During dinner on this night, Catriona got a special treat when Inu Yasha stopped in at the castle on his way to visit Totosai, & ended up staying to have dinner with Catriona. "Thank you so much for coming Inu Yasha," she gushed, hugging him tightly when he told her that he had come to check on her & make sure Sesshomaru was still treating her right.
After she had said her thanks to the hanyou, he gave her a small smile & slid his arms around her in a gentle embrace. "I was close by so I figured it would be nice to see you again," he said as he let her kiss his cheek. "How have you been since... everything?"
"I could have been better," she answered honestly. Ever since she lost the child from Miroku, even though it wasn't Sesshomaru's, she still felt empty within. "Sesshomaru has been treating me just fine & hasn't been doing anything to upset me; before you ask," she said with a smile. "I even have some good news about us, but it can wait until after dinner."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
With her stomach full & her eyelids heavy with sleep, Catriona made her way, with Inu Yasha, to her bathing room since Sesshomaru had given them permission to relax together.
Ever since she asked Sesshomaru if she could go to Koga's den, her nerve stress had caused the muscles in her back to tense up. And at this point in time, all she wanted was for her back pain to stop.
-Gods, please just kill me to end this pain,- she thought as she entered the bathing room with Inu Yasha coming in behind her. When he put his back to her, she stripped from her clothing & eased herself into the steamy water, letting out a soft moan as the warm water caressed her body.
"Now this is what I needed," she said to the hanyou who had begun to strip off his clothing. She leaned her head back & let it rest against the edge of the bathing pool. "The water feels so good Inu Yasha," she said. "Hurry up & get your naked butt in here."
Inu Yasha turned his head around so he could make sure she wasn't looking before he stripped down the rest of the way & eased himself into the bathing pool, a few feet away from her. He also let out a soft moan as the heated water greeted his exhausted body. He slid down into the water, his body giving in to a pleased shudder. "This feels fantastic," he groaned, folding his hands behind his head.
"I've never had a hot bath like this to soak in," Catriona spoke, playing with a lock of matted hair that had fallen across her shoulder. "Have you?"
"I remember when I was a young pup at my father's castle, this castle, he used to treat Sesshomaru & I to hot baths at every week's end," he answered, looking at her. "From what I can remember, it was nice; & at one point in our lives, Sesshomaru & myself didn't fight. Not against each other anyway."
Catriona lifted her head & looked at Inu Yasha, her eyebrows raised. "Are you saying you guys fought together?"
Inu Yasha looked at her & nodded. "Yes. When I was still young & father was still alive, father had Sesshomaru & I train together. Sometimes, on very rare occasions, he would take us hunting with him & he would let us work together as a team. He said it was so we could have a successful future together when we got older."
Catriona frowned slightly. -They aren't even ruling together,- she thought as Inu Yasha's eyes met with hers. -Their father's work was for nothing; they don't even get along well... I know for a fact Sesshomaru isn't very happy about him being here & is only letting him visit since I'm friends with Inu Yasha.- She shook her head as she sighed. -I wish they could set aside their differences & act like brothers.-
"Didn't you tell me you had some good news about you & Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha asked, a sly grin showing on his mouth.
Catriona smiled as she looked at the hanyou. "Sesshomaru has asked me to stay in this time with him," she answered, her eyes lighting up.
"Congratulations Catriona," Inu Yasha spoke, his sly grin turning into a smile. "I was wondering if he would ever get up the courage to ask you that. So, when are you going back to your time to say goodbye to your brother?"
Catriona's smile left her face & she found herself looking down at the water where she could see her arms folded over her breasts, but with one hand placed over the spot between her legs. "You see, I haven't given him an answer yet. He's sort of, letting me think about it so I can make sure I'm not making a mistake when I come to a decision."
Inu Yasha nodded slowly. "I think you're making a good decision Catriona," he finally said. "How long do you have to decide?"
"He's giving me as long as I need, but there's something else. I want to be able to think without anyone giving me suggestions, or having the influences of Sesshomaru's caresses. So I've asked him if I could travel to Koga's den to be away from influences."
"How did he react to this?"
"He told me that he would be letting me know his answer sometime tonight after dinner. Since that's passed, I'm just waiting for him to tell me his answer."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Catriona stood in the doorway of the castle, letting out a deep sigh as she stared after the retreating figure of her friend, as he sped away from her, in a hurry to make up time on his way to see Totosai. Isamu had gone to bed earlier for some reason, & Rin, had left to go to her room only a few moments ago, leaving her to herself as she watched Inu Yasha's form until she could no longer see it.
The setting sun gave Catriona the ability to see her way through the castle to her bed chamber, where she found Sesshomaru laying on their bedding with his eyes closed; a sign he was either meditating, or had fallen asleep. She was going with the first choice since she knew he didn't sleep often.
Walking over to a chest he had made for her by one of his servants, Catriona stripped down & pulled a night kimono from within. As she slid it on, she sighed softly & turned around to see Sesshomaru sitting up on the bedding, looking at her. "Do you wish for me to leave the room or to stay here with you?" She asked, looking into his dark amber eyes with the fading sunlight.
"I wish for you to stay with me," he answered as he motioned for her to join him on the bedding. "I have come to a decision Catriona."
She made her way to the bedding & sat beside her mate on her side of the bedding. "About me traveling to the den of Koga?" Sesshomaru nodded. "What have you decided?"
"I have decided that I will agree to it, but before I officially go through with it, I will wish to speak with Koga & Kagome. Since Koga's den is on the way to Totosai's home, I made the request of Inu Yasha that he stop by & send the mates to my home."
"Thank you Sesshomaru," Catriona said as a small smile came to her mouth.
"Your welcome, mate," Sesshomaru responded as he rose to his feet & removed his haori & hakama, leaving him naked as he laid down on the bedding & pulled a sheet over their bodies once she herself had laid down.
"Good night Sesshomaru," she whispered. "I love you."