Fan Fiction: The Sound of my Heart -2

*An Otherworld Fan Fiction....*



Chapter 2



		Azuma knocked gently upon the door and when he received no reply he took Rimari’s advice and brief nod of encouragement and entered into the room. He walked into the middle and stopped, and seeing that Namari was fussing over something in the corner he made to speak, just in case she wasn’t aware of his presence yet. As if sensing his action, Namari turned to him and held a finger to her lips, indicating to the small bundle of blankets she held close to her chest.

She smiled at Azuma softly and gestured to her mate to take the baby. Rinkoto took their son from her grasp and left into one of the adjoining rooms, kissing his mate’s cheek as he departed. It didn’t take Namari long to fathom the reason for Azuma’s arrival at The Keep, as soon as he gave his name she discerned him as Hiten and Serafin’s grandson, a Thunder Demon. For that reason, it didn’t come as a surprise to him when Namari seemed to anticipate what he came here to ask. “Azuma, I would be proud to have you as one of the protectors of The Keep. I know well how your uncles and mother have been of great help to the Prince and Princesses. Not to mention your grandfather in the Village.” Azuma knew he should feel proud to hear such a statement, but instead her words filled him with an even deeper desire to prove himself. He was always compared to his family, others believed him strong because they were strong, it had nothing to do with his own merit. He was proud of his heritage, to be a descendant of powerful Thunder Demons; he just wanted a change to prove that he was worthy of the praise in his own right. He opened his mouth to thank Namari for giving him a change, but she continued, sighing, “However, the decision can’t fall solely on me. What you are asking, I need remind you, is to take the place of head protector, the duty which formally lay with Tennu.” So that’s what Rimari had been referring to, Azuma mused mildly, Kage’s involvement in all this. Despite Namari being in charge she would not allow her decision to upset her friend, she would not officially replace Tennu without Kage’s permission.

		“Therefore,” Namari continued, startling Azuma from his thoughts, “I think it best you ask for her blessing first. I doubt very much she will say no, only I think it prudent to keep in mind that she may find this news a bit upsetting, it may well come as a shock to her. However, ultimately I think it will help to heal her, and that is why I ask you to go.”

Azuma nodded politely, shaking hands with the beautiful Battle Demon and thanking her formally. Walking from the study she led him towards the door again, “I will ask Rimari to take you to see Kage. I would offer to myself,” at which point she smiled and gestured over to her mate, the Lynx lord, sleeping soundly upon the sofa with their son cradled carefully in his arms, “but I’m afraid my duty as a mother comes first.” Rimari showed genuine happiness when Azuma told him of Namari’s acceptance of him, and as the white haired boy congratulated him he couldn’t help but feel slightly pleased with his accomplishments. Namari had believed him worthy, as did her son it seemed and for now the faith of two people was enough. They headed immediately to the tower, Azuma thinking it best to know the outcome of his future sooner rather than later. He walked slowly up the stairs with Rimari close by his side, the other boy’s presence giving him some small comfort and he began to wonder how best to ask Kage for her blessing. However, he would soon find that the words would come naturally and that it was maybe even his fate to be the one to take the place of head protector.

		“I do not wish to replace Tennu,” he assured Kage truthfully as he spoke to her across her desk, “I merely wish to prove myself. I want to be of use and for that I need your permission to try.” Kage looked at Azuma with an odd searching gaze, as if looking for something only she knew how to find and Azuma, never one to give in, stood firm offering no reaction to her silent scrutiny. He saw an element of sadness in her gaze and he suddenly felt awash with guilt -- did he really have the right to take Tennu’s place as main protector of The Keep?

Just like his mother, Kage had believed herself happy, settled and perhaps even complete. That comfort though was unceremoniously ripped away from them both. Azuma had heard her tale, of course; a brave warrior like Tennu’s story was told and retold by many as a sign of respect. His powers were matched and surpassed only by his son; he was a warrior, a true protector, and he died fulfilling that duty. She was the mate he left behind and now here she was scrutinizing him, not to see if he could replace Tennu, for no one could and of that Azuma was well aware, but to see if he could live in his shadow. Tennu’s shadow would loom over this boy and she needed to know this child was up to the challenge.

