AN: I blame YarningChick and her fantastic Cat Returns stories. I have been a fan for years but this titular phrase made several plot bunnies run through my brain and I had to at least start to let them out. On the plus side I see these as being so very much easier plot wise than my usual fictions. The beginning Is going to go very fast like a prologue FYI.
Toto-Tousan? Haru never had a father figure growing up when she wanted one. But she had a big black crow that visited at night and it was just as good as a real father. Even if staying up to talk made her late every morning. He never let on he was more than a crow though until she ends up in a Cat-Astrophe
Or the AU where a Much older Haru gets into trouble. Baron/Haru because I have to. Slow burn.
()()()()()()()
Haru loved night time best.
During the darkest hours she could slip out the back door which no longer squeaked thanks to a helpful neighbor who looked at mom like she looked at cookies. Once the door was opened by the tiny slip of a girl, far too smart for her five years of age; it was down the back street behind the houses and into the nearby wood like area. It wasn't a forest, not a proper one, but it had trees and a pond and it was dark. She went to stare up at the stars.
Haru was a brilliant child. One could even call her a prodigy if she had a desire to put forth more effort. Books had already opened themselves up to her that schoolteachers would struggle with. She couldn't remember a time she was unable to read. Children her own age and even double, bored her. Books comforted her and strung her through a gamut of emotions. Frequently topics would be beyond her comprehension and Haru was wise enough to simply accept that she could not grasp what they spoke of and store ideas such as courtly love and passion, unyielding cruetly and sadistic hatred in the back of her brain. Her brown eyes were on the lighter side, strange amongst the sea of black almost as much as her brown hair blended in. It was lighter because of her mother's own scarlet. Some day, she knew, her own auburn tresses would lighten fully instead of just patches in the summer light.
Her refuge was in the darkest silent hours with just the moon and stars as her company, out not so far from her own home but far enough she could pretend it was time she had passed through. Going back before the progression of man made it so hard to see her beloved stars in their velveteen shroud without the street lights competing for attention.
Haru was smart enough to always bring a towel and a warm coat. A towel was never looked at twice by her mother and if one was added to the wash pile Naoko would never pay attention. A blanket perhaps, but not a towel. Not with how clumsy the two of them were.
So little Haru unfolded her towel and leaned back, watching the slow twirling of the stars above in silence and left her mind open to wonder.
Sometimes stray cats would come and join her. Curl up against her for warmth and attention, the bits of scraps she'd always sneak for them. Ever since she learned a tiny dirty white kitten liked fish crackers she saved a few in her pockets whenever the school or her mother gave them to her. She'd put them away and keep them in a tiny bag in her room for her midnight visits and hand them out to the little strays.
The birds would visit too and take the crumbs from her hands.
The five year old girl knew this was not typical but it did not matter. The results were she had little soft furred and feathered companions where the human children would ignore her. She'd croon and caress any that would submit to the attention and fed all that she could.
One night there was an injured bird in her spot.
Haru approached him, but ceased as she saw the panic the bird was in. So much larger than her usual tiny friends.
"Please, hold still. Letme see.." Haru pleaded but his black eyes were rolling, in pain no doubt, and frantic.
Haru sighed and turned, scattering crumbs around her in a glittering manner. Where other children her age spun about in glitter and played fairy dust Haru's movements were to alert her tiny feathered ones that she was sharing food. "Please, come out!" She pleaded as usual. There was an urgency to her voice though.
It was rewarded. Little chirps and sleepy noises descended as the not at all nocturnal species rusehd their usual food providing. Haru had long since learned they understood her even if they did not return the speech. "Please, I will share more but can someone reassure mr. Bird I won't hurt him?"
A little brown bird hopped over and tweeted at the crow. As it stilled, a few more began to pipe up. Haru had brought a sandwich for herself but proceeded to shred parts of it for her little helpers. Extra thanks was called for.
"May I please see what's wrong now, Mr. Bird?" Haru asked, and the crow watched her. Still wary. Still so still and shaking, but said nothing as the tiny girl approached. The issue was soon revealed as a nasty bit of wire wrapped around a wing and hurting his beautiful feathers. "Oh no..okay..I'll try not to bend any but this may feel funny if I move your feathers mister bird.." Haru spoke and didn't wait. She knew her little chirping friends were translating and reassuring. She'd helped many, they often came to her with hurts or tangles and she was used to playing nursemaid even if it meant just sneaking more food to them to help until they were better. Slowly she unwound the wire, apparently once from a necklace that had been flung into a tree if the beads were any sign, from the wing. She spoke as she did so, as she usually did, speaking of her life and school and the issues she had with the children. Her furred and feathered friends, and lazy handout seekers in some cases, were so used to her constant speech that they just shamelessly perched on her and tried to get in her pockets. Haru kept the best items on her inside coat pockets so she didn't even flinch.
Not even when a small brown bird went right into her pocket and jumped out with a crumbled cookie. It started a fight with his brethren but much to the crow's surprise, Haru didn't seem in the least surprised.
"Beautiful wings?" Haru asked as she pulled her fingers back and looked at the first brave bird that had approached the crow. The bird tweeted once and puffed out it's chest proudly, and Haru smiled. She always gave names to them since she couldn't understand what they called each other. Beautiful Wings did have gorgeous stripes on the underside of his wings after all. "Could you go tell the cats we have a guest and I'll leave food for them but it's not good to visit tonight? Please?"
Beautiful wings tilted his head and chirped once more, this time a scolding sound. It only made Haru laugh.
"I snuck some berries for myself..I'll give you one.." Haru didn't see the sharp sudden interest in her crow patient still beside her, but Beautiful wings nodded once, and hopped over. Haru didn't even question giving the reward first and reached into her jacket pulling out a slightly squashed mulberry and waiting for Beautiful wings to snatch it from her fingers, fluttering off to savor his treat before sharing the message.
