Hey there! This chapter is out sooner than I expected because of school coming up real soon, so I hope you all enjoy!
Discalimer: I don't own Yugioh, and, just to be safe, I don't own the Matrix either.
Warnings: Thereare shounen-ai (boyxboy) relationships in this fic, if you don't like, don't read. Simple.
There was a bright flash of light and Yami appeared. Red lightning flashed in the sky, acid rain falling and burning the already burnt, dead land. Robots were wandering around the huge fields of glowing red pods, monitoring their growth and progress. Yami stepped from the portal eyes wide with intrigue and filled with a feeling of disgust.
How could humans allow this to happen?
Suddenly, a pair of bright green eyes shot open in a pod right in the middle of the field and a green plant, the first green plant that this variation of Earth had seen in a long, long time, sprouted from the ground. The pod opened and a human stood, taking its first breaths of polluted air. Yami looked over and knew that this was who he had come for because greenery was growing everywhere it possibly could around the boy. A hot dry wind blew and tossed wet silvery hair, and almost robotically, he turned his head and looked directly at Yami just as a robot disconnected him from the pod and took him to a huge factory. From what he had read in books back in his dimension, Yami knew that humans were created here so that other beings could purchase humans for slaves. He headed for the factory, intent on 'buying' the silver haired human boy who had just been born.
(The Earth Elemental)
The factory was dark, dank and dreary, the epitome of a factory doing dirty work such as creating humans and selling them. Yami walked up to a robot on duty.
"I am here to make a purchase."
"Right this way," the robot lead him towards a corridor lined with cells, "Are there any here that may be of service to you?"
Yami resisted the urge to use his Shadow powers to destroy the robot and set the humans free. They all looked so sad and desperate, some even pleading for him to buy them.
"I'm interested in the newborns and I can pay you whatever the price," Yami said, taking out a small bag. He knew that robots had no care for gold and jewels; however, they did have a taste for rare metals,
"Ah, of course. Right this way," the robot turned and took Yami down an even smaller passage. "You are very lucky today, we have had a few births. Do you see one you like?"
Yami looked into each of the cells. Unlike normal human babies, these children were born when they were in their teens. There was a girl who had short, blonde hair and blue eyes sharing a cell with a boy who had brown hair and brown eyes, both looking at Yami and the robot in fear, backing into the furthest corner of their cell.
Yami looked at the other cells. All were empty.
"Are you sure these two are the only newborns? I could have sworn there was one being born as I arrived."
"Oh, the cell at the very end. He is very strange. We have never had a human like this before. You like the strange boy?"
Yami merely nodded.
"Very well," the robot unlocked the door to the strange boys cell and let him out. "Now, about payment. As a buyer I am sure you are aware that we do not care for your gold and jewels."
"I know of this. I can offer you metals of which you have not readily got here."
"Ah, as this is a strange human, I shall give him to you for a lesser price. He would have been exterminated here otherwise. I shall take what rare metal you care to give me."
"In my dimension we have a rare metal called Mercury. It is highly poisonous to humans of my dimension; however, I have a feeling that you robots shall find a use for this liquid metal. I do not believe that it will harm the humans you…" Yami paused for a moment, "harvest and so I think it will be safe for you to use." Yami pulled out a vile of Mercury.
"It is indeed, liquid metal, the likes of which I have never seen. This covers the payment of this human far enough. As for necessary information, ask the boy. He shall tell you. He is quite educated for a newborn. Thankyou for coming today," the robot left to deal with the new metal it had just been given.
Yami turned to look at his 'purchase'. He was a very gentle looking human. He had bright green eyes and long silvery hair. He wore a tattered shirt, which Yami guessed as once blue and white striped, but was now grey and a dirty blue covered in dirt and grime. The teen also wore jeans that were worn out on both knees. He didn't have shoes. Yami's 'slave' was scuffing the floor with one of his feet, attempting to endure Yami's gaze.
"What is your name?"
"Ryou," the boy said softly. Yami could hardly believe that this human child had been born in such a rough environment. All the others looked so tough and troublesome, but this boy looked obedient and kind.
"And how old are you?" Yami asked, leaning over to look Ryou in the eyes.
"Sixteen in human years, sir." Ryou said quietly, looking away.
Yami and Ryou silently made their way through the factory, Ryou's gaze set to the uneven ground, leading Yami outside. Once they had left the building, Yami told Ryou to stop and used his magic to open up the portal. Ryou's eyes widened in wonder.
"You're from a different dimension?"
"Yes, and you're coming with me." Ryou's face broke into a smile and several small rose bushes blossomed near his feet.
(The Earth Elemental)
At the palace, Jonouchi was sitting in Yami's room, waiting for the Shadow Elemental to get back. Closing his eyes, Jonouchi remembered that he had succeeded in blowing up half of KingSeto's ice garden when the two got into a heated argument. Opening his eyes, Jonouchi groaned.
