InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Displacement ❯ "Well Yippie For You" ( Chapter 3 )

Displacement

 

Chapter 3

 

“Well Yippie For You”

 

Sunlight streamed through the window of the small stone and wood cell Kagome and Inuyasha occupied in the rear of the palace. The beam shone itself onto Kagome's face, and she blinked awake after a moment. She sat up to watch Inuyasha in the corner of the cell. Tetsusaiga lay in his lap, his hands in his sleeves and his head down. The miko quickly recognized the hanyou's guard stance, and remained quiet. But then his ear twitched, and he raised his head.

 

“You're awake,” he stated, looking at her. Kagome nodded. How he managed to do that every time amazed her. She looked at his eyes and held back a frown. The hanyou was one of the strongest people she knew, physically and mentally, but the eyes were betraying him - he didn't like the situation any more than she did, probably less.

 

“Yeah,” she replied, stretching. Sleep had only come after several hours and laying awake and contemplating what had happened to them. Ancient China, long before the Senkogu Jidai, before even the most fundamental aspects of modern culture had taken root. The hows, whys, and whats of the idea had made sure she had gotten only a few hours of sleep. The dry, scratchy hay and wooden bamboo walls and bars combined to make an uneasy environment that hadn't helped any.

 

“So, what now?” Inuyasha muttered. Kagome thought for a moment. With one swing of Tetsusaiga, half of the palace would be in splinters and they would be halfway back to Japan before the Lord even knew they were gone. But escaping didn't solve the problem of the fact they were a thousand years or so before their time. And Kagome had no idea how to solve that problem.

 

“We need their help to find out how to get back home,” Kagome thought aloud. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.

 

“Have you fucking lost it? The Lord Ying whatever-the-hell had us locked down here in the first place! There's no way he'll help us!” he protested.

 

“He locked us up because he thought we were spies!” Kagome shot back. “We have to convince him we just want to go home.” Inuyasha scowled and snorted. Suddenly, his ears perked up, and he turned to face to the left. Kagome watched two of the armed guards approach them, with a welcome, familiar face.

 

“Good morning,” Ryuichi said with a bow. “I hope you are alright.”

 

“Merry-fucking-peachy,” Inuyasha growled, crossing his arms. Ryuichi either didn't understand or didn't acknowledge him, turning to Kagome.

 

“The Lord has decided to hear what it is you two would desire from us. He will decide what to do with you two after he is told,” he explained. Kagome took a breath.

 

“We're from the future and we just want to go home!” she blurted. Ryuichi frowned and thought for a moment. Kagome mentally groaned at the string of mutters and curses from behind her.

 

“You mean to tell me you are not of this era? Is that you meant by that…time travel term?” he asked. Kagome smiled in relief.

 

“Yes, exactly! We're from an era long after this one! We never meant to come here, we just want to go home!” he agreed. Ryuichi nodded.

 

“I will convey your message to Lord Ying Zheng,” he replied. “Please, wait here.” Ryuichi turned and left the prison, his guards remaining behind.

 

“You sure it was a good idea to tell him?” Inuyasha growled. Kagome sighed.

 

“No, but we have no choice. We have to try and convince them to help us,” she replied. “Something had to have happened with the well to send us here. We just have to figure out what.” She sat down in the hay and thought for a moment. Something had linked the two times together. The Sengoku Jidai and the modern world were linked by the Shikon-no-Tama, and the soul she and Kikyo shared. So what had happened to link the modern to this world? It was surely far too early for Inuyasha to have lived, and probably before Midoriko's time. Kaede had said it was several centuries before the time she knew, but this era was a few millennia before Midoriko. So what else could it be?

 

“The Lord would speak to the yaoguai.” Kagome looked up. Ryuichi had returned without her noticing.'

 

“Like hell, I ain't leaving Kagome,” Inuyasha snapped.

 

“I assure you, no harm will come to her. She will remain here, but she will be safe,” Ryuichi replied.

 

“Inuyasha, go, I'll be fine,” Kagome whispered. Inuyasha gave a look, and stood up. The guards undid the leather straps holding the bamboo cell, creaking it open. The hanyou pushed past them, and the door was tied back into place.

 

“I will take you to see Lord Ying Zheng,” Ryuichi said. “Follow me,”

 

“Yeah yeah,” Inuyasha muttered. Ryuichi stepped up to the door to the small, dark prison and rapped on it. The reed and wood door was pulled back, and Ryuichi led Inuyasha down the path into the main corridors of the palace. Inuyasha watched the movement of the guards out of the corners of his eye. Four were following him, and there were several with crossbows on the palace walls. Inuyasha smirked. Four humans in heavy iron armor with some crossbows? Even the lowliest youkai could beat that.

