Hey! Considering I just joined FanFiction, I haven't written a Christmas FanFic yet. So, here's one made just for BaronXHaru. Hope you enjoy! Could be a OneShot. Depends on how much I can write on this. Ok, enough of my rambling! Here's "Christmas Wonders"

Disclaimer: Studio Ghibli owns The Cat Returns


"What?" Hiromi exclaimed. "What do you mean you're not going?" We've been on the phone for about an hour discussing the Christmas Talent Show that's held in the park every year for Christmas. She's been talking about it all week, considering it's in about a week, completely convinced that I was planning on going; I tried to persuade her otherwise.

"Hiromi, it's just not my thing. Plus, it's too cold…" I objected. "Why not go with Tsuge?" I suggested.

"He has a tournament next week and needs his rest. He said he didn't have time for a talent show…" She replied, sadness in her voice. "You wouldn't have to do anything. Just come with me! I've been looking forward to this all week!" She went on and on about how she would really appreciate it, how she would repay me later, and other sorts of repayments. Each time, however, I politely turned her down. I knew she wouldn't be happy, but I just wasn't into going to public events such as this.

"I'm sorry, Hiromi…" I said. "I just don't enjoy these kinds of events anymore. You go enjoy yourself!" I tried to sound as cheerful as possible to lighten the mood. "I promise that I'll make it up to you somehow." I apologized about four more times before Hiromi finally accepted it. We talked for a while longer before Hiromi had to go get ready for a meeting with Tsuge. I apologized one more time before hanging up. I felt pretty bad about not accompanying her. I just don't enjoy those events anymore.

"Maybe Mom will be able to make a quick call…" I thought out loud. Upon saying this, I picked the phone up again. I dialed the number she had left for me to contact her. Upon finally finishing her quilt pattern, she had a job meeting in America to discuss selling and reproducing her patterns. She was finally moving on in her life…which is more than I can say for myself. I listened for her to pick up on the other end, but unfortunately there was no answer. I reluctantly placed the phone back on the receiver.

"December 15th, and she's still not able to speak…What are they doing over there?" I thought out loud. I mentally scolded myself for speaking to myself. I've been doing that a lot lately considering mom hasn't been at home. I decided to put my mind off it and do some homework that I had left over from break.

An hour or two went by, when I finally realized what time it actually was. The clock read about 11:30, and my eyes felt like sandpaper from staring at quadratic equations all night. I placed my homework back in my schoolbag neatly, shut all the lights and appliances off, and went upstairs to get ready for bed.

When I laid down in my bed, I let my mind wander throughout all my memories and thoughts of previous events in my life. "I wonder what Baron is up to right now…" I found myself saying in my mind. "Knowing him, he's probably sitting with a cup of his own special blend of tea, listening to Muta and Toto with their usual antics." I thought out loud. "Oh, Baron…How I miss seeing you…" I again scolded myself for talking to myself again. "Ok…go to sleep Haru…you know it's never going to happen…" I reached over, shut my bedside light off, and tucked those thoughts back into the back of my mind, allowing sleep to take me over.


The familiar sound of my cow-shaped alarm clock shrieked loudly as it shocked me awake the next morning. I reached over reluctantly, shut it off, and rolled back over, trying to block out the offensive rays of light from the sun. When I couldn't get comfortable again, I rolled out of bed, groggily threw an outfit on for the day, and went downstairs to start a cup of tea. When I was sitting down at the table, my cup of tea in hand, I went over my agenda for the day out loud.

"Go to the store to get groceries, meet Hiromi for some coffee at our favorite café, then the rest of the day is pretty much empty…" I thought about what I could do for the rest of the day. Lately, my afternoons consisted of sitting around the house, watching the snow fall, waiting for mother to come home from her business meeting in America. I sighed deeply, before finishing my cup of tea, getting my coat and winter attire on, and heading out to the grocery store.

"Brr…" I quietly sounded. "It's freezing out this morning…" My breath forming in the air with each word. I continued down the street to the store, quickening my pace. "At least the café will be buzzing, which means the coffee will be fresh." I thought out loud.

When I finished my grocery shopping, I took them back home, put them all away, and went back on my way to the café I was to meet Hiromi at. I noticed I was a little early, so I decided to get us a table by the window. I sat down, placed my jacket and other winter attire over my chair, and waited for Hiromi to arrive. It wasn't until about 15 minutes later that she finally showed up. She came in, flustered with the fact that she had just ran straight from home to the café to make it in time.

"Sorry I'm late, Haru!" She said. "I overslept…" She lowered her head in embarrassment. I chuckled at her behavior.

"It's fine Hiromi. I don't have anything else going on today." I replied. She settled down upon hearing this, and sat down at the table I had reserved for us. I ended up getting a cappuccino, whilst she got a white hot chocolate. We sat and talked for a while, bringing up all sorts of topics.

"So, your mom hasn't made it home yet?" She asked. I shook my head.

"No, she also hasn't picked up since she left." I replied with a frown. "I'm starting to get a little worried." Hiromi's face was stricken with concern.

"Haru, I'm sure she's fine. It's probably just taking a while for the business to make arrangements for production." She reassured me. I smiled softly at her, before nodding.

"You're probably right, Hiromi." I said. We sat for a while longer, talking about this and that. We sat there for about an hour, before Hiromi said she had to get home before her mom started wondering where she was. I agreed, before saying goodbye and going our separate ways. I was walking, and noticed where I had come to; the Crossroads. I looked around, noticing that there weren't many people around. Then, I looked over to the dining tables that were conveniently placed outside the little café, noticing a big, white ball of fur on one of the chairs. I grinned widely, before quickly making my way over to the ball of fur. I snuck up quietly, before poking the giant feline gently. He lifted his head to glare at me, obviously annoyed with me. I giggled at his expression.

"Hey, Fatso." I said with a grin. He just glared at me a bit. "Oh, don't look so cross. I just wanted to see how you were. And the Bureau, how is everyone at the Bureau?" The cat just looked at me before saying,

"You want to just come find out yourself?" The sudden question startled me a bit, but I hesitantly nodded. Upon seeing this, the cat jumped off the chair and ran in the direction I knew all too well. We made our way back through the many ally ways, making sure to be a bit lighter on my feet whilst climbing over the roof tops as to not alert any of the residents in the houses. When we made it to the white arch, I stopped for a moment, noticing myself feeling a bit strange. I suddenly noticed that things seemed to be getting larger.

"Um…Muta?" I managed to say. He turned around upon hearing this. He had to do a double-take upon seeing me. He stood there staring at my now shrunken body.

"Well…didn't see that one coming…" He managed to squeak out.


Well, good start! I like where this one is going. Gimme your thoughts. R&R, Comment, and criticize.