Sorry for the long delay! It's been a busy summer. Here's the next chapter. Takes place a little while after the previous one.

Hiromi was sitting alone at an outside table in the downtown district's crossroads, glancing through a magazine. School was out, and it was a beautiful Saturday morning. Suddenly a familiar voice came up from below.

"Hey, kid, how ya doin'?" A large white cat with a stubby tail jumped up on a chair.

"Oh, hi Muta!" She put down the magazine.

"So, where's your partner in crime?"

Hiromi laughed. "Oh, she and her mom took a train to Yokohama for a quilting exhibition."

"No boyfriend? No...whaddya call it? That thing with the little white ball?"

"Ping pong."

"That what it's called? HAW! So, where's he at?"

"Visiting grandparents," Hiromi sighed. "He…"She stopped suddenly, noticing bypassers staring at her having a conversation with a cat.

Blushing, she blurted out "Heh! Practicing my lines for a play!" Smiling, the others nodded and kept on walking. "Whew!" She breathed a sigh of relief, puffing her cheeks.

"Tsk, tsk, gotta watch out, kiddo."

"Mmm hmm," she nodded, then looking to see an empty street, said "Hey! Let's go visit The Baron!"

"What, now?" He complained, "I just got comfortable."

"Aw, c'mon," she chided, putting the magazine in her backpack. "I've got nothing else to do, and I haven't seen him in a while. Or Toto."

"Oh, alright," he sighed, jumping off the chair. "You goin' like that, or…?"

"Well, I can't change here! Maybe when we arrive at the Cat Bureau."

"Eh, suit yourself," he replied, and took off down an alley. "Try to keep up."

Hiromi was physically fit, and managed to easily follow Muta. "Pretty spry for such a fat cat!" she chuckled to herself. The walls grew narrower and narrower, and finally led to the miniature portal that brought them into the Cat Bureau's courtyard. Entering, Hiromi touched her red amulet and said "Cat". She collapsed into her human clothes and crawled out, an orange tabby. She then proceeded to fold her clothes and tuck them into her backpack.

"Well, hello there, Hiromi!" came a greeting from above.

She looked up to the pedestal. "Hi, Toto! Nice to see you again! Is The Baron in?"

"He's here," said Muta, reading the Baron's newspaper. "Just wait for the light show."

Although it was still morning in Hiromi's world, the sun's rays began shining over the tops of the building, reflecting its rays onto the courtyard windows. The beams all focused onto the Cat Bureau's office building, and shortly thereafter, The Baron stepped out.

"Greetings, Hiromi," he said, "so nice of you to visit. Would you care for some tea?"

"Oh, yes, please," she smiled, and she and Muta came in the door, while Toto flew in the second-floor window.

"No sponge cake?" Grumbled Muta, looking in the pantry.

"Not this time," smiled The Baron. "Pastries, instead." Taking out a tray. Muta reached for it, but Baron pulled back, saying "Tsk, tsk! Ladies first," and served it to Hiromi.

"Oh, thank you!" The cat-girl replied, and took one. "Mmm, delicious!"

"Your turn, big boy," cracked Toto from the alcove. The white cat glared, then grabbed several pastries.

"So, how's Haru?" asked Baron, "and all your work at the castle?"

"Things are great! Naeku and I are helping with research, and I've been helping Haru find good cats for emigration to the kingdom."

"And Muta's been teaching us the proper ways of getting around in cat form," she smiled.

"What's this? Muta the teacher? Nice to meet you, professor!" Chuckled Toto.

"Can it, birdbrain! If it wasn't for me, those two woulda gotten in lotsa trouble! Like what happened a while ago!"

"Yes, that was a troubling experience," remarked The Baron. "Thank goodness Haru was found!"

"It's true, Toto; Muta's been a great teacher, showing us how to avoid getting in trouble. Mrs. Yoshioka lets us travel beyond the confines of the yard now."

"Bravo, Muta!" said The Baron, raising his cup. "You sure you won't have some tea?"

