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".
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha.
Anyway, I was bored today, So I figured I'd put this chapter up today :D I'll update "Undeniable Love" tomorrow.
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The
War Between Races
Chapter
3 - A Day To Grieve
By:
Scaevola
Published
9/16/05
Updated
9/20/05
It had been four years since Sesshomaru and InuYasha were taken out that night and given their swords. Four years of constant training all in order to learn to rule the empire properly.
The once young two boys had grown up to be handsome young men, and under the careful training of Myouga and Jaken, they had both managed to master the swords that were given to them, as well as the art of war.
They both had fallen in love with the swords. While Sesshomaru had at first been envious of InuYasha's sword and it's destructive capabilities, he soon realized the power of his own, and had since then been content.
Over the course of those four years, InuYasha and Sesshomaru had finished their training. They had made their father proud with their accomplishments. Sesshomaru, of course, always acted more regal than his younger half-brother InuYasha. Yet their father favored neither, instead constantly reminding them of the importance that family stay together.
And stay together they did. InuYasha's and Sesshomaru's relationship was as strong as ever. Even though they had finished their training, they could often be found in a friendly duel, each of them trying to best the other, perfect their technique, and learn from each other.
The two prince's skill was well known in the land, and often a small audience would gather in the training yard at the city barracks to see the two fight. Soldiers and the town watch would drink and laugh at the sidelines, making bets over which prince would win this time. Young women would watched and giggle as they dreamed of the two brothers fighting over them. One time a woman even shouted they perhaps she cold help them exercise their third legs for them while the soldiers roared with laughter.
Yet the two sons took no notice of the betting, or the women. While they understood the importance of marrying and having a family, neither had any interest in the women.
At the moment, they were more concerned with where their opponent would strike next.
InuYasha charged quickly at his brother, bringing his sword down fast, only to have it blocked and pushed away by Sesshomaru's Tenseiga. They both jumped a bit away from each other, Sesshomaru, cold and calculating, slowly began circling his younger sibling searching for an opening. InuYasha panted from the fight; he was getting tired. He raised his hand to whip at a small trickle of blood on his brow.
Sesshomaru had been waiting for InuYasha to make a mistake, and this was it. Leaping at InuYasha, he was at his brother's side in a blink of an eye. He grabbed his brother's neck and held him in the air before roughly throwing him down on the ground and pointing his sword at InuYasha's chest.
InuYasha scowled as the soldiers cheered and exchanged money. "That wasn't fair, Sesshomaru."
"Battle is never fair, little brother. I thought you knew that from Myouga."
"Feh."
Sesshomaru held out his hand to help InuYasha up. "Come, let us return to the palace. Father wants to speak with us, remember?"
"Feh, how could I forget the whiney messenger who told us. I never wanted to hit something so badly before."
"I asked you if you remembered father's message, InuYasha, not the messenger who brought it." Sesshomaru and InuYasha began walking through the city to the palace. A small group of personal guards followed them at a decent distance, allowing them to speak privately, but close enough so that they could protect their lords should the need arise.
As they entered the threshold of the palace, a young servant by the name of Shippo approached them. The kitsune had come to the palace as a slave, greedy demons known as Hiten and Maten had treated him harshly, killing his parents before they took him away. When the InuYasha discovered Shippo and his story, he immediately pitied him, and bought him and his freedom from the two slavers. Shippo, of course, was extremely grateful, and eagerly entered the Taisho families service.
"Lord InuYasha, Lord Sesshomaru." he bowed to each of them as he spoke. "Your father requests your presence in his study."
They both nodded and allowed the kitsune to lead them to the study doors, which he knocked. When a gruff voice answered, Shippo stepped into the room to announce them to their father. "Lord InuTaisho, your sons have arrived."
"Send them in." came the curt reply.
Shippo opened the door fully to allow InuYasha and Sesshomaru to enter. Their father was sitting at his desk, several reports from various outposts at the borders of their lands as well as from spies in the human lands were in front of him. A small pile of papers that were the usual requests from protectorates were shoved off to the side. Naraku stood at their fathers side, a small smile on his lips as he nodded to each son.
