Rumors by Tiegrsi

The Gossip Spreads

A/N: This is a short one-shot in response to the challenge from The Happy Hentai. It is a continuation of the story GOSSIP, which can be found at this location: http://www.a-single-spark.com/fanficread.php?fid=5967&cid=1

*BACK AT THE DEN OF A GOSSIPING FOX YOUKAI*

"You guys wont believe this!" a kitsune shouted as he came running up on his den. "I just heard the craziest thing!"

Several foxes gathered around the entrance to the small cave, wondering what the latest news might be.

"Well, what is it?" one kit asked eagerly.

"I just saw one of the sons of Inu no Taisho screaming at his mate!"

"What?!" Another one called out. "What happened?"

"Well," the gossiper started, "apparently his miko mate was cheating on him with his brother! Can you imagine?"

A resounding gasp rose up from the small crowd of kitsune gathered near the cave's entrance.

"Well, what happened?" the most curious asked.

"I don't know exactly," the gossiper stated honestly. "He was just finished mating his bitch when he suddenly jumped up and started yelling at her. It was crazy! After he stormed off she just had the most bewildered look on her face. She acted like she had no idea what was going on. I guess she never expected him to find out."

The kitsunes were all amazed at the news. It wasn't everyday they heard about the famous Taisho brothers, and usually what they did hear was centered around their defeating of other youkai. They all moved farther into the cave to discuss the situation farther.

Not far from the cave entrance a wolf youkai had been passing by. Hearing this interesting story, he decided it might be a good idea to let his alpha know the curious development. After all, Kouga always wanted to hear about it any time Kagome was involved. Certainly he wouldn't be pleased at the news, but it was better to tell him now than let him find out later.

The ookami high tailed it back to his own den to let his pack leader know of the tale.

"Kouga!" the wolf shouted as soon as he was within hearing range. "I have news of Kagome!"

The shard bearing ookami no sooner hear the words then he was standing directly in front of his scout. "What news?" he demanded.

"Well, it seems, Kouga-sama, that Kagome has chosen the Lord Sesshomaru as her mate."

"WHAT?!" Kouga fumed. "You have GOT to be kidding me!"

"No, I am not, Kouga. But there is more!"

"More, what more could there be? My woman has chosen another! Turned away from my love. How dare she?!"

"Kouga, please, let me finish," the scout pleaded. After a moment of silence, he continued the story. "From what I have heard, she was cheating on Sesshomaru with the mutt Inuyasha. I guess Sesshomaru found out about it, too, because they got into some huge argument over it."

"Where did you hear this?" Kouga demanded suddenly. This story sounded too strange to be believed. How could his woman not only forsake him for another but also sleep with both the mutt and his asshole brother? It just didn't make sense.

"Kouga-sama," the scout uttered. "I swear, I heard it myself from a kitsune who witnessed the fight!"

Kouga didn't wait to hear anything more. If Kagome's kitsune was the source, certainly this information was accurate. Kouga knew well that the kit thought of Kagome as something akin to a mother. Now way would the runt go around spreading vicious rumors about his "mom".

It never occurred to him that the kitsune in question might not be Shippo.

Without farther ado, Kouga took off in search of Sesshomaru. Kagome might well have chosen another, but Kouga was damned well going to make sure the bastard didn't treat his Kagome like shit! No matter what she did.

XXX

Sesshomaru was taking his time making his rounds through his lands. Feeling smug as hell after his conquest of a certain miko the previous day, (and several times before that), he was allowing himself a bit of relaxation as he wandered slowly, inspecting his holdings for any possible dangers.

Suddenly a foul stench affronted his perfect, aristocratic nose. He always did hate the reek of wolf, and the particular wolf he scented out was no exception. He also noted that the familiar youkai was fast approaching his position.

Never one to back down, Sesshomaru stood still, making sure his stoic mask was firmly in place, and waited for the ookami to show up. The wait was very short, indeed.

"Hey, asshole!" Kouga shouted as he pulled up just a few yards short of the taiyoukai. "What's this I hear about you yelling at MY WOMAN?"

Sesshomaru looked down his nose at the offensive wolf and raised a delicate eyebrow in question. He knew very well of the wolf's advances toward Kagome. However, he did not recall raising his voice to her any time recently. He waited silently for farther explanation from the ookami.

