Sound & Fury Ch. 4 - Sona's Sostenuto Scherzo

Author's Note: Hey everyone, I greatly appreciate the fact that you guys have taken the time to read my stories. As per usual I absolutely adore the feedback you guys provide for me. Just so you guys aren't too confused about my musical terminology: Sostenuto is a term for a frame of music that is sustained. A Scherzo is the name of a lively or cheerful composition often used in symphonies and sonatas. So to translate this chapter is "Sona's Sustained Livelyhood or Sona's Sustained Cheer." I promised last chapter that I'd start putting up names of songs to look up as mood music . This chapter's song is: Love You To Death by Kamelot. Thanks again guys for your support. Please be sure to review. :3 –Kiba Elunal

I kneeled there in horror as the blood continued to pour from his body. I had to find an instrument; I had to play something so I could use my magic to heal him. I began to franticly look around the room for something, anything! My eyes fell upon his harp and picking it up I attempted to strum it. Silence. Damn it you stupid instrument, play! I strummed it again. Still nothing. I could see blood still pumping from his chest which was rising and falling slowly with breath. He was still alive, but he wouldn't be for much longer. I sat there like a fool strumming a harp that couldn't be played over and over again begging that the next time I did so would be the time it worked for me and after I had lost count at twenty I began to lose hope. In my anger and my frustration I threw the harp hard against the wall, causing its wooden base to crack. As it fell to the ground it let out a light pang as the strings vibrated softly. I blinked…it had made a sound. The thing made a sound!

I rushed over to it picking it up and clutching it to my chest as I strummed it one more time silently pleading that it would work. It let out a light ping, it was soft but any noise would do. All I needed was one note, one tiny insignificant noise played from this instrument. Even if I just repeated the same stupid note over and over again it would still be enough for me to use the music to heal him. I knelt by his body again, strumming the instrument as my blue hair flowed behind me, the emerald green magic flowing around me as it dove into his chest to heal his wounds. I could see that his internal wounds were being repairs slowly. I strummed once more and again his internal wounds healed a little bit more. It was working! The music from the harp was working to bring him back to me! He was still injured. I strummed again and again, but this time nothing happened. The instrument still played sound but it wasn't allowing me to channel my magic through it.

This thing was no good. I couldn't do it with this harp, I wasn't skilled enough with it to make my magic work well enough to heal him. Unable to cry for help, I slipped my arms beneath him and attempted to carry him back to my home so I could play my etwahl. With that I would be able to keep him alive. He was heavy, heavier than I expected and I stumbled while carrying him, my lungs and muscles burning as I ran with him as fast as I could pushing my body past the limits it had. I pleaded with the universe not to let him die, there were so many hurtful things I had said to him, things that I didn't mean and the last thing I wanted was for him to die before I could make it up to him. I had to tell him what he meant to me…I had to tell him that I didn't care that I couldn't speak so long as he was there with me. I didn't need my voice! I'd never needed it before! What I needed was him, I needed Kori back with me. I saw the soft blue light of the street lamp that signified we were on my street and that we were almost home. I ran up the front steps before kicking my door open. I brought him inside quickly rushing to my bedroom, not stopping even for a moment to take a breath. Bursting through the door I laid him down on my bed fetching my etwahl nearby and placing it across my waist so that I could begin to play. I strummed it letting out a harmonious melody that filled the room around us. The green light was much brighter now as it began to surround his body like a cocoon and I continued to play: franticly, quickly, sloppily. My fingers flew across the strings filling the air with a cantankerous din. I didn't care how it sounded. I didn't care if the neighbors became angry or if it put my etwahl out of tune. I didn't care about any of that; all I wanted was for my Kori to come back to me. The wound in his chest started to close slowly before it finally sealed, slurping up the spilled blood like a hungry maw. Tossing my etwahl away from me, it hit the ground with a clang as I shook him gently begging mentally for him to open his eyes.

That was when his body seized and with one last gasp…he breathed no more. No…I had failed. I had tried everything, I had run so far and played so quickly and still I had failed. He had protected me all my life and the one time he needed me to be there for him I had failed him. I could feel the pain in my chest swelling heavily as I threw myself upon him, tears pouring from my eyes as I laid my head on his chest.

