A Blind Heart

Hi all if you want an email alert for a new chapter you have to send your email address to: jadedinu8@yahoo.com. I will make a distribution list to send out alerts. Also this is the last chapter with grammatical errors. I finally found a beta. But the turn around is about 24 – 48 hours.


Chapter 15 ~

What have I done to deserve this?

We met as soon as we finished gathering our things. It felt weird to be journeying with the group plus Sesshoumaru and Koga. I kept close to Sesshoumaru’s side. I just didn’t feel like dealing with Koga, who by the way would occasionally growl. Poor Shippo was so angry to be sent directly to the Western castle with Jaken. I made him promise to behave and told him that Rin was going to make a wonderful playmate. I also promised Jaken that if anything happened to my son that I would purify him till there was nothing left to reincarnate. Maru had gotten quite the kick out of that promise. I archly informed him that nothing on this earth was fiercer than a mother protecting her child.

The group was unusually quiet without the normal banter that was part of our routine. Sesshoumaru by himself was disconcerting, but add in Koga whom both Taisho brothers hated and you had the stability of a powder keg. The only thing that was normal was the sound of “Hentai” followed by the monk being smacked, beaten and tossed off the Neko cat. While it did amuse all of us I could tell Maru had about enough of it. Plus why not take a megaphone and invite everyone to attack? The only thing we were missing was the neon sign that said sitting duck and pointed you are here. As a demon slayer you think she’d be familiar with the word stealth, right?

“Demon Slayer, do you think the two of you can be quiet and maybe not announce to the forest and its citizens that we are here” and with that sentence the Lord of the Freeze returned. Maru looked at them stoically. The two of them looked extremely embarrassed. Me, I just couldn’t figure out those two. Here they were engaged to be married and when he groped her she tried to give the man a concussion. They fell silent, but boy the word awkward floated in the air. Just so you know I would fall silent if scolded in that tone. Ice, ice baby! Obviously Lord Fluffy still had to learn people skills. Can one actually teach an old dog a new trick?

Great Higurashi, here you are day dreaming and now there is a youkai in the area. Damn the demon was approaching fast, and while it seemed vaguely familiar I didn’t want to take a chance. Maru withdrew Tensaiga and fell into a stance in front of me. InuYasha did the same for Kikyo. A blur of white veered towards Koga and jumped on him. All I could see was a tangle of limbs some of them obviously female. So the threat was not meant for us. But do you really consider a stalker demoness a threat? Maru sheathed his sword. “Lady Ayame, what brings you here”?

Ayame took her time answering the question. I could see her eyes narrow when they fell on me. Great I could practically hear the words “home wrecker” in her head. Or maybe given the era it would be “a woman of ill repute”. I personally found it funny as hell. She could have the jerk and with my blessing. That entire chest thumping and crowing you’re my woman was getting old real quick. Maru growled and pulled me into his arms. Yes on one hand I like the protective bit on the other hand respiratory issues had just popped up. I pinched him; breathing was a necessity for us humans did he forget? When Ayame saw us her eyes lit up; did anyone else see the imaginary fist pump in the air and yes in her mind? “Lord Sesshoumaru” she bowed “I have come to inform Lord Koga know of my intent to go to the High Council of Elders and charge him as an oath breaker if he fails to honor his word to take me as his mate. He has until the next lunar cycle to make his final decision and notify me. Either way his fate will be decided”. Before she could run off Maru asked her to join our group stating that her assistance would be greatly appreciated. I didn’t need to be a mind reader to see where this was going. Ayame plus pursuit equals a busy Koga.

Holy shit, my mate to be is truly evil! I almost felt pity for Koga until I thought of every time he would drop by on his search for Naraku or Kagura and proclaim me his woman. Well what’s was good for the goose is good for the gander isn’t it? Let’s see if we could convince Ayame to go around telling Koga he’s her man. That would be ironic not to mention free entertainment for the group. Where is my camcorder when you need it! This promised to be an interesting journey now! I tried to stifle my giggling, poor Kikyo fared no better. And the guys, well while Maru had a smirk, Inu and Roku were trying unsuccessfully to hold back laughter. Even the rest of Koga’s pack was busy looking around trying not to laugh.

Maybe we should have paid more attention. But since our plans had been made in secrecy why worry about an ambush? But we should have……………….

