Two newborns cried in the night, two half creations, one white and one black. The black one had brown eyes, the white one had green. The mother and father held one each, a human woman, and a Half-cat man. The black kitten in the mothers arms turned to a more human appearance, eyes remaining those of a cat, black hair and fair skin. The white kitten remained as she was, the parents looked to one another.
"Baron..." The woman said smiling gently.
"I know Haru, you keep them both, give them a normal life." Baron nodded rocking the small white kitten. "The bureau is no life for children."
"No Baron, I'll not take both, I want you to raise one of them. I will not deny you the gift of being a parent." Haru stated stubbornly. Baron opened his mouth to complain but Haru had fallen asleep. He never would have changed her mind in the first place.
oo0oo
Jemuzu Yoshioka couldn't help what he looked like. He was bullied for his eyes and the way he acted sometimes. Certain smells made him sick and sweets nearly caused him to throw up. Jemuzu didn't care though, as long as he got home at the end of the day to see his mother he was happy. His mother was the only one in his life that made him feel welcomes. His grandmother was close but sometimes he thought she only loved him because of his mother.
Jemuzu's trip home this afternoon was cut short by rain. Running under a tree he growled up at the sky and pulled out his phone fumbling with it for a moment before pulling up his mother's number. Putting to his ear after pressing the accept button the familiar ringing sound followed by his mother's voice.
"Hello? Is everything alright dear?" Haru asked. "Oh is it the rain dear? I know you don't like it."
"It's cold and wet." Jemuzu whined. "And I forgot my umbrella."
"Oh dear, don't worry I'll be there shortly, how far are you."
"I made it to the cross roads."
"Hang tight honey I'll be about five minutes."
Jemuzu nodded and set the in his pocket looking up tthe sky angrily. A black bird caught his eye, something orange and white on it's back. Hard to tell at this distance, the boy dismissed it and sat under the tree waiting for his mother.
oo0oo
"Father why are you watching that boy again?" Louise von Gikkingen asked her father, both sat atop a crow.
"He might be in trouble dear, remember we help those in need." Baron answered smiling back at his daughter.
"Rain isn't really trouble father, it's just, wet and gross." Louise was happy for the magic around them, acting as an umbrella.
A car drove up and the boy was let inside. Baron nodded and smiled lightly, the bird turning towards their home. The sanctuary was quiet when they arrived, a large white cat was sat in front of the bureau reading from a paper. Louise ran over to him and hugged him.
"Hi uncle Muta!" The white half cat chirped, Muta wrapping his paws around her.
"Hey, how was flying today?" Muta asked setting Louise on his lap.
"It was awesome, well until father stopped to watch that boy again."
Muta looked to Baron and sighed setting Louise down. Baron walked over and picked up his daughter.
"Baron you, the kid will be fine, he is with her, and I know you trust her more then anyone else." Muta said looking at the bird. "Ah birdbrain is back, looks like you didn't drop em."
"Ah butterball, get some new insults this old content gets boring after a while." The bird snickered and flew up to his pedestal.
"Father, Uncle Muta and Toto are fighting again." Louise complained, Baron shifted her on his side and smiled.
"It's what they do best dear, come let's continue with your training. How is your magic practice coming along." Baron asked walking into the bureau.
oo0oo
Jemuzu stepped through the front door with a big smile on his face. Jemuzu ran to the livingroom and sat on the couch, his mother entering the house and heading to the kitchen.
"Jemuzu dear, would you like some blueberry juice?" Haru called from the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge.
"Yes please." Jemuzu replied pulling out a book.
Haru soon exited the kitchen with a glass of blueberry juice and a plate of sliced melon. Jemuzu took the glass and a slice, nodding.
"Thanks mommy."
Haru smiled and nodded sitting down to him and pulling him close, she turned on the TV. Jemuzu kept his eyes off of it, too much usually hurt his eyes, and he wanted to watch his favorite show before that. There was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it, stay here dear." Haru said standing up.
Jemuzu didn't pay attention to the conversation, at least not until he heard crying.
"You're sure it was her car?" Haru sobbed quietly. "You're sure it belonged to my mother?"
