InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Love a Half-Mortal ❯ To See What Others Cannot ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, if I did Kikyo would not have been resurrected.

 

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1 - Seeing What Others Cannot

 

 

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“Mouai! Mouai!” my young brother, Iotamaru, called to me and I looked towards where he would be approaching.

 

“I'm here,” I called as I placed a hand on one of my students' heads. “We all are here.” I heard him gasp for air as he approached. I expected him to gently caress my hand as he always did, but it was not the case, he grabbed me roughly, pulling me to his chest before I could realize what was going on. “Iotamaru, what's going on? Why are you so breathless?”

 

“Father and several of the elders were attacked by a swarm of insect youkai, they were poisoned. They will die if we cannot get the healing herbs!” I stood there, wrapped in my brother's arms as he sobbed and I placed my hands on his face, feeling the tears there.

 

“Where are the herbs?” I asked and he sobbed harder.

 

“Four villages away there is a youkai farmer, but it is said that he does not give his herbs to just anyone,” Iotamaru sobbed and I ran my fingers through my brother's hair.

 

“We must go,” I stated and he stiffened in my arms. “Get Father's horse and prepare to ride, we will go and beg this youkai for the cure for Father.”

 

“Mouai…he, he is a monster…” I placed a hand over his mouth.

 

“We do not want to lose Father nor the Elders, you can ride me to this youkai farmer, I will beg him for the herbs to cure them,” I stated as I took my walking stick and began to move towards the village, my hand in the crook of Iotamaru's arm.

 

“It is very dangerous, he could devour you, Mouai!” Iotamaru cried and I squeezed his arm.

 

“I am useless to anyone, Iotamaru. I cannot work, I cannot garden, I cannot cook, I cannot do more than tend to children, wounds, laundry, and prepare food for winter storage. I must be the one to beg, if the youkai farmer kills me than you will only be out those who were poisoned and a crippled woman,” I stated as I stroked my brother's arm. “If I succeed than everyone is saved.”

 

“What if he wants you as his servant?” my brother whimpered and I smiled as I squeezed his hand.

 

“Then the village will be minus one crippled woman,” I stated and I felt Iotamaru sob.

 

“I'm scared for you, Mouai,” he whispered and I stroked his face.

 

“A blind woman is no replacement for village elders,” I stated. “Get Father's horse ready.

 

 

~*~

 

 

I rested my hand on Iotamaru's shoulder, gently squeezing as he sobbed.

 

“This path will take you to Jinenji's farm, even a blind woman should be able to find it, but it will be your funeral,” the villager stated and I felt Iotamaru stiffen under my hand.

 

“Iotamaru, wait here, I will go speak with this Jinenji, hopefully our offering will please him and his mother,” I stated as I wrapped my arms around my brother and hugged him.

 

“How long should I wait?” he whispered. I shook my head as I turned in the direction to the farm.

 

“If you hear me scream or tomorrow comes without me, return home and prepare for the worse,” I whispered and I began to tap my way towards the farm of the youkai Jinenji. In a parcel across my shoulders was our village's offering, sake, vegetables, prime cuts of meat, and the finest cloth we could produce.

 

I used my walking stick to figure out the path, soon the scent of fresh herbs began to tickle my nose and eventually I was swimming in the pure and healing scent.

 

“Who goes there? Are you here to attack my boy?” a voice demanded and I recognized the voice of an old woman. I dropped to my knees, placing my stick by my side and pulling the parcel from my shoulders.

 

“Madam youkai, mother of the youkai farmer Jinenji, I am Mouai. I come from a village to the north. I have journeyed here to beg your son to give me an herb for healing the poison of the venomous insect youkai that attacked my father and several of the village elders. I have brought these gifts in payment,” I bowed into the dirt, pushing the parcel before me.

 

“Madam youkai? Youkai farmer?” the voice asked before laughing and I sat up. Had I come to the wrong farm? “I don't know who told you Jinenji and I were youkai, but I'm as human as you girl, Jinenji is only a hanyou.” I sat there for a moment before bowing again.

 

“I apologize for my ignorance, Madam, but I still state I need your son's help to save my father and the village elders,” I stated as I slowly felt the ground beneath me shake ever so lightly, as if some huge creature was approaching.

 

“Mother, who is this girl?” the gentlest and most soothing voice I had ever heard spoke.

 

“She says she is from the north, they were attacked by some of those poisoned insects that Kagome spoke of. She's here for the antidote,” the woman spoke.