"Caw?"
"Oh!" Haru turned back, surprised the crow was still beside her, favoring his wing though he was and smiled at him. "Do you like mulberries, Mr. Bird?"
()()()()()()
Toto had become her favorite shortly after. He was brilliant, and visited Haru's refuge most nights. It didn't take long for the gentle girl to spill everything to the solemn but playful black crow.
She'd cried one night when her peers had teased her for having no father that she wished with all her heart she had someone to be her tou-san, to wipe her tears and reassure her because her mother was so busy working so hard. She didn't just quilt, she worked several odd jobs to pay for them it was just quilting was her passion.
Toto had wiped her tears that night as best he could with his beak.
His reward had been a hiccup and a soft "well then..you can be my Tou-san..right?"
Toto had been startled but nodded at the hopeful gaze of a little genius child.
()()()()()()
Toto had even gotten named once when she'd snuck him into her house when her mother was gone, being 'watched' by a neighbor with the old lady falling asleep in her mother's room. She'd brought Toto down to watch movies and been enjoying a rerun of 'the wizard of oz' when she noticed 'Tou-san' always jumped when they addressed toto.
She'd giggling dubbed him 'Toto-san' and since the bird seemed so happy about it..
Well. Eventually it had evolved to Toto-tou-san.
She was pretty sure that ducking and shifting thing was how a crow blushed.
()()()()()()
School never improved. She had a few 'friends' but she spoke with them outside of school as Haru was being home schooled. Several issues with being sent home and her mother being called in because Haru had argued the lessons...(apparently being right was not the point) had created a mess. Haru had figured out from pure luck that one could study for college from home as well, and was taking both sets of classes despite college being so far ahead of what her current 'year' was.
Her mother, bless her heart, never realized that while Haru's math and science grades were still rather lousy it was no indication of her daughters capabilities. On a less appropriate note, Haru had learned how easy it was to forge her mothers signature.
She had felt a little guilty about the financial part of taking college courses except she'd qualified for some grants and scholarships and managed that part. Her mother's checkbook would never find out.
()()()()()()
There were many nights haru would wait for Toto-Tou-San to show up with her heart in her throat. The child became a preteen became a teenager but life never became easier. She was a genius meant for a world long gone, a world that probably had never truly existed outside of her fantasy novels she loved to read. Haru was an old soul, an old fashioned woman in many ways who would have thrived centuries ago..
Well. If she'd been a boy.
Women had it pretty awful then. Outside of stories.
Toto didn't seem to mind being used in place of the best friend or father she should have had, and seemed to if anything enjoy being cuddled carefully. Regardless of his feathers being treated to a tear bath.
()()()()()()
Her teen years and graduation passed easily. Somehow no one bothered to look up and find out that Haru had five rather useless years of college at the same time she took her high school diploma. None of the classes had been towards a degree but just taken for what she wanted to study.
Haru had learned she had a knack for old dye methods and had many years ago taken to her mother's scraps and painting and resist dying the fabric for beautiful methods to quilt for her mother. That had expanded to her mother's friends and so on. Haru had a decent job straight out of school and threw herself into her work, with a few odd jobs to supplement.
She never made anything out of Mulberries though, she always saved those for Toto-Tou-san.
()()()()()
Toto never spoke around her or was there in the daylight but Haru grew up thinking of him as her guardian angel. He was her father and she'd even taken to dying her hair black for a time in his honor when she was in her second year of highschool. Her mother had found out (when back from a business trip overseas) and promptly used a product to strip out false dye.
Her hair never recovered it's fully brown color and stayed a reddish brown hue.
Haru rather liked it.
Toto-Tou-san had too. If the hours he now spent preening her hair was any indication.
()()()()
Haru had eased into her twenties with grace. Her thirties began soon after (it felt like she was still five so many times..) and though she had grown her hair out she liked to pin it up in old styles. Her old school friends had long since married and began to have children which made Haru feel odd. She had never desired children, certainly not by herself for all she was thankful her mother had her.
Haru was modest, polite, frighteningly smart and with a love of old ways and things that endeared her to her elders when she was younger. She soon learned as she aged however, that the title of 'spinster' was indeed still around. And strongly. Haru had a successful enough side business making and dying fabrics and selling a few books online on how to do the same. No one else seemed to have the patience for her methods though the romantic nostalgia they evoked did most of the profitable work for her. She had little doubt that she would have been dubbed the 'crazy cat lady' if she'd ever had them long. Instead she still had the strays she visited, or that came to her, but her mother had never moved from their place on the edge of town since Haru hadn't even gone to a regular school..
and well, after Naoko had a stroke young..
Haru often found herself looking out the window. Wondering what had happened.
"When did I go from being a child of tender years sneaking out to see the stars, into a young old maid who hates to leave her home..Toto-Tou-san?" Haru asked one evening. Her mother was asleep early and she was sitting on the back porch, her crow at her shoulder sipping from his mulberry wine she'd found for him in a store.
"Caw"
Haru hummed and set her tea down, her eyes up on the stars.
"Some days..I feel I was born in the wrong world, the wrong era.." She looked down and flexed her fingers. "Certainly, the wrong body. I watch my friends wed and become parents, I date sometimes because it was or is expected.." She sighed softly, having voiced this to her crow-father so many times over the years.
"I don't feel it..I don't yearn for what they have. I feel more like the old hermits and scribes. I belong to the woods and the skies, the mountains and lakes never seen. My heart is for something more, and I fear it shall sleep never having been.."
