A/N: I'm quite new to the fanfiction world. So maybe you can cut a guy some slack?
Fable
Prologue: Too Bad
In the times of lore, when Zelda was Princess of Hyrule and Lancelot had yet to betray Aurthur, there existed magic, heroes and monsters. Nothing was as meets the eye. Demons in the form of friends, truths in the form of lies. And yet with all these dangers and mysteries, righteousness and chivalry reigned above all. Many a knight traveled far and wide to preform gracious acts of honor for their Kings.
All but one.
Jounouchi Katsuya. Honorable knight above all others, yet without a King. Rumors would tell of his bravery, his honor, and is courage to face death with a heroic grin. Any crown would be willing to have him complete the most daring and dangerous tasks that even their own best would become shaky-kneed just to hear. And always Jounouchi would accept, for nothing, with the exclusion of spiders, could scare him off.
But all good things must come to an end. Thus, or story begins.
One fateful day in the Kingdom of Cephiro, the King and Queen tearfully asked a quest of our hero Jounouchi . . .
"Please brave knight, we only ask thee of one thing."
Jounouchi looked up from his kneeling position before the crowns. "Milord and Lady, you know that I shall undertake any quest for the benefit of your people. Is all you must do is ask." he said with his trademark grin.
"Oh my, thou art honorable brave knight!" The Queen said with a slight blush to her tear streaked cheeks.
The King grunted but made no response to his wife's foolishness. "Brave knight, we ask of the safe return of our only child, Princess Emeurade, the heir to the throne and the love of our people."
At the mere mention of her missing daughter's name, the Queen burst into tears once more. Jounouchi suppressed a grimace at the Queen and smiled instead. "Yes, of course."
The King sighed in obvious relief and whispered something to the guard next to him, who nodded and left with a 'Yes your Majesty.'
Jounouchi stood up and looked the King squarely in the eye for effect. "Please Milord, tell me of what I must do to bring your precious daughter back into your arms."
The Queen hiccuped, while the King continued to ignore her. "Many a knight have already failed to return her and in turn have lost what is most important to them. Some it was their life, others the life of a loved one. And for a few it was all that they had ever lived for." Jounouchi nodded, he'd heard it all before, it was nothing new to him. "There are three trials that thou shall overcome. First you shall travel the swampish lands of Drekkan."
"Woah, woah, woah! You mean I have to travel through that resentful infested place again?" Jounouchi interrupted, earning himself a glare from the King. He mentally slapped himself. He accidentally slipped out of his role of acting stuck up and educated. He cleared his throat nervously. "I mean, can I not go around? Is there no other way?"
The King shook his head. "The kingdom was built on the edge of Drekkan as a strategic zone. It was done thus as to keep her enemies at bay. The only way in or out is through Drekkan."
"I see..."
"That is how you came to be here is it not? Through Drekkan?" the Queen asked, followed by a quiet sniff.
"Yes Milady it is, but I do not take a liking to resentfuls. Killing the dead is not as easy as one would presume."
The King cleared his throat to get attention once more. "Brave knight, that is but one task you must overcome." Jounouchi nodded. "Second you must defeat the Gate Keeper. No other has been able to kill him and return to his home to tell his tale, for his strength is immeasurable and his ruthlessness intolerable. I warn thee to be weary in your meeting of him."
Jounouchi huffed. He couldn't even count the number of times he'd been told something like that. "And the third?"
"Third you must find the way through a maze that is the castle in which Emeurade is being held." the King said with a frown. "It was built as such to confuse enemies and all those who have once known the paths of the castle have all since perished by an unknowing hand." the King sighed.
Jou stopped for a second to think. 'This might be a slight problem. I could easily get lost in an unknown place for days...'
"Do not dwell upon it too long brave knight." the Queen began, "Thou shall be able to overcome any obstacle in thy path. I have faith in thee."
He gave a curt nod, he was really getting annoyed with court speech. "Milord, Lady, I should be on my way now." he said with a small bow of respect that he really didn't have for them. With that he began to turn on his heel to exit the castle.