 

“Please, get up, you do not have to bow for us,” the beautiful voice whispered and I sat up, looking towards the speaker of the voice. “I will gather the herbs now, please wait.” The vibrations shook beneath me and then I smiled.

 

“You aren't afraid of him?” the woman asked, somewhat shocked. I turned towards her and smiled more, the tears of joy falling from my eyes.

 

“Of course not, with such a gentle voice, why would anyone fear him?” I asked and she was silent.

 

“You shouldn't mock an old woman. You saw him,” she stated harshly and I shook my head.

 

“No, Madam, I didn't see him. I am blind and he has the most beautiful voice that I have ever heard,” I stated as I knelt on the ground.

 

“Blind…” the woman whispered.

 

 

~*~

 

 

The vibrations returned and I sensed Jinenji of the gentle voice near me.

 

“Here are the herbs you will need,” he stated and I reached out, searching for the hand I was sure he was holding out for me to collect the herbs from.

 

“Jinenji, she can't see, she's blind,” the old woman spoke and there was a startled gasp, even his gasp was soothing.

 

“I see,” he whispered and a warm hand took one of my searching hands. I closed my hands over his massive hand.

 

“May I see you?” I asked and he made a strange noise.

 

“You are blind,” he whispered and I nodded.

 

“I cannot ever see you with my eyes, but I can see with my hands,” I whispered. “May I see you?” His hand stiffened beneath my touch.

 

“You….you would not like what you would see,” he whispered in such a hurt and broken voice, it brought tears to my eyes to hear him speak in such a tone.

 

“Please,” I whispered. “With such a beautiful voice, let me see you as I can.”

 

There was a moment when the silence was painful and he moved away and I felt disappointment well within me. There was a scrapping sound of the parcel.

 

“I'll take care of her payment, place the herbs in the carrying cloth and let her see you, Jinenji,” the old woman said in a strange voice. There was a nervous shuffling from Jinenji and I could hear him move, placing the herbs into the carrying cloth by my feet.

 

“May I see you now?” I asked and I could hear him swallow nervously before a hand was placed in mine.

 

Slowly I began to explore the massive hand in mine. I traced his palm, the lifeline was long and strong. I explored his fingers, surprised to feel how soft and smooth the skin was for a farmer. I felt his nails, shocked to find long, sharp claws graced the ends. I moved my fingers over the top of his hand, trice the size of my own hand. I came across a rough patch and slowly I traced the familiar skin of a scar.

 

I moved up Jinenji's arm, shocked to find thirty scars on but one arm, by the time I reached his shirt, I was in tears. I was on the tip of my toes, to reach up and feel his shoulder.

 

“Sit down so the girl can reach you,” the woman's voice called and I blinked, I hadn't realized she was there watching. I blushed as I felt him sit, shaking the earth beneath me enough to cause me to fall forward into his chest, one of his massive hands resting on the small of my back. I kept my face buried in his warm chest, the scent of clean, healing herbs filled my nose. My hands found his neck, moving up to gently find his long jaw, it was far longer than any human's. I moved up to find that his mouth, nose, and chin were almost equine in shape. His eyes were large, massive, just like the rest of him, but the lashes were so thick and so soft, his eyelids twitching caused them to tickle my palms. His large head was hairless on the top and ringing by soft, thick, healthy hair.

 

I brought my hands down to his chest and moved back, his hand still on my back as I moved back, his massive chest moving rapidly beneath my hands and I wondered what he was thinking.

 

“Are you horrified?” he asked, sounding totally broken. I shook my head as I reached up, finding his face, the skin was taunt with what I assumed was fear.

 

“You are so soft, so warm,” I stated as I moved back and then stood facing him. “I do not know what people are afraid of you for. You are large, safe, and surrounded by a protecting blanket. I do not find you horrifying or terrible to see.” I knelt and found my carrying cloth and my walking stick.

 

“What is your name?” he asked, there was something so stirring about his tone.

 

“I am Mouai and I have been blessed to have met one with such a gentle voice,” I stated as I bowed. “I must go and save my father and my village's elders. I hope to hear your voice again one day, Jinenji.” I turned and began to find my way towards where Iotamaru would be waiting for me.

 

 

~*~

 

 

I sat in our family hut, crying with joy as Iotamaru told me our father was alive and well as were all the Elders who were poisoned. I hugged Iotamaru, but his skin was dry and clammy, wet with his fear's sweat.

 

I let my brother lead me to the village healer's hut where the poisoned were recovering. I was knelt beside my father, his hand placed in mine. The skin was so rough and cracked, I could not help but think of the warm, silken hands of Jinenji.

