InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Inuyasha Crossover with ...Dinotopia? ❯ We Come in Peace...Possibly ( Chapter 3 )

Dinotopia, part 3

 

It was only a few days journey to the vast Gates of Dinotopia. Then, even Kagome was mildly breathless at the resplendid city lain with white stone and towering high as modern skyscrapers. Hundreds of city dwellers stared up her and her companions- especially, she noted, at Inuyasha. It made sense of course. Even here amongst these oddly dressed folk Inuyasha was the only dog-eared person among them.

Before long, the driver of the animal they were riding threw a ladder down. Kagome happily ascended. The swaying, steady motion was not unlike to being rocked about by waves. So much so that at first she had almost been seasick. The slightly dizzy miko tripped and fell into Inuyasha's arms, where she was immediately engrossed in a possessive embrace. Standing amidst all the curious onlookers, Kagome felt even more the curiosity.

A man dressed in a ludicrous frock appeared, along with several others. The words spat at them remained meaningless until a miniature dinosaur separated from the sidelines and exchanged a few words with the man in charge. Then, coming up to stand before Inuyasha, it bowed and startled all of them by addressing them in perfect Japanese.

“Hell. My name is Jezin. I take it you are in need of a translator?” Inuyasha quickly got over his shock and scowled.

“Translator? What's that?”

“Inuyasha,” Kagome put in mildly. “A translator is someone whom can speak more than one language. So if you ask him for something, he can tell other people what it is you are saying and they can get what you need.

“Keh.”

“In that case,” Sesshomaru said assuming a passive-aggressive diplomatic position. “You should inform us as to why you have escorted us here. You will do so immediately.” The translator looked wondrously at him.

“This is the City of Dinotopia. All newcomers are welcomed here and their names recorded.”

“Indeed. For what purpose does one engage in this frivolous task?”

“Why, to make newcomers into citizens.”

“I see,” Sesshomaru said coldly. “So you intend to manipulate us into vassals?”

“Of course not!” The dinosaur hastened to correct her mistake. “We are extending an honor and our humble services to help you adjust into a new life.”

“Hum. I will not be requiring such services. I do not intend to remain here or to accept your ideals. Neither do my traveling companions. Tell your leader that.” The dinosaur's eyes widened.

“Yes, of course,” she stammered before rushing off toward the ludicrously dressed fat man. Discussion flared up again and disquieted eyes flickered in their direction. The translator returned again.

“Sir, the Governor of Dinotopia humbly requests that you accept lodgings for tonight. Also, he would like you to speak before the counsel. They have already gathered and are eager to meet you.”

“That is an acceptable request.”

“Come this way, please sir. I will show you to the counsel room.” Sesshomaru chose to follow, Inuyasha growling all the way and having to be led by arm by Kagome. Everyone around him continued to stare at his appearance and such treatment only opened an old wound.

At last they were escorted into the counsel hall where the truly oddly dressed man stood behind a large book. He gave an ink quill pen to Inuyasha whom came first. Inuyasha growled at it, completely lost for words before Sesshomaru reached over and gave it a barely audible snap. The action did, however, get everyone in the hall's attention.

“Did I not tell you?” Sesshomaru said loudly, “that we will not be participating in your tradition?”

“But you must!” the translator stammered as chatter broke out along the hall. “All people do! It is an honor!”

“Spare me,” said Inuyasha catching on and walking back to the rest of his companions. The translator was immediately surrounded in an animated debate. Frequently, she shook her head furiously.

“Oh no, Inuyasha, I think we got her into trouble,” Kagome said sadly.

“That's her problem. I don't even know what the heck we're doing here.”

“Inuyasha. If you want to receive help your have to give something in return. I think I know how to fix this.” She withdrew a tiny ballpoint pen from her pocket and scribbled her name down. The translator looked thankfully up at her.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha shouted. “What the heck are you doing? Sesshomaru's right, we shouldn't give in to them!”