"Wait, brave knight." the King said holding up a hand. Jou turned to face them again. "We wish to give thee preservations and equipment for your journey."
Jounouchi stopped. "Thank you Milord. I'd gratefully accept any ration you have to offer, but you can keep your equipment. I carry no crowns sigil." he bowed in what he hoped looked like an apologetic manner.
"Ah yes. I apologize brave knight, for in my excitement I forgot of your values. Please accept this food and drink that shall last but three days."
"Yes, thank you Milord for your generosity." Jou remained calm on the outside, even though only one thing was running through his mind at that point. 'Free food. Free food.' He heard armored footsteps coming from his right. Turning to see who it was, he recognized the man to be the same guard that the King had spoken with earlier. The man handed him a small pack of supplies. He grabbed the bag and studied the contents closely.
'Woah...' he thought wide-eyed. He knew that he had a large appetite, but did they think he ate like a starved cow? There was enough food and water skins in here to last a week or more.
"T-thank you Milord." he stammered.
The King smiled. "You may take your leave now."
"Yes." Jounouchi bowed again, slightly deeper this time. He shouldered his new pack and he left without looking back.
He was off to fulfill his duty, what he believed to be his destiny... If only he knew the truth.
As soon as he stepped foot outside the city walls and into the cursed lands of Drekkan, his good luck party from the townspeople came to an abrupt stop and they all went back to their daily lives.
"It's about time." Jounouchi said with a huff. "I really hate acting like I have a stick wedged up my ass." he sighed and stretched his arms above his head briefly before letting one fall to his side and the other to the hilt of his prized great sword. "Well, time to get going... The sooner I'm outta here, the happier I'll be."
So our hero began his journey. Slowly making his way through the muck of the land and cursing each of the Four Gods: Ra, Ihy, Yah, and Seth (1), each time his boot got stuck in a particularly clingy patch of mud.
Soon the sun began to set and Jounouchi was becoming more and more prudent, his hand twitching over his hilt.
"Damn I hate this place at night." Jou growled. "Resentfuls are going to be crawling all over the place in a few--"
He stopped when he saw a shadow flit across his vision. He took a defensive position and unsheathed his great sword, gripping it tight in both hands.
After a few moments, nothing happened. "Dammit. Where'd it get to?" he cursed. He knew that there was a resentful close by, he could feel it, and there was no way his eyes would play tricks on him.
He took in an angry breath and stepped back hesitantly. As soon as he did, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Quickly he pivoted on his back heel and slashed his sword down in a diagonal; all one fluid movement.
Next came the ear piercing shriek of the resentful that Jounouchi had cut down. Jou held his ears in pain and sighed in relief when it suddenly stopped. The corpse on the ground began to wither.
Jounouchi knelt next to the corpse and clasped his hands together in prayer. Soon a small glint of light rose from the chest of the cadaver. He looked at it with a small smile as it seemed to stroke his face with the affection of a mother, then drift away slowly, only to disappear.
"What is it you are doing?" a low voice said from behind him. Jou whipped around and kept a low defensive crouch. With his hand on the hilt of his great sword once more, he took the time to glare at the intruder.
This stranger was a tall man with ocean blue eyes and chestnut colored hair. His garb consisted only of a fine blue fabric that fit loosely over his thin body and was fastened around his middle by a leather belt. Jounouchi's eyes narrowed. This man was bound to be killed in record time. Not only did he dress for his death, but everything about him, from his leather boot clad feet to the tip of his perfectly done hair, screamed nobleman. Compared to Jou's bronze chain mail and leather studded armor, this guy might as well be running around in the nude and receive the same amount of protection.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jounouchi spat. The man raised a delicate brow.
"Strange. Did I not just ask you that?" Jou snorted and the man frowned in distaste. "Fine. If you really must know, I'm traveling." the man said in a bored tone as he examined his fingernails idly.
"Dressed like that?" Jounouchi muttered to himself, even though his company heard him.
"Is there a problem? I doubt someone as lowly as yourself could afford to even touch this type of fabric, let alone wear it."
