Silmeria: Emperor's Prophecy is considered my masterpiece and it is one of my highest reviews stories on the site, but I wanted to see it done better - bigger and here we are - Emperor's Prophecy - Reincarnation.
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter Four: The Path of Jounouchi Katsuya
Jounouchi Katsuya was from a long line of merchants who were rumored to be blessed under the God of Luck simply known as The Gambler. No one knew if said rumor was true but those who were devout to the Gods and Goddess that were scattered across the world swore up and down that anything that the Jounouchi Family touched turned to gold whether it be magical items or weapons - if a Jounouchi made it, then it was worth its weight in gold. To a normal person, this would exclude nothing but pride, but to Jounouchi? It gave him nothing but contempt. Of course, the benefits outweighed the cons and he was grateful to have food in his stomach and clothes on his back. However, Jounouchi had always inspired to be an Imperial Knight like his Father and not a Merchant like his Mother. Both routes had danger laced like poison but Jounouchi wanted to feel the weight of Father's sword in his hand more than the weight of the legacy his mother's family carried. He wanted to be looked upon as a man who could save lives and be depended upon. He wanted to create his own legacy out of the shadow of his mother and father.
To create his own Destiny.
Jounouchi's intentions were met with disappointment and fear and it was to be expected considering that his father had died stopping an assassination attempt on the Council of Val'ista. His mother wanted nothing to do with the Imperial Knights and wanted her son to take over the family business, but Jounouchi's path lied elsewhere and he told his mother as much and again, as he expected, he was told that would either follow in her footsteps or he would be walking his so-called chosen path alone.
With a tight heart, and a dark fear sitting at the pit of his stomach, Jounouchi Katsuya turned his back on his mother and sister for the next three years, promising himself that he wouldn't dawn their doorstep again until he was strong enough to bear his father's sword as his own.
It was a difficult promise when no one could bear to look him in the eye during his first weeks in the academy. How could they? He was the son of Jounouchi Shigure, the man who died protecting the Council of Val'ista and did so alone. No one could look him in the eye considering that his classmates were the sons of the soldiers who abandoned his father to his untimely demise. How could they look him in the eye when their fathers were cowards and he wasn't? It made his promise all the more difficult to keep, but Jounouchi had merchant blood running in his veins and he was more than capable of winning people over, and thus the sons, the ones who called themselves cowards, had become his greatest allies.
And with the allies, he earned the curiosity of Colonel Firimar who had been a dear friend of his Father's and keeper of Pheonix, his father's blade, and his current goal. The first meeting was wrought with nostalgia and pain as Bakura, as brave and blunt as he was known to be, couldn't bear to look him in the eye.
"You bear too much of a striking resemblance to him." Bakura kept his gaze towards the window. "It is as if the Gods gave him a second chance through you."
"...I am not him," Jounouchi murmured. "Although, I do aspire to be like him. To have the same power and prestige and honor-"
"Shigure wasn't about power and prestige." Bakura interrupted gently. "He was about helping others and I am sure that you inspire to do the same? To be depended upon? To know that just the mention of your name fills your men with relief?"
Jounouchi swallowed giving a short nod and falling into a contemplative silence. He was but a child back then but he remembered the easy camaraderie his father's men displayed even before the fiercest of battles and he recalled that was the moment that he wanted to be like his father: strong, wise, and steadfast - a protector of people.
"The Phoenix." Jounouchi's eyes shot towards the sword that sat above the fireplace still as well oiled and maintained as it had been when his father departed this world. "It is mine by right."
"It will be yours through battle." Bakura countered. "I was given a set of instructions and one of those included giving that blade to the one who was fit to wield it - blood or not."
A fit of swift, red anger engulfed Jounouchi at the thought of his father's sword going to someone else but he clamped his jaw shut. Anger did no one any favors.
"What am I to do? To earn that blade?"
"It's not about earning, Jounouchi. It's about deserving." Bakura's lips twisted in thought. "I know and have known the best warriors this world has seen and I will never place this blade into their hands and do you know why?"
Jounouchi's brows furrowed at the statement. Why wouldn't the best warriors have the right to that sword? The best was strong, brave, and honorable, and were they not deserving of his father's sword?
"No. I do not."
"I will not hand them that sword because the world has failed to remember what warriors need to be instead of what they are told as, Jounouchi. The soldiers that I have encountered all yearn for the same thing: honor, prestige, and power. That is not what I want for you. I want you to find out what being a warrior truly means to yourself and not the world."
"I have-"
"You want to be depended upon?" Bakura cut in softly. "To be looked upon with admiration?"
"I do."
"And that is why the sword will remain out of your reach." Bakura moved towards the mantle and placed a hand on the hilt of the blade and in a burst of light, the sword vanished leaving Jounouchi in shock.
"Where did you-" Jounouchi continued to stare at the empty spot as if he could will his father's sword back into existence. "What have you done?"
"I have taken your admiration and dependence," Bakura murmured, staring at him with a surprising amount of pity. "I want you to be deserving of that sword, Jounouchi, but the path you are walking will lead to greed and temptation. It will push the sword further out of reach and into the hands of one more deserving than you."
