InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Peace Treaty ❯ The Council of Great Families ( Chapter 2 )

Generals Furuki, Kitabashi, and Miyamoto walked down the long hall to the assembly room to address the meeting of the Council of Great Families they had hastily called.

 

“What do you think our chances are of getting this approved?” Furuki asked, stroking his long, white beard.

 

“Well, we need a simple majority,” replied Kitabashi. “The three of us will obviously vote Yea, meaning we need only convince three more Heads of Household to join with us. I'm certain Lady Tokuhoshi will give her consent. The refugee situation has hit her particularly hard, and so she is the most at risk in the immediate future.”

 

“How does a laying down of arms help her deal with refugees?” Miyamoto asked, his voice brusque.

 

“If hostilities cease,” Kitabashi said, “the other Families could be persuaded to accept some refugees into their strongholds.”

 

“Well, I still don't think we can count on Lady Tokuhoshi,” retorted Miyamoto. “She is practically the girl's kin, and I doubt she will relinquish her to the Youkai that easily.”

 

“Who else can we count on?” Furuki asked again.

 

“Morino Family lands border Youkai land on three sides. They've been involved in numerous treaties in the past; at least the idea won't seem completely foreign to them.”

 

“Treaties over river access for secession of territory or prisoner return for mineral rights are hardly the same as marriage,” Miyamoto scoffed.

 

“So are you for this or not Miyamoto?” Kitabashi sounded exasperated. “You seem to be arguing against it rather strenuously.”

 

“I'm completely for it. I think if this treaty is accepted there may be the first real chance at peace since I've been alive. No, call me a cynical realist. Getting the Council to agree on whether it is day or night is difficult enough. Let's just say something this controversial...I'm not optimistic.”

 

“Our greatest challenge will be Lord Fukuguchi,” Kitabashi continued. “The majority of the mines and smithies are on his family's property. Manufacturing of weapons has enriched his coffers and promoted his family to the Council. I think he'll secretly be loathe to end this war.”

 

“He's also the most heavily taxed of all of us,” countered Miyamoto. “He'll make as much coin in the manufacture of plough shares. Fukuguchi is a shrewd, rational man-don't give up on him yet.”

 

“What of the other three generals? Any surprises there?” Furuki asked.

 

“General Ichida is getting old. I think he would like nothing more than a quiet retirement to play with his grandchildren.”

 

“Generals Akagawa and Kurono are the most belligerent men I've ever met,” Miyamoto said harshly. “The only way they see War's End is the complete annihilation of every Youkai on Earth. We would have an easier time convincing Lady Tokuhoshi to give up her Council seat. Not only will they not support this, we will have to keep close eye on them; they will do everything possible to sabotage this treaty.”

 

“Okashita won't vote for anything for which Morino votes. He still stubbornly considers him a usurper of his sister's son's rightful position.” Kitabashi hated the fact that such self-serving reasons so frequently found their way into practical political decisions.

 

“Okashita's nephew is a dullard. He should be thanking Morino for the job he's doing,” added Miyamoto.

 

They had reached the door to the chamber. “Well we can only hope for the outcome we wish. As the highest ranking of the three of us, I will make the presentation to the Council.”

 

Kitabashi and Miyamoto glanced at each other in a silent agreement. Though Furuki was old and tended to ramble, he was highly respected on the Council.

 

XXXXX

 

Centered in the main meeting room was a circular table, around which six men and one woman were seated. They waited with increasing impatience for the three men who had assembled them.

 

“Does anyone have a clue why we've been called here?” Lord Okashita asked.

 

“Oh, I think I've an idea,” replied Morino. “There have been rumors of a Youkai delegation passing by my family lands.”

 

“What? Why have I not been told of this?” General Kurono said angrily.

 

Morino smirked. “Don't let yourself be ruffled so easily, my dear General. Rumors are merely that.”

 

“Until they've been confirmed. I demand to know what is going on.”

 

“Fortunately General Kurono, answers appear forthcoming,” Lady Tokuhoshi said as the doors swung open.

 

Furuki, Kitabashi, and Miyamoto walked in and took their places at the table. All sat but Furuki.

 

“Thank you all for coming on such short notice and in such difficult times. I assure you this Council meeting would not have been called but for a reason of the utmost importance.”

 

“So then Furuki, are the rumors true? Is there a new treaty in the works?”

 

“Lord Morino, your sources are impressive as usual. Yes, several weeks ago, Kitabashi, Miyamoto, and I were contacted separately by a Youkai courier about the arrangement of a meeting to discuss the possibility of negotiations. It seems they have methods of gathering information as good as our own, for though Kitabashi, Miyamoto, and I have not kept secret our wish for talks, we have not made public overtures either. After determining they were not planning an ambush, we met at a neutral location. We were greeted by key representatives of the four Taiyoukai Houses, who gave us assurances of good faith, and we ascertained they were in earnest. And to make a long story short-”

 

“Too late,” muttered Lady Tokuhoshi, Morino, and Miyamoto.

