InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Displacement ❯ "You Shall Succeed, Or You Shall Die" ( Chapter 12 )

Displacement

 

Chapter 12

 

“You Shall Succeed, Or You Shall Die”

 

Inuyasha was almost panting as he dashed to keep up with Toga. The taiyoukai was far ahead of him, and Yuka not quite as ahead but still in front of him. Even with his full speed, his father and his lieutenant were outpacing him. The sun had begun to set on the horizon and night was likely just an hour or two away. Song Shan's silhouette grew larger by the minute as his hanyou speed carried him there faster than a horse. Suddenly, he noticed something and leapt up to cancel his speed, landing a few feet behind Toga and Yuka.

 

“What is it?” Inuyasha asked, looking up. The mountain of Song Shan loomed overhead. A small staircase of smooth stone led up its treacherous slopes. Toga held out a hand and frowned.

 

“A barrier,” he whispered, running a hand over the invisible aura of power. Inuyasha watched as the air rippled and sparked slightly at his father's touch.

 

“Can we enter it?” Yuka asked. Toga shook his head.

 

“No. The purity of Song Shan is much too powerful. It would purify even me in an instant,” he replied.

 

“Great, all the way here for nothing,” Inuyasha muttered. Yuka shot him a glare as Toga continued to study the barrier.

 

“We shall find a way inside,” Yuka said harshly, turning away from the hanyou. Suddenly, Toga snorted and stepped forward. “My lord!” Yuka gasped, reaching out a hand. Toga raised his head and looked around the mountain with disinterest as he entered the barrier.

 

“The barrier has parted,” he announced, beginning to climb the stone stairs up the mountain. “Its caster knows we are here and has accepted us inside.” Yuka looked around for some sort of clue to what had happened, her face set in a frown.

 

“Don't be a wimp,” Inuyasha said, walking past her to follow Toga. Yuka scowled and stepped up the stairs after him. Inuyasha looked up the stairs. He could see the end, but it was a long way up the cliffs. The stairs themselves had been carved into the mountain's face and went up at a clearly manmade angle, small inscriptions and carvings etched into the rock lining the sides of the path. It would have taken a lot of work even by the standards of the feudal era. Whoever had made their home here obviously had some sort of otherworldly powers to create such a path. After several minutes of walking, the stairs ended, and Inuyasha stepped up beside his father, Yuka on his heels. The three of them stood silently, observing the scene before them.

 

The mountain had been sheered away, leaving an area large enough for…well, appropriately, large enough for a shrine. Gardens of flowers lined a large, circular pool in the middle of the area, which was covered with an elevated wooden platform covering the rock and stone underneath. A small shrine house lay against the back end of the area, the mountain rising up suddenly behind it and dwarfing it with its shadow in the evening sun. Trees and bushes lay in small openings in the platform, growing up from soil in square gardens cut into the rock.

 

“It's beautiful…” Yuka whispered, looking around the shrine. Inuyasha silently nodded, agreeing with the neko for once. The shrine sat halfway up a mountain and was carved into its face with plants and architecture that couldn't have existed naturally. Yet, the shrine and the mountain still seemed to fit together perfectly in the scene before them. For all the contrast between the two, Inuyasha couldn't picture the mountain without the shrine on it. The imagery just seemed to work.

 

“Yes it is. But we did not come here to admire such beauty,” Toga reminded, stepping up a small wooden staircase to the platform. Yuka and Inuyasha stepped up after him, and Toga walked down the platform to stand at the railing lining the edge of the platform where it circled the pool of water. “We were allowed inside the mountain's barrier, someone must have sensed us,” Toga said.

 

“Well I don't see anyone, so what's the plan?” Inuyasha asked, raising an eyebrow and looking up at him.

 

“I call on the caretaker of this shrine!” Toga yelled, staring at the shrine house across the pool. “I request you show yourself to me. I am Lord Toga, taiyoukai of Japan, and I have come for the priestess of Song Shan. I am here not to cause violence but to seek council.”

 

“That works, real subtle,” Inuyasha muttered, rolling his eyes. Yuka shot him another dirty look. Toga waited for a moment before the shoji of the shrine house parted.

 

A woman stepped down the wooden steps, carrying a small, crooked staff of wood with a round head of green jade. She wore a simple white robe that hung down to her knees, and a necklace of red and green jade beads with an unseen pendant dipped underneath the neckline. Her hair was gray and tied into a tight bun held in place by a single pin, and her face was heavily wrinkled. Inuyasha's face twisted. For all the appearances of a woman well into old age, the priestess of Song Shan moved with the energy of a young woman, and an undeniable aura of spiritual power radiated from her.

 

“Greetings, lord dog,” the priestess whispered, bowing her head.