Gods, he thought, if Yami finds out about that one, he'll never stop saying that we are acting like a married couple! Leaning back on the chair and closing his eyes once more, Jonouchi prepared to have a little nap before his friend returned. His hopes of even having a few moments rest were shattered when he was knocked off of his chair and a portal appeared.
"Napping?" Yami asked Jonouchi as he stepped out of the portal, followed by a very scruffy looking boy.
"Look at what the cat dragged in," Jonouchi said, taking in Ryou's appearance. His clothes were even more tattered and torn and leaves and twigs were in Ryou's dirty hair, courtesy of the many trees that happened to appear as he walked past.
"Have you been fighting with Seto again? You're always sarcastic afterwards," Yami said nonchalantly as he searched for some clean clothes for Ryou. Jonouchi glared at his back.
"No, I have not been fighting with Seto," Jonouchi snapped.
"Yes you have," Yami said with a smirk, "You called him Seto."
Jonouchi glowed a dangerous golden colour.
"Settle down! You know I'm only kidding. Besides, your scaring him," Yami motioned towards Ryou who had backed up against the wall, green eyes wide with fear.
"So who is this rag-a-muffin anyways?" Jonouchi asked, turning to face Ryou, "I'm Jonouchi Katsuya, nice to meet you."
"He's the Earth Elemental," Yami said with a shrug, handing Ryou one of his old shirts.
"Earth Elemental? Him?" Jonouchi asked, disbelievingly looking at Ryou closely. Only now noticing that there were vines growing along the walls near him, slowly wrapping themselves around the teens slightly muscular arms.
"Yes, his name is Ryou. And he is the Earth Elemental. One of six Elemental Mages," Yami banged his cupboard closed and passed Ryou a pair of his old jeans, as well as some sneakers.
Ryou, who had been quiet the entire time, suddenly spoke.
"Elemental?" he asked quietly.
Jonouchi face faulted. "He's the Earth Elemental and he doesn't have a clue as to what it is?"
"Well, he did come from a dimension where magic doesn't exist. That and he's only about…" Yami looked at the sky, "What would you say Ryou? Two hours old?" Ryou nodded.
"What do you mean two hours old? He looks the same age as you and me!"
Ryou stepped forward. "I come from a dimension where the Earth has been totally destroyed by fire, a sort of apocalypse if you will. Only a few humans survived the ordeal, but all of the robotic technology withstood it. With no humans to suppress them, the machines and robots ended up controlling the world and thus the creation of humans became robotic. We are all born in huge harvesting fields. Unlike humans from early in the Earths history, we are born at the approximate age of sixteen. The robots do this because they can get rare and valuable metals if they sell us humans to people from other places. People will buy a human who can already do things, they wouldn't buy an infant and so it was in the best interest of the robots to make it so that we were born at a later age. If we don't get sold, we are made to work in the factories for the robots, or if you are unusual, you get killed immediately, unless someone buys you," Ryou explained.
"What a whacked out dimension! You mean to say that you belong to Yami?"
"Gods no!" Yami exclaimed, "I bought his freedom, not his rights. The robots sold him to me with the intention that I would enslave him, but all I did was buy him his freedom and took him to our dimension. He does not in any way, shape or form belong to me."
Jonouchi shook his head, "This is all too technical for a Battle mage such as myself. I've seen that your home safe so King Seto will be happy. I am off to train up. You never know when I'll be needed," Jonouchi left.
"So your running errands now for him, eh Jonouchi?" All Yami got in reply was an angry yell.
"Is it true what you said, master? I do not belong to you? I belong to myself?" Ryou asked, timidly playing with one of the vines that had wrapped around him.
"Yes. I do not own you. All I did was purchase your freedom. You are able to do your own things your own way. You do not need to answer to anyone but yourself unless you choose to do so. As it is, you are treated with utmost respect here. You're an Elemental Mage. And in this world, the God of Earth," Yami whispered that last part.
"Elemental Mage?" Ryou asked again.
"Oh Gods, I forgot to explain it to you. How fast a learner are you? I have a plant problem that really needs to be fixed."
Ryou looked around the room. Plants and trees were growing everywhere because of the young God of Earth.
"Umm…"
"I should probably show you how to control your power first. At least now that your here, the plants are in balance. I've already seen what can happen when an element becomes unbalanced. Right, first step to magical control is meditation," Yami began, sitting down in front of Ryou. Once Ryou had gotten into the breathing rhythm, Yami flopped down onto his bed.
We had better find the others soon…
If anyone is confused with Ryou's dimension, think of the Matrix and the real world. All barren and stuff, like that. Well, that's chapter three. How was it? Leave a review and let me know...
Oh! and to someoneyoudontknow - the robots haven't really got anything to do with any of the elements...I just needed a different dimension. Thanks for reviewing!