I got this idea from watching a lot of Chinese Mainland drama however, I am not a Chinese History expert therefore I am incorporating some of the ideas of rule and politics however the ones in this fanfic is fictional so those who do know past Chinese politics, please don't be offended. Think of this as a world I made up with my own laws similar to those of the ones depicted in dramas. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own the anime Inuyasha and most of the characters mentioned in this fic.

Chapter 1: The Selection

If she had a choice, if anybody had a choice, they would try their best to stay away from this route. But from this unfair world, your life was not yours to reckon with. That was why she was next to her stressed out mother as her mother cried her heart out. It was unfair that she was unable to choose a husband of her choice, unfair that she couldn't love whoever she wanted. It was unfair that even though her father was an ex-general, she was still chosen to attend a Banquet of Selection for the next concubines for the Emperor.

Anyone else would jump at the offer, to be able to be related to the Royal family, even if you were just a low class Concubine of the Emperor's. Her family was always one of choice. Her father and mother fell in love when her father was starting his career as a general. Luckilly, her mother was from a middle-class family so after asking the previous Emperor's permission for their union, it was granted and the two lovebirds were able to be together.

Unfortunately, the previous Emperor Inutaisho passed in a war with the neighboring country, Ryu Country, that was ruled by the Emperor Ryuukotsei. Both sides had a lot of casualties and lost both Emperors but in the end, Inu Country took the victory with rising new Emperor Sesshoumaru.

The new Emperor Sesshoumaru, first son of the deceased Emperor InuTaisho, has taken rule for a year now however his current Empress and Concubines are unable to give him any heirs so the Empress Dowager has summoned middle-classed young ladies to the Banquet of Selection so the Emperor can select up to five new concubines to add to his harem and to, hopefully, give him heirs. If you do not pass the selection and do not get picked as a Concubine, you are forever a maid at the Palace until the Emperor finds a suitable husband for you. So either way, it was a death sentence in Rin's eyes.

She should have listened to her parents when they asked if she liked anyone, if she found anyone as a suitable husband for herself. She wanted to live out her single life and always said no. She's not ready for marriage although most girls get married at thirteen. She was now twenty-one, single, and received a royal decree from the Empress Dowager herself, that Rin must appear at the banquet or everyone in her household's heads will roll.

"My dearest daughter, I never wanted this to happen to you. I was hoping you would fall in love and have kids with the person you love," her mother sniffled. "The Palace is a cold and stressful place but there's no escaping it now."

"Rin, as your father, I advise you to change your attitude. The Palace is not a place to fool around and be your free self. Any mistakes and the Emperor can have your head. We do not know if the Emperor will choose you yet but you must take all precautions. Even if you become a maid, that gives you more reason to obey and listen," her father lectured with a hard look on his face. He was hiding all his emotions but Rin knew he was breaking behind the mask. Inheriting his cold exterior, Rin also had an emotionless face, trying to hide all the stress, the anger, and the pain. She nodded at her father, not wanting to utter a word in case she gave herself away. Her head nodded a yes to obey but her heart screamed something different. They may make Rin a slave but they will never break her soul.

Her parents were not able to escort her to the banquet so she gave her last farewells to her parents as the village kids came by to say their final goodbye to their favorite sister. She gave them each a farewell gift consisting of homemade sweets and for the parents, jewelry she no longer needed. Her maid, Sango, followed her into the carriage as she looked at her parents once more. Her father held her weeping mother and the sight of her mother broke her heart but she knew what she must do or risk all their lives. The carriage strolled off as the image of her parents became smaller and smaller. She let out a sigh when they became out of sight. It may be ten years, twenty years, fifty years until she got to meet them again.

"Sango?" Rin broke the silence as her maid looked from the ground to her.

"Yes my lady?"

"We are by ourselves now, call me Rin," she started. "When we get there, I just want to warn you, I have no intentions of becoming a concubine, I'd rather be a hard laboring maid than stoop so low to share a man."

"Rin! That is not how you speak of the Emperor! It is his duty to have heirs and your duty to help him!" Sango gasped at words so forbidden.

