Title: Lover of Shadows

Author: Jonouchi-Kaiba-Mokie

Rating: hard R

Warnings: swearing, lemons-not hardcore, limes

Couples: Yugi/Jou, Anpu/Matao, former Yami/Jou, former one-sided Seto/Jou

Summary: Domino is now a city ruled by shadows and Yami and Jou's son Anpu must learn to live in it when he makes friends with the orphaned son of Kaiba Seto.

Setup: It's twenty years after the original series. All the yamis have been sent to the other side and Yugi and Jonouchi are married. Most people have moved away from Domino but out of the few that remain they are either underground duelists or have the Shadow Virus.


"I sacrifice my Red Eyes Black Dragon in order to summon Red Eyes Darkness Dragon!"

"You'll never win, you little punk," the man breathed heavily as he stepped back from the huge dragon as it roared it's defiance.

"Since it gains three hundred attack points per dragon in the graveyard you don't have a chance."

The man was twitching as he dropped his hand. Dark shadows wrapped around his ankles as he screamed, his fear evident on his face. The horror was wrapped tightly around his features as he faced the teen who stood before him expressionless.

"Let the shadows claim your soul like every looser before you," the teen whispered as the duel disk clattered to the floor. He whispered a dark prayer under his breath as the body of the man was swallowed by the shadows. He knelt down as he finished his prayer and picked up the cards, moving them lightly through his fingers. They weren't exactly the best but they would make a fair amount on the black market.

The teen slid the cards in his bag and followed them with his steel gray duel disk. Once again he was a normal kid instead of the Steel Fang's greatest duelist. As he walked down the alley he saw everyone shy away from him. Everyone knew who he was. They could tell by his mismatched banes and the dark skin, his Egyptian features awkward on his face among the blond hair. His red eyes shone in the dark alley, as he walked down his pants sticking to his legs like a second skin. But they knew who he was. They could tell by the tattoo of the red eyes wrapped around his left bicep.

He slung his bag over his shoulder as he ran towards his home.

"You're late Anpu."

The voice was stern as Anpu narrowed his eyes. "Gomen nasai, father," he spat out as he dropped his bag down behind the counter of the run down game shop.

His father's brown eyes softened as he hauled his tall body onto the counter top beside Anpu. One hand reached up and brushed Anpu's bangs aside. "You're so much like him," he said quietly as his thumb traced over Anpu's sharp jaw line and the dark skin.

"Koi! We have customers!"

Anpu watched his father nod his head as he called out to the other. "Just a minute Yugi-chan," the other returned as he ran a hand through his ragged blond hair. He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed Anpu between the long magenta and black banes. "We'll talk later Anpu."

Anpu nodded slightly as he saw his father push himself off the counter top.

"Jonouchi-kun," Yugi sighed in relief as he saw his husband coming through towards him. Jonouchi kissed his cheek lightly and then noticed the customer standing before him.

"What can I help you with," Jonouchi said calmly as he eyed the teen standing before him. This boy could not have been any older than Anpu, he noticed, as he took in the ice-cold eyes darting warily and the flaming red hair. Freckles shown splattered over his pale skin as he twitched uneasily under his thick, teal poncho. Barely visible underneath was a thick belt, held together by a buckle that barely sported the faded insignia and threadbare jeans that hardly clung to his bony hips.

"Please sir, I need to sell these cards. My father's dying and I need the money."

Jonouchi sighed and took the deck the teen offered him. "I'll tell you what it's worth," he said as he shook his head. And reached a strong hand out, it brushed against the boy's skin. He barely held back the wince he felt shudder through his body as he took the deck of cards away from the boy. As the gleaming blue glittered off the first card Jonouchi sucked in a deep breath.

"Where did you get these cards?" Jonouchi demanded as he looked at him.

"Sir, they were my father's dueling deck."

Jonouchi pulled them away and rang the items into the cash register before pulling out a wad of money. "How fuckin' far is he?" Jonouchi asked as his eyes flickered towards the boy.

"The shadow virus has eaten away most of his body."

Jonouchi frowned for a moment as he tossed the cards into a box beneath the counter. "Where is he at?"

"The Doexis Shelter," the boy whispered.

"Normally I wouldn't buy Duel Monster cards but this time, and this time only I will. Let's keep this under the table, got it kid?"

The boy nodded his head as he slunk off with his newfound fortune in his pocket. He just hoped it was enough to save his dying father.

"Hey, kid, what's your name?" Jonouchi questioned as he placed a strong grip on the boy's shoulder.

"My name?" His eyes wavered and then averted themselves to the ground. "My name is Kaiba Matao," he whispered before quavering and exiting the Kame Game Shop.