Hi! Here is the next installation to the story! Enjoy!
Pirates.
Of course Towa knew they existed, even in the sengoku era, but she did not expect to actually see them. She did meet a pirate once but he wasn't a real pirate. She couldn't even think of his name without feeling some ire.
Presently, once again, Setsuna and Moroha were on a job with Kohaku, Hisui and the other taijiya.
"You will stay here and behave in my absence. You will stay with Kaede and not go out. Do you understand, Towa?" Setsuna had barked out. Her lips pursed together as she spoke coldly. Ever since Towa used Tenseiga to bring her back there had been a change in Setsuna. She was kind and sweet when it was just the two or three of them together. Some of her barriers were coming down and breaking away, the girl that Setsuna was in the woods all those years earlier was slowly returning to her. However, there was the other side to Setsuna, the side that was unyielding when it came to Towa's safety. Setsuna demanded without stating the words that she wanted Towa's obedience when it came to her safety.
It was absurd.
She was the older sister. She was supposed to protect Setsuna. She did bring her back from death, a task their father, Sesshomaru, gave to her as he knew her youkai could work with Tenseiga. She was capable of protecting herself.
Except for tonight, the moonless night, the same night that her uncle would lose his abilities. She had wondered if her and Setsuna shared his birthday, Myouga explained that was not the case as his Master had been born during the winter and they were born in the spring.
"Towa," Kaede called her out of her thoughts and Towa lifted up her chin to look up at Kaede, old and sturdy, holding a pink kimono draped over her arms. Towa stared at the pattern of leaves and branches decorating it. It was beautiful.
"Is that my Mama's kimono?" Towa asked Kaede.
"Yes, why don't you wear it while I wash and darn your clothing," Kaede offered.
Towa looked at the hole in the knee of her pants and the small hole in her shirt. She nodded and stood up, her hair now the dark brown that Setsuna had. Kaede stared at her as if she was perhaps thinking of Rin, Towa and Setsuna's mother.
She remembered how Kaede had told her that she was sweet and kind, a good child, like her mother. She took the soft silk kimono and was in awe of it. She wondered how her mother could afford such beautiful kimonos.
Her expression must have given her away as Kaede chuckled, low and gruff. "Your father spoiled her since she was a young girl. Only the best for Rin. This little home once was full of kimonos, two chests full, a cabinet full of things just for her. Hair pins, books and scrolls. A desk for her to work at instead of always going to Miroku and Sango's," Kaede explained.
Towa thought of the daiyoukai she met on two different battlefields. His eyes had looked at her and Setsuna with an untold pain, yet there was a subtle hint of softness there before looking away quickly and his gaze hardened as he stared down Kirinmaru. She couldn't imagine that same man spoiling a woman, showering with tokens of affection.
Towa frowned and Kaede laughed again as she returned to the fire, slowly easing herself down to the cushion waiting and calling to her old bones.
"Perhaps, it is time for you, Setsuna, and Moroha to know the tale of Naraku and how it brought everyone together. It was also the beginning of your parents' story. A young girl who had befriended a youkai. He protected her and despite all the stories Inuyasha had on Sesshomaru as being a heartless, foul creature, there was something more to your father when it came to your mother," Kaede paused as she held back a sleeve and stirred the stew in the pot she had cooking over the fire, "Of course, it took them years to admit to their affections. Your father is a proud creature and your mother was stubborn," Kaede sighed out heavily.
The tenses that Keade used were not lost on Towa. Present and past. For all that Kaede knew, Rin was dead.
Towa didn't have the heart to give the old woman hope that she wasn't sure about herself on her mother's continued existence.
She only knows that Sesshomaru revived Zero for a reason, Jaken had been vague on his arrival on the battlefield. She wanted to know the truth but Setsuna stood up, brushing the dirt off and dismissed the topic quickly. Moroha gasped out softly and Towa saw it too. Tears were running down Setsuna's face, her lip wobbled for a moment before she walked to Toutousai, Jaken followed after her.
"You two should sit for a moment, you fought against Kirinmaru, rest," Jaken had urged.
Whatever the three spoke about were things she and Moroha were still not privy to.
Towa stood behind the three panels of shoji, as she learned once that villagers visited Kaede at all hours. She had been changing once, taking her shirt off and laying it flat on the floor and Kohaku had walked in on her.
She was in her pants and sports bra, but the man's face had turned red and he spun quickly on his heel to rush out of the house. Apologizing profusely as he was looking for Kaede. Kaede later told her to use the divider panels the next time she decided to change.
Towa stripped down everything and traced the patterns on the kimono before grabbing the juban and tying it on around her hips before slipping the white yukata that was hanging over the screen. She then slipped her arms into the sleeves of the pink kimono and it fit her perfectly. She tied it shut with a forest green obi and stepped out from behind the screen.
"Do I look alright Kaede?" Towa asked nervously as she tucked some of the dark hair behind her ear.
Kaede looked at her with a wide eye, both brows shooting up. "You look like Rin. Her hair was longer and her skin was darker like Setsuna's. But you honour more of her features and nature," Kaede said and Towa hummed softly to herself as she sat down beside Kaede on the wood floor.
