Please Read: If you're currently reading "Undeniable Love" and your worried that I might slow down update time because I started the fic, have no fear! Roar! I have super update speed. Actually, No I don't. Yet I will continue to update Undeniable Love on a regular schedule, and This story will only be updated once a week instead of the normal twice a week.
Now, as for a quick comment about this story - This is NOT like "Will You be Mine" Yes, I have read the story, I like it, and am waiting for the author to update it, but this story is nothing like "Will You Be Mine".
Now for a few quick key points to remember in this story:
-
InuYasha's kingdom is at war with the human Kingdoms, (with
the exception of the south which is a mix of demon and human).
- The
demons just lost the war, and are now dealing with the terms of
surrender.
-
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha are friendly (however, later on it
will be more like it is in the anime. I was debating on whether I
should tell you this, But I don't want to lose readers from
"OOCness.")
-Inuyasha Is a hanyou, and there's no "concealment" spells.
- Inu
No Taisho and Izayoi are alive.
- There
are slaves in this story, and while its similar to the other stories
concerning "slavery", there is no specific race enslaved. (POW's
are enslaved, people are born into slavery, etc. Humans have demon
slaves and Human slaves, just as Demons have demon slaves and human
slaves.)
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The
War Between Races
Chapter
1 - Father Returns
By:
Scaevola
Published
9/16/05
Updated
9/16/05
Waves crashed against the western shores, seagulls circled overhead, occasionally diving towards the water in hopes of catching an unwary fish. The jewel of the western lands, Daelis, overlooked the rough waters, protected by a thick stone wall. Many ships could often be seen sailing in and out of the city's port, but today was different.
From a balcony of the palace in Daelis, two young boy's could be seen. To the average man, these boys would look peculiar with silver hair, golden eyes, claws, and even fangs; but this was not a land of men. Daelis was a land of the damned. The land was ruled and inhabited by demons, and these two boys happened to be of the royal family, Taisho.
The two said boys were gazing at the port, occasionally sighing or examining the busy city below them. Yet their eyes always found their way back to the port, waiting for the black sails to appear.
One of the boys sighed and whined, "Sesshomaru, Momma said Dad would be back today! We haven't seen him in forever!"
The other boy glanced at his younger brother before turning his attention back to the port. "You must be patient InuYasha. Father will return soon. Besides, Father has been at war for a long time. Many nobles will need to speak with him when he returns, and he will not have the time to speak with you."
The boy called InuYasha nodded once before he too turned back towards the port. Their father had been at war with the eastern empire for some time now, almost seven years. In that time, both sons had grown close; they were nearly inseparable.
Both children stood silent for some time, before Sesshomaru, pointed to the port. "Father has arrived, InuYasha. We must await him in the throne room with mother."
InuYasha quickly turned and walked with his brother through the palace halls. Servants and slaves bowed or curtsied to the two sons, well, more to Sesshomaru than InuYasha, before continuing with their work.
Large tapestries lining the walls were illuminated by the occasional lantern or candle, each depicting a great battle or a family member of the Taisho family. InuYasha used to look at the tapestries for hours when he was little, remembering the every small detail. But now he payed them no mind; his father was arriving soon.
The two brothers descended the main staircase together into the largest room of the palace. This was the first room that people saw when they entered, it was made as large as possible in order to impress the visitors, and make them realize the power of the Taisho family. When someone entered, they would immediately see the grand twin staircases on either side of the room ascending to the second floor, illuminated by a large candle chandelier in the center. Stone columns outlined a walkway in the marble floor to the doorways. One large doorway directly ahead of the entrance held the family crest, that of a snarling white dog on a black background; the rubies encrusted in the ivory door handles gleamed in the light.
It was through this door that the Emperor would speak with other nobles. This, was the door to the throne room. In there was all of the demons of noble blood who had sworn allegiance to the Taisho family. Everyone had gathered to greet the Emperor, and to find out the terms of the end war.
It was humiliating really, that the great demons of the west had been defeated by a united effort by the humans of the east and the north. The very thought made Sesshomaru growl in disgust.