Why did it have to be him?! Why was the universe punishing me like this? All I had ever wanted was someone to call a friend, someone I could love who loved me back. Someone to hold me when I was scared or hurt and to tell me it would all be okay and when I had finally found him the universe decided to twist the knife in my heart by taking him away from me. I cried into him, I wanted to go on crying forever. I was going to die here I decided, I wanted to be with him and if he died then so would I if that's what it took to be at his side forever. I laid there for what felt like hours, his shirt becoming soaked with my tears as I clung to him like a ship wrecked sailor clinging to flotsam. I had given up, as far as I was concerned my life had ended the same time his had…but then…I heard it: the subtle thump from within his body. His heart…it had beaten…I had heard it. I looked up at him and still his eyes did not open. Placing my head back on his chest I listened again. Once more I heard his heartbeat, this time becoming stronger. Oh please, I begged to the Gods, don't let this be another cruel trick on me. Don't give me this false hope only to yank it away from me again. You already had my life, what more could they possibly want? I heard him take a sharp breath as the Gods answered my prayers. They hadn't taken him away from me; they had let him stay with me still. I swallowed wiping away my tears with the back of my hand as I threw my arms around him, his lungs once more taking in air and releasing it outward. He was alive…he was going to be okay. We were going to be okay. I laid beside him, curling into a ball and cuddling against him. I had almost lost him, and I swore to myself then that never again would I let him go.

I ran my hands through his long silky silver hair as I gently kissed his cheek, begging for his eyes to open, but they would not. I admit, I feared that they would never reopen. But that was okay, as long as I got to have just a few more minutes with him I would be okay. "I love you Kori…" I whispered softly in my mind. "I love you so much…and I'm so, so, sorry I hurt you. You said that these feelings weren't real, that they were fake. That in reality I didn't truly love you, it was something that you had caused." I sniffled as I continued talking to him, wishing deeply that he could hear me. "You were partially right Kori…you did cause it. It wasn't something that came from my heart alone, it was something that you had given me by always being there for me like you were. You are the one who put these feelings in my heart Kori. But you were also wrong…they weren't fake Kori. I don't care if they are caused by you being around me…because I love you so much Kori that I'd rather be with you than living the harsh reality where I'm alone. Real or fake, that doesn't matter. I know where these feelings belong Kori; they belong in my heart just like you do."

I rested my head on his shoulder as tears continued to flow from my eyes and it was then that my window burst open darkness filling the air above us. Nocturne formed once more, his hand intact again. "Move little girl, I am here to finish the job!" I shook my head as my hand reached down to his waist, grasping the aara's handle. "I said move or I'll slice right through you to get to him! He will pay for all of the times he's slain my brethren, just as you will pay for stopping me from getting my vengeance!" He raced towards us coating us in darkness as he went to slay my love in his sleep.

"NO!" I shouted in my mind. "I WILL NOT LET HIM BE TAKEN FROM ME!" Nocturne continued coming towards us and with a quick flick of my wrist the aara came free lashing out at my worst of nightmares. "STAY BACK!" I shouted to him in my mind, cracking the aara again. He laughed an evil daunting laugh that was like nails upon a chalk board.

"You don't even know what you have child! You cannot weild that! You don't even know what it is!" I cracked it at him, but instead of slicing into him, it passed through him as though he were just a cloud of smoke. "I am your fear Sona! And don't you know? You can never run from your fears!" He let out another evil laugh as I cracked the aara again. I didn't know how to beat him, I didn't know if I could beat him. But if he wanted to kill Kori he'd have to kill me first, there was no denying that.

"I don't need to run from my fears! Because you underestimate me nightmare! I am not the scared little girl I used to be any more. What you fail to realize Nocturne is that I'm too old for nightmares anymore! You don't scare me!" With every word I lashed at him with the aara and each time it simply passed through him. Nocturne rolled his eyes.

