Chapter Eighteen: An Overdue Reunion
For the first time in twelve long years, Haru woke up to the feel of a velvety paw on her cheek.
"Haru, please wake up. I'd like to thank you again."
Recognizing Lune's voice, the brunette's eyes immediately shot open to see a familiar feline. She smiled warmly and stroked his back.
"I'm going to assume you had nothing to do with what happened last week."
He laughed a little nervously.
"Yeah, Father let me marry Yuki really fast, and pushed us out the door for our honeymoon. If I had been around to stop what he was doing, or even aware of what he was planning, I can assure you I would have done something."
She smiled warmly and sat up so she could stretch.
"You're here for the gem?"
"Actually, I'm here for you. But I wouldn't mind getting the gem back."
She froze, making the royal realize he had said the wrong thing. He held his front paws up in a defensive gesture.
"I meant Yuki wants to see you, even if it's for a moment. She's a little angry that the only time you came to the kingdom was when she wasn't around to greet you. About thanking you, Father retired from his royal duties after you and Baron humiliated him. He won't be bothering you ever again."
She smiled warmly, and hugged him. The diamond on her finger twinkled with the morning light, reminding the girl that she and Baron would be picking up his mother from the airport today to witness the wedding tomorrow.
"That's good news. Yuki wants to see me?"
The new Cat King nodded. The human girl nervously looked at her door, knowing how her mother would react if Haru disappeared again.
"Um, can I have a little time to slip out of these pjs and write Mom a note, so she doesn't worry?"
"No problem." Lune slipped out of her arms and buried his head firmly underneath the blankets. "I'll be staying down here until you're done," he called out, although Haru could barely hear or understand him. She giggled, glad that he was so different from his father, who she would have just kicked out of the room. That is, if he had found a way in, in the first place.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The new Cat Queen paced the living quarters of the suite she shared with her husband; her heart thumping in her chest.
If going to the human world wasn't so dangerous for her, she would have visited Haru again years ago, probably within a week of the terrible accident. But, that her dear friend would be here soon…
The large fireplace lit up with blue light, making the queen look up at it. Slowly, two figures walked through the portal, and jumped into the room. Yuki froze again, staring at the girl who had once been her mistress.
Besides the longer limbs and hair, Haru didn't look the least bit different. Around her slender neck, the lovely snow cat spied a little golden locket, tied in place with a pink ribbon.
The brunette started crying, looking at her dear friend.
"Oh, Yuki…" Too overcome for words, the human pounced on the cat, and squeezed her hard. Freed by the action, Yuki immediately started hugging the girl back, purring up a storm.
"Haru… I've missed you so much."
The human rubbed her dear friends head, relishing the familiar feel of the soft and silky fur brushing against her fingers. With one hand, the human brunette opened the locket at her throat to reveal a miniature of the white cat now in her arms.
"I've missed you too, Yuki. I'm so glad that you found your happiness."
The white cat started crying, although she wasn't quite sure which particular thing had caused it.
"I wish I could come to your wedding, Haru. This just isn't fair."
Lune made soft comforting noises, licking her cheek.
"We can watch through the crystal ball. At least you two can see each other again."
The two girls nodded happily, drinking in each other's faces.
"I heard your Baron's quite a character," Yuki said mischievously. Haru giggled happily.
"He is. Not too many guys out there would shave a king for me, or do it in such a hot fashion. No offense to you, Lune."
He rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"None taken. Father earned it, and the punch."
"Oh, did he ever," Haru said giggling again. Suddenly, she looked down at her hands, which were beginning to shift into paws once more. "Oops. Looks like I better head back, before I get too comfortable again."
Yuki laughed and nodded, understanding completely. Home is where the heart is, and her dear friend's heart was now with a daring swordsman that was already becoming a legend in the Cat Kingdom.
As was the fair brunette herself.
Lune opened the portal again so Haru could return to her room, his wife taking a lick at the girl's cheek before letting go.
"You'll visit again, Haru?" Yuki said hopefully, not wishing to part ways again. Haru smiled lovingly at her, and blew a kiss.
"Lune's letting me keep the gem, so yes. How do you direct it again?"
The young ruler chuckled.
"Keep the place you want in your heart and squeeze the gem. It helps if you think of a specific place or person to home it down."
Haru laughed, and stole a hug from him as well.
"I think I'll need to practice with it a bit, or I'm going to keep showing up in Baron's lap."
The two cats laughed with her as she walked alone through the portal, and it disappeared behind her. The king turned to his queen.
"Well, my love? Is your heart eased?"
The ivory cat embraced the ebony, and kissed him sweetly enough to turn him into putty between her paws.
"More so than I thought it would ever be again. I'm just so happy…"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Haru stepped neatly into her room, finding her mother sitting on the bed with her note. Naoko looked over shoulder and gave a warm laugh.
"My, that was a short visit. How was Yuki?"
Haru started crying again, and fell into her mother's arms like the child she used to be.
"You were right, all those years ago. She is much happier where she is now."
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Lots of love to; Bambi4ever, sesshoumarufan18, Archon Dragon, kittydemon18, Drifting One, Lunarobi Pride, gacktxx, cuteknight101, QuickStar, Lanari, NinaoftheDarkness, EgyptLover4, gaarapandachan, Inumaru-Chan, Set-Sesshoumaru-Lover18, Rini's Ghost, Redhotgal, chocolatecheese08, and Grassina3 for the hilarious reviews. Thanks for telling me what you think.
I know I've started doing previews of next stories at the end of each story, but I think I'm going to just do two stories at a time for a while. I'm starting to run out of ammunition, if you get my meaning, and circumstances aren't allowing me to write as fast as I had been previously able to.
Still, I hope that you will enjoy the stories that are out, and the ones to come. I've got plans to make you scream in frustration, scratch your head in confusion, weep in sorrow, and laugh in joy. And you KNOW I can do it!
Lots of love, and until next time,
YarningChick