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Chapter Two
Catriona walked up the steps, alone, to the door of the house where Kagome was waiting for her on the step. Kagome jumped up & ran to her, hugging her tightly. "It's so good to see you again Cat!" Kagome giggled. "Where are your bags?"
When Kagome let go, Catriona smiled & said, "They're in the car, but I need your help getting them all. There's a little surprise in there too," she smiled as they walked down the long flight of stairs leading from the shrine grounds to an area in back where the car was parked. Catriona smiled when she saw Kagome stop in her tracks at the sight of the little boy standing by the car's back door, waving at them. Isamu was currently dressed in shorts & a t-shirt, his hair allowed down over his shoulders since he refused to tie it up. "That would be the surprise," she said, slightly nervous.
"Is he...Sesshomaru's?" Kagome asked as she walked up to the car until she was infront of the little boy. There, she knelt down, looking at him. "He's so cute!" she giggled, playing with his right ear.
"Aunt Kagome!" the boy smiled & jumped up, wrapping his arms around her neck, hugging tightly.
She picked him up & held him on her hip. "What's your name little guy?" she asked in English, unsure if he knew Japanese, giggling as his ear twitched back then forward.
"My name's Isamu, though mom says she should've named me Loki," he smiled proudly, knowing well what the other name meant since he'd had Joshua Alan explain it to him one time.
"What's Loki mean?" Kagome asked, looking at Catriona who only giggled.
"Loki is the Norse God of mischief. Isamu is very mischievous so he fits the nickname perfectly," Catriona answered as Kagome set Isamu down.
"I know this might sound stupid, but he doesn't know Japanese, does he?"
"Actually, he does... He's a very fast learner; I'm guessing because his father's a youkai. I was able to teach him the language within a year. There are still a few parts he's stuck on though, but he's quickly working through them," Catriona said in Japanese. "So, is Inu Yasha here? We could use his hanyou muscles right about now."
"Nope he's not here yet, but he should be here in a few moments," Kagome replied with a smile. "He had to finish up helping Miroku with a hut he's building for the coming winter in their time."
"Ah. Wanna just leave the packing to him?" Catriona giggled as Kagome nodded. "Come on little guy," Catriona said as she picked up Isamu & walked with Kagome to the house. "Where's that cute little bro of yours?" Catriona asked as they walked inside.
"He's out spending the night at a friend's house right now, but he should be back sometime tomorrow afternoon. So, Isamu is three right?"
"That's right," Isamu smiled before his ear turned to the side before his head followed & he looked at the door. "Someone's here," he said before the door opened & Inu Yasha walked in with Shippo on his shoulder, biting his ear, an annoyed look on his own face. Isamu & Inu Yasha stared at each other for a moment before the silence was broken. "Who's that mommy?" he asked, looking up at Catriona's grinning face. "Mommy?"
"That's your Uncle Inu Yasha, Isamu," she smiled, looking from her son to Inu Yasha who stared with wide eyes & Shippo who had a grin the size of the continent that said he was about to jump on her, but he held himself back because of the child in her arms. She set Isamu down & he proceeded over to his tall Uncle who now looked down at him. "Come on Shippo," Catriona smiled before the slightly grown fox child jumped in her arms & she hugged him. "I missed you little guy," she smiled, "you've grown!"
"Catriona, you're finally back!" the fox child smiled, gushing over & over how much he missed her while she walked into the living room with him & Kagome, leaving Inu Yasha & Isamu standing by themselves infront of the door.
"So you're my Uncle Yasha?" he asked, looking up & down the fellow hanyou that stood before him. "You're cooler than mommy said you were," he said as he eyed the sheathed sword that rested at his Uncle's waist.
"Thanks kid," Inu Yasha said as he knelt down infront of the boy, looking at the faint markings on the kid's face. "Yep, you're my brother's son alright; you got his markings..." He said as he got on his knees. "Do you have claws?" he asked, taking the kid's hands in his own, looking at the short, but sharp claws the boy had. Then he looked at his mouth, letting go of his hand. "Open up wide so I can see your teeth," he said then looked at the fangs the kid had. "Okay, you can close your mouth... Do you have any special abilities?"
