Hi there! Thanks for sticking with the story! We are close to the end for the Ritowa festival.
Riku inhaled slowly as he sat on the riverbank. The dewy grass kept his bottom and legs cool as he went over his plan, but thoughts of Towa and his conversation with her father, Sesshomaru, Lord Sesshomaru, had his mind wander away from the fruitful planning he was attempting to do.
All he wanted was to finally speak to Towa and figure out what they were to each other, friends or something more. Could they be something more? He wasn't unsure due to the infrequent private moments they had together.
He chewed his lip as he thought of her nobility. She was the daughter of Sesshomaru, the Lord Sesshomaru, the granddaughter of the late Inu no Taishou. What was he?
In comparison he noted first and foremost, he was a doll, made by his former master, Kirinmaru. He wasn't sure if he was even worthy of Towa's friendship or affection since Kirinmaru did technically defeat the three yashahime and there were rumours that Towa revived Setsuna on the battlefield with a broken Tenseiga.
Setsuna's death would have been the reason for Towa's hostility when he first approached post-battle. Setsuna was Towa's everything, her twin, her sister, and the person she had to protect. Riku tried to empathize and understand those emotions that she probably felt.
Being a doll made it simply difficult.
He stared at the river that looked almost black in the dark. He was given a task by Sesshomaru, an insurmountable task that he was not sure he was going to be able to complete.
But I want Sesshomaru's respect, I need Towa to forgive me. He thought to himself.
Riku shuddered out of fear, worry, or the cool breeze. He struck out the cool breeze due to his physiological physique.
Zero had found him after Kirinmaru cast him aside. She had given him direction, purpose, and orders.
She had also no longer hit him as she once did.
There were no more harsh words, but there were also no quiet moments with Kirinmaru cleaning and dressing his wounds. He missed those moments but he was no longer the emotionless doll that he was two hundred years ago.
He was capable of smiling and being smug, charming, and quite the liar when he needed to.
He still remembered how he had failed the late Inu no Taishou. He had watched with no feelings as the palace where Inuyasha was born was consumed in flames, swallowing the late Inu no Taishou. He had disappointed Kirinmaru for the first and final time.
He was no longer going to fail the inu youkai family of the West.
He just wished he was given the task of hunting Akuru down and obtaining the pinwheel. He was sure that Sesshomaru wasn't even trying to hunt the thief down. He was probably refusing to annoy Kirinmaru by not doing the task in hopes of having Kirinmaru owe him something, like his beloved wife and daughters' freedom.
Perhaps Sesshomaru was sparing him from meeting Kirinmaru so soon after stabbing him in the back. Another part of Riku thought that Sesshomaru was testing his loyalty to Towa, to prove his worth as a man and not as a doll.
He had warned Lady Kagome nearly fifteen years earlier of the impending danger of Kirinmaru waking up. He probably should have outed Zero back then, gone to Lord Sesshomaru instead. If only he knew what horrible tragedies would befall the three yashahime, notably Towa.
He never considered what potential harm he would cause by his lack of warning. He was responsible for two families to be torn apart. It was his fault.
He wondered if Sesshomaru was teaching him that lesson now.
He had messed up before Towa was even important to him. Now he was paying a price for a mistake he made long ago.
He looked to the river and raised a hand to touch his earring. He hoped that Zero was not going to kill him. He was going to have to come up with an elaborate plan to trick Zero.
"Augh...I didn't discuss this with Sesshomaru. Where do I bring Zero?" Riku groaned and bent his head down. He couldn't go back when he had walked away so sure that he would succeed.
"Ahem," a voice cleared their throat. Riku lifted his head up and turned his head to see the small youkai, Jaken, standing there. "You wish to prove you are worthy of Towa-sama's affection in Sesshomaru-sama's eyes, correct?"
Riku narrowed his eyes at the small youkai who seemed to know his thoughts. He also wasn't going to voice his thoughts to the small demon.
Jaken sighed again and nodded to himself. Silence was louder than words apparently. "Rin chose Sesshomaru-sama. He was willing to never pursue her but she was the stubborn one. Towa-sama has inherited many of Rin's traits. Whether or not you prove yourself worthy in Sesshomaru-sama's eyes, it is only Towa-sama's opinion that should ever matter," Jaken advised him.
Riku blinked and stood up, staring down at the small youkai. "It is only her opinion that matters?"
"Yes, but I am also here to give you Sesshomaru-sama's note. It details where you should lure Zero to. The contents of the note should entice Zero enough out of hiding. Understand?" Jaken asked as he pulled a folded note from his shirt and handed it over.
Riku nodded and took the note feeling the emotion of gratitude and that he was handed a boon. He unfolded it slowly and stared at it with widening eyes.
"He wouldn't," he breathed out. A sinking feeling in his gut grew and he was unsure if liked the solution that was proposed.
"He won't, but he'll make her think it is a genuine offer," Jaken said grimly.
Riku nodded absentmindedly. "Sesshomaru-sama wants this to end then," he hummed out quietly and folded the note. "I guess I will be seeing my former master soon enough then?"
Jaken nodded in agreement. "Towa-sama will appreciate what you are doing, she saw you speak to Sesshomaru-sama."
Riku felt his breath leave him. Towa knew that he spoke to her father and was trying to fix things. He hoped she appreciated it.
He truly hoped she understood his intent through his actions. He knew in that moment he would do anything for his hime, his princess.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter,
Raven