InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Displacement ❯ "The Strong Shall Reign" ( Chapter 7 )

Displacement

 

As of right now, an official timeframe for this story has been set. This story takes place after chapter 494 of the manga, but prior to chapter 496. 494 is the last time Kagome returned to her time in the manga, and it was in 493 and the chapters prior that Sesshomaru fought Shishinki. It is in chapters 499 and on that he fights Inuyasha, and Tenseiga is absorbed into Tetsusaiga. This has not yet happened in my story.

 

Thus, all events in this story will be treated as occurring prior to chapter 496. Any events afterwards in the manga have not yet happened in the story. While previously the timeframe was meant to be flexible, this is no longer the case as my decision regarding what manga events have and haven't happened in my story created quite a small area for my story to fit into.

 

Finally, I admit that there is a plothole in my story. In the manga, Kohaku has the final shard of the Jewel, and in my story, Kagome has two of them. Well, let's just say they're Kouga's, and Kagome nabbed them from Naraku during the last big battle with him. I know, but Kagome possessing the shards is vital to the story, so, I'm abusing my artistic license here.

 

Chapter 7

 

“The Strong Shall Reign”

 

The shoji slid back, and Kagome all but ran into the room she had been assigned. She spun, slid the shoji back into place, and quickly began untying the crimson sash holding her robes together.

 

“That arrogant, barbaric, violent…UGH!” she couldn't even formulate a proper insult for the Lord of Qin as she slid the silken robes off her shoulders and rushed to her backpack at the side of the room, grabbing her blouse and skirt from beside it and quickly pulling them on. Although she knew it was irrational, she had no further intent of wearing the elegant robes of the palace anymore.

 

“Lady Kagome,” Ryuichi called, entering the room as Kagome finished buttoning up her blouse. “I…oh. Is something wrong?” he asked. Kagome scowled but didn't turn around.

 

“I'm leaving the palace. You can give your lord my regards,” she replied, the title leaving a bad taste in her mouth. She stood and turned around, setting her face in a blank look. Ryuichi's was surprisingly similar. She would have expected something, shock, agreement, anger, anything.

 

“May I ask why you are leaving?” he said.

 

“I'm leaving because your lord has not helped me anymore than he's helping his people,” she explained. She lifted her backpack onto her shoulder and headed towards the door. Ryuichi didn't move and sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

 

“When the Zhou Dynasty reigned over this land, they decreed they were destined to rule by the Mandate of Heaven. The Gods had chosen the most virtuous, wise and kind to lead, and in time they would be deposed and replaced as more competent leaders overthrew them. This ensured that only the most fit and worthy would rule.”

 

“Nice idea. Did someone forget to tell your boss?” Kagome muttered. Ryuichi nodded before continuing.

 

“It is sad that we must rule through death and conquest. Were there another way to unify this land, I would surely take it, and I like to believe my Lord would as well. But for centuries now the many states of China have raged war on one another, and the former kings of the Zhou grew weak and powerless. The land did not even have a true name before my Lord bestowed the title China upon it. Language, math, currency, writing, it will all be unified and standardized under my Lord's rule when he at last conquers the country.”

 

“Unification is nice, but it shouldn't have to come at such a high cost,” Kagome defended. “How can he claim he is unifying the people when his army is killing those same people in battle?”

 

“Peace is never easy to obtain. As with all things worth having it has a price to be paid,” Ryuichi agreed.

 

“And how high can that price be before the award isn't worth it anymore?” Kagome asked. Ryuichi stared at her for a moment before smiling and chuckling.

 

“It is sad for the Chinese people you did not come to them some centuries earlier. A young woman with your ideals would have been valued. Even Shang Yang himself would be pleased,” he said.

 

“Look, you can't tell me I can't leave. If I want to I'll go, and I don't care what your Lord wants,” Kagome said, remembering how their conversation had started.

 

“I admit that my Lord has not been entirely helpful to you. I must also admit that he does not entirely desire to help you. To be perfectly frank, he wishes that you remain here,” Ryuich explained. “My lord has demonstrated an…attraction to you.”

