Beads of Tears
Chapter Six
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Water, every space around his body contained water. Fear and darkness clouded Yuugi's judgment, mind fragmented by a serious blow from the fall.
The teen shifted, body molding into the grooves of the ground. He squinted, eyes opening slowly. Chills danced across pale skin, sunlight reflecting onto the imprisonment of his holding.
Groaning, pain etched clearly through his features, Yuugi pulled himself up, taking in the standing scenery. Description failed his amazed eyes. The teen cocked his head to the side, ignoring the painful thud from his ribs.
He lay on the ocean floor sand melding around his lithe body once more. Bars surrounded his holding, locking him into this dark, unfamiliar abyss. Brows furrowed, etched in elation of realization. Murmurs of pleasant curiosity floated through his mind. An aura he sensed, something of familiarity was close.
An unknown emotion crossed the teen's path, adrenaline flowing through his veins. Yuugi curled himself into a ball, fingers tracing across the contours of his shivering body.
The neck, arms and finally the ribs, Yuugi felt. Concern ebbed at his heart and mind, reminding him of the searing pain of his ripped skin. Lightly, with the touch of a weightless butterfly, Yuugi caressed the swollen area of the ribcage. An odd sensation of tugging and suctioning of water echoed through his body, fingers grazing along side of three cuts.
Child-like curiosity hadn't held his attention for long. Attention had always fallen upon deaf ears of Yuugi Mutou. In one slick movement, the nineteen-year-old sat up, eyes wide, taking in the newest addition towards his appearance.
"What the hell are these?"
"Gills." A voice spoke, incredulously.
Startled from the sudden response, Yuugi cast a glance to the side, meeting a pair of cobalt eyes in stance.
Nothing had been said, merely eye contact exchanged by both men. Yuugi's heart pounded heavily, increasing in depth by the seconds. The main in front of him, familiar in more ways than one. Brown hair, stoic emotionless cobalt eyes. This man could only be Seto Kaiba.
However, one detail changed Yuugi's mind on this accusation.
The man he had dated and known for didn't enjoy the ocean, nor did he hold the appendage of a merman. In other words, this wasn't his ex-boyfriend.
"S-Seto-When did you, how the hell did you get a tail?"
Seto, if even concerned, shook his head, arms crossed indignantly.
"My name isn't Seto, human. Neither will I listen to such an incomplete being as yourself."
Yuugi hauled himself up, leaning onto the bars of his holding. "Why the hell am I here? Or simply why the hell am I able to breathe underwater?"
The elder male swam to the side, taking a moment to observe Yuugi. He couldn't believe that this was the undeniable human with the Atlantian aura.
"You have developed gills, somehow. You are here due to the inference you held with the prince of Atlantica."
All of this was too much for Yuugi. The teen hissed under his breath, wounds burning from the salt of the ocean's water.
"I fell into the ocean and I found your so called 'prince' unconscious." Yuugi groaned under his breath, finishing his sentence. "I was only trying to help him."
"I don't buy, it human." The merman edged closer, eyes only inches apart from violet. "What is the name of human decadency that you carry?"
Yuugi wasn't buying it; this tone didn't convince him of authority. He wasn't giving up his to this clone of Seto.
"Tell me yours, and perhaps I'll tell ya mine. Deal?"
"You're in no position to be making deals." The other stated, voice dark, demanding.
"Seth, leave him alone. You're scaring him." A new voice spoke, surprising the duo.
'Who was that?' Yuugi though, holding onto the bars, eyes wide.
Seth turned towards the voice arms crossed. He groaned in realization of the newcomer.
Rolling his eyes, the merman spoke. "Prince do you ever listen to what I say?"
At the mentioning of his title, Yami swam forward, tail flicking through sand playfully.
"You know the answer by now, Seth." He smirked. "I abide by my own rules."
"Not whenever Triton makes it clear of his regulations. You always listen to you father, Yami."
"How wrong you are, cousin." Yami chided, eyes alight with playful antics.
All the while, Yuugi observed the scene in front of him. The merman who had been unconscious came forward, playfully annoying this so called 'Seth' otherwise known as his captor.
Yuugi couldn't help the smile gracing his lips. Elation filled his heart, soul singing in happiness. His merman, an alleged prince had awakened, full of life.
However, these thoughts had fallen short, as a chill ran down his spine.
"Is that so, my son?"
Silence covered the playful banter. Eyes gazed onto pure crimson. Seth fell to the seafloor, bowing quickly.
Yami on the other hand didn't. His body froze, face falling free of emotion. Triton swam closer, regal and strong in strides. His aura radiated power, dominance and above all, royalty.