“Oh shush, Inuyasha!” Kagome said reassuringly. “We'll just say that you and Sesshomaru have ….err, religious reasons against it. I don't mind pretending to be a vassal for a while.” Sesshomaru frowned.

“Do you intend to be respectful toward a vow?”

“There are no vows here, Lord Sesshomaru. I won't say a thing about loyalty even if they call me a citizen. We are going to leave Dinotopia as soon as we are able.”

“Hum,” Miroku spoke up. “It sounds like a good plan, Inuyasha. Consider it. You and Inuyasha have your reputations to maintain tied to your lineage. Sango and myself however are neutral in regards to our loyalties. It would do us no harm to humor them. Unless…” Here the discussion turned serious.

“Unless what Miroku?”

“Unless they follow through on more discrete intentions. How about this- Kagome-sama and I will act as mediators and cooperate to the best of our abilities. We will ask for any information on how to reopen the portal and then, if that fails, we shall seek another answer.”

“Just ask it now!” Inuyasha growled. “Oh never mind! Do what you want Miroku. It's no skin off my nose.”

Miroku and Sango both scribed their names in the Book of Dinotopia. Inuyasha, however, help Shippo back from participating and Kilala wasn't even bothered. Acting on her plan, Kagome told the translator that there were religious reasons the remainder of her companions could not write their names on paper. The crazed story Kagome made up was humiliatingly far-fetched but oddly enough, effective.

More than a little nervous from all the pressure, the translator led them to a balcony atop of the room. Here, it was possible to look on the mill of humans below and the dinosaurs on balconies. Not an architecturally sage idea, thought Kagome roughly guessing the weight load. But the imagined disaster of collapsing balconies and screaming people were whisked out of the miko's mind as she stood on the platform first to address the extraordinary vibrant crowd.

“I am Kagome Higurashi,” she began. “I am fifteen years old,” she said restating what she had scribed in the book. “I am also a miko. I travel with my friends in our...err, pack,” she said eyes lighting up proudly at the new term she had learned recently. We fight demonic monsters.” The translator shook her head but translated anyway and returned with a question from the counsel.

“So you consider yourself an exorcist?”

“No. I am a miko. My friend Miroku is a monk and he knows more about exorcism than I do.”

“Thank you,” said the translator. “For our next question, what is the state that the world is in?” Kagome blinked.

“Err, what year is it?”

“1958.”

“What! We jumped into the future? I can't believe this!”

“Is the world at peace or at war, then?” the translator asked desperately.

“Mostly peace. I think.”

Next, it was Miroku turn. He smiled proudly and did his utmost best to command the stage on which he had been placed.

“Why yes. I do perform exorcisms. Is there a need for my services? What. How astonishing. Do you have another question you'd like to ask me?”

“The world? There are stirring of a rumor that a man named Odo Nubunaga has been moving to unify the various provinces out the capital. No, I am not retelling history. This is a valuable insight.”

“My name is Sango,” said the demonslayer. “The world? I only know that from where I come from, there has been a long war against Naraku. He has swallowed up countless other demons and destroyed many precious human lives. That is why my group and I journey to defeat him.”

Next, Inuyasha clambered onto the stand. “What? I'm telling you that's my real age. I'm not human, stupid so quit calling me that.”

“You're …not? Then what are you?” the translator pressed him.

“I'm a youkai of course. Half-youkai anyway.”

“Half-youkai?”

“Do I look normal to you, idiot? I think my fangs and claws give me away.” Kagome suddenly got the sense that their representative was mistranslating their words on purpose. At last Sesshomaru walked up onto the narrow balcony, commander of all attention. Kagome tensed. She was only remotely surprised when Jakin introduced the Taiyoukai first.

“Lord Sesshomaru. Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, son of Lord Toga and Lady Shaga.” There were murmurs.

“The Counsel wishes to ask what encompasses the Western Lands.” Kagome groaned out her consternation. None of Sesshomaru's answers would make sense to them.

