A/N: 'Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful' belongs to the Rogers and Hammerstein musical of Cinderella, not me. Enjoy the final chapter!

Chapter Twenty Six: The Aftermath

"Try not to move," the man said quickly, trying three keys in the flimsy lock before finding the right one. He quickly let himself into the wooden cage, and kneeled next to the teenage boy. His hands were so gentle, as he prodded the boy's body, searching for something.

Realizing that the man wasn't trying to hurt him, the cat-boy held in his moans of pain the best he could.

"This doesn't look good," the man muttered under his breath, taking the long black cloak from around his shoulders to cover the cold lad. "Two of your ribs are broken. Has my daughter told you what we're about to do?"

'What's a daughter?' He stared at the man, not knowing what to say.

"He said he wanted out of here," the little girl reported insistently, pulling on one of the man's sleeves, since she had followed him into the cage. "Please, Papa? He shouldn't be here and get hurt for no reason. They don't deserve him."

The man sighed, and smiled at her before turning his soft gaze to the creature in front of him. "It wouldn't be fair to take you from the gypsies unless you know what you're about to get into. We can't keep you where we live, because someone would find you and take you to a place worse than here. But there's another place that no one knows about, except me and my daughter. There's no sunlight, and it's a little damp. But it will be safe, and I will make sure that you're never hurt or hungry again. Do you still want to come with us?"

"…Yes," was all the teenage cat could say, tears flowing from his large eyes again, but not with pain. What was this new, wonderful feeling filling his body with warmth? Whatever it was, it made his injuries seem less painful.

The man smiled encouragingly at him, and tore off the costume that made him look like a soldier. He then carefully eased the cat creature onto his back. The little girl pulled the hood on the cape over the cat-boy's head before pulling on her own.

They slipped out of the tent, and walked out of the camp like they owned it. The one time they were stopped, the man already had an explanation ready; his father was drunk, and had wanted to see the gypsies perform again.

The teenage cat obligingly made a few noises that were similar to how Jurah sounded when he drank too much, to give credit to the lie.

As the gypsies' voices faded behind him for good, the teenage boy looked down at the little girl again, his heart full of wonder. He still didn't understand why this girl, out of all the people that had ever seen him, had cared enough to do this for him.

He made an unspoken promise to her, right then and there. Somehow, someday, he would repay her for saving his life.

xxXxx

When the light finally faded, the three were gone. But in their place was Dorian Kane; wrapped up in a ridiculous number of knots with a rag stuffed in his mouth. As soon as he was released from his bonds, he called in reinforcements to storm the previously unknown catacombs. Yet, despite how carefully they combed the glistening caves, they were never able to find anything worthy of note.

Oddly enough, Harry was found in his dressing room in his regular clothes, sound asleep. If his claim was to be believed, he had never been close to the stage during the performance.

None of the actors told the same story. Some said that Haru's cat was a magician that had bewitched her, or that she was a witch that gave him a man's shape. Others insisted still that she had married the opera ghost, with the presence and consent of his first wife. After Dorian had gone through the caves enough times, he gave up and had a judge issue an order to find all entrances to the catacombs, and have them permanently sealed to prevent any more accidents.

Humbert, Toto, and Renaldo dutifully denied all knowledge of the caverns and of Haru's personal life, although they were honest enough in saying that they had no clue where she was now. She was reluctantly replaced with one of her students, and life more or less continued at the opera house.

But what remained clear, as time passed, was that the Yoshioka girl was gone for good. No one ever saw her or her cat again, and even the compelling legend of the opera ghost began to fade after the beloved prima donna's disappearance. Maria von Gikkingen's brief appearance was also her last, and no one but her nephew openly lamented that fact.

Ann von Gikkingen suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after arriving home with her son that mystical night. Although Humbert had fought with her more than anything else, he had still loved her, and gave her a proper burial.

Strangely enough, or perhaps not strange at all, Humbert himself married shortly after that strange night. But instead of choosing one of the many noblewomen still vying for his attention, he married a timid servant girl named Louise Miller. Just as his mother feared, the other nobles looked down on him for his choice, and had no qualms with tormenting his new bride.

In response, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen left the city to move to one of his country estates, and never looked back.

ooOoo

"Am I making believe

"I see in you a man too

"Perfect to be really true?

"Do I want you because

"You're wonderful

"Or are you wonderful

"Because I want you?