"My nails go green & I can melt stuff with them," he said excitedly. "I also have this whip I use to torment my Uncle Josh with," he chuckled.
Inu Yasha grinned & rose to his feet, shaking his head. "Let's go meet up with everyone," he said as he led the boy into the living room with everyone else.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Cool! Can we do that again?!" Isamu asked, his eyes wide with excitement as Catriona, Kagome & Isamu climbed out of the well.
"We'll be doing that again sometime later," Catriona smiled as she rose to her feet outside the well & watched Inu Yasha take Isamu onto his back. "Do you mind Inu Yasha? It won't bother you to do that?" she asked.
"Hey I'm his Uncle, he's gotta learn what I can do," Inu Yasha smiled at her. "Why don't you & Kagome get on either side of him just for safety?"
Catriona nodded & both girls got on his back, holding on as Isamu did.
*~*
Upon arriving at the village, the four were greeted by everyone except Sango & Kirara. Miroku was also missing, but no one really noticed as they went to Kaede's hut where the old hag no longer lived, as Inu Yasha explained. Inu Yasha, Sango, Kirara, Miroku, & Sango lived there now, but Kagome stayed there when she came to visit. Isamu yawned & Catriona smiled. "I think he needs a small nap before he sees anyone else," she said, Inu Yasha & Kagome nodding in agreement.
It wasn't long until Isamu was asleep & the three were sitting outside on the steps of the hut, talking when a ball of yellow & black jumped into Catriona's lap & started mewing. She looked down to see Kirara then looked up to see Sango. "Sango!" she smiled before the two shared a hug. "Where were you?"
"I was training with Kirara & she stopped & began running back here. I was curious, but now I know why," Sango smiled, breaking from the hug. "What are you doing here?"
Catriona giggled & answered, "Go peak your head inside the hut, but be VERY quiet about it," she smiled when Sango did as she was told & came back smiling. "His name is Isamu, yes he's mine & yes I know, he's adorable," she giggled.
Sango giggled. "He is VERY adorable. Whose son is he?"
"He's Sesshomaru's son."
"I didn't know you & Sesshomaru came together in that fashion?" Sango said with a sly grin on her face. "So that's why Miroku was so upset when he returned & you were hiding behind Sesshomaru. I was wondering why he was even there, but now I know why. When did you guys...? You know?"
"The night before you & the other came to get me from his castle those three years ago," she smiled. "Do you know if he's still alive?"
"Yea, he's still alive. We've run into him a few times, but he doesn't come near the village," Sango answered as they sat together. "Has anyone told you yet?"
"Told me what? About Kaede?"
"No, Sesshomaru."
"What about him?"
"Well... He's rumored to have taken a mate while you were gone. We're not sure if it's true or not because we never see a female with him, but from what others say, it's quite possible to be fact instead of rumor. If it's true, I want to be the first to say I'm deeply sorry."
Catriona felt her heart sink when she heard the news & she couldn't say anything. Instead, when she felt her son put his hand on her shoulder, she looked at him & smiled. "Mommy's going to go take a walk, okay sweety?"
"Okay mommy.. Can I please come with you?" Isamu asked. The conversation had woken him up but he hadn't understood what it had all meant since he wasn't familiar with the old times language.
"No honey, you stay here with everyone. I promise that if things get scary for me I'll come back to you, but don't you dare come after me by yourself. If you come after me, you make sure that someone is with you, is this understood?" she said, with an authoritive tone to her soft voice.
"Okay mommy," he said & sat on Inu Yasha's lap & leaned back against his uncle to have him wrap his arms protectively around him. "Please be safe."
"I'll be safe baby, don't worry..." she said as she took off, walking away from the village & into the woods. As she walked, she came to the rock where she first started the game with Miroku that would backfire. She sighed softly & kept walking, looking down while she wondered where Miroku was. She remembered she hadn't seen him at the village & no one seemed to mind, but earlier, Kagome had mentioned Inu Yasha was helping him build a hut, so he had to still be around.
"So you finally came back," a voice said from behind her, making her turn around to see who the voice had come from.