"Is all of this really… necessary?" I murmur to the pink maid refilling my glass of water. "It seems too… extravagant." I play with a ruffle on my dress between my fingers. "I-I'm not complaining, honest. This is a wonderful party, but I just don't want anyone going through so much trouble…"

"No, no, miss, don't think of this like that." The feline smiles. "Everyone is delighted to do this. His Royal Highness has been hoping for some occasion to have a party for. What with all the reconstruction and redesigning of lifestyles, we haven't had reason to party."

"What sort of reconstruction?" I twirl a lock of hair around my finger, which results in me getting glitter off my hair and onto my lap, and I brush it off, keeping my hands in my lap from now on.

"You see, miss, King Lune has wanted to really change how things happen around here from how they were under his father. The maze that I understand you are familiar with has been rebuilt and is just a maze for any, shall we say, daredevils who have a lot of time and determination. No one has attempted it yet. Technology is being built so that if someone gets miserably lost, they can contact us and we can find their location and bring them back here. I think that's how it works, anyway." She laughs. "Pardon, miss. I tend to ramble."

I grin. "Oh, that's alright. I can do my fair share of going on and on in a conversation as well. That's fascinating. What about Lune's father? The previous Cat King? He retired, correct?"

The maid nods, wiping up a nearby drink spill so she remains doing her job. "He is retired. He spends most of his time in his own little tower to the castle, all alone. Natori visits him most out of everyone, except the maids who bring him food and care for him. He prefers to stay in his room. He's gotten so… quiet and… subdued. It's very unlike him before His Majesty King Lune's reign."

"I must admit, I have trouble picturing that myself." I raise my eyebrows. "The Cat King, submissive and not bossy? It's not an easy vision to bring about."

"That's right, miss." She stands up straight, and looks around. "If you'll pardon me, miss, I fear that I may be getting stares from some of the guests who wish to converse with you. I should be getting back to work. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Haru."

I stand up and give her a hug, much to her shock. "I am glad we got to talk." I smile. "I hope to see you again soon, Miss…?"

She blushes and looks down. "My name is Tracy."

"I hope to see you again, Tracy." I smile, and wave as she bows slightly and walks away. "What a nice cat." I say quietly to myself as I walk out to the main floor, where instead of there being entertainment for a choice audience, there is mingling, gossiping, and dancing. "I was too worried about what was happening to me last time I was here to appreciate everyone here and get to know everyone…"

As though the whole floor heard me, I am nearly immediately surrounded by felines, flooded with greetings and questions and hope to strike a conversation with me. I can't tell who is complimenting my dress or who wants to ask questions about the human world or who wants to dance with me. The night goes on in this fashion, me simply entertaining everyone by clumsily dancing with them, and forcing myself to talk dynamically even when all I want to do is collapse on the floor and close my eyes and sleep. I manage to satisfy everyone, or at least those who are mobbing me, and I am about to go sit back at my seat when I see Lune wave me over to where he is sitting. I weave through the crowd and stand on the other side of the table, across from the blue cat.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Haru?" He asks with a warm smile on his face.

I nod, grinning. "Oh, yes. I will admit that this is rather exhausting, but I suppose that's to be expected. It is a party, after all." I laugh and pluck a grape out of a nearby bowl and pop it in my mouth. "Did you need me for something, Lune?"

Lune shrugs and stands, walking around the table to walk with me away from the crowd, closer to the walls. "It's been a while since there has been a party, and, well, my father has been known for throwing them. I fear he may come down…" He looks nervously at the door and then back at me.

"Well he hasn't come down from his room since he retired, correct?" I feel my nose twitch in uneasiness. "So are you maybe overreacting…?"

Lune sighs. "I hope so." He squeezes the bridge of his nose with his paw and squints, and lets his hand fall and he stands straighter. "I'm just overreacting. I shouldn't have worried you like so. My sincerest apologies. I should have known that mentioning my father would make you a little nervous."

I laugh hesitantly. "J-just a little." I pat his shoulder and nod. "We'll… we'll be fine."

He nods. "Right."

I smile comfortingly at Lune, and then excuse myself. I walk closer to the wall, avoiding large crowds. My eyes dart back and forth, looking for the pink cat Tracy. When I see her walking out of the kitchen, balancing a tray of fish on each paw, I catch up to her and grab a tray out of her paw and walk next to her, carrying the tray with two hands rather than a skilled one.