The two young princes of Daelis approached the throne, which sat upon a dais at the end of the room. Their mother, as well as their fathers trusted advisor, Silenix, were already there. Inuyasha gave his mother a small smile before he stood next to her and took her hand. His mother was human, from one of the more powerful families in the Southern Empire. The demons of Daelis held no respect for humans since the war had started, and only managed to be courteous to Inuyasha's mom because she was the Emperor's wife. Many demons would still voice that they preferred Inu No Taisho's first wife, simply because she had been a demon, and had at least given the Emperor a full demon son instead of a hanyou before she died.
Silenix was a wise old demon. He had been the advisor of the Emperor's father before, and when Inu No Taisho became king of Daelis and started to forge and empire, he became the Emperor's advisor. He was also Inuyasha's and Sesshomaru's tutor, teaching them the ancient tongue of the Inu youkai tribe, the human tongue, as well as the tongues of the other youkai.
It was not a long time after the princes entered that the Emperor came as well. He had not changed into formal attire, instead opting to come straight to the throne room, still dressed for battle.
The room was silent, despite the large amount of people waiting. As well as Daelisians, there were also Tolerians, Murigos, Rheinans, Gorminians, Eubridocians, and others from the demon lands that Daelis ruled over. All these lands were either protectorates, conquered lands, or allies of Daelis's empire. They paid tribute to Daelis regularly, and their rulers answered to the Emperor of Daelis, or they would face the consequences.
A small group of humans and demons from the southern lands stood nearby, both races eyeing each other warily, but refraining for any violence while awaiting the Emperor. They had not participated in this war, instead having to deal with a slight civil war in the southern empire. The southern lands often was in civil war. Some even questioned the legitimacy of the so called southern empire. To many, it seemed more like a bunch of small human nations and tribes of demons constantly fighting for dominance. They were the only of the four empires to have both demons and humans. They were undoubtedly here to see what the terms of surrender was for the western lands, as it would no doubt affect the southern lands indirectly.
The demons in the room parted to let the Emperor pass and reach the dais. InuYasha studied his father as he approached. He was tired and dirty from traveling, a thick layer of dirt and grime covered his fathers skin, the occasional bit of sweat making lines on the Emperor's forehead.
Inu No Taisho gave his two sons and his wife a small smile before he turned to address the people in the room. "I know many of you have come here to hear of the terms of surrender for us, and I'd like to say right now, that those terms are not good. The humans have defeated us on the battlefield many times with a prowess we did not expect." murmurs rose at these words, but they were quickly silenced as the Emperor raised his hand. "The humans have harsh terms, yet we must be grateful that we were able to keep our freedom. We are to disband our army, arming only enough men for such tasks as guarding the port and ships, as well as the city from thieves. We are to pay an indemnity, as well as cede the islands of Coari and Krain to the humans."
Shouts of protest began at these words, many owned property on those islands, and the idea of paying an indemnity did not bode well either. Many, if not all, knew that the Taisho family itself would not be paying at all, instead they would raise the taxes and amount of tribute required of its subjects and the subjects of its protectorates in order to pay off the debt.
One particular demon shouted what many other demons were thinking. "And what will the Taisho family do about this? Will they just tax us and our subjects, steal our money from our hands to pay off these humans? You have lost us the war, you should be the one paying the debt, not us!" Several voices shouted their agreement at the first demons words. They fell silent as Inu No Taisho raised his hands for silence.
The emperor addressed the angry demon with a glare. "Jinji, you ask what I will do to help pay off the debt. Allow me to show you." The emperor nodded towards his guards, who had been standing silently at the walls of the room. They all stepped forward and grabbed Jinji. "I will present you and you're family as slaves to the humans of the east and north. Perhaps they will find some use for you."
The room had fallen dead silent. Everyone knew that this was punishment for Jinji speaking out, and no one else wanted the same fate to befall themselves. They winced as Jinji began to scream and try to escape the guards hold.
The life of a slave was often worse than death, especially for one of such high standing as Jinji. The demon had just lost everything. Humans were often extremely cruel to demon slaves, especially since the war had broken out. Jinji's family would be separated as they were sold, the women would be abused, while the men would be slowly worked to death. All his wealth and property were now in possession of the Emperor, who would most likely sell it off to the highest bidder, and then give the money to the eastern lands as a way to pay off the debt.
Neither Sesshomaru nor Inuyasha blinked as Jinji was dragged from the hall by the guards. They had been raised to rule a country, and one day they too, would have to punish someone who stepped out of line. Both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha knew all too well that Daelis ruled with threats and fear. No empire could be held together without it.