"I've grown tired of this game pest, if you wish to die before your precious dreams do then fine! I will oblige!" He raced towards me and before I could react he had grabbed me by the throat. I clawed at him but nothing would hurt him. As hard as I tried I couldn't beat him. I coughed as I struggled to get air into my lungs, he was choking the life from me! I couldn't reach him, I couldn't even scratch him. That's when I saw the lights behind him. They were off. I remembered being woken up by my handmaids in the morning, the blinding light would hurt my eyes and they'd have to shut it off before they could get me from my sleep. Gripping the aara tightly, darkness began to cloud my vision as my mind desperately begged for air, my body being starved of my source of life. With one last desperate attempt I struck the light switch and the world was filled with a bright light.

I gasped as I sat up with start. I looked around me, my heart racing in a cold sweat to find that I was still lying next to Kori, his eyes still closed as I put my ear to his chest. His heart was beating…he was alive. Then…Nocturne…his attack…was it all just a dream? I looked to the window and saw that the shutters were bolted shut. So…it hadn't been real…he was just in my mind. I gently rubbed my throat. It certainly felt real…I can even still feel where he had grabbed me. I slowly slipped from the bed, kissing Kori's forehead as I walked into my bathroom. Staring into the mirror my blood ran ice cold. My body began to tremble as I backed away nearly falling into the bathtub behind me. In my reflection, there were dark bruises around my neck…like a hand print where someone had been strangling me. Looking back into the room I saw that Kori's aara was not sheathed around his waist…in fact it was lying on the ground its tip pointed towards the light switch I had flicked to escape my dream. A chill suddenly ran through my spine as my mind began to wander.

What if I still was not awake…what if I was still dreaming? How would I know? I remember Kori saying something about being able to tell if you were asleep or not…but what was it? I closed my eyes trying to focus hard on the things he had told me about dreams but I couldn't recollect a single thing. Suddenly my mind whirred into action as I recalled what he had said. Reading! Your mind couldn't read in dreams because it was too complex to create in your head. I walked to my room and quickly went to the bookshelf grabbing one off the shelf and opening it. Looking down at the page I let out a sigh of relief. It was legible; the world around me was indeed the real one.

I spent the next few hours simply watching over Kori, waiting for him to open those emerald green eyes so that I could see his warm and caring smile. I wanted to hear his voice again and to spend time with him like we did the day of the concert. But most importantly I wanted him to teach me how to defend myself from my nightmares. I wanted to know how to fight them so that he wouldn't have to protect me all the time. I was tired of being the helpless damsel in distress and I wanted to be the one to help him for once.

"You help more than you think…" a weak voice called out in my mind and turning I saw Kori smiling softly at me, that warm smile that I loved so much. His emerald green eyes shone softly in the dim light of the room and I immediately wrapped my arms around him causing him to wince.

"Oh…sorry…" I told him. "I'm just so happy that you're okay…" I could feel the tears coming back and not wanting him to see me cry I buried my face in his neck. I could feel his hand softly stroking my hair, and for the first time since I saw him last night a large smile had come to my face. He was back…he was finally back.

"Sona…" he whispered to me. "You shouldn't have saved me." I looked up at him.

"What?" I sniffled.

"You deserve better than me Sona…I was your guardian and I failed you…again. I can see from the bruises that Nocturne came in the night…which means you saved me. I'm very grateful Sona…but you shouldn't have saved me. If it meant protecting you, I would gladly have let him kill me." I brought my arm up and quickly slapped him across the face with the back of my hand.

"Don't you ever say that! You hear me? Never say that to me again!" He was stunned as I stared deep into his eyes. "Don't you get it Kori? Don't you understand that I love you? You want to protect me because you care about me Kori, but don't you dare be so selfish as to die for me. Because…" the tears began to roll down my cheeks, "I don't want to have to live without you Kori. I need you." He just stared at me, his face expressionless as he watched me.

"Sona…" he said softly. I turned to him giving him a hard stare. "I know…that you love me…and I love you too Sona…don't ever believe otherwise. I know you don't want me to sacrifice myself for you…but if you died and there was something I could have done to stop it…I'd never forgive myself." He gently put his hands on my shoulders gripping them tightly. "You're a precious gift to this world Sona…I'm nothing more than a dream." I shook my head as I looked at him.

