Heartbeat of the War God
is a RG Veda fanfic written by October, taking place after the end of the original manga, so be aware there'll be spoilers.
2000 years after Zenmijou's war, Kujaku sacrificed his life to bring Ashura back to life. With the prophecy defied and the True Ashura not giving sings of returning, Ashura and Yasha can live up to their promise of being together. But things complicate when Ashura starts to have dreams of a mysterious woman alongside his twin brother Tentei Tenou, and his desire to see his sibling drag nomad Ashura and Yasha back into civilization; with folklore of "The Demon of Zenmijou" being around for so long, can Yasha protect Ashura from the cruel, unknown world that might see him as a demon instead of the innocent and broken soul he really is? Will Ashura be able to gain Tenou's forgiveness after all he has done?
Heartbeat of the War God contains examples of:
- Big Damn Kiss: Ashura and Yasha finally kiss in Chapter 3.
- The Chains of Commanding: Tenou is turn by his love for his twin and his responsabilities towards his people, as many are still afraid of Ashura potentially succumbing to the Dark Ashura again, despite Ashura giving constant proof that he's harmless.
- Chastity Couple: Subverted. Ashura and Yasha are wed by Gandharva rite, have their hot make-out sessions and it's implied that Ashura might even touch Yasha, but they haven't consume their relationship in the "proper" way as Ashura is sexless and Yasha is afraid of hurting him in his lust.
- Chivalrous Pervert: Kama is introduced writting what's basically the Kama Sutra for gods. He also asks Ashura personal information on his relationship with Yasha and it's very curious on how a sexless body would experience intercourse. Still, Kama himself recognizes that his questions are entirely for professional curiosity, and Ashura admits that Kama is a nice, understanding listener who didn't made fun of or criticited his shyness and love life.
- Chosen Conception Partner: When Yasha is infused with Ashuric blood and gained their seed, Shukidevi offered to bear the Ashura children. Not only to have one last night with her impossible love but because no other woman will accept to bear an Ashura.
- Costume Porn: After gaining access to a wardrope, Ashura's (and sometimes Yasha's) election of clothes are described in high details. Especially their wedding clothes.
- Deuteragonist: Ashura and Yasha are co-protagonists, as this story is all about them both. However, the story also gives a significant spot to Tenou, as he's the last living character from Ashura and Yasha's generation.
- Empathic Weapon: Yamato and Shurato, though it's moreso with the latter. Shurato often reflects Ashura's inner feelings and it's mentioned to hiss and rage at times.
- Everyone Has Standards: Shuki is not like Shashi; she would never kill a baby she borne herself just because the baby is an Ashura.
- Hindu Mythology: The fic is more loyal to Hinduism than the original work. Many other gods interact with Ashura and Yasha, Yasha becomes a Yashka and revealed to be the Yamadharma, the hindu god of Death, which adds a new layer of personal difficulties to him. Ashura is also modified to be a manifestation of Shiva beside an Asura.
- I Gave My Word: In order to get Shurato from the kekkai Ashura encaged her, Yasha had to promise Shukidevi a one-night stand with him despite how much he would like to never have anything with anyone but Ashura.
- Meat Versus Veggies: Ashura becomes a strict vegetarian because the taste of anything that used to be alive can cause the return of the Dark Ashura. Yasha joins the vegetarianism when it's revealed that he holds now the Dark Ashura.
- Instant Seduction: Hinduism's love god, Kamadeva, appears as Ashura's tutor. As he's the love god, he's literally impossible to resist and even Ashura who loves Yasha to death can't help to feel flustered in Kama's presence. And even let himself be touched by Kama.
- No Biological Sex: Ashura's sexless nature is respected by the author, and he turned it into an interesting character trait. Ashura is conscious that he's different from everybody and the fact that he's barren brings him much angst, especially when Shukidevi taunts him and demeans him as a burden to Yasha.
- Otherworldly and Sexually Ambiguous: Ashura is genderfluid in this story. Depending on whenever Yasha is around, Ashura dresses in more feminine clothes but uses more masculine clothes when he's alone with other people. Kama says it's because Ashura is more feminine in comparation to his very masculine lover.
- Rags to Riches: Ashura and Yasha when they're greet in Zenmijou by Tenou. Tenou even declares Ashura a prince because they're siblings born from the same mother. This is played very realistically, as Ashura is practically a Wild Child who has never been taught on the ways of a royal court and it shows many times.
- Red String of Fate: Kama's wedding gift to the main couple is whenever and however they reincarnate, Yasha and Ashura will remember and love each other and be together for as long as they live.
- Riches to Rags: At the end, Ashura and Yasha are in need to leave Zenmijou because their presence disturbs peace. They are happily exiled to Mount Meru to live in a small house.
- Revenge: Ryuu-oh's cousin Seiryuu, after hearing that his cousin and king's "killer" was alive and living in Zenmijou as Tentei's guest, prepared the whole Ryuu clan for battle (even the woman and children) and started to make his way to Lower Zenmijou.
- Shoot Your Mate: In order to prove his loyalty to Tentei Tenou, Yasha is ordered to publically execute Ashura. Tenou stops him at the last second.
- Shrouded in Myth: Ashura is painted in legends and folklore as "The Demon of Zenmijou" for the Dark Ashura's rampage in the original work. Many people, even Tenou (who only got to met Ashura in his omnicidal state) are surprised that Ashura actually is a naive sweetheart.
- Succession Crisis: Because of his status as the Yamadharma, Yasha is in need of continuing the god of Death's bloodline, but he doesn't want to be unfaithful to Ashura.
- Understanding Boyfriend: Yasha will always think on Ashura's happiness and safety over all, he's caring and understanding of his inner demons and even when Ashura was loved by Kama Yasha was OK with it, if it made Ashura happy.
- Unto Us a Son and Daughter Are Born: Shuki gives birth to an Ashura boy and girl, saving and securing the Ashura bloodline.
- Walking the Earth: Ashura and Yasha wander away from civilization in order to hide Ashura's existence.
- Woman Scorned: Ashura did not took well that Yasha slept with Shuki; his rage even awoke the Dark Ashura. But as he loves Yasha too much to harm him, he was about to kill Shuki if it weren't for Yasha telling him that she was carring his child.