Haru blinked, then chuckled. "And no way to record that..I rather like how that sounded..don't you, Toto-tou-san?"
"Caw..." it was soft, sad, and she turned her warm brown eyes to her crow father.
"Forgive me. I do not know why, but I feel..so sad and alone tonight. I am grateful you are here, Tou-san.." Haru paused, and looked up at the sky.
"I wish." But what she wished she left unspoken, and allowed her heart to just feel instead. It was the best way to wish, after all.
()()()()()()()
It was the next day that Haru saved a cat.
It was a foolish, impulsive thing she had done. There was no reason to dart before the speeding new vehicle. Obviously a too young driver who shouldn't have one of the exceptionally fast new electric motors that were not meant for city streets. Haru had felt her pants leg flutter in the rush of air as her ankle barely avoided being crushed and was thankful she preferred flat shoes to heels, even if heels made her look more elegant at her tiny height. She'd bolted and ducked and slammed into the water on the other side of the bridge rolling right under the decorative guard rails.
Haru didn't hesitate and closed her eyes, cradling the cat to her body and taking a deep breath.
The shock of impact and cold was the last thing she'd remembered.
When Haru awoke, she was in the hospital, and what woke her was an eerie blue light.
"thank you."
Haru turned, looking at a solemn dark gray cat who sat on her bed, dressed up no less. She'd seen stranger and just waited, as he tilted his head. "I forgot humans cannot understand.."
"Actually it's the birds I can't hear properly. They just twitter and sing." Haru managed with a smile and a croaky voice, startling the elegant cat. His mismatched eyes were wide as he stared at her.
"you.."
"I've always understood cats."
"That's exceptionally rare, miss.."
"haru." She didn't give a last name, cats didn't use them. She paused though and sighed for all it sounded so ridiculous to her, the cats she had known as a little girl and now their ever so far descended grand kittens always insisted if there was a glowing blue light and then a cat..there was a different way to say her name. "Just a minute.."
Haru struggled to sit up, ignoring the startled cat and sipped water that was at her bedside. Only then did her brown eyes meet his mismatched ones as she lowered the pitch of her voice to a softer gentler one, minding his sensitive hearing.
"I walk in the paws that speckle the stars, and yowl neath the sun. Haru the spring and daughter of all that bask neath the moon. Look not to the falling light yon cat, but perk your ears and call. For tis the fish that sparkles that soon is caught, and the mice that squeaks sooner is won." It was an insanely flowery greeting but as she'd been walked through the seeming bit of nonsense, was the most ancient and formal way she could be properly introduced.
The mismatched eyes widened and he bowed low to her, trembling.
"I wish I'd paid far more attention to my tutors right now, Lady Haru..I am Prince Lune of the Cat Kingdom. I am..." He shook his head dazed. "That I was not only saved, but by one who knows the right call ..."
Haru chuckled and couldn't help but tease. "I studied for weeks to learn the Right Call for nothing? Even from royalty? Truly a pity..but I am glad to meet you, and gladder still that you are well Prince Lune."
Oh yes, Lune was definitely blushing. "It is rare for a cat to come to the human kingdom..and I have not heard of anyone being able to recite the Right Call since my grandfather's time..certainly never a human..?"
"I was always able to understand cats and befriended many near the pond not far from my home as a child."
Mismatched eyes met brown and Lune slowly eased into what Haru always had dubbed 'loaf kitty' shape with all his paws tucked under him.
"This is my second time in the human kingdom. The first I came for a gift, the second I came to try and prove my right to the throne.."
"hm?" Haru tilted her head, a feline and avian sign of confusion. She may not understand her toto-tou-san but she had picked up his mannerisms.
"When one wishes to challenge convention or royal edict one ventures on a dangerous quest. The first time I wished to pledge myself to a lady far beneath my station." He sighed heavily. "My gift was destroyed and I nearly lost life and tail dodging a vehicle that time as well..no one knew of it of course, and I had to wait the requisite three years before attempting to return. This time though it was in my mind to find something to challenge my royal father because then I could simply alter the law.."
"I see." Haru smiled. "Time passes differently there? I assume that when last you came you didn't see vehicles that moved that fast..?
"I had not." Lune eyed her. "How did you move so fast, my lady?"
Haru chuckled and smiled at him fondly, her eyes distant. "I run with cats and birds in the night, Prince Lune..to clear my thoughts of all my troubles. I have for years, but I hope I have not been in the hospital mother is ill and needs much supervision."
"I have kept the portal active as it keeps humans away and changes the flow of time near it, not even technological changes and advances work to pick it up..so it has been a short time. I am in your debt lady haru.."
Haru shook her head and smiled. "What must you bring back to prove your claim, Prince Lune?"
Lune shifted slightly and sighed. "I was told I would know it when I sought it.."
Haru paused then and waited. Let her brilliant mind work without her direction. Sometimes her own thoughts would drift in patterns that she knew were not human, did not make sense. "Perhaps, Prince Lune, the answer lies with those whose family lines taught me to recite the Right Call? I will be happy to introduce you when I leave here.."
Prince lune's eyes widened at the information. It was possible. He nodded once and let the portal fade, slipping under her bed so the doctors could resume their work.
Haru checked back out later, and didn't even flinch at the blue glow as the prince found her and then consented to being carried.
It didn't take long for her to bring Lune to her refuge, and after a exceptionally flowery discussion, left him in the care of those descended from her first friends to check on her mother. If anyone could help Lune, it was her friends.
()()()()()()()
Lune had left after a few weeks, checking in on her. Several hours later a brown cat had shown up at her door and proceeded to doublespeak far above his intelligence level and left Haru trying to puzzle out what had just happened. Eventually Haru realized that Lune's sire had completely not understood the Proper Rites that Lune had invoked, beyond getting out that it was thanks to Haru he had learned them.. Haru groaned. She'd not properly heard what little Notoru had stated her rewards would be but long practice said she would not doubt they should be unfit for a human.