"Nah," he replied, polishing off the rest of the pastries, "just tastes like boiled grass to me."

"So, how are you, Baron? Have you been helping someone in need recently - that is, if I may ask?"

"Of course! There's an American organization called the "Animal Rescue Corps" that The Bureau has been assisting - covertly - in rescuing animals in hoarding situations.

"Covertly?"

"Yes. You see, we have a human point of contact who knows about The Bureau, much like you and Haru. I help him find these locations, and his organization works with the local authorities in securing a warrant to enter the property."

In fact, I'm headed to Tennessee. There's been a report passed on to the Bureau of yet another one of these situations."

"Another hoarding, Baron?" Said Toto. "That's terrible!"

"How did you find out?" Asked Hiromi.

"He's got ears in lotsa places, kiddo," chuckled Muta.

"In this instance, from a cat that escaped. He passed the world on to a local contact of mine."

"Toto and I must leave soon. It's a long journey to Tennessee."

"I can get you there," Hiromi replied, pointing to her amulet.

"What?! Are you kiddin? No way!" Yelled Muta.

"Why? What's wrong?" She asked.

"I'll tell ya what's wrong! I've been there with The Baron; it's in the backwoods for one. Two, you and your partner have only been walkin' around your town in cat form. Three, it's in America! You ever been there?"

"Yep."

"Huh? Well, that's still two outta three."

"I have to agree with Muta, Hiromi," said The Baron. "It would be much too dangerous for you to go there without some serious backup."

"Well, what about you three?" she protested.

"I have a suggestion," said Toto. Everyone looked up to the balcony.

"Let Hiromi use her amulet to bring us there for now, but don't go into the location. You need to speak with your contact, Baron, correct?"

"Yes, that is so."

"Well, let this be a rendezvous trip, to gather information. Then, come home, and let Hiromi make arrangements with the Cat Kingdom. Perhaps Prince Lune can let one or two of his Ninja Cats accompany Hiromi, and Haru on the next trip. After all, if there are cats at this location, might they be eligible to emigrate to the kingdom?"

"Hmm, that may be the case, Toto," said The Baron. "And Haru being the Minister, would have that authority, isn't that correct, Hiromi?"

"Yes, I'm sure she'd want to come with us, to speak to any cats there!"

"Good thinking, Toto!" Said The Baron. "Very well, Hiromi, we journey with your amulet, but only to meet my contact. After our conversation, we return, understood?"

"Understood."

"I still don't like it," said Muta, "but you've got my protection."

"Thanks, Muta," smiled Hiromi, and gave him a hug. He groaned.

"S'matter, Muta? Cat got your tongue?" chuckled Toto.

"Can it, birdbrain!" He snapped.

A portal opened up in a wooded area near the Tennessee / Mississippi border, about an hour and a half southeast of Memphis. Out stepped The Baron, Toto, Muta, and Hiromi. Given the time difference, it was near midnight.

"My contact should be nearby," said The Baron.

"How are we supposed to find him?" asked Toto.

"The coordinates I gave Hiromi should have put us right next to a clearing up ahead. He'll be there waiting for us. Let us go. Toto, take to the sky and be a lookout for any humans that might wander near."

"Got it!" And Toto flew away, hovering above. The remaining three walked toward the clearing. A young cat came toward them. He was a Lilac-Point Siamese.

"Are you The Baron?" He asked.

"I am indeed. You must be Apollo."

"Yes. And who are your partners?"

"This is Muta, a long-time friend, and my other associate here is Hiromi. Flying above us doing surveillance is another associate - a crow named Toto. He will alert us to the presence of any humans."

Hiromi offered a paw. "Nice to meet you, Apollo." Smiling, he returned the gesture. Muta crossed his arms.

"You'll have to forgive Muta," said The Baron, "he's a little wary of new cats."

"Understood. It's wise to be careful."

"So, how can The Cat Bureau be of assistance? I have a contact in The Animal Rescue Corps who can plan a rescue of the animals in the hoarding situation from which you escaped."