'Definitely noble.' Jou thought sourly. He sighed and stood up from his defensive position. The poor stupid, stupid rich guy. He was certainly lucky that Jou was so kind hearted. "Well... Is it safe to assume that you have a death wish? Or are you just an idiot?" The mans face contorted into a deep scowl. Quickly Jou searched the man for a weapon, but he found nothing but a short golden rod attached to the mans side. Nothing dangerous. Just some rich stick.
"I should be asking you the same." the brunet sighed and angrily rubbed his temples. He turned his gaze downwards towards the corpse. "Did you see that?" he asked absently.
Jou looked down at the corpse to see if it had moved. It was in the exact same position, so he figured he must've been talking about earlier. "Of course I did." Jou said. "How else would I have killed it so fast?"
"That wasn't what I had meant..." He trailed off and glared at Jounouchi. "I do not have the need to explain myself to the likes of you."
Jou shrugged. "So? You're just like a stick in the mud." The blue eyed man glared even harder at Jou, who didn't even flinch. "But you're seriously wasting my time. If you want you can come with me. I'd feel bad if you had your soul eaten because I didn't offer to help."
"What do you think you are? Some kind of 'brave knight'?"
Jou grinned sadly. "Something like that."
The man stared at Jou intently. "... I'll... join you... for the time being." He paused. "What is thy name?"
The sudden formality threw Jou off track for a few moments. "I-I'm Jounouchi Katsuya! Jou for short." Jou extended his hand in greeting. "And you are?"
The man waved Jou's hand away and smirked. "You can call me Master. I'll be paying for your services also. Hence the name Master."
It took Jounouchi all he had to not tackle the brunet to the ground. "I ain't no charity! I don't need any of your damned money!" He took in a shaky breath. "How 'bout I call you something more appropriate? Like troll face? Or... um..."
The taller smirked. "What? Run out of lame comebacks already?"
Jou fumed. "Augh! Whatever! Let's get a move on. I'd like to be out of here by tomorrow's nightfall. Ya damn stick in the mud."
:-:o:-:
After a few long hours of silent traveling, Jou saw another dark figure flit across his line of sight.
"Oi stick in the mud, stay on your toes." Jou said, grateful that the land was no longer extremely muddy, a sure sign that they were getting closer to the edge of Drekkan.
The brunet stepped behind Jounouchi and placed a hand on his shoulder. "What do you mean?"
Jou took a quick glance at him. "There's a resentful lurkin' 'round close by..." This time time Jou saw two more ominous shapes in the corner of his eye. Hurriedly his mind went into overdrive trying to think of a strategy to handle the current situation. There was always the option of running away like a little girl, which he favored right now, but he'd never get away lugging the other around. Fighting was the next option, but there was no way he could fight more than one resentful without leaving the other open to a life threating attack. Drawing up a blank in his mind Jou cursed loudly. "Fuck."
The man's brows furrowed. "What? Can... can you sense them or something?"
Jou shook his head. "It's something like that." Quickly he assessed his surroundings. There had to be at least two of them, three if things were bad and four in the worst possible case. Suddenly he came up with an idea. "Can you fight?" he asked drawing his sword. "There might be more than I can handle myself..."
The brunet's face contorted into thought. Seemingly having and inner argument with himself. Finally he spoke. "I can use... meager magics, but that is all."
"Alright, good to know. Be ready for a fight though." The man nodded and they continued on their way slowly, facing back to back, each in their own defensive stance. Jou had his sword drawn, gripped tightly, yet comfortably. His knees were bent, ready to jump out of the way in a moments notice and slice. The blue eyed man was standing slightly stiff, a hand in front of his chest in a grand gesture, and a spell ready on his lips.
"Number?" the man asked quietly, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
Jou shook his head, then realized that the other couldn't see, he replied, "Two, maybe three... Ra, I hope not four."
"You favor Ra?" the brunet asked, amusement clear in his voice. But before Jou could answer, his amusement disappeared and he returned to the subject at hand. "Now what did you mean maybe . . ." the coming insult trailed from Jounouchi's ears as he lunged suddenly to the left driving his sword forward into the green-gray flesh of a resentfuls chest. It still disturbed Jou as to how resentfuls didn't bleed when cut. He grit his teeth against the shrill voice in his ears and yanked his sword upwards completely silencing the cadaver as it split in two.