"Sango! That's the point! Maybe, I'll find true love one day, maybe not but I'd rather wait fifty years for a man I can have all to myself rather than someone who shares his love with everyone! My point being, ImightbemyrudeselfandactlikeIhavenomanners," Rin rushed the last sentence but Sango caught every word.

"No! That can cost your family's life including mine! You can't do that! Not to mention bring shame and dishonor to your family!" Sango's eyes were as wide as saucers as Rin snickered.

"Fine, I'll try my best to contain myself," Rin ended the conversation and both sat in silence the whole trip.

It was hours later when the carriage came to a sudden stop and the guards voices outside the carriage were heard.

"We have brought Izawa Rin from West Village," the guard said and Rin did not hear the rest but heard the gates to the Palace open. Rin inhaled a breath, this was it.

The carriage moved for a couple more miles before it came to another sudden stop.

"You can come out now, Lady Rin," the guard said as Sango got out first and held out her hand to assist Rin. Rin took a few breaths, blinked her eyes a few times, and calmed her racing heart before taking Sango's hand and stepping out of the carriage. The sight was so beautiful, she couldn't believe that it was supposed to be a horrible place. The sakura trees were well taken care of and they blossomed handsomely in the sun. The buildings in the palace was the most beautiful and architectural that she's ever seen.

"Lady Rin, the banquet will be this way, if you can please follow me," the guard said as Rin snapped out of her stupor.

"Yes, thank you," Rin said as she and Sango followed him into the building. There so many people, girls to be exact. Most look so young, around age fifteen, and made her feel so old. She heard a laugh to her left and turned her head to look at the offender.

"Rin! You old hag, I didn't expect you to get an invitation! You're so old, you can be my grandma!" a girl with long dark brown hair and stunning grey eyes said her eyes biting into Rin's. Rin smirked before replying:

"I wouldn't be talking if I were you, unlike you, I got a decree to come here, not an invitation as you so put it," Rin snickered back before Sango stopped her from causing too much drama. Sara huffed before turning around and walking towards a group of girls who seemed to act as mighty as herself.

"It's so awesome how you stood up to her..." a small voice that Rin almost didn't catch murmured and she turned towards the voice to see a girl, probably sixteen or seventeen years old, with hair as white as her skin and dark black eyes. Rin shrugged.

"I'm used to her bullies, we live in the same village, her father is the Head of the village so she thinks she's all tough," Rin explained as the girl nodded. "My name is Rin."

"It's nice to meet you, Rin. I'm Kanna, I'm the current Empress' cousin," she explained as Rin's eyes widened. It must be weird to be in a competition to become your cousin's husband's concubine. She didn't say anything though, as it would be awkward and she didn't want to hurt Kanna's feelings. Apart from all the other girls, Kanna seemed to also be the only one who didn't want to be here.

"Wow, if anything, you status is higher than any of us," Rin said trying to lighten the mood but Kanna just got more quiet.

"Ah, if it isn't the Empress' cousin," another voice entered and Rin thought she met enough new people for the day. She look towards the contender this time and saw a lady, much to her satisfaction, around her age with long black hair and violet eyes.

"Kaguya..." Kanna murmured looking down and somewhat threatened. Rin straightened her back as she stopped looking at the rare violet eyes.

"You should pick on people your own size, kinda weird you target a girl smaller and younger than yourself," Rin countered and Kaguya opened her mouth to argue but another voice entered the conversation.

"You shouldn't be starting problems here Kaguya, Emperor Sesshoumaru won't tolerate that if you want to become a Concubine in his harem, now would he?" she laughed and Rin stared her down as well. Short very dark green hair that can be mistaken for black and red eyes.

"Yura, I will win this conversation and I will become a concubine and kick the Empress off her seat because I will become the Empress of Inu Country," Kaguya declared as Kanna and Sango gasped. Yes again, forbidden words of the court.

