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Chapter Nine
During the night of the celebration, there had been no sign of the Demon Lord everyone had been celebrating so Catriona wandered off behind the huts, wanting to be alone so she could stare up at the stars without being bothered. While behind the huts she couldn't help but shake the feeling that a pair of eyes were boring into her so she looked around herself but when she didn't see anyone she looked back up at the stars. Before she knew it was happening, a hand was slowly sliding around her waist. She turned around half expecting to see Miroku there, ready to try his chance again, but instead she saw Sesshomaru, his golden eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "Shouldn't you be in the celebration? It is in your honor," she said, her throat suddenly dry.
"I guess I should be," he replied, resting his hand on her waist, drawing her closer. "But I would rather be here." A faint smile crossed his lips as he took in her appearance. "You look lovely in your gift," he purred.
"This lovely piece of work is from you?" she smiled. "Where did you get such a masterpiece?" she asked, looking up at his eyes, her own eyes once resting on his lips.
"I had an old friend make it," he answered. "But that is all I am willing to tell you for now." He ran his fingers through the soft hair that cascaded down her shoulders. "There's something different about you tonight. You carry the scent of a male I don't recognize."
Catriona thought for a moment before she spoke up. "It's probably the cologne smell from this guy I saw two weeks ago when I went to get my tattoo done." She looked at the confusion that came to his face. "Would you like to see it?"
"See what? What's a tattoo?"
"It's a marking that's etched into your skin & can never be removed... It took the guy an hour just to get it all done. So, would you like to see it?" When he nodded, she said, "Get behind me so you can use the moonlight to see it." When he did as told, she made sure they were alone before she put her back to him & leaned down only slightly then untied the sash that held her kimono shut & slid her kimono down until it rested on her waist line, revealing her tattoo to him. She shivered slightly when he ran his fingers over the ink picture on her skin.
A grin came to his lips when he recognized the moon & he traced the pattern of the moon that was almost six inches high & width, from the back of the moon to the furthest tip of the star, was at least the same as the height. "You say it's etched into your skin?" He saw her nod & continued. "Did it cause you any pain?"
"No, I was able to ignore the pain by chewing on some gum to keep my mind off the pain," she answered as she leaned up & brought her kimono back up so it was covering her shoulders & drew it shut, but before she could retie the sash, Sesshomaru turned her around & softly pressed his lips to hers.
While he kissed her, he managed to tie the sash for her since her hands had found their way to his shoulders. When he was done, he pulled away, breaking the kiss & looked into her eyes. "I think the tattoo suits your skin perfectly."
"Thank you... May I ask why you kissed me?"
"I admire your strong will," he replied, "you show the inner strength of a youkai, yet you're stuck in this...human...body."
"Is there something wrong with me being human?" she questioned, suddenly feeling as if he wouldn't like her now.
"The only thing I see wrong with your being human, is, should I take you as mine, the Youkai Lords of the surrounding lands would come & destroy you, knowing they could easily do so since you're a human, should I be away."
"Oh..." Catriona started to look down but Sesshomaru took her chin in his hand & raised her head so they were looking at each other. "I should go back to the others," she whispered as his lips began lowering to hers once more. He pressed his body against hers & walked her backwards until he had her pinned against the hut.
He broke the kiss to kiss down her neck, stopping after a few kisses to suck & nibble where he'd placed the last kiss. He heard her moan softly & was about to kiss her again when he felt his brother's presence. He pulled away & looked at the hanyou that was watching them from the other side of the hut. "Weren't you ever told what you are doing is considered rude?" he growled.
"Not really," Inu Yasha replied, folding his arms over his chest. "I heard it was rude to miss celebrations thrown in your name... Shouldn't you be out there right now?"
"Perhaps I don't wish to be out there with those pathetic people," he said as he turned to face the hanyou that was now moving towards them. "Why are you here & not there?"
"I smelled your stench mixed with Cat's scent & thought she might be in danger," Inu Yasha replied, "so I decided to come & make sure she wasn't."
"She'll never be in danger with me dear brother," Sesshomaru growled, the magenta stripes on his wrist stretching to his hand before he raised his hand, his poison gas spraying out at Inu Yasha who leapt from the gas range just in time. He looked at Catriona. "I'm sorry my dear, but I must be going," he spoke before softly kissing her lips. "We will find a way to meet again," he smiled before he left.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It had been two days since Catriona & Sesshomaru had their private moment & she was craving for another meeting with him but they were no longer in his Western territory. They were south of Sesshomaru's lands & she just wanted to turn back to be with him, but she knew she couldn't. She didn't want the other demons to find him as weak or pathetic because she knew he wasn't close to either of those at all. He was strong inside & out, which attracted her to him.
As the days dragged on by, Catriona began losing hope she'd see Sesshomaru again anytime soon. They hadn't made camp but they were stopping long enough to bathe & have dinner. Catriona wasn't hungry so she decided she would go bathe in the lake they'd come across. As she swam under the water, she saw a figure by the water's edge & surfaced to see Miroku standing there, watching her. "What do you want Miroku?" she asked, staying as close to the deep end as she could.
"I merely wish to talk with you," he answered, kneeling by the water's edge. "Come a little closer? I don't intend on coming in for a swim to catch you if that's what you're worried about."
Cautiously, she swam closer, stopping a few feet away from him, now sitting on her knees since the water was pretty shallow this close to the edge. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I was wondering if you'd given any thought to us being together. You wouldn't have to stay here, you could come visit when you wish," he said. "I just want to love you Catriona... Why won't you let me love you?"
"Because I have no desire to be with you. I don't love you at all," she replied, then said in English, "I'd prefer to be with Sesshomaru."
"What was that last part?"
Catriona sighed. "I'd prefer to be with Sesshomaru," she spoke, this time in Japanese. "I feel safe with him since he's given me no reason to fear him & every reason to trust him. You have tried to rape me & he saved me from you."
"I'm sorry for what I did to you that night Catriona," he apologized. "As for your hopes of being with Sesshomaru, you can forget them. Everyone knows he would never follow his father's path & be with a human woman. It would go against everything he goes with. But you can be with me Catriona. I love you & he never will. Please...let me love you."