Suddenly we were surrounded by creatures, who were neither youkai nor human. They looked human but the energy coming off them was other worldly and something I had never felt before. I could feel no evil intent in them, but they had a purpose. If not why would they have so quickly and neatly surrounded us? We never got a chance to ask. Koga of course attacked first and the hell with the questions later. Inu jumped right in afterwards. And the rest of us, well none of us reacted until they were in our personal space. Like a bell signaling a fight we began when one of them reached out to me. I used my bow and arrow, but these men and women for lack of better words dodged them. I didn’t worry after all it’s happened before. I saw them dodge Inu’s backlash wave. Still didn’t worry, the backlash was not his ultimate attack. Saw them out maneuver Sango & Koga. Not worried, Sango was human and Koga was impetuous. But then they dodged Maru, touched his forehead and he was out like a light. Now I worried, my demon had never actually been beaten. Before I could turn back to the battle I saw us all fall one by one. If I had blinked I would have missed it! Then someone touched my head and said sleep. The last thing I saw and was aware of was them picking us up to transport somewhere.

We woke up in a large chamber on very comfortable pillows. Soft light filtered around the room. There was a feeling of peace and calm in the room. And it smelled slightly like lavender. ‘Well that’s a good sign; if someone wants to kill you they place you in the dungeon or some pit of despair’. A voice laughed at that. “You are correct Miko Kagome. No harm will come to you in this place. Indeed you have all been brought her to help you fulfill destiny” a beautiful and melodic voice said. I sat up and beheld a woman so beautiful she looked like an angel. Long lilac hair that fell to her waist with a gentle wave, skin so white it seemed to hold light within and put Maru to shame. Her face was a study of contrast with eyes that were like molten bronze, swirling never remaining still. Pure but wise beyond her years. Her nose was straight and narrow; high cheekbones and to finish full lips the color of pomegranate. She possessed an hour glass figure, wore loose sheer robes, yet you never saw her body and had the softest white looking wings that I had ever seen. ‘Oh I would like to touch them’! She threw her head back, laughed and approached me. Go ahead you may touch them. Kami, soft didn’t describe it. It was like touching light, something so pure and full of light. Tears of joy fell down my face.

“You may all call me Sachi. I am your guide here. Please follow me to the other chamber and all your questions will be answered. There are several rules and the first and most important rule is no violence is tolerated here, unless for training purposes only. Any other questions and rules will be answered by my Mistress” she said reverently. We glanced at each other and shrugged. We had not been harmed yet, no use in being stubborn and panicky. I for one wanted to know what was going on. I grabbed Maru’s hand and walked with him. I saw everyone else follow. I did wonder what happened to the rest of the wolf tribe. A voice in my head advised me that they were fine. Before I could decide if I knew that voice or not we arrived at the training chamber.

“Come and enter at your own will, no harm will befall you in the house of Jade”. Sachi bowed and opened the door. I walked through it with no qualms. The rest followed. Kami if I thought Sachi was perfection then I had no words to describe the great lady before us. Hair as golden as the sun, eyes the color of the sky when night kisses it. Cheeks with the faintest blush, lips the pink color of a conch shell. While Sachi dressed in sheer white robes to match her wings, this lady had on red sheer robes, with golden ties. Her wings were even brighter than Sachi’s! Although both ladies were around my height, I felt tremendous power from them. ‘Well good things do come in small packages’. The lady’s eyes twinkled. Great was I broadcasting here?

“My name is Kimi. I am one of the Fates. All of you are wondering why you are here and where exactly is here at. This realm is known as the Jade Garden of Destiny. As there are seven levels of hell, so are there seven levels of heaven. On this level all of the Fates reside. Any citizen of this level may travel between the other levels and of course visit the Kami’s. To begin, you have all been brought to this realm to train for your final fight with Naraku. He is the emissary of true evil and has broken the natural cycle of life and must be destroyed before your world cease to exist”.

“It has been preordained that a group of eight warriors will unite to halt Naraku from destroying this world and all who dwell on it. He will create a barren wasteland which cannot sustain life. All eight will remain here and train with us for one year. Before you can protest, time runs differently in this realm. You will also be brought back to your time exactly one hour after you departed so there will be no loss of time. Your memories of this place will with remain in tact but will be vague; the memories of your training will have clarity and depth. Please there is much to discuss, be seated”.