 

“Like I'd ever want someone like him,” Kagome grimaced. The Qin Lord was handsome in a way, but he was a wicked ruler. “Besides, I already have…” Kagome trailed off. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Kikyo had been dead for a little while now, and there had been no indication on Inuyasha's part that he had any intention of pursuing a relationship with her. Well, there was the incident in her bedroom when Souta came home the last time they had been in her time before ending up here, along with the countless other hints over the years. She was sure the hanyou felt more than friendship for her, but obviously Kikyo hadn't been the only thing been keeping the hanyou from confirming her suspicions.

 

“Already have…what?” Ryuichi prompted. Kagome shook her head.

 

“No, it's nothing, forget it,” she replied. Ryuichi gave her a knowing look.

 

“It is not my place to offer words on any sort of relationship you may or may not have, but in my experience, any sort of feeling should not be bottled up, even if it is one we'd rather not have known,” he told her. Kagome snorted.

 

“You're right, it isn't your place,” she said. “It's a complicated matter, Ryuichi, and I've dealt with it on my own just fine for years.”

 

“Very well. I will respect your wish for privacy, Lady Kagome, but in return I request something of you,” Ryuichi replied. Kagome eyed him warily. Ryuichi had not given her any reasons to distrust him, but on there was no telling what he might do.

 

“What?' Kagome asked after a moment.

 

“I ask that you stay,” Ryuichi said simply. Kagome opened her mouth to decline, bur Ryuichi was not finished. “If you leave, you must be aware that my Lord will forth his armies to find you. And without your yaoguai friend to assist you I fear you will be caught. It is better for you to remain here until the yaoguai returns. And, if you desire, I will begin looking for a way to return you to my home myself,” he finished. Kagome stared at him for a moment.

 

“Why would you help me?” she asked. Ryuichi gave her a strange smile.

 

“I have my reasons,” he replied. Kagome continued to stare even as the Qin adviser bowed and left her alone in the room.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“It will take us several days to reach the Han state. Unfortunately, the shrine I seek is far beyond their borders and we thus have to be careful upon entering their territory to avoid any suspicion. We must avoid being discovered lest we arose the ire of the Qin occupying the state.

 

Inuyasha paid close attention as Toga explained their mission, letting the youkai reiterate what he said to the humans too far behind to hear. Their band consisted of Toga, Inuyasha, the neko guard Yuka, a male kitsune named Oinari, a female koumori named Hanashi, a few other youkai he hadn't met, and several dozen human warriors. There were several horses following them carrying food, weapons, and other supplies. The bulk of Toga's army had been left to defend the camp, as a smaller band would be easier to keep discreet.

 

“Exactly what do you think you will find there, my lord?” Yuka asked. She had taken up position just behind and to the right of Toga. Inuyasha was directly behind him and just behind Yuka. The various humans were walking about in no particular formation.

 

“Song Shan is venerated by the Taoists of the area. One of the Taoists' common beliefs is balance, tempering a force with an equal but opposite force. If my Meidou is to be harnessed properly, I am sure that one of the priests there will have a way,” Toga explained. Yuka nodded and did not speak more.

 

“You really believe the priests there will want to help you?” Inuyasha muttered. Toga made a sound of annoyance. Inuyasha ignored it. The man was his father, but he wasn't going to tip-toe around talking with him.

 

“Yes. You underestimate the Taoists, Inuyasha. They are exceptionally wise for humans, and even for youkai. They know much of the nature of things. The Taoists do not hate the youkai for they understand we must exist. As the humans exist, so must we, their opposite, exist,” Toga said.

 

“You believe that too?” Inuyasha asked, walking a little faster to stand beside Toga.

 

“Perhaps not, but there is some truth in such a belief. It is the way of all things, Inuyasha, that in the end, strength wins out over weakness. In the end, the strong shall reign. They may rule by strength of mind, or strength of sword, or strength of heart. But one way or the other, it is by strength that armies are built, leaders come to power and states put up their walls.”

 

“I don't see what that has to do with humans and youkai,” Inuyasha said, confused.