"What did my Mama like to do?" Towa asked quietly as she stared at the fire.
"She loved many things. She loved playing with Sango and Miroku's children. She enjoyed nature, picking flowers to press or keep for a little while. She enjoyed fishing and hunting with Inuyasha. Rin and Kagome learned to deliver babies under my tutelage. Rin even travelled to other villages with your Father once when there had been a widespread illness. She loved the life that she had, she looked forward to the life she was going to have as Sesshomaru's wife and your mother. She loved you and Setsuna the moment you both cried out," Kaede's voice broke and Towa saw the tear roll down the wrinkled cheek.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you," Towa said quietly as she drew her knees to her chest.
"You have the right to know who your mother was and what she was like. You should know that Sesshomaru loved Rin dearly. He may not have expressed it in so many words but she knew him well enough to read his gaze and understand he reciprocated every feeling she had for him," Kaede added.
"You said Naraku was their beginning, but she was a child," Towa said with a frown.
"From Master and ward to friends to lovers. Inuyasha was the only one upset about the relationship. He loved and protected Rin like a little sister and your father once hated hanyous-" Kaede started and a commotion outside stopped them both from continuing their conversation.
"Take the village!" A man shouted outside the house and there was a cry from several other men before the bamboo curtain was drawn aside and stood a rough looking man with a scar running down his cheek and neck. "Hello, miko," the man greeted with a malicious grin before settling on Towa.
His gaze sent a chill down Towa's spine. She did not appreciate the way he looked at her with ravenous, hungry eyes. Kaede took her hand and held it tightly.
Towa was defenceless as a human. Without her youkai strength, agility, and capabilities she was useless in a battle.
Setsuna, come home. That was the first thought that came to Towa's mind as the man walked further into the house. The sound of his boots on the dirt echoed in the room, along with the boiling stew and crackle of the fire.
"My, oh my, what a beautiful hime you have here miko," the man said as he walked around the fire.
Towa stood up quickly and pulled Kaede with her. They both ran to the opposite side of the man, his dark eyes following Towa's movements. Towa reached for the blade that Setsuna gave her that was from Toutousai.
"Father commissioned two blades. This one is yours," Setsuna said and Towa realized she now possessed three blades while Setsuna had a broken naginata and a sword. When she offered the sword back to Setsuna, she huffed and folded her arms, "Father has given us each a fang. He would be disappointed if you did not take it. You will return Tenseiga to him eventually," Setsuna assured her.
Towa gripped the gold handle of the new blade and unsheathed it. "Get back!" She shouted and held the pommel tightly.
The man laughed, tossing his head back. "Hime-sama, you are a lady. Do not bother yourself with such a weapon, you should not be wielding any blade for that matter," he told her.
"Get out of this village!" Towa growled out.
"You have no reason to be here, leave at once," Kaede snapped at the man.
"My ship was sunk and my men and I have been travelling the land and this village looks quiet and peaceful enough to retire," the man said as he held out his arms to his sides. "The dragon has decided to find a haven to rest and this is the perfect place!" He grinned, a malicious glint in his eyes and Towa's chill turned to ice in her veins as he licked his lips while looking at her appreciatively.
I'm fifteen...the marrying age in this period. This is bad. Setsuna, Moroha, Hisui, Kohaku, Kirara come and save me and the village! Towa screamed internally as she held her blade tightly.
"And I shall treat you like the hime that you are, woman. I will make you my wife!" The man said and lunged forward.
Kaede scoffed and took Towa's blade quicker than Towa thought possible. Kaede flicked her wrist up and the tip of the blade licked up the man's left unmarred cheek to his forehead. He howled as he covered his eye.
Towa watched as if in a trance. It was as if she was watching a movie as the man huffed and growled. He let go of his face and wrenched the blade from Kaede's frail hands. He tossed the blade aside and slapped Kaede with his bloodied hand. Kaede cried out as she fell to the floor with a large thump.
Towa fell to her knees and laid over Kaede as time moved once more. She stared at the man. "Do you have no respect for the miko of this village?! She is an elder and is to be respected!" Towa shouted at the man.
"I would have ran her through if she were a normal old hag," the man spat out and then swung his leg back. Towa scrambled over Kaede and hugged the old woman, her back to the man as his foot hit her back. Towa cried out but took the next several kicks as Kaede tried to get up and protect Towa.
Towa squeezed her eyes shut in the pain and gasped with each impact before the man wrenched her up and out of Kaede's grip.
"No, no, please let her go! She is my adoptive granddaughter! Don't harm her!" Kaede cried out as the man marched Towa out of the house.
"I was going to dote on you, but now I think I'm going to make an example out of you," the man growled in her ear as they walked down the path.
Towa could hear Kaede sobbing and trying to catch up after them. Towa could see in the center of the village that there was a large fire, several men were around it, villagers knelt on the ground.
Setsuna save me! Sessh-Father...anyone save me! Save the village! Towa felt a sob bubble up and leave her in a small cry, tears pricking her eyes. If only she weren't powerless on the moonless night.