Naraku had become very close to the family over the past four years. He was very wise for his age, and was very helpful to InuTaisho, lending his advice and aid when he could, sometimes taking care of some more tedious duties so that InuTaisho could have a break. In fact, Naraku had even risked his life to save a young InuYasha from a corrupt palace guard, who had been paid to kill the hanyou in his sleep. In fact, Naraku had become so close and trusted that both InuYasha and Sesshomaru had taken to calling the man "Uncle".
As soon as the servant had left, all men in the room visibly relaxed and took a seat, letting all formality fly out the window. Naraku opened a cabinet in the corner of a room and pulled out a bottle of sake and poured small glasses of it for each of them.
Taking a sip of the sake, their father started with the small talk. "How has your day been so far?" he asked. "I take it that you two were at the training yard again, judging by how InuYasha has that cut on his brow and your both covered in dirt and sweat."
InuYasha and Sesshomaru nodded to their father. "Yes, we have been at the training yard for the good part of our day. It's a good way to stay in shape, father."
Naraku laughed at this. "Yes and a good way to see all the women in the city swoon over you too as well!"
InuYasha and Sesshomaru were saved from Naraku's teasing by their father.
"So which one of you won this time?" he asked.
"Sesshomaru."
"Ah, well I wonder how many soldiers are enjoying a bit of extra money in their pockets now."
"Father, we were told you wanted to speak with us?" asked Sesshomaru, trying to get back on the original topic they came for.
InuTaisho and Naraku's expressions changed immediately. InuTaisho let out a low growl as Naraku's eyes flashed red. It was all over very quickly however, leaving both sons wondering if they had actually seen it at all.
"Here." said their father, shoving a letter into Sesshomaru's hands roughly. InuYasha leaned over Sesshomaru's shoulder so that he could read it as well.
Scrawled in quick, barely legible Inuyoukai tongue was a report addressed to their father.
InuTaisho
I have followed your orders to the letter, and found myself among the inhabitants of Caori. As you know, the demon known as Byuikotsu has been leading a small group of demons who fight the humans on Caori and Krain. The humans had at first put a reward up for the demon, hoping that they could get the demons in the cities to turn Byuikotsu in. When they found out that Byukotsu has the full support of the inhabitants here, they have made an example of the capital city of Caori. All the inhabitants were either slain or taken into slavery. All able bodied men and fertile female was taken away. The young and old alike were slain, some impaled on poles put up outside of the city. The people here speak of an all out revolt. War on Caori with the humans is inevitable, I believe.
The letter was unsigned, but that is as it should be, should the letter fall into the wrong hands, the letter should not be able to be retraced to the sender. Sesshomaru was the first to look up from the letter.
"What do you plan to do, Father?" his voice was cold and emotionless, but barely hid the rage that must be building in Sesshomaru.
"Not just I, but we." at the curious looks of all in the room, InuTaisho explained. "We go to war." He stressed "we" making sure both InuYasha and Sesshomaru understood. They would be going on campaign with their father. It is as they had dreamed when they were younger. They then looked towards their Uncle.
Seeing them staring at him, Naraku cleared his throat before explaining. "While I am knowledgeable in planning and the managing of land, I do not presume to know anything of war. That is why I have agreed to manage Daelis in your father's stead after you two leave."
Sesshomaru nodded while InuYasha merely sat back with a "Feh."
"Now, leave us. Naraku and I have many things to discuss." said their father, waving his hand to say they were dismissed. Both princes nodded this time, before standing and leaving quickly.
Weeks passed as Daelis prepared for war. InuYasha and Sesshomaru were spending more and more time with Naraku and their Father as they went over what needed to be done, the reawakening of old alliances, the provisions needed for all the soldiers, arms, armor, the amount of food needed, and supply trains and their routes needed to be planned, nothing was left in question.
The four of them even went to all of the city barracks, making sure every command was preparing their men for war, as well as the quarters for the dogs that lived with the inuyoukai. Big and white with red eyes, smaller counter parts of an Inuyoukai's true form, the dogs made fierce fighters and worked well with there wolf cousins.
