better. The pharaoh was usually confident, though not overly as much as Bakura himself or Marik; this change in the other yami was somewhat unnerving.

After a moment, the thief shook it off and returned to the house that Marik shared with Malik and his sister. Occasionally, the sight of Yami walking so quietly down the street would cross his mind’s eye but he managed to focus himself on more pleasurable activities.

As for Yami, he’d heard Marik but simply hadn’t had the strength to even try to respond to the man. The last thing he’d wanted was an argument, which seemed to be the other two yamis favorite thing to do with him. He was too tired to even try to stay one step ahead of both of them and knew he needed to stay away for a while – at least long enough so that he could try to get his thoughts straight once again.

The former ruler of Egypt made his way to the silent park and sat on a bench that was located beneath the sheltering limbs of two trees. The shadows and darkness didn’t phase him as he struggled with his thoughts and emotions, keeping the link between himself and his hikari guarded. The last thing he wanted was for Yugi to realize that his soul partner was not as happy as he; that would dim the happiness radiating so powerfully from his light. His chibi ichi deserved his happiness and so much more.

Yugi, who had just spent the past half hour washing out all of the hair products he and Yami had used to tame the wild spikes, could sense the thoughtful mood of his yami and shook his head. The spirit of the Puzzle was often prone to these moods, and his partner knew that all he would be able to do for him was simply to be there in case Yami needed someone to talk to.

After gaining a body of his own, thanks to the research of Isis and several others, Yami had pretty much stayed to himself, talking to only a few except himself and the other hikaris. Occasionally, he would spend time with Joey but not as often since the blond had begun his relationship with Seto Kaiba.

Yugi sighed as his thoughts turned towards the CEO. Despite spending so much time with their group, the teenage genius still refused to acknowledge his own mystical past. He’d had no choice but to accept the validity of magic considering that he’d had to come up with identification and pasts for the three yamis once their bodies had been restored to them. Beyond that, he had ignored the subject completely.

Yami had not hung out around Joey much since then, knowing his only surviving family member refused to acknowledge their past together. This knowledge hurt the former pharaoh every day, despite his struggle to keep it hidden from the others.

The last time Yugi had spoken to Joey about this, the blond had been somewhat frustrated. Both of them knew what it was doing to Yami, and the CEO’s lover kept trying to bring Seto around to the idea that a past life wasn’t something to be afraid or ashamed of, with no luck at all.

The small hikari dressed in a pair of warm pajamas before slipping into bed. His thoughts were pulled away from his yami as the phone rang, and he ran to get it.

“Mutou residence.”

“Yugi-chan?”

A bright smile blossomed on the amethyst eyed hikari’s face and he carried the cordless phone into his room with him, snuggling under the covers.

“Hi, Ryou-chan.”

The sweet warm voice of the white haired teenager washed over him in gentle waves, relaxing him as well as bringing joy into his heart.

“Hello, Yugi-chan. I thought I’d call to say good night. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all, Ryou-chan.”

A soft sigh of relief could be heard before the hikari of the Ring answered him.

“I’m glad.”

The two talked for quite some time about various things, enjoying the chance to spend more time together before the lures of sleep could call them away. Giggles could be heard on occasion as funny topics were brought up and discussed, chasing away what was left of the heavy thoughts Yugi had been thinking before the phone had rung.

By the time Yami returned, he could hear the soft tones of his hikari’s voice as he spoke to what had to be Ryou on the other end of the telephone. A smile curved his lips, lighting his crimson eyes as he leaned against the doorframe of the room they shared.

It did his heart good to see his aibou looking so relaxed and happy. The little one was genuinely happy, which was a first for the hikari. Despite being of a happy nature, Yugi still had a few things that kept him from being this content.

Yami went to take his shower, forcing away the dark thoughts he’d been contemplating for the past few hours, allowing himself to bask in the warm glow of the bond he shared with his soul partner. Between the pounding hot water and the gentle flow of emotion from Yugi, he found himself relaxing enough to attempt to sleep.

By the time he returned to their bedroom, he found Yugi leaning against the pillows of his bunk, smiling at nothing.

-“Did you have a good conversation with Ryou, chibi ichi?”-

Yugi answered through their link as Yami climbed the ladder to peek at his hikari. Due to his smaller size, Yugi had been the one who had been assigned the top bunk.

-“It was a great talk. The more I talk to him, the more I realize we have in common.”-

Judging from the sparkling amethyst eyes and the huge smile, Yami knew his hikari was definitely in a fantastic mood.

-“That’s a good thing, chibi ichi. It’s wonderful to see you so happy.”-

-“It feels good being this happy. I just hope I can make Ryou-chan as happy as he’s made me tonight.”-

-“Knowing you, aibou, it’s a given. You two love each other. That’s all that’s important. The rest will follow in due time.”-

The grin grew larger, mirrored by a smaller on the yami’s face.

-“True. You know what this means now, right?”-

-“What aibou?”-

-“We’ll be spending more time with Ryou-chan, which means more time with Bakura.”-

The groan that followed Yugi’s response could be heard both audibly and through the bond. Yugi giggled as Yami went to his bunk, grumbling under his breath.

The little hikari turned onto his side and fell asleep, dreaming of white hair, chocolate eyes, and gentle kisses.

Yami stayed awake for a little while longer, sensing the cheerful nature of the dreams of his aibou. For Yugi’s sake, he would endeavor to get along with the tomb robber. He only hoped the white haired yami would do the same for Ryou’s sake.

A soft sigh was heard in the darkness of their bedroom as the former pharaoh struggled to fall asleep, wanting only to escape his thoughts.

Yes, sometimes life really sucked.

Author’s End Note – Well, this chapter is finally done! Yay! For my readers who have been on my update list before my computer crash, you’ll notice my email address has changed. I was getting tired of the other one, given I was having difficulty with the servers all the time. So I decided to open another account with a tried and true email server. For those who have discovered my stories for the first time and would like to be on that update list, please feel free to leave your email address with your review! And yes, I’m going to ask for feedback. That helps me know what you like and dislike about my work so that I can continue to grow as a writer. Thank you to all of you and see you next time!