That was also the night she noticed her Toto-Tou-san didn't come. Usually it was not a problem, but she needed to talk to someone..
checking in on her mother, who was fast asleep and had been doing so well since her stroke; Haru set out with a couple cans of tuna for the backyard to bribe her feline friends for information.
It didn't take long for the oldest, and she still remembered cuddling him as a kitten; to tell her about how bad things could get. They were all descended from Great Hero cats in the Cat Kingdom after all, her dear friends, but had left many generations before when there had been an argument on whether they should separate from the human world entirely. Apparently the cat kingdom Cats thought that allowing humans to pass through (and it explained the idea of Sidhe and Fairy mounds if there were other animal kingdoms with time passing differently!) would dilute their culture. That Haru had known more of the Right Ways and those had been taught by her feline companions had the 'exiles' completely smug.
Until the mention of Notoru.
That was when Haru learned time passed differently and that it was far slower in the cat kingdom..or faster. Apparently it depended on when you passed over. During the day? It went faster. At night? It was slower and you ran further risk of staying more than 24 hours..and staying a cat. Notoru had been a young cat when they had stories of leaving from the most recent generation that had come to human world, and Lune's father had just been coronated. They all warned her Notoru's family were renown for being rather..idiotic and to be careful. They had then proceeded to tell her to get help.
Haru had simply nodded and asked to where she should go?
The consensus was unanimous.
The Cat Bureau.
Haru had stopped off inside and gotten a few things, and made a few calls on the advice of her companions. She had learned a long time ago that cats saw the world differently, and apparently even the birds had input on what to bring, even if the cats had to deign to translate.
The result was Haru had packed a small bag with items she felt she'd need, a good coat, her favorite hiking boots were on and her best wool pants for wet hiking days with her Toto-Tou-san who seemed to revel in flying when it stormed. Everything was of course, raven black, and she had a lovely crow pendant on a silver keychain that dangled off her rucksack. Making certain her mother had food and a note, Haru set off on the confusing directions to the cat bureau. There was no telling when she would be delayed so she prepared for a multi day adventure even if this should take only a few hours.
'Most have to go the hard way, Meaaah. They run after the gateway guardian an he tests them.' one of her old friends had said, the tabby serious as he watched her with one eye gone from a fight over a pretty female years ago.
'Yeah but if you go how we say, you'll get there in Meow-time!" his son had agreed, nodding his ears flipping about in excitement.
The directions were of course, confusing.
Well, if you didn't grow up with cats being your sane friends and a crow that only cawed and screeched as your father figure.
'Down several hops and twenty itches' was an actual unit of measurement to cats. It worked out something like yards and meters depending how it was worded. A bushel of catnip rolling and a barrel of mice tumbling was different then a net of fish break, but Haru didn't even think of them in their human translations anymore. She bent down and moved through abandoned alleys and through forgotten parts of town left to crumble. There were a few places that she took to the roof, but far far FAR less she had been assured, than if she'd let the white guardian direct where she went.
Haru took a back route. A silent one, one without humans who would be out late and throwing things at serenading felines.
It was nearing the sunrise at the height of it's splendor when Haru stepped into the circle of buildings. She twirled a few times, eyes drinking in the sight.
There was a tremble to the air, there was something here. Something that reminded her of hot cocoa and new spring loam in the woods. Of the patter of kittens and flutter of bird wings newly out of the nest. There was the whisper of ash and old wood and the pervasive sensation of life. Every detail she saw spoke of heart, of intention, of passionate and heartbreaking effort.
This was the Refuge she had been told of. As much one to the 'creations' of the truest artists in ages past as hers was to the cats and birds of lines long gone.
Haru's eyes went from house to house, wondering why they seemed so empty..were there truly so few masterworks on the level that this places vibrations demanded?
Her brown eyes fell then, on a small feline figurine in a window.
Sighing softly Haru felt her lips twitch into a smile.
Oh.
There was true artistry as she could see it. Because it felt like he had been watching her, breathing, and if what hissed stories she had been told possessed truth, that was before he was even awake.
He made the Mona Lisa, David, seem shallow and clumsy and empty. They were art but not masterwork.
She understood now.
Flashing lights made Haru spin, her eyes delighted and eyes wide as for a moment the woman let shed her proper demeanor as unadultered wonder and delight pervaded her form. She felt the gasp part her lips and the laughter shake her diaphragm. Unable to help it for she did not wish to miss a moment, she twirled, arms out and eyes wide and sparkling.
This was magic as magic should be. Not the blue flash of portals that crossed worlds but the simplicity of the elements ever so softly bending to the will of another, showcasing not forcing the natural splendor that was all pervasive. This was a sunset, a supernova's harbinger. The beauty that was made and that had been carried in tales and legends.
It almost made her wipe her eyes.
As it was, Haru was blinking back tears as it ended even as a large white cat snapped out about not appreciating the light show.
"...I think I could see that a thousand times and 'ne'er tire o' the splendid new dawn.' '' Haru spoke softly, the words forcing her to allow them to thrumm her vocal cords as she looked up, catching the ever so last wisps of the day star stretching before she took over the sky from her little cousins. The words had been from a half remembered poem..
"Well it's nice to know someone appreciates my work.." Whatever else the suave accented voice was to say was ended by a sudden raspy squawk from above.
"Haru!?"
Haru looked up and didn't hold back either smile or laugh, her heart suddenly exultant at hearing her name from that beak and those feathers! No one else no matter how black would have that subtle banding of black on black that she knew so well! and just spoke back, so much adoration in her voice that the observers took a step back as if uncomfortable for even witnessing the moment.