He brought a hand up to rub his ear as he returned to his position behind the blue eyed man. "So loud..."
"What are you talking about?" the man asked and looked at Jou over his shoulder.
"How can you not hear that?" Jou glared back over his own shoulder. "They are practically screaming their... souls... out." he trailed off unexpectedly. "Just shut up! No one asked you, bastard!"
The taller glared at Jou before looking sharply over Jounouchi's shoulder. The sudden break in eye contact forced Jou to take in his surroundings.
"Watch out!" Jou yelled while the other grunted. Jou turned around fully to face the man, but he was too occupied to notice that the taller was doing the same. Swiftly he raised his prized great sword over the man's shoulder with great precision and thrust. Jou tried not to grin when the taller man paled slightly, for just one wrong movement and the blade of Jou's sword would surely leave a scar on his face that no one would be able to forget. Even so he concentrated on his task.
Jounouchi suppressed another grin as the tip of his sword met the face of his target. As he pushed harder into the resentful there was a sudden blinding light, and a sense of familiar magic crawled up his exposed skin.
Confused Jou looked at the man, and for the first time he noticed exactly how close they were. Their breath was mingling within each other's pleasantly, their faces only a scarce inch or two apart. Limbs were spread to make room for the other's and yet neither moved. "What?" Jou breathed, "Holy...? Pr--" Jou was cut off by the piercing shrieks of the two resentfuls that had just been slain. Jounouchi's eyes widened in pain and he let go of his prized sword to clutch his ears, allowing his weapon to drop to the ground, still embedded in the face of the resentful.
He fell to his knees and bit his lip to keep from screaming. 'Never again...' he thought as the shrieks came to a sudden halt. Shaking slightly, Jou uncupped his ears and brought his hands to the ground to rest on the soft tresses of grass that were beginning to grow.
The brunet was looking down at him with a face of well hidden surprise and confusion. "What...?"
Jounouchi sighed and shook his blond mop of hair. "Don't you worry yourself about it." he muttered, not moving from his spot. He concentrated on the souls of the dead resentfuls. He had to guide them. It was his job, whether he liked it or not. But hell if he was going to tell this bastard that. Soon enough the small glints of light arose from the bodies. Jou watched with a morbid fascination as the lights drifted towards him. As the souls brushed through his hair, he had to suppress a grin. He loved the way that the souls had needed him for guidance and how grateful they were towards him.
As the souls drifted away and disappeared, he stood slowly and pressed a palm to his head. "Ugh... Headache..." The blue eyed man snorted to try and hide the look of shock that Jou almost didn't see.
Jou just looked at the man with mild confusion before stomping the ground firmly with his foot and grinning. But before the man could retort at Jou's seemingly stupid act, Jou cut him off. "Solid ground! I'd say a couple of hours left and we'll be outta this hell hole!"
The brunet crossed his arms over his chest, giving him an air of power and authority -which Jou ignored completely- and nodded. "Then lets go." The man's thin, yet slightly toned, arms and he began to walk with Jou close behind.
"Soooo..." the blond said after a few quiet minutes. "Are you ever gunna tell me your name?"
The man looked back and raised a graceful brow. "Gunna?" he asked, a smirk firmly rooted on his narrow face.
Jounouchi forced down a small blush of embarrassment. "Ewrrr... It's... like um... commoner, for going to..."
"Then why not just say going to?" the man's smirk widened.
Jou shrugged. "Gunna is just easier to say is all."
The blue eyed man sighed in distaste. "Hmph. It wouldn't kill you to enunciate every once and a while... and no."
Jounouchi barked out a short laugh. "It just might.. No what?"
"No I shall not give thee my name." he spoke slow and deliberate court speech.
Jou rolled his honey brown eyes. "I only ask thee for thous namesake, for thou hast thine." Jou smirked. What better way to fight fire, than with more fire?
The taller's smirk wavered slightly. "Hmm. Seems as if this dog knows some tricks." he said as he quickened his pace a bit.