"Ladies of the court!" A powerful voice emerged from the very front grabbing everyone's attention. "As Empress Dowager, I have made it my duty to help find suitable concubines for the Emperor. My job here is done and it is up to the Emperor to decide which five of you are suitable to become concubines." On cue, everyone cleared a pathway for the Emperor as he walked into the building. Rin's eyes were glued on him as she watched him walk towards the huge chair at the front of the room. His long silver hair moved with the wind from his movements and it just felt like time stopped. Rin couldn't see his eye color well from where she was but the expression gave her shivers. Definitely, she did not want this. Rin then noticed the Empress sitting in a similar chair to his right and the Empress Dowager on his left. Behind him stood the current three concubines. They didn't look so happy, not mad, but looked really sad. Rin knew what they were feeling, the feeling of having to split your husband up with so many girls, feelings of deceit and loneliness.

"I will ask each and one of you to come up and introduce yourself, where you're from, and your talents. There will be two eliminations. I will eliminate eighty percent of you by the end of this round," he explained and while there were many sad faces, Rin's was bright and happy. The Emperor seemed to have taken noticed and stared directly in her eyes, her brown eyes locked with his, she now realized, molten golden eyes. She knew it was rude to look straight into someone of higher authorities eyes but she couldn't look down. She had always accepted a challenge and never backed down, it was in her nature not to look away. His stare was so hot, she felt her body go on fire but realizing she cannot and will not lose to him, she sent ice through her eyes and he broke the stare as he turned his gaze around the rest of the room. Rin let out a breath she did not know she was holding knowing well that was not a stare down she fairly won. Girls were getting called up and Rin couldn't help but gagged when most mentioned their talents of being in the bedroom. There were many scholarly talents and artistic talents. Rin had many talents but she's not mentioning that.

"Izawa Rin," her name was called and she nervously (although she didn't let it show) walked towards the front with everyone's gaze on her. She actually looked at the Emperor's feet this time, not wanting to start another heating stare down that she can't finish.

"What family are you from?" He asked and she replied monotonously.

"My father is Izawa Shiro who is the descendant of Izawa Ken who is also the descendant of Izawa Shiro, wait does that make sense? My father was named after my great grandfather to explain things. However my grandpa is actually the son of the second wife, Izawa Fujiko, who was my grandpa's first love but was arranged to married his first wife, Izawa Yumi so therefore he married my grandmother as the second wife. As for where I'm from, we have always resided in West Village and my father was once a general in Emperor InuTaisho's army. I hope that's more than enough information for you?" Rin ended her speech with a question and silence filled the room.

"So technically, your great grandma is the first wife?" a voice asked somewhere in the audience. Without turning, Rin smirked and answered:

"No, she was the second wife but the first love."

"Then how is it your father is the head of the household when you have an older great uncle from the first wife?" Another voice asked.

"Because my grandpa was the favored one," Rin was glad she was getting into people's heads to steer the conversation away from her.

"But-"

"Enough! We are not here to talk about Izawa's family history. Rin, please do tell us your talents," the Empress Dowager's big voice shut everyone up. For this question, Rin did not care if people will talk about her, did not care that people will find it a dishonor, she looked straight into Emperor Sesshoumaru's eyes and replied:

"I always win," after she said it, she didn't realize that people would think she meant that she will become his concubine when in reality she would win by not becoming his concubine. Not thinking of the latter thought, the Emperor smirked.

"We will see about that, Izawa Rin."

That's it for now! I was going to keep going into the second part of the competition but figured that's enough for the first chapter! And I apologize to the readers of my previous story, "Two Can Play At This Game". I hate to use the same excuse as everyone and when I hear people use it, I always go..."You're lying! Your laptop/computer didn't break!" But that was the case for me, I guess karma caught up? My old hard drive was fried and to fix it would be more expensive than getting a new hard drive so I lost the two new chapters that I have written for that fic. I have a lot of baby pictures of my daughter on that hard drive, mistake of not getting an external drive, so I will be getting it fixed some time in the future. I will try to rewrite the chapters but I will have to find the inspiration for that story since it wasn't thought through, just a spur of the moment. This story though, I have everything planned up Chapter 8 (possibly more because the competition was supposed to finish in the chapter so I can move onto the next chapter but the competition is not yet complete yet!) so please review and let me know what you think so far of this new fic! Thank you!

-WYMamataro