A Blind Heart

AN: Wow 100 reviews for “A Blind Heart”. I have to thank everyone who has reviewed and will just say keep the reviews coming! I love to read them! I am currently writing two fanfics but have ideas for more. However my muse and I have a deal. No more than two so they can get the attention they deserve. Again another thanks for Phoenix the great Beta that she is! That said, thanks again for all who have read the story. Hope you enjoy the rest of the male’s trial.

Next Chapter: The women’s trials and triumphs!

I don't own InuYasha & Co. Just the smutty plot!

If this isn’t love – Trial from the House of Jade

Miroku’s POV

Ironically I woke up in a house of ill repute. For those of you not familiar with the term, a house of prostitution, where sex runs rampant as long as you have coin. Years before I met my Sango, this would have been a dream come true. Now, I was as wary as I could be. My only comfort was that I had all my clothing on. The shoji door opened and an eagle youkai entered. She bowed to me and made a gesture. Different female youkai poured into the room and gracefully knelt by my feet. “It is an honor Lord Miroku to have you visit our humble tea house. I have brought these females for your pleasure. Please select as many as you will enjoy.”

Okay that was it! I was so out of here. I had a mate to be and was not about to fuck that up, thank you very much! I started to back out of the room, only to find myself hitting a wall. A barrier reinforced wall. Great, the one time I actually wanted out instead of in and I can’t escape. At some unseen command, the women began to rise to their feet and come at me from all sides. One look into their eyes and I could tell there was nobody home. Something or someone for lack of a better word, possessed them. My choices at this point were kind of limited. I quickly threw some ofudas at the barrier, only to watch them burn as soon as they made contact. Okay, choice number one was a complete bust.

On to choice number two then, I stabbed my Shakoju into the floor and sat down to meditate. I needed to form a barrier. This would at least give me time to form a different plan. I felt the barrier form and continued my chanting. Female after female hit the barrier only to shriek and recoil from pain. Youkai I may be, but I was a former monk and was still able to tap into my spiritual powers. I don’t know how much time passed. I was only aware of the females howling their frustration at the inability to cross my barrier. And then, there was silence. I looked up to find a shadowy wisp coming from each youkai and coalescing in the middle of the room. As each one escaped, the youkai host fell lifeless to the floor.

I struggled to maintain my calm. It is the basic principle of monk training to find your inner peace. It is, after all, the path to enlightenment and how to control your powers. However, I know that we never covered shadow demons in monk training! That which cannot be held, cannot be hurt, and the fact that smoke is as deadly as fire is something I was well aware of. Smoke can blind you, disorient you, smother you, hurt, and kill, while never leaving a mark on you.

“Greetings monk, or should I say youkai? Shall we get started or do you intend to hide behind your barrier? What say you, should I give you some incentive to come out and play?” With that, the shadow moved.

Holy Kami! There lying in a pool of blood was Sango and Kohaku. I jumped to my feet, while still holding on to my barrier. What to do? Let down my barrier and fight, or attempt to save Sango and her brother?

“Still undecided monk? Very well, I shall up the stakes. Naraku take care of our guest.” Kusotare! Did this shadow warrior really think that I would hesitate to sacrifice myself for my mate to be? I pulled out my Shakoju and ran towards Naraku. All I needed was one good stab with it while spiritually charged, and goodbye evil dark one. But I, of all people should have known that Naraku would not go down without a fight. And in typical Naraku fashion rather than face me head on, he preferred to keep attacking Sango and Kohaku while they lay there helpless.

If I had not fought so ferocious on their behalf, I’m positive they would have been slain. As it was, I had multiple wounds due to leaving openings in my fighting form. I knew if Sango were awake, she would take a strip off me for not thinking like a warrior. Well, if I survived I would confess my stupidity as my penance. I was really tired of this shit. So I feinted to the left and then stabbed Naraku when he moved to the right. As he died he grinned. Uh oh! That kind of look never bodes well. He opened his mouth, and out flew a shadow, straight into my body. I knew that this was going to be the fight of my life. The dark shadow rolled through my body trying to take control. On the floor, lay a small knife by Naraku’s hand. The shadow kept urging me to pick it up. It wanted me to kill Sango & Kohaku, knowing that their demise at my hands would kill me.

