InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Prejudice ❯ Human Society ( Chapter 1 )

Nauseous. That's how I felt. My stomach did flip-flops while I watched on. Why do we have to watch this? I don't know. But every time…every time, I can hardly watch it. If it wasn't for the fact that we had to watch, I would already be gone. But I don't need to be pissing the Strafes off. That was the very last thing I needed. Sure, they would go easy on me, but not because I was a good citizen. That's not how it worked in this world.

This world has become something based upon dictatorship. This dictatorship is fueled by hate, suffering, and most importantly money. A disgusting world we live in these days. The upper class was treated like ancient royalty or like they were some great deity from the heavens. The punishments were light and resulted in spending maybe 3 kilis in fines, a small portion that can easily be given and passed up.

The middle class was separated even worse. There was the upper middle class and the lower middle class. The upper middle class were nearly in the upper class, but weren't quite to the top. They had comfortable lifestyles, but yearned for something more. The lower middle class were barely making ends meet. Judging by what part of the class you were in, your fines would vary. The upper middle class needed to pay 10 kilis and the lower…well, they spent a great deal of their money on fines totaling to 15 kilis. To the upper class, they think it is hardly anything, but to them, it is a lot.

Even then, these are only the minimal amounts. The amounts could go even higher than that and if you can't pay, the fine will raise and the punishment will increase. Now for the lower class, the poorest of the poor and no one lower than them. Now, these guys would be picked on so easily. The Strafes would find any reason to force them to pay the kilis they didn't have or suffer beatings their tired bodies just couldn't handle. They worked for everyone, doing whatever they can to make a living. It's sad and pitiful. But what can I do about it?

Now, you think this is bad enough. I haven't even finished telling you the rest of the divisions. Now, during the daylight hours, all classes are free to roam wherever they please. But there of course was a catch. The lower classes must bow to their "superiors" and if it wasn't "properly" done, then the upper classes would force them to do it again until they got it "right". If they refused or continued not doing it correctly, they had better pray to god a Strafe isn't there.

If one is…well, it doesn't get very pretty so I won't get into too many details about it. Either way, you had better do it or else. The upper class doesn't have to bow to anyone, but upper class has to obey the rules and obey whatever the Strafes tell them. Not that the Strafes ever tell them anything to do…they are too busy picking on the lowest class.

Oh and this gets better, folks. Women are superior to men. The men must do everything a woman tells them. If they don't, they suffer the consequences. While the upper classmen don't seem to be as severely punished, they do get minor punishments.

Now, I know what you are probably thinking at this point so let me back up a little and explain. Welcome to Earth, the year is 5196. A lot of time has passed and yep, nuclear war destroyed most of the Earth. Animals are a rare thing and I own nothing, but my best friend, Sango, owns a cat. Those that survived were placed in this place after the war ended. We've maybe moved 2 times in my lifetime and the planet is slowly dying. It will probably last a few more centuries, who knows? It could end this very second as we sit on this wasting rock, but we don't know that for sure.

And it was predicted it would take billions of years for an apocalypse…well, guess what, it didn't. Now human society is seriously screwed up and some people are trying to go day by day without dying. It's a sad world now and I don't get how much longer we can live like this before we die out. Not with our unknown empress running the show though, nope, we are doomed to die a very slow death.

Now I know what you are thinking, how can one person keep so much control over so many people? It's so easy a two year old could run this place. Two very essential things keep everyone in line. Number one, money and number two, the Strafes. Kilis make our little world go `round. Money defines class. Once that defines it, other things have to define it since resentment builds. Thus, we have a hate-filled society. So, how do you keep the lower classes in control while you are bribing the upper classes? Simple, the Strafes are the answer.

The Strafes make life miserable for the lower classes. But I didn't explain exactly what the Strafes are, did I? I'm sorry; let me explain what they are in a little better detail before I continue on the cruelty of these so-called "humans". Now, when the Empress took over the group, she needed a way to control this many people. The lower classes would start rebelling if she didn't and the upper class would probably turn their backs on her and refuse to pay any taxes if she didn't keep them safe from the "filth". Thus, the Strafes were put into the system.

These guys have spies planted in all the sectors of the city and have full control over everything. You don't want to be a lower classmen and run into a Strafe. They have the right to accuse you of everything and anything whether you did it or not. They could yell at you, hit you, or anything they wanted to do to you. I've heard rumors they even rape the women when they get the chance. Whether those are true or not, I have no clue. Either way, this city is not a pretty place for those who are in the lower class.

Now, how do they keep everyone straight? Once again, this is a simple question. You have to have your ID card with you. It states your class, your name, and any other necessary information. At any moment, a Strafe could stop you and force you to cough up your ID. If you didn't have it and were of the lower class, you were screwed. If not, well, it wasn't as bad. Now maybe I should tell you the name of the classes. The upper class is the Maliks. The upper middle class is the Ipofts. The lower middle class are the Wroms. And lastly, the lowest class is the Trinks.

Your name is also on a record so they can verify it. It isn't a fun place at all. And I suppose it could be worse. Nothing could get by the Strafes and you were ruled by them. If you were a Malik you didn't need to worry, but if you were a Wrom or Trink, watch out. As for the Ipofts, you had some worry, but not nearly as much as the lower Wrom. I suppose I don't have much room to complain though being born into a Malik family, but I still can't help but just feel my heart bleed every time I watch one of these beatings.

Yep, if you were of the Wrom or Trink families, you could get public beatings. Everyone had to watch. And that meant everyone. The Malik always got front row seats. I would love to pass on it, but can't. The blood that emerges from the wounds sickens me as my stomach churns more. Some of the Malik have delightful grins on their faces and a few whispers of "serves them right" and such are heard throughout the few rows of Maliks. After this was over, everyone was to exit after the Maliks. There were still two hours of daylight left and I could still roam freely until then. Once that clock struck 6 though, my ass had better get back home or I could get in trouble.

I know what you are thinking, why would I be worried? It isn't as if I'm going to be severely punished. Just because the Strafes couldn't punish me didn't mean Mama and Papa couldn't and they would.

`Finally, it's over,' I thought as I looked at the man who was currently lying on the ground unable to move. I grabbed my purse, rose with the other Maliks as the Strafes checked IDs, and dismissed us. Holding out my ID, the woman took it from me and examined it. "Move along Kikyou," she spoke harshly as she handed my ID back to me. She still needed to be harsh to intimidate anyone who thought of breaking the rules even though it was unnecessary with Maliks. Why you ask? That would be because they don't give a rat's ass about the other classes or breaking rules. Maliks were too busy rolling around in their kilis to care.

I walked around absentmindedly; I had too much on my mind. I tried so hard to ignore the bows I was getting from the Ipofts, Wroms, and Trinks as I walked. It irritated me how they did that, but I could never speak out against it. I didn't need to be causing trouble.

That's the way life is for everyone here. Stay in your own business and don't get in trouble. That's the only advice I could offer anyone. Life for me was simple and easy, I had it good. Well, sorta. More like I had it easy and I didn't have to worry, but that is beside the point. I didn't want these luxuries…I never really have. I just wanted something different, but I knew I would never receive it as I continue to walk down this path every day. I have never broken a single one of the laws. I never intended to as much as I hate them. Little did I know, I was about to go on an adventure that could cost me so much that I had to believe in what I was doing with every bit of my being.