Sesshoumaru sat at his desk, holding a letter sent by an acquaintance in his hand.

He'd been trying to read through his correspondence all morning, but it was slow going. His eyes kept skipping over the lines; he didn't see the words scribbled on the paper because his mind kept wandering to other things.

And most often, those other things seemed to be the miko.

It was aggravating, how much thoughts of the miko preoccupied him – how they interfered with his everyday tasks of looking after his clan.

His errant thoughts seemed to return to her, time after time, even though he had been avoiding her. Wholly on purpose, he had not seen her since she'd brought over the letter that needed to be sent to her shrine.

With his mind on that particular correspondence, Sesshoumaru couldn't help wondering when the missive from her shrine would arrive. What would their response be?

Moreover, what did Sesshoumaru wish the response would be?

He wasn't quite sure he wanted her to stay, not when he had an inkling of the web of schemes his mother was weaving, not when – loathe as he was to admit – a part of him wasn't opposed to going along his mother's plans.

The miko intrigued him too much; it was dangerous having her around.

And yet he did not wish to see her go. Not only for Rin's sake, for the child would surely be crushed to lose her new friend.

But dangerous as she was… Sesshoumaru was not ready yet, to let the mystery of the miko from his grasp.

The patter of hurried footsteps jolted him out of his thoughts, a moment before the door of his room slid open.

Rin hurried in, Kaede on her heels, scolding in hushed tones how she should not interrupt her lord father like that.

Rin was half-way to his desk when she remembered her manners and took her seat on the floor.

But her cheeks were flushed, her big brown eyes bright and brimming with excitement.

A smile tugged at the corner of Sesshoumaru's lips, and he put down the letter he'd long since given up reading.

"Yes, Rin, what is it?"

"It is Kagome-san!" the girl piped up. "That is… I asked Kagome-san if I could see her practice archery and she agreed and she was very good so I wondered if she could teach me too but she said only if you approve, father."

The words came out in a fast, breathless, enthused jumble, but Sesshoumaru knew his daughter well enough to follow both her words and her train of thought – not that there was any mistaking of the pleading look she was now aiming at him.

"Please, father, can Kagome-san teach me archery?"

Sesshoumaru looked at his daughter, noting the precariously trembling lip, the brown eyes filled with hope.

Although he was glad Rin had befriended the miko, and was eternally grateful that the two had crossed paths, he wasn't sure he wished for Rin to become even more attached to Kagome.

The miko was a good influence on her, this Sesshoumaru did not doubt. He also agreed with his mother that this was the kind of presence Rin needed to have in her life, an adult female who could teach her all manner of things.

Even archery.

But what if the missive from her shrine arrived bearing bad news? What if Kagome would not be allowed to fulfil the rest of her mandate here at the Nishikawa clan? If she was forced to turn down the offered teaching position and return on the road after she had already begun to teach Rin…

And yet, even with the doubts and reservations Sesshoumaru harboured, he could not deny this from his daughter.

Not when those expectant eyes were trained on him, not when she had already been denied so much.

"If that is what you wish to learn, then you have my blessing."

Rin shrieked.

She got to her feet, all good manners promptly forgotten, and ran to him, hugging him in fierce elation.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her, couldn't help the smile fleetingly gracing his lips nor the warmth spreading in his chest as he held his daughter against his heart.

She pulled away, composed herself once more and moved to sit before his desk, hands in her lap.

"I expect you to do your best in your lessons and listen carefully to the miko's teachings."

"Yes, father. Of course!" Rin was grinning now, the open delight playing on her features one of the things Sesshoumaru cherished the most.

He cleared his throat, inclined his head.

"Good. You may go now."

Sesshoumaru waited while Rin practically skipped out of the room, Kaede bowing deeply to him before following her charge out.

He waited a while longer before he abandoned his desk and correspondence and set out to seek the miko.

He found her in the guest quarters appointed to her, surprise flashing in the blue depths of her eyes before she bowed her head.

"Raise your head," Sesshoumaru commanded her.

She did as he bid, but her face remained guarded now.

"How can I be of service, my lord?"

"Rin came to tell me she had asked you to teach archery to her."

"Only if you would approve of such lessons, my lord," she replied.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head. "Archery would perhaps not have been my first choice, but a lady of the samurai should know how to defend herself. Thus I have given Rin – and you – my permission."

"You are most kind, my lord," the miko murmured, inclining her head.

"I do have one request, however."

"My lord?"

Sesshoumaru studied her, trying to gauge her mood, her reactions. "I would like to observe the lessons. At least the first few."

Emotions flitted on the miko's expressive face. Though she made an attempt to mask them, Sesshoumaru could tell she was not happy about this turn of events.

But in the end, she bowed her head in acquiescence.

"Of course, my lord. As you wish."

Sesshoumaru nodded and left to return to his own room.

And if somewhere deep down he felt unsettled by the miko, he ignored it.