I edged closer to the knife, struggling not to pick it up. It was a surprise that I was able to grasp the handle of the knife, my hand was shaking so much. Step by step I drew closer to my love. Inside I screamed and wailed. How could a love that took so long to build, end this way! I wanted to die now; maybe the next life would treat us better. I prayed that my friends would be able to accomplish what Sango and I were unable to, defeating the ultimate evil. When I was standing a few inches from Sango her eyes opened. “Miroku” she uttered softly, making it a question. My struggling increased. “RUN” I screamed at her before the damnable creature took over my voice.

My hand holding the knife came up. Kami no! I didn’t want to kill the love of my life or her brother. I watched the knife slowly travel downward, struggling with every ounce of strength and love to stop it from its ultimate target. I threw my head back and screamed, “I love you Sango”. Plunge, the tainted dagger met flesh. Shock echoed in both our eyes. In a matter of seconds so much was said without a word. Our eyes held all the apologies, the love and most of all the regrets for things that would never come to pass. I coughed up blood and smiled at my beloved. Her eyes filled with tears, making them look luminous. I could hear the shadow warrior in the background cursing. Apparently he had under estimated the strength of my love and devotion for Sango. I had no qualms about sacrificing my life for hers. I knew in the next life we would be reunited. I would not reincarnate until she did.

“Hoshi-Sama! Why, why did you kill yourself?” I looked at her tear-stained face, and raised a weak hand to wipe her tears. “Do not cry for me my Lady, it was an honor to give my life for the one I love. Promise me you’ll live and be happy. We shall be reunited in the next life.” I gasped as the pain became more intense. “No, no, no, no! Please don’t leave me Roku; I don’t think that I could go on! Why would you kill yourself? Don’t you know a life without you is not a life? Damn you, don’t you dare die on me! Do you hear me monk! Don’t you dare die on me!” With that she threw herself on me and began to sob in earnest. My heart broke to hear her in such pain! I brushed her hair and sighed, my wound was a mortal wound. Whatever was on that dagger or knife was poisonous to youkai.

“Sango, I would do anything for love, but I can’t do that. I’m dying, and I have no regrets. Your love was a shining light in a world filled with dark. Live for me my love, and love another again!” The last thing in this world I saw was my love. Of course I died with a smile on my face.

Then I woke up, grasping my chest where I had stabbed myself. A heart wound to ensure my death. It had all been part of the trial. I knew before that I had loved Sango, but not the true depth of my love. I knew I would try to protect her from harm, but now I know that the words ‘I would die for you’ were not merely words, but a reality. If my death meant Sango lived, I was okay with that. Love is, after all a leap of faith that cannot be denied!

Maru POV

It was dark and cold here in this place. I could not see, even with my superior vision. No sound could be discerned from around me, no scent to give away secrets in the air that I breathed. It was as if this place was not in time with the rest of the world. So, what were my options now? Did I stumble around in the dark like some fool? Or did I wait patiently for the enemy to reveal himself? Any student of war tactics will tell you never give the advantage to your enemy. By moving and stumbling my way through the dark I would give away my position. I strained my eyes and ears hoping to catch some clue, some slight movement that would yield information. No matter how hard I tried I could not catch anything. So be it, I had other gifts that I had not tried. I closed my eyes and sent out my youkino.

I knew now, that I was held in a chamber with no windows or doors. It was perfectly sealed with no way out; the dimensions of the room were 100 feet by 200 feet. In the farthest corner there were two auras, vaguely familiar to me. However I could not place whom they belonged to just yet. There, in the center of the room, miasma began to bubble from the floor like some macabre version of a fountain. Black rolling evil flowed upward to take form. Why was I not surprised to see that vile hanyou Naraku?

