I do not own InuYasha or Magic Knight Rayearth in any way, shape or form!
Speech Key:
"The" – Oral/Normal Speech
'The' – Thoughts
PLEASE READ BEFORE BEGINNING CHAPTER!
AN: Yay! I finally got this up! I do apologize for not updating in a while, but it really couldn't be helped. I won't elaborate and bore you all with details, but let's just say that whatever free time I thought I'd have during break, didn't really come through and go as planned…
Now, this chapter is going to be a bit…out there. Asuka wasn't someone very elaborated on in neither the manga nor anime (not too surprising since the latter half of the manga only lasted three volumes). Her reasons for wanting to become the Pillar differ quite a bit in both adaptations.
I wanted to try for a small…experiment, of sorts, with this chapter. I wanted to see if I could add a little depth to Asuka's character, and I think I accomplished that a bit, but overall, Asuka's personality won't be as you all would remember. She's going to be more than a bit different from everyone's memory as far as either the manga or anime go, so this is just s head's up just in case anyone gets on my case about the not-so-childish personality being wiped off.
Now, SsangYong's (I think the name was interpreted as Sanyun if memory serves correct in both the anime and certain printings of the manga; the name I'm using is how it's interpreted in my omnibus volume, so please don't fry me for that!) age and that of Asuka's aren't exactly spelled out in bold for us to see anywhere. Appearance can be deceiving as far as CLAMP's art style goes, so I don't try to assume age on appearance.
Unfortunately, I'm going to have to do exactly that. The character scaling differs just slightly between the manga and anime, so that made it a bit more difficult as well. The average height of a 14-year-old Japanese female ranges from 5'1" to 5'2" (around 156 cm). Now, Asuka came up to just above Fuu's knees in the anime, taking CLAMP's art style from the manga into account as well as her personality/attitude, I'd estimate that Asuka's age falls somewhere around 8 to 10. Taking an in-between route, I will say that she is nine-years-old and SsangYong is the same age, give or take a few months.
Just as a heads up, there will very little dialogue in this chapter and perhaps another one or two after this! Plus, the tone of this will be a little…different. Definitely turned out longer than I thought it would, to say the least…
Anyway, I hope you all like this and please remember to review, but if you've nothing polite to say then don't bother saying anything at all!
~A Match of Two Souls~
oO-The Resolution of a Little Princess-Oo
Princess Asuka looked at the Chákàn solemnly, her thoughts in disarray. Violet eyes roamed over the rocky fields and chasms. She flinched when a piece of the scenery broke off and disappeared.
(AN: The word, according to Google Translate since Chinese isn't on my to-learn list as of yet, means 'Viewing'. It's the best name I could figure for the viewing globe Asuka has on the Dreamchild.)
'So this is what Cephiro looks without a Pillar?' she thought sadly. 'A barren wasteland on the edge of destruction?' She remembered reading about a world with clear blue skies, lush fields, and dazzling seas. It was a world straight out of a dream where everything and everyone lived in peace. 'But the price for such a world…the previous Pillar must have been strong; so strong to keep everything from becoming like this…'
Asuka smiled ruefully.
The previous Pillar of Cephiro kept her world balanced to ensure the safety and happiness of her people. She literally took the weight of the world upon her to maintain peace.
And her?
All she wanted was to turn this place into a world of confections and keep the Mashin as her personal pets.
At least, that was what she wanted everyone to think.
As an orphaned princess growing up under the care of nannies and Chang'an, Asuka had heard many stories of her beautiful and kind mother, of her strong and just father. How Queen Jingyi's gentle nature placated even the most stubborn of delegates. How King Li's strength and faith in his people pulled them through difficult times.
But then, both had disappeared just after Asuka's birth.
And thus began the whispers.
Asuka heard the murmurs of servants and nobles. She heard the mutterings of her people. She didn't let on to anyone, but she heard everything.
Comparisons her to her parents.
Blaming her for their disappearance.
Believing her to be a curse.
At first, it had hurt. But as time went on, Asuka managed to create the perfect mask of a spoiled child who cared nothing for what others thought. Screaming when it was unnecessary, demanding everything possible, wanting so much to the point of
Unfortunately, this only seemed to give leave to others and the gossip only increased.
The only person who'd ever seen past the mask, the only person who'd ever tried, was SsangYong.
Even when she behaved her worst and spoke spitefully, he never took it to heart. He always just knew that she didn't like acting as she did. In return, he did everything he could to make her happy, just so she wouldn't have to keep up the pretense.
She supposed she could tell Chang'an about her troubles. But part of her held onto the fear that he might not believe her. After all, what reason would he have to believe the reckless princess who never paid attention to her lessons?
But she didn't have a choice.
