"...by the use of our hands, we bring into being within the realm of
Nature, a second nature for ourselves."
~Cicero
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 19: Strategy
~Hikari Fortress (Inuyasha's POV)~
Sango and I are alone in my new chambers. They are ugly and over-decorated. It is more claustrophobic then my little cell in Regenbogen...
"What are we going to do?" Sango asks.
I don't have an answer but I try to keep the illusion of confidence.
"We need a plan..." I say slowly.
"Why? Why can't we just face them in war? We outnumber them. We are better trained. Kagome only kidnapped us because she was desperate. She knew she was losing."
Sango is right. It's obvious. Plans can easily go wrong. We have the advantage in open warfare.
It feels like I am betraying Kagome as I give orders to prepare for war. I owe her nothing. She was prepared to execute Sango and I in a second. I had to escape to save our lives.
I change my train of thought away for this subject.
After all this is finished I can change the castle, I can undo some of what my father inflicted on the people. My first priority must be to defeat the rebels. Civil War makes Shi Wase vulnerable from attack of any of our neighboring countries. Especially La Tour de Loup they have wanted Shi Wase for as long as I can remember.
War. I am starting my 'glorious rein' with civil war. I wonder how that effects me image and the loyalty of my subjects. Will my ancestors we impressed? Disgusted? I have no assurances that I will be alive tomorrow. My father's death has shown how easily it is to get into Hikari. I feel as if all I am left with is Sango, my fortress and my throne.
~Regenbogen Haven (Kagome's POV)~
I am in my chambers trying to think of a suitable reply to the King's letter. What can be said? That I appreciate his assassination of my enemy? That I agree to marry his son? That I desperately need his soldiers if I am to win? Everything except the last is a lie. Poison seems like such a...cheap way to kill your enemy. Now one dictator is replaced with his son. Inuyasha is smart. I don't know if he is experienced in war but somehow I think he is. If so, we were better off with the old King who always stuck to traditional methods of warfare.
If I knew for sure Inuyasha would reverse all the damage, if I knew he would be a kind and generous king I would stop fighting. I cannot tell. There is no way to guarantee our prosperity without replacing him.
I write the letter. I am amused by the sincerity I force into my writing. It is important the King thinks I am weak and pliable. He will be surprised who stubborn I really am on the subject of marriage. I will not become a prisoner of my husband. I will always be free.
~Aoi Kaze (Kikyo's POV)~
I stand by a large window in the hallway. The window looks out onto the city and shows the whole tower. The subtle, cool beauty of it fascinates me.
"It's at least six hundred years old." A voice behind me says.
I whirl around in surprise to find Kouga leaning casually against the opposite wall. I can't answer. All I do is stare at him.
"The people worship it. It is said on the judgment day Loup-Garou will return to Aoi Kaze from the sky into that tower. He will slaughter those who have been unfaithful and reward his loyal followers."
"Loup-Garou? Your war god?" I ask finally in a tight voice.
"Yes it means wolf-man. (actual French word for werewolf) Legend says he was half wolf, half man."
I turn back to the window and stare at the symbol of their religion. Something that reminds-scares-the people to remain loyal to their god-and to their king.
I turn around again and notice Kouga is still leaning against the wall with a slight smile on his face. My eyes are once more drawn to his fangs.
"Why do you have fangs?" I ask bluntly.
His face remains smiling but his eyes close off.
"All royal children are born with fangs. It is the mark of royalty. We are said to be descendants of Loup-Garou."
"You worship the war god?" It strikes me as funny to imagine his groveling before a deity. I hide my smile.
"No. As soon as you put your faith in something it becomes a weakness. I have no trust in anything."
I understand the truth in what he says.
"What did Lady Kagome really say about the marriage?"
I freeze. I know nothing except I am not suppose to speak of it.
"Nothing. I have heard nothing about any marriage." I make is sound ridiculous.
"Strange." He pauses then continues with a frown. "My father has offered aid in exchange for Kagome's hand in marriage when she wins the throne."
Anger flares up in me. How dare he assume that Kagome will that easy to win over?
"She will never marry a dirty, uncouth wolf like you!" I shout as I stomp of to hide in my room.
I feel stupid as soon as I do it. Everyone wants something of Kagome's it seems. Even her 'allies' want something in return for their kindness. I wonder if she will end up marrying Kouga. I can't see it as a good match. They are much too different in many ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
yah...i dunno...it should pick up again next chapter. this is really getting long. how is Kouga? is he terribly out of character? i hope not.
THANKS: CorruptedAngel, hyperchica11, Kitten Kisses, gueshoo, Thesmartazngirl, AznGurl, hera goddess, Brood Mayran, SwtAngl53, ShadowSpinner and babe doll FOR REVIEWING LAST CHAPTER!