“Lord Sesshomaru.” Was the mocking salutation I was given. Retch! Did he think that he was equal to this Sesshomaru? It was obvious he did by his greeting, and looking me straight in the eye. No bow given, no inclining of the head. Oh yes this bastard greeted me as one Lord to another. Impudent mongrel! I cracked my knuckles in preparation for releasing my poison.

Oh, don’t misunderstand this. I could still not see with my eyes. Rather I saw with my youkino, meaning that Naraku looked like a sickly brown moving shadow, rather than his normal self. He had clothing and features just like anyone would. The two auras in the corner were huddled together and were being blocked. All I could see was muted pink and blue. I placed one foot behind the other and fell into a battle stance. In my one hand I held Tensaiga, and in the other, I readied my poison whip.

“So impatient, Lord of the West, are you in such a hurry to end your life?” Arrogant whelp! I was the one who would do the taunting. And I was the one to strike fear in the enemies’ heart.

“You show such stupidity Naraku, to think that you would be victorious in this battle. I am a Taiyoukai and will not lose to a hanyou made up of LOWER demons! This Sesshomaru promises you that you will beg for your death. Each individual that you have destroyed, each person’s fate that you have interfered in, I will ensure that you feel their suffering.” Honestly! I have never been beaten in battle. Inu Yasha cutting my arm off was a lucky shot since I was not really trying to kill him. And if you ask me, it was a draw. Neither of us ended up dead! I could feel my beast trying to get out. We were both in accord. We wanted to render him limb from limb, to feel his blood dripping down our muzzle and on our claws. Yes the thought of ridding this world of such a depraved creature was exhilarating!

“Really Lord Sesshomaru, did you think that I would show up to fight without having something, or should I say someone, to tip things in my favor? Please, let’s go meet my esteemed guests.” As he walked towards the two auras, I felt a twinge. Something wicked comes this way. I knew when I finished crossing the distance of the chamber that everything would change in an instant. Each step I took closer to the auras, the more a sense of dread filled me. My protective instincts went into overdrive. What, or who, should I say did Naraku manage to capture?

I am a renowned strategist known for my logic and calm in the face of battle. I learned from the best and brightest of my time and from there I pushed myself to excel further. In over 100 years of battling, never have I frozen or blanked out. And yet I found myself doing exactly that as Naraku removed his barrier like a curtain parting to show the main actress.

There, trussed up, lay my Kagome and Rin. Oh Kami, never before had so much depended on the outcome of a battle. “Tell me Lord Sesshomaru, do you enjoy my little welcome gift? Please let me explain. Above us there is rope. Your miko and your ward will be raised up over 100 feet. Below them will be poisoned spikes. This poison is so toxic it will kill human and youkai alike. Even with your great speed you will only have time to save one of them. So whom do you choose? Who do you love the most; will it be your miko or your ward? Choose wisely Lord of the West.” Naraku taunted.

Rage engulfed me, and my world bled to red. My beast was very conflicted. We had to protect our mate, but Rin was more than a ward to me. She was the daughter of my heart. How could we choose between them both? I should strike the malevolent creature down and save myself the heartache of choosing. I swung out Tensaiga and completed my Meidou Zangetsuha. I wanted to congratulate myself on ending the threat to my mate. Before I could get any further, a youkai I have never laid eyes on, appeared. Where there had been darkness, now there was light, silence exploded into sound.

This youkai in front of me had golden colored hair in a simple braid down his back. His face was angular with eyes of such a light blue that I have never seen such before. His forehead was graced with a small inverted star. He had no stripes to indicate a control of poison. His clothing was a dark mirror of my own. Haori and hakama of black, and a sash of dark blue held two katana in place. I did not bother to glance down and see what adorned his feet. Rule one is never take your eyes off your opponent. No matter what the reason. Rule two, let your opponent speak, inevitably or inadvertently they will reveal something of themselves.

“Lord Sesshomaru, I presume?” I almost wanted to snort. Did this fool believe, that for one instant, that I was unfamiliar to him? Only an idiot enters a battle unprepared and I would bet my last coin that he was anything but an idiot.