 

“Mouai…you saved us,” my father's voice whispered through the darkness. I nodded as I held his hand, wishing it was more like Jinenji's hand.

 

“I did Father,” I whispered and he laughed.

 

“My blind daughter bargained with a youkai and saved us all,” he spoke with pride and several others praised my bravery and my courage to risk my life for all of theirs.

 

“I did nothing so great, he was but a hanyou and he was more than happy to give me the herbs,” I stated.

 

They were not listening to me and I sighed, the voices that surrounded me in the darkness of my world spoke over me and I felt sorrow, none of the voices were as gentle or comforting as Jinenji's.

 

 

~*~

 

 

“Mouai, you have been very quiet lately,” Father said as he settled down beside me and I turned my head from him.

 

“I have been thinking,” I stated. His hand found mine.

 

“Who is he?” he asked with a chuckle and I froze. Father knew, he always knew. Once he had told me that because my eyes were unable to see emotion I displayed it more than any other. I turned red as I looked down.

 

“You would be horrified and hate me,” I stated and I could feel him stiffen.

 

“Is he Yutaru?” there was a grating to his voice and I shook my head.

 

“He is not,” I whispered and he grew quiet.

 

“You have been so thoughtful since you retrieved the medicinal herbs. So perhaps it is someone you met on your travel. However, you wouldn't be so scared if it was just some village boy from a distant village,” he stated and I felt ice fill my veins. “He must be a very gentle hanyou to have stolen your heart in such a brief encounter.” I sat there, my heart about to burst. “He is a lucky man.” I stopped and looked at where Father was sitting.

 

“What are you saying, Father?” I whispered and he pulled my hand to his face, the familiar feeling of his lips in a smile met my fingers.

 

“You have fallen in love with the hanyou, haven't you?” he asked and I looked down before nodding.

 

“I think I have, he is all I think of lately,” I whispered and Father sighed.

 

“I will miss my daughter,” he sighed. “Iotamaru, prepare my horse!” I felt my father get up.

 

“Father? What are you doing?” I asked and his hands helped me to my feet.

 

“Mouai, you are beautiful, but you are blind. You are worthless to the men of the village in so many ways, they would have you for your beauty, but they would be cruel in your blindness. It is said that the human that loves a hanyou is the most loved spouse in all the lands,” Father stated as he held my hands. “You see something in that creature, Iotamaru told me what the creature is suppose to look like, if you see something else in your darkness, than I will not stop you. Mouai, I rather see you with a grateful monster than an ungrateful man.”

 

“Father, what of you and Iotamaru?” I whispered and he chuckled.

 

“I am an old man and Iotamaru has been chasing after Nariko as of late. I will encourage him to seek her hand, once I am sure you are with someone that will take care of you,” Father stated and I simple stared into my complete darkness.

 

“You will take me to Jinenji? What if he does not wish for me?” at my question my father began to howl with laughter.

 

“This creature would be a fool. I will take you to his farm, I will ask if he wants your hand in marriage. I will marry you to him and then I will leave,” he stated and grabbed my hand. “Pack your things.”

 

 

~*~

 

 

I was shivering in fear as I held onto Father's arm, my walking stick clicking on the path I had only traveled on once before.

 

“You are afraid of him?” my father whispered and I shook my head.

 

“Only rejection,” I whispered. Throughout my life I had been treated poorly by other children, my peers often taunted me, stealing my walking stick, throwing things at me, I was afraid Jinenji would refuse me.

 

“I doubt he will…dear Kami!” my father gasped and I felt the vibrations of Jinenji through my feet and walking stick. “Mouai are you certain you love…him…” I held onto my father and nodded.

 

“His voice, his skin, his smell, he is large, I could barely reach his shoulder standing on my tip toes, but he is good,” I stated and my father jabbered before stiffening and walking.

 

“Oiy, who are you? Oh, Mouai, I didn't see you there, why are you back?” Jinenji's mother called and I blushed as I looked toward the ground. My father chuckled before patting my hand.

 

“We are here for a special purpose, Madam,” I felt my father press down on my shoulders and I knelt down, placing my hands on the ground before me and laying my forehead on my hands.

 

“Jinenji, come here. What purpose would that be?” Jinenji's mother asked and I felt Jinenjii's footsteps come towards us. “Sit across from Mouai.” I felt the ground shake and the gentle smell of healing herbs filled my nose, bringing a feeling of completeness to my heart, which I just realized had felt so unbearably heavy before now.

