KOTETSU SANGOKUSHI
The Misery of Knowing Your Pain
Koumei knew there was no room for him to waver for his plan to come to fruition. And yet, he found hoping that in his travels with Rikuson he would find another way to the Ultimate Light, another way to bring Rikuson to his best.
Yes, he knew the ways of the world, and yes, he was considered a great and respectable man. But no amount of teaching and counsel would bring Rikuson to his greatest. Koumei would slay dragons for that boy, cross oceans and enslave worlds in the name of his love, but he could not simply give him the Sovereign Seal and hope for the best.
He had to absolutely sure that this would work. He would rain grief and sadness such as the world had never known before, he would Rikuson see past his naivete, see into the red star of destiny, rather than humbly spend the rest of his life as the Crimson Warrior. Because he would not allow his love to blind him to the destiny of the world. Rikuson was needed beyond the reach of Koumei's arms. The world is full of sad facts like these.
When he had seen Ryuubi for the first time, he knew exactly how to snare him. The boy basked in simple, harmless beauty, like that of a peach blossom. He would appear that way to him: harmless in beauty, caring only in how to further Ryuubi-sama's needs.
But Shoku could not hide him forever, and his pupil was bound to try and find him for answers eventually. Answers that Koumei could not give, else he would surrender the fate of the world and all its creatures. Koumei knew then, when he lied to Rikuson (told him their love was over, their love was a whim and a caprice) and felt no pain, that there would be no turning back. His destiny would be met in the light of the Red Star, surrounded by the darkness he was growing to know better than himself.
(and it wasn't a sin, after all, to sacrifice himself in the name of love)