Riku's Proof of Freedom

Summary: Riku is haunted by his insecurities, unsure if he really deserves to be a father. Towa, his wife, offers him comfort, reminding him that there's nothing wrong with who he is.

The sea groaned beneath the weight of the ship as violent waves crashed against its hull. Thunder rolled ominously in the distance, but Riku's gaze was fixed on the massive figure emerging from the water—a demon of dark mud and stone, Iwagami. His eyes gleamed with a single obsession.

"Where is the Shikon Jewel, Riku?" Iwagami's voice rumbled like an earthquake, his form towering above the ship. "Give it to me, or die!"

Riku stood tall on the deck, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes remained calm, but his heart raced—not for himself, but for those aboard, especially his family. His wife, Towa, and their five year old daughter, Jewel, were on the ship. He couldn't afford to let any harm come to them. His enemies were fierce, but his duty to protect his family was fiercer.

"The Shikon Jewel no longer exists, Iwagami," Riku said firmly, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "It has never been mine to claim. You're chasing a phantom."

Iwagami's roar echoed across the sea, his fury unrelenting. "Liar! You're a puppet of Kirinmaru, an incarnation of his will! The Shikon Jewel must have passed to you!"

Riku's brow furrowed. He had lived too long with the weight of being called a mere fragment of Kirinmaru. But this wasn't about his pride—this was about survival.

"Towa-sama," he turned to his wife, who was ready to fight beside him. Her sword gleamed in the storm's dim light, and her stance was poised for battle. "Protect Jewel. Don't let her near this monster."

"But Riku—" Towa began, her voice filled with worry.

"Please," Riku's tone softened as his gaze flickered to their daughter. "You and Jewel must stay safe. I can't protect everyone if I'm distracted."

Before Towa could argue further, a blast of black magic shot from Iwagami's hand, striking Riku's arm. He grunted in pain, falling onto the wooden deck. His sword clattered to the ground.

"Papa!" A small but fierce voice cut through the chaos. Jewel stood at the edge of the deck, her tiny hands clenched into fists. Her green eyes blazed with defiance, a spark of power just like her father's. "Don't hurt my Papa!"

"Jewel!" Riku's voice was sharp with worry. "Go back to your mother! It's too dangerous!"

But Jewel, stubborn as ever, refused to move. Tears welled in her eyes, but her little feet remained planted. "But he's hurting you!"

The demon's eyes locked onto Jewel, surprise flickering in his gaze. "A child?" he sneered, his expression twisting with cruel amusement. "Who is this little human? Or should I say, this half-demon?"

Towa rushed to Jewel's side, scooping her up protectively. "We need to leave, now."

"But that monster is hurting my father—" Jewel whimpered, clutching her mother's arm, her gaze still fixed on Riku.

"Father?" The demon's sneer deepened as his glowing red eyes shifted back to Riku. "You... you have a child?" He chuckled darkly. "How is that possible? You're nothing but an incarnation—a broken fragment of Kirinmaru. How could something like you father a child?"

Riku winced at the words. Though he had come to terms with his origins, the demon's cruel mockery sliced through him. Iwagami's laughter echoed like thunder.

"You don't deserve a family," Iwagami taunted. "You're just a piece of Kirinmaru—a discarded fragment, not even a real being. And yet, you think you can have happiness? You're nothing but trash!"

Riku clenched his teeth, the insult striking him deeper than any physical wound. For a moment, the weight of those words settled on his shoulders. He had always feared it—that his existence was less than whole, that his family might one day see him as less than a man, just a fragment of something greater, never fully his own.

The demon raised a hand, black energy swirling around it, ready to strike again. But then, something shifted. As if a veil had been lifted, Riku's eyes snapped open.

He was no longer fighting Iwagami.

Instead, he was lying on a soft futon in a quiet room, the sounds of the storm replaced by the soft, rhythmic breaths of his family...

.

.

.

Riku stirred from a restless sleep, his brow damp with cold sweat. A heavy dream had unsettled him, pulling him out of the quiet comfort of the night. As he blinked, his gaze fell upon Jewel, their daughter, who lay peacefully between him and Towa. Her tiny chest rose and fell rhythmically, utterly unaware of the turmoil her father was enduring.

Riku saw a piece of paper in his daughter's hand. He gently took the crumpled paper, making sure not to disturb her peaceful sleep. As he unfolded the sheet, his eyes softened, revealing a child's drawing of their family—himself, Towa, and Jewel, all with happy faces. They stood under trees and a smiling sun, with a house next to them, amusingly missing a roof.

But what captured his attention most were the words scrawled in uneven letters: Mama, Jewel, and...Papa.

Riku, living in the Feudal Era, was affectionately called 'Papa' by his daughter, a term that felt quite modern. Normally, people in Riku's time would use the more formal title 'Father.' But since Jewel was raised in the modern Reiwa Era, her way of speaking and behaving was influenced by modern culture.

Towa, ever in tune with her husband, woke too, sensing his unrest. She gently placed a hand on their daughter's side and whispered, "Riku... are you okay?" her voice laced with concern.