"Hello, Toto-Tou-san.."
"Tou-san!?" came the loud feline voice but Haru had no eyes for anyone else as she drank in the black form she knew so well.
"I had no idea you would be able to speak words I could understand..." Haru said instead, lifting her hand as Toto fluttered down, perching on her forearm so she could draw him to her chest and rest her cheek upon his feathers, his own beak preening her auburn hair that fell across her forehead, loose from her trek, as her eyes closed at the familiar scent of him.
"It is this place, Haru. It's why I'm not stone in the day..But how …? And why.."
Haru took a soft inhale and let her fingers softly comb his back feathers, preening him in turn and for half a moment just lost herself in the familiar love she had for her Toto-tou-san before she lifted her head. "It's been a long few weeks since you were at the 'nest' Tou-san..and I fear I've much to tell.."
Toto sighed, but glided down with a soft caw "Only you, Haru. Let me introduce my friends, Baron and Muta.."
One feline twitched at the lack of full and proper address to a lady and the other in shock that there had been no insult. Neither knew what to make of the adult woman who just smiled at them both before bowing a little, as toto paused and then continued.
"My not so little hatchling chick..Haru."
"Hatchling, not fledgeling, Toto-Tou-san?" Haru asked as she sat down, tucking her legs under her at ease on the cool cobblestones.
Toto cawed and then as if he simply couldn't help it was back on her lap with a few hops, content to let her fingers preen his feathers. She could do so properly after all. "You are fully grown my Haru, and glide an fly with strong wings to heights only eagles dare..but you'll always be my chick."
Haru laughed softly and beamed down at him with such affection that Muta almost held back an insult. This just..
"Why do you know Birdbrain?"
Haru glanced at Muta and smiled, her body so at ease that for a moment the worry and urgency slipped to the rear of her mind.
"We found each other when I was a tiny girl, and he tolerated me so long I think I found a way into his heart. The copious amounts of mulberries hardly hurt either."
"Ha!" Muta laughed, for a moment distracted from the silent form beside him as he pointed at the crow laughing. "You always pick on me for thinking with my stomach."
"Well I was younger."
"Quite a bit." Haru agreed with Toto and nodded "As I was not yet in proper schooling."
That finally caused Baron to speak up. "You have known our companion a long time..but I must ask miss, since clearly you were unaware toto was here; much less could speak. What can we do for you?"
Haru's demeanor suddenly changed and it was something the creation noted with his sharp eyes as her behavior went from affectionate and indulgent to calm but regal. This was a demeanor he had not seen in ages, the grace of one who viewed life as a battleground but preferred the negotiation table. "It's a long story...perhaps you should make yourself comfortable?"
In the end as Haru was indeed, a grown woman and no girl child, she could hardly be invited inside. Instead tea and treats were brought out, Muta still bemused at the idea of Toto having a human chick and seemed highly entertained by how the crow would twitch when Muta called Haru 'chicky'.
Haru had succinctly explained the situation and wasn't even shy in explaining about her feline friends. Though Muta and Toto had both been startled at Baron's near reversion into his wooden state and twitching at hearing her refer to the Right Ways.
"never heard of em." Muta stated with his arms crossed and while Baron clearly fought for his composure Haru explained.
"Hm, Toto-Tou-san.." And wasnt it curious how every time she said that the crow would beam as he usually did but the two felines would twitch? "Do you recall the Ginger Stripes Clan going over poems with me when the Stripes that Weave clan wouldn't?"
"What sort of names are those!?"
"Family clan names, Muta. Very old.." Baron murmered, his thoughts spinning as Haru just nodded.
"From before the divide."
"...that..they couldn't be...Alive.."
Haru smiled at Baron, a true heart melting Haru smile that Toto hadn't seen enough of as she matured, and her peers had gone forward with their lives while Haru lived half out of their world already. "The lines breed true even now. They're many generations descended but take training seriously. I've been through several 'Grand Teachers' that have been and passed on their title, even if they still live. "
Haru laughed softly as Baron shook his head, and more questions went between. When all was said and done they knew what she had done for Lune -and Toto had almost molted hearing what she had done and nearly died for- and her turning him over to her friends to learn what he needed only for it to backfire.
"So though nothing yet has occurred, my friends advised I seek you out and here I am."
"A very good move." Baron agreed, before thinking, tapping his can as he did so. "Normally I would suggest a client staying at the refuge..."
"He means here, Haru." Toto piped up, he then flicked a wing to apologize to Baron for the interruption. "Haru's place where she's always gone has also been dubbed 'refuge'."
Haru nodded and smiled "Even if my size was not a complication in such, I have a mother who requires tending to or at least notice for one or the other of her friends to check in on her.."
Baron nodded again and Muta harumphed.
"Lemme guess..I'm going to be following chicky?"
"I do believe I can handle watching over my hatchling, fatso."
"Yeah great job you've done so far chicken!"
"I did a fantastic job you overgrown lump of lard!"
Haru twitched her lips as her tou-san hopped down to start pecking at Muta, and the two began to tussle. Brown eyes slid over, dancing with mischief as she glanced at Baron.
"I suppose I am overdue for being embarrassed by a father figure's behavior.."
Baron chuckled and nodded. "Perhaps. Still, Toto is stone most the day when not drawing upon the ambient magic here, he could stretch it at times but it is quite tricky for him to do over long periods.."
"Is it?" Haru looked startled and then glanced over at the scuffling bird fondly. "I suppose I am even more cherished then, for he often visited me during the day."
"If I may ask..how long.." Baron coughed into a gloved hand. "Forgive my impertinence, hardly a question one asks a lady.."