Kouga was not pleased to have his questions met with such arrogance. The bastard didn't even answer his questions! Well, that was fine by him, he would just have to take it out of the dog's hide.

The ookami rushed at the taiyoukai, thinking his speed would give him the better advantage. However, when he threw his first punch his fist was met only with a blast of cool air.

He swiveled in place only to find Sesshomaru standing directly behind him.

The Western Lord wasted no time grabbing the ookami around the throat and lifting him almost a foot in the air. He cast a narrowed gaze at the wolf, disdain for the creature in his grasp evident.

"You will explain to this Sesshomaru why you have insulted and subsequently attacked his person," the angry youkai bit out through clenched teeth.

Kouga tried to gulp down his fear, but the taiyoukai's grip allowed no such action.

"You insulted my woman!" he wolf managed.

Sesshomaru thought perhaps the wolf was confused, musing that perhaps he had eaten a few too many poisonous mushrooms for breakfast.

"Who is this woman you are claiming?" he asked indignantly, already knowing well the answer. He loosened his grip a bit to allow the brash ookami a breath to speak with.

"My Kagome!" Kouga bit out.

Seshomaru's perfectly sculpted left eyebrow once again rose up in question. "You're Kagome?" he echoed. "I believe you are mis-informed, or at least misguided, wolf. Kagome only bears the mark of this Sesshomaru."

Kouga's eyes tinged red, despite the position he was be held in by the powerful taiyoukai. "So it's true?" he asked. "My woman has forsaken me for a smelly dog? Listen up, you overgrown mutt, I don't give a good god damn what my Kagome does, if I ever hear of you screaming at her or hurting her again, I will make sure to rip you apart piece by piece!"

Sesshomaru dropped his capture on the ground. Obviously he was correct in assuming the wolf had some sort of mental deficiency. No one in their right mind would threaten his person, especially not one who was so easily captured. It would not be right to take the life of such a pitiful creature. However, no one would insult his honor in such a way. The wolf obviously needed a lesson in manners and station.

Kouga had dropped gracelessly to the ground, somewhat out of breath from the fall onto the hard packed earth. He had barely begun to stand back up to fight the arrogant dog when an acid whip lanced across his chest.

Sesshomaru's power left a rather gaping wound across the ookami, but the smelly wolf still refused to submit. Two more lashes with the Western Lord's deadly poison whips sent him sprawling across the small clearing.

With Kouga down for the count, Sesshomaru turned on his heel and headed off to find his new mate. He was going to make DAMN sure no one else mistook her as belonging to ANYONE but HIM.

XXX

Meanwhile, A certain undead Miko was searching for her mate. While on her search, she happened across her reincarnate, looking rather flustered.

"Kagome," she called out.

Kagome had been so caught up in trying to figure out a way to explain to Inuyasha that she had not, in fact, gone home to her own time for the last week, that she hadn't even noticed the other priestess nearby. Her wide eyes told Kikyou of her shock back to reality.

"Kikyou," she whispered. Now what? She hadn't come up with a way to explain herself yet, certainly if Kikyou was here Inuyasha would not be far behind. She had no time left to come up with answers!

"Kagome," Kikyou's too sweet voice called out as she approached the younger girl. "Inuyasha, he...is acting strangely. I do not know what to think."

Normally she would not have confessed such a thing to her reincarnate, but she knew Kagome had spent a lot of time with the hanyou and perhaps could shed some light on his actions.

"What do you mean?" Kagome was confused, but if Kikyou and Inuyasha were not on good terms, at least that would mean she had more time to come up with explanations!

Kikyou shifted her weight and looked down at the ground. The young miko thought she almost looked...embarrassed. How odd.

"Well, he accused me of cheating on him!" The elder priestess blurted out. "It was so sudden! I don't know where he got the idea that I would cheat on him, ESPECIALLY with SESSHOMARU!"

Kagome froze. Kikyou was sleeping with HER Sesshomaru?! Her face went red with rage before she really gave the conversation thought. Calming herself quickly, she realised there was NO WAY Kikyou and Sesshomaru could have been together. After all, she had just spent a whole week with him. When would he have had time to meet up with Kikyou?

"Something's VERY wrong here," Kagome said almost to herself.

Kikyou looked up, something unknown flashing in her eyes. "Kagome, I...you have not been back to your time, have you?" She had not been walking from the direction of the well, and Kagome was supposed to be coming back from her home, so why would she be walking TOWARDS the well?

