InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Displacement ❯ "What Do You Fear?" ( Chapter 10 )

Displacement

 

Chapter 10

 

“What Do You Fear?”

 

“Currently we grow large crops of millet and wheat in the outer regions, which are shipped here year-round. To the northern hills we mine for copper and iron to craft our war weapons and money, as well as hemp and silk for clothing. Stone, wood and clay are imported from the southern jungles for building materials. Because of so much trade taking place here, this city is more luxurious than you would find elsewhere. Lord Ying Zheng ensures his grand capitol houses the most well educated and mannered citizens in the empire.”

 

“Yeah, you don't wanna live among the people you've oppressed, live among the ones you suck up to with wealth and power,” Kagome thought wryly, listening to Ryuichi's words. The Japanese native was playing tour-guide leading her through the Qin capitol Xianyang with an escort of two armed soldiers behind them. Naturally, the small procession attracted a bit of attention. Kagome would wager that they weren't used to seeing someone guarded like this that wasn't their ruler, much less seeing the sailor fuku she was wearing after her symbolic refusal to wear the noble robes provided to her. She wouldn't have minded speaking to a few of the city inhabitants, but most of them just stared at her for a few moments then went on their way.

 

Otherwise, the scene was shockingly similar to something she could see at home. Children ran in the streets holding what looked like mini bow and arrow sets and blunted wooden swords and spears. Peddlers wheeled carts of countless wares down the street. Kagome turned as yet another one rounded the nearest corner, the driver shouting down the street about “fine spiced fish”. Said fish hung dead from the awning of his cart alongside dead chickens and above various baked goods, packets of spices and bundles of colored hemp clothe. Adults followed their rampant children with small smiles, most of them wearing simple colored clothing and carrying baskets and sacks of whatever goods they had purchased.

 

The houses were small, two-story buildings built from wood, straw and stone and decorated with hung traps of colored hemp cloth and polished and tinted panes of thin rock. According to Ryuichi, families lived in groups of four or five in a single house, each family typically having their separate sleeping rooms and sharing the rest of the home for storage and eating. Now and then there was a larger, more luxurious home that Kagome presumed was for the wealthier class of the city. There were also various stalls and shrines selling tonics and offering prayer services and deity worship. Ryuichi had said that in addition to the street merchants and smaller shops, there was a large market square where the supplies were sold first-hand, but apparently this place would be out of the way for their journey.

 

“So where is this priestess anyway?” Kagome asked, following Ryuichi through the city. It was quite extravagant. Kagome knew for a fact her history teacher in the modern era would trade both his legs to be in her position, he was fascinated with the various Chinese dynasties. Still, she had seen the other half the empire, the laboring farmers working sweaty and dirty in the fields, on her trip to see hundreds of thousands of men working themselves dead to build the Qin Lord's tomb. These people in the city were living philanthropic lifestyles on the backs of the poor.

 

“We near her now,” Ryuichi said, gesturing with his hand. Kagome followed his hand. Another shrine stood between too houses. It stood on a small stone platform with a pair of steps. The doors were smoothed and polished wood, and the walls covered in white ceramic tile. Ryuichi stepped onto the stairs, and Kagome noticed a small yin-yang in a mosaic on the stone. Two monks in blue robes stood on either side of the door to the shrine, and bowed.

 

“Greetings this day, Ryuichi,” one of them said. “How might our humble temple be of service?”

 

“Greetings to you,” Ryuichi replied, returning the bow. “This young maiden behind me is a guest in the palace of our most honorable Lord Ying Zheng, and we desire an audience with the priestess here.” Kagome bit back a laugh. `Honorable' lord indeed.

 

“But of course, Lady Zhu is always willing to see you,” the second monk said. “Please, enter.”

 

“Thank you,” Ryuichi said, lifting the red curtain covering the entrance. Kagome followed a moment later. To her relief, the two guards Ying Zheng had assigned to protect her remained outside.

 

The inside of the shrine was dimly lit with two torches atop iron holders. Small bas of incense hung from above them, blanketing the air with a sweet-smelling aura. There was a large brass bowl of crystal water in the center of the room in a small indentation in the floor. The floor itself was simple woven bamboo and grass and very soft. A figure in a small white cloak with a hood sat cross-legged on the other side of the bowl, silently humming. A low table behind them held a variety of colored bottles and flasks.

 

“Lady Zhu,” Ryuichi said, bowing. Kagome stood beside him and awkwardly returned the gesture.