"I'm afraid so ma'am. She was killed on impact. I'm sorry."
Jemuzu sat there staring at the book in his lap. His grandmother was gone, he couldn't process just what that meant at first, his drink falling from his hand. Haru ran into the livingroom seeing tears fall down her shocked child's face. Wrapping him in a hug she started rocking him.
The day of the funeral Jemuzu stood next to his grandmother's grave. He hadn't known her well, but she was the only one other than his mother that loved him, or at least tried to. In the end Jemuzu's grandmother was truly starting to love him, and now she was gone. Jemuzu felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see a cat. Half-cat, orange and white fur, straight out of one of his mother's stories.
"Jemuzu. This is Baron and Louise, they agreed to let us stay with them." Haru said standing next to a small white half-cat. "I have explaining to do, you will have to listen very closely."
"Haru, you do not have to explain right this moment. I had hoped you wouldn't have to explain until they were older." Baron said turning to Haru.
"No Baron, it would be better to explain it to them now, with..." Haru started to tear ip and wiped them away. "With mother gone, and Hiromi with Tsuge, nothing is holding us apart. Nothing is left in this world for us."
Baron sighed and nodded picking Jemuzu up. Jemuzu didn't say anything or fight back, he leaned into Baron's side, want any kind of comfort. Anything to get away from confusion and sadness. Haru took the white half-cat's hand and followed after them. Their destination was the portal to Baron's world.
oo0oo
"Baron is your father." Haru said, Jemuzu's eyes widening.
"And Haru is your mother." Baron said to the white half-cat, her eyes widening now.
"That makes you and Louise siblings." Haru finished.
"But mother, We're human." Jemuzu blurted out. "There is no way we are related to these two."
"We are dear, in Baron's world I am like them."
"Why are they like that here?"
"We have spent most of our lives there, in time you will look like this all the time as well." Baron said, Louise on his lap.
"I still don't understand mother. If there was a world like that, and if he is my father, why did we stay here for so long."
"Your father runs a bureau to help people in need, he didn't want you two to be a part of it until you were older."
"I saw you were miserable here though." Baron said rocking his daughter. "That only your mother was capable of making you smile. So when I heard the news of your grandmother, I requested your mother and you return with me to my world."
"The bureau?" Jemuzu asked.
"No, the bureau is not my world, my world is distant from this one, inhabited by others like me. There we can give you a normal life, with a father as well as a mother."
Jemuzu couldn't quite figure it out, but he felt safe in the company of this stranger. Someone who claimed to be his father, he smiled softly and looked down, his skin starting to itch a bit. Jemuzu looked down confused as his hands started to sprout black fur. Haru, Baron, and Louise watched eyes wide as Jemuzu turned into a black Half-cat.
"What happened?" Jemuzu asked worried.
"It would seem he took after you Baron, he's handsome as a half-cat." Haru smiled hooking an arm around Baron's.
"I suppose he did, don't worry Jemuzu, we are nearing the portal, your magic is reacting to it." Baron said calming the young boy. "A couple of friends of mine will be up ahead, please try to be polite."
Jemuzu nodded examining his hands. at least his fur felt soft instead of scratchy. Louise hopped down from her father's lap and walked over. Louise poked Jemuzu's arm to get his attention.
"W-What?" Jemuzu looked up tilting his head slightly, Louise hugged him.
"I have a brother!" She squealed happily.
The car came to a stop and the group stepped out. Toto and Muta stood next to a small porcelain archway. Haru walked over and hugged both animals recieving a few annoyed groans from Muta and a strange happy noise from Muta.
"I missed you two." Haru said releasing them both. "Now Baron how do you expect us to enter the portal, it's not exactly big enough for the kids let alone us."
"Ah yes about that." Baron raised a finger grinning, suddenly the portal was bigger, no they were smaller. "Simple magic shrinking, now come children, a new life awaits us."
"What about your family Baron?" Haru asked stopping him just before entering the portal.
"If they haven't accepted you yet than I will make them accept you, simple as that."
Jemuzu walked to the portal and looked inside, it was just a swirling mess to him. Muta walked through followed by Toto. Baron and Louise next, Haru was watching the city around them, sighing softly.