 

Two more guards pulled back the gate before them, and Ryuichi led Inuyasha into the palace. Two of the guards following fell off as they walked through the palace. There was a small staircase of polished wood leading up to a second floor. Finally, they stopped. The next set of reed doors were covered in a golden gloss.

 

“The Lord requests you wear this in his presence,” Ryuichi said, holding out his hand. Inuyasha reached out a claw and took the offered object. It was a woven string of some sort of plant, with a small brass setting holding a marble of polished green jade. “It has been enchanted by our Priests. Please put it on now,” Ryuichi explained.

 

“Whatever,” Inuyasha growled, slipping it over his head. “What the hell is this pendant gonna do anyway?”

 

“It will allow you to understand my words directly, yaoguai.” The guards bowed as Ryuichi parted the gold reeds and entered the next room. Inuyasha followed. Standing near the far wall, looking out a window, was the man they had met yesterday. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.

 

“Lord Ying Zheng, the yaoguai, as you requested,” Ryuichi whispered, bowing his head to the ground. Ying Zheng turned.

 

“Thank you, Ryuichi,” he replied. He turned his attention to Inuyasha. “It is customary in our land to bow to a lord, creature,” he said, a hint of annoyance entering his. Inuyasha got down on one knee.

 

“That's as low as I'm going,” he warned. Ying Zheng snorted.

 

“Very well. Obviously you do not like me. If it makes you feel better, I don't particularly like you, either. But fortunately I do not believe friendship is needed for either of our purposes,” he said. “What is needed it trust and loyalty.”

 

“Yeah right,” Inuyasha snapped, standing up. “Look, what the hell do you want with us?” Ying Zheng waved a hand, and Ryuichi moved to open a large box and remove something. Kagome's backpack. Ryuichi placed it at Inuyasha's feet and moved back behind him.

 

“I have examined the contents of the sack your companion carried when we found you. I have determined that, while you are still not trusted, you are not spies nor are you assassins. I thus find no reason to keep you around. Quite the contrary, I would rid my realm of both of you quickly. I have other matters that requires my undivided attention,” Ying Zheng explained. He sat down at a small table and unfurled a scroll on it. “Come, look,” he ordered. Inuyasha stepped forward. From what he had seen of Kagome's textbooks, it looked like a map of China, although it had all sorts of borders and Chinese text on it. Ying Zheng pointed a finger at one area.

 

“My State of Qin,” he said. “And here…all I have conquered,” Ying Zheng ran his finger over most of the northern areas of the map. Inuyasha whistled low. Okay, maybe the asshole had something to back up his ego. “The northern states of Yan, Zhao and Qi are all that remain, all other northern states are mine. The three are weak and easily destroyed, and thus no threat to me. Soon the entirety of northern China shall bow before the lord of Qin,” Ying Zheng explained.

 

“Well yippie for you,” Inuyasha muttered. Ying Zheng ignored him and pointed to another area on the map, covering most of the lower portion.

 

“However, currently my campaign to conquer Chu is at a standstill,” Ying Zheng said, bitterness in his voice. “Their state is the largest, even more than Qin, and they have the numbers to accompany their size. My army and theirs fight and both are weakened, neither wins. In time I shall destroy them, it is merely a matter of time and men before they fall. They are all that can oppose me.” Ying Zheng stood and crossed back to the window.

 

“However, time is something they intend to rob me off,” he said lowly. “The traitorous Chu have on their borders an army of Japanese soldiers, your people,” Ying Zheng called. Inuyasha's ear twitched. “A thousand men strong, with several yaoguai in their ranks. These invaders are not of the Chu, but if they are allowed on their borders then they must surely have an alliance against me.”

 

“So what do you want me to do, you've got an army, wipe them out yourself,” Inuyasha snapped, annoyed. Ying Zheng scowled and turned around, glaring.

 

“Your mind is as feeble as I would expect from a yaoguai,” he growled. “I sent my army, two thousand men. They fell, many were killed, few survived.” Ying Zheng clenched his hand, and Inuyasha sniffed. Waves of anger were washing off him, along with the slightest tinge of embarrassment and fear.

 

“Their general is a yaoguai, his forces of human and yaoguai are potent. And their general is their strongest warrior. My soldiers told me they saw him slay dozens of my most skilled warriors in one swing of his blade,” Ying Zheng whispered. “Against such power, even when I conquer them, the losses would make my army too weak to continue to the defense against Chu. My campaign is nearly at an end, and I will not allow a small army of Japanese barbarians to ruin all I have strived for.” Ying Zheng took a breath and composed himself.