That wasn't true. He wasn't just a dream to me. I pointed to his chest and drew a heart on it with my finger before doing the same with mine. I pointed to his heart then pointed to mine. He nodded softly. "Kori…you are more than just a dream…you're a gift to the world…to my world…" I wrapped my arms around him again and he returned the favor holding me there with him the bed. Ever so gently he turned to me and kissed my lips. I eagerly kissed him back, I had been starved for the taste of his lips on mine since we had kissed last night. We sat there locked in a passionate embrace, sitting in each other's arms our lips melded together like a pair of young lovers. I placed my leg between his, trying to press myself even closer to him when my foot tapped something hard. "Oh…" I had completely forgotten. I reached down and grasped his harp, the one that I had cracked in frustration and held it up to him. "I'm…really sorry…"I whispered softly.

He took it with a shaky hand and I could tell he was upset. "Oh no…" he whispered softly. "Sona…what happened to it?" I looked away from him, unable to face his gaze as I gently pressed the tips of my finger together.

"Well…you see I…you would have…you would have died and so…I tried to play it but it wouldn't work, so I kind of…well…I chucked it at the wall…and it cracked…but I could play it then…and it let me help keep you alive until we got back…" He frowned softly and I immediately bowed my head apologizing profusely. "I'm so, so, sorry Kori…please don't be upset with me…it really was an accident I swear…" He put his finger to my lips tenderly indicating for me to stop apologizing. The instant I felt his soft gentle touch on my lips my mind fell silent. It was a strange sensation as I kissed his finger lightly smiling at him.

"Sona…it's okay. I know it was an accident. But…it is very important…we have to get it fixed as soon as possible…" I looked to him puzzled. He smiled at me and began to explain. "Sona…have you ever heard of binaural beats?" he asked me. I gently shook my head. I had never heard of such a thing. He smiled gently and nuzzled against me. "Binaural beats are subtle sounds played as undertones…usually combined with music or some other form of sound…my harp was enchanted… so that when it was strummed by me it would play binaural beats indefinitely. These beats…Sona…are what allows me to fight against Nocturne when he appears." I nodded.

"When he showed up…I tried to hit him with the aara but it just went right through him." Kori nodded to me with a smile.

"The instrument's vibrations channel through the aara, making it vibrate at the same rate…when it matches his frequency I am able to hit him…otherwise…you may as well be trying to cut through air. We need to get it fixed as soon as possible; otherwise we are sitting ducks for him." I frowned softly. I hadn't meant to break his instrument…I can only imagine what it would feel like if someone had cracked my etwahl.

"Where can we get it repaired?" I asked softly but he just shook his head.

"We can't…it was enchanted by our elder…and he's…well he's no longer with us."

"But we can't just give up! We've got to be able to do something to beat him." Kori sat there his chin in his hand as he attempted to come up with a solution to our predicament. Watching him, I couldn't stop thinking about how cute he was when he was so serious.

"Sona…please stop swooning you're throwing off my focus." My cheeks turned a bright red.

"You heard that?" I exclaimed.

"You were thinking out loud." I covered my face with my hands in embarrassment before Kori smiled brightly. "I've got it!" He exclaimed catching me by surprise. He took my hands in his and I could see the glimmer in his eye, one that boasted confidence as the gears turned quickly in his head. "Sona, where did you get your etwahl?"

"I've always had it…the orphanage found it with me…" He nodded the smile in his eyes not fading.

"Excellent…and they tried to get rid of it right?"

"Y-yes?"

"And yet it always came back to you, did it not?" I looked at him raising an eyebrow.

"Kori you're starting to frighten me a little." He wrapped his arms around me tightly surprising me with a big kiss upon the lips before he let out a triumphant laugh.

"Sona! Your instrument is far more special than you know…you see…your instrument is bound to you. I don't know who bound it to you but they did, which means, it is enchanted." I blinked at him puzzled.

"What do you mean enchanted?" I asked.

"Your instrument can only be played by you Sona! That's why it was always returned to you, because no one else could figure out how to play it. Your adopted mother must have recognized the instrument for what it was, that's why she adopted you. So she could teach you how to play your bound instrument." I looked at him dubiously.

"But that's…that's ridiculous! I'm sure my etwahl could be played by someone else, I just don't ever let other people touch it because it's important to me." I watched as he reached across me to my etwahl and plucked one of the strings. There was no sound, no note escaped from its strings.

