That night in the hut, Catriona sat in silence in the corner watching Inu Yasha tell Isamu a bed time story since she had been too unnerved over earlier to tell a story straight. When he noticed her stuttering too much, he stepped in & started up where she left off, turning it into something he figured the boy would like, which he did. She smiled at how well they interacted together & the bond they already have though they had just met earlier that day. But then again, Inu Yasha & Isamu were of the same blood & both were hanyous, it just seemed natural now that she thought of it in that light. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice when Inu Yasha was sitting right next to her, watching the boy sleep peacefully.
"You wanna talk about it?" he said suddenly, but quietly, startling her from her thoughts. The look of confusion on her once scared face was a slight relief since she didn't seem to be as scared anymore, even though her fear still radiated from her. "I said, do you wanna talk about it? Go outside, me & you, & have a conversation...without the worry of waking him & having him hear it?" he asked.
Catriona nodded & got up slowly so not to make too much noise, Inu Yasha doing the same, before both left the hut & walked to the edge of the woods, sitting on the fallen trunk of a tree that had accidently been sliced down by Inu Yasha that day when a demon attacked the village. This had been the only damage; thankfully. The trunk was thick enough for their feet to be dangling off of the ground, but they were seated firmly on the round body.
"So, talk... What happened in the hut that had, & still has, you so shaken up?" he asked, knowing Miroku had done something but he couldn't tell. He was sure though, that when she'd bent down to pick her son up from his lap, he'd smelled Miroku on her lips.
"He said that I'd be his, he swore to it & kissed me, with such power & force & passion that it just really shook me up. I had never wanted that kiss from him, Inu Yasha... I'd rather have been kissed by Sesshomaru, but even that hope might as well be dashed out."
"Why is this? Do you think he doesn't love you anymore?"
"I know he doesn't Inu Yasha... Sango mentioned the rumor of him having taken a mate over the time I've been gone. It's been three years & he's a handsome, strong, powerful, witty," she smiled at the last word, "youkai & he deserves more than a weak human like myself. He probably took notice & found himself what he thought would be a worthy mate for him. What?" she asked, noticing the small grin he wore.
"You bare his mark, yes?"
"Mark? Oh! The mark he gave me when we...?" When Inu Yasha nodded, she blushed & moved her ponytail, which had fallen over the mark, so he could see it. "It's still there. What does that have to do with anything?"
"He marked you Catriona, you're his & he's yours. He will come for you when he finds you're here, mark my words," he smiled, kissing her cheek. "Don't lose hope because of some rumor, I've learned myself not to listen to rumors."
Catriona stared at Inu Yasha who now stared up at the full moon that was so big & round in the sky. The way the moon hit him, if it hadn't been for his clothes & the ears, he would've looked exactly like his brother. They're both handsome, she thought to herself then began blushing as she looked away with a small groan, that unknown to her, got his attention. How could I say that Inu Yasha's handsome? He's Sesser-Sesshomaru's...brother. She shook her head. I need to sleep. It was then that she noticed the back of a cool hand that rested on her cheek & she turned to see Inu Yasha grinning. "Please tell me I wasn't thinking out loud?" she asked.
"No, you weren't... But why is your face so warm? Are you sick?" he asked, unaware that she was blushing. "Was that groan as sign you need to go back to the village?"
"No, I'll be fine," she said as she watched him pull his hand back & look back up at the moon. She looked at it for a moment herself, wondering what was so interesting about it. When she turned her head to speak at him, she noticed it was his turn to look at her when she was looking at the moon. "What? Is there something on your face?"
He chuckled. "No, there's nothing on my face."
"I mean-!"
"I know what you meant," he chuckled, "and no, there's nothing on your face... Except your brown eyes, your nose, your mouth & lips, & your eyebrows," he smiled. "Oh, and that little freckle you have on the bridge of your nose," he smiled.
Catriona shook her head. "I'm sitting here, at night, under a full moon that dogs & wolves normally howl at, & here he is-" she was cut off by him throwing his head back & closing his eyes to let out a howl loud enough that she was sure woke a few of the dead. "And here he is being a smart ass & howling at the moon," she grinned as he smiled at her. "What was that for? Why did you just howl?"
"Um, cause I can... And besides, I'm a dog demon, aren't I?" he chuckled, making her giggle. "Finally, you're happy again," he smiled, wrapping his arm around her waist when he saw she was starting to fall off the trunk, instead of saving her, he grabbed on the trunk with claws, only to get moss that had been there before it fell, making both of them fall behind the trunk, him halfway on top of her, both laughing their heads off.
"You fucking moron!" she laughed as she lifted her head to rub the back of it.
"It's not my fault," he paused to catch his breath before he continued laughing, "it's not my fault I grabbed moss I didn't know was there! I was trying to," he paused to inhale before he resumed his laughter, "save you!" he laughed as she wiggled out from under him to sit up with her back against the log.
"You gotta cute butt," she giggled since she could see his butt since when he fell, he'd landed on his knees & his ass was sticking up in the air. "Nice shape to it," she burst out into another fit of giggles that made her fall over onto her side when he wiggled his butt, mumbling a 'thank you' through his laughter.
When both calmed down from their laughter, they sat up, him against the tree & her infront of him. "So," he paused to chuckle, almost starting back up before he exhaled to calm it. "So... I noticed your son speaks both languages pretty well & very clear, unlike most kids his age. Even I wasn't speaking that well when I was his age."
"Yeah, but then again, I said my first word at two weeks old, so he could've gotten the quick thing from me, which is very possible, don't you think?"
"Yea, it is," he said in a thoughtful tone. "Hey, before I forget, I'm sorry about Miroku, I really am. If he tries anything else like that again, you be sure to come to me, okay Catriona?"
"Okay Inu Yasha. Thank you," she smiled as she got up to where she could crawl & crawled over to him, kissing his cheek. "Thank you again," she smiled before she stood up, brushing the dirt & leaves off her butt. She helped him up & the two walked back to the hut. "By the way, did you & Kagome ever get together?" she asked.
"Nah, we decided that it's best if we don't hook up... Besides, we never know when the well could close up now the jewel is complete," he shrugged.
Catriona stopped in her tracks. "What did you say?"
Inu Yasha looked back at her. "Hey it's okay. It's been complete for almost two years now & the well is still working fine. So don't worry, okay?" he smiled.