"Miss Haru! What are you doing?" She stutters.

"Oh don't mind me. I just wanted to talk. And I should help, being that I'm taking up some of your time." I smile and empty my tray of fish into a nearly empty plate of the same fish on the buffet table.

"Oh, you should really enjoy the party, miss…" She sighs, emptying her own try onto a different platter.

"I've had a lot of the party in the last few hours, Tracy." I laugh and I lean against the table. "I want to talk again about the former king."

"What's the matter, miss?" Tracy's ear twitches, making her little maid bow wave.

"Would he come down to this party?" I say with all seriousness.

Tracy pouts in thought. "Why… do you ask?"

"Because I honestly don't want to see him. Or, rather, I don't want him seeing me!" I groan and cover my face with my hands. "What happened last time when I was here was probably the scariest I have lived and will ever live through! And I don't really know what he would do to me if he saw me."

"Miss- Miss Haru!" Tracy grabs my hand. "Please calm yourself. I think you're reacting excessively a bit! I said before, didn't I? The former king is so much calmer. I honestly don't think that you're in any danger, if that's what you're getting at."

"But… he didn't want me to go…" My voice squeaks as I gasp. "What if he heard that I'm here?"

"Miss Haru!" Tracy groans. "You're. Fine. Honestly. I doubt he knows you're here. The maids who go up there won't tell him, and I think that Natori doesn't want any more chaos himself, so he certainly won't tell."

"Okay… okay. I'm fine. A-and besides… he isn't king anymore. What could he possibly do to me?" I laugh weakly.

Tracy smiles. "That's the spirit." She stacks my tray on top of hers and balances them on her paw. "Just enjoy yourself here. Okay?" She smiles and I nod, and she walks away, back into the kitchen.

I sigh, and as the party calms down, and the cats file out slowly to go back home so they can sleep (Although it's light outside… so strange, really.) I click my way over to large balcony doors and walk out and lean on the rail, looking up at the clouds above. I rub a lock of my hair between two fingers. I nod. My hair feels much softer.

I'll be just fine.

I'm safe here.

And it's beautiful here.

I'm so blessed.

But… I'm still afraid.

I'll never feel as safe without him by my side.

But I have to move on.

Right?

He isn't here.

I really hoped he would.

But he isn't.

I just… have to accept it.

GROW THE HECK UP, HARU!

I cup my chin in my hands, leaning forward, one foot crossed behind the other. I'll just have to live on, won't I? Find someone else who makes my heart flutter. Who makes a smile grow on my face. Whose face haunts my thoughts and dreams and mind's eye.

Maybe there is someone like that out there, apart from him.

XxXxXxXxX

"She looks just the same as she did. But less… furry." A "hmph" sound is heard from a deep voiced figure.

"Well that's because she hasn't transformed yet."

"Oh, but she will." This is said, followed by a deep and satisfied chuckle.

"What makes you so sure?"

"LOOK at her." The deep voice snarls.

There's a sound of rustling, a sound of something being handed over perhaps.

"What about it?"

"See how alone and terrified she is?" Deep, throaty laughter. "She'll succumb to being unsure in no time. And then that's where I come in. Give me those binoculars back."

The same rustling sound as before: the binoculars being passed from one to another.

"Your son won't be pleased."

"Since when do I care anymore?" The deep voice "hmph"s again.

"I don't think you're planning anything good…"

"You're right. I'm not." The deep voiced figure lowers the binoculars, revealing a bright blue eye and bright red eye, with one purple eye gem on his forehead.

"She didn't become my daughter-in-law last she was here. But I don't think it's due time to give up… No, no, not just yet. Just you watch. Keep an eye on her throughout her time here. Her time will come." The heterochromatic figure laughs excessively and loudly and excessively, turns to go inside his room, and throws his binoculars into his accompanier's general direction.

"Y-yes, sir."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

A/N

Wow. It's been FOREVER.

Heartily sorry.

I'm so incredibly busy, even though it's summer.

AP English assignments, AP Calculus assignments, college applications, SAT reviewing, a babysitting job, (A boyfriend thrown into the mix ;D ) I just haven't been able to write!

And I wasn't totally feeling it with this chapter.

So I'm done with this one.

Fixed it to the best of my abilities.

SAYONARA FOR NOW.

Lots of love,

I.F.

=^.^=