Born of Shadows

This is a little background for where my story begins.

Pharaoh

After graduating from high school, the gang had gone in separate directions. Most had gone onto higher learning, though a few had foregone this for various reasons. Otogi and Kaiba had their businesses to run, and could only spare enough time to keep their skills honed by taking one or two courses at the university.
Yugi and Yami had taken over the game shop when Sugoroku had gotten ill and had to be hospitalized. When he was released they had convinced him to retire and then arranged their schedules to take a couple of courses at the local school. It would take longer, but they would eventually get their degrees.
Honda had spent two years at the university, before coming home to live when his mother passed away and his sister needed his help with the youngest Honda Siblings. He currently commuted to school and watched the kids in the evening when his sister worked.

Malik, Marik, Ryou and Bakura were taking their third year at the University with Mai who was in her fourth year and Shizuka who had only started last year.
Anzu had gone to the United States to attend a special dance school for two years before returning to Tokyo and joining a Kabuki dance group’s choreographer.
Jou had bought a camera with some of the left over prize money he had won, and been hired by the local newspaper as photographer. After the first year he let a co-worker talk him into sending some of his private work into a contest and won second prize. Now several magazines sought him after for his special work.
His father had given up drinking after he'd slept through Jou’s graduation ceremony and realized how much of his son's life he had missed. It was rough at first, but he had seen it through and been completely sober for over a year and was holding down a great job for over six months.
Jou had arranged for a party to celebrate Shizuka's birthday, and while the teens were busy, his parents had sat down and talked for the first time in years. Now, not only were they on speaking terms but also had gone on three dates.
Jou knew better than to expect anything, but it didn't hurt to keep your fingers crossed.

Even with all this going on the group of friends still managed to keep contact and some of their other duel opponents had turned out to be okay, when not childishly obsessed with the game.
Ryuzaki and Haga had been caught with drugs in their possession and given a suspended sentence on the condition they enter rehab. They had both completed their stay and came out clean. Now they were working for Otogi in his new toy store and had turned out to be okay guys.
Each week the whole group would meet at some predetermined place and spend a couple of hours catching up. And during the week one or two would meet up and do something together.
Jou still hung out at the game shop every Thursday night, and that was how the Marathon Monopoly game had come about. Oddly it was Yami who had suggested it and Jou had tried to beg off, claiming he was not very good at the game.
After conceding defeat, Yami had drawn Jou out of the room so they would not wake Yuki. He had lost early and fallen asleep watching the other two play.
Out in the yard behind the shop, the spirit of the puzzle had shown the blond how to mold the substance of shadow. Jou had been an adept learner, and when he was confident in his apprentice’s abilities, the former pharaoh had shared with Jou a premonition.
"Jou, I need to tell you something," he began, catching Jou's attention from the small opening he was working in the middle of the yard. Jou looked up, dropping the hole and not even watching as it closed. "Something big is coming. I can't tell if it is danger or just a major event, but it's only a couple of years away."
"Okay, Yams. So what does that have to do with me? You and Yug always deal with that stuff," Jou said, feeling uncomfortable in the intense gaze of the reincarnated soul.
"I only know that you are somehow in the middle of it and that you would be safer in shadows. I was going to put you there to protect you, but if you can perfect your own use of it, you could do this yourself."
"Well, okay. So, I'll work on it, don't sweat it, Yams."
"More than that, Jou," Yami continued.” You have a soul mate."
"I know that, Yami," Jou stated simply, causing the spirit to stare open mouthed. "I've known that for a long time. But it's okay, I'm dealin. It's not like I can do anything about it."
"Jou, what do you mean?" Yami asked, finally finding his voice.
"Oh, well I figured it out just after that major revelation when I was 17. Remember? Anyway, there's no way for us to get together now, but I know he's the only one I'll ever be with."
"How do you know that, Jou?"
"Well, see. I've always had this secret kink. Something that I use to get off, you know like a fantasy. Anyway, I can get it up thinking about anyone, but I only get off when it's him." The blond looked away, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry Jou. Well, one thing about shadows, you can actually live out all your fantasies there. Maybe it will be better for you, living it instead of thinking it." And Yami stretched, reminding Jou how early in the morning it was, and that he had an appointment at noon.
They parted and went their way, not discussing the topic again until the incident of the belly ring. That had been four weeks ago, and the pool party had been last week.
That problem had been solved, or at least figured out, but now as the three sat in the room above the shop, sharing their week, drinking soda and playing cards, Jou was hoping he would have a chance to talk with the Egyptian privately.
Yugi stretched as he lay his cards on the table, "Rummy!" he shouted and the other two looked on in surprise.
"He's right, Jou. I guess I'm loosing my touch," Yami conceded.
"Whatever the reason, you know our bet. Whoever wins cleans the kitchen, so if you two don't mind, I'm off to bed. Enjoy your dishes, Yami," and the shorter of the two rose and sauntered out the door. The Pharaoh stared after him as Jou chuckled beside him.
"Don't laugh, you lost to him, too. Wash or Dry?" Yami asked.
"Dry," Jou said, rising and grabbing the plates from the table. Yami picked up the cups and preceded him out to the kitchen. "At least dinner wasn't as messy as last time."
"Hey, Yams. I've been meaning to ask you," Jou began as he picked up a towel and waited. Yami turned on the water and placed the dishes in. Two squirts of liquid and the suds filled the sink. Yami turned to Jou and tilted his head as he listened. "How can I stay in my special place longer? I mean, I'm messed up after eight hours. And you said I need to be there, but I can't seem to stay very long. I get hungry and thirsty and the stuff I make there isn't helping."
Yami chuckled for a minute and shut off the tap. Grabbing a rag, and a cup, he began scrubbing as he explained. "That is because only shadows can survive on shadows. You are not made of shadow, Jou. You can only survive on food and water that is not of shadow. If you wish to stay longer, you must take these things with you."
Jou took the cup and rinsed the suds away. As he wiped the water away, he thought about this. It made sense, and he would try it next. Yami eyed him, intently.
"Okay, Yams. I can see your point."
"Jou, how are you doing with your shadow building?" Yami asked. "Have you found the answers to your difficulties with your soul mate?"
"Huh? Oh, that. No, I was just kinda decorating and seeing how things work. I like it there, it's relaxing."
"Relaxing. Somehow I don't imagine you relaxing anywhere. Have you tried anything else?" Yami watched Jou's reaction to his question.
"Well, yeah. I don't really want to talk about it, you know." and they finished the dishes in silence.


:::Now, show me how many of you are paying attention. There is a big hole in this, and I will try to fill it in the next installment. Tell me what it is???