It was Kagome's turn to look down shamefully. "No," she admitted in a whisper. Suddenly a thought hit her. Someone had seen her sleeping with Sesshomaru! That had to be it! Someone mistook her for Kikyou and told Inuyasha that his priestess was cheating on him! That HAD to be the answer. But how to tell Kikyou that without divulging too much information?

Kikyou seemed to be thinking the same thing. "YOU!" she yelled suddenly. "It was YOU that slept with Sesshomaru!" Her aura flashed brightly with anger. Yet again her reincarnate was causing trouble!

Kagome saw the look in Kikyou's eyes, full of deadly intent. She had to solve this problem, and FAST!

"Kikyou!" she shouted. "Let me go talk to Inuyasha! I'll explain everything to him." Shame and embarrassment were quickly pushed aside in favor of continuing her life. If she had to admit her betrayal to Inuyasha to keep Kikyou from lashing out at her, she would suffer the hanyou's anger. At least HE wouldn't KILL her, she hoped.

Kikyou crossed the small distance between their bodies and grabbed Kagome roughly by the arm, dragging her behind as she continued her search for her mate. Kagome gave in and followed unresisting.

It was not long before the pair reached Edo, only to find Inuyasha brooding in the Tree of Ages.

"Inuyasha!" Kikyou spat up at his branch.

Inuyasha would have been content to completely ignore his cheating mate, but he could smell another woman's scent laced in with hers, and couldn't stop himself from looking down. He might ignore Kikyou, but Kagome was a different story!

"Kagome," he shouted down to her as he dropped out of the tree. "Do not associate yourself with that WHORE!"

Before he knew what hit him, Kikyou had flung Kagome directly at the hanyou. He wrapped his arms around the petite miko, wondering just what the fuck was going on. A second scent assaulting his nose told him the details even before Kikyou had finished her tirade.

"THAT," she spat venomously as she pointed an accusing finger at the smaller miko, "is the WHORE! Obviously someone confused her for ME! SHE is the one FUCKING your brother!"

Kagome could do nothing but let her body go lax as her opportunity to explain was taken from her by the dead bitch. She hung her head shamefully.

Inuyasha gave Kagome one more sniff before his nose told him everything Kikyou said was truth.

Suddenly Kagome found herself sobbing hysterically and on the ground several feet from the angered hanyou.

Inuyasha tore his gaze from the sobbing Kagome and looked at Kikyou apologetically. "Ki-Kikyou," he said softly as the anger faded from his eyes. "I'm sorry...I...heard a rumor-"

Kikyou cut him off abruptly. "I don't care!" she screamed at him. "How DARE you think I would do something so...so...DISGUSTING!" Without farther ado, the dead priestess narrowed the gap between herself and her mate and leveled a hard, open palmed blow across his left cheek.

Inuyasha stood, immobilized by the shock of the sudden slap, as Kikyou turned on her heal and stalked away.

XXX

Sesshomaru stepped onto the scene only moments after Kikyou left. With his incredible hearing her had picked up the tail end of the conversation on his way. So, he thought, the dead priestess finds the idea of this Sesshoamru's pleasure disgusting? Perhaps she is jealous that I would not care to give pleasure to something long dead!

It also did not take him long to put two and two together. Someone had seen him claiming Kagome, and rumors were spreading like wildfire. There was no other way to explain the strange events of the day, and rumors would well explain the idiot ookami and the detestable scene between Kikyou, Inuyasha, and Kagome.

The scent of tears assaulted his nose as soon as he reached the clearing. His miko was laying on the ground, obviously upset, as the hanyou stood stupidly staring off after his own mate. Sesshomaru wasted no time hauling his own mate up into his arms.

Inuyasha barely had time to recognize that Sesshomaru's scent was wafting on the breeze before the taiyoukai was gone, taking Kagome with him. The hanyou turned, once again standing dumbly as he stared at the now empty spot his shard detector had last been occupying.

Reality hit him like a brick, and it was shortly followed by a hard knock on the head by Miroku's staff.

The monk had been meditating nearby when he heard the commotion. Following the noise, he had stayed hidden in the tree line as the events unfolded, fearing the wrath of all parties involved. However, with only Inuyasha left to face, he could no longer stand by.

The hanyou WAS stupid, and well deserving of a good lump on the head.