Title Rumor Has It
Author landofthekwt
Rating K
Prompt Rumor (At First Tweak)
Word Count 770
Part of Even Zombies Need Love
Warning none
Summary The Lady reveals her hand
The Lady listened amused to the hens as they chattered to each other in her drawing room. It was amusing to hear her family the object of gossip for the first time in two hundred years. Hopefully, the objects of that gossip would have a happy ending not the tragic end that took place two hundred years ago.
Was it true that Sesshoumaru had taken a human mate? He had not returned to the court of the Western Shiro after he left in pursuit of Tessaiga. A council had been ruling the West since that day.. They quailed in fear that the Lord would return with his new bride and overthrow the establishment. Such an act would lead to war.
The same establishment which had refused entrance to the human concubine of the Inu no Taishouu, Izayoi and her hanyou son, Inuyasha would no doubt resist if Sesshoumaru tried to force the issue and bring his new human bride to rule over the West.
Fear dominated the whispers. All knew that treachery human and youkai had combined to bring down the Inu no Taishou. Instead of peace on his death, Sesshoumaru's revenge brought civil war as he decimated the very people who had brought him to power.
Then he left the shattered domain to look for the sword which he hoped to use to make himself invincible. The survivors had cobbled together a council which had ruled the Western Shiro since the day Sesshoumaru left on Path of Supreme Conquest..
Instead of Tessaiga he found compassion, power and love within himself. All knew that he could sweep all away if he wished. Unfortunately, nothing would be left of his fortress if he forced his way into the castle. Sesshoumaru would rule the West, but it would be a hollow victory.
Rumors also swirled about Inuyasha. Inu no Taishou's second son. People were saying that the Lady had adopted himinto her family. The boy had been seen at the Castle in the Air with a miko of all things. The reincarnation of the woman who had sealed him fifty years.
The strangest rumors surrounded the miko. Reports had her killing the hanyou, Naraku who ravaged Japan and destroying the Shikon no Tama. then nine years. To have her appearing at the side of Inuyasha represented a dangerous power play
All came to the Castle in the Air at the invitation of the Lady of the West. There were rumors of a coup. An attempt to seize power by the Lady. No one believed them. The Lady had withdrawn from Inu youkai affairs since her mate bedded Izayoi to her Castle in the Air and avoided the disastrous civil war which followed the death of the Inu no Taishou.
Everyone agreed that she hated humans and would have no part of either Sesshoumaru taking a human mate or supporting Izayoi's son, Inuyasha. The question was why she had summoned them all to the Castle. The indication merely invited them for tea. The invitations had only been issued to mated females..
The crowd quieted as the Lady of the West rose and raised her cup. "To the West"
The crowd replied heartily "To the West"
The Lady gestured with her hand summoning two hidden figures from behind her throne. The crowd gasped as two very pregnant human females emerged on either side of the Lady. The Lady smiled and beckoned her guards to emerge from the shadows surrounding the crowd.
:"Welcome Ladies of the West, may I introduce to my daughters, Rin and Kagome. Rin is the mate of my son, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West and bears his heir. Kagome is the mate of my adopted son, Inuyasha who will be our liaison to the Emperor"
"This is an outrage. Taking us hostage under the pretense of a tea. Our husband's will never stand for it."
"Your husbands will stand for this and a lot more. In fact, I have their decree making me Regent of the West right here. Hostage is such a harsh word. You are my guests. You will be afforded all the comforts befitting your status. Your husbands have been assured that you are safe and will continue to be safe so long as they behave. Do not test me. If it were up to Sesshoumaru, the Western Shiro would cease to exist. He always has been a rambunctious boy. I would prefer to believe that we can all just get Kagome would say. Just think of your time at the Castle in the Air as an extended vacation from all the worries and cares of your life.".