"My family is still trapped there," he began. "I promised them I'd find a way for everyone to get out - but also, if possible, all the animals imprisoned."

"How many animals are being held there?" Asked Hiromi.

"Hard to say. They keep us locked up, but word gets around. 20 cats. Many, many more dogs - I'd say dozens. And horses!"

"They keep my family locked up in a single room. The smell is terrible! We - all of us - have infestations: fleas, ticks, eye infections." He pointed to his eye, which was swollen and red.

Hiromi put a paw on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Apollo! Baron, we've got to do something!"

"I'll contact my human at the Corps immediately. We will begin the rescue process."

"How long will it take?" He asked.

"They will work with local law enforcement," The Baron explained. "They will be taken out of that situation and transported to an emergency shelter."

"What will happen to my family? I don't want to be separated from them."

"I may be able to help," said Hiromi."

"You, Hiromi? How?"

"Are you familiar with The Cat Kingdom?" asked The Baron.

"Somewhat," Apollo answered, "but only in stories."

"It's a real place," Hiromi responded. "I work there, with my friend Haru, who is an Ambassador. She may be able to arrange for your family to emigrate to the kingdom. I can't speak for her, but when we return, I can bring Ambassador Haru with us."

"I would like that very much, Hiromi."

"First things first, Apollo," said The Baron. "Let me start the process of getting everyone rescued."

"Agreed. When can we meet again?"

"I meet with my human contact tomorrow morning your time," The Baron replied. "After that, it depends on how long it takes for the local authorities to put together a search warrant. I will keep you informed every step of the way, but I will warn you, sometimes these things take a few days."

"Thank you for your honesty, Baron. I just want these animals freed."

"We do too, Apollo, we do too!" said Hiromi.

"We'll meet again tomorrow, same time," The Baron replied.

Toto landed. "Baron! Humans approaching!"

"We'd best be on our way," said The Baron. Hiromi glanced at the Siamese contact, worried.

"I'll be fine," Apollo winked, "see you tomorrow," and ran back into the woods.

Hiromi touched her amulet. "Portal, Cat Bureau."

"You went where?" Haru had returned from Yokohama, and Hiromi was telling her about her trip.

"I used my amulet to bring The Baron, Muta and Toto to a spot in America," she explained. "The Baron is assisting with a rescue. Oh, Haru, it's horrible! These animals are being held captive! We spoke with a cat who escaped; his name is Apollo, and his family is still there. The Baron's going to arrange a rescue with a human contact that knows of the Cat Bureau."

Haru sat down in her desk chair. "Oh, Hiromi! I wish you'd called me! This is somewhat unprecedented. But I'm glad you came back safe."

"The Baron suggested we talk with Prince Lune. Once they arrange for the rescue, perhaps you and I can go with some Ninja cats for protection. The contact cat, Apollo, said he would like very much if he and his family could emigrate to the Cat Kingdom."

Haru thought about that proposition. "I'll be glad to talk to him and his family," she replied, "but I think we'll have to run this trip past my mom."

"America?! Absolutely not!"

"But…"

"Hiromi, your parents don't even know that you can change into a cat! Much less about the Cat Kingdom! How do we explain to them if you get captured by these, these, people running that hoarding house? Or if you get picked up by the Animal Rescue Corps and lose your amulet?"

"But what if we have the protection of Ninja cats?" asked Haru. "And The Baron, Muta and Toto will be with us. Mom, I want to try to help Apollo and his family find their way to The Cat Kingdom."

Naoko sighed. "I don't know, Haru."

"Well, what if you came with us?"

"Me? I don't speak English - I doubt I'd be of much help."

"You could come to the Cat Kingdom, complete your transformation to a Tuxedo Cat and join us," smiled Hiromi."

"Uh, no," replied Naoko. "Suppose The King doesn't authorize an amulet for me? I don't think they have quilting in the Cat Kingdom."

"Mom, I want to help these cats," said Haru. "I want to get Apollo's family out of there."

Naoko sat back in her chair, silent for several minutes. Haru and Hiromi sat up, waiting.