 

“Greetings, Ryuichi. You have not visited me in some time,” Lady Zhu said, lifting her head. Kagome gasped softly. Given the eerie nature of the shrine, Lady Zhu was not what she had expected. She actually looked rather young, only a few years older than herself, no older than twenty-five at the most, and was quite pretty. She had straight, shiny black hair that ran down her back and down inside the front of her robe, and bright green eyes. A small red headband circled her forehead with a white and black ying-yang painted in the center.

 

“Forgive me, as you know it is an honor to meet with you, but my duties have been quite pressing lately,” Ryuichi replied.

 

“Ah yes, Ying Zheng has been tightening his security with rumors of spies flying like the crows over his head,” Lady Zhu said with a wry smile. Ryuichi looked visibly uncomfortable with the pointed absence of the title to go with the man's name. Kagome decided right then she liked this woman.

 

“Yes, quite,” Ryuichi said hastily. “Well, I am here not for myself or for a friendly visit, my lady, but for this young woman here,” he stepped backward, and Lady Zhu turned her emerald gaze to Kagome.

 

“Ah, you are the young vixin who has been under Ying Zheng's care. I must say the rumors of your beauty were slightly exaggerated. Well founded, but still exaggerated. I can see why Ying Zheng took a fancy to you.” Kagome shifted slightly. Well, she wasn't a model or anything, but she wasn't that bad looking…

 

“My young companion here came here hoping-”

 

“Ryuichi, be silent!” Lady Zhu interrupted, raising a hand. “If you please, wait outside.” Ryuichi bowed and backed out of the shrine, the red curtain falling to cover his exit. “Now, Kagome, please sit,” Lady Zhu continued, waving a hand over the small mat opposite her.

 

“How do you know my name?” Kagome asked suspiciously. Lady Zhu turned and took a small red flask from the table behind her, opening it and lifting a small, thin piece of wood, the end holding a few drops of an opaque white liquid. She held the wood over the bowl of water between them and let a single drop fall. The water instantly clouded in white smoke.

 

“The spirits of this realm tell many things to those who are patient and wise enough to listen,” Lady Zhu explained, drawing in a deep breath. “I have known your name since you first entered our world.”

 

“Your world?” Kagome whispered. “Then you know why I'm here.”

 

“Sadly, yes and no,” Lady Zhu replied. “I know how you came to be here, but why, I do not know. Although there are several clairvoyants in this world, I am not one of them.”

 

“Then how do you know Ying Zheng's reign is a tenuous one?” Kagome asked. Lady Zhu chuckled slightly.

 

“One does not need mystic powers to see his inevitable defeat. Ying Zheng is a mighty ruler, but while he has strengthened his sword his spirit has grown feeble and weak. As the great king supporting his walls crumbles, his walls will fall with him and the rebels outside will lay siege to his palace. A man who thinks he can rule by might alone is a man who is destined to fail. Ying Zheng's rule will be shortlived, and the gods are merciful for this. He thinks himself better than the Five and the Three, and for this they will prove him wrong in time. There is only one Huangdi, and it is not him,” Lady Zhu explained.

 

“Yeah. He works his people to death and lets the ones he likes live in luxury,” Kagome said bitterly. “I've seen the site of his tomb. It's disgusting how he can be proud of forcing such hardships on others.” Lady Zhu smiled.

 

“It is good to see such sense in a young woman in these times. Too many are blindly loyal to Ying Zheng out of fear. And that is why he will fall. Fear should be a tool with which to subdue unworthy enemies, not to leash unwilling subjects,” she replied. Kagome nodded.

 

“So, if you know how I came here, do you know anything of how to send me back?” she asked. Lady Zhu closed her eyes and sat back.

 

“Tell me, Kagome, what do you fear?” she whispered.

 

“Huh?” Kagome replied, confused.

 

“In this world, what is your greatest fear? What, above all else, chills your heart to even think of it?” Lady Zhu repeated.

 

“I…don't really know. I've never thought about it much,” Kagome said. “I guess Naraku acquiring all the jewel shards.”

 

“You guess?” Lady Zhu guffawed, opening her eyes.

 

“Well what kind of question is that to spring on me anyway?” Kagome protested.