“Lord Sesshoumaru and Lord InuYasha mighty sons of the Great Taisho, you are the protectors of the Tenshi Miko’s. Your fate was intertwined with theirs even before you were born. Aiko one of the Oracles predicted that you would defend them. Your love however is an unexpected bonus. For in this universe there is no force greater than true love. And no Miko’s to answer your question even fate and destiny cannot unite two and make them fall in love or soul mates. Those in charge of that are closely guarded and have no contact with any other citizens of any of the seven levels. Miko’s Kagome & Kikyo you will be the purifying force that defeats Naraku and his master. The love and purity of your souls will be your world’s salvation. Lord Koga and his mate Ayame, your support of the Taisho brothers will tip the scales in our favor. It will also help unite two
Youkai kingdoms. Sango the demon slayer and Miroku the monk, you have greatly suffered at the hands of Naraku and his minions, your lost is not in vain and justice will prevail due to your determination and sacrifices. Before further questions are answered I must beg your indulgence, I must introduce the first of three friends. The initial person to tell her tale is Midoriko. Listen closely for it begins two hundred years ago”.

The door behind Kimi opened and in strode Midoriko. To say that we were speechless would be an understatement. First she was supposed to be dead. And second she would be over two hundred years old in human years. Something was very fishy! She came up to both Kikyo and I and stared intently into our eyes. When she sat we were pulled down so that we could all sit together. I looked at Maru and shrugged. I stared at Midoriko in awe of the Miko so powerful, so lauded throughout history as the creator of the Shikon Jewel. But as I stared at her more, I noticed her black hair, her green eyes, the smile and her build. It looked like if you took both Kikyo and I and meshed us together you might come out with her as a version. Being the simpleton that I am I questioned, were we her reincarnations? That would explain for the commonality of our looks. It’s never as simple as that though.

“I am Midoriko the Miko Priestess and creator of the Shikon-Tama. I was killed in a battle by three demons. Before I died I used the last of my strength to trap them within the jewel. That much is known by history and has been passed down through the ages. I share with you my story as it pertains to everyone’s future. This part of my life remains shrouded and for good reason; today that secrecy ends. Although I was a priestess I fell in love. That in itself is not forbidden, but I fell in love with an angel. He had come down to earth for a day of relaxation, when he was caught unaware by a local Neko Taiyoukai. Being a creature of light and hope he did not know how to fight. I stumbled upon them just as the Taiyoukai was set to strike the death blow. Even with not knowing the man I could not let a pure aura like his be destroyed. A bloody and fierce battle ensued with me being the victor”.

“I dragged what I assumed to be a wounded man back to my hut where I tended him. His name was Sen. I did not know it at the time but he was a citizen of Elements and Nature; an angel and immortal. While he was healing from the poison we fell in love. Our time together was to be brief, but the heart does not know reason. Not much was known of each other except for the love beating fiercely within our heart. And though we never officially married we lay together and expressed our devotion, saying with our bodies what our hearts felt but our mouths were too scared to say. Within a month he was called back to heaven and told to never return to earth again”.

“We had pledged our love, but foolishly did not think of the consequences. I became pregnant and had to remain vigilant until my child was born. I could not perform my duties as a Miko due to fear of losing my child. I had purified enough demons to have many enemies but few allies. If any one Youkai’s found out I was with child they would kill us both. I prayed to the Kami’s to help. That is when Kimi appeared before me. Her eyes held such joy and yet such sadness in them. She explained that my love Sen wanted to be with me but could not as it was forbidden by the Kami’s. She also told me to my surprise I was having twins. Two girls; whose fate had been set in motion the moment I fell in love. For actions have consequences”.

“Kimi told me during my pregnancy I was to remain hidden. I was helped in this endeavor by the Taiyoukai Lord Taisho of the Western Lands. He placed me in part of his castle which he sealed off magically. His son Sesshoumaru was not told of it because he was still a child in Youkai terms. Even at his young age he distained humans. Each day I would pray to the Kami’s that they change my fate. One night exactly a week before I gave birth Sen and Kimi appeared to me in a dream. I was overjoyed to see my beloved. But the vision that they were to show me was the opposite of joy. In that dream there was a barren wasteland. No life as far as the human eye could see, and malevolence and despair that was in the very air that I breathed. Both of them told me this would be the fate of the world unless I carefully followed my destiny. Sen told me how his heart broke that my future would not be filled with happiness”.

“My two children would be motherless. My heart broke when I was told that I would not live to see them grow up. Why would I who sacrificed so much have to still give up more? Far worse was the news that they could not grow up with each other. Kimi demanded that I separate the two girls. One was to be adopted by a local Miko named Haru who promised to love her. The other would be taken far away”. As she spoke she turned to me. Like a victim who sees the car gunning for her and doesn’t move out of the way, I knew what she would utter next would radically rock my world”.