"I like to think my years are but a small part of who I am. The mountains and trees certainly don't mind their years nor does the fleeting blooms of spring lament mere hours." Haru said with a shrug, the words falling from long practice. She'd had many complain about her age and lack of the ring and offspring after all. "Toto-Tousan has been with me a little more than two decades."
"You will forgive my surprise that you've known each other so long..you hardly look of age.." Baron said and Haru just chuckled, teasing him though it had not been idle flattery.
"Charming, aren't you Baron?" She shrugged then. "I just turned thirty this year. To be honest there are many times I feel either the age of a small child again or like I am nearly as old as the stones in the woods near my home.." She trailed off then, her eyes distant and baron was curious. She was a very strange human, and there was a glimpse of Toto's regal bearing about her. Despite words never being truly shared it was clear to the dapper feline that the crow he had been friends with so long had indeed a hand in raising the woman beside him.
Her motions, even how she breathed were more feline and avian than human.
"You have dealt with the Cat Kingdom before, Baron?"
"Indeed. If you are wondering what potentially will occur?.." Haru's nod had Baron humm, and lean back on his cane as he thought. "You were told to expect gifts. I guarantee these are not going to be the sort humans appreciate and will require access to your person. The problem is that proximity to portals tends to do strange things to time.."
"Yes." Haru glanced back and shared her encounter with Lune in the hospital and the portal and Baron was about to reply, when her arms were full of black feathers again. Once more Haru's demeanor changed and melted into pure affection as she preened her Toto-Tou-san and spoke softly, her words barely over a whisper and flowing into a mockery of a purr. A fair approximation of one to be honest.
Baron and Muta exchanged a glance. Toto didn't do more then stretch out his neck and close his eyes, so used to the sound it didn't register.
Somehow, the woman had learned a way to make her soft endearments sound like a gentle cat purr. It was..soothing.
In the end Haru returned to her home with Muta and Toto planning to swap out who was with her. Muta during the day, Toto at night. Hopefully they would be able to keep an eye on things and prevent anything crazy from happening.
Well, Muta fell 'victim' to the first gift. Haru found all the extra catnip, and while Muta with giant eyes was rolling around on the grass -giggling- to himself about all the beautiful dancing food; Haru took the bags of cat nip to her refuge and then enjoyed the sight of many of her friends getting stupid.
Maybe this was what a normal college experience would have been like? Only with humans and alcohol not just cats and a completely safe growing plant..
No. It was probably exactly this way she thought in exasperation seeing yet another group of dazed off balance cats trying to sing in concert. Well, at least this gift was a nice one to share.
The next one...Haru honestly couldn't figure out. It was a lot of rather tasteless fish and mouse themed jewelry. An assortment in gold and silver, some had gems and some didn't. If it had been on the cute or elegant side she may have actually worn it, as it was ..well she didn't just want to scrap or pawn it! Eventually she found a large box to set them all in and shrugged. They were tiny charms, perhaps she'd sell them online for people's use.
So far the gift givers had snuck by Muta and Toto, and Haru was getting a little worried. That was two times..
The third was mice.
It was the first time in years Haru was glad that the stroke meant her mother couldn't quilt at home for how badly her hands trembled. Because Naoko was off with a ride from her friends to quilt together Haru simply went to her own refuge and asked her friends to come round up the mice in her house and take back all they could carry. There were a few birds of prey too and she brought the boxes of mice that hadn't escaped out to untie and made for some very happy birds.
That had prompted a visit to Baron, at her Toto-tou-san's urging. It was such a pleasure to speak with him now, and since she already knew Toto no longer hid it. As it was late enough Haru had him on her shoulder as they went the back route to the Refuge.
"...a rule and everything. Basically even if you could speak to birds, until you knew what I was I wouldn't have been able to talk. Rules around Creation's were always very strict you know..there's so rarely any of us. We have to be exceptionally careful. Once, the Refuge was in the middle of nowhere...and now there's a huge city around us."
"I don't blame you.."
"But Haru, my little hatchling..I still lament that I couldn't tell you. All those years you poured your heart out to me and I wanted to respond so dearly.."
Haru smiled softly. Even as she stepped into the wonder that was the refuge, her heart overflowed with adoration for the crow-father she had on her shoulder. "I have you now, and it is a gift beyond any I dared to dream."
"You need to learn to dream bigger than chicky, if bird brain talking is all you think you want." Muta huffed as a greeting and Haru laughed.
It was not a tinkly ladies laugh, or even a soft sound. It was a bubbling up from your middle and cannot hold in the joy sort of laugh before Haru grinned, sparkling eyes alight with russet fire. Toto was used to her comments and wishes growing up so he didn't even flinch when Haru shrugged. "And what should I dream of then, Muta?"
"Wealth maybe." Muta shrugged, asnwering with the first thing he thought most humans wanted.
"Just enough to get by is plenty."
"A family?"
"I have one."
"No I mean like a husband and kids.."
Toto cawed a dismissal. "Like anyone would be good enough for my haru!"
"I long ago realized that is not what I want, or shall have."
It was a heavy silence from Muta, if Baron was around he was not visible. Haru didn't take pity on the cat, making sure as she reached up with her spare hand that her hair was still pinned up. Toto was on her other arm after all. There was a strange pause to how Muta held himself, one foot in the air as if he worried setting it down may set off tears from the woman. Haru chuckled faintly and her soft brown eyes, so warm and understanding locked to Muta's own beady ones.
"I have always been...different...Muta. Some of the elder Cats speak of those like me in the stories, tales of those who could communicate properly and fully with felines. Usually the line continues in their siblings or only from arranged unions to produce heirs. It is something in the gift..that makes us.." She paused and shrugged then softly, folding her legs under her as she dropped gracefully to the cobblestones as had become her want. "I can admire the appearance of males of my own species but I do not desire to pair with one to the point that would create children. These days it is not so unheard of in regular humans either."