 

Like to the meeting in Counsel, the night's lodgings proved to be a dismal affair. The governor in charge tried to divide them all up between multiple households. But Inuyasha; Sesshomaru; and even Sango and Miroku, with their keen battle wariness, knew better than to be divided and conquered. Even the more ignorant of them were pleased when their leaders protested; Kagome and Shippo felt much more comfortable curled in a sleeping bag by Inuyasha's side than distant from him. In the end the persistent governor had to relent to both a very colorful and a very violent outcry.

Sesshomaru sat against a sidewall, protectively huddled over the child sleeping on his fur in an endearing sort of way. Uh-Un slumbered in the courtyard below with a grumbling Jakin to guard them. Everyone else slept on bedding brought over with them from the Sengoku Jidai or none at all. Together as the wanted, they yet felt it as a strained shelter, one foreign to them and the morning's irradiance came like a blessing, breaking free the chains which held them here in this conspired sanctuary.

Breakfast was scraped from their pots in defiance to Dinotopia's dine-in standards, much to their host's consternation. Then, before anyone could tell them otherwise and the shadows grew long, Inu-taichi and Sesshomaru-tachi if indeed one existed spilled onto the streets of what might prove an amusing wonderland. A hundred sights and smells flooded through the preceptorary even for humans and thousands more for demons. Inuyasha could not help but begin sniffing.

“Shippo,” Miroku called out with concern for the kit interlacing his words. “I think it would be best if you stayed close to Sango and myself today. We would not want you to get lost in such a large city.”

“Good idea,” Inuyasha agreed in a robust voice that sung of respect for the monk's actions. “Go with Miroku and Sango today, and stay out of trouble.”

“Inuyasha,” Kagome broke in as if the thought of being separated from Shippo's great cuteness were painful. “I don't understand why you wouldn't want us all to stay together.” The hanyou crossed his arms, the prelude to a lofty announcement.

“If we did that, then we would never find out what we need to.“

“So we are going to ask people how to reopen the portal?”

“Inuyasha is right, Kagome-sama,” Miroku interjected. “We may be able to find this country's equivalent of a miko.” Kagome's eyes clouded with thought.

“You know,” Kagome said tapping her chin with her finger. “I think Jezin mentioned something about there being a library here. Inuyasha, will you help me check it out?”

“Wha?” Inuyasha asked before being pulled down the street by the sleeve of his robe. Kagome was in one of her excitable, crazed moods apparently. Miroku, Sango, Kilala, and Shippo wandered off on their own. Sesshomaru-tachi had left them all a long time ago.

 

The Library of Dinotopia was just as magnificent as the gateway to the city had been- albeight in a different manner. While the gateway had been an imposing monument of iridescent stone, this was the sanctuary of shadows, tied to the heart by scent of leather and the visual warmth of wood. Kagome squealed in excitement more suited to a bibliophile than a school truant and pulled interesting parchments from the shelves- to gaze at if not to read. Then, finally, she sought and found a section of texts written in Japanese. The miko selected a dozen important looking scrolls and carried them over to a window to peruse. She was startled when Inuyasha copied her actions. The miko's eyes practically shot up into her hair.

“Inuyasha,” she called, expecting attention. Inuyasha looked up from where he was reading. A mild frown creased his face but in no way hindered the godly glow cast on him from the window with an iron-grid like fish scales behind him. Motes of dust swirled about his ears and before his honey eyes.

“Yeah, Kagome? What do you want?” The miko continued to look perplexed at him.

“Inuyasha. I never knew you could read.” Inuyasha snorted and threw the scroll down on the table.

“My mother was born a hime. Do you honestly believe for a second she would allow her son to go untaught?” Kagome blinked, then bristled at his antagonistic goading.

“Well excuse me. It's not like you've shown any interest in my books.”

“The writing in your books is different than mine.” Inuyasha spoke with minimal sourness. “Some of the words are the same but a few of them are different. Then there are the just plain weird ones, like the ingredients in the ramen cup.” Recognition sparkled in Kagome's eyes.

