"We're back!" Chichiri said excitedly as they approached a fire.
"And we have the two priestesses, and a cousin," Tasuki said pointing at Cat.
She stood there and watched as all of the strange people stared at her. Wait. I think they're strange? I must look like a freak to them!
"It's a pleasure to meet you," a tall man with long dark hair bowed, "is your arm alright? What happened?"
Catherine shrugged, "I'm not quite sure, it happened when Miaka and Yue were being transported here…"
"Hotohori! I'm so happy to see you again!" Miaka said to the man who was speaking with Catherine.
"And I am very happy to see you as well Lady Miaka."
"Miaka!" Another man with blue hair stood up from the ground and wrapped his arm around her, "I'm so glad you're alright!"
Yue stood before a tall man with long blond hair and piercing eyes, "hello Nakago."
Nakago bowed, "it nice to see that you are alive an well, priestess."
Catherine looked around. Tasuki and Chichiri were digging through a bag, Nakago was speaking with Yue, Tamahome was holding Miaka, there was a woman with brown hair tending to the fire and a man that sat far away in a dark corner.
"Lady Catherine come here in the light, we need to tend to your arm ya know!" Chichiri said.
Catherine walked into the light, and again all eyes were on her. It was too dark to see the man in the corner, but she could see his eyes grew wider. She looked down at herself, she was splattered with blood.
"Tomo, could you help us out here? You're good at this kind of stuff," Tasuki said looking back at the man.
Tomo walked forward and this time it was Cat's time to be shocked. He had beautiful golden eyes and long silky hair, she wanted to caress it. Though for some reason his face was covered in paint, and he didn't look too happy.
Tomo looked down at the girl who was sitting next to Tasuki. Her skin was white, her hair was silver and her bright green eyes were looking up at him in wonder. He kneeled down and looked at her arm.
"Does it hurt?"
"What?"
"Your arm. Does it hurt?" He asked her.
Catherine shook her head. She was lying, he could tell.
He moved her sleeve up with care and he poured water on her arm and began to wash the dried blood off.
"Does anyone have extra clothes she can wear? She can't go about covered in blood, she will attract wild animals."
"I might have a kimono for her," the woman stood up and went back to her bag and pulled out a black kimono.
"Here."
Catherine pulled her arm away from Tomo and stood up, "miss, I can't take this, it's too beautiful!"
The woman turned around, "my name is Soi."
"Miss Soi, I cannot take this, I would ruin it."
"I'm a warrior. None of this 'miss' business, it sounds like I'm an old woman."
"I am very sorry, Soi," she looked up, "and I thank you very much for being so kind, but I cannot ruin such a lovely dress."
Soi crossed her arms, "I am not taking it back. I have many others where I live, and I have enough money to buy another one if I want to. Keep that one, and consider it a gift of welcome to this hell."
Catherine smiled, "then I thank you with all my heart, and I consider you a friend."
Soi smiled back, "very well then. A friend."
"Well look at you. And here I didn't think you'd get along," Miaka said in a mused tone.
Catherine stuck her tongue out, "well I proved you wrong!"
Tomo grabbed her wrist, "I am not done tending to your wound. Please, sit down and let me finish."
He sounded irritated and Catherine didn't dare say anything, she just sat down and let him tend to her arm.
His hands were gentle, and she liked his touch. I feel dirty. Should I be enjoying this? She smiled, and shrugged, and Tomo gave her a confused look.
"Sorry," she said.
Tomo just continued cleaning her arm.
"This blood will not wash off, and now I am out of water," he stood up, "I will have to get some more from the stream."
Catherine stood up as well, "I'll go with you! It will be easier to clean the blood off in the stream than with a small bottle."
Tomo pondered this then nodded, "very well, come with me."
Miaka shook her head, "I'm not gonna let Cat go alone in the woods with some guy!"
Soi snickered, "you don't have to worry about Mr. Homosexual here."
Tomo's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
"Oh really? Okay then, you can go."
Catherine looked at Miaka, "he wouldn't have done anything anyway, he's too nice. Plus, no one is that desperate as to have to be with me," she rolled her eyes, "gees Miaka."
Yue stood up, "what does that mean? Not only are you really pretty, really smart, but also you are the coolest person ever! I would kill to have the skills you do! No wonder why the circus is so popular! It's all because of you!"
"Circus? You belong to the circus?" Soi lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes I do."
"Well, I would have never thought that someone with your intelligence would be drawn down to such a level."
