Chapter 1: Changed Fate- An Unexpected Occurance

Katsuya Jounouchi walked dejectedly through western Domino City on a hot July afternoon. He had called Domino City his home for as long as he remembered. He was born here, went through all of his schooling here, and had worked at the hospital since he graduated. He loved the city, loved his job, and loved all the memories he had made here with his friends. So, his somber mood was an unusual occurrence, as typically he would walk through in the late afternoon with a small smile, watching as the other people there went about their own business. But today was not a normal day.

Earlier that day, Jounouchi had walked into the run down Domino City Hospital only to be pulled into a staff break room with his three fellow social workers for a seemingly impromptu meeting.

Mizuki gravely looked the three of them in the eyes and curtly said "Our funding is being cut again."

Since the construction of Domino General Hospital on the other side of the city, the funding for this hospital had been cut in every area at least twice. Jounouchi knew why. That particular hospital was brand new and in a wealthier district of town while this one was practically ancient and near Jounouchi's old neighborhood, where crime had really overtaken this side of the city in the past few years. The only large new thing in this entire area of town was one of Kaiba's huge research facilities, and Jounouchi assumed that was because it was cheap property.

So, it was really no surprise that their funding was being cut again. That meant his hours got cut again and so did his pay. What did surprise him was when Mizuki sighed and continued "We can't afford to keep all three of you employed."

That statement hit Jounouchi like a ton of bricks. His coworkers had both been here at least five years longer than him and had never had any issues. He, on the other hand had been here four years and punched a guy in the face two years ago while working a case. He may sometimes be the last to comprehend situations, but even he knew what that meant. Mizuki might as well have let him go right in front of the other two.

"The cut starts next month, so you'll still be employed until then. You'll know if you stay by the end of the day." Mizuki stood up and left. His two coworkers complained about the unfairness, all while avoiding eye contact with Jounouchi, and then they too got up and left to escape the awkwardness of the situation. It isn't as if Jounouchi hadn't been fired before, but this is probably the most embarrassing way.

Jounouchi let his head fall into his hands, thinking about how much he really could not believe this just happened, sighed, and asked himself "What am I supposed to do now?"

That is what brings him to miserably walking to the café he frequented on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays a few miles north of his apartment. Today was Thursday, but that made no difference. Sometimes you need a large dessert and coffee and a friend to talk to and this was one of those times.

He pushed the door open into the café, searching over the two occupants, who were eating their food while reading the new paper, for the owner and only worker. He walked up to the counter where he saw the top of a white head, the owner bent down behind the counter putting cupcakes on display. He got a mischievous grin and called "Oi, Bakura!"

Ryou Bakura jumped from shock, resulting in him falling on his behind. He sighed and stood up. "Ehh, Jounouchi, you almost gave me a heart attack."

The only two friends of his high school entourage who still remained were Honda and Bakura. Yugi was currently in Peru, working with Rebecca Hopkins, who thankfully seemed to have lost any romantic interest in him and instead got really embarrassed whenever someone brought up her earlier actions. Anzu was in America, in a traveling theater group. It wasn't Broadway, but she was very happy there. Honda was a cop, like he had wanted, but was on night hifts, so Jounouchi only got to see him on the weekends. Bakura had bought this little rundown café as soon as he graduated culinary school and completely revamped it. Jounouchi had thought he was crazy and it was doomed to fail, but then the Kaiba Corp Research Facility had been built across the street where an abandoned mall had been and since Bakura's little café was the only eatery within a short walking distance, he quickly developed a lot of regular customers. Well, it also helped that he was amazing at baking cakes.

Jounouchi grinned. "Ya need to get a bell or something on the door. One day someone's gonna steal all ya furniture and ya wouldn't have even notice that they were here."

Bakura laughed nervously. "Maybe." Then he paused. "Today's Thursday." So why are you here, though he didn't say that last part.

"I got some bad news today."

Bakura looked thoughtful for a moment. "About your dad?"

"Not yet. His next doctor appointment is next week" Jounouchi's relationship with his dad had been complicated since he was a child, not that any of his friends knew it. His repetitive cycle of getting a job, drinking and gambling away all their money on the weekends, then getting fired went on for twelve years. He had worked, even though he had still in middle and high school. He had put up with the yelling and beer bottles being thrown. He had put up with spending days wondering where his dad was at. Even though Jounouchi had wanted to punch his dad most the time, he still loved him. So a year and a half ago when he brought groceries to the cheap apartment that his dad lived in and saw that his legs were swelled he took him to the doctor. Of course, with both of their luck, it wasn't something quick and easy to fix but instead a chronic liver disease, so now he was left buying medicine to treat the symptoms of said disease. Yet another reason he needed that job.

"Then…" Bakura pressed as he started pouring two cups of coffee.

"They cut the funding to the hospital again, so starting next month I'll no longer be working there. Thanks" He said as Bakura handed him one of the cups and a slice of cake. They sat down at the table closest to the counter.

"That… That's terrible. What are you going to do?"

"There's nothing I can do, 'cept start filling out applications. I might even have to move."

Bakura frowned. "Well maybe you can get on at a school or the other hospital."

They were quiet for a few minutes, and then chatted about random topics. What they thought about Honda's new girlfriend, if the champion of the dueling pro league was going to win the title match next year, and what was being researched in that big facility of Kaiba's (Jounouchi had money on dragons) until a group of people came in.

Jounouchi took that as his cue to leave and said goodbye. He thought over every possible place to work at in the city and there weren't many. He thought all things that he loved about his job. Working with kids who didn't have anyone to look out for them and helping them. The sheer joy he felt when some of them would recognize him and get ecstatic that he was working with them. That relief he felt when he went to bed after successful cases, knowing that those kids would finally be safe.

He then thought about what he would do without the salary. There was his dad's medicine and their living expenses. His dad worked at a little corner market, but that wasn't enough to cover it. There was also the fact of his pregnant sister, and the nephew that he really wanted to be able to see at least once a month when he was born. These thoughts plagued him until he lay in bed later that night, with worry gnawing at his stomach.

Little did he know that a single change was taking place elsewhere that would change his own path.

END CH 1

A few notes:

First, this is an AU of Yu-Gi-Oh GX starting at season 2.

Second, I took a little liberty with Jounouchi. After all it's been ten years. Hopefully he's got the right amount of maturity for a 28 year old.

Third, this is story is basically BBT on crack, since I plan to tie in DM, GX, and 5Ds into a mega series where minor characters get their chance to shine. Jounouchi and Judai and a few others will still appear in most if not all stories. I plan to break it up by story arcs.

Fourth, there are two "prequel" stories that aren't necessary, but feature younger Jounouchi. The first is Gifted and the second Recognition.