"See Sona? Your etwahl is also capable of laying binaural beats. All I have to do is teach you how to play them and we'll be just fine. Oh Sona this is perfect! You're a much better musician than I, which means your playing will allow us to inflict much more damage to Nocturne should he attack again." I looked to him. He was so excited to teach me this new technique and it was nice to see him so ecstatic for a change. My mind began to wander as I began to day dream. There he was arms wrapped around me as I plucked the strings of my etwahl. "No Sona…like this…" he'd whisper his breath in my ear as his hands softly rested upon mine. He'd guide me and once I started to get the hang of it he'd praise me softly so that only I could hear…then his lips would meet mine to congratulate me and…I was popped out of my day dream when I realized he had said something else.

"I'm sorry, I spaced out…what did you say?"

"I said you're swooning again." I blushed even redder and nuzzled up against him.

"Can't a girl dream of romance from the man she loves?" I asked him playfully as he nuzzled back. "After all…even you had to admit you enjoyed that first kiss…" I rolled over on top of him straddling his lap as I gently leaned in, my lips just inches from his. "Why…I bet you're even thinking about it right…now…"I whispered softly in his mind. For once it was his turn to blush. He shook his head furiously attempting to deny it but I could see right through the illusion. For once I was tired of doing the chasing after him…I wanted him to chase me for once. I'd never really flirted with a man before…but it should just be instinct right? I mean how hard can it be?

I leaned down closer to him pouting softly as I looked up at him. "Aww…so you don't want a kiss?" I made sure to arch my back a bit so that he could see down my shirt a ways. I may have been mute and socially awkward as a child…but when I matured I became a sexy, socially awkward mute. I pressed against him harder as his cheeks became much redder and he swallowed nervously, his eyes trailing from my breasts, to my face, and then back again as he tried to shake the fog I was putting in his head. I smiled softly as I felt his heart start to race and I gently brushed a hand along the side of cheek, pushing a lock of metallic gray hair from his face. Leaning lower I felt him take a sharp breath as kissed just under his chin.

"Gods Sona…this…this is important…" I smiled. His voice was shaky. I could tell his resolve was weakening and I smiled.

"Oh…I'm sure we'll be safe for a few minutes at least…it's going to take time to teach me anyway…" His body shuddered beneath mine as I leaned forward to kiss forehead. And that's when it happened…he rolled over flipping me on to my back roughly shoving his lips against mine. I eagerly kissed him back parting my lips so that I could taste his sweet tongue on mine. My hands ran through his long silky hair, pulling him even deeper into kiss. I almost pleaded for his lips to not leave mine until I felt them just behind my ear.

"It's not very nice to tease people Sona…" he whispered softly in my ear, the feeling of his hot breath on my skin giving me goosebumps. "Now we'll see how you like it…" he purred. He began kissing softly down my neck. He was moving slowly, oh so slowly. With ever kiss he placed on me my body craved more and when he reached my collar bone I thought I was going to faint from the heat that was coursing in my veins. My lips parted letting out a soft exhale as he began to suck on my exposed skin gently nibbling there. And then in the blink of an eye his lips had left my body once more.

"Kori…" I whimpered in his head…"Don't stop now." He smiled softly at me and gently ran a finger from where he had kissed my collarbone up my throat. I tilted my head back as he continued running his finger nail along my jaw and tickling me under my chin.

"I'm sorry Sona…I love you…but, I'm not ready to go further…not yet. You will just have to be patient with me." I frowned softly. I didn't want to be patient, damn it I wanted him now! I wanted him to extinguish the fires he had set alight in my soul.

"But…but…" I whimpered softly before he silenced me with another kiss, this one under my chin along my wind pipe.

"No buts Sona…all in good time…I swear it…" his words and kisses brought a soft smile to my face as he sucked on my neck, a feeling I had never experienced before save this very moment. So many things I'd never even known I wanted, I wanted to do with Kori. I wanted to experience everything…to savor every feeling, every sensation he could provide for me.

"A-alright Kori…" I whispered through our link. "I…I can wait…but…can I…make a request?" He smiled into my neck and I felt him graze his teeth against me.