"I have waited for quite a while to return to his world, I was there for a short amount of time last time... I might miss this world, but Baron and you two will make it worth it." Haru smiled picking up her child in a hug. "Are you ready Jemuzu?" Jemuzu nodded as they stepped through the portal.
Once on the other side Jemuzu stood and looked around, seeing a field of grain all around him. A half-cat stood up nearby, light brown fur, Brown eyes, his mothers eyes. Jemuzu ran to her and hugged her pushing his head into her side.
"We made it, although I do not recognize this place." Haru picked up Jemuzu setting him above her hip. "This is strange, Baron should be right with us."
"Is it really that strange you were separated?" Came a voice from behind, female and quite annoyed. "I see my son has finally returned, but with the human, and ah, my grandson. Come here boy let me get a look at you." The voice got softer when it mentioned her grandson.
Haru turned to see Baron's mother, White like Louise, with blue eyes instead of green. She wore a blue dress with a matching hat and a pair of black boots.
"Ah, Jemuzu this is, your other grandmother, Clawdia Von Gikkingen." Haru said faking a smile.
"It's, very mice to meet you, grandmother." Jemuzu said looking down, sensing his mother's distaste of the half-cat.
"I see he won't be leaving your side. Listen here girl, I separated you to warn you. If you don't leave my son and the kittens behind there will be hell to pay." Clawdia smiled gently at Jemuzu and turned to leave.
Baron, and Louise soon showed up, followed by Muta and Toto. Baron hugged Haru and Jemuzu and sighed looking towards his mother.
"Do not worry about her, she is still upset i chose you over Julia." Baron smiled and picked up Louise. "She was a dreadful woman, I'm surprised my mother still hasn't realized that. Come on the house is this way."
Baron started walking in the direction his mother went. Haru followed looking back to Muta and Toto, who at the moment were watching Jemuzu.
"If you want to see him come say hi you two. It's not like he is a bomb." Haru said Toto and Muta moved up and watched Jemuzu, he watched back.
"Um, hi?" Jemuzu said waving his hand awkwardly.
"Ah sorry, didn't expect you to look so much like Baron is all." Toto rubbed the back of his head. "You may be your grandfather's colors but you definitely have your father's appearance. I'm Toto.
"I'm Muta, call me uncle Muta if you like." Muta said happily.
"Ok, Toto and uncle Muta." Uncle was a strange word for Jemuzu as he never used it. "Is that what Louise calls you?"
"Yeah Baron had me babysit her quite a lot so she started to call me uncle."
"Enough questions for now dear, we are almost there." Haru pointed in front of them, Baron was standing waiting for the group next the porch of a large mansion. Louise was standing next to him holding his hand.
"That's a big house." Jemuzu exclaimed staring at it.
"It's called a mansion dear, it's our new home." Haru ran to Baron and hugged him, Jemuzu walked up to Louise and smiled.
"Did you know about this place?"
"Not really, father spoke about it a few times, but he never sounded too happy about it." Louise giggled and grabbed Jemuzu's hands. "Do you know any magic?"
"Magic? I watched magicians on TV but that was about it."
"TV?" Louise tilted her head.
"Alright you two, save the questions for after we get settled in alright?" Baron said holding Haru at his side.
"Yes father." Louise said slightly disappointed.
oo0oo
Jemuzu and Louise were given rooms across from one another. Jemuzu was wide eyes at the massive room, it was as big as his living room back in his old home. Louise was less surprised, still happy about it of course. They both unpacked the few things they were allowed to take before leaving the human world. Jemuzu a collection of books and a couple of toys, and Louise a few books on magic and some dresses.
"Are you two unpacked?" An old male voice asked outside in the hall. "If so please come into the hall so we can get you new wardrobes."
Jemuzu stepped outside his room to look at an old grey half-cat, a tiger stripe pattern going across the back of his neck and tail, only a darker grey instead of black. The cat smiled at the two kittens.
"Excellent, i haven't had the joy of working with twins in quite a while. My name is Enriko, I'm the Von Gikkingens best tailor. Now please come with me to the fitting rooms."
