Jade

Mature situations later on. If you\'re offended by yaoi, don\'t read it.

Chapter 1

Late Fall-Solstice is near

I am thinking that the moon is too full now. I will dispatch no vicious thought towards my master, for it may do him some great harm. It is so beautiful, seductive in its color-deep purple, that moon. It gives off an icy fire which is just as striking. My master loves it, but says that the greens of the servants are more beautiful than a color than any other. Almost green, but close to blue. Yet he gives me the make-up I want to cover up the same color tats. Some dye their hair this color that are not slaves, but the tats are telltale. He has pity. Sometimes I do not want it, but I need some sort of privacy in public once in a while.
It’s a strange sort of life we live. Born with the blue-green tats-born as slaves. Born with enormous elemental power, and only the ability to play with it if blessed with a master that would let us use it to its full potential. I think maybe there are more somewhere that are not born as slaves but are born as more. With power such as ours, there must be. I do not know. I love my master. I am the slave. I do not know if I could live any other way, but that is the only way I have known my life, so I have no other way to judge it. I wish that…

“What are you writing about today Jajan?”
“The way of the slave, Master Escii.”
“I am glad that I let you purchase this journal. You are a wise Elemental. You could’ve been a scholars slave. Do you know that?”
“Master Escii, others are harsh. I like you, and would want no other as a master. You know this.” Escii smiled and kissed his forehead.
“You would’ve been a scholar yourself. Perhaps an English teacher.”

I always loved Master Escii. I was going to let him be the first to have me and he knew it. Slowly we had progressed. I think he loved me. He certainly seemed to say it with his eyes and touch. It wouldn’t have been long. I was a fragile Element, and this development had to be slow as much as I wanted it not to be. That’s what he said. Of course he was right. And then Master Escii was gone, destroyed by some opposing businessman. I remember every moment of it, including the whispering of his slave’s name Jajan as his last word. I shall never forget it. And I was sold to another Master, who was horrible to me. He took my make-up, took my clothes and gave me two new sets, and took everything I had from Master Escii. The only thing he did not get was this journal, which I’d hidden somewhere else before, and then hidden again after I was taken to live with him. And later on, after a tiresome workday, he took me. It was non-consensual and extremely painful. Not only physically. I haven’t been able to write. If I were to get caught…
Now I’m in the middle of the desert. I’m hungry. There’s no water to play with. Oh, didn’t I ever put that in this journal? That is my element. I am water. A powerful Element, without the consent to use it. It is quite agonizing to not have your own toy to play with, or to survive with.

“Hello?” He was dare some to turn around. If this person, who ever it was, saw his face tats, he might be in a lot of trouble.
“Yes sir?” There. That was polite enough for him not to turn around. The person never knew whether he had some sort of virus and did not want to spread it, or something of the sort.
“There’s a Water Elemental Slave running around somewhere. He’s been gone for about a week. Would’ve gotten about this far. Have you seen anything?” Jajan gripped his yellow shawl tighter.
“I don’t believe I’ve seen any Elementals in the middle of the Latisseh Desert. Except for a fire or sand Element, why would any of them come out here anyways?”
“Trying to escape a Master I guess.”
“I assure you, I have not seen one.” It wasn’t a lie really. He hadn’t even seen his own reflection since he’d left.
“Why won’t you look at me?”
“I’d rather not. I’ve had a fairly irritating cough, leading to influenza I expect. I think in this stage it’s very contagious.” He decided to make a convincing succession of coughs later on in the conversation.
“I guess that’s reasonable. I sure as hell don’t need it. So, what are you doing out here, in the middle of the Latisseh?”
“I’m looking for the Elemental as well. I heard about a small reward. I have not seen any sign of him out here though, so I am thinking of going elsewhere.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Yes.”
“So…Jajan, what are you planning to do once you get out of the desert? If you do?” He looked back in horror, realizing that this person had been moving closer, and suddenly had a chain around his wrist.
“No! Oh no…” He tried pulling away before this person had the chain locked securely, but it was too late, and he cursed to himself for not paying attention.
“You can not get away from me now. There is no use in injuring yourself.” Jajan growled but knew this to be true, and flung himself down to his small rest area. The clink of the chain followed.
“What is your name, sir,” Jajan questioned him quietly.
“It is Ris.”
“Master Ris. I am at your service until I am delivered back into the hands of Master Virdan.” Jajan said this blankly.
“Very considerate of you. I’m not taking you back to Virdan.”
“Not taking me back to Master Virdan…” Jajan thought of the beating he would not get for running away. Perhaps he could even forget the touching, and…no. Painful. Too painful to forget. He flinched outwardly. Ris made a note of this as well.
He might get a beating from this man though. Ris, Master Ris, might do everything Ma…Virdan did. Maybe more.
Ris reached out and slid the yellow shawl off of Jajan’s head to reveal a mass of long blue-green, blonde, and white hairs, brilliantly green eyes, and the betraying blue-green tats on his cheeks. And his skin was tanned only enough to give him a good even color.
“You’re beautiful.” Ris said it in a smooth tone, serious when he said it. He slid his fingers in Jajan’s hair, testing the smoothness of it. Jajan recoiled. “I assure you, I won’t do whatever those heathen masters you’ve had before have done to you. Raping slaves that can’t defend themselves even in court about it-it isn’t my style.” The bluntness surprised him. The memories all came pouring back and so did his tears. He chocked on a sob. Ris made a gesture to comfort him, but Ris was one of them and had stolen his chance at freedom. Jajan would rather lie in the dry hot dirt and cry. And that’s exactly what he did, for an hour until he fell asleep.