"So what you got no emotions?"
"take that back you disgusting pig!" Toto screeched protectively but Haru just smirked.
"I have emotions, but I am in full control. Things matter to me beyond that. Unfortunately it is very difficult to find a suitor who is not fixated on less than clandestine affections." Haru shrugged, she was raised by cats, admittedly ones far more polite then the white one, but she was hardly ashamed of the fact she had no interest in more carnal aspects to things. In her mind people fixated on such things to their detriment, letting chemistry and hormones over take them. She believed in love of course, but innocent and mildly passionate was more her style. Kisses and soft affection, not the sort found in her old friend Hiromi's tawdry romance books.
She was a soul from a world long gone, after all it seemed.
"But we did not come here to speak of my particular relationship interests, did we?" Haru said amused and then watched the black and white friends coil and tussle, no doubt both trying to forget they had essentially just engaged in 'girl talk'. It amused her endlessly.
"Ah, miss Haru." Baron said as he emerged, bowing with his hat in his hand. "A pleasure to see you, what has brought you here?"
Glancing over calmly and with a wave of her hand in greeting Haru began to explain the three gifts softly, quietly. Just barely audible really to her own ears over the yowling and cawing but she knew Baron's hearing was far better than hers.
"I see." Baron leaned on his cane, eyes sharp and bright and thoughtful. "That there has been three occasions and none were noted until too late.. We may not be dealing with the bumbling organizational master we thought. This is too..careful. Too thought out. It is to be most honest peculiar as it is rare indeed that planning and patience is the forte of most felines these days."
"More like Muta, than your own self then?" Haru asked, pulling her knees to her chest and smiling, pleased as she saw the figurine stiffen a little in surprse.
"I did not mean to imply."
"One has eyes, and especially -ears-, Baron." Haru teased gently as Muta was yowling insults at that very moment. Haru found she greatly enjoyed speaking with the cat doll who just finally paused, and then gave her a tiny nod. It would be impolite to agree, but there was truth there after all.
"It is to be expected truly, that there are some differences however. I was created in the partial image of a cat and am fortunate enough to have grasp of their language and histories but I am not a cat at the same time."
"Ah." Haru's inflection made the dapper gentlecat look up, his green eyes narrowed but the brown eyes were not focused upon him. Rather her gaze followed her crow-father and his companion. The brief sound however, had been one of commiseration. It was tiring how often people gave the doll their sympathies. The only one even remotely able to understand was Toto, and even then the crow could blend seamlessly and not live so apart. Haru offered no explanation though, and slowly the silence stretched into comfort again as they sat together.
Eventually Baron hummed faintly. "It seems that stationing someone at your home is not doing enough.."
"How many of the gifts do you expect there to be?"
"Between five and seven most likely. The numbers are not truly significant but it is rare they would go up to nine, which is very significant to Cats and Omens.."
"..Cat magic superstitions are largely forgotten then?" Haru asked, glancing back at him and Baron found himself once more surprised at the wealth of knowledge the girl had.
"Indeed. I have a few books on the subject but even then.."
"It's usually an oral tradition. Secrets are meant to be kept between two, as the human saying goes. So one passes it to another and so on.." Haru chuckled and shrugged, giving one of her tiny genuine smiles that made her eyes warm and dance. Not for the first time Baron figured that for a human, the woman was quite pretty. A fact Toto enjoyed cawing about endlessly these days.
"I see."
"When this is all over, you'll have to meet my friends. I'm sure they'd love to have another willing ear."
"Much as I would enjoy that, Miss Haru, I do believe you are missing a key factor." When her eyes were back on him, Baron smiled at her. "You are unique. Cat speakers are a legend of themselves."
"There is only one of you Baron. Am I right?"
"You are correct. There were a few of us made in pairs and groups but I was the only one whom awoke."
"Well then, you are far more worthy of legends."
Baron looked away, grateful that his form was deeply enough furred he could not blush and he was fully capable of controlling both ears and tail to prevent giving away his emotions. It was..unique. To have regard from one that he was to be helping but had not actually done so for yet. It was also summarily a new experience to have a human be the one who had come. It was called the 'Cat Bureau' but very common for various species to have shown up. The human though, this was new. If anything he would have placed odds upon it being a young one that had found them. A child perhaps, or a youth in the thralls still of their wonder stage when they could accept the fantastic before them. A creation's lifeforce was rather dependant on full belief after all. To maintain form around those without ambient magic he required either the Refuge or full scale belief. As did Toto.
Toto had clearly never struggled with Haru's simple acceptance. Not even once since she learned her crow-father was so much more. He'd not yet stepped out of the refuge with her because he somehow doubted that she really held as much to her as to make it easy enough for him. He'd already spent years enough in an antique shop because of being unable to release his doll form and had no desire to repeat it.
For some reason, despite his fierce internal belief that one had to believe in themselves..he kept forgetting that he had all the proof of Haru's doing just that.
Not to mention she was clearly no normal human. He really owed the cat speaker far more credit, she was a fully grown woman and able to speak with him easily. And it had been nice to speak with someone who posessed manners once again.
"Baron?" Haru's voice was soft, calm, and he glanced up as her eyes locked to his again. "Do you think I should arrange for my mother to go visit a friend? I can easily set it up..she could use a break for a time..and then the three of you can stay with me on rotation easier."
Baron adjusted the grip on his cane but nodded. "It would seem to be, a far more prudent action. Especially considering I am unable to properly offer you the hospitality of my own home."
