Summary: Roku wants to take Towa on a ship trip. But first he has to meet her dad…

A/N; Continuum of the plot in this one is no rule, it's a vague suggestion.
That was inspired by a discussion on Discord. I plan to write part 2 some time later, but feel free to leave your idea how you think it would end - who knows, they may align with my plan.

Oh, my crush's dad

The Inu clan was enjoying the nice early autumn weather in a truly peaceful way. After all that exercise, drama and extensive battles everyone was content to just sit together and enjoy the company of family and friends.

Of course, in Inuyasha's case it meant the hanyou was seated on a convenient low-hanging branch of a tree under which a big blanket was spread. It offered a nice shade and its location provided a nice view of a sea shore in a distance from the hill the tree grew upon.

Sesshomaru sat on the other side of the tree, reclining against the trunk with much more grace than his sibling.

Both held sake cups and looked at the world through half-lidded eyes as if lazily challenging the world to just try and spoil their family's well-earned rest.

Kagome and Rin sat on the blanket spread over the grass with two baskets of food and drinks between them. They were eating mochi and listening to Setsuna playing her violin. Towa and Moroha had played along with her for a while, but now the quarter youkai was napping with her head against her mom's thigh and Towa went on a quest in search of a bush in need of watering. The family was waiting for Hisui and his family to arrive - Jaken had been sent to go and meet them half-way before Inuyasha (or Sesshomaru) lost patience.

As she walked Towa wondered why the grandma of the clan was absent - hadn't her dad invite her? She hoped that she could join them all and have some quality time with the family. It was so nice to spend some time with them all. Sure, they bickered and fought at times, but she felt so warm and fuzzy inside at the fact she had her family around at last. Oh, the Higurashi part of the family was back in the future, but it was fine, Towa knew that it would have been too much to ask for to get them past the well to join the meeting. Soon, she promised herself. Soon they would find a way to go back to the future.

She did her dark deed behind a bush and took a new path towards the top of the hill and her family. She could smell wildflowers and wanted to get some to her mom and aunt. She had a suspicion that neither Setsuna nor Moroha would want flowers.

Towa giggled, thinking her little sister wouldn't mind flowers from a certain youkai slayer.

The flowers were growing lush in the shade of a few maple trees that clustered near a stream flowing down to the distant shore. Towa wasted a while to take in the lovely scenery before she went forward and started carefully picking some. She was so glad her sense of smell was getting better as he trained it.

"Lady Towa?" she lifted her head when she heard her name and a big smile appeared on her face.

Walking with big strides up the bank of the stream, was Riku. He was smiling as he approached her.

"Oh, hello there,"" she greeted and rose to her feet, clutching at the flowers she had in her hand. "What brought you here today?"

"Actually, I was looking for you, Lady Towa," he confessed in his pleasant tone of voice.

Since the big battle with Kiribmaru and the defeat of the ancient dragon, along with the destruction of the comet, Riku had been away. Towa supposed he had been coming to terms with all that had taken place.

It was nice to see him again, he looked pretty okay.

"Oh?" she tilted her head, curious.

"Yes. I was away sailing on my ship to some islands and such," he shrugged. "But I'm back and I thought that maybe you would like to spend some time there. On my ship, I mean. I mean… Would you like to sail with me? I could give you a lift to the port near that village your well is located next to?" he asked, his voice hopeful, his words coming out a bit too fast.

"Oh," Towa glanced to the sea and saw a ship anchored some ways from the beach. The distance between here and Kaede's village wasn't that big on land, but she had never sailed on a real, old ship before. It sounded exciting. "It sounds really fun, but first I have to give these to Setsuna and the others before I can leave with you. Come with me, I'll introduce you to everyone."

"Ah, so you aren't alone here," he nodded and when she turned towards the hilltop obscured by trees, he walked to move beside her.

"No, we're having a picnic and there are friends to join us," she answered happily. "You have to spend some time with us before I can go and spend some time with you."

"That sounds fair," he agreed.

"Wonderful!" Towa grinned. "I know you've seen most of them during the final battle, but now we all can sit and talk together."

A shadow passed over his face. She thought it probably was a shade of a cluster of leaves overhead or something.

"Who exactly will we be meeting?" he asked.

"My whole family. Well, sans grandma. And Hisui and his family," she informed him. "Albeit when I left the place, they weren't there yet."

Riku swallowed. "Does it mean that your… that Lord Sesshomaru is present as well?"

"Yup." Towa grinned. "He and uncle Inuyasha don"t even bicker today," she added. She knew them just for a short time, but knew it was their favorite pastime. Which was normal because that was what siblings did.

"Oh.' Riku for some reason started to walk slower. Towa glanced back at him, he looked somewhat paler, too.

"Come on, let's hurry' she reached out and grabbed his hand, a friendly, a bit concerned smile on her face. ``We got all kinds of foods, some made by aunt Kagome and me, you have to try it before Moroha and Setsuna eat all but my creations.'

"I… I'd like to try out some of your cooking, Lady Towa,' the young man said, his voice faltering ever so slightly. Towa gave him a little playful scowl as if offended by the fact he doubt her cooking skills.

Then she smiled excitedly. For the time being Riku was just glad to enjoy the energy the young woman had. Seeing her so happy was so heartwarming. He might have gotten a bit distracted by the soft hand wrapped around his in a warm gesture.

So, when they emerged from the trees near the top of the hill, where under a single big tree the rest of her family sat. Riku was a little startled and paused there for a moment before Towa pulled him closer to the tree.

Ladies Rin and Kagome, along with Moroha sat on a blanket around baskets of food, staring at them. On a branch above the trio, Inuyasha sat, ear perked and hand near the hilt of his sword, golden eyes narrowed and focused on him. Riku barely noticed them tho.

On the grassy field near the tree stood Setsuna with her weapon ready to fight. A few paces away from her stop her father, his blade drawn and poised as if to parry an upcoming attack. They stood facing each other, but were looking at Towa and Riku with similar cool expressions.

"Hey, guys, look who I met!" Towa yelled cheerfully, as if unaware of the fact that most of them had less than a spectacular relationship with him. "Hisui and his family aren't here yet?"

"No," Setsuna lowered her weapon while the group by the tree relaxed somewhat. They clearly had an eye on him, but weren"t going to attack him, unless provoked. Riku released a small sigh of relief. After all that had happened with Kirinmaru and Mistress Zero he knew that they would be foolish not to be wary of him.

Then he looked at Lord Sesshomaru still motionless, with his blade held horizontally at waist level. The daiyoukai glanced down at Bakusaiga and then slowly backed up at him.

Or rather his hand, still held by Towa. As if he was pondering if he wanted to cut his hand off or not

Hastily, the pirate wiggled his hand free and waved it with an awkward smile. He hoped it didn't look fake.

"Hello, everyone," he said.

"Hi, Riku!' Moroha waved her hand.

"Riku,' the daiyoukai acknowledged in a low voice . "what i the purpose of your presence/'

"Riku wants to invite me for a cruise on his ship, dad,' Towa said with a happy smile.

"Hm.' Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.

"Would it be a terrible inconvenience if I stole Lady Towa for the rest of the afternoon?" It was only when he spoke those words, intended to be said in a light, playful tone, he realized how they sounded.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.