Three days later, the group had gotten back on track now that they had Catriona with them again. She wore her hair down to the others from seeing the mark Sesshomaru had left on her, but she knew Inu Yasha could smell his brother on her. Then again she knew that she was safe with only knowing, but she planned on telling Kagome as soon as the next chance came along.
Miroku came to walk besides Catriona & slipped his arm around her waist & all though she'd loved to be able to run away from him at that point, she knew it could cue him in & that was the last thing she needed for the group; one large fight between her & Miroku. She sighed & leaned against him as they walked, wrapping her arm around his back.
"Sesshomaru didn't hurt you while you were there, did he?" Miroku asked low enough for her to hear & maybe Inu Yasha if he'd been listening.
Catriona shook her head. "Actually, he saved me from a rabbit demon. He escorted me to his castle & had one of his servants get me a bath ready."
"Did he touch you?"
If Catriona didn't have control over herself, she would have stiffened at the question, but instead she responded with a question of her own. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, did he try to be sexual with you? Did he try to mate you?" Miroku looked down at Catriona with a possessive look in his eyes that inside made her shake, but that too she held back.
"No Miroku, he didn't. He stayed away from me except to tell me that he had sent for you. That was the only time we made contact. He didn't even come near me during dinner," she lied, but steadied her voice so she wouldn't sound the part of a liar. "You were right Miroku, he doesn't care about me in that sense... I'm glad you told me."
Miroku smiled. "I'm sorry you had to find out from him."
"I think it's time Cat & I get back to our time so we can get some more clothes," Kagome said out of nowhere. "Besides I'm sure my mom & grandpa are getting worried about us."
"I'm with Kagome on this one. I know I'm running short on clean clothes & I don't like wearing dirty blood-covered clothes," Catriona replied, seeing a nod from Inu Yasha.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The girls had climbed out of the mini shrine & were walking up to the doors of Kagome's home when her mother ran outside. "Girls, it's so good to see you again!" she smiled as she embraced Kagome then Catriona before leading both of them into the kitchen. "Catriona, why don't you go on up & change into some of the clean clothes you left behind while I have a small talk with Kagome," her mother said with a small nod.
"Sure thing Mrs. Higurashi," she smiled bounding up the stairs with her & Kagome's bags. Once in Kagome's room, she shut the door behind herself & set the bags on the floor & dug though one of her suitcases, finding a clean pair of shorts & a tank top to throw on since it was hot inside & outside the house & she felt she needed to cool off. Once she had changed, she sat at Kagome's desk & started brushing her hair with the hairbrush she'd dragged out from her case. She hummed softly to no tune as Kagome's mom came into the room & sighed, shutting the door behind her. "What did your mom want to talk about?" Catriona asked, not looking at her.
"Cat," Mrs. Higurashi said, making her turn around. "Can you come here a moment dear?"
"Sure thing," she smiled, feeling a bit uneasy as she pulled the chair over to Kagome's bed & sat down, continuing to brush her hair as she looked at the older woman. "What's going on?"
"We've been waiting for a week for you & Kagome to return home..." the older woman paused long enough to look at the nervous look in the girl's eyes. "A week ago, Catriona, we got a call from a boy named Joshua Alan, do you know him?"
"Y-Yes... He's my brother, didn't he tell you?"
"Yes, he did.. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't making up being your brother. Catriona, he called to tell us news about your parents..."
"M-My...parents? What about them? Did something happen?"
"Catriona, I'm afraid they were killed. Your brother didn't go into detail, but he said to tell you that you need to come home & be there for the will reading. Are you going to be okay?" she asked when she saw a tear plummet down the girl's cheek from her eye. She saw the girl's face held no emotion as the tear fell, but she knew inside she wanted to cry out by the way her knuckles were turning white from the death grip she held on the hair brush in her hand.
She leaned forward & wrapped her arms around the girl who collapsed into her arms, crying without sound since she didn't want everyone in the house to know how much she hurt inside. She knew the details without even having to hear them. Her mother & father constantly fought & her mother told her one time when she was taking care of her mother's bruise, that she'd kill her father & the determination in her voice told she wasn't kidding. But now they've killed each other, she thought to herself as she shook in Mrs. Higurashi's arms, tears rolling down her cheeks onto the woman's shirt.
"I'm so sorry Catriona," she said quietly as she ran her fingers through the girl's hair, rubbing her hand down her back then continuing the same process. She felt sorry for the girl, but she didn't know what to say or do to help her. She knew, however, that right now, all that girl needed was to be held & she knew she couldn't give her the hold she needed. "Catriona, perhaps you should go back to Inu Yasha's time & tell everyone goodbye... I'll be here cleaning & packing your clothes for you. Alright?"
"Yes Mrs. Higurashi," she nodded as she got up, sending the hair brush on the desk as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail, no longer caring if someone should see the mark Sesshomaru left on her the other night. She wiped the tears from her face & ran downstairs to find Kagome. "Kagome, has your mom told you yet?"
"Yea, are you okay?" Kagome asked, touching her friend's shoulder. "Do you need anything?"
"I'm fine Kagome, but your mom suggested I go back there & say goodbye to everyone," Catriona said with a shaky sigh.
"She's right. I'm so sorry this had to happen Catriona."
"It's not your fault Kagome..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inu Yasha was sitting up in his tree, half asleep from a fight with Miroku that had Miroku so mad he opened up his wind tunnel on Inu Yasha & Inu Yasha had to use almost all of his energy to get away safely. His nose twitched when he smelled the girls climbing out of the well & he opened his eyes to look down. "Where are your bags?" he asked, cocking his head to one side before he jumped down to land beside them. It was then he picked up the smell of salt & looked at Catriona, whose eyes were red from her brief cry before they crossed times. "Catriona, what's wrong?"
