One in the Same

Chapter Eight

   She could smell the smoke. The decay that was already setting in on the deer she had killed. When had she killed it? How long ago had that been? What was the time? She could smell the grass, the leaves, the animals in the surrounding area, the beast...
   Cat's eyes sprang open. She looked over at the spot the beast had been before she fell asleep. The fire was reduced to smoldering embers still giving off heavy smoke. A storm was gathering overhead. She jumped up on her hands and knees looking around.
   "Ohayōgozaimasu," a deep gruff voice said behind her.
   Cat turned with her fangs bared, an angered growl mixed with a hiss ripped from her chest. A naked man stood in front of her, holding two rabbits in one hand. Immediately he held his hands up, palms towards her. "Ochitsuku," he said. "Watashi wa anata o kizutsukemasen." 
   She retracted her fangs and slowly blinked frowning and tilting her head. "Ah don't understand," she replied. She looked down at his hands and blinked. Confusion crossed her face now. His hands were in a similar position hers had been to the beast the night before. She looked back over at the spot it had been laying in. "Where did it go?
   "Wakarimasen," the man said shaking his head.
   Cat turned back and looked him top to bottom. His hair came past his collar bone and was thin but pin straight. A little messed up but still presentable. Dark black hair covered his forearms, chest and his upper abdomen. Thick black curls caressed his rather large manhood between his legs. She couldn't help but pause there for a moment and let her mouth drop. The man looked down then smirked and looked at her with just his eyes.
   "Anata ga miru mono no yō ni?"
   Cat looked back up at him, blinked, shook her head and cleared her throat. Ah've never seen a prick of that size. She looked away, blinked again, then looked back up at his eyes. Her mouth dropped again. Those eyes were the same as the ones that looked at her last night. Immediately, Cat pushed out with her mind. Those golden eyes narrowed in a glare at her. She ran into the same wall she had hit last night.
   "Anata wa nanimonodesu ka?"
   "What are you?"
   They asked the same question in unison.
   Cat looked back up at him. "Ah already told you, ah don't understand. Can you speak English?"
   The man made a  sound that was like a low growl with a "hmm" and shook his head. He walked toward her and held his empty hand out to her. Slowly she looked back up at him and took the offered hand. As he helped her stand she looked back over to the spot. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose. The same smell of the beast was on him. But it was different. There was an animal smell on him, but other mortal smells as well. Sweat, dirt, mud, spring water. An herbal smell that she didn't know. Cat opened her eyes and looked into his again. He was easily a foot taller than her. She had to completely look up at him. Her head just even with his chest. Scars crisscrossed and danced across his chest under the black hair. For a moment, Cat wanted to run her fingers over them. Feel every single one. Know the stories behind them even if she couldn't understand his language. "Do you have a name?"
   He blinked down at her confused. "Wakarimasen," he said again.
   "Wah-kah-ri-mason? That's your name?"
   He chuckled gently. Cat blinked. "Hey! You were laughing at me weren't you!"
   He shook his head and looked at her confused again. She rolled her eyes. "Ah'm Cat." She touched her chest.
   "Neko," he said confused.
   "No, no. C-at.
   "Cata," he repeated.
   "No. Cat."
   "Cata," he said again and touched her chest. "Cata."
   "I guess tha's close enough. Cata."
   He pulled his hand back and touched his chest. "Ichihara, Botan."
   "Ichihaira?" She repeated incorrectly.
   He shook his head. "Ichi-" he made the growled "hmm" again and looked back at her. "Botan."
   "Botan?"
   "Hai," he replies with a nod.
   "Uh-huh," she replies looking up at him.
   He nods back down at her then turns and starts walking off.
   Cat watches him for a moment, looking at his back. Just as many scars that decorated his chest, also defined his back. The muscles of his shoulders, the dimples at the small of his back. She slowly tilted her head as she watched his buttocks move with each step he took. Seven hells this man was made by the gods.
   Botan stops and turned to her. "Kimasu ka?"
   She blinked and looked up again shaking her head.
   He looked at her then moved his fingers towards himself.
   Cat looked back over at the spot where the beast had slept. It wasn't a dream, she thought to herself. The grass in the spot was crumbled over by something heavy that hadn't moved frequently. She looked back over at him and narrowed her eyes before following after him. What are you?