Catriona ran her fingers through her hair as she sat inside the hut that she & Inu Yasha had been given until they wanted to leave the village behind the wooden walls. She didn�t have anyone to talk to because nearly half an hour ago Inu Yasha left her alone in the hut to go visit with his friend, Fuseijitsu.
Looking around at those exchanging glances after looking in her direction, Catriona was getting agitated with the fact that they were acting as if she were an evil presence that needed to be exterminated or exercised. -What�s going on with this village?- She thought. -I haven�t done anything to make them fear me, I�m wearing the clothes of this time, & yet they act as if I�m something to be feared.-
She watched as a couple of people who had looked at her disappeared into a hut near the entrance of the village. -Don�t tell a youkai exterminator lives there... No, wait, that wouldn�t make sense. Why would they need an exterminator if they have Inu Yasha to protect them...?-
She sighed, looking away from the hut people were gathering around, & looked around the village from her spot. She took in the sights of stands that made up a small marketplace & took in some of the smells that happened to come in her direction with the light breeze that was blowing.
Over the loud commotion & the sounds of the market place, she didn�t hear the footsteps approaching her until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see who had placed their hand on her shoulder, & found herself having to hold in a surprised yelp as her eyes met with the violet eyes of her old friend. �Miroku...� She spoke softly, her nerves quickly firing off the urge to run from this man; run from his kazaana so she wouldn�t be sucked up, or can at least can far enough away to resist it until Inu Yasha could save her. But her nerves calmed down when she remembered he lost his kazaana when Naraku was destroyed, & she stayed where she was.
�It�s nice to see you again, Catriona,� Miroku spoke softly, looking over her for a moment, proving to himself that the woman he had loved was indeed standing before him. �What are you doing here?� He questioned as his eyes locked with her own.
�I�m here with Inu Yasha,� she answered, feeling herself being held captive by the emotions in his gaze. �He didn�t tell me you lived here...�
�I don�t. I�m actually here to perform an exorcism on a child that they say was possessed by a youkai spirit. They asked me to stay long enough for the festival, but after the festival I�ll be leaving... May I ask why you�re not here with Sesshomaru, instead of Inu Yasha?�
�These aren�t his lands, & I�m here because Inu Yasha wanted me to spend some time with him, my friend.� Miroku glanced around & Catriona realized what he was looking for. �Miroku, Isamu isn�t here with me... He�s at Koga�s den, buried within the grounds.�
An emotion that Catriona couldn�t define filled the houshi�s eyes & he closed them & said a small prayer for the lost boy. �I�m sorry for your loss Catriona,� he spoke when he opened his eyes, finished with his prayer. �I understand how much you loved your son. But why is he buried in Koga�s den grounds instead of his father�s lands?�
�Because that is where he died & I can�t go back home yet.�
�I take it you were sent there because of the battle that rages on there?�
�You know of that battle?� Miroku nodded. �What do you know of it? Have you seen any of it by any chance or do you know anyone that has?�
�I know something of it, but I haven�t seen any of it.�
�What do you know Miroku? You have to let me know.�
�What I do know, is that they say one of the youkai that were in the battle took a fatal wound a couple days ago, & since the battle has stopped. There have not been any rumors of your mate getting the Eastern Inu Youkai lands, or of Lord Mottomorashii gaining control over your mate�s lands. Therefore, no one knows exactly what is going on.�
�Are there any clues that might hint as to which it was that took the fatal wound?�
�There is no news yet.�
�Miroku, from what I know, Inu Yasha & I might be staying the night here, & the nights leading up to the festival. If we are given a hut, can you come to the hut to talk to me tonight? I need to talk further with you about the battle...�
Miroku nodded. �I�m going to go calm these people who aren�t sure about you, even if you did come here with their protector.�
�Thank you Miroku.� Catriona watched as the houshi turned & left her, walking in the direction of his hut where people were waiting for him.
She was brought from her thoughts by a soft knocking at the screen door that led out of the hut. Rising to her feet, from her sitting spot by her fire, Catriona went to the screen & pulled it aside to see Miroku shivering slightly as a harsh wind blew through the village; a few snowflakes were seen dancing in the wind. She stepped to the side, allowing him to come in, & secured the screen so the wind wouldn�t blow it open.
She took a seat by the fire & motioned for him to join her. �Thank you for coming Miroku,� she said as she watched him brush away some snowflakes that had fallen on his shoulder.
�It wasn�t a problem Catriona,� he replied as he laid his staff across his legs & brought his gaze up to hers. �What did you wish to talk to me about?�
�Miroku, I asked you here because I�m about to ask you the biggest favor I think I will ever ask you in my lifetime of knowing you.� When Miroku lifted an eyebrow & tilted his head slightly, Catriona sighed & gathered up the strength that she would need to make her request. �Miroku, on the night of the festival, I want you to find a way to make Inu Yasha fall into a deep sleep. I need him in a deep sleep because I want you to sneak me out of this village & take me to Sesshomaru�s castle. I need to find out what�s going on for myself & not relay on a message or two... Please?�
�And if your mate should see me walking with you, it would be quick death for me,� Miroku spoke, taking the small cup of tea that she offered to him before picking up her own cup.
�I�ll explain to him that I employed you to escort me to his Lands.�
�And if he was the one who took on the fatal blow & it�s Mottomorashii greeting us into the Western Lands?�
�Then I don�t care what you turn around & do,� she answered, a determined look filling her eyes. �If my mate is dead, then I have nothing to lie for & will quickly do away with myself.� She saw the look in Miroku�s eyes as he nearly choked on his sip of tea at her words. �I won�t listen to words of reasoning Miroku,� she spoke as he started to open his mouth to talk.
�But why kill yourself?�
�Miroku, with my mate dead, & my son no longer in this world, I have no other person to live for.�
�What about your brother in America that you held so dear to you the first time you left me? Isn�t he good enough for you to live for?�
�With how long I�ve been gone, he probably thinks I�m dead anyway,� she spoke, lowering her head as tars came to her eyes. �Miroku, I want you to help me because I have to answer a question Sesshomaru asked me. If he is alive, I want to give him my answer.�
�What did he ask you?�
�He asked me to stay in this time with him,� she answered slowly, bringing her head back up. �That is the real reason I was at Koga�s den originally, to think about my answer without any influences on my decision. But sometime after I arrived there, Sesshomaru sent me a letter telling me to stay put until he could come for me after the battle was over.�
�Then why not go to Koga�s den?�
�Knowing Sesshomaru, if he was wounded badly during this battle, but still came out the victor, he would rest at his castle until his wounds have healed completely & he would have no weakness in his step.� Catriona sighed softly. �So, will you help me or not Miroku?