“My other daughter would be taken to a magical well and transported to the future. Raised without Miko training and yet the person who would end up the keeper of the Shikon-Tama. It would go to the eldest child Kikyo to protect. In the event that something happened to Kikyo it would then go to Kagome. In this time the jewel would be a separate entity. In the future where it was no longer needed it would be a part of Kagome. I will not lie, I was furious that Fate had demanded such a sacrifice. My death I could handle but the danger to my children? Thankfully Kimi did not reveal the entire future or I might have been tempted to throw caution to the wind and damn fate”.

“You Kikyo were destined to meet your soul mate InuYasha and lose him in a tragic way. It was love that stayed your hand making you seal him to the tree instead of purifying him. It was also part of your destiny for the witch to bring you to life. This life; which you sustained with the souls of any recently dead women. The act was repugnant to you but necessary for your survival. The small piece of Kagome’s soul that you held had all of her hate and none of her affection. Yet you still remained in love with InuYasha. The greater the love and passion the deeper the hate can become. For they are two sides of the same coin, and that which divides them is narrow”.

“Kagome, you had a hectic life until recently. You were required to live two lives in two different times. Never having one complete life, always having to leave out parts of yourself until you wondered who the real Kagome Higurashi was? Were you simply the reincarnation of Kikyo or was there something more? You are ahead of your time in this era and missing what most girls your age have already accomplished in yours. Balance has not been easily found by you. This all changed when you were offered great powers. For you will remain in one era, find yourself in this era and be loved in this era. Your selfless sacrifice will save millions of lives. But that knowledge does not offer comfort”.

“I could not finish everything I needed to prepare you girls for your journeys in life. I was to have given you two jade bracelets that would offer you protection, as well as a note explaining everything. Once I gave birth everything was set quickly in motion. Sen and Kimi arrived at the castle moments after I gave birth and whisked you both away. Heartbroken and grieving I left the Western Castle. Inu-Taisho tried to tell me that I would be attacked and offered Youkai protection. I turned him down and lived, well actually died to regret that decision”.

“On my way from the Western Castle I was ambushed. Here was the birth of the Shikon and the death of myself. I grieved heavily for my lost even as I battled; I would never have a mother’s joy in seeing you grow up. My last thought before I died was a wish that I would get to see my daughters again. Fate was unfair, but she wasn’t unkind. When I died she offered me sanctuary so that I could watch over you and give you my final gifts. Know this daughters of my heart I am proud of you both. Your triumphs were mine, your sorrows and burdens shared. Life had given you hardships yet you both have persevered and blossomed”.

“Before I take my leave so the next guest may arrive I have a gift for you my two daughters”. With that she placed a hand on our foreheads on the teardrop. I felt immense power channeling from her into us. My wrist and forehead burned but I did not jerk away. Finally I felt the power receding. I looked up from my wrist which had the Kanji characters for Protection, Purity, and Love arranged in a triangle. I also had a jade bead bracelet with a small bronze flower hanging from it. I could not believe it! Then I felt my soul completed and opened my eyes wide in a panic. If I had my soul what would happen to Kikyo? But Kikyo was alive and with her own soul. Midoriko explained that Kimi and Sachi had been holding onto Kikyo’s soul not allowing it to reincarnate because they knew she would need it back. With the return of her soul, her piece of my soul returned. I felt happiness for Kikyo and for InuYasha who had a completely alive wife!

What I didn’t expect was the anger that followed immediately and welled up inside of me. This woman, this legend had come to me, well come to us really and told us our entire life was a sham, a farce really. The woman who I thought of as my birth mother wasn’t. What do you do when your entire world crumbles? When the person you knew you were fifteen minutes ago isn’t the person you are now? And when the recurrent thought in your head went along the lines of ‘What have I done to deserve this’? I needed someone to tell me I was still Kagome. That I hadn’t really changed, just the world around me had. “Who the hell do you think you are? You come here and drop this bomb on us! Kikyo and I are sisters? Is that why we look so alike? Who chose which child bore the ultimate responsibility for the Shikon-Tama? The ages of all involved don’t add up. According to your calculations Sesshoumaru should be over three hundred years old. InuYasha about two hundred with Kikyo and I in the middle, explain yourself now”. Okay maybe it was rude. Maybe I could have been nicer, but I do not deal with life altering news that well!

