Chapter Twelve: Baron's Past
Muta gaped.
"No way!"
The man turned to the bodyguard, and smiled warmly.
"Why is that so surprising? Has anyone seen me in the past three years?"
"Well, no, but… how on earth did the great Baron von Gikkingen get turned into a cat?!"
The noble sighed as he helped Haru to her feet, and back into her chair to rest for a few minutes.
"I refused a witch's affections. She wanted to turn me into a frog, but her cat jumped in at the wrong minute when she was cursing me. In order to return to being a human, I had to get invited to stay with a maiden for a month, sleeping on her bed each night, and get kissed on the lips. I guess I dawdled so about stealing a kiss because I enjoyed being Haru's cat. It was greatly preferable to living on the streets and ending up in a mother's cooking pot." The man bowed to the young landlord again. "This is a bit late, but thank you for saving my life and giving me a home. Thank you for allowing me to be your sister's companion."
Hashi was struggling to make his mind wake up.
"Then… Machida wasn't crazy? You did turn into a human while Haru slept?"
"…hugging her like a lover…"
"A half-transition, but the viscount was absolutely unhinged, for trying to steal Haru. Nothing improper happened between me and your sister, if that's what you're wondering." His glowing green eyes slit as he regarded the Cat King with obvious disdain. "Oh, what to do with his majesty… I don't feel comfortable with letting him wake up and threaten Haru again, even if I drained his crown of all magic to help her regain her legs and understanding of cat speech." He had heard much about the Cat King when he had whiskers, and precious little of it had been flattering, if any had been said at all.
Muta grinned and cracked his knuckles.
"I can think of something appropriate." He reached down to do something evil to the longhair, but then the hallway became bathed in blue light. A hole had appeared in the wall, revealing a posse of gray cats. They rushed for their king and the two servants, bearing them up on their backs in order to head back toward the light. A dark gray shorthair walked through the portal on his hind legs, and moved aside so that the other cats could pass through. His familiar mismatched eyes looked up towards the girl. He bowed low.
"Beg pardon for my father's behavior, Miss Haru. I assure you he will be out of your life from now on."
She grinned; being the only one in the hallway that could understand the feline.
"If that's the case, I'll call things even. Please don't forget the king's trunk; I doubt my brother will want to keep it."
Hashi nodded firmly, getting the Cat Prince to bow low and send a bigger posse down the hall. Haru smiled warmly at the young royal.
"Tell Yuki I love her, and still think of her."
He grinned and bowed before disappearing into the portal, which disappeared behind him, leaving no trace of the intrusion behind. Muta was frozen in the bent position he was in when the light had intruded; a shocked look on his face. Finally, he straightened, making his bones crack loudly as he groaned. Toto grinned.
"Sounds like old age is coming in fast."
The bodyguard wheeled around to face the falconer.
"Then you'll have to deal with getting pounded by an old man!"
"What are you going to do? Hit me with a cane?" the dark man taunted, drawing out his sword in order to defend himself from the furious attack the fatter man started raining down on him. Baron sighed, now knowing that it was pointless to try to stop them. Suddenly feeling shy, he faced the girl in the chair again.
"The Cat King was right about one thing. You do have your brother wrapped around your finger, which means I better save time and ask you this myself. Would you be displeased if I said I wished to court you?"
His favorite smile lit up the young girl's face. Hashi smiled as well, still feeling nervous about the fact that his sister had basically been sleeping with a man for months, although he had been assured that nothing had happened.
'Well, the third one's supposed to be the charm.'
"I wouldn't mind you courting me in the least, Baron," Haru said firmly, her eyes sparkling happily as the man leaned over her to embrace the girl fondly and steal another kiss. The slim brunette giggled as his familiar purr started reverberating out of his throat.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
By the tall window of a modest country home, an elderly woman kept watch on the road from her place near the window. A servant had left her a bit of tea to keep up her strength, but it had long been cold. A fine bit of embroidery was stretched in a hoop on her lap, but the lady of the estate could never have focused on it, now of all times.
A month before, Lady von Gikkingen had received a letter, from the son everyone but her had assumed to be long dead. In it contained many things, some of which the lady wasn't quite ready to believe.
But there were two things in the letter that she did believe with all her heart. One; that her son was coming home soon. Two, that he would be bringing back a bride that she would love as her own daughter.
Her heart heaved, wishing that time would fly by faster, although she knew from experience that watching the clock only made the time as slow as a slug.
Finally, there! In the distance! A wagon!
Lady von Gikkingen leapt out of her high back chair, and hurried down the stairs. A laundry maid held her basket out of the lady's way with a grin, knowing that nothing could distract her from the fact that her son had finally returned. She had worked the house over, to be sure that all would be ready for the baron's arrival, and had only been waiting by the window because her maids had begged her to, in order to preserve what was left of their sanity as they finished the last touches.
Somewhat still mindful of her dignity, the woman stood quivering on the very edge of the porch, and waited impatiently as the wagon came closer. Yes, she could see the golden hair that had once graced her husband's head, bless him.
Humbert pulled into clear sight, being dressed in his usual gray suit. By his side was a slim young woman, her huge dark eyes wide with excitement. She was a lovely thing to be sure, and looked familiar, for some reason.
Her son halted the horses, and nearly jumped off the wagon in order to embrace her.
"I've missed you so, Mother."
She clung to him, slightly scared that this was yet another dream, and he would disappear from her grasp if she happened to blink.
"Humbert von Gikkingen, if you ever disappear like that again, I'll-"
"Please, Mother," he pleaded painfully. "I don't think I'll be leaving home any time soon. Except perhaps visits to my new brother-in-law." Still smiling widely, he released his mother, and offered a hand to the lovely brunette still on the wagon so she could get down. She smiled lovingly at him, completely respecting the moment he had needed to spend with his mother. She was standing now, and delicately hopped off the wagon with her husband's assistance. Beaming, the golden lord put her in front of him a bit, so his mother could get a good look at the new baroness.
"Mother, this is Haru."
The lady carefully looked over her daughter-in-law, certain that she had seen that face before. The young woman smiled shyly.
"Hello." Her dark brown eyes flicked once, and she started rummaging in the satchel that was strewn across one shoulder. With one hand, she neatly drew out a small bundle of lace trimming. "This is for you, Mother."
The pattern was one that the elder baroness had ordered a few months before. Recognizing the familiar handiwork, she suddenly connected the dots.
"You're Hashi's sister, aren't you?"
She nodded, smiling widely. The woman laughed once, having heard much about her, and embraced the girl fondly.
"Welcome home, daughter."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Lots of love to; EarthGurdian, Drifting One, Lunarobi Pride, NinjaoftheDarkness, Lanari, Bambi4ever, kittydemon18, QuickStar, sesshoumarufan18, Hypermint, Queen B of Randomness, Bibishi Kuronecko787, Lady Moon Dragon, Thundercat, Lauramichca, Rini's Ghost, mangafairy, smart-monkey7, and Rebel of my Destiny for the hilarious reviews. I just love hearing people give their opinions about my work.
Everyone's familiar with the routine by now, right? A new story on the horizon, and even a small sneak peak; A year after their parents' death, Renaldo and Toto Moon find a small piece of paper that changes their lives forever, as well as that of their best friend's.