Prologue: The Whispers of the Heart

A/N: This is the story of how Charisse and Baron's relationship came to be as mentioned in Baron's Temporary Loss of Composure, starting at the aftermath of Louise's death!

"Louise, please!" cried Charisse as she evaded the possessed white cat statuette's sword. "I'm so sorry! I'm not having an affair with Baron!"

That was what the fight was about; the evil magician cat that possessed Louise made her believe Baron was having an affair with Charisse, an American cat statuette Baron took in. Charisse did harbor feelings for Baron but she respected that he had a fiancée and did all that she could to help find the missing Louise. The pictures of Louise that Baron painted in Charisse's head didn't seem like the Louise the American statuette was fighting.

"He betrayed me," hissed Louise in a tone full of malice, "for you! He…cheated on me because of you!" She held her sword up and pointed it at Charisse as she spoke.

"He'd be crazy to do that," replied Charisse desperately, shaking her head. "Louise, he loves you! He always have! I'm pretty sure he always will! I may have feelings for him but he loves you! I would never seduce him for personal gain!"

The malicious look on Louise's face wavered for a second. It looked like Louise was back in control of her own body but then the furious look came back. She let out a laugh that made shivers go down Charisse's spine and shook her head. Her sapphire eyes were once again full of hatred as she glowered at the statuette in front of her.

"If only I could believe you," hissed Louise hatefully. "You did seduce him, you little whore, and that's why he's in love with you! It's all because of you!"

"I've never slept with your fiancé!" argued Charisse, feeling stung by injustice. "Please believe me!"

Louise said nothing but parried the blade to stab Charisse in the chest. Charisse only acted on instinct: She moved out of the way, kicked the blade out of Louise's hands, and stabbed the possessed statuette in the heart. Blood dripped from the wound and a smile twisted its way on Louise's face. She fell to ground but Charisse caught her and cradled her gently. Tears welled up in Charisse's eyes and it felt like she was stabbed in the heart instead.

"I'm so sorry, Louise…" wept Charisse, her tears dripping down on to Louise's face. "I never…I couldn't…"

"Don't apologize," whispered Louise weakly as she smiled at Charisse, "it was my fault. That magician possessed me but you…you set me free. Thank you, Charisse…Oh, will you tell Humbert that I'm sorry and I love him…"

"No," replied Charisse firmly, causing Louise to look up at her quizzically. "No, I'm not telling Baron anything because you will be fine. You will live to tell him that. You'll be fine!"

"I'm…dying," was Louise's weak response.

"No you're not," objected Charisse, shaking her head.

"I am," breathed Louise tearfully, tears rolling down her face. "Please…tell Humbert I love him and I'm sorry, Charisse. Swear to me you will. And tell him to move on. I don't want him to suffer forever. He deserves happiness. He deserves you…I wouldn't choose anyone better. Thank you, Charisse. You two were meant…to be…" Then, Louise became limp in Charisse's arms and breathed her last.

Wild gasps escaped from Charisse as she stared at Louise's dead body. Tears soaked into her fur and she cried like a child. She couldn't breathe…it felt like she was hyperventilating. She kept shaking Louise's body in an attempt to wake her up but nothing worked. Charisse couldn't even form words because how hard she was sobbing.

Suddenly, Baron was at her side and he gazed at Louise's body with grief. Tears poured from his green eyes and he shook his head, unable to speak. Then, he bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to Louise's lips before gathering Charisse in a hug to calm her nervous system. Charisse tried to fight it but Baron was stronger than her so she gave up and allowed Baron to hold her.

"It was all my fault…"wept Charisse as he held her. "I…only acted on instinct, Baron. She tried to stab me but it kicked the sword out of her hands and stabbed her. I'm so sorry!"

Baron said nothing but held Charisse tightly, allowing himself to mourn for the death of his beloved fiancée. Now he had to pick up the pieces of this and remain strong for Charisse. I promise you, my love, he thought towards Louise. I will love you forever…

"And I will love you forever," Louise's sweet voice whispered as the breeze passed by. "Take care of her, Humbert, and treasure her always…"

I will, Louise, he thought back, closing his eyes to prevent the tears from spilling forth. I promise…

The two statuettes held each other as they mourned the loss of Louise, a kind yet troubled soul who left too quickly.

...

It's been five days, thought Charisse, drifting back to the time she killed Louise, Baron's past fiancée. She still blamed herself for what had happened, even when Baron told her it wasn't her fault. Everything was her fault: Louise was murdered when she could have been saved. It was only because of her that Louise had died; it was only because of her that Baron had lost his one true love.

I'll never forgive myself, Charisse thought as she curled up on Baron's loveseat in the Bureau.

From that day on, Charisse closed her heart off and never let anyone in again. It would only be five years later that she would let someone into her life…

A/N: Short Prologue but the story will be longer, I promise. Please R&R! No flames!