Silmeria: Hello! Welcome to War of the Lions! A new Yu-gi-oh story that has been sitting on my computer for a long time, but I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Yugioh!
Seto Kaiba: The Unwavering Dragoon
"Dead?" Seto stared at the missive in object disbelief. The Knight of the Blinding Dawn? His Lieutenant? Dead? The paper crinkled in his hand and his jaw clenched. One of his most powerful Dragoons met the end of Yuugi Motou's blade and was left for dead on a nameless battlefield and Seto could do nothing but read it on a skimpy piece of paper. Said paper was helpless against his anger as it was ripped to shreds and tossed into the fireplace. It did nothing to relieve anger and the small table beside his chair fell victim to the wall, a roar of rage escaping his throat.
How could someone as insignificant and weak as Yuugi Motou kill one of his Dragoons? He couldn't have fought the battle alone. He-
"Seto," a deep, soft voice whispered into the charged air before a warm chest met his tense back and a pair of warm arms wrapped around his waist. "You must be calm and rein in your anger."
"My Dragoon is gone. I'm not in the mood for calm." Seto stepped out of the embrace and turned to the other occupant of the room. "I have known his mother since we were but children and I am supposed to come to her and inform her that her son, who was under my command, is dead and we are unable to retrieve his body? What kind of man does that make me, Jounouchi?"
Jounouchi gave him a long stare before approaching him and pulling him back into an embrace. "It makes you human, Seto. It takes courage to darken the doorstep of the fallen and even moreso to inform the family. It is the hardest part of being a commander wouldn't you say?"
"I would say." Seto agreed, his anger gone and exhaustion left in its place. "Thank you, Jounouchi. If not for you, then my anger would have blinded me."
"Of course," Jonouchi murmured, reaching up and touching his cheek. "What else am I here for other than to bring you comfort and sense?"
"You do more than just warm my bed, Katsuya." Seto turned, taking the man into his embrace. "You warm my heart as well."
"Against your cousin's better judgment?" Jounouchi teased, pressing his lips against the corner of Seto's twitching mouth. "Lord Ishigami is wise as he is talented on the battlefield."
"Cousin is a highly intelligent man who tends to his people with a firm hand and punishes them when it is considered just. I will follow him into the depths of hell itself."
For a brief moment, a flicker of uncertainty shadowed Jounouchi's face, but before it vanished, an easy smile took its place. "I hope that he carries such devotion close to his heart, Seto. I worry that you may burn yourself with such fiery compassion."
"You needn't worry about me, sweetling," Seto reassured softly. "I would indeed march for him until my feet are bloodied, but those same feet know when to stop when those orders are harmful to those whom I hold close."
"See that you do, Seto Kaiba." Jounouchi stepped out of the embrace and moved toward the mess of a chair. "And see that you keep that anger in check. I doubt the furniture will survive it."
Seto let out a choked laugh, walking over to help Jounouchi with the mess while his mind was reeling at the loss of his Dragoon. He picked each Dragoon based on their personality, specialty, and fortitude to survive ingesting and merging with the Dragon's Blood, which gave them their abilities. He chose them for their strength, loyalty, and dedication. To become a Dragoon one had to toss away the shackles of their old life and embrace the new one without an ounce of hesitation. Seto could hardly believe that someone as insignificant and incompetent as Yuugi Motou could take the life of one of his own.
"Seto?" Jounouchi's soft voice reached through the rising haze of anger. "Are you alright? You've gotten quiet."
"I'm fine." Seto blinked and found himself back in his living quarters and his gaze drifted back to the roaring flames where the missive was now nothing but scattered ashes and knew that, however, foolish, knew what he had to do.
"I'm afraid I will have to leave you again, Jounouchi."
A look of surprise flickered over Jounouchi's features at the announcement before it shifted to one of expectation and pity.
"It's quite alright, love." Jounocuhi reached out, placing a hand on Seto's arm. "I will always wait for you."
