Born of Shadows

Pets


For two weeks, Jou researched the idea. He shopped for items that were easy to fix and eat, and could be stored for longer. He researched the best way to transport water, and even looked into filtration devices. He purchased items and stepped into his world. His stays lasted for up to three days with the amount of food and water he could carry with him, and then when he ran out, he would return.
It would then bring him right back to the time he left and he could continue on with his day. As he had eaten and slept in the other world, he would wake needing to relieve himself at first, but after he had forced himself to do this in his shadow home, it was not a problem in the real world.
Now, he was not really hungry in the shadows, but he had begun to test his limits. By the end of those two weeks, he had a routine. He need on eat one meal a day, and sleep was only required for about four hours a night. Bathroom time was fine for every other day or more. The way of shadows was different.
During this time, he had not played with Puppy or Monkey. He was doing research and didn't want to find out how much of his reserves would be depleted by the demands of pet care. So, he had neglected this part of his stay. When he had come back from his last trip, he had mapped out the needs for a five-day stay and how he could transport enough for that length. He would wait until the next week and give it a go.
Until then, he had to work tonight and then the group would be getting together at the local amusement park on Saturday, and he planned on just enjoying the day.


Otogi had planned the day trip and Honda was his partner on the endeavor. They arranged it so that they could get Jou aside and find out how to get him to bring them back to the shadow world. It had been quite some time, and they were bored. So, they plotted.
Once there, the group discussed the plans for the day. They would go in groups and meet again for lunch. Kaiba had brought Mokuba and so he and his brother were going together, and Marik would take Ryuzaki, Haga and Malik with him. Bakura was teaming up with Ryou, Mai and Shizuka, since the girls wanted to go on the real scary rides, so they needed someone scarier than the ride, to keep them safe (female logic, Ryou had explained to his other half). Yugi and Yami were with Anzu, cause she said so, and that left the Dice Master, Honda and Jou.
As the five groups split up, Jou turned to the other two.
"So guys, what kind of rides do you want to go on?" he asked.
"I was thinking about a roller coaster. What do you think Ryuuji?" Honda said.
"My thoughts exactly, Hiroto. Something real fast, like that." and the black haired young man pointed at the biggest roller coaster in the park. Jou looked up at its heights and was proud of himself for not paling at the angle of the highest drop.
"Sure, okay. Let's do it," he said, as he stepped out toward it. Honda smiled at Otogi as they followed behind him. Jou had been so nervous about the ride that he failed to notice their use of personal names. It was a first step, and when they reached the end of the line, they stood close behind the blond. Jou wasn't so nervous about the roller coaster to miss the fact that Honda was so close to him his back was being brushed by the brunet's chest. And Otogi was right next to him, breathing across his shoulder. "Um, hey guys?' he said, as he pulled away slowly. Honda stepped up, and Otogi smiled.
"What's wrong, Jou. You're getting all inaccessible. Since when are you against touching?" the Dice man said.
"Yeah, don't act weird Jou. We're friends here." Honda added. "Good friends."
Jou watched in surprise, as the two exchanged a look.
"I think you two have gone beyond the realm of good friends, what's up guys?" he asked.
"Us? We decided to try it out, and see how it fits. Ryuuji is hot, after all."
"Yeah and we have you to thank for helping us see how wonderful it can all be. You were the first guy we knew who was brave enough to admit to his preferences."
Jou watched the looks go back and forth between the two and smiled weakly. "Glad to be of service. You guys are lucky to find someone."
"No luck was involved. You are the luck, and we wanted to thank you." Otogi had moved closer to the blond.
"Yes. That's what we want." Jou stared up at the look in Honda's eyes. He shook his head slightly, not believing that his friends were saying this.
"But not here. We would rather thank you in a special place. So, if you know of a special place we could go, then we could thank you properly," Otogi whispered, his lips so close to Jou's ears that he could feel the air escape the other's mouth.
"A special place? Do you mean, that you were really there?" he asked, the thought coming out before he could trap it behind his lips. Otogi nodded, his long soft bangs tickling Jou's cheek.
"It's a great place, full of wonderful smells." Honda said.
"Mmm hmm, and wonderful trees. I could climb in them all day and let my hair hang down. Don't you like my hair down better, Jou?" Otogi teased. Jou stiffened.
If it was true, than the pets in his special place weren't made of shadows, they were really his friends, or at least their consciousnesses. If this was true, than he may have to alter his calculations, or just not invite his friends while he has to stay for any length of time. But, that would prove to be a lonely thing. The three days he had spent there were bad enough.
It suddenly cut through his thoughts that Otogi had asked him a question. He blinked up at the dark haired man.
"What did you just say?" he asked.
"I asked if you liked my hair down, Jou."
Jou smirked at the look of power on the dice player's face. "That's what I thought. Don't you mean, Master?"


Arriving home from the park, Jou dropped onto his bed. His thoughts were scattered, and he wasn't coming up with any answers. His talk with Honda and Otogi confirmed that they had been there, experienced everything and come away feeling a little hungry and thirsty but other than that fine. They had decided to get together and though they were interested in continuing the visits, wanted to keep anything with the blond exclusively in the shadow home. They were fine with each other outside but something about sharing the blond's kink in secret was extremely erotic. They had also hinted that they wanted to help him to find his own enjoyment, but he hadn't explained that it was his own problem and they were not there for it. He sighed as he remembered the frustration of the discovery that it was still not enough. His own release was held off by the lack of the right partner even in shadow, and he didn't dare to bring that one into his little game.
Especially now. He had almost gone to the house for his five-day trip and tried the experiment with the addition of his soul mate's shadow. Now, he was certain it was a lost cause. If he wasn't a shadow, there was no way it would work out. So, he rolled over and settled against his wall, intent on sleeping for a while.
His alarm went off and he sat up. If he hadn't promised he would have skipped this session. He rose from his bed and reached into the closest shadows. The opening was easily stretched from his bedroom, as he had used it so often. And in no time he had stepped through and was standing in the room he knew the best of his shadow house.
He focused for a second or two and turned to the braided oval rug on the floor. Puppy and Monkey sat there, side by side looking extremely smug. He shook his head and smiled at his pets. They were too cute to be angry with.