"It's not what you think. The circus I belong to is very famous and not at all like any that has ever been before. Besides, it's very nice to see people happy and smiling while they're watching a performance."
Soi shrugged, "I wouldn't know."
Tomo just walked on, and Catherine shrugged and followed him.
"So Tomo, may I ask you a question?"
"You just did."
To Tomo's surprise, she giggled, "well then, may I ask you another one after you answer this one for me?"
Tomo nodded.
"Why do you paint your face?"
Tomo stopped walking, "I don't care much for your mockery."
"Oh no! You misunderstand! I meant no offence! Please forgive me!"
Tomo sighed, "each color represents something."
"What?"
"Well the white represents-never mind." He started walking again.
"No please, continue, I would like to know."
"I don't care."
She fell silent and walked behind him until they reached the small stream.
"Oh it's so cute!" She ran up to it and put her hand inside the water, "cold, but that's to be expected," she started to wash her arm, and water got all over her shirt, "oops!"
Tomo looked at her chest. It was extremely visible through the wet cloth and her breasts were covered by a strange piece of clothing that he had never seen before. Regardless, they were round and perfect, and large.
She didn't notice his staring as she continued to wash her arm, "finished!" She exclaimed as she held her arm up to him.
Tomo went out of his trance and stared at her wound, "these are very deep cuts, but I think if I wrap them they will heal."
She sat down and let him gently wrap the cloth around her arm. When he was done she looked up at him with those beautiful eyes of hers, "thank you very much," and she leaned forward and hugged him, "I'll try and pay you back one day!"
Tomo pushed her away and shrugged, "I just wrapped your arm, you don't need to pay me for that."
She smiled up at him with her gorgeous dark red lips. They looks so smooth, he wanted to feel them, to touch them with his tongue. He looked away in disgust.
"Oh no, I can't find the kimono that Soi gave me! Where did I drop it?"
Tomo picked it up and gave it to her, "thank you!"
He just stood there and stared at his reflection in the water when he heard the rustling of clothes. Before him stood Catherine in nothing but her undergarments.
"Can you please help me? I've never put a kimono on before, I'm afraid I don't know how."
He walked forward and quickly put it on her, "it's very simple, you could have figured it out on your own."
Her smile faded, "I'm sorry."
He looked into her eyes; he couldn't even pretend he was angry with her, "think nothing of it."
She smiled again, gods, her smile! Tomo wanted to touch her mouth again, and when he helped her put her kimono on, he felt her smooth skin for a brief moment, and he enjoyed it very, very much.
He smiled down at her, and he heard her gasp, "what's wrong?" He asked.
She blushed as she looked up at him, "your smile, it's very beautiful. You should smile more."
Tomo shook his head, "there is nothing to smile about here, woman, you will soon learn that."
"There is always a reason to smile."
"Like what?"
"Well, I smiled a lot because of you! You are a very nice person!"
Tomo sneered at her, "well, there is no reason for ME to smile."
"I'm sorry you don't like me."
That made Tomo stop. Not like her? How can anyone not like her? He straightened up and turned to look in her eyes, "I-you-we should go back now. I need to put a cream on you arm that I left back at the camp."
She nodded, but she had a sad look on her face, her sad expression was screaming at him. How could he have made her so sad in just five minutes?
"Wow Cat, you're so pretty!" Miaka said when the two made it back.
"I like this kimono! Thank you so much Soi!"
Soi smiled, "the dark color suits your pale flesh."
Cat stared down at her hands, "I don't know why my skin is so white, I can stay in the sun for hours and it doesn't even look like it's darker."
"Lady Catherine, we have set up a place for you to rest, if it is to your liking," Hotohori said.
She turned around and next to Miaka there were two blankets and a small pillow, "oh, thank you very much! You didn't have to go through the trouble," she sat down on one of the blankets.
"We should all get some rest now, we are leaving for the Dark Fens early in the morning," Nakago announced.
"Who made you the leader?" Tamahome demanded.
"No one did, we all agreed on it before you came to us," Hotohori said, "the evil has either originated in the Dark Fends or in the Atualpa ruins. The Dark Fens are closer so that is our first stop."
Tamahome nodded, "alright then, fine."
"Good night everyone!" Yue said as she stretched and yawned.
"G'night!" Miaka did the same as she snuggled next to Tamahome.
The other said there goodnights and they all settled down, leaving Tomo to take first watch.