"Thank you." Seto swallowed against the lump forming in his throat, his chest tightening at the thought of bringing his men home. The Dragoons of Aldeon were his family and he would bring them home: dead or alive. "I thank you, Jounouchi Katsuya."
Thankfully for him, Jonouchi had chosen to ignore how choked and grief-stricken he sounded, before leaning forward and pressing a light kiss against his lips. "You do not need to thank me, Seto Kaiba. Your heart beats with me. Our souls are intertwined and we will walk the same path for as long as you let me."
Seto could do nothing but nod as he pulled away and moved towards the door, shooting Jounouchi one last look before slipping out of the door and letting out a ragged breath. It was difficult not to reach out and snap the man's neck and toss his body into the fire.
He knew Jounouchi was behind Yuugi Motou's victory. It was difficult to keep the deployment of the Dragoons under wraps considering that the Fort's priest insisted on conducting a prayer ceremony to celebrate and to wish them well on their journey. It was a common practice and one Seto even encouraged, but for this particular ceremony, Jonouchi had been in attendance and had garnered more than one envious glance including Seto's own.
He knew in the darkest pit of his heart that Jounouchi's appearance could potentially lead to the death of his men and it was to everyone's surprise, but his own that his Lieutenant fell to Yuugi Motou's blade. The death of his lieutenant would serve as evidence that Jounouchi not only played a part but was siphoning information to the enemy and potentially responsible for not only the deaths of thousands of men but also strategic land that was currently under Solarian control.
Seto's jaw clenched as his mind came up with various scenarios of how he would confront Jounouchi about his identity before taking his life. He would make sure to send that little spy's head back to Solaria in a wooden box. But, first, his objective was to find and retrieve his lieutenant's body and return it home where it belonged. It was the least he could do for the Von Schroeder Family. Leon had been a good man, an excellent soldier, and a perfect lieutenant, and Seto would mourn him for the rest of his days.
Lieutenant Leon von Schroeder or the Knight of the Blinding Dawn was found near the western coast of Aldeon, his body a broken shell of its former self. His armor was shattered, water-damaged, and covered with dried blood. His spear lay broken, the red ribbon that adorned it covered in sand and blood, but what broke Seto's heart was how Leon's red hair was caked and knotted with blood and sand. Leon, who had no problem getting dirty and gritty in battle and training his troops was an absolute stickler for his hair.
It was his pride and joy and he was meticulous about its maintenance and hated wearing the traditional Dragoon helm because it caused his hair to be caked with sweat and flattened it. To see it now caked, dried, and knotted caused his chest to tighten and a choked sob to escape his throat.
"I'm sorry," Seto bent down and gathered Leon into his arms, reaching up and removing the dirt from his blood-stained cheek. "I'm so sorry, Leon." He buried his face into his lieutenant's hair and allowed himself a moment to recall the first time he had met Leon, who was wild, kind, and rambunctious and was charming enough that his troops would follow him into the depths of hell.
"All of my blood, sweat, and tears gone in a single moment." Seto pulled away, his lips tugging up into a weak smile. "You knew better than to be defeated by a loser like Yuugi Motou. A Solarian? Of all people?"
He tugged him closer for a moment longer, taking in his features for one last time before pulling away and waving over a solemn soldier.
"Please see that he is prepared carefully and ready for transport."
"And the others, m'lord?"
Seto looked around the beach, at the soldiers who were still and cold. "Prepare funeral pyres and have their tags prepared to be returned to their families."
"Yes, m'lord."
He was left alone and he took a moment to take in the blood-stained beach, the crashing waves and the deafening silence of a battle lost and a friend gone and made a promise to himself in that singular moment.
He would make Yuugi Motou pay for the death of his lieutenant. He would drag that little miscreant to the executioners' block and swing the blade himself. And when that was done, when his vengeance and Leon's soul were finally put to rest, he would turn that same blood-stained blade to Jounouchi Katsuya and end his life.
He would make sure Solaria burned for their sins.