I don't own anything Inuyasha.
…
The castle's grandest hall was boisterous with the eager crowd. The Western Lady, already in position, was so regal in her layers of silk she appeared to be floating above her floor cushion. The Dog General, in contrast, remained standing. His arms were crossed but chin was high and the weight of his armor and swords seemed to root him into place. Sesshoumaru kneeled to the right side of his father's empty cushion and looked straight ahead, silently meditating the garble far from his mind.
Without much delay, a gong carved with an intricate silver inu rang out and the audience silenced.
"Welcome friends," the Alpha greeted, his hands raised in a friendly gesture. "My house is honored to have your clans represented today. First, I welcome my son and heir, the carrier of Dokkasona, and, I am confident, the future ruler of the West… Sesshoumaru." On cue of the booming applause, the prince rose and bowed, keeping his anxiety well hidden. The cheers had thrown him off guard and he was not comfortable with the mass attention. Respect him, yes. Acknowledge him, of course. But revere? He did not know how to respond.
"Now," the presentation continued, "We will hear the challenges."
The doors to the hall slid open as the General finally took his seat. During each introduction Sesshoumaru locked eyes, never faltering, and bowed his head. For the first time since he can remember he was on level ground with his peers and he couldn't wait to face them as equals.
The ceremony lasted a while, but as the last name was called and the clans took their places, a hurried hush swept over the hall. The Alpha rose again to speak, "Thank you, friends. Today marks the start of-"
"I present my son as a challenger."
Somewhere, hidden in the crowd, a strong voice interrupted the Dog General and a stir overtook the patrons. The familiar tone shocked Sesshoumaru's blood cold and his young heart sank when the speaker was finally identified.
To the right hand side of the hall, where the Chuujitsu gathered during events such as these, Tamotsu stood tall with his son proudly at his side.
To Sesshoumaru's understanding, there was an unwritten rule against Chuukitsu members challenging the current heir- it was why he had trained so adamantly with them. Yet, here was his favored, revealing to the whole kingdom he believed Sesshoumaru unfit.
The Dog General was clearly shocked, but after a quick moment he rose, never taking his eyes away from his right hand youkai. "Tamotsu… Why?"
The hushed gossip quieted for a reply. Pain swept over Tamotsu's gaze, but his shoulders lifted higher as he said, "I believe your heir might also carry your certain… taste for the unworthy."
The gasp rung throughout the great chamber and Sesshoumaru felt his face grow hot with anger, but with one seperate sound his attention shifted. It was minute, and he was the only one to notice, but the small break in the Western Lady's character was enough to shake his foundation.
And all she did was stifle a sob.
Sesshoumaru was stunned to see her stoic face as fragile as porcelain and the hot tears in her cold eyes she refused to let drop. The years of feeling disconnected from her shattered in the one moment they shared the same sense of loss. He was not the only one neglected and mislead.
His life was not the only one set aside.
Instantly, he was caught in the flurry of the mob mentality. Sesshoumaru's demon blood shifted the color in his eyes and a thought betrayed every logical ideal he held for the ningen race. How dare his father bed a lowly human. How dare he bring shame upon the family, the West… His mate… His son…
He turned back to Tamotsu, fury motivating him. "I will accept your challenge…"
His father tried to cut in, "Sesshoumaru-"
"AND," the prince interrupted, "I will silence this malcontent. On my honor, when I conquer the challengers here, I will regain your loyalty."
The crowd silenced, awaiting Tamotsu's reply. After a long pause he finally smiled, bowed to seal the trial, and walked with his son out of the hall. Many started murmuring, taking guesses why he seemed pleased with Sesshoumaru's response, but the prince did not wonder. He was not demanding allegiance. Because of his father, he was no longer owed that. Instead, he humbled himself and vowed to regain all that was lost. In one statement, he not only accepted a challenge to his future as Alpha, but took on another daunting task.
He turned from the crowd, avoiding the eyes of his father, and softly brushed his hand on his mother's shoulder as he passed.
Sesshoumaru would have to earn the respect of all those who no longer held it for his sire, face the judgment of those who were now critical of their line, and fight his way back to his proper place in life. When he came out victorious, it would prove his competence as the next Western Lord.