Disclaimer: Neko no Ongaeshi/ Mimi wo Sumaseba © Aoi Hiiragi/ Shuueisha/ Nibariki/ THNG/ Tokuma Shoten/ NTV/ Studio Ghibli. This work is not intended for commercial gain or to infringe on any of these copyrights.

Author's Note: My first The Cat Returns fanfiction. To be changed as the parent story evolves.

Summary: Years after the movie, Baron Humbert von Jikkingen pays a visit to Haru Yoshioka and gives her an invitation to a very special event before setting off on an adventure of his own...

THE CAT REQUESTS A FAVOUR

"And so, Miss Yoshioka, if you would do us the honor . . . ." The two-foot-odd-tall cat on the balcony deck, wearing the natty gray Evening Coat and standing on only two legs, bowed.

"Would I? Of course I would! And please, Baron, it's Haru, remember?" The girl with the ponytailed brown hair and oversized yellow neko-neko pajamas impulsively reached down and gathered the being up in a suffocating hug. "I've missed you so!" she squealed.

"Please, Haru," the visitor protested, trying to give himself some breathing space by pushing himself away from her. "You're crushing me . . . ."

"Sorry." Haru let go of Baron Humbert von Jikkingen, who lightly jumped onto the balcony railing behind him. He tried to recover what he could of his composure, as he smoothed his clothing and batted his top hat against his forearm.

"Is Muta coming?" asked Haru. "Can I bring along a friend or two?"

"You mean Miss Hiromi, her boyfriend Tsuge and your own . . . what was his name again, Machida? I guess that wouldn't be out of line."

Haru's face did its best impression of a ripe tomato. "Oh, so you know about him? But . . . how?"

"Every cat has its own secret, Haru," Baron replied, smiling at her. To satisfy her curiosity, he revealed, "Muta passes by this house sometimes, when he has nothing else to do. So does Toto, when he roams this town at night."

"You mean you're spying on me?" Haru asked indignantly. "Baron, how could you?"

"We of the Cat Business Office are always interested in the doings of those whom we have helped," von Jikkingen replied with admirable equanimity. "Also," he added with a small smile, "it's hard to see two young people, one sneaking up on a ladder to the other's balcony in the dead of night and then kissing her, and not come to the conclusion that there are romantic relations between them . . . ."

"Oh, fine, be that way, smug-face." Haru sat back on the lone chair in her balcony and held up the engraved silver invitation Baron had given her. "I'll come. And maybe I'll bring the others along too. But Baron, what's the reason for giving this to me so far in advance? I mean, it's just the beginning of summer, and this is for Christmas."

"There are a lot of things going on, and I've given this to you now so you can prepare. Also, I'll be away for the next month or two, so I thought it would be better if I played it safe."

"Eh? You're going away?"

"Yes. I'm searching for someone very important to me. She's also invited to the party." As he said it Haru got the impression that the subject matter was an intensely personal one for the Cat, and a sad one to boot.

The young lady suddenly sat upright in the chair. "Oh, where are my manners? Would you like a cup of tea? Some rice cakes, perhaps?"

Baron bestirred himself from his melancholy. "That would be fine, and thank you."

The twenty-year-old stood up. "Wait for me. I won't be long. I hope you don't mind drinking Haru's special blend," she called as she disappeared into her room, which was on the second floor of her house.

"Not at all," Baron called after her. "I'm sure it'll taste great." Before she went downstairs she switched her radio on, to keep Baron entertained.

"And now for that requested song by Ayano Tsuji," came the DJ's voice. "Here is 'Kaze ni Naru.'" A jangly ukelele started playing, and a lilting voice followed soon afterwards. Haru's nighttime visitor took to reading the newspaper she had dropped on the balcony deck the first time she laid eyes on him that evening. Death Toll in London Bombing Rises, the headline read. Investigation Continues.

"Oh, those poor people," Baron commiserated after reading the article. Life was indeed an unsure thing, and love even more so. Louise . . . Shizuku . . . he thought with sadness.

A little later Haru came back bearing a tray with two teacups, a platter of small white cakes and a saucer with shoyu-based dipping sauce. "Sorry for the delay. I accidentally woke my mother and she asked why I was up and who I was talking to."

"Oh?" Baron removed his gloves and wiped his fingers on one of the provided napkins before taking a cup and a cake. "Is everything alright, then?"

"Yeah. I told her I was just hungry and that she was probably dreaming everything else. She's asleep again in her chair downstairs."

"Mmm, this smells heavenly," the Cat said, and took a bite out of the cake. When he had finished it he remarked, "It's so very nice to see you again, Haru. You've grown more beautiful over the years."

If blushes were perilous to one's health Mrs. Yoshioka's only child would have died on the spot from the repeated and prolonged outbreaks. "T-thank you," she stammered. An additional response seemed required, and, flustered and for want of anything better to say, she added, "As you can tell, I'm happy to see you too." For the next few minutes they chatted amiably on her balcony, and her attention was drawn more and more frequently to that fateful road in front of her house, until she asked, "Baron, how far is it from New Tama Hills to Koganei?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I'd like to know how long I'm going to have to spend on the 'bus with those tanuki before I reach the studio."

To Haru's surprise, Baron actually laughed. Hard. "Don't worry about that," he said, chortling. "You'll have King Lune and Queen Yuki with you. And when you ride the wind," he added cryptically, "time passes by like nothing at all."