Chapter Twenty Nine: Wedding's Conclusion
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Baron turned towards Haru, his family ring now on her finger. His had fit her as well as hers had fit him. He pulled back the veil to lose himself in her eyes. She smiled lovingly at him as she wrapped the arm holding the bouquet around his neck as he drew her closer.
When their lips met, the throne room burst into applause that seemed to shake the walls.
Tsuge, who had given his sister away with the same pride as a father, now had his arms around his own wife as she cried for her sister's happiness. Makoto couldn't stop grinning, her instincts about her aunt's new boyfriend being right from the start. She wondered what it will be like, to have kittens for cousins…
The door burst open, but hardly anyone noticed, being too busy cheering on the couple, still kissing on the other side of the room.
"Stop the wedding!"
The Cat King and Queen reluctantly broke off the kiss as the guests parted to reveal two humans, still moist from the lake. Haru couldn't help but start laughing at how ridiculous they looked.
"You know, if this was a movie, you'd both be fired. Your timing was off by about fifteen seconds."
Baron squeezed his bride closer while looking at the two humans. He knew the man, but wasn't so sure about the aged crone. That is, until she opened her big mouth.
"No! This isn't fair, we'll annul the marriage or something; Haru, you have to make up for what that cat did to my grandson!"
Baron cocked his head, and also started laughing. He knew all too well that imperious manner.
"Louise, get over yourself. Guards! Take the humans to the portal tower and see them safely to their world. If they resist, throw them in the dungeon."
Haru turned to look at him, her mirth resurfacing.
"Hold it; Machida's grandmother was your old fiancée?" She looked at the gargoyle again, not believing that Baron could ever go for someone so bitter. He kissed her cheek as the guards closed in around the humans, Mr. Mishuzi using his power to bind all the cats that got too close as his mother clawed her way through the guests to get close to the royal couple. Hiromi drew her daughter aside as Tsuge stepped protectively in front of Baron and Haru; Muta and Toto helping to make a triangle of protection.
"I wish you didn't make me put down the crow bar, Baron." Tsuge growled as the crone got closer.
The king locked eyes with his queen, who smiled and placed one hand with his, giving him full access to her powers. They faced the two party crashers, tightening their grip on each other as their eyes clouded over.
Louise swiped at one red cat as she was swept off her feet and into the air, quickly joined by her son, who was strangely unable to break the spell binding them up there. They shrieked and howled with displeasure as they wiggled around like fish out of water.
"What should we do with them, Haru?" Baron asked her conversationally, calmly watching them trying to grab a hold of something, anything. Haru thought carefully about the question.
"Let's see; their family is guilty of treachery, lying, enchanting a monarch, forcing their will on other people, coming uninvited to a royal celebration, several charges of assault and battery… am I forgetting anything?"
Her husband shook his head, deciding that any other crimes that they had committed would fall under the categories she named. But he didn't say anything, wanting to see how she could handle giving out punishments. She thought a little.
"This is a suggestion, but I think that these two should also be stripped of any magical powers they have, and the way to the kingdom forever barred from them. Let them make a living in the human world like honest people."
He grinned, deciding that she would do just fine.
"Excellent idea, love." He turned to the two suspended humans and concentrated. Louise's movements slowed slightly, her extraordinary energy fading as her son convulsed horribly, sharply feeling the loss of his life's work.
Baron grinned at them before squeezing Haru a little tighter, her power sending them back to their home, where they could sort out their lives on their own.
Smiling, the queen turned to her husband, feeling a little mischievous.
"Now, where were we?"
His eyes filled with love as he leaned down to meet her lips once more.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A young man opened his eyes, wondering what all the noise was about. He managed to lift his head enough to see a woman trying to talk to two other people, a man and a very old woman.
"What do you mean?! How could you have let him take your powers?!"
"I didn't let him, he just did it! Even worse, he did it on Haru's orders!" The man shook his head before collapsing on a chair. "Our family name is ruined. We can't do magic, and no one in our family ever bothered to learn the fake kind. There is nothing we can do."
The younger man blinked, confused.
"What do you mean?"
The trio turned to face him, some of their grief melting away. The middle-aged woman laughed joyfully as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, Sweetheart; we were so worried that you wouldn't wake up! Your father and grandmother didn't manage to get Haru back for you, and there isn't magic in the family anymore."
The brunette stared at her, trying to understand what she was saying.
"Who's Haru? For that matter, who are you?" He turned his face away, completely missing the shock on the trio's faces.
His voice was softer than the sheets embracing him.
"Come to think of it, who am I?"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hah! Told you I had a better punishment than death waiting for the Mishuzis. What could be worse to spoiled brats than being forced to make their own way in the world?
Lots of love to; Watersoul the Head Star Walker, Lanari, HyperMint, kittydemon18, EarthGurdian, Coral Q's bff, QuickStar, LoanyPants, Elvin Magi, InkyManipulation, Taiyoukai's Lady, Muu-chan, Thundercat, Youkai no Yume, Drifting One, tashie1010, and LeafeKnight7 for reviewing through my longest story to date. I had no intention of making this one so long, but I'd say that it worked out pretty well.
More stories to come!
YarningChick