Jemuzu and Louise looked at one another, Louise shrugged and started to follow Enriko. Jemuzu, not wanting to be left behind, quickly walked after them. Both were led to a room full of fabric and different types of clothing. Louise's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. Jemuzu sighed, this was like going clothes shopping with his mother, one of his least favorite activities.
"Take your pick of clothing I will have measurements taken and will begin recreating them to fit you."
Louise had her picked within minutes, Jemuzu walked through the suits and pants looking through them with a bit of disappointment. They were all so bland, one color or two, rarely three, and zero designs whatsoever. Two did pique his interest though, a white jacket with coattails, a black undershirt, and a top hat, and a copy of Baron's outfit. Jemuzu chose those and a few others, at the request of Enriko to pick more than two suits.
"Excellent choices kittens, now you two will have to leave so I can begin my work." Enriko said pushing the two kittens out of the room.
Haru and Baron were waiting out in the hall for them, Haru hugging both of them.
"How did it go?" Baron asked stepping forward.
"It would have been a lot quicker if Jemuzu knew what he liked wearing." Louise complained, returning the hug hesitantly. "He did choose some good looking suits though."
"They were all boring except a couple of them." Jemuzu whined hugging his mother back.
"It will be difficult to get used to this world's fashion sense dear, but you will don't worry."
"Now on to why we came here, Dinner is about to be served, follow us." Baron smiled.
Haru released the kittens and took their hands gently. They started walking down the halls, passing by closed and open doors. Some of the open doors led into large rooms, some into guest rooms. They passed the kitchen and soon entered the large dining room. Clawdia was seated at the long table, scowling as Haru entered the room.
"Ah mother, I thought I asked you to let us dine alone tonight?" Baron said, smiling gently.
"My son returns with his children and I am expected not to eat dinner with them?" Clawdia raised a brow and shook her head slightly. "I think not, I will be seeing my grandchildren as much as possible."
"Won't be all that much until you treat Haru with respect." Baron muttered keeping his smile. "Ah well this is a pleasant surprise, let's eat shall we?"
Baron and Haru walked to the table sitting next to one another, Jemuzu and Louise sat across from them. Food was soon brought in and set in the center of the table, the platters were passed around so everyone could get a portion. They ate in silence, thanks to Clawdia's presence.
oo0oo
After dinner Jemuzu returned to his bedroom, a few doors down from his parent's room. Now that he wasn't unpacking he had time to properly look at the room, a large canopy bed occupied most of a wall, nightstands on either side with a candelabra on one. A chandelier in the center of the ceiling, a large wardrobe to one side, a vanity next to it, a square table against another wall and two chairs. A grandfather clock was next to the door.
"This is cool... Like being in a fantasy book, except I'm a cat, thing." Jemuzu looked down at his hands, surprised he could still see, albeit less than usual. "Oh wait, cat eyes, I could always see in the dark." Since changing his eyes must have gotten better, he could see more clearly in the dark now.
oo0oo
Louise lay in her bed staring at the canopy of her bed. There wasn't much difference between her room and her brother's, other than her room had a fee more colors than his. She wasn't disappointed at first, then she was told she couldn't redecorate it. Her grandmother had said that when Louise brought it up with her parents. Parents was such a weird thing for her. It had always been parent without an s.
"Having a mother will be amazing, and it's even better since I have a brother now too." She giggled and snuggled into her blankets. "I finally have someone to play with that isn't uncle Muta or Toto."
oo0oo
"She still doesn't like me. Even after all this time." Haru sighed changing into a night gown.
Baron was seated at a desk scribbling on a peice of paper. He turned to Haru and smiled softly leaving the paper on the desk and walking to her.
"She doesn't matter, we're here because we chose to be. My mother will see you as a part of the family eventually, I guarantee it dear." Baron pulled her into a hug kissing her forehead.
"I hope so Baron, after what happened. I could probably use a mother again." Haru smiled softly and pulled Baron in for a proper kiss.
"I will never get used to that." Baron said blushing a deep red.
"Don't worry love, you'll get used to it eventually."
Well here we are, rewrote the whole first chapter and gave it a new name.
