InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Rose Petals ❯ Prolouge ( Prologue )

 

A New King

 

Prologue

 

by Twisted Evil Stapler

 

 

Disclaimer: I do not, have not, and will not ever own Inuyasha.

 

 

***

 

 

The late afternoon sun pooled across the gray slate stones of the floor, contrasting with the dark wood walls and deep red drapes that covered most of the room. The large hand-carved wooden doors stood out proudly, accenting the fair amount of equally beautiful furniture placed randomly about the area. Various other possessions were scattered about. An ancient rug woven by a past Queen, a chest set made of the finest marble, and a small statue of the first King of Shikon all decorated the room. And perhaps the most extravagant piece of all was a tall throne, formed from the oldest known tree, which still grew up through the floor of the castle. On it sat a cushion made from the best velvet in the country, adorned with precious jewels and trimmed with polar bear fur. Everything was expensive, and everything was rare.

 

The queen sat graciously in her oversized throne, and, not to be outdone by a room, was made up with equally awe-inspiring fabrics as she squinted down at her advisors. Her sleek hair, which would normally fall past her hips, was now placed upon her head in a painful position and decorated with fine seashells from the southern coast. Luxurious silk of all colors covered her slim body, bringing out the wonderful blue-gray of her eyes - the color of a summer sky moments before a light shower of fresh rain. Nothing on her was out of place. No one, no matter how observant, could tell from her appearance that she'd spent the past month locked in her private chambers, weeping continuously. Her heart wrenching sobs had been heard throughout the castle. Then, whenever she was finally able to collect herself, some fond memory would flash before her and she'd be crying again before her tears had even dried. She had only been able to put a stop to her tears moments before.

 

The queen never let any of her emotions show to people she didn't trust; it was a trait she'd learned from her late husband. She, instead, sat stiffly in her elaborate chair, and waited. She knew what they wanted, and she didn't want to hear it. Her high-class shoes tapped out a steady rhythm on a low branch, making an eerie echo sound through out the room. No one dared to even breath. They valued their necks a little too much, so tension thickened.

 

Someone coughed in the background. All eyes fell on Bunjiro, a young man of 45, well young compared to all the other advisors. He hadn't been an advisor for very long, and still had much to learn. "Your highness, please, we understand you've suffered a great loss, as have we, my lady, but our kingdom cannot survive long without a proper leader." He just didn't know when to keep quiet.

 

The queen's mask slipped for a faint moment, before hardening. Gidaya came to Bunjiro's rescue. "I empathize with you, your highness, but we need your help, the kingdom is in riot at the loss of their King."

 

"He was a good King, my lady," Bunjiro recovered.

 

"Yes, and the people grieve his sudden death," continued Gidaya, "but there is still a country to run! The barriers have broken, my lady. The rebellious Inu Youkai have attacked from the west, under new ruling since their own king's death, and more demons have begun to raid our northern villages..."

 

The Queen sighed. The country had been at war since before she'd even been born. Demon kingdoms constantly threaten their safety. They were, after all, the only kingdom ruled by humans. In fact, Shikon was the only kingdom where humans were not treated as being severely inferior to the demon race. Were it not for a long alliance with the Western Lands, Shikon surely would have been crushed long ago. Even with the threat of the great Inu Youkai, lesser demons still attacked. They seemed to be fearless, and nothing less than death could stop them. Only by the power passed down within her family had they been kept at a distance. Her family possessed a great miko power, unrivaled by any other, and combined with the leadership skills of her husband, Shikon had been able to experience a few years of relative peace.

 

"...and we still haven't gotten any rain. Our people are nearly starved, your highness. They've no food to eat; all the crops have been ruined by this drought. Nothing will grow, and even the animals lack any good meat on their bones..."

 

Then the tide had suddenly turned. A miko, trained in Shikon, in this very castle, had gone against them. Darkened by some unknown force, she'd turned on her own people, bringing a great drought to the land, and breaking the barriers that kept the people safe from harm.

 

"...You must pull yourself together for the sake of your people! They need you now, more than ever. You must focus your attention on keeping this kingdom safe!..."

 

At first it had completely surprised everyone. It had even surprised her. This young girl was able to break down barriers as if they'd been made out of paper. At the castle, she hadn't been nearly that strong. She'd been strong, but nothing near as she was now.

 

She did have a sort of unrelenting cockiness about her though, a trait that made it hard for her to ever lose anything. When she'd first arrived, she'd managed to overcome her own father, the King at the time. The Queen smiled slightly. Her father's spiritual power had never been that good. In his old age, he couldn't even hurt a flea demon! It hadn't been that she had the power to overcome the King, but that she'd had the nerve. It was like playing a game with a young child - you always let them win for fear you'd upset them.

 

"...should send our army to the weak borders to protect the people. So many have died already, I think I speak for all of us here when I say I do not wish for more to die at the hands of the youkai. The army can protect them until you are able to. We do have a wonderful army. The best in the known lands, even without the help of the Inu Youkai—"

 

Gidaya's speech was cut short by a sudden violent coughing attack from the Queen.

 

"Your highness?"

 

The Queen crumpled down from her high perch and sat on the floor, her body shaking with each cough. People were dying, and it was her fault, but she didn't care at the moment. Her father had left her, and she'd had no one left. Her mother had died giving birth to her. Roku, her dear husband, had lessened the pain, and given her something to live for. She coughed more and dark red blood splattered on her hands.

 

"Quick, someone get a healer!"

 

He'd given her love and shown her how to give it back. He'd given her a daughter, and a son. She coughed, and more blood stained her perfect silk dress. Then, disease had taken her son slowly from her. More blood. And a murder had taken her husband. With one last sharp intake of breath, the Queen sank to the floor, her head saved only by the quick reflexes of her faithful assistant, Naraku.