 

“Don't you? We youkai are strong. We are superior to the humans, most of them, anyway, in every way that counts. We are stronger, wiser, long-lived, and we do not fight over petty squabbles like land or glory. It is the destiny of the two races to one to reign over the other. In time, the humans will come to understand that the youkai are most fit to rule them, and the youkai will see that they in turn must accept and fulfill this duty,” Toga explained.

 

“You think we have the right to wipe out the humans?” Inuyasha asked, trying and barely succeeding in hiding his surprise. How could his father say such a thing.

 

“No, of course not. Humans are an irritating sort, but they have as much right to live as any other creature. But to ensure their survival and prosperity, in time we youkai will have to protect them from themselves. Surely you can understand, looking at what is happening in these lands now. These humans and their states have raged war for centuries and only now does the war seem to near its end. But in time the Qin will fall and war will begin again. Left to their own designs the humans will descend into barbarianism. We youkai exist to ensure that does not happen, to protect them and make sure they survive. We are to be leaders, the humans to be our followers. As I said, strength shall always triumph over weakness, it is the way of all things.”

 

Inuyasha was silent for a moment. Youkai weren't as superior to humans as Toga had said. Youkai raged wars too, often for the same reasons as humans - greed, honor, glory, or just the thrill of the kill. However, there was one thing in his grand design that his father had not mentioned.

 

“And where do hanyous come into all that?” he asked. Toga frowned, not missing the hint of challenge in Inuyasha's voice. “If humans are supposed to exist to balance against youkai, then what are hanyous for?” Inuyasha continued, not sure he wanted to hear the answer. But he hadn't been pulling punches with the old man himself, and he didn't want him to either.

 

“Hanyous? That is not of my concern,” Toga said, waving his hand. “Humans and youkai mating is not something I am unaware of, obviously. But it is not my place to dispense judgment on them. The mating of a human and a youkai is an irregularity, to be sure. But beyond that, let the kami decide.”

 

Inuyasha frowned. He was fairly certain his father had all but avoided answering his question. He shook it off and fell back behind his father again. He reminded himself this man was some fifteen hundred years younger than the man who mated Izayoi and fathered an inu-hanyou.

 

“Do not misunderstand me,” Toga said suddenly, surprising him. “Hanyous are living creatures and deserve the same freedoms as humans. But it is not a matter of deserving freedom, it is also a matter of earning it. Hanyou must earn it as humans and even youkai must.”

 

“I've earned everything I have. I've been on my own my entire life and I've fought hard to get this far,” Inuyasha said harshly. Toga nodded.

 

“Then you have earned your right to exist,” he amended, casting the hanyou a glance. Inuyasha nodded back and fell silent as the procession of human, youkai, and lone hanyou continued to the State of Han beyond the horizon.

 

The Mandate of Heaven was an official Chinese belief started sometime in the Zhou Dynasty, which ended with the Warring States Era approximately 900 years before the Qin Dynasty was form. The Mandate decreed that anyone who was wise and virtuous, regardless of if he was a peasant or a noble, had the right to rule the Chinese people. However, if the ruler was cruel and selfish, the people had the right to rebel against him and place a more worthy ruler on the throne in his steed. The belief was forgotten after the Zhou Dynasty and revived in the late 900's AD by the Song Dynasty. Sadly, the Qin Dynasty possessed no such belief.

 

Shang Yang was a Qin official about a century before Ying Zheng's time. By using varying taxes to encourage the growth of families and the allowance of immigration, as well as a series of penalties and rewards to the people based on the performance of farmers and soldiers, he turned Qin around and began to turn it into a prosperous state, giving power to people and taking it from the nobles. Because of the effect his reforms had on the state, it is more than likely that it was his laws that made Qin into the strongest state by the end of the Warring States Era and thus, made Qin strong enough for Ying Zheng to begin his conquest.

 

Song Shan, shan meaning “mountain”, is one of five mountains held sacred in Taoism in China, although the exact date of when it became known as such, I could not discover. It lies along the Yellow River, which did indeed cut through the Han State in the Warring States Era/Qin Dyntasy. The mountain still houses a shrine today.