~Cicero
All's Fair in Love and War
Chapter 19: Strategy
~Hikari Fortress (Inuyasha's POV)~
Sango and I are alone in my new chambers. They are ugly and over-decorated. It is more claustrophobic then my little cell in Regenbogen...
"What are we going to do?" Sango asks.
I don't have an answer but I try to keep the illusion of confidence.
"We need a plan..." I say slowly.
"Why? Why can't we just face them in war? We outnumber them. We are better trained. Kagome only kidnapped us because she was desperate. She knew she was losing."
Sango is right. It's obvious. Plans can easily go wrong. We have the advantage in open warfare.
It feels like I am betraying Kagome as I give orders to prepare for war. I owe her nothing. She was prepared to execute Sango and I in a second. I had to escape to save our lives.
I change my train of thought away for this subject.
After all this is finished I can change the castle, I can undo some of what my father inflicted on the people. My first priority must be to defeat the rebels. Civil War makes Shi Wase vulnerable from attack of any of our neighboring countries. Especially La Tour de Loup they have wanted Shi Wase for as long as I can remember.
War. I am starting my 'glorious rein' with civil war. I wonder how that effects me image and the loyalty of my subjects. Will my ancestors we impressed? Disgusted? I have no assurances that I will be alive tomorrow. My father's death has shown how easily it is to get into Hikari. I feel as if all I am left with is Sango, my fortress and my throne.
~Regenbogen Haven (Kagome's POV)~
I am in my chambers trying to think of a suitable reply to the King's letter. What can be said? That I appreciate his assassination of my enemy? That I agree to marry his son? That I desperately need his soldiers if I am to win? Everything except the last is a lie. Poison seems like such a...cheap way to kill your enemy. Now one dictator is replaced with his son. Inuyasha is smart. I don't know if he is experienced in war but somehow I think he is. If so, we were better off with the old King who always stuck to traditional methods of warfare.
If I knew for sure Inuyasha would reverse all the damage, if I knew he would be a kind and generous king I would stop fighting. I cannot tell. There is no way to guarantee our prosperity without replacing him.
I write the letter. I am amused by the sincerity I force into my writing. It is important the King thinks I am weak and pliable. He will be surprised who stubborn I really am on the subject of marriage. I will not become a prisoner of my husband. I will always be free.
~Aoi Kaze (Kikyo's POV)~
I stand by a large window in the hallway. The window looks out onto the city and shows the whole tower. The subtle, cool beauty of it fascinates me.
"It's at least six hundred years old." A voice behind me says.
I whirl around in surprise to find Kouga leaning casually against the opposite wall. I can't answer. All I do is stare at him.
"The people worship it. It is said on the judgment day Loup-Garou will return to Aoi Kaze from the sky into that tower. He will slaughter those who have been unfaithful and reward his loyal followers."
"Loup-Garou? Your war god?" I ask finally in a tight voice.
"Yes it means wolf-man. (actual French word for werewolf) Legend says he was half wolf, half man."
I turn back to the window and stare at the symbol of their religion. Something that reminds-scares-the people to remain loyal to their god-and to their king.
I turn around again and notice Kouga is still leaning against the wall with a slight smile on his face. My eyes are once more drawn to his fangs.
"Why do you have fangs?" I ask bluntly.
His face remains smiling but his eyes close off.
"All royal children are born with fangs. It is the mark of royalty. We are said to be descendants of Loup-Garou."
"You worship the war god?" It strikes me as funny to imagine his groveling before a deity. I hide my smile.
"No. As soon as you put your faith in something it becomes a weakness. I have no trust in anything."
I understand the truth in what he says.
"What did Lady Kagome really say about the marriage?"
I freeze. I know nothing except I am not suppose to speak of it.
"Nothing. I have heard nothing about any marriage." I make is sound ridiculous.
"Strange." He pauses then continues with a frown. "My father has offered aid in exchange for Kagome's hand in marriage when she wins the throne."
Anger flares up in me. How dare he assume that Kagome will that easy to win over?
"She will never marry a dirty, uncouth wolf like you!" I shout as I stomp of to hide in my room.
I feel stupid as soon as I do it. Everyone wants something of Kagome's it seems. Even her 'allies' want something in return for their kindness. I wonder if she will end up marrying Kouga. I can't see it as a good match. They are much too different in many ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
yah...i dunno...it should pick up again next chapter. this is really getting long. how is Kouga? is he terribly out of character? i hope not.
THANKS: CorruptedAngel, hyperchica11, Kitten Kisses, gueshoo, Thesmartazngirl, AznGurl, hera goddess, Brood Mayran, SwtAngl53, ShadowSpinner and babe doll FOR REVIEWING LAST CHAPTER!