 

“A valid one,” Lady Zhu explained, taking another flash from the table. This one was long, thin and dark blue. She removed the top and poured the light blue liquid inside the bowl of opaque white water. The water flashed, and Kagome watched as the blue liquid solidified and hardened on the surface. Kagome cautiously reached out. Her fingers broke the surface of the liquid and revealed normal water underneath, but the surface reformed after she withdrew her hand. Lady Zhu closed her eyes and reached out a slender finger, tapping the center of the bowl gently. Ripples shook over the liquid before it parted.

 

Kagome leapt back against the sound of a monstrous roar coming from the bowl. As she watched, crimson eyes with slim blue pupils glared up at her and lunged, golden claws flashing. Bloody gashes ripped across the water's surface, ripping the illusion into pieces. The image audibly cracked and rippled away into water again, the angry growls echoing away in the walls of the small shrine.

 

“Inuyasha…” Kagome whimpered, sliding back against the wall. She'd seen him like that more times than she would have liked. The Inuyasha she knew would never harm her, not if his life depended on it. But when the youkai took control and the Tetsusaiga's seal weakened, the Inuyasha she knew vanished like so much mysterious blue liquid.

 

“It is as I said, the spirits tell many things to those who listen,” Lady Zhu whispered, remaining calm and in her cross-legged position behind the bowl of water. Kagome pressed a hand against her heart through the cotton of her blouse. “As I said, I am not a clairvoyant, but the spirits see the future and much more.”

 

“Was that…was that the future then?” Kagome gasped, swallowing.

 

“It may be,” Lady Zhu replied, closing her eyes. “Your path here and the path in your realm are both treacherous and full of danger and death. But whom that death shall afflict, I do not know. I do know the time will come when your greatest terrors become reality. In that moment, you may survive. You may not. You may not survive your journey in your world, you may not even survive your journey in this world.”

 

“My journey in this world?” Kagome said, sliding forward as her heart calmed.

 

“You existed in this time long before you were born,” Lady Zhu explained. “Your arrival was preordained at the dawn of history, as was your companions. Inuyasha seeks his own journey now, as do you. Both of you will prove pivotal to the course of history. But history is but a river, its path bends and twists as its inhabitants will it. Destiny has coerced you both into playing a very dangerous game. You have within you the capacity to change time's course in ways no one could comprehend.”

 

“But I already know how this era is supposed to play out,” Kagome explained. “In my time, we have history books documenting the rise and fall of the Qin.”

 

“That is fortunate then,” Lady Zhu nodded. “You know how history is meant to play out. And thus you know your role in this game.”

 

“My role?”

 

“It is not coincidence that only you and Inuyasha came here. It is by his hand that time could be undone. It is by yours that it could be repaired. You are two halves to this puzzle.”

 

“Then if we were meant to come here, how and when do we return to our time?” Kagome asked. Lady Zhu turned and took another flask, a small green bottle. She withdrew the cap and inhaled the vapors from whatever was inside. Lady Zhu capped the bottle and let out a small groan, her head slumping forward. Kagome leaned forward before she spoke in a voice almost inaudible.

 

“When the sky glows green and the ground glows red, the path home shall open,” Lady Zhu mumbled.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“What's taking so long?” Ryo snarled. “I can't smell a damn thing because of all the blood and that fucking midwife won't let me in the room! This is ridiculous, it's been ten fucking hours!”

 

“Ryo, be silent, it cannot be much longer,” she replied, trying to calm her brother's anger. The youkai looked up, his face pale, and her ears twitched at the small cry. A moment later he pushed the shoji down. “Ryo!” she cried, following him. She followed him to find the midwife unharmed, but pushed aside. She gasped at the soft sobs coming from the sweaty, exhausted woman and the neko-youkai kneeling by her side.

 

“He's beautiful…” Ryo whispered, stroking the hair of the infant in his arms. She stared. She'd never seen her brother cry before. “He has your eyes,” Ryo chuckled.

 

“But he has your hair,” Sakura countered, lifting a hand to his cheek.

 

“Lord Ryo, I need to bathe and clean the infant properly,” the midwife said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Ryo kissed Sakura on the forehead and stood.

 

“I shall help,” he said, staring down at the neko-kit in his arms. Ryo followed the midwife from the room as she sat down by Sakura. The woman was still gasping and sweaty, laying on her back staring at the ceiling.

 

“How do I look?” Sakura panted, looking up at her.

 

“Like you've gone ten rounds with my father,” she laughed, patting Sakura's sweat matted-hair. “You're gonna need a bath very soon, you reek of blood. Ryo was complaining outside about it.”