"Inu Yasha, can I have a word with you?" Kagome asked as she grabbed his arm gently & pulled him away from Catriona & the well. "Inu Yasha, she's here to say goodbye."
"Has it been five months already?" he asked. "Wow, time flies-"
"No Inu Yasha, it's only been a little under four months."
"Then why is she going home so soon?"
"She has a brother & he called from their home a week ago with the news her mom & dad were killed," she sighed as Inu Yasha looked over at her then back to Kagome. "She has to go home to see what her mother & father left behind for her in their wills."
"Is she going to be coming back?"
"I don't know Inu Yasha, I really don't know. But listen, you're the one who knows where she's at in life right now. I thought maybe when you say goodbye to her, you can give her a little pep talk."
"Pep talk?"
''It's when you try to cheer someone up or just try to at least make them feel better. Do you think you could do that for her?"
"I don't know what it is, but I can at least try. Are you going to take her to the village so she can say her goodbyes there?"
"Yes, I am. But right now I just wanted to let you know, okay?"
"Okay... Oh & watch out for Miroku, something's crawled up his ass & he's got this major attitude since you girls left back through the well."
"Thank you Inu Yasha. Care to give us a lift?" she smiled with hope as he nodded & walked over to Catriona.
"You want a lift to the village so you won't have to walk?" he asked, his face soft instead of the usual anger he held. When she nodded, he put his back to her & she climbed on, along with Kagome & he bounded off to the village. Poor Catriona, he thought to himself as he landed then made another leap, the wind ruffling through his hair & ruffling his kimono top. I know exactly how she feels, but she has it more recent than I do. I've lived without mom & pop for a longer time, since I was a child & here she is, just now losing them. This is going to be harder for her to deal with since she probably still needs them, though she doesn't act like it. He landed & came to a stop once they reached the village. Outside Kaede's hut, the old hag was speaking with Miroku & Sango when she looked up at them & waved them over.
They walked over & Miroku stood next to Catriona, his arm slinking around her waist. He heard Inu Yasha clear his throat & he glanced over to see Inu Yasha giving him a slight head shake, mouthing for him to move his arm but instead he ignored him & kept his arm around her waist & his hand on her hip.
"What's going on Kaede?" Kagome asked.
"There is to be a celebration," Kaede smiled, looking at Miroku who smiled so much he seemed to glow. "In honor of our visitor," she finished, looking at Catriona.
"Kaede, you can not throw any celebration in my honor," Catriona sighed, lowering her head. "I won't be here for it."
"What do you mean you won't be here for it?" Sango asked, her brow raising in curiosity. It was then the other noticed neither her or Kagome carried their bags with them. "Where are your bags?"
"I'm afraid that when I go back to my time, I have to go back to my home, across the seas to see my brother. He sent word a week ago that my mother & father were killed so I must go home & find out what mom & dad left me in their wills."
"We can throw it when you get back," Miroku said, oblivious to the seriousness of this event.
Catriona & the others only stared at him, but there was an anger in Catriona's eyes he hadn't seen there before in her time here. "Miroku, I might not come back for a long time. It could be years until I have enough money to come back here & even then, when I do get the money, who says I'll be able to come back? What if I have an accident & I'm incapable of coming back."
"But-"
"Miroku, don't... Think before you speak. Right now this girl doesn't need you, she needs us to let her go back to her home so she could take care of what she needs to," Inu Yasha said as Catriona pulled away from Miroku & walked into Inu Yasha's arms which he opened when he looked at her. "Why can't you see this?"
Miroku said nothing, but walked off, leaving the others staring after him. "I need to go talk to him," Catriona said as she pulled away & went after him. She eventually found him by the river, sitting on the rocks by the water. "Miroku," she said as she came to stand behind him, but he didn't look back at her. "What's wrong Miroku?"
"You're leaving," was all he said as he stood up & turned to face her; his staff was left to lay on the ground. "Why do you have to go?"
"Because my brother needs me right now. I need him too because he was as close to mom as I was."
"You weren't close to you father?"
"No, but he was so I know he's crushed. Why can't you see past your stupid image of us being the perfect couple together, to see that I need my brother & he needs me & right now, I have to say goodbye to everyone so I can go home to be with him."
"You think us being together is stupid?"
"See! Right there! You're bringing ?us' up when right now I need to be held & told it's going to be okay!" she screamed as tears began falling down her face. "You're nothing but a fucking asshole Miroku & you know what?! Sesshomaru did try to mate me & you know what else? I let him! I wanted him, not you! I love him Miroku, whether you like it or not & he was more fucking understanding about me having to go back some day than you! That's pretty sad you know? You're this guy who supposedly cares about me but here you are treating me like shit because I want to be happy when I'm with someone. But he's a fucking demon & he understands! I guess hanyous & demons are better than humans!" She felt her head turn hard to the side as the back of his hand collided with her cheek.
She looked at him with shock written all over her face as she brought her hand to her face & he moved closer to her only to have her step back from him. "Catriona, I...I'm sorry."
"It's okay Miroku," she said as he came close to her, hesitating before he drew her into a hug. She hugged back then grabbed his shoulders & brought her knee up between his legs, hearing a grunt & whimper that made her smile as she pushed him away from her to see him land on the ground on his side, holding his privates area.
"You bitch," he growled through clenched teeth as he slowly climbed to his feet to see her a good distance away. He took the rosary from his hand & held his hand open, the wind tunnel dragging her back to him. She was almost within distance for him to close his hand & let her fall when something white struck out, wrapping around her to bring her up into the woods over the ledge the river was under.