"The offer is appreciated, regardless." Haru said with a smile and then stood.
It was something Baron could admit he admired about the woman as she went to speak with her Toto-Tou-san. She was a decisive sort, and did not back down from what actions to take when she had made up her mind.
()()()()()
"The best laid plans of Cats and Crows.." Haru sighed a few days later. She was running a hand through her wet hair, wrapped in naught but her favorite towel as she eyed the newest addition to her bathroom. It was a good thing she'd been in the shower which had a dark opaque curtain. Still the glow of portal light was hard to miss.
It had been very easy to get her mother and a few of Naoko's best friends to finally go to the resort they'd wanted. There was a festival happening this time of year and several new curious anti aging treatments on offer. Haru was grateful that the women had all saved up, and decided it was a great time instead of waiting for the busy season. She'd found her old doll furniture and items, mostly still unused since her mother had been the owner of them. Haru had preferred her books and being out with the cats and birds. Still, she was glad to be able to offer them for Baron's comfort even if it was just so he had a proper chair while in her room and the kitchen. The discussion had been simple.
Baron of course, hadn't wished to be a bother. Haru had said it couldn't always be comfortable sitting on counters or the floor and he'd given in without protest. Or in a proper old gentleman's style..agreed with her by not protesting. There were already perches hidden throughout the house for Toto and she was hardly concerned about Muta.
The best part of the doll furniture had honestly been the fine dishware so that Baron could still make his own tea, even if he had to get creative about how he got the hot water and everything done. Haru had felt surprisingly pleased when she'd shared her own stash of loose leaf and herbal items she made tea and paints with. The cat figurine had been ecstatic and it had started a very long discussion over pigments and hues and when the 'dye' became impossible to drink.
Haru had felt like she'd not only given Baron a wealth of information, but walked away with a dozen new ideas to try.
Sighing she leaned against the shower wall and shook her head.
Well, she had something else to discuss now. Slipping on her robe and grateful she had brought her pajamas in for underneath it, Haru huffed and opened the door.
"Toto-tou-san? Muta?..Baron..you'd better come see..."
It was saying a great deal that she head the thudding of heeled tiny shoes and the thumping of Muta's paws not long after the feathers shifting through the air. If anyone had beaten her crow-father there though, it would have been a shock. Toto had only become more her protective father figure now.
"Whoa Chicky..." Muta said, and Haru just nodded, keeping the door wide open as she moved into the hall to slide down with a sigh.
"You're telling me...I hope you're hungry, Muta?"
Luckily..Haru had a bathroom where the shower and the tub were separated. Because right now the bathtub was full of fish.
"I...for me?" Muta sounded touched, moving a paw to wipe his eye even as Haru groaned..and Toto and baron just stared.
"Hey Muta, since you've liked three gifts now..Catnip, Fish, Mice..why don't you see if the king has a daughter or a favorite niece or something? I'll prepare a speech on you're greatness...or you could just marry the prince yourself." Haru managed to get out with a wry smile, but Toto chortled.
"Princess Muta...sounds rather fittin lardball.."
Muta of course was already in the process of eating and Baron turned, surprised to see Haru who was normally so serene, with her face in toto's wing. Her damp hair was dark from the water and almost blended into the inky black feathers as she breathed in the gargoyle's scent.
It was to be expected though. Once more they had slipped through.
"Terrible manners..troubling a lady in such a situation..we can only fervently hope they had no idea you were there.." Baron grumbled, furious at the invasion of Haru's privacy. Haru peeked at him over Toto's spread wing as the crow taunted Muta. The effect not unlike a courtier fluttering a fan as they met eyes.
"Four. So potentially one more..."
Baron nodded gravely. This was not a good sign. They were getting bolder.
()()()()()()
By sheer luck, Baron was outside keeping Haru company in her yard alone when the bumbling folded ear cat returned. Notoru proceeed to coo and praise the wonder of the gifts she had received. Baron had hidden himself in Haru's long hair, which thankfully was down. Whatever he was tempted to say however was silenced as he listened to Haru's retorts.
She really was one of a kind.
"While I'm certain the gifts were meant kindly, and certainly my friends enjoyed them..they are entirely not suitable for a human and actually were a bit of a problem."
"A...a problem..." The brown cats' jaw quivered as he chattered a moment, paws to his tiny split mouth in concern. "Oh..oh dear..Oh the king won't be happy..Ohhhh...no..."
"Lune had thanked me in person, that's plenty. Truly. No more gifts please."
"Oh but miss Haru we can't stop, we musn't! We've saved the best for last!"
"May I at least know so I can tell you if it's not fitting?" Haru pleaded, softly, gently. Far more patiently then Baron felt the scottish fold deserved. Haru's self restraint was admirable and showed how mature she was, far beyond the manners found often in her generations or any since his own crafting.
"Well, you are well versed in the Right Ways and the speech so we figured we'd only honor you by granting you more!"
"More?" Haru was carefully sceptical, one brow lifted slightly. "In what way?"
"Well isn't it nice understanding cats? I mean, fully? You get why we are like we are!"
"Mmm." Haru nodded, ever mindful of the burden on her shoulder slight though Baron's weight was. She didn't wish to topple him off or expose him. "True. It must be nice to be a cat, you have little in the way of concerns that are not directly involved in what your nature calls for." She chuckled, and gave a tiny teasing smile. "Though it seems most to involve napping in the sun all day..."
"Yes! I knew you'd understand! That settles it!"
"Wait, settles what?" Haru sat up more, worried now and Baron leapt down. But not before the rushing away of a tiny brown form into a portal.
His words floated back to them, making a pair of electric green eyes meet the terrified brown between human and figurine made flesh.
"Why marriage to the Cat Prince, of course!"