Sesshomaru spent the better part of an hour just outside of Edo village- the known residence of the houshi Miroku and demon hunter Sango and the rest of his half brother's beloved troupe- placing a small, but powerful barrier over the bone-eater's well. The only known passage from the current time line and into the future.
The reason for this wasn't exactly selfish, after all the woman now carrying the new Shikon Jewel was the older sister, and head of his fallen ally's family. This coupled with her power and position as the new Shikon miko made protecting her important.
Very much so considering all the peril the last Shikon jewel had brought on with both humans and demons longing for it's unnatural power... The lord knew that once word had spread that another jewel had been formed, all with wicked hearts would attempt to kill the woman and taint the jewel with hatred and evil.
As it was, the barrier placed around the well that allowed her to travel through time and space, would protect it from harm from others while still allowing the woman to pass back and forth through the well as she wished/needed.
Which is how it should be.
However because she was also the older sister/head of the fallen miko's household- this also made her important in other ways. And as such he would be keeping very close tabs on the woman and protecting her as needed.
But before any of that, he needed to speak with the woman about her place in his court.
The same place that Kagome had earned as his ally and friend... That place of honor, power and privilege that had once upon a time would have belonged to Kagome upon her return- now belonged to Winter Higurashi. And while this didn't exactly bother him, it may bother others should she just happen to one day show up without any notice.
Especially since his palace guards and everyone else would probably kill her thinking she was a threat given how great her power, even when suppressed, was.
So after leaving the well, the first thing he needed to do was return home to call his council together along with the rest of the nobles in his house.
He also needed to pull aside a handful of guards that he trusted only with his own life, and Rin's to speak with them of the newest development and clarify that he wanted no dead Miko's anywhere near his palace and that they would be leaving with him the next day to return to Edo village to collect the woman and bring her to the palace along with the monk and demon slayer.
Which meant that he needed to decree that Winter's life, as well as those of the other two, were not up for being snuffed out without someone facing extremely dire consequences.
He also needed to redo the rooms that he had once prepared for Kagome- should she have ever decided to visit him upon her return or if he had ever decided to kidnap the little chit for her oh-so-charming non stop chatter that tended to both amuse him and made him wish to cringe all at once.
However he didn't yet get that particular feeling from Winter.
In fact in the short time that he had been in her presence, she had seemed like a very quiet, yet confident and contemplative person with impeccable manners.
Almost as if she were born a hime instead of a Miko of great power.
The mere thought alone almost made him wish to smile at how well she would fit in with the nobles of his palace. In fact he suspected that once others got to know her, she'd have many marriage proposals and suitors chasing after her.
Stepping down off of his demonic cloud, he stood outside the doors of his home for a moment pondering that little bit of info and made a mental note to speak with the woman about it later since from what he had gathered from prior conversations with Kagome, in her time it was okay for a miko to marry and have children.
Since it wasn't seen as a defilement of the body or spirit- but merely a passing of power from one generation to the next.
He would have to double check just in case he had misunderstood things from before. But if it was possible for the miko to marry and have offspring then once the lords of his court knew- they would seek the woman's hand in marriage- whether she wanted to marry or not.
The nobles of marriageable age would desire a union with the woman for her power. That coupled with the position she would hold within Sesshomaru's court would make her a very note worthy prize for any male.
Sesshomaru sighed as he felt an ache beginning to form behind his eyes.
He had a long day and night ahead of him and much to do in a very short time.
