InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Displacement ❯ "How I Will Savour This" ( Chapter 16 )

Displacement

 

For those who haven't heard, the successor to this story, “Love Me, Hate Me”, has been posted. I promise lots of action, angst, romance and lust. And who doesn't love a mix of those? ^_^

 

Chapter 16

 

“How I Will Savour This”

 

With a roar, Toga slammed the Tetsusaiga into the ground, unleashing a blast of energy. The front row of horses reared up as the Kaze-no-kizu tore into them, reducing many of them to ash. The riders, scarred and shocked but alive, tumbled to the ground. At the head of the army, Liu Bang's eyes widened and he turned his horse aside. The steed was caught in the side of the stomach and pitched sideways, rolling awkwardly. Liu Bang pulled himself from under the wounded beast and looked down at it as the remainder of the Han army closed the gap between them and their enemies.

 

Chinese and Japanese armies clash, and Inuaysha ducked to avoid a blade pointed at his head. He swung out the Tetsusaiga and caught the rider with the flat of the blade, pitching them backwards. He grabbed them by the throat and tossed them into the air, hitting another rider and knocking him backwards off his horse.

 

“Still going for the injury, not the kill I see,” Toga observed beside him, slicing his own Tetsusaiga in the air. A smaller blast of youki tore out the ground and the final wave of Han riders collapsed into the groves carved in the dirt. Inuyasha scowled at his father's observation and looked up the hill at the still-standing Qin footarmy.

 

“I ain't never killed a human willingly,” he snarled, ducking and punching a Han that had managed to sneak up behind him. “But I am really tempted to start making exceptions.” Toga nodded and stuck his claws through the iron plate covering the chest of one shoulder. He tossed his dying body away and held out his hand. The tips of two of his fingers glowed, and with a snarl, Toga lashed out a whip of glowing green youki energy. Six Han cried out as the attack carved painful but not deadly wounds in their legs. Toga spun and lashed the whip out again, catching another Han in the neck. Inuyasha's jaw dropped at the sight of the man's head tumbling to the ground.

 

“Holy shit,” he muttered. And he here thought Sesshomaru being so careless towards killing was something he had picked up on his own.

 

“The destiny of a warrior is to fight,” Toga snapped, lashing out Tetsusaiga with his free hand and slicing away a sword, hand still gripping the hilt. “I advise you learn that now.” Inuyasha scowled and turned. With a scream, he slammed a claw into a Han shoulder's shoulder and sliced the Tetsusaiga through his stomach. The Han gasped, and Inuyasha's eyes widened. The Han went limp, and Inuyasha lowered the Tetsusaiga, staring in horror at the ruby blood running down the fang.

 

“You made the Tetsusaiga to protect humans, how can you use it to kill them!?” he protested, flicking off the blade in disgust.

 

“On case you have forgotten, I am trying to protect humans!” Toga replied, slamming a fist into a Han's helmet.

 

Atop the hill overlooking the battle, Ying Zheng narrowed his eyes and lifted a hand into the air.

 

“Archers, ready!” he commanded. Behind him, two rows of crossbow-armed Qin loaded cartridges of slim iron bolts into their weapons. The bulky but efficient Chinese artillery pieces locked the projectiles into place as their holders pointed them to the sky.

 

“Wait, my lord!” Ying Zheng looked down as Liu Bang ran up the hill towards him. “If you fire now my men will be slaughtered!” he cried. Ying Zheng scowled and snapped his hand down.

 

A flurry of crossbow bolts flitted through the air in an arc, the iron storm raining down on the combatants at the foot of the hill. Liu Bang turned and watched in horror as Han and Japanese alike cried out as the thin projectiles stuck in their bodies, several collapsing to the dirt.

 

“Again!” Ying Zheng roared, lifting his hand again as more bolts clicked into place behind him. He flung his arm again and another volley bombarded the soldiers below. More soldiers fell, and to Liu Bang's horror as the fighting slowed, most of the Han soldiers lay dead or dying in the grass. Ying Zheng raised his arm again and brought down a third wave. Content, he turned his head and gave Wang Jian a curt nod.

 

“For the glory of Qin!” the general cried, rearing his horse. The Qin army began running down the hill with Wang Jian at their head. Toga took a breath and tensed his grip on Tetsusaiga.

 

“Hey.” Toga turned at the voice to see Inuyasha standing beside him, staring forward. Toga followed his gaze up the hill, and his eyes darkened in understanding at the yellow-robed figure standing there on horseback.

 

“Go,” he ordered, nodding. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and took off at a run. A few of the charging Qin moved to avoid him, others ignored him and others pointed their weapons at him. He pushed them all aside with his claws or Tetsusaiga and finally jumped clear over the last few rows, racing up the hillside. At the top, Ying Zheng turned his horse and smile.

