The journey back home to Nishikawa castle was worlds apart from the hectic ride down the very same road earlier that day.
Back then, Sesshoumaru had been leading his men on a frenzied hunt with a single objective: to find his missing daughter.
Rin was his only child, and Sesshoumaru himself was the sole heir of the Nishikawa clan. If something bad were to happen to her, especially if she fell into wrong hands and was taken hostage by a rivalling clan, it would be disastrous for Nishikawa.
So it was an immense relief to have found her safe and sound – although the wandering miko had been a surprise.
In fact, as they rode along the road at a steady but unhurried pace in the early darkness of the night, most of Sesshoumaru's thoughts revolved around the miko just behind him, sharing a saddle with his senior retainer Jaken.
The reason for his preoccupation with the miko was simple: Sesshoumaru wasn't sure what to make of her.
She had been polite and deferential enough, but had also been most insistent that she had rendered her aid to Rin out of the goodness of her heart. She'd told him she did not hold him to any debt though honour demanded she ought to be compensated for her assistance.
And her agreement to travel with them to spend the night in Yonago had come at utmost reluctance.
Sesshoumaru was also wary of what his mother's reaction was going to be when he returned to Nishikawa castle with a wandering miko in tow. Or his father's, the honourable daimyou's, reaction for that matter…
A young woman travelling alone placed herself into a significant danger in this unsettled age. Besides, everybody knew that the miko forced into the life on the road would on occasion have to resort to less honourable means of earning their living.
Although, since the miko had not taken advantage of his debt to her and asked for monetary compensating for helping Rin, her financial situation was likely to be sound.
Then again… Sesshoumaru frowned. Someone as attractive as her would have no difficulty in finding lonely men willing to pay for her services.
For some reason, that thought unsettled Sesshoumaru.
Suddenly, he was curious about her; who was this miko Kagome and where had she come from? Judging by the manner of her speech, she wasn't native of this region.
What had driven her onto the road? The usual story of a shrine she'd been attached to going bankrupt, when the ruling lords poured all their resources into their armies so they might get the upper hand against one another?
Perhaps he could try to find out her story, if he somehow managed to convince the miko to extend her stay.
Or perhaps Rin might persuade her. Sesshoumaru glanced down at his daughter, comforted by her small warm weight leaning against him as she slept soundly in the circle of his arms.
The ri flew by, as Sesshoumaru and his men made their way towards Yonago while the night around them deepened.
Finally, they caught sight of the town, its flickering lanterns a beacon of light in the distance.
Sesshoumaru sought out the lanterns burning halfway up the hill of Mt Iiyama, flanking the main gate of the Nishikawa castle.
They followed the road and rode through Yonago, then travelled along the river towards the castle.
Towards home.
A rush of pride filed Sesshoumaru, as they reached the foot of Mt Iiyama. The sight of Nishikawa castle always coaxed that reaction out of him.
Sesshoumaru's father had been younger than Sesshoumaru was now when he'd become the lord of the Nishikawa clan and the daimyou of the Izumo province.
The first thing he had done was to start expanding the fortifications on Mt Iiyama. The palace itself had remained largely untouched, but the outer wall and turrets had been renovated, a moat had been dug on the east side and along the north wall – the south and west side already protected, bordered by the river and the lake.
Finally, an inner keep had been constructed; a three-storey castle tower on the very top of the hill, overlooking the lake on one side and the town of Yonago on the other.
All that, his father had accomplished. Sometimes, Sesshoumaru wondered how he would measure up, once he would become the daimyou.
The gates opened for them. Hollered greetings met them as they rode inside the walls.
Sesshoumaru gathered Rin to his chest. She stirred a little, when get got off the saddle, but did not wake.
A stableman bowed to him and lead his horse towards the stables.
Jaken appeared at Sesshoumaru's side. The miko stood beside him, her gaze politely lowered.
The show of good manners both pleased and irritated Sesshoumaru.
He remembered the brief moment when their eyes had met. The deep blue of her eyes had been as fascinating as it had been startling, and a part of him wished she would look at him directly, so he might see that display of blue again up close, instead of the shadowed glimpses from under her dark lashes.
"You must be tired," Sesshoumaru spoke, addressing the miko. "You may retire. Jaken, see to our guest's comfort."
The miko inclined her head and Jaken bowed, murmuring his assent.
Sesshoumaru turned and walked towards the palace. He was met at the door by Kaede, the old woman who had once been his wife's closest attendant, and who now saw to his daughter.
"Welcome back, young lord," Kaede wished him, then extended her arms.
Sesshoumaru passed his sleeping daughter over to Kaede, and told her to take care of her.
Kaede nodded, and walked away with Rin.
Sesshoumaru contemplated going to see his father to inform him they had found Rin and returned safely, but weariness washed over him. Surely, someone else could apprise his father of their return.
Giving in to the exhaustion, Sesshoumaru retired to his own quarters.