"Only if you can get, at minimum, four Ninja cats accompanying you," she finally replied.

Haru jumped out of her chair! "Thanks, Mom! You're the best!"

A portal opened up again near the same spot near the Tennessee / Mississippi border. Out stepped three Ninja Cats. They did a quick reconnoiter of the area, then returned to the open portal, where the fourth was standing guard. "It's safe, Ambassador," the Ninja Captain told Haru. "Thank you," she replied, and the rest of the party came out: Haru, The Baron, Muta, Toto, and Hiromi.

"Where is Apollo?" Haru asked.

"Just up ahead, in the clearing," Baron told her, and the group proceeded as the portal closed. Toto took off into the sky. As they came into the clearing, Apollo met them.

"Baron, good to see you again. I see you brought some others."

"Yes, Apollo. Allow me to introduce Ambassador Haru. She is here with four Ninja Cats from the Cat Kingdom. They are accompanying the Ambassador for her protection."

"Very pleased to meet you, Apollo," said Haru, offering a paw. "I am so deeply sorry for your family's situation, as well as the other animals. The Baron will discuss his arrangements for the rescue with human authorities, and I am prepared to bring the cats with me to the Cat Kingdom."

"Thank you Ambassador," he replied. "I am anxious to get them all to a better place."

"Here's what's going to happen," began The Baron. "We will rescue the cats first. You must show us where they are."

"How can I do that without getting caught?"

"Are you able to identify the building from the air?"

"Yes, I can. When I escaped, I remember the lay of the land. It was nighttime."

"Good. When night falls, Toto will take you and Haru up in the air, and you show her which building. Then, you three return. She will then use her amulet to open a portal to the building, and you, Haru, and the Ninja cats go there. You bring them to the room, and rescue the cats."

"Wait - fly? Up in the air?!"

"It's alright, Apollo," said Haru. "Toto does this all the time, with The Baron, me, and others."

Apollo gave a quick glance at Muta, and was about to say something. Muta growled "Hey!"

"Yes," Haru smiled, "Muta too."

He sighed. "Alright, if it has to be, then I'll do it - for my family."

The sun had set over the mountains. Toto flew over the compound where the animals were being kept.

"Oh, Apollo!" said Haru, "so many horses! And dogs!"

"Yes, I had to run fast to get past the dogs once I got out of the house," he said tensely, gripping on to Toto. Thinking of his family, he forced himself to look down on the buildings.

"There! They are being held in that small building on the north side!"

"I see it," said Haru.

"Me too," said Toto.

Suddenly, shots were fired from below! A bullet zinged past Toto's left wing. "Time to go!" He yelled, and made a quick turn. They left quickly as the shots continued.

They landed back in the clearing. "Are you OK, Toto?" Haru asked anxiously.

"I'm alright," he responded, "but those bullets were close!"

"Bullets?" asked The Baron.

"The owner," said Apollo. "He's pretty good with a gun, unfortunately."

"Ambassador, I don't like this," said the Ninja Captain. "You stay here; we will rescue the cats."

"I have to go," she replied. "It's my job to authorize their entry."

"Very well," he sighed, and turned to the three. "You surround her, you hear?"

"Yes sir!" They replied.

"Alright, the authorities are arriving tomorrow morning with a warrant to enter the property," said The Baron. "My contact knows about Minister Haru's rescue, so he's not expecting to find any cats."

He turned to Haru, Apollo and the Ninja cats. "Ready when you are."

About 4:00am, a portal opened next to the compound on the north side, adjacent to a small building. The rescue crew stepped out. Apollo led them to the door, which was padlocked.

"Not a problem," said the Ninja Captain, and unsheathing one of his claws, he stuck it in the lock and it clicked open. Carefully removing the lock, he slowly opened the door. "Apollo, go inside and let everyone know they're leaving," said The Baron. He nodded and stepped inside. Haru opened a communications portal to the Cat Kingdom, alerting them to the arrival of the new immigrants. "Understood, Ambassador," said Naeku, "we're ready at this end, and medical cats will receive the injured and sick."

