Prompts: Devotion, Fate, Vices
Characters: Miroku, Sango
Strength
Ever since he had witnessed his father's unfortunate death and been made aware of his fate, Miroku had decided to lead a life based on strict and ironclad rules that he had imposed on himself. When he thought about his future, he became a serious and determined young man, he felt a fire ignite within himself because of his goal but he also saw a relatively short line and never imagined himself with grey hair or aching bones. As much as he believed to be a strong and resolute person, he was also smart enough to know that thinking about a life completely free of the curse and wallowing in those thoughts would be the biggest mistake he could ever make; he had to cling to reality and strengthen his body to be up to the challenge he had been left with.
However, that arduous road he chose often required breaks to ensure that his spirit did not completely collapse — gratifications as it were — and inevitably with them, he fell back into old vices or, rather, became a victim of the second family curse.
Miroku loved the female forms and sometimes, he admitted that he had sinned by wanting to probe them at all costs. However, although he was aware of the idea he gave of himself, he was not immoral, nor would he really condemn another child to the same fate. Indeed, if he didn't succeed, he was determined to let the vortex die with him. It went without saying, then, that no matter how much he enjoyed donning the robes of the perverted monk, he would never go through with it.
Thus, he had not denied the first time the half-demon named Inuyasha had referred to him as such, nor had he blamed Kagome-sama for her reaction when he had stolen her permission to investigate her forms. However, his determination and spirit encountered an unexpected obstacle when he met Sango.
He wished now he could say he had recognised her immediately as the woman who would change him, but that would be dishonest of him. And yet, for someone that claimed to be one of the most persevering people ever, Sango had been a real surprise. It wasn't only her beauty that had struck him but also her strong character that, despite her obvious scars, had allowed her to get back up every time. And perhaps, it was for this reason that he had never doubted her, even when Sango herself had feared she would break down for real.
For him, she had represented the greatest danger and to fall in love with the slayer had meant a broken heart because he didn't want to sacrifice her happiness for his selfishness or condemn her, too. Or at least, that was what she confessed when, married, Sango asked him what had really held him back before asking her the fateful question — because the reasons were many and complex.
No, Miroku could never have imagined that the valiant woman his group had saved that day would change him so much, nor that she would ultimately be part of his success. After all, the lonely Miroku who had so prided himself on his fortitude had weaknesses that he wouldn't have discovered and fixed if not for his fellow travellers.
Today he was devoted to the family he had been lucky enough to see born and grow up, and he admired his reflection with a sincere and grateful smile every time he noticed his hair greying more and more. And if someone still jokingly asked him if he ever wanted to go back to his life as a wandering monk and the things he had indulged in, Miroku did not deny them and simply shook his head. Just as back then, he didn't care what others believed about him, not when the people who really mattered knew the truth.