Riku looked over at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before he silently sat up. He placed the drawing carefully on the table beside them, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to soothe the knot of emotions inside. Without a word, he crossed the room to stand by the ship's window. He gazed out at the midnight sky stretched across the ocean, the stars twinkling like distant memories.

Towa watched him for a moment before quietly rising to join him, her soft steps barely audible against the wooden floor.

"Riku," she asked again, her voice filled with concern as she came up beside him, "What happened?"

Riku didn't answer right away, his green eyes fixed on the horizon. His voice, when it finally came, was low and troubled. "I had a dream... a bad one. It was about my past. About what I am." He turned to face her, his expression unusually vulnerable. "Do you ever regret... marrying me?"

Towa's heart clenched at his words. She could see the doubt in his eyes, the shadow of his insecurities creeping up on him... again. Riku was never one to easily share his fears, especially not those stemming from his complex origin as Kirinmaru's fragment. But here, in the quiet of the night, he was asking her a question that had clearly haunted him for some time.

"No," Towa replied softly, her voice barely a whisper, so as not to wake their daughter. "I don't regret it. I never have. Marrying you was one of the happiest choices I've ever made." She reached out, taking his hand gently in hers. "And I'm happy you're Jewel's father. The father of my child..."

Riku looked down at their hands, then at her, still uncertain. Towa smiled and pulled out her mobile phone from a nearby table. Riku had grown familiar with this strange device from the Reiwa era, something Towa had always treasured. She tapped on it for a moment before holding it up for Riku to see. The screen displayed a picture of the three of them—a family photo they had taken not long ago. Jewel was laughing in the center, her auburn hair shining under the sun.

"Look closely at her, Riku," Towa whispered, her smile tender. "What do you see?"

Riku studied the image carefully, trying to discern what Towa wanted him to notice. "She's... beautiful," he finally said, his voice soft. "Like an angel. I once read a book about angels long ago, and they were described as beings of pure light and beauty. Our daughter... she reminds me of them."

Towa's smile grew warmer. "She is beautiful, isn't she? But there's something more. Look closer, Riku." She turned her eyes toward him, her gaze filled with meaning. "She's not just your daughter. Jewel is your mirror. She's a little version of you. She has your eyes, your smile, your hair... she's all yours. Your blood, your flesh. Without you being her father, she wouldn't be here. She wouldn't exist."

Riku blinked, taken aback by her words. He glanced from the picture to Jewel, still peacefully asleep on the bed. "I... I never thought of it that way," he admitted, his voice quieter now. Though relief washed over him, there was still a lingering doubt. "But, Towa-sama... I'm still Lord Kirinmaru's incarnation. I wasn't born like others; I was created to serve him, to be his eyes and ears. I'm sorry, but... sometimes I also ask myself if... if it's wrong for someone like me to have a child. A living, breathing child?"

Riku is confused about his feelings, unsure of what to think. Should he really be ashamed of being Kirinmaru's left horn? After all, Kirinmaru gave life to his horn, which represents a symbol of life for him. Wasn't that strange? Anyone who didn't understand him would see him as an abomination—an extremely disgusting creature. That's why he had always been the target of cruel mockery—because of his true origin, a part of himself that was fundamental to who he was.

Towa's eyes softened as she listened, sensing the depth of his insecurity. She had seen Riku struggle with this before—his true identity weighing on him. But this time, the doubt seemed to have grown, threatening to overshadow the joy he felt in their family.

"Riku," Towa began gently, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "there's nothing strange or wrong about you. That was your past. You're not bound to him anymore, remember?"

Riku hesitated, staring at their daughter's sleeping form. "But... am I truly free? What if—"

"No, Riku. Listen to me," Towa cut him off gently, placing her hand on his cheek. "I believe you were resurrected for a reason—not because of Kirinmaru's control, but because of your own will. You didn't want to leave because you love me, right? That's why you're here."

Riku blinked. He was silent for a moment, processing her words. It had never crossed his mind before. When he had returned to life, there had been something different—something new. He had felt his heart... a real, beating heart, something he had never possessed in all the hundreds of years he existed.

Towa smiled softly, noticing the shift in his expression. "You have a real, living heart now, Riku. And with that heart come genuine emotions—emotions you never truly had before."

Riku paused, considering her words in silence. He turned to look at their daughter again, his mind racing. His heart now... his own child...

Towa's smile grew as she continued, "You have your own life now. You are more than what you were created to be. And our daughter, your own child, is proof of that. Jewel is proof of your freedom."

"Proof of my freedom?" he murmured, almost to himself, eyes narrowing as he tried to comprehend the depth of it. For so long, he had been nothing more than a discarded fragment of Kirinmaru, an incarnation. Incarnations didn't have souls. They didn't feel emotions. And they certainly couldn't create life.

But here Jewel was—flesh, blood, and spirit—a living, breathing reminder that his life had taken a new turn. If he was still bound to Kirinmaru, still just an extension of his being, he would never have had this ability. An incarnation couldn't share in the act of creating life, couldn't pass on something that wasn't fully theirs. He wouldn't have been able to give Towa the gift of a child.