 

“How I will savour this,” he leered, drawing the sword strapped to his waist. With a kick he took off towards the hanyou, a sneer plastered on his face.

 

Inuyasha saw the Qin Lord approach, and continued his path. Finally Ying Zheng let out a cry and sliced his sword as the distance closed. Inuyasha rolled under the blade and brought a claw up, drawing it along the side of the brown steed. With a neigh, the horse pitched forward and slid down the hillside. Ying Zheng snarled and leapt from the saddle as the horse collapsed, watching the fatally wounded animal try to get up before turning around and rising to his feet.

 

“I should have killed you the moment I first laid eyes upon you,” he declared, undoing the sash holding his yellow robes together. Sash and then robe pooled on the ground at his feet, revealing a full suit of iron armor covering his torso and thighs, the leather and metal tied tinted the distinctive yellow of Chinese nobility. “It would have saved me a lot of trouble.”

 

“Same here,” Inuyasha scowled, drawing Tetsusaiga. The steel-cleaving fang shifted and burst into its full form in a rush of youki. Ying Zheng snorted and twirled his own blade in his hand before pointing it at the hanyou. “You have no idea how hard I'm going to kick your ass,” the hanyou taunted. Ying Zheng smirked, the words not making sense but the tone unmistakable.

 

“Then come, Inuyasha,” he ordered, lifting his other hand to beckon him. “Show me what a yaoguai warrior is capable of.” Inuyasha's lip curled in a snarl. Killing humans was not something he wanted to do. But this bastard had taken Kagome, killed his father's forces and if he had his way would finish the job here.

 

With a roar of rage, he lifted the Tetsusaiga and charged. Ying Zheng spun and deflected the blade, to Inuyasha's horror.

 

“What the fuck?” he hissed. How had he blocked the Tetsusaiga? The thought had to wait as the lord began a counter-attack, and Inuyasha swung to block. Blades slid off each other in a deadly dance of attack, block and counter-attack. Inuyasha growled as Ying Zheng continued his assault. There was no way that sword could block the Tetsusaiga, what was going on?

 

“You appear to be struggling,” Ying Zheng taunted, sweeping to his knees and trying a lower strike. Inuyasha jumped back to avoid it and brought Tetsusaiga down. Ying Zheng dodged to the left and rose to his feet.

 

“Shut up!” Inuyasha snapped, advancing. Ying Zheng narrowly dodged each slash, his smirk widening evermore with each unsuccessful attack.

 

“If you wish you may request the assistance of one of your wretched companions,” Ying Zheng laughed, swinging and knocking another attack aside.

 

“I don't need help to beat you!” Inuyasha cried, slashing. Tetsusaiga was blocked again, and the hanyou brought up his other hand. “You wanna fight, we'll fight my way!” Inuyasha continued. His claws slammed into Ying Zheng's jaw, raking three gashes across his cheek. With a gasp, he pitched back and slid back on the grass.

 

“I'm not going to lose to you,” Inuyasha grated, holding out the Tetsusaiga. With an undignified grunt, Ying Zheng climbed to his feet, turning to face the hanyou with a furious glare. Blood dripped down his face from the wounds.

 

“I have never met anyone so pathetic to strike me like that,” he hissed.

 

“Keh, it won't be the last time. One more like that and you'll be ready to quit old man,” Inuyasha snapped. Ying Zheng sneered.

 

“This?” he chuckled darkly. Inuyasha's eyes slowly went wide. “This…is only a flesh wound.” As he spoke, Ying Zheng's face glowed, and to Inuyasha's shock, the three gashes there slowly closed. Ying Zheng lifted a leather-gloved hand to wipe off the remaining blood, revealing perfectly unmarred flesh.

 

“How…the hell…” Inuyasha whispered in awe. Ying Zheng flicked his sword out to the side and held out his hand.

 

“Now. Shall we continue?” he offered. Inuyasha didn't respond. With a snort, Ying Yheng brought his sword back over his shoulder and charged.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Toga lashed out his whip, slicing of an arm of a soldier and retracted it as he spun and cleaved off the head of another charging him from behind. There was a cry, and Toga lifted Tetsusaiga behind his back to block a sword.

 

“So, you are as a mighty warrior as they said.” Toga turned to regard the aging warrior who lifted his sword back, and considered slicing him in two.

 

“Who are you to speak to me in battle?” he demanded.

 

“I am the bringer of your death,” Wang Jian sneered, drawing a second sword from his back and lunging. Toga stood silent and drew Tenseiga, effortlessly blocking each of the Chinese general's strikes with ease.

 

“Your technique is impressive,” he conceded. “But you are no match for me.”