Inside the dark, dank room, the 20-odd cats all lay in filth. Suddenly, they heard the lock open and the door swing out. "What's that?" said Tina.

"Can't be Henderson," said Marcus, "he doesn't get up until 5:00 at the earliest." They listened intently. No sound.

Apollo crept down the hallway to the room where his family and the others were being kept, with two of the Ninja cats following behind. The Ninja Captain and the fourth remained at watch outside with Haru.

"This door," he told them, and they set about opening it.

"Someone's opening the door!" Said Tina.

"At this hour?" By now, others were waking up, wondering what was going on. Then, the door opened. Apollo stepped inside.

"Apollo!" Yelled his mother. She got up to hug him. "You've come back!"

"Yes, but we must hurry! I have an escape for you - for all of you!" They all started getting up.

That was when the dogs began barking.

"What the hell is wrong with those damned dogs?" Yelled Henderson, getting out of bed. He grabbed his shotgun.

"Alright! Alright! What's the damned fuss!" He cursed, stepping out of his house. The dogs started running north to the small building where the cats were being kept.

By now, Haru had opened a portal to the Kingdom, and the first group of cats had gone through. "Hurry! Hurry!" she yelled, as the dogs began rushing up the trail towards them, with Henderson in tow.

"Hiromi! Open another portal!" And she did, giving them a second escape route. Apollo stood next to Hiromi, helping the kittens and disabled into the portal.

"What the…?" Who let the cats out?!" Yelled Henderson, and lifted up his shotgun to fire at the group. But no sooner did he pull the trigger when the barrel was pushed down by Toto, causing it to fire harmlessly into the ground.

"Gol'dang bird! I'll kill you!" He yelled, and reached out to grab the crow by his neck, but Henderson was set upon by the Ninja cats! They attacked his hands and face, clawing and biting. He screamed in agony and dropped his shotgun. "Aaaah! Get 'em off! Get 'em off!"

Haru, Hiromi, Baron, Muta and Apollo had by this time helped all of the cats out of the compound building and into the portal. The Ninja cats had terrorized Henderson so badly he ran away, back to his house. They returned to the group. "Thank you, Captain! Thank you all! We wouldn't have been able to do this rescue without you!"

The Captain and the three saluted. "Our pleasure, Minister!"

Apollo turned to thank everyone. "I don't know what to say," he told them. "When I first escaped, I only thought of my family, and how I could get them out of there. Then, when I met your contact out there in the woods, Baron, I wasn't sure whether it was a true story or just a joke. But I will never forget you - all of you."

"Our pleasure, Apollo," The Baron replied. "You have a tremendous nine lives ahead of you in the Cat Kingdom."

Toto landed to wish him well. "Good luck to you, Apollo," he said.

Muta nodded. "Glad you got yer family outta there," he told him.

Haru came up and took his paw. "I will be in the kingdom shortly to check up on you and your family, Apollo," she told him.

"Thank you, Ambassador," he smiled.

Hiromi came up, and gave him a hug. "I'm so happy for you!" she said. "You get that eye taken care of, you hear?"

"I will, Hiromi," he smiled. "Hope to see you soon!" And he stepped into the portal.

"We'll leave now, Ambassador," said the Ninja Captain, and they went through.

"All accounted for, Naeku," Haru told her secretary.

"Very good, Ambassador," she replied, and the portal closed.

"Well, Haru, we'd better get out of here ourselves," said the Baron. "The authorities are due to arrive soon. I suspect that owner's day is about to get much, much worse."

"I certainly hope so!" She replied, and touching her amulet, said "Portal, Cat Bureau."

By the way, the "Animal Rescue Corps" is real - you can Google the name. They do rescue operations like this one (although I can't say whether the Cat Bureau assists!). Their Mission Statement: "Animal Rescue Corps' mission is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action, and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals."

BTW, do I detect a blossoming relationship between Hiromi and Apollo? We'll see! :-)

Thanks for reading. Please review.