She'd been gone for an hour.
Sesshoumaru had been on edge for only a minute less than that.
There was no reason to worry. The miko had ventured into the nearby village to collect previsions for the next leg of their journey.
His expression showed no change, but his eyes flickered towards the village once more, then rose to his feet. He passed by Rin and the kit, the boy currently braiding his ward's hair, adding in a flower from the bundle in her hands.
"I will return."
Rin smiled in acknowledgement, no one else speaking up as he followed the miko's scent.