Soon, allies were arriving at the city gates, first the wolf youkai with their fellow wolves at their heels, then the panther demons, old enemies of the youkai clan, but working together against the common human enemy. There were many others, Yuki-onna, (snow woman - Think of episode when Miroku gets led away in the snow, and Sango saves him and Hiraikotsu gets broken. I forget the episode # though, sorry.) as well was tengu, mountain oni, Hiei (fire demon), and even kitsunes.
Of course, all this activity did not go unnoticed in the human kingdoms. Seeing the increased activity, as well as the massive army that had gathered, they sent an emissary to speak with the Emperor of Daelis.
Heads turned as they watched the human's walk through the city street. Their kind had not been in the western empire since before the war. The emissary and his escort huddled together closely, carefully avoiding what demons they could. Some of the kitsunes, being the tricksters they were, transformed themselves into harmless objects and would wait until the humans got near before they quickly went back to their normal forms, cackling as the humans jumped in fright.
When the humans had finally reached the palace, they were obviously very shaken. InuYasha and Shippo snickered as he noticed one of them had obviously soiled himself from fright. Sesshomaru just rolled his eyes. He didn't approve of being with Shippo, someone of his rank should not mix with a servant, much less one who was previously a slave, but he couldn't pass up the chance to watch the weak humans get harassed as they approached.
All three snickered from the balcony they were on as they watched the humans approach the guard, who stood staring into the space just above the humans shoulder, not blinking at all. The humans tried to get his attention, to get him to introduce the human emissary, but eventually gave up and had to walk in and introduce themselves stupidly. The three of them turned and went inside to watch the humans in the entrance.
"I- We... I - I am Kouhei Tsuro from the Eastern Empire. I request an audience with Emperor Taisho of Daelis on behalf of Emperor Higurashi.
When nobody answered, the humans bristled in indignation. They stood there for some time before Sesshomaru finally decided that they had waited long enough.
"Come, even if they are humans, we must at least allow them to speak with father. Perhaps there is a way to avoid war." He nodded his head towards Shippo, silently telling the kitsune to lead the way.
They walked down to the palace's entrance slowly, enjoying the impatience the humans were feeling.
As they approached the humans, InuYasha and Sesshomaru put on their most intimidating expressions while Shippo introduced them.
The humans eyed them warily, bowing to them as they were introduced. Sesshomaru and InuYasha acknowledged each bow with a nod.
They stood in silence for some time before Sesshomaru broke the silence. "Come with us. We will discuss important matters with you." his cold emotionless voice echoing in the large room. He turned and began walking towards his father's throne room.
The human named Kouhei called after him. "We wish to speak with Emperor InuTaisho only."
Neither Sesshomaru nor InuYasha answered, instead they continued walking past the large stone columns lining the marble floor until they came to the enormous doorway bearing the family crest. Reaching for the ivory handles, Sesshomaru finally answered the human. "Then come with us."
The humans followed, cautiously entering the large throne room. Seeing the Emperor in his throne his wife at his side, they immediately approached him, bowing just before they reached him.
"Lord InuTaisho, exalted Emperor of the Western Empire, I am Kouhei Tsuro, an emissary sent with a message from the Eastern Empire, by order of Emperor Higurashi." obviously, Kouhei was trying to be as formal as possible.
"I greet you, Kouhei Tsuro, and welcome you to my home." answered InuTaisho, just as formal.
Dropping the formalities, InuTaisho spoke again. "You may speak freely here. But first - InuYasha, Sesshomaru, leave us."
The two princes bowed once two their mother and once to their father, always formal in public, before turning on there heals and leaving the room.
Little did they know that hours later, they would return to find their father and mother dead, the humans no where to be found.
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InuTaisho and Izayoi are dead! noooo! I hope that doesn't upset people...I never planned on them having a big role in this story. Their deaths help get the plot moving.
Also, for those of you who may be wondering - Kagome, Sango, and Miroku ALL make an appearance next chapter! YAY!
Also, PLEASE review.. Tell me what you think; does it suck? is it good? is my writing full of bad grammar? Have you just found out that, after drinking four cups of coffee in the past hour, that you really have to pee? Because I have! got to go, bye!