“You're right, Inuyasha. I never thought of that. Language evolves over time so… any of the words introduced from foreign lands or starting out as a variant or slang wouldn't be part of Old Japanese. There are lots of words I don't know precisely because they are ancient kanji.” She smiled.

“You know what, Inuyasha, I think we should work on this together.”

“Keh. What do you think I was doing in the first place?” Inuyasha blushed slightly.

 

 

The recently ascended Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru-sama, traveled dutifully through the city, scenting the air and shifting the many smells contained therein. A look of satisfaction might have been his, had he not been so indisposed to expression as a general rule. So pleased he was, internally.

The Taiyoukai lord knocked on a front door none too gently, and its occupant opened it. Their eyes opened instinctively. Utopia though this was, in reality there is always the danger of the big bad wolf and Sesshomaru was currently looking down on a creature weak enough to be considered a pork chop. The Taiyoukai's stomach growled. He had after all, not had breakfast.

“Jezin,” Sesshomaru acknowledged the translator's existence as a being despite the complaints of his stomach. “I wish for you to arrange a private meeting with your governor. I have questions that must be answered immediately.” The Taiyoukai waited for the stunned translator's reaction.

“Sir, I don't know what to say…”

“Speech on your part is unnecessary. Just do as you are required.” The small dinosaur wilted under his gaze.

“Y-ye-yes, Sesshomaru-sama,” it stuttered. Finally, the Taiyoukai noted. The creature was finally beginning to see things his way.

 

 

More Actor's Comments-

 

Inudaughter: “So, Kilala, how do you, personally, feel about fanfics in general? Do they distress you as much as Miroku-sama?”

 

Kilala (through interpreter): “Probably more. For one thing, frequently I get left behind because fanfic authors chose not to do the delicate balance of screentime and social interplay which Rumiko does, choosing instead to focus on the conversation between two characters. And one thing the series intentionally lacks is lengthy monologues.”

 

Inudaughter: “Wow! You're exceptionally talkative today!”

 

Kilala (through interpreter): “Of course. Normally, I am surrounded by persons unknowledgeable in the native cat language. It is that which, for the foreseeable future, stands between us. Not that I mind, truly. But it does affect my own social interactions. It has become habitual of me to stand out of the way and allow others to act as they please. In the end, all that matters to me is that I support Mistress Sango.”

 

Inudaughter: “That all sounds very interesting. But tell us. Isn't there a time in which you really wanted your thoughts heard and no one could on the matter?”

 

Kilala (through interpreter): “I make up for it using the lassie method. Although, once I believe the word I spoke was easy to infer by all- in the episode Rival of the Nursing Lovers. Miroku steals a rivercrab from Inuyasha's food basket and has the gall to tell Inuyasha that he hadn't touched anything when he is literally red-handed. I called him liar then, in a teasing yet fond sort of way.”

 

Inudaughter: “So, is there anything more you wish to say regarding fanfics?”

 

Kilala (through interpreter): “I'm glad you asked! It's been bothering me for a while now all the varied styles. I know that even you are guilty of this, but for me humor is a critical element of Rumiko's style. An Inuyasha story without any humor, or romance either, is like Rumiko without a soul. It doesn't sit well with me.”

 

Inudaughter: “In its defense, fanfiction has off-the-wall paraody as well as novel style. Are you saying more traditional literary styles bothers you?”

 

Kilala (through interpreter): <pause> “I'm a boy's manga character, kitten. Not a lit major. I don't give a rat's ass about tradition.”

 

Inudaughter: Ouch.

 

Kilala (through interpreter): Yeah, well what a lot of people don't know is that in her day Rumiko was a social revolutionary. She was one of the first female authors of manga. She broke social barriers in other ways too, like getting into manga in the first place. There was a whole uproar in the 1980's where police were busting up amateur manga `cause it was considered debase and corrosive to society. Good times for Rumiko. Who knew that inking out cheesy love-stories could be so rebellious?”

 

Inudaughter and Kilala: <Look at each other.> “Girl Power!”