Dinner is pleasant.
Sesshoumaru is content to listen to the familial chatter, answer questions when they are asked of him. He satisfies his own curiosities, engaging his hosts selectively so as not to elicit triggering lines of discourse. And through it all, though non-invasive and considerate, he feels seen, especially by her mother.
It's both comforting and disconcerting.
"This was fun," her mother says. She walks them to the door, kisses the miko's cheek goodbye. "You should come back next week."
Then, she turns to him, her mother's eyes discerning, and reaches up and kisses him too.
"Both of you."