Jou moved his legs faster to keep up. "Well it's not like I... Hey! I am not a dog! You bastard!"
The brunet's smirk widened even further as Jou managed to trip over an exposed tree root in his anger, falling to his hands and knees. The taller stopped walking and stood in front of Jounouchi, his hands on his hips. "So the dog has to beg his master..."
Jou growled as he felt his face flush with anger. He glared at the other, ready to yell and scream at him until his throat was raw. That was until he saw something shine faintly on the face of the taller, right underneath one of his oceanic eyes.
Those blue eyes narrowed to a glare as Jou just sat there and stared at his face. Before he could say anything about it, Jou broke out into a huge grin, catching the other off his guard.
"What are you smiling at?" the brunet spat, only to make Jounouchi grin wider.
Jou stood and pointed upwards to the thick overhang of the trees. "There's sunlight!" he exclaimed and then proceeded to point to the other's face. "It's shining on your face." he finished as an explanation.
The man's eye twitched momentarily before he spun on his heels and started to stalk away.
Jou -only slightly confused- followed him without hesitation. 'Wonder what got into him.' he thought idly. 'Maybe sunlight really pisses him off...' he snickered inwardly. 'Well, that would explain why he is so pale.'
The man stopped suddenly after what seemed to be an eternity of walking. "Here." he said gruffly.
"Here?" Jounouchi repeated, confused he stepped into place next to the other.
The brunet grunted and pulled back some of the thick foliage in front of the two to reveal a large setting sun and the end of the dark trees. "The end of Drekkan." the other stated.
Jou stared at the sunset for a few moments. "Finally!" he said with a large grin and stepped through to the clearing. Fresh green grass grew long and in thick patches. Large lush trees scattered around sporadically, the air clear and free of the dank scent of moss and mud. "And it's before nightfall too! Right on time."
He gave a crooked grin to the brunet, who had yet to say anything, and yawned. "You hungry?" Jou asks and heads over to a tall maple tree; away from Drekkan.
"No." the man says in a flat tone as he follows Jou to the tree.
"Hm." Jou takes off his pack of food and sits down. Motioning for the other to do the same he says, "Well too bad. Yer gettin' some."
The other glared at him until he realized it was a waste of effort and sat down across from Jou.
"Here!" Jounouchi said, handing the brunet a waterskin, some bread, meat and cheese. "It's all I have really, but there is plenty of it." he says with a shrug and starts to eat.
Blue eyes watch the other eat before he begins to eat himself.
As they finish the blond yawns loudly and rests his back against the tree. "Sooo... stick in the mud, where you headed to now?" he asks, his eyelids drooping sleepily.
The brunet smirked. "Home." he answers.
Jou smiles and his head falls back to hit the trunk of the tree lightly. "Mmm... Home eh? 'Sa nice place ta be." his speech begins to slur slightly. "Kinda wish I had one..."
"What?" the taller asks, confused. But all that could be heard were soft snores rising from the blond's mouth. The brunet smirks.
:-:o:-:
The next morning Jou wakes up to the rising sun in his eyes. With a groan he sat up and rubbed his head. Looking around he noticed that he was the only one present.
"Huh? Where's stick in the mud?" he stretched his arms above his head and sighed. Spotting a small bag sitting next to him he picks it up and looks at it wearily. "What's this?" Pulling off a piece of parchment attached to the mouth of the bag with twine, he opens it and stares into it.
"Ra damn that rich guy!" he yells. "I told him I didn't want his damned charity!" Calming down slightly he looked at the parchment clutched in his hand. Opening it slightly he read the neatly written message written in blue ink.
Too bad.
Jou shook his mop of hair and laughed heartily. "Looks like he used my own words against me." He stuffed the small pouch of money into his pack and shouldered it once more before heading out, small smile constantly present on his features.
End Prologue
(1): The Four Gods in this fiction are all Egyptian Gods. Surprised? Yeah. Didn't think so... Ra: God of the sun. Ihy: God of Music. Yah: God of the Moon. Seth: God of Chaos.
A/N: Hm. Please review, so I know I am generating interest. Why post if no one cares ne? -- Kuragari