Sesshoumaru had been watching them for a while.
His daughter was as animated as ever, eagerly showing the garden to her new friend. The miko… The miko, as always, was a surprise. Sesshoumaru had never seen her so at ease as she appeared to be with Rin. She was smiling as she patiently listened to his daughter, a true smile, not one of those empty polite ones.
Intrigued, Sesshoumaru stepped forward. The miko's head turned to him and in an instant tension returned to her body, stiffened her spine. She met his eyes, held his stare – until she recovered from her surprise enough to remember her manners.
Sesshoumaru didn't mind the lapse in etiquette. Her eyes were one of the miko's best features.
That he had already formed such a preference should worry him, especially with his mother's words still nagging at him at the back of his mind.
Subtle though his mother was, Sesshoumaru could tell when he was fed crumbs to gently steer him into a particular direction. It was clear to him that Lady Nishikawa wanted the miko to stay and had found the most convenient excuse for it.
Sesshoumaru could even guess as to what had motivated his mother to make her skilful suggestion.
His gaze was still on the miko as he began to cross the garden. Having just seen her interact with Rin, he had to admit there was merit to the idea.
As for his mother's ultimate goal… well. The fact that he had a preferred feature of the miko told he was not wholly opposed to the scheme.
Rin greeted him with a bright smile and her customary hug. Sesshoumaru rested his hand on top of her head, his heart swelling with fondness.
He greeted his daughter and listened to her account on the tour of the gardens.
Then, as Rin fell silent, he once again focused his attention on the miko.
She was keeping her gaze carefully lowered, so Sesshoumaru told her to raise her head.
As she did, he saw her eyes again – their deep blue even more captivating up close.
"I hope your stay here has been pleasant," Sesshoumaru remarked.
She bowed her head and kept her gaze to the level of his chin. "It has, my lord. Thank you again for your generous hospitality."
Thanks to his mother's suggestions, Sesshoumaru was listening closely to her voice now, noting more than its pleasant timbre. Despite the touches of eastern dialect, there was refinement there; in her inflection, in the careful choice of words.
Curious.
"It was the least I could do as a token of my gratitude," he reminded her.
"As you say, my lord," she murmured – but her tone suggested she did not agree.
Sesshoumaru was torn between exasperation and wry amusement. How remarkably stubborn this woman was.
He glanced at his daughter. "Will you excuse us, Rin? I wish to speak with our guest."
"Yes, father," Rin agreed readily. Before she left, she reached to clasp the miko's hand. "Will you play with me later, Kagome-san? Please?"
"I would be delighted," the miko told his daughter with a smile.
Sesshoumaru turned and started to walk back towards the house. He heard the miko fall into step behind him.
A moment later, they were seated on the walkway overlooking the garden. He was studying her out of the corner of his eye.
He could see what his mother had hinted at. The miko sat in the formal pose, her back straight, her hands primly folded in her lap, her gaze carefully trained at the floor. The poise could have come naturally, but Sesshoumaru suspected it was rehearsed, the product of careful cultivation.
Just who was this miko?
"Rin seems taken with you," Sesshoumaru said to break the silence.
"I would say it is the opposite," the miko demurred. "I am the one who is taken with Rin-hime."
"Perhaps the fondness is mutual then," Sesshoumaru suggested.
"I hope it is," the miko said softly.
"I am glad to see you have survived the breakfast with my lady mother," he commented. "Lady Nishikawa can be somewhat… formidable."
"It was a great honour, albeit an unexpected one," the miko replied, her hands clenching in her lap.
Sesshoumaru suspected that twitch to be a sign of agitation. He kept his tone neutral as he continued.
"It would seem like you made an impression. She sent for me after your breakfast and complimented your manner."
"Lady Nishikawa is most gracious," the miko said.
Her mask of politeness was slipping. The pallor that had risen to her cheeks revealed just how discomfited she felt talking about her meeting with his mother.
He couldn't blame her.
His mother was certainly a force to be reckoned with – more so than his father, sometimes. And the miko was no dullard. She could see Lady Nishikawa's designs, but as she did not know her as well as Sesshoumaru did, unlike him, she couldn't see through them.
No wonder she was nervous.
"My lady mother made a point to inform me that you were educated. I assume she has the right of it?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Yes," the miko replied. "I have been fortunate and received a manner of education."
"I can tell, now that my lady mother has told me where to look," Sesshoumaru remarked.
He paused.
They had reached the crossroads now. He could release the miko, or follow the lead his mother had laid out for him.
He still hadn't made his mind up about the miko, yet he chose to do the latter.
Whether it was due to instinct or curiosity, he did not know.
He pinned the miko down with his stare. "Shortly after making this offhand comment about your apparent education, my mother took care to remind me that Rin is in need of a teacher."
The miko flinched and raised her head, the mindful manners momentarily forgotten.
Her eyes were big with shock and dismay and Sesshoumaru found himself unable to look away.