 

“Greetings, lady priestess,” Toga replied, kneeling. Yuka quickly followed suit, and Inuyasha got down on his knee shortly after.

 

“Please, rise. This old woman has no need for such formalities,” the priestess scoffed. The three stood up, and Toga walked around the pool of water to stand before the priestess.

 

“You allowed me inside the mountain. You knew who I was,” he accused quietly.

 

“Yes. I have been expecting you, lord dog,” the priestess nodded. “I foresaw your arrival many moons ago.”

 

“If you are gifted with such foresight, then you must also know why I am here,” Toga said. The priestess looked up at him blankly, and Toga's eyes narrowed slightly. Either this woman didn't know, or she was toying with him. Perhaps a little of both, given the small twinkle in her eye. “Does my plight amuse you?” he growled.

 

“Your tale would amuse you as well, if you knew its end,” the priestess replied with a chuckle. “When I was told of your coming, I gazed into the time river and learned much about you, lord dog.”

 

“I lack such an ability, so you will understand if I fail to find any such humor,” Togs said sharply.

 

“Of course,” the priestess nodded. Toga was slightly taken back at her submission, but refused to let it show.

 

“Who are you?” Toga asked.

 

“I am Lady Song. But you may refer to me by any title you deem fitting. As I said, I have no need for formalities. My time in this realm, even your time, is too short to waste on such things,” the priestess said.

 

“And you know I am Lord Toga, and thus our introductions are aside,” Toga muttered, unclipping the Tenseiga's sheath from his waist. “You know of the power this Tenseiga holds?”

 

“Yes,” Lady Song nodded. “The Meidou Zangetsuha. I have heard of this technique. You are not the first to seek a way to contain the meidou's energy, nor the first to fail. However, you are the first to seek me for such a matter.”

 

“The fates of others who harnessed this technique are of no concern to me. My concern is for my sword and my life,” Toga said. “Tell me, is there a way to properly temper the meidou's energy?”

 

“There are several,” Lady Song smiled. “But the power you need does indeed lie within your grasp here this evening.”

 

“You have the enchantments I seek?” Toga asked.

 

“You did not hear me properly,” Lady Song chided. “Now, as so often occurs in this world, what you need is not the same as what you seek, though I suppose it will serve your purposes just as well even so.”

 

“This Toga's patience for riddles is growing thin,” Toga growled, narrowing his eyes. “Either speak to me properly or I shall leave and seek assistance elsewhere.”

 

“We both know that's not true,” Land Song sighed, shaking her head in amusement. “But if you wish it, then I shall answer you more simply. Yes, the power to contain the energy of the meidou lies here.”

 

“Then tell me how to acquire this power,” Toga demanded.

 

“I cannot,” Lady Song shook her head again. “The power cannot be taught. It can only be learned.” She reached up a hand and ran a finger along the necklace of jade beads around her neck running under her robe. “There is a trial. I can show you the way, but I cannot come with you, nor can your companions. It is for you and you alone to attempt. If you succeed in overcoming this trial you shall obtain the power you seek.”

 

“And if I fail this trial?” Toga asked coolly.

 

“You shall succeed, or you shall die,” Lady Song said in the same tone, closing her eyes.

 

“No!” Yuka protested, taking a few steps forward. “My lord, let me take this trial, I shall lay down my life for you.” Inuyasha thought for a moment. Was this why he had been sent back here?

 

“No, I'll go,” he interrupted. “I agreed to come here and help, so that's what I'll do. Give me the Tenseiga and I'll take on her trial.”

 

“It is not your place, I am Lord Toga's lieutenant here, it shall be me!” Yuka countered.

 

“It is not your place either,” Toga said, turning around to face the two. “I appreciate your concern. But this is my task. I came here seeking the power to temper the meidou, and I shall be the one to acquire that power. If I fail, then I trust you both to return to Japan and tell my people what happened.”

 

“But my lord…” Yuka whispered. Toga shook his head.

 

“No. This is my duty as taiyoukai and the holder of the Tenseiga.”

 

“Lord dog speaks the truth,” Lady Song interjected. “Only he can accomplish this trial, if either of you attempted it you would die without a fight.” Yuka stepped back, put out but bowing to the two. Toga turned forward again. “Then you are sure you shall try this? If the trial begins there is no way for me to stop it, your life will be forfeit if you cannot overcome it,” Lady Song repeated.

 

“I am sure. Begin the trial,” Toga said, pulling the Tenseiga from its sheath. The blade turned back as the meidou's energy awoke and began to circle the fang. Yuka and Inuyasha both stepped back as a pink barrier rose into place over Toga and Lady Song. Lady Song reached underneath the neckline of her robe and withdrew the end of the jade necklace. A large gold talisman in the shape of a half-sphere hung at the end of the necklace. In the center of the talisman lay an opaque black orb. Lady Song slipped the talisman over his head and placed it on the ground between her and Toga.