		Kain, who had until now stood at a distance, chose to walk forward and place a calming hand on Kage’s shoulder. For a moment she seemed startled but slowly the gesture worked to calm her and she slowly gave a small grateful smile to Kain before returning her gaze to Azuma. “Yes, I believe Tennu would want someone like you to resume his old duties. Please make him proud, Azuma, and never feel you have to live up to him.” He watched as Kage drew her hand up to rest it lightly atop of Kain’s and wondered if this healer, like Vashir, could take away the pain of a grieving woman.


Over the following months he began to feel more at home within The Keep. A steady bond had begun to grow between himself and Rimari and every evening before sundown he would return to the field where they first met and Rimari would gently play his harp to the dying rays of sun. It became their time and Azuma surprised himself by realizing that he looked forward to their rendezvous more than he initially thought. Although today, he realized sadly, he just couldn’t concentrate on Rimari’s chatter, instead he found himself dwelling on his current situation and whether his father would have been proud of his choices. Rimari, who always seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to interpreting Azuma’s silences, stopped his playing for today and chose instead to lie down beside the brooding boy.

		Azuma let his gaze wander to the sky, “I miss him.” He said, then turned to look at Rimari who gave him a gentle encouraging smile, “my father, I mean. I just wonder what it would have been like if I were more like him. Amika and I are both Thunder Demons to the core.”

Rimari nodded his head in understanding, admitting with no regret that he wasn’t much like either of his parents. He had neither the Battle Demon mentality, nor showed any sign of possessing Lynx Demon traits. He was just himself and he was content. Azuma couldn’t help his reaction, rising to a sitting position and looking at the other demon incredulously. “How can you be happy with no power?” Azuma knew about his own families’ history, he knew of his hybridism, Thunder Demon, Human, Unicorn, Mage; however, it was not something he enjoyed. He would have loved nothing more than to have been a true Thunder Demon, as part of him always worried that his mixed blood would somehow make him weaker. He was technically only a quarter Thunder Demon and showed no sign of possessing any other ability. Rimari, however, just shrugged in response, chuckling at Azuma’s outburst. “I am content,” he said again finally, so Azuma let the topic drop -- it was just one of the things he would never understand about Rimari. They weren’t silent for long though, and conversation soon changed to why Azuma chose to come to the Northern Keep. “I thought at first that I might have liked to have been bound,” he sensed the other Demon's expression and continued with a slight smirk upon his face, “but it would have closed so many doors. I would never have a family, and I think one day I would like one. I think my father would have approved of my saying that.” His father, the Demon Mage who never fully shed his Unicorn blood, had been kind to a fault. He had always hoped his children would give him grandchildren one day and Azuma wondered if somewhere inside he harbored the hope that they would inherit his mage powers, but Azuma would never know. “Although, I think what finally put me off was the thought of my grandmother’s face. My whole family is bound and I think it would break her heart to lose another one of us to the Princes and Princesses.” Rimari chuckled lightly as Azuma continued, “I came here mostly to prove myself though, and it’s just a shame I’ve not had much of a chance to yet. I suppose I’m just bored is all.” He realized soon after leaving Rimari’s company that bored was the wrong word to use. What he really felt was complacent; he needed some form of excitement in his life, something his patrols weren’t really offering. He worked closely with the Lynxes and Demon Wolves, but mostly their patrols were separate, with him either joining one or the other, or only being called out to work with them when they saw it necessary. So far he felt needed but not overly taxed, but he put that down mainly to the lack of a real threat anymore. Otherworld and the surrounding lands were at peace, with even Demon World being brought into control under Vashir’s reign. He wondered offhandedly whether his mother found her life as leisurely. Azuma wanted action, a chance to prove himself, one that when it came he would regret ever wishing for.