 

“Yeah…” Sakura agreed “I feel filthy too…”

 

“So what will you name him?” she asked. “Ryo was hoping to name him in memory of father. Hirokoumaru seemed to fit father, but on a baby, I don't see it.”

 

“Actually,” Sakura said. “I had picked out a name some time ago. When my family disowned me, you and your brother welcomed me. I'm human, but you've treated me like your own sister nonetheless. If you will allow it, I would name the child after you…Yukio.” She gasped and felt her own tears well up.

 

“Yukio…” she breathed. “Sakura, it would be an honor.”

 

“Thank you,” Sakura replied, smiling. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her brother's mate. They were sisters as far as she was concerned. Blood didn't matter, they were pack and they were family. The two hugged for a moment before she sighed.

 

“Would you like to go see your son?” she asked. Sakura didn't respond. She frowned. “Sakura, wake up,” she whispered, shaking her shoulder. Sakura didn't even whimper. She pulled back and lifted Sakura's head. A gleaming white skull grinned up at her, and she screamed and jumped back as it crumbled to dust. The dust lit up in fire, the flames spreading like water across the floor. Terrified sobs filled the room as she fled for the door, only to be met with a wall of flame. The wails grew louder, and a moment later, a howl of agony broke through the roar of the flames.

 

“Yuuukaaaaaaaaa!”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Yuka sat upright, her eyes wide. Sweat dripped down her face as she panted for breath.

 

“Oi, you okay?” Inuyasha asked from the other side of the fire. Yuka licked the inside of her suddenly dry mouth and forced herself to nod. She lifted her head to see the hanyou staring at her in confusion, along with a few other youkai and humans. From a tent entrance behind them, Toga's tall frame was illuminated by the firelight.

 

“Yeah, just….yeah. I'm fine,” she replied. “Just…a bad dream,” she explained, laying back. With a low murmur from the camp, Toga returned inside his tent while the other camp residents returned to their sleep. A hanyou stayed away for a moment, staring up at the aurora-lit night sky above.

 

“What the hell kinda of dream was that?” Inuyasha thought. Yuka was calm, collected, and a little bitchy. She didn't seem the kind to have nightmares, and she reeked of fear when he woken up to the sounds of her cries. What was that dream about?

 

Yuka tried to force herself to go back to sleep, turning over and sighing heavily. She folded her hands under her cheek and clenched her eyes shut.

 

“Ryo…” she whispered, a tear sliding down onto her palms.

 

I realized I've only been updating once a month, and with my intended length for this fic, that basically means I'll still be writing it next Christmas. So from now one I'll try and update twice a month, but if not, I guarantee you won't wait longer than previous updates. BTW, hope you guys enjoyed Lady Zhu's scene. I'm finally getting down to business with Kagome's side to this little adventure.

 

BTW, finally saw the third Inuyasha movie. I loved it, but I'll say it ahead of time, So'ounga will not appear in this fic, either in sword or youkai form. I considered it in an earlier draft, but as I hadn't seen the film at the time decided to go with something I was more knowledgeable of, and it's a little late to add it in now. But I will say this about the third film.

 

A - the way I've been characterizing Toga more or less matched up with the brief scenes of him in the film, so I'm happy.

B - the events of the film may impact the plot later, but not in a major way.

C - Sesshomaru is a bigger jerk than I thought. “I have no one to protect”. Blow out your ass, Fluffy, you're more transparent than Casper.

 

Historical Notes

The “Five and the Three” Lady Zhu refers to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the mythological rulers of China before the start of their recorded history, sometime prior to 2800 BC. The Three Sovereigns, or “Huang”, are the first gods, and the Five Emperors, or “Di” are the first five and perfect kings of China. The exact identity of these eight beings has varied throughout history. When Ying Zheng became First Emperor of China, he changed his name to “Shi Huangdi”, uniting the titles Huang and Di to show he believed himself to have surpassed the accomplishments of all previous rulers before him, even the ones that had attained godhood.

Huangdi is also another name for the “Yellow Emperor”, a Chinese god. Initially coming to the worshipping circles during the Zhou Dynasty circa 1100-250 BC, the Yellow Emperor would become the chief deity of Taoism during the Han Dynasty that directly followed the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC. The Yellow Emperor was worshipped as the ancestor of the Han people as well as a great inventor and warrior.

The descriptions of the city today were inspired by the PC game “Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom”. Granted, a PC game isn't the best source, but its what I have and what I'm using.