When he woke up again, it was on a warm bed, in a warm house, and he felt warm. In fact, he was a little hot.
“Escii? Master Escii? Are you there sir? Escii?” Indeed someone walked toward him that looked so much like Escii, but not quite was. “Master Escii? Is that you? Love?”
“No, Jajan. It is only Ris.” Warm bed…
“Master Ris, why am I on your bed? I am stealing precious hours from your sleep, am I not?”
“No, Jajan. You have a heavy fever. I’m on the boucheau.”
“I mustn’t have your be…”
“Jajan, be quiet and sleep more. You weren’t lying in the desert when you said that you thought you were sick with a virus. You are quite ill.”
“You look so much like Escii. He was my favorite Master and my longest. Perhaps forever, if he had not died. He was so kind to me. He said I should’ve been a scholar and not a slave. Did you know him?”
“No. I didn’t. You should sleep. You have a hot fever.” Jajan could barely understand him, and so continued to speak.
“He was wonderful. He gave me the freedom to write. He had the same color hair as you. It’s stunning, the blue hue it owns.” He smiled and sighed, content in his thoughts, discontinuing his previous conversation with Ris. Ris couldn’t help but have his own smile when he saw the white teeth shining against the sheets. But then he noticed that Jajan was shivering, and trying to harness the movement of his body.
“Jajan…are you cold?”
“No, Master. I am not.”
“Why are you lying? You’re shivering.”
“I am not cold.”
“You are. What are you; afraid that I am going to whip you for saying you are cold?”
“Yes, Master Ris. I am.” Ris’ eyes widened.
“Look at me, Jajan.”
“I-I should not, Master.”
“Why?”
“It is overstepping my boundaries to look into your eyes, Master.”
“What if I tell you that you have to? I command you to look at me Jajan.” He turned his face slowly, still averting his eyes. “And if I say please?” Jajan looked up at him wide-eyed. “What? I’ll bet no one’s asked you nicely in years, have they? To do anything? Have you always been told what to do harshly? Beaten if you didn’t comply? Is that how it is?” His slave’s eyes were pouring tears.
“Why do you say such things? It is the way it is. I am a dog undeserving of leftover food. I am a slave.”
“You were so much feistier and thoughtful about yourself when I caught you. Why? Tell me Jajan, truthfully.”
“I-I thought I would have some chance of escape. A chance to be free.” Ris waited a moment, and reached for Jajan’s face. The slave flinched but did not stop him.
“I told you to look at me.” He complied again, with tear filled teal eyes. “Are you cold?”
“But…your bedding…”
“I asked you a simple question. It requires a simple answer. Are you cold?”
“I-I am.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back in a minute.” His hands left Jajan’s face and then he was gone, somewhere in the house. Jajan touched his hand to his cheek.

And there, it is warm. How is he so kind? No Master is this kind. I…could cry in his presence. He was not angered. I do not know how I should deal with this kindness. Not since Master Escii have I had this kindness bestowed on me…

When Ris reentered the room, his new slave was sobbing into his hands, brought up to his face, likely to spare his pillow from tears. He walked up to the bed and spread the blankets carefully. Then sat on the bed pulling Jajan into his arms. The slave pulled up a little to avoid his shirt.
“Jajan,” he said, grabbing the young man’s hands, pulling them away from his face and putting them on his chest, and shoving his face back into his shoulder. “Stop worrying. Cry, just cry. This is probably the first time in a while you’ve been able to without looking over your shoulder. Just cry. I won’t hit you for it.” Jajan sobbed harder into Ris’ blouse.
“How do you treat me so? How am I to understand and serve this kindness?”
“Understand this. You are a human, slave though you are. You have feelings and abilities just as I do. I understand that and will treat you just like I would treat myself. But if you want to serve me, you will. That is the only thing I want from you. I will never beat you. Never hit you. I will never hurt you.”
“I…I do not know if I can do or understand the things you say. They have not been known to me for several years. If I cannot act according to your will, am I then a disgrace to you?”
“You have a beautiful vocabulary. If only you could say nicer things. No, Jajan. I will keep you even if you don’t act as I want you to. You are safe. Can I get that through your thick mass of hair? You’re safe.”
“Would you like that I have my hair cut?” Ris laughed and sighed almost simultaneously.
“No. I adore your hair. It’s lovely.” Jajan blushed.
“Hm. Even though you’ve been through a lot, you’re still young and coy. Chill out. Okay? Let me go get a towel for your eyes.” Jajan nodded, still blushing.

Everything is so strange.