"You can't do this!" Jounouchi tried and failed to swallow the rage at Bakura's action. "I came here to be a warrior! To be someone the people can depend on when their Emperor fails them! I came here to carve my own destiny and be out of the shadow of my parents! I-" Jounouchi stopped his tirade as a sudden cold realization trickled down his spine as his words came rushing back to him. It was his childhood dream to become an Imperial Knight, but the reasons he spouted were...wrong? The entire time he spouted nothing but his desires and none of them sounded deserving of his father's sword.
"We all want to be depended upon," Bakura murmured, joining him at his side and placing a hand on his shoulder. "We want our name to be on history's pages and that is what your Father's accomplished, but at the cost of his life. Jounouchi Shigure was an Imperial Knight who gave his life for the Council of Val'ista and that is all the world will remember him for Jounouchi. The people won't remember him for being just, kind, and funny, and reckless. The world won't remember him for being a good man and father."
Bakura took Jounouchi by the shoulders and gave him a good, solid shake. "I want you to remember your father because he is your father and not a warrior. Shigure deserves to have his son remember him for not being a warrior but a kind and compassionate human being do you understand?"
"I..." Jounouchi swallowed the lump that formed around his throat and gave a solid nod when the words wouldn't come back to him. He was a wretched son, wasn't he? He wanted out of his parent's shadow so badly that he failed to remember that was far from what his parents wanted. Of course, his legacies remained but what he remembered of his father? The man would be determined to force Jounouchi to carve out his own path. To figure out his own way.
"...Thank you, Colonel." Jounouchi stepped back bowing deeply to hide the tears blurring his vision. He had much to learn and wouldn't be deserving of his father's sword for a long time. "I understand."
"Good." Bakura nudged him towards the door with a sharp grin. "See that you keep understanding what lies ahead of you."
"Aye."
Bakura's words lingered in Jounouchi's mind as he readjusted his goals and what emerged were new ideas and new goals but the destination remained. He wanted to become an Imperial Knight. He wanted his Father's sword. He wanted to protect people, but he no longer wanted fame and fortune.
He wanted Peace.
The goal for it emerged after he learned of the Prophecy of War - a tale he longed to be a mere fairytale- but was quite horrified that each word rang true and that the world would drown in blood and flames and naught but a soul could do anything about it. The words of the prophecy brought sadness during his waking hours and nightmares when he closed his eyes. The words echoed in his mind and frightened him down to his bones, but the fear kept his sword hand steady and his soul stronger. He would do anything to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass and it was then that his goal became clear:
He would become the Sword of the Emperor.
He would become the Shield of the People.
He would become the Soul of Elysian.
Jounouchi found his resolve and wondered if his Father felt as peace as he did now? Did his sword feel easier to bear? Was it easier to smile and bear the horror of the prophecy?
He found his answer a scant eight months later when he entered the Imperial Knights and Colonel Firimar handed him his father's sword with a knowing and relieved smile as if his own burden was lifted. Jounouchi knew that his father's tasks were not easy ones being a victim of them himself but he knew that the reward was worth the heartache and he was more than willing to relieve Bakura of his duty.
It was unfortunate that there would be no one for Jounouchi to offer the same relief. No one would come to offer peace for the new path that would be laid out for him. No light to bestow for the sins that would burn his soul to ashes.
He would remember how blood-soaked the sun looked that day when Bakura approached him with a shadowed gaze that spoke of a task that would haunt him.
"Come," Bakura commanded softly. "I have a new path for you, Jounouchi Katsuya."
Jounouchi lowered his sword, staring at his commander with a wary eye. "A new path?"
Bakura gave a single nod before urging him to follow him down the corridor that Jounouchi knew was the medical wing dedicated to the royal family. a question was leaving his mouth that was silenced with a single look, but it was a command that Jounouchi would not follow.
"Colonel? Where are we-" Jounouchi stopped short when he spotted the Shield of the King, Mahad, and Emperor Atem. He stopped, drawing their attention and bowed drawing a snort of amusement from Bakura.
"Your Majesty," Jounouchi murmured turning and keeping his head lowered in reverence. "Lord Mahad."
"He has manners." Mahad's deep voice flowed over him. "He must not be one of yours, Colonel."
"He is Shigure's son." Bakura snorted and Jounouchi felt his lips twitch at the comment. "He was taught long before I got ahold of him but don't let it fool you, Mahad, He's as mild-mannered as they come, I'm afraid."
"Good." Emperor Atem murmured. "I need someone to walk alongside, Yuugi. I don't need a puppet."
Yuugi?
Jounouchi's brows furrowed at the name. He had heard rumors about Yuugi Motou, the Seer of Elysian, but what did that have to do with him?
"I assure you that we have made the right decision. He will do right by him, Your Majesty." Bakura turned to Jounouchi and patted him on the shoulder. "Won't you?"
"I would agree but I have no idea what I'm doing." Jounouchi rose to his full height, making sure to keep his gaze lowered. He was in the presence of royalty, after all. "If you would indulge me, Your Majesty?"
"I think it would be best if we introduced you first, yes?" Atem turned the knob and pushed the door open, smiling when he was greeted by a soft, liting voice. "Come inside and meet him."
"Meet who?"
"The Seer of Elysian," Mahad responded. "Your new charge."
Jounouchi blinked once, twice before turning to Bakura who gave a single nod. He turned back to Mahad and blurted a single word that echoed down the corridors halting the servants in their tracks.
"What?!"