 

“I have come with my daughter because since she was here last her heart and her mind have been heavy. A father knows when his children must be set free to fly, however my daughter is crippled. I ask you, Madam, if it would pain your heart to have your son bound to a woman unable to see?” I could hear both Jinenji and his mother's gasps of shock.

 

“Are…are you serious?” his mother cried and my father chuckled.

 

“Madam, my daughter is blind, she cannot properly do a lot of things that a normal woman can, but she is in love with your son, something I am told not a single woman has done before her,” my father stated and there was something sorrowful in that statement. “I ask if your son would marry my daughter.” Again, dual gasps of surprise.

 

“Mouai, do you understand what you are asking?” Jinenji's mother asked and I sat up, nodding.

 

“From the moment Jinenji first spoke in my presence I knew I could become addicted to that voice. He smells so wonderfully of the earth and healing, he is so large and warm, and his voice is so gentle, I felt my heart wish to leave my chest, but after he helped and asked for nothing in return, I knew I was in love,” I bowed again and then the warm smoothness of Jinenji's hands covering mine.

 

“Jinenji?” his mother asked.

 

“She is brave, Mother, she is kind, and she loves me,” he whispered in a voice that spoke of just joy, tears came from my eyes for giving him such happiness.

 

“If that is what you wish, I see no reason why Jinenji and Mouai shouldn't wed,” Jinenji's mother stated and I smiled as I looked toward my father.

 

“Before I met Mouai's mother I was a monk, I can perform the ceremony now,” he stated and Jinenji's hands closed over mine.

 

“Shouldn't there be more people?” Jinenji's mother asked.

 

“Who besides my son, would want to be here as well?” my father asked and with that, he began the ceremony. It was quick.

 

 

~*~

 

 

“I will miss you, Mouai,” Father whispered as he hugged me and I smiled.

 

“I will miss you too, Father, but do not worry, I am happy,” I said as I stroked his hand, following his arm up so I could find his cheek and place a kiss on it.

 

“Goodbye, my daughter. Jinenji! You better treat my daughter like the princess she is!” my father cried before I heard him step away and get on his horse. He road off and I stood there for a moment before I smiled, the tears on my cheeks from both the sorrow of leaving my family and the joy of being with the man I desired.

 

“Mouai?” Jinenji asked as his hands slowly found my shoulders. I smiled as I placed a hand on his wrist.

 

“I am fine, I'm just happy,” I said and he gently pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me. I felt so protected and loved that I sighed, resting my forehead on his chest.

 

“Jinenji, I'm going to go make some deliveries to the village,” his mother stated and I blushed into his chest. “I'll be back tomorrow.” With that I listened to my new mother leave and I could feel the tremor of fear in Jinenji's hands.

 

“Shall I make you dinner?” Jinenji asked and I blushed before pulling away from his chest and looking up where his face would be.

 

“I would like that,” I stated and he placed a hand on my waist, his large hand running from the small of my back to around my hip. He slowly guided me into his…our hut. He moved slowly allowing me to tap with my walking stick, discover the room. He slowly pressed me down and I knelt. He began to move around the hut, started a fire, and slowly I could smell stew.

 

“Why?” he asked in a quiet voice. I smiled in my darkness.

 

“You are warmer than anyone I've ever touched before, skin far softer than a farmer's has the right to be, your scent is so comforting, and your voice is so gentle, I could hear the desire in your voice,” I stated and he sat down, shaking the ground slightly.

 

“Desire?” he asked and I nodded.

 

“It spoke to me. It told me you wanted to be loved and treated like you were normal,” I smiled as I held out a hand and he wrapped his hand around it. “I can do that.”

 

“You can do that because you are blind,” he whispered and I heard the sorrow. I pulled his hand to my face.

 

“You have a snout more than a nose, more like a horse's mouth than a human's, your eyes are huge, like a rodent's, and you are as tall as an oni,” I stated and he stiffened. I wrapped my hands around his wrist and held on tightly. “And I do not care.” The relaxation of his muscles told me I had taken away his fear. “I can `see' you and I do not care that you do not look like a normal man, you are more than most men I know and I rather have you than any of those so called `handsome' men of my village.” He was quiet before he removed his hand. I sat in the darkness listening to his movements.

 

“Here is the stew,” he stated and his hand took mine to a bowl in his other hand, then he placed chopsticks into my free hand. We ate in silence.

 

 

~*~

 

 

I sat alone in the hut as Jinenji washed our bowls and chopsticks. I slowly got up and used my stick to find a large mat on the floor, it was my husband's bed. I sat down and inhaled the male scent that was my husband, I blushed, I would need to perform my wifely duty soon.