“Youkai, do you intend to stand here all day? Or do you not have the manners to formally introduce yourself?” Okay first verbal assault lobbied. I watched his eyes and mouth tighten, so for all his power he was unable to control his expressions. Even though his power was close to mine, I did not worry. Worries were for the weak. I stood perfectly still and waited to move. I may have been the picture of relaxation, but I was actually coiled and ready for action.

“It seems that we are at a stalemate. Just because you have defeated Naraku does not negate the test. Who will the great Lord choose? Will it be the female that he has recently mated with? Or will it be his ward of 6 years? Time to decide Sesshomaru-Sama!” With that, the ropes fell from the ceiling and he grabbed them. The ropes were attached to large rings that had been bolted into the ceiling. Once he tied them the ropes lifted them up in the air. It was far enough of a drop to ensure they would be completely impaled. Kuso! I, for once in my life, did not know what to do.

“However I am benevolent, I will allow you a few moments to say your farewells to your loved ones. Because make no mistake Taiyoukai, at the end of this, one of them will be dead. And you will have to live with the pain of knowing that despite your pursuit of ultimate power and supreme conquest, that you have utterly, and miserably failed in your endeavor to protect someone you love.” And with that the damn kusotare actually smiled.

I formed my demon cloud so I could see and speak with Kagome and Rin. What the hell was I going to do? My beast, my soul and every fiber of my being was torn. How can you choose one over the other? I looked into my lovers’ eyes, expecting to see recrimination. Instead, her eyes held love and understanding. “Maru, you have to save Rin. She depends on you. You are her father. I know that we are bound, and will find each other in each life that we live. I want you to know that although our time was brief, I was the luckiest female on the earth. I found love, true love, and my soul mate. I would not trade an eternity without you for any of those moments. When I was down and did not believe in myself, when I had lost all hope, you picked me and showed me the way. You wrapped me in a love that was pure, and unselfish. For that I thank you.” My heart, that I often deny having, broke at this.

I had waited centuries to find the right mate, and now on the whimsy of some fucked up youkai I had to make a choice no male should have to. I looked at Rin, who was trying to cry silently, knowing how sensitive my ears were. Rin, who had without pause, tried to help a wounded youkai. Rin, who met a terrible death at the hands of the ookami tribe, and who since her revival, has been a constant companion at my side. She was the daughter I had never admitted to having. Pure, unselfish, and always thinking of others, that was Rin’s way. Kami knows she even cared for Jaken, which is no easy task.

“Sesshomaru-Sama, please save Kagome, she is your mate. You and she will make lots of young ones in your future. Please, just make sure that they know who Rin was, and what she meant to my Lord. Rin is just an orphan that Lord Sesshomaru found. She does not expect her Lord to choose her. Rin would just like Lord Sesshomaru to know that Rin loved him like an otousan. Oh! And please say goodbye to Jaken and Ah-Un for Rin.” With that said, she smiled. Even in the face of death my little one remains positive. “Okaasan, thank you for making otousan happy! Rin would have liked to have you for a mother a little longer.”

My already bruised heart could not take much more of this. For one who has strict control on his feelings, to suddenly be overwhelmed is difficult. I made an important life altering decision that moment. I could not, in good faith say who I would save when they both plunged to their death. However, I could give them peace by letting them both know what they meant to me. “Rin, this Sesshomaru loves you like a daughter. I have always been proud of your courage, your resourcefulness and the kindness of your heart. You, little one, were the first to teach me what love was. There will always be Rin in my heart. You, Rin Taisho are worthy of being a child of the West. I declare for all to hear that you are my child. You are loved, and have parents and a sibling. I humbly thank you for touching my life, daughter.”