Suddenly in her teary eyes she saw a flash of movement and all the pirates around the fire dropped. The man holding her squeezed her throat and snarled in her face.
"What happened in the distance?!" He hissed out.
Towa gasped and shook her head as she gasped for breath. They could only see that bodies had fallen, not what happened truly. She clawed at the forearm as she struggled for breath.
"Towa! Towa!" Kaede cried out as she caught up.
Towa made a noise and felt tinges of black creeping in her vision. One more thought and prayer came to mind. Riku...save me.
She dropped unceremoniously to the ground and Kaede rushed to her side practically falling beside her. Towa gasped and inhaled oxygen as Kaede rubbed her back. Towa looked across from her to see the pirate dead on the ground.
Towa then noticed the familiar shoes and pants of the man standing behind the pirate. Towa let her gaze drift upwards slowly taking in the unsheathed blade, the familiar haori and vest before deep wine red hair and green eyes stared down at her.
"Towa," called her name. His eyes cool and hardened from the one-man battle of a wannabe pirate versus real pirates.
Towa let out a sob and saw his emerald green eyes soften as he stepped over the dead body, sheathing his blade he knelt down before Towa. Towa didn't know why she was crying but she lunged at Riku, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Riku!" She cried out his name.
His arms came around her back and held her gently before pulling back as she gasped in pain. He touched her cheek as his brows knitted together in a frown. "I'm sorry," he told her honestly.
Towa nodded and then let go of him. She looked at Kaede. "Kaede are you okay?" Towa asked her.
"Towa...I almost lost you like I lost Rin," Kaede said quietly and Towa hugged her gently.
"The villagers are safe now. Let me carry her back," Riku said to Towa as he looked at Kaede.
Towa nodded and stood up stiffly. "I'll check on the villagers quickly then. Kaede let Riku carry you home. I'll be there shortly," Towa promised.
Kaede nodded hesitantly and Towa took off as quickly as her body allowed.
By the time the sun was rising up, Towa returned home and wearily sat down by the fire. She sighed heavily and felt her bruises healing suddenly. The sun was back and so was her youkai blood. Kaede was sleeping and she looked around the house for a sign of Riku.
There was no sign of him except that the fire was burning as if freshly stoked. She conjectured that she must have just missed him. She sighed heavily.
"After I decided during the night to apologize to him," she sighed out and she yawned tiredly as she crawled on the floor to find her mat and roll it out. That was when she caught sight of the colourful flowers and a bowl of strawberries by her mat. There was also a small note.
She ate a strawberry as she unfolded the note to reveal a small message.
I'm sorry I came at a bad time. I hope that you can accept these flowers and strawberries as a beginning of an apology.
I like you Towa.
I want to see you again.
I want to eat crisp and delicious apples, drink tea together, and for us to not worry about fighting or anyone else.
Riku.
Towa blushed at the letter and folded it close. She quickly tucked it away into her map book, something Setsuna and Moroha did not have a need to look at.
"Towa! Towa!" A voice called out filled with some anxiousness.
The bamboo curtain at the door was pushed aside and Setsuna came in panting heavily, her sword drawn. Her violet eyes were wide and frantic as she searched the entire home.
"Setsuna...it was a long night," Towa yawned out and returned to her mat. "I'm going to sleep now."
"I can smell Riku...and there are a dozen dead men. Kohaku says they are pirates! What happened?!" Setsuna questioned as she marched onto the raised flooring, not even bothering to take off her tabi.
"Pirates came here...they wanted to take over, Riku killed them and then he left after he carried Kaede home while I checked on the villagers," Towa explained.
"Towa! Kaede-sama!" A masculine voice called out and entered the house. Kohaku sighed in relief as Kaede's soft snores filled the room. "I should have left a few men behind, I'm sorry," Kohaku apologized.
"It's fine, but I really do want to sleep," Towa yawned out again.
"Of course," Kohaku said with a nod. "Please, rest. I'll check on Kaede later," he said and left the house once more.
Towa laid down on her mat and curled up in a ball. She closed her eyes and then heard Setsuna huff gently before laying down beside her on the mat, her back to her.
"Are the flowers for you or Kaede?" Setsuna asked her.
"Me...but it's complicated. Sleep with me though. You must be tired too," Towa said as she rolled over and patted Setsuna's shoulder. "Later tell me about your hunt."
Setsuna yawned and snorted softly. "You will explain everything first. Can't leave you alone on your moonless nights, you draw trouble then."
"I wonder if Mama was that way and Father would rescue her or tell her to stay safe and behave," Towa mumbled out tiredly.
"You are probably as irresponsible as she is. Father is likely the rational one," Setsuna murmured out before her breathing evened out.
Towa hummed softly and drifted to sleep with Setsuna. Her death freed her of the butterfly, letting Setsuna sleep once more. Towa's last thoughts before following her twin into sleep were on the letter and gift that Riku left her.
She hoped it wouldn't be another moonless night before she saw him next though.
Thanks for reading!