 

“Strike the meidou-seki with the Tenseiga, and your trial shall begin,” Lady Song instructed. Toga lifted the Tenseiga into the air and looked down at the meidou-seki, then drove the point of the fang into the black orb in its center. The orb cracked, and tendrils of dark energy leaked out, reaching the edge of the small domed barrier around them and curling up its sides. Toga allowed his unease to show as the black tendrils snaked overhead and met at the top of the dome, sparking.

 

Behind them, Inuyasha and Yuka watched as the dome shimmered, then turned opaque black.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Kagome looked up at the darkening sky and stood, moving towards the doors back to her room. She approached the doors, when suddenly the two guards there moved to block her path.

 

“Good evening, Lady Kagome,” the left guard said, nodding. Kagome nodded.

 

“Good evening. Can I pass?” she asked. The guards stared at her blankly. There was a clank of metal, and Kagome turned. Two other guards had materialized behind her. And behind them…

 

“Good evening, Kagome,” Ying Zheng smiled, walking up behind the guards. “I trust your day in the gardens has been enjoyable?” Kagome took a step back, and Ying Zheng's smile grew. “Take her,” he commanded. The two guards moved forward, and Kagome bolted to the left. An arm wrapped around her forearm and pulled her back, holding her against the doorway. The other guard held out her other arm. Kagome pulled and struggled against the two as Ying Zheng approached her.

 

“What are you doing?” Kagome demanded.

 

“I fear the time for formalities and hospitality has come to an end, Kagome,” Ying Zheng explained. “I find no further need to be so generous to you. As of this moment you belong to me, any attempt to leave the palace will result in your execution. I'm afraid you're simple too lovely and too important to me to be allowed to leave. Now, please come here, or I shall be forced to make you come here.”

 

“You want to act like that?” Kagome snapped. “Take a hint, your empire dies in less than twenty years from now, about ten years after your death, and history will come to know you as the cruel, elitist, violent tyrant you really are!” Ying Zheng's hand shot out and clamped down on her chin, and Kagome gasped.

 

“You have a wicked tongue, my dear,” he chuckled. “The first thing I shall do with you is teach you some better uses for it.” Kagome narrowed her eyes and kicked, bringing her knee up squarely into the junction of the Qin Lord's legs. Ying Zheng shrieked and fell back to the stone walkway, clutching the wounded area. The guards looked stunned as Kagome smirked.

 

“You have no idea how long you've had that coming,” she hissed. Ying Zheng slowly climbed to his feet and glared at the miko before his hand back and backhanding her across the cheek. Kagome's face shot to the side with a loud smack.

 

“And I suspect you have had that `coming' for some time yourself,” he growled. “You are unbelievable. A woman of such beauty and intelligence as you speaking to her superiors that way and traveling with yaoguai filth! Any decent woman would have fled that beast upon first meeting it, yet you consider it a friend.”

 

“Shut up! Inuyasha's earned more respect from me in a single day than you've earned in my entire stay here!” Kagome cried. “You don't know a thing about him, or anyone! You think you're a ruler, you're just a bully who happened to rope idiots into following him. Like I said, you die in less than ten years, and your empire as you know it will die with you.”

 

“Your pathetic accusations mean nothing to me. Where did you hear such things, your Japanese writings? The ignorant drabbles of barbarians?” Ying Zheng sneered. “Listen to the words of the First Emperor. I shall reign over this land for a thousand years, the Qin shall flourish and all the land will bow before us.”

 

“You couldn't find the elixir of life in ten centuries, much less ten more years,” Kagome laughed.

 

“Perhaps not, my searches thus far have failed, it is true,” Ying Zheng admitted. “But I do believe I have found something just as well. Hold her feet.” The guards moved their spears to pin Kagome's feet under their handles. Ying Zheng stepped forward and ran a finger along her neck. Kagome pulled away from his touch as much as she could.

 

“You shall not die. You shall merely be imprisoned until you learn to act like a proper woman, a proper wife,” Ying Zheng whispered. “When Chu falls and I am crowned Emperor at last, I shall greatly enjoy claiming you as my queen.” Kagome shivered at his words. “But, first, you have something else I desire,” Ying Zheng continued. Kagome frowned, trying to figure out what he meant. Then her mouth opened in a small gasp as Ying Zheng's finger slipped under the string around her neck.

 

“Or, to phrase it properly,” he corrected, drawing the bottle out of Kagome's blouse and staring at the tiny pink jewel shards inside with a small smile. “You have two things I desire.”

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess a lot of little pieces just clicked into place, ne? I'll say it now, I've been looking forward to the next chapter for a long, long time, and I promise you all, you'll enjoy it very much.