Jewel, with her innocent smile and boundless energy, was his proof that he was more than what he had been created to be.

Kirinmaru's incarnation...

How empty that title seemed now.

Before, it had defined him—marked him as incomplete. Yet, because of the kon and haku Kirinmaru and Rion had given him, the essence of life, the core of what made beings human or demon, it had revived him—restored him, but more importantly, completed him.

Towa's eyes became tender as she watched her husband in silence. She knew Riku was beginning to absorb her words, helping him understand that there was nothing wrong with who he was. Taking a slow, deep breath, she added, "Tell me, what's the color of Jewel's hair?"

Riku blinked, confused by the sudden question. "Her hair? It's auburn..."

Towa smiled warmly, nodding. "Exactly. Just like yours."

A faint smile appeared on Riku's lips as he realized his daughter had inherited his auburn-colored hair.

"And her eyes?" Towa pressed.

"Green... like mine."

Yes, when he was resurrected, his eyes were blue. This was a significant change, but they eventually reverted to their original green color, which was then passed on to his daughter.

Towa grinned. "Exactly. And the way she smiles... it's just like you. See? She's a part of you, Riku. And that's why you have nothing to fear. Jewel is the living proof that you're no longer Kirinmaru's tool. You're a father now. A husband. A man with a heart."

Riku swallowed hard, his eyes welling with emotion as he absorbed his wife's words. Slowly, he nodded, the weight of his insecurities beginning to lift, replaced by a newfound sense of peace.

He was beginning to understand what Towa was telling him. Jewel wasn't just their daughter—she was a part of him. All of her little quirks, her traits, her smile... they were his. And in that moment, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he was more than the shadow of Kirinmaru.

Riku exhaled deeply, the tension finally leaving his body as he turned to Towa. His gaze softened, his voice low but sincere. "Thank you, Towa-sama... for reminding me."

"You don't have to carry that burden anymore." Towa smiled. "You have us now. You have a family. You'll never be alone again. You're not bound to anyone but yourself, Riku. You are free."

He felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having such an understanding wife. Towa had always been his anchor, providing comfort whenever his insecurities about being different haunted him. Her full support and gentle reassurances made him feel accepted and loved, no matter what. Riku knew that without her, he would have struggled to find peace within himself.

Pulling her gently into a hug, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead, but his eyes drifted down to her lips, lingering there for a moment longer. The urge to kiss her fully stirred within him, but as always, a touch of shyness held him back.

Despite the fact they were married and had a child together, Riku couldn't help but feel a bit timid whenever he wanted to be more intimate with Towa. She was still as breathtaking as the day he first saw her, and until now, he sometimes can't believe that he, a former ally of Kirinmaru, had married Lord Sesshomaru's daughter.

Towa, sensing Riku's hesitation, smiled knowingly. Her eyes sparkled with a playful glint as she reached up, grasping the sleeve of his kimono and tugging him down toward her.

"Come here, you," she teased, her voice soft but laced with a hint of mischief. Without waiting for him to respond, she pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was gentle at first, but undeniably enticing.

Riku's initial surprise quickly melted away as he sank into the kiss. He couldn't resist the magnetic pull between them, and soon his arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her closer. The kiss deepened, and what began as a delicate caress became something...

more heated...

more intense...

Their lips moved in sync, a silent conversation of passion and love flowing between them. Every soft brush of her lips against his sent a shiver down his spine, the closeness of her body awakening feelings that he could never fully put into words.

As the kiss lingered, Riku's grip tightened just a little around her waist, pulling her firmly against him. Towa's fingers curled into the fabric of his kimono, as though she never wanted to let go. Time seemed to stretch between them, the intensity of the moment growing before it began to soften into something tender. Their lips finally parted, leaving both of them breathless, their foreheads gently resting together.

Towa's smile was still playful, but it was now touched with something deeper—an affection that mirrored the love she held for him in her heart. Riku couldn't help but smile back, his heart full, the earlier worries about his past forgotten in the warmth of their embrace.

Still smiling, they returned to bed, where Jewel lay fast asleep. Riku gazed at his daughter once more, her peaceful face bathed in the moonlight. Towa's words echoed in his mind. Jewel truly did look like his little girl version.

With a soft sigh, Riku leaned down, brushing a light kiss on Jewel's forehead before whispering, "Goodnight, little one." Then, turning to Towa, he added quietly, "Goodnight, my love."

As they settled back into bed, Riku felt the last of his doubts fade away, replaced by the warmth of his family by his side.

END NOTES:
This one-shot was inspired by adult Simba from The Lion King. He's my childhood crush and reminds me of Riku. I'm thankful I discovered the DeviantArt account by Catgirl08. Towa reminds me of Nala, who is calm and comforting. She gives reassurance to Simba that his fears and doubts are valid but conquerable. She might challenge his negative thoughts, but she will do anything to help him see his strength and potential. Just like with Riku, Towa's presence makes him feel her unconditional love. It's a steady anchor that helps Riku feel safe and understood. And of course, Jewel reminds me of cute little Kiara.