“Lord Sesshoumaru would be over 300 years old if Inu-Youkai did not slow down their aging after 150 years old when they are considered mature and responsible with their powers. InuYasha must have 50 years deducted from his age because the spell kept him in suspended animation, thus no aging. As a hanyou he also ages differently than a human or youkai. Think of time not as a line but as a circle, depending on which direction you move to you’re at a different point in it. You girls can’t count your age the same because as mortals Kikyo was killed and you Kagome lived in a future time. You girls actually look a little like your father too. And the responsibility of that decision was Kimi-Sama. I think I answered all your questions. I am sorry that the information that I have just given you is bad news. But you girls needed to know the truth about your birth, and the powers that you will wield. The second guest will explain how my circumstances and yours relate to the birth of Naraku and the resurrection of the Original Evil. The third and final guest will advise you all how to defeat Naraku”.

I had officially reached my limit, between time travel the geometry lesson and everything else Midoriko decided to share. I launched myself into Maru’s arms. I remember him telling me that in an ever changing world that he would always remain the same and be there for me. I was counting on it. In his arms I found the comfort that I needed. True to his promise he was there for me. He growled and rocked me, never complaining that I clung to him desperately. I was barely aware of Kikyo sitting in Yasha’s lap. Still in Maru’s arms I turned to Midoriko. “I’m sorry that your life was cut short and that you missed out on your own daughters lives. Please understand although you are our mother it will take some time to get used to. We are honored to come from such a lineage Midoriko-Sama”. My mouth said one thing and my heart screamed another. Frankly I did not care who the second guest was. Nothing was going to make this day seem shorter so I resigned myself to meeting the second guest.

In entered a male who was actually as tall as Maru’s 6’5”. He had hair the color of night. So dark was his hair that the only highlights looked to be blue in nature. His eyes were the color of the sky during a thunderstorm. A dark grey that announced his was never human. No person I knew had eyes like his. He like Kimi wore a material of sheet fabric for both his pants and tunic. A dark belt and some matching boots completed his ensemble. Just like Kimi and Sachi he was pale and seemed to glow. He gathered Midoriko in his arms and held her. Ah, we have the father figure in this sad tale. A little cruel to be sure, but I think I was entitled. I have to say Kikyo did not look too pleased with the situation either. Wow, we had something in common!

“For those of you who have not guessed I am Sen, father to Kikyo and Kagome. My forbidden love for Midoriko caused me both great joy and great despair. Joy because we loved and loved well. That love blessed us with two beautiful girls. Despair because it was fated that we could not raise you, which my Dori was told. Sadness because you would be separated and fate would make you endure such hardships and responsibilities before you would be able to find happiness and peace. I am happy to meet you both” and with that Sen bowed. I bowed my head as did Kikyo.

“When Midoriko was killed and she used her last remaining strength and magic to create the Shikon, it was a prison. A prison designed for three Youkai’s and one Miko. It was neither good nor evil. Think of it as a neutral item. But with each successive owner of the Shikon Jewel it evolved. Sometimes it was used for evil, other times good. Until a thief named Onigumo made a deal with the Original Evil to become a hanyou demon. In his demented mind if he the human could not have Kikyo; then his counter self the demon would destroy her. Thus began the tragic tale of a Miko who fell in love with a hanyou, thought she was betrayed and ended up sealing him to a tree. In a desperate attempt to protect the Shikon; Kikyo had it burned with her body. This passed the responsibility to you Kagome. Thus you were pulled back to this time, the beginning of the end if Naraku and his master Raidon are not defeated”.

“This is not the first time that Raidon has surfaced throughout the history of time. The first time that Raidon came to earth he was successful in his campaign to decimate the earth. He destroyed everything until the globe resembled nothing but a giant wasteland. The Angels of War and Destruction were unable to beat him and instead were only able to seal him within the earth. This was not a perfect solution as the seal would not hold indefinitely. Aiko the Oracle predicted when he would rise, and the group of champions who would defeat him”.

“During the time that you are here, you will train both as a group and individually. There will also be special gifts and abilities given to you before you leave. Midoriko and I will be around for the entire process, as we would like to take this opportunity to get to know our children and the rest of the chosen group. We will also be part of your training for meditation and healing. I now leave the rest of this tale and the key to defeating Raidon to our third and final guest”.

Maybe we should have expected him. After all had it not been a day for revelations?

Read & Review!

And yes I admit to being evil and leaving off most of my chapters with cliff-hangers. After all how else would I guarantee you coming back to read? (LOL) Seriously I hope everyone is enjoying the story. Next chapter is going to have multiple points of views from the gang. But I will be very CAREFUL to place something in the chapters to break it up. Isn’t anybody interested in InuYasha, Koga, Ayame, Sango or Miroku’s viewpoint?

Big question is onigumo spelled correctly and does anyone know the Japanese word for protector?

Inu~Lover