 

“-yes, the Youkai have offered a peace treaty, and we are here to in turn offer it to the Council as a whole.”

 

General Kurono pounded his fist on the table. “Well I don't need to hear it! There's nothing the filthy demon scum-”

 

“General you will have an opportunity to speak when I have finished. Until then, kindly refrain from interruption. Now then, the offer made is highly unusual. In the past when our societies have treated with each other, the terms had typically been concessions of territory or access to resources in an exchange for laying down of arms. The treaties were easily made, easily violated, with neither side giving up or gaining anything of sufficient significance to necessitate continuation of said treaty.”

 

“General Furuki, with all due respect, we know this already,” Lord Fukuguchi said. “Please come to the point.”

 

General Furuki took a deep breath. “The proposal is a marital alliance between a Youkai male and a Ningen female.”

 

The seven members of the Council to whom this was news, sprang to their feet. Fukuguchi and Morino looked shocked and thoughtful; Okashita looked shocked and offended; General Ichida looked merely tired; Generals Akagawa and Kurono swore and drew their swords. Lady Tokuhoshi was the one who spoke, summarizing all their feelings. “You've got to be joking!”

 

“My Lady, I've never been more serious.”

 

“General Furuki, again with all due respect, I doubt you've been unserious more than five times in your entire life,” Fukuguchi said. “Please explain yourself.”

 

“Everyone take your seats. Akagawa and Kurono sheath your swords. Please.” They complied, and Furuki continued. “It would be a treaty with teeth. Each side is used to making alliances based on marriage, but we've never intermarried.”

 

“With good reason,” interjected Akagawa.

 

“But it has never even been considered,” said Kitabashi, now standing.

 

“With good reason!” insisted Akagawa.

 

“And I'm saying now there is a good reason to consider it,” Kitabashi said.

 

Miyamoto slowly stood. “Think on it. This would not be a treaty between one or two of the Great Families and a House or two of Taiyoukai. This would be a treaty between the entire Council and all four Taiyoukai Houses. If we ratify and support this, it could mean War's End.”

 

“I've always thought The War With No End was too pessimistically named,” Morino murmured.

 

“Wait just a minute! Intermarriage. It is...unthinkable,” Okashita grumbled. “What of the product of such a union? It would be a member of the nobility, but it would be a hanyou. Hanyou are reviled. They're freaks of nature. If one is born the family usually leaves it to die of exposure. Those that manage to survive are shunned. They have no right to property…and I don't think they are treated any better in Youkai society.”

 

“Well obviously the position of hanyou would have to be altered. I've been arguing for the repeal of the Hanyou Laws for years,” Furuki shot back.

 

“The families on my lands who operate the mines use hanyou as slaves,” Fukuguchi, said. “I'm not sure I'd vote for anything that could remove their labor force.”

 

“The mine owners would be duly compensated if it comes to that,” said Miyamoto. He was beginning to think Morino would come around to their position.

 

General Akagawa stood again. “This is ridiculous! I can't believe there is even a discussion of the matter. We should be planning battle tactics, not-”

 

“General we all know the position of you and your esteemed colleague, General Kurono. I myself would like to hear more,” Morino said silkily. “Who's the lucky girl?”

 

“We have thought this through, and I believe we've come up with the perfect candidate,” Lord Kitabashi said.

 

“And...”

 

“General Higurashi's daughter.”

 

“Sumiko was wed earlier this year and is four months pregnant,” Lady Tokuhoshi said. “I know Youkai marriage practices are different from ours, but I doubt they would find her acceptable at all.”

 

“Not her,” replied Kitabashi. “The other one.”

 

“What? I literally can't think of any girl less appropriate than Kagome,” Lady Tokuhoshi protested. “I truly think you've all lost your minds.”

 

“I understand your reservations Lady Tokuhoshi, but hear me out.” Miyamoto paused and sighed heavily. “Let us be frank. None of us are willing to consent to the union of one of our daughters or nieces and a Youkai. Kagome has no family member on the Council.”

 

“She has a cousin who would certainly object,” said Lady Tokuhoshi.

 

“Her cousin is a minor lord without enough clout to counter a Council decision.”

 

“So we should just hang her out to dry?” Okashita spat.

 

“She's a miko for pity's sake!” Lady Tokuhoshi said.

 

“She's not taken her vows yet.” Miyamoto knew Lady Tokuhoshi would be difficult to convince. “She still responds to orders from Kaede.”

 

“Do you seriously think Kaede would give that order?” Lady Tokuhoshi asked.