He stopped, gazing down at his son in frustration. A sigh escaped his lips, eyes never leaving the disobedient prince.
"Yami go to your room, now."
Protested by the command, the prince pouted, arguing against the statement. "But father, Seth is-"
"Do no infuriate me tonight. Poseidon is raging with anger and has left his kingdom, bee lining a path for Atlantica."
Yami didn't need any further information. Anything concerning Poseidon dealt with fear of the kingdom since the loss of his son years ago. With a sigh, Yami hung his head in shame, silently swimming away, red tail flicking behind him.
Groaning under this breath, Triton motioned for Seth, dismissing him from the scene.
Yuugi pulled himself away from the bars, resuming his fetal position on the sandy floor. Cautiously, the captive's every movement. He couldn't help but notice his fascination take hold, realizing how this boy mirrored his son in appearance, let alone Poseidon.
For a few moments, the king treaded closer, observing the small teen's actions, speaking softly in tone. "You aren't to be harmed." Yuugi seemed to protest at this thought, but the king spoke once more. "I cannot allow such a fascinating creature as yourself to roam free in my kingdom or the cities adjacent."
Yuugi uncurled his body, gazing up at the authority figure in front of him. His body shook, newly developed gills sucking in water quickly.
Triton sighed. This was getting him no where.
"If it would calm you so, my name is Triton. I am the king of this land, Atlantica."
'This is the freaking king! Damn, I must be in trouble.'
Yuugi nodded, bowing somewhat awkwardly.
"You aren't from here, little one. I do not expect any respect other than cooperation of your presence in my kingdom." He crossed his arms indefinitely. "Will you grant me the knowledge of your origin, otherwise known as your name?"
Yuugi leaned heavily on the cage, collecting his thoughts of this predicament. He had fallen into the ocean, hit his head on a beam, gained gills and now held captive by mer people. The situation hurt his mind, causing every thought of his fate to increase. Yuugi couldn't understand it. Why couldn't these fish people leave him alone?
"I'm sorry. You have to see this from my point of view, your highness. I am confused and frightened. I cannot tell you anything more than a name." He leaned away from the bars, violet depths shining in the aquamarine depths of the ocean. "For, I have no origin or story of my life or kin."
Triton's face remained impassive, deep in thought. He exposed nothing of his suspicion or annoyance of the boy's response. The teen obviously young in his age confused him. Thoughts crossed his mind, complicated thoughts. Why had this boy landed himself in so much trouble? How could one boy of the human race hold the aura of a long forgotten Atlantian? This along with many others crossed his mind, allowing Yuugi a moment to study his stern powerful form.
"How did you fall victim of the storm? How did you of all people fall into the depths of Poseidon's rage?"
Yuugi cocked his head to the side, bangs falling into his face. The question was simple, yet complex in more ways than he was able to comprehend. How had he fallen victim of the storm? Why hadn't anyone else fallen into the wrath of a cycled event that had occurred nineteen years before?
"Because, I was drawn to it. Are you happy now? That's all I can tell you? I hear voices from the ocean, telling me to come, and embrace its warmth. These are the thoughts of Yuugi Mutou!"
The name, the statement amongst others drew an end of the King's silence. Water swirled around his body, eyes wide in surprise.
Yuugi's body felt ice cold, taking in large amounts of salt water. His eyes fell upon the swirling whirlpools. He felt magic surge through them, aiming towards him.
It was then he realized what was happening. He was a target.
Small tornados circled around the boy's prison, crashing against the coral-like bars. One by one, each piece broke into fragments, allowing the boy to flee.
In fear, Yuugi swam away from the debris, arms aching with each stroke. His heart pounded heavily against his chest, eyes bewildered in fear.
He took in deep breaths swimming away from Triton and the tornadoes. His escape was flaw free, all until the water surged its power away from the cage, following after his weakened body.
Sighing heavily, Yuugi pushed against the upcoming tornadoes, swimming quickly towards the surface. Only three feet and then home free. This thought along with the pulsing fear surging through his veins quickened his pace and stamina.
Although, the water caught up with him, wrapping around his foot. Strong currents surrounded him, dragging him towards the seafloor.
Exhaustion took toll upon Yuugi's petite body, energy drained to zero. He fell into the embrace of the tornadoes, falling towards the depths of the ocean, meeting the gaze of narrowed amethyst eyes.
A voice full of male domination and power rang through the sea, fish swimming away in fear. For the king of Atlantis had surfaced into the sister kingdom of Atlantica.
"I've finally found you, Yuugi."
Poseidon had found the human with the Atlantian aura, ending the storms that had occurred onto the beaches of Avalon.