 

“Ryuichi tells me you and your companion are not of this realm, that you are from another year you wish to return to. Does he speak true?” he asked.

 

“Yeah, we're from a long time after this,” Inuyasha nodded. “We just wanna go back, you go and conquer Chu or whatever the hell it is you wanna do.”

 

“I know you wish to return. Which is why I will offer you a deal. I will help you and your companion acquire the knowledge you seek to return to your home. But in return, you will assist me,” Ying Zheng continued.

 

“What, you want me to kill the army?” Inuyasha replied. Ying Zheng glared.

 

“I need not the help of a yaoguai to fight my battles!” he roared. “However, seeing as how they are not obeying the rules of war, I find that I have no need to obey them either. You will go to their camp, I am told they have a small palace there. You will find their general and kill him. You will return here and bring me his head. Afterwards you and your companion will be released.”

 

“Do I have a choice?” Inuyasha muttered.

 

“Certainly. You may decline my offer and rot in my prison, you may offer to be executed now, or you may take what I offer,” Ying Zheng replied with a smirk. Inuyasha growled and fought the urge to attack him.

 

“Fine, I'll do it,” he said. Ying Zheng smiled and nodded.

 

“Excellent. Ryuichi, see that the yaoguai has whatever travelling provisions he requires, food, weapons-.”

 

“I'm fine,” Inuyasha interrupted. “I travel a lot faster than any of you humans, I can be there and back in a couple days.”

 

“Of course, of course,” Ying Zheng agreed. “Then, seeing as how you need no supplies, I see no need why you must remain here any longer. You will leave now,” Ying Zheng turned his back on the hanyou again, an obvious dismissal. Inuyasha either didn't notice or didn't care.

 

“What about Kagome?” he snapped. Ying Zheng frowned but did not turn.

 

“Who?” he replied.

 

“The girl I was with,” Inuyasha explained. Ying Zheng smiled slightly.

 

“She shall remain here until your return, of course, to ensure you fulfil your end of the bargain. You have ten sunsets and sunrises to complete your task. Then she shall die,” he said. Inuyasha growled.

 

“I'm gonna talk to her before I go,” he muttered, turning. Ying Zheng narrowed his eyes. The disrespect of this yaoguai was becoming harder and harder to tolerate.

 

“No, you will not,” he replied, looking over his shoulder. Inuyasha spun around, his growls growing in volume. “I do not know how yaoguai are treated in Japan, yaoguai, but here, you are in my realm now. You would do well to learn your place before me. You have until high sun to leave my palace, or she will die and my offer is retracted.” Inuyasha clenched his fist.

 

“You're a bastard,” he hissed. Ying Zheng smirked.

 

“Perhaps, but here I rule all, and you are nothing. Remember that before you speak to me in such a manner again,” he said. Inuyasha glared and turned, stomping out of the room. Ying Zheng sighed and looked down at the map on his table.

 

“My Lord,” Ryuichi said, drawing his attention. “Shall I begin to have the priests look for a way to return them?” Ying Zheng barked slightly.

 

“Now, why on earth should we waste our time?” he scoffed. “Their story is absurd, Ryuichi, do not be so gullible. Even if they were to be telling the truth, I see no reason to let a perfectly healthy and lovely young woman leave my realm. The girl…what as her name again?” he asked.

 

“I believe it was `Kagome', my Lord,” Ryuichi replied. Ying Zheng took a breath and smiled. Light and beautiful, just like its owner. Appropriate.

 

“She shall remain here. Have the guards release her, show her about the palace, she that she is fed and properly clothed,” he continued, remembering the girl's appearance. The short green material flattered her legs quite well, but was not proper wear for being in the palace. “I would have her know she is no prisoner here.”

 

“I see…but, what of the yaoguai?” Ryuichi asked nervously. Ying Zheng nodded.

 

“Oh, I shall keep my promise to him of course, he shall be allowed to return home,” he explained, turning. He drew the sword at his waist and held it up, running a finger along the inside of its curve. “When he returns, he will be sent back to the Hell from whence he came.”

 

Historical Notes

 

By 225 BC, the State of Qin had subjugated the states of Han and Wei, and the remaining three states of Qi, Yan and Zhao were too small and weak to oppose him. The southern state of Chu, however, was more formidable, and its army was not easily conquered - in the time before Ying Zheng's reign it had dominated all other states as the strongest. It took two years of war before the state fell - in the two years after, the remaining states either surrendered or were conquered. The fall of Chu, more than any other state, all but solidified that Ying Zheng's conquest of China would succeed, and was the defining moment in his campaign.