 

“You overestimate yourself yaoguai filth!” Wang Jian laughed. Toga snorted and noticed something flawed in Wang Jian's technique.

 

“You seem certain of your victory,” he said, waiting for his chance. Tetsusaiga smoked slightly as it reverted to its katana form.

 

“I shall prevail! I am a loyal servant of the Great Lord Ying Zheng!” Wang Jian declared. “You are nothing before me. I am his faithful general, Wang Jian!” Wang Jian swung his swords, and Toga raised Tenseiga to catch them. At the side time, Tetsusaiga came up on Wang Jian's side. He turned and gasped.

 

A moment later, two swords clanged on the ground in front of Wang Jian's feet. Behind him, his head fell a moment later. Toga sheathed Tenseiga and shifted Tetsusaiga back to its true form as Wang Jian's decapitated body fell backwards.

 

“Good for you,” he muttered, turning back to the larger battle.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

Inuyasha leapt back and jumped, bringing Tetsusaiga down. Ying Zheng leapt aside and the fang carved a deep gash in the dirt. Inuyasha growled and brought it to the side to deflect an attack and thrust forward. The blade moved and swatted Tetsusaiga to the ground.

 

“How the hell is your sword standing up to Tetsusaiga?” he demanded.

 

“Oh? Wouldn't you like to know?” Ying Zheng replied, parrying another thrust. Inuyasha jumped back and focused. The swirls of yellow energy around Tetsusaiga flared up and spun faster.

 

“On second thought, I don't really care!” he cried, bringing the blade over his head. “Kaze-no-kizu!”

 

Tetsusaiga slammed into the grass and released five trails of golden youki energy. Ying Zheng gasped and held out his sword as the attack slammed into him. Inuyasha watched as the Qin Lord's form vanished in the light, leaving a cloud of smoke and dust in the wake. He grunted and licked his dry lips.

 

“That's…it…” he hissed. The smoke began to clear, and a shimmering pink bubble appeared in the middle of the five slashes carved by the Kaze-no-kizu. As Inuyasha watched, the dust settled. Panting, wounded with numerous cuts over his body and leaning on his sword for leverage, but still alive…

 

“That's not possible,” Inuyasha said, stepping back. The glowing barrier dispersed as Ying Zheng slowly climbed to his feet, taking a shaky step back. He looked up and gasped for breath as the cuts on his body slowly began to heal.

 

“Very…impressive…” he conceded, cracking his neck. “I did not expect you…to wield such power…” He put a hand on the blade near the crossguards of his sword, and lifted the weapon into the air.

 

“But I live yet…” he declared. “And now, I do believe it is my turn!” Ying Zheng whipped the blade behind his back, a glowing pink aura appearing over the sword. With a shout, he swung it forward and released a glowing pink arc of energy.

Inuyasha gasped and lifted Tetsusaiga to block the attack. It hit hard and he grunted as his heels dug into the dirt, pushing him back several feet.

 

“Nice try,” he sneered. “But I'm still alive too.” Smoke filled his vision, and he looked down. “No!” Smoke rose from Tetsusaiga as it glowed yellow and shrunk. Inuyasha lifted the rusty katana to eye level.

 

“Tetsusaiga's aura…” he whispered. It had been…purified? He turned his focus from the sword as Ying Zheng laughed.

 

“Well, this is an interesting and unexpected turn of events,” he called. “I wonder, yaoguai. How good are you a fighter without that mighty blade in your hand?” Inuyasha gritted his teeth as Ying Zheng called another aura around his sword.

 

“Let us find out, shall we?” he finished. With a final battle cry, he swung his sword forward and let loose another blast of purifying energy.

 

To date, the details of the death of General Wang Jian remains unknown. He was, however, the commander of the Qin army during Ying Zheng's campaign to conquer Chu, which is the general time this story takes place in. If he was actually killed or not during said campaign has not been decisively proven. As well, there were 4 historically significant “Wang Jians” during different Chinese time periods, so researching this specific Wang Jian to find a specific date of death was difficult.

 

Contrary to how you're likely picturing it, the crossbows used in the time of the Qin were bulky and made of wood, about the size of a soldier's arm and held at the hip. This variant is known as the repeating crossbow, and although it lacked accuracy, it was easy to build and train with and fired very quickly - a skill archer armed with a Qin repeating crossbow could fire ten bolts in fifteen seconds. The repeating crossbow typically had low range unless the normal iron bolts were replaced with wooden ones. However, wooden bolts were very ineffective against armored troops, which, combined with the circumstances of the battle, is why the Qin are still using iron bolts in this chapter.

 

I also sincerely apologize for the admittedly bloodthirsty depiction of Toga in this scene. I myself wasn't really comfortable showing him like this, but hey, he's a warrior, a taiyoukai and he's pissed off, what do you expect?