Happy tears poured down my ladies faces. It seems that neither of them expected me to open up this way. It was weird, instead of feeling burdened, I felt lighter, and kind of relieved. I turned to my Miko and struggled to find words to do her justice. “Itoshi, I cannot even begin to describe what your love means to me. I, the Lord of the West, found my soul mate. The one person who loved me for me. I have been blessed by your love Kagome. My only regret is that our time was so short. Time was not on our side. Even now, I can feel it tricking sway like the sand in an hourglass. When you are gone, a large part of my heart will be missing. I will admit, I do not know if I can endure an eternity without you koibito. I will be forever haunted with dreams of what could have been. Thank you for loving me, for taking a chance on us, and for believing in our future. Aishiteru Kagome.”

Kagome’s wet luminous eyes met mine. Such love and devotion shone from her eyes, and then she did an unexpected thing, she winked. “Maru, I am so happy at this moment, and happiness is all that matters, ne? I knew you loved me, but to hear it was a gift that Rin and I will treasure for always. Aishiteru Maru.” I stood there hovering on my demon cloud, waiting, second by second for the ropes to break, still not sure of my plan. When the ropes snapped, I dove down to grab her hand. I held Kagome to me for a brief second, and then threw her body with every ounce of strength I possessed, at Rin. At her current speed, they would both clear the spikes. I tried to summon my demon cloud and was unable to. I seemed to be under some sort of spell that negated my power.

The last thing I heard as the spikes ripped through my body was Kagome’s voice screaming “Maru!” Then, the world went black.

I woke up to find otousan and my brother standing over me. This was just great; I am flat out on my back in the garden, sprawled on the grass, for the entire world to see. My father extended his hand to help me up. It was a sign of how shaky I felt, that I let him assist me.

“So Sesshomaru, what did you learn from your trial? Inu Yasha had to learn about loving someone and being loved in return. He had to learn to see beyond himself for the greater picture. Your lessons probably ran along the same lines, but were tailored for you specifically.” My otousan said. I nodded at the statement and looked at Inu Yasha.

“It is difficult is it not, loving someone, knowing that they may be taken from you at any moment? Before, you and I cared only for battle and a show of strength. And while we are stronger and better for loving those whom we love, it is still a weakness. No, not a weakness, just an area where we are no longer able to shield.” I looked at my brother, and he nodded slowly to indicate his approval. “I found that I loved Rin as a daughter, and I will come to love Shippo as a son even if they cannot inherit the Lands of the West. I love Kagome with every bit of my soul, beast and body. Telling the ones you love you love them, is not a sign of weakness, rather a sign of strength because you are complete and happy with yourself, and do not need the approval of others.

“All my life I trained, so that I may eclipse the Great Taisho. It is only now, in this time, that I have equaled you father. Not because of my attacks, or swords, rather because I love wholly as you loved. I renewed my relationship with Inu Yasha. I have a mate and adopted pups. I also have new friends and allies. The West has truly been blessed.” My father threw his head back and roared with laughter. I knew he was not laughing at his sons, rather it was laughter of happiness. We had found our place in this world, and were not about to relinquish it without a hell of a fight! “Come sons, the rest of the male trials are over. Let’s find the ookami and monk and compare trials. We will await the arrival of the ladies when they finish theirs.” We went to find the others laughing and joking along the way. This was the moments we should have had all those years ago. But as they say, better late than never …

JA NE!
INU~LOVER

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Japanese Glossary

Haisha - the defeated; vanquished; loser
Chikushou – damn, son-of-a-bitch
Dajaka - coward
Kieuseru - to disappear; to get out of sight; to die; (in imperative) to fuck off
Akuryou - evil spirit
Mesuinu – female dog, bitch
Yamainu – Japanese wolf
Chigatana – bloody sword
Kaimetsu – destruction, annihilation
En’en – fiery
Kutabacchimae - Drop dead, you bastard; fuck you!
Kusotare - vulgar epithet; shithead; bastard
Faiasutoomu - firestorm (celebratory bonfire)
Ofudas – blessed piece of paper (?)
Shakoju – Miroku’s Staff
Meidou Zangetsuha – Crescent move from Hades or the underworld (Makes sense since Sesshomaru’s sword cuts threw the barer of souls)
Aishiteru - I love you