 

“The Miko Shrine is on my land. Kaede will give the order,” Miyamoto replied.

 

“And what makes you think the Youkai would accept her?” Lady Tokuhoshi's voice was beginning to become shrill.

 

“She is a Higurashi, one of our oldest and most noble families. There would be a Higurashi Head of Household seated with us had the male line not died out.” Ignoring an indignant snort from Lady Tokuhoshi, Miyamoto continued. “Her father was one of our most venerated generals, dying as a martyr in the Battle of Fukuoka eleven years ago. The girls' lineage will not be an issue.”

 

“I am well aware of our history and the girl's parentage. Hayate Higurashi was my foster brother,” Lady Tokuhoshi said. “What of the fact that she's not a virgin?”

 

“Because she was raped they probably won't see her as belonging to another,” Kitabashi said.

 

“Youkai don't put quite so much emphasis on a woman's intact maidenhead,” Miyamoto added dryly.

 

“Filthy barbarians,” muttered Kurono.

 

“But why Kagome?” Lady Tokuhoshi asked. “She's had such a difficult life.”

 

Morino snorted in derision. “That's what we get for letting a woman on the Council.”

 

Lady Tokuhoshi rose to her feet, upsetting her chair. “How dare you! I've earned my right as Head of Household. I earned it with every day that Heiyanaka Settlement held against that siege. I earned it with every settler that fought and died. With every son I lost. Need I remind you that were it not for me and the sacrifices made by Heiyanaka, we would all be Youkai slaves right now?”

 

“Lady Tokuhoshi,” General Furuki said gently, “no one disputes that you are a treasured member of this Council, but you make my point for me. We've all had difficult lives. We've all lost family and comrades. This war has been hell on all of us. I've nothing against the girl, but Kagome Higurashi deserves no special treatment.”

 

“This discussion has gone on long enough!” Akagawa roared. “I say we vote now and never speak of this disgraceful matter again.”

 

“Let's not be hasty, General,” Fukuguchi said. He was intrigued. “Who is the prospective Youkai bridegroom?”

 

“General Inutaisho's son, Sesshoumaru,” said Furuki.

 

Morino whistled softly. “The heir to the House of the West? I guess they are serious.”

 

“What do you know of him?” Lady Tokuhoshi asked.

 

“General Inutaisho's lands border mine. He is a fierce leader in battle, but has always been fair in dealings with our family. Over the generations, we've had many treaties with the West. Of course they all broke eventually, though if my memory of our family history is correct, Inutaisho was never the cause. His son has a reputation similar to his father. A very powerful Youkai...brilliant tactitian...honorable in his dealings with Ningen, though he has no love for them.”

 

“We have every reason to believe the girl will be treated well and given all the respect entitled to a wife of a Taiyoukai,” Kitabashi continued.

 

“I believe they are called mates,” Morino said softly.

 

“Are we ready to vote, or do we need to keep the subject open longer?” Hearing no objection, Kitabashi said, “General Furuki, will you start?”

 

“Yea.”

 

“Yea,” said Kitabashi.

 

“Yea,” said Miyamoto.

 

“Nay!” thundered Akagawa.

 

“Yea,” said Morino hesitantly.

 

“Nay.” Kurono's answer sounded more like a snarl.

 

“Nay,” said Okashita with disgust.

 

There was a long pause. “Yea,” Fukuguchi said.

 

“Yea, but I'm not happy about it,” said Lady Tokuhoshi.

 

“Yea,” said Ichida.

 

“Well that is surprising,” Miyamoto said. “Seven to three. Given this Council, that's as good as unanimous.”

 

“This is an outrage! You are all ready to betray Ningen society and all we hold dear.” Akagawa said. His hand strayed to the hilt of his sword.

 

“Don't be over-dramatic General Akagawa,” Furuki said dismissively. His relief that the vote came out so well trumped his sense of diplomacy. “And I'll remind you that decisions made by this Council are binding. Undermining this treaty would mean automatic penalties.”

 

“At this point I would be pleased to lose my seat on this Council.” Akagawa had venom in his voice. “You've done a wicked thing this day.” Generals Akagawa and Kurono rose and strode out of the room, followed closely by Lord Okashita.

 

“Why do I feel we've not seen the last of them?” Morino said to no one in particular.

 

“Well,” Miyamoto said, “tomorrow I will travel to the Miko Shrine to inform Lady Kaede of our decision and collect the Lady Kagome.”

 

“And who is going to break the news to the girl?” asked Fukuguchi. “After all, we should take the girl's feelings into account and tell her as kindly as possible.”

 

All eyes in the room turned to Lady Tokuhoshi. When she realized what that meant, she muttered darkly, “Lovely. You bastards...giving me the dirty work.”