The Council had decided to claim Cephiro in the name of Fahren the minute the barrier around the planet fell. At first, Asuka wanted to protest the invasion, but instead volunteered to lead the assault.
Truthfully, Asuka had never wished to invade Cephiro. She had no intentions of becoming the Pillar, contrary to what others thought. If anything, she wanted to stop the advance into the now desolate world, and what better way to do it than from the inside?
But she had to tread carefully.
Even if she wanted no part in a war, she had to play the part, to show that she'd done her best. So she fought the Mashin, she fought against Chizeta's Djinn and against Autozam's weapons. In the end, capturing the Knight of Wind, while not intentional, actually worked to her benefit.
The Magic Knight—Fuu, she reminded herself—had explained why becoming the Pillar wasn't a good idea. She explained how the Pillar of Cephiro shouldered an entire world on her shoulders and kept only thoughts of the world and her people's happiness in her heart.
She could love only Cephiro.
She couldn't love anything else.
She couldn't love anyone else.
Asuka knew the servants, guards, Chang'an, and SsangYong had listened to the gentle Knight. She knew that what was said had made them all think, really think about what they were doing. This was what she had been waiting for.
If they wouldn't listen to her, perhaps they would listen to someone who really knew what had happened.
Asuka loved her people, and she loved her kingdom, even if no one there thought much of her.
She loved Fahren.
It was as simple as that.
"Milady?" SsangYong asked, coming to stand beside her. "Is everything all right?"
"I've decided," she said softly, a sharp contrast to her usual antics.
SsangYong's eyes shone with resolve. "Then I will stand by you to the end, Lady Asuka."
"Thank you, SsangYong," Asuka's eyes watered, but she let no tears fall. She took a deep breath and sat up straight and tall as she remembered her father did in his portraits. Her form was resolute and her face determined.
"Chang'an, Regent of Fahren," the Princess of Fahren spoke clearly.
The elder man startled at the commanding tone the young princess took and looked at her in surprise. Unbeknownst to him, so did the guards and maids in the chamber. He had to stop his jaw from dropping at the imposing image the usually loud-mouthed princess projected.
'She resembles her Lord Father very much,' Chang'an reminisced, 'But softened only slightly by her resemblance to her Lady Mother.'
He bowed before her and spoke respectfully. "You called, My Lady Princess?"
"We have made our choice," Asuka told him. "Fahren will continue advance into Cephiro, however, We will not become Pillar of this world."
Gasps rung out through the chamber. The only ones who hadn't reacted were SsangYong who stood tall next to the Princess and Chang'an, who looked stupefied.
A bushy white brow rose in response. 'This is interesting,' Chang'an thought.
"But Princess—" one of the guards protested.
"Silence!" Asuka glared. "It was not Our choice to invade this world. To become Pillar of Cephiro will mean to leave Fahren forever, or have you forgotten the words of the Magic Knight of Wind?"
"The Pillar cannot love anything but Cephiro," she continued, "Our place is in Fahren, We belong to Fahren. We cannot be responsible for Our land when Our thoughts must always remain with another."
Asuka's face softened with a gentle smile and everyone was reminded of the late queen. "We love Fahren and everyone in it. To think of another before Our own kingdom would be wrong."
It was in that moment Chang'an understood everything he hadn't tried to see. This, he realized, was the true face of their Princess. The compassion, the strength, the depth of knowledge within her eyes; this was their Princess. The girl they had known, the girl they'd seen was no more than an act.
For so long, she had kept herself hidden, and yet now here she stood, stronger than anyone in Fahren.
Chang'an knew he had to make a choice; one that could either help or harm. But he didn't even need to think.
He was as sure of his decision as the Princess was of hers.
"What would you like us to do, Princess?" The Regent of Fahren asked.
"Please ready the Dreamchild for continued advance into Cephiro," Asuka told him. "Eagle Vision of Autozam has asked Us to step aside, but We will not. We will stand with Cephiro, we will discover what became of the previous Pillar and offer them our aid in apology for our forceful invasion into their world."
"But, Princess, the Council—" another guard tried to speak.
"But nothing!" SsangYong said loudly. "Your Princess has spoken, will you go against her? Will you force Fahren into war that we would surely lose?"
Silence rung throughout the chamber.
"I will follow you, Milady," Chang'an stood.
"So will I," a handmaiden stood.
"And I."
"I will support the Princess!"
Slowly, one by one, everyone in the chamber stood and voiced their support of the Princess.
"LONG LIVE CROWN PRINCESS ASUKA!"
Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of support, Asuka couldn't stop the tears that finally cascaded down her pale cheeks. Never had she felt so loved by her people as she did in this moment. "Thank you," she whispered, accepting the handkerchief offered by SsangYong. "Thank you so much!"
Adieu,
TsukiyoTenshi
