The white tower
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 2 - Jaal's Surprise
Four days later, Tennu and Raike climbed the final hill, and nestled in the valley below was the White Tower. It gleamed white and gold in the noonday sun, and to the two men, it was a vision of promise. A road led to it and a stream ran behind it. They looked at each other and smiled, then started down the hill. During the last four days, they had become fairly good friends, both of them unhappy with their lot in life and determined to change it. Ironically, each of them had what the other desired; Tennu had the power that Raike yearned for, and Raike had the stable and happy home life that Tennu had never known.
Like most of Tekken's women, the union with Nahdala, Tennu's mother, had been just a fling that lasted for about a month. Nahdala was a Wind Demoness and first cousin to Xuho, leader of the Wind Clan; and the departure of Tekken didn't bother her in the least, for she had never expected him to stay.
A few months later she gave birth to a son, but didn't even bother to send Tekken word. She knew that he had numerous children and believed that one more would not be important to the Bobcat Lord. She raised Tennu in a communal setting as was the way of the Wind Demons.
But as he grew older and found that he had both Wind powers and Bobcat powers, he sought out his father, traveling alone to the Northern Mountains where the Bobcats lived.
Tennu was welcomed as one of Tekken's many sons, but received no special treatment and very little affection from his demon father. The only son that seemed to matter to the Bobcat was his first son, Tekki.
But Tennu stubbornly clung to the hope that he could win his father's heart and remained at his side -- until the terrible day when one of the Tala duplicates merged into him and Tekken had slashed him open to save Vara. Tekken saw only his Queen and never even noticed the look of pure despair and horror that crossed Tennu's face just before he collapsed into a bloody heap.
During his long recovery at the Castle of Otherworld, he brooded, vowing never to return to Suzaku. But even though his physical injuries had healed, his emotional wounds were open and festering. Tekken had not visited him once during his long recovery. He was beneath the Bobcat Lord's notice. Although he told himself that he wanted nothing to do with his father, in truth, that is all the young demon wanted. To be loved by his father. To be noticed and deemed worthy.
While Tennu ached for a father's love, Raike had plenty of love from both his human mother, Keiko, and his half-demon father, Yusuke. Yusuke was only a teenager when he won the Dark Tournament, overcoming incredible odds to win. And Raike's grandfather was the Lord of the Northern Lands of Demon World, and ironically Lord of the Wind Demon clan. Both Raizen and Yusuke were Battle Demons, born with a killing lust and incredible physical power.
And Raike had nothing. Not a glimmer, not a spark of power. Yusuke swore that he was happy that his son did not inherit the all-consuming rage of a Battle Demon, but Raike was sure that deep inside, his father was disappointed in his useless son.
So he started the journey to the White Tower, hoping that the Sorceress could give him some kind of power.
At the foot of the hill, Tennu felt a touch of energy and looked around. He could barely make out the soft haze of the energy field. It was not a barrier, just an early warning device. Raike grumbled that he felt absolutely nothing.
Soon after, they reached a pathway that led directly to the front door of the White Tower. Tennu knocked at the door, surprised that no one had come down since the energy field had given the inhabitants a warning.
After long minutes, the door finally opened and a human woman bid them to enter. Obviously a servant, she told them to go up the spiral stairs in the center to the next level. They walked up the stairs and what was the ceiling of one level became the floor of the next. Standing in front of them was a blond man with sky blue eyes -- Bya, the Blue Dragon. He nodded to the young men, but said nothing, merely motioned them to go further into the room. In a large comfortable chair was the sorceress of the White Tower, Jaal.
She got out of the chair with a struggle and they immediately saw why. A swollen belly made her ungainly. The sorceress of the White Tower was extremely pregnant.
Both Tennu and Raike gaped when they saw the size of her stomach and then quickly closed their mouths, blushing at their rudeness.
Jaal smiled at them, "Yes, I know that this looks impossible. Bya and I have only been together for a little over three months and I believe I am two months' pregnant."
"But you look like you're ready to give birth at any moment," Raike blurted, then turned even redder with embarrassment.
"Don't be embarrassed," Jaal said, "It is hard to miss. I'm not sure what is happening, but the baby is developing a lot faster than normal. Kaiba and Rin are on their way here."
"Oh no!" squeaked Raike, his voice failing him.
Jaal lifted an eyebrow, "Why is that a problem?"
"Well, my parents don't know I'm here."
"And exactly why are you here? And you, Tennu, isn't it?"
Tennu nodded, gave a small bow, and answered, "I want to offer my services to you."
"Services? I'm not sure that I need anything, but if you want to stay here in the Tower, that's fine with me. There isn't much room, but I'm sure we can find somewhere for you to live. And you, Raike?"
"I…well, I…." The young man stammered and blushed again. He was so fixed on his desire for power, he never once thought about how he was going to request it. "I want power," he suddenly blurted out and then groaned at his stupidity.
Jaal smiled kindly, "Power? What kind of power?"
"Any kind. My father and my grandfather are both Battle Demons and I am nothing. I inherited nothing at all. Please help me."
"I'm not sure what I can do for you. I might be able to bring out latent powers if you have any, but I can't promise anything."
"Thank you!"
"Now, I'm sure that neither Kaiba or Rin are going to run to tell your parents, so don't worry about that. But aren't they going to worry about you? Where do they think you are?"
"Visiting the Castle. I was going to tell them the truth once I got power." Raike ended lamely.
Jaal smiled at the young man. "I will do what I can, but I cannot promise anything."
"Thank you!" Raike said, and his face lit up with a wide smile.
Tennu and Raike left Jaal and returned to the first floor, which was just a large circular space. Tennu proposed putting up partitions to make walls and thereby making a bedroom and a sitting area. Since there was no plumbing in this part of the Tower and he had no idea how to tap into the existing pipes, they would have to use a nearby stream as their bath. Both men set out on this task immediately and by nightfall they had part of a wall up. They rolled out their sleeping blankets on the floor. One more thing they would have to procure: furniture! They both had expected the Tower to be like the Castle where everything was already available and you just picked a room.
With an unhappy sigh, they curled up on the cold, hard floor for an uncomfortable night's sleep.