"Are you the sweet invention

"Of a lover's dream?

"Or are you really as wonderful

"As you… seem-?" a familiar voice crooned lovingly, one gentle hand touching his face.

"Grandfather? Grandfather, are you awake?" A small hand nudged his elbow, enough to make him tiredly open his eyes.

'After all this time, I'm still dreaming of Haru. I hope Louise will forgive me again.'

The years had been kind to Humbert. Although he no longer had the fit body of a young man, he was still healthy, and his white hair was far from balding. His ice blue eyes had filled with wisdom, as well as filled with love as he beheld the youngest of his grandchildren.

She took after her grandmother, with long pale yellow hair, and a sweet disposition to match.

"Yes, my little Rose?" he asked her lovingly, sitting up a little from the lawn chair he had been dosing in.

The eight-year-old smiled shyly at him, and held up a slim blue book. "Will you please read me this story, Grandfather? I've been good all day."

He laughed, and gently pulled her onto his lap; wrapping her in the wool blanket that had been keeping his legs warm. "My little angel," he whispered into her hair, kissing it gently.

"My angel of music," a familiar voice whispered from his memories.

Humbert flinched, and then sighed as he took the book from his beloved granddaughter. "What would you have me read, Little Rose?"

Then his ice blue eyes locked onto the beautiful picture on the cover, making him stare in shock. He knew that face, those eyes!

It seemed that he was not the only one to remember the prima donna, after all.

"It's about Jane the Zealous, Grandfather," the little girl told him with a giggle. "Wasn't she wonderful?"

"Yes," he whispered, as he stared at Haru's face after all these years. "Quite wonderful, indeed."

xxXxx

Lots of love goes to; mizgardenia21, Yva J., PeaceLightVictory, ll Yuna-Chan ll, Marlene00891, Color-de-la-Musica, MossflowerSquirrel, The GamerSwordsman, Bambi4ever, NutMaeg, Midnight the Black Fox, Savannah Cullen, katdemon18, inujisan, aznchocoholic, Catsafari, Victoria Pendragon, CaptainBillyTheWerewolf, Nanenna, booknerdforever, laurashrub, Little Minamino, NINJAkitten214, Kaliea, Sabaku No Ko-chan, Rini's Ghost, sailor star rainbow, Tamashi no Kuroneko, Kintora, Mytho-G, Anonomous-Allstar-Fan (along with Bob and Santa), Ganduen-Vampiress, , Ngoc Chau, fireboltcrazed, Nonimouse, Elizabeth, Bloodsong, Random, The Spiked Dragon, Chantal, Raine Haruto, cwizumi, Kitani, Elvin Magi, CityGal45, Ginko InuKitsune, Lauramichca, YAYfanfics101, James Birdsong, Xiang Yun, Ceysna, Red-hEadNightlOver, Bibliophile Nincompoop, Nichelle M, Yoru-101, Shatatomyo, Maya Maria, Fan, DancingWeretigress, h3rshy675, ArtsyChick, kari910, AlphaSigma, Macjill, Zombei Marionette, Raye of the Sunshine, gacktxx, Apple Juice Revolution, Umino Akiko, GreenRose58, xXbunnyholicXx, Seto-Sesshoumaru-Lover20, Warrior Medic, Phantomhive-Faerie, LeafeKnight7, Lanari, and Astraica for all the loving and thoughtful reviews. I love hearing from you guys, even if my spellcheck despises a majority of you.

The inspiration for this story came from Phantom of the Opera, Sherlock Holmes (just Kane's character, loosely), and Hans the Hedgehog (highly recommended!). Actually, to be honest, this idea originated as a Hans the Hedgehog interpretation, but then I read one too many pleas for a POTO story with the CR cast, and this was the result. I wish I could say more, but I actually finished this one forever ago (back in February, just checked my records). It was a little interesting to do a musical for once, and a little more fun to find new songs to twist a familiar story.

Speaking of twisting, I'm really excited about my next story. It's even longer than Of Fur and Feathers, and I think it's my best piece yet. I'm hoping that all of you will think so, too. But as a warning, it isn't based off of just one story; it's another one of those really mixed up stories that borrows a bit from a ridiculous number of things. Good luck trying to name them all!

aAa

So many secrets, I've longed to share. All I have needed, is someone there! –Frank Wildhorn