 

“Mouai?” Jinenji asked and I turned toward his voice, part of me very nervous and part very happy.

 

“Yes, Jinenji?” I asked and the vibrations of his feet on the ground told me he was approaching the mat.

 

“Are you certain?” he asked and I nodded with a smile. “I will be gentle.”

 

I sat there, waiting for my husband, the hanyou, Jinenji. His hand gently brushed my face and I turned into his touch. I kissed his palm and he made a noise.

 

I moved further back on the mat, he slowly rested down next to me, catching my jaw before the warmth of his lips landed on mine. I had never kissed a human, but that kiss was sweet and tender, full of passion and warmth. I reached up, gently stroking Jinenji's cheek. He continued the kiss, lightly nibbling on my lower lip. I closed my eyes and stroked his shoulders, gently exploring his neck with my fingers.

 

“May I please remove your kimono?” he asked and I nodded.

 

“Yes, remove yours as well,” I whispered and I felt him pull away. There was the sound of shifting and I reached down, pulling my obi free for him. Slowly I felt him cover me and I opened my sightless eyes up to him. He nuzzled the side of my face with his cheek and I reached up to stroke his chest and shoulders. The muscles and the warmth coming from him were amazing. I kissed his chest and he groaned. I found one of his hands and led it to my kimono.

 

“Are you certain?” he asked and I smiled as I helped him pull open my kimono. He gulped as he slipped my clothing off of me, I lay on the mat, Jinenji over me. “You are…sure?”

 

“Yes, Jinenji, I wish to be your wife, make me yours,” I stated as I found his hand again and placed it to my breast. His warm, soft skin rubbing over my sensitive breast was nearly too much. I moaned in pleasure as he stroked my skin. He stopped. “No, please don't stop. It feels so lovely!”

 

“Never,” he whispered as he kissed me and I let myself fall into the kiss as his hand explored my body, moving from my breast to my shoulder, down my side to my butt. I moaned again as I nipped his lips, he whimpered before moving over me, pressing me completely onto my back.

 

I felt his massive weight move over me and I spread my legs on instinct as he slipped between them. I shivered as he kissed down my neck to my shoulder, then he returned back up. I moaned as his hand cupped the back of my head, his lips played over mine. I felt something large, hard, and hot press up near my womanhood. I knew what it was, his manhood. I was very nervous.

 

“Thank you, Mouai, my wife,” the passion and love in his voice was so moving, when he entered me I was only lightly panged by pain. I gasped in pleasure as he moved within me, his arms wrapping around me, protecting me from the outside world, engulfing me in his warmth.

 

“I love you, Jinenji,” I gasped as he moved within me. I cried out as he began to move faster, his hips colliding with mine with painful pleasure as the reward. I felt something amazing building within me and before I knew it I was screaming in pleasure as he groaned, warmth filled me and I cried out again.

 

“I love you, Mouai,” he whispered, kissing me all over my face and I smiled as I looked up at the face I would never see.

 

“I love you, Jinenji,” I whispered as I fell asleep.

 

 

~*~

 

 

I was preparing herbs for drying when I heard someone calling out for Jinenji, I used my walking stick to find my way to the opening of the hut where I could hear my Mother and husband speaking.

 

“Jinenji? Who's there?” I asked, wondering if it was someone in need of help.

 

“Mouai, these are my friends I told you about. Kagome, Inu Yasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kilala,” he stated as his hand found mine and he slowly led me over to his side. I bowed awkwardly in the direction I assumed the friends of my husband were standing. “My friends, this is my wife, Mouai.” There was a moment of silence.

 

“Your wife?” a male stated in shock. “But she looks ready to burst!” I patted my large stomach where my unborn child was resting.

 

“I came to Jinenji for medicinal herbs seven months ago, we were married not long after,” I stated.

 

“Seven months,” a woman stated. “You shouldn't be that large yet.”

 

“Of course she can. Jinenji was born after only three months, you think I could have survived carrying him nine months, he was ready to be born early. Still not a human birth, but six months to get this size makes me hope my grandson will be more human,” Mother stated and I smiled.

 

“I wouldn't care if the child is an image of Jinenji, I love my husband as he is,” I stated. “My eyes may never see him, but to me he is the most beautiful creature ever born.” I looked up at my husband and smiled.

 

“When you take away the prejudices,” I said as I reached up, my hand meeting Jinenji's cheek. “It really isn't that hard to love a half-mortal.”

 

 

~*~

 

AN: I'm currently working on the next two chapters, guess who they are and I'll give you this cyber cookie *holds up and the audience goes “oooh”*