"Name it my love…"

My love…he called me his love. "Even if we…even if we don't go further…could you…" I was so embarrassed to ask for it. I'm sure he thought it would be absolutely insane and I clammed up. I took a deep breath not wanting to share my most intimate desire with him but I suddenly felt him get off of me.

"Well?" He called giving me a wink. "You're going to have to get ready you know otherwise it won't work very well." Curse that mental link. When I saw him go into my bathroom to fetch the necessary thing I smiled. Bless that mental link! I laid down on my stomach unzipping the back of my dress so that he could see my exposed back. When he returned he had a bottle of oil and was blushing. "I'm not entirely sure…if I'll be very good at this…" he said shyly.

"Shut up and put your hands on me." I giggled softly as he poured some oil into his hands. As he straddled my back I slipped out of the straps of my dress with a smile, making sure to keep my slightly large breasts covered from view. I nearly melted under his touch, a lopsided grin appearing on my lips. The way his hands glided across my back, the warm oil soaking in to my skin...it was absolute bliss. I closed my eyes softly as I laid my head on my arms allowing him to continue. I'll admit it wasn't like the hot rock shiatsus that I occasionally got at the spa but there was something special about the way he made me feel when he touched me. It was so much more intimate in comparison and with every movement he made he placed pressure upon my shoulders loosening the knots in my muscles. He gently leaned in whispering in my ear.

"Do you like the way that feels baby?" He purred his words adding to the experience. I laid there seeing stars of pleasure as I cherished the time he spent dedicated to providing me with such wonderful sensations. I nodded softly, my mind so scattered that I couldn't begin to formulate a response to his question. All too soon, the massage was over as he slipped off of my back with a smile. "There you go Sona…better?" I just nodded intoxicated by the way he had touched me. I sat up slowly and I noticed his cheeks burned a bright red and he turned his back to me quickly. I squeaked as I realized that I was still uncovered and quickly clutched my dress to my chest.

"Oh my Gods, I am so sorry Kori…I didn't mean to do that."

"No, no. It's fine…please don't feel like have to apologize…besides, I…thought they were rather lovely…" My cheeks burned red like roses as I slipped my dress back onto my shoulders.

"I…ummm…thank you." I whispered bashfully in his mind. "Umm…Kori, one last thing could you help me with this zipper?"

"Oh yeah…no problem." He responded shyly as he approached. I turned from him so he could have better access and within moments I could feel his trembling hands on the small metal wedge. Once it was completely zipped up I turned back to him causing the hem to twirl around me. I smiled cutely to him before placing a gentle kiss on his lip in gratitude causing him to just stand there stunned.

"You know…I figured you'd get used to that eventually." I teased, his shyness making me just want to squeeze him tight.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to being kissed by a woman as lovely as you Sona…" he whispered back to me as he pulled my waist against his. "At any rate…we shouldn't hesitate…are you ready to learn the art of the binaural beats?"

I gave a sigh, the sensitive moment between us fading away like the final chord of a symphony. The passion however would never be lost. Keeping it close to my heart would always be my first priority, but for now I needed to focus. I wanted to impress him with what I could do, so I anxiously nodded my head, ready for my first lesson.

He smiled softly at me; I could tell he was pleased by the answer I had given and walking to where my etwahl laid he lifted it and offered it to me. "I suppose we should start at the very basics…primarily…what is sound? Sound is the repeated oscillation of air molecules at a pitch or frequency that is able to be perceived. It has many different qualities: frequency, amplitude, period, timbre, pitch, treble, bass, direction, volume, resonance, the list truly goes on and on. We're going to have to go over each and every one of these concepts before you're ready to attempt to play any binaural beats." I raised my hand slowly.

"Yes Sona?"

"What exactly…are binaural beats?" I asked slowly worried he would scold me. Instead he just flashed that warm smile of his and his green eyes shone with a confident light.

"Binaural beats are tracks of sound located beneath a normal song; however each one of the beats is played in different sides of a person's hearing. This means that you must be able to prevent one side of their head from receiving input from the other side." I frowned softly. This was going to be a very long and tedious lesson. Closing my eyes I nodded and put my fingers to the strings.

To be continued in Ch. 5: A Round of Resonance…