Chapter 1: Tale of Two Cats
Enjoying the late afternoon and cool breeze Hiromi and Haru strolled through the Crossroads shopping district, laughing and gossiping about the latest rumors at school. Hiromi pointed out some empty chairs across the street where they could sit for awhile, grabbing Haru's hand she started dragging her in the direction of the small café with outside tables. Hastily making their way into the available space, they sat down to rest for a bit, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Hey Haru, do you want to do something Sunday? I mean tomorrow is pretty much going to be a lazy day, we can hangout like we did today," Hiromi asked, while placing her purchases on the ground by her chair.
Haru declined, shaking her head slightly. "No thanks Hiromi, I have something I would like to do tomorrow instead."
Glad about the break from walking around for most of the day, taking a moment to watch the people stroll by while enjoying the afternoon sun, Haru slipped off her sandals.
Giving her friend a questioning look across the small table. "Okay. Do you want me to come with or come over to help?" Hiromi offered.
Looking slyly at her friend, knowing already how the other would react. "That's okay you don't have to, I'm just going to feed some stray cats that live near the house." Haru bit back a smile. "You can come over if you want?"
Looking at her friend in disbelief. "WHAT! That's all you're going to do tomorrow? Why are going to waste a perfectly good day feeding random cats around your neighborhood?"
Haru snickered at Hiromi's disgruntled look.
Rubbing a hand over her face in imagined exhaustion from her friend's antics, Hiromi rolled her eyes, wishing she had water to flick at her best friend for being so odd. "What's with the sudden love for cats? I mean I know you saved that one cat but now you want to adopt all the stray cats in the neighborhood?" Hiromi asked incredulously.
"It's not that I want to adopt all the cats, and who doesn't love cats? I just had something happen yesterday that really changed how I feel about them," Haru replied, while grinning.
"Okay, now you got me really curious, but I'll leave it for now because I know you'll tell me anyway."
"Thanks for not trying to hard to drag it outta me."
"You say it with sarcasm, but you love my reverse psychology."
"Fine. But to really explain the story a bit better I'm going to have to give you a little bit of a background. Would you believe me if I told you when I was around five years old I met a stray white kitten? Poor thing was dirty and starving so I fed her some fish crackers I was eating. This is the part where you might have a hard time believing me." Smiling softly at her irritated friend.
Leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Come on try me Haru," Hiromi challenged.
Feeling a little mischievous, Haru spoke softly so she wouldn't be overheard by the other customers sitting outside. Leaning forward towards Hiromi. "Well you remember that cat that I saved the one carrying the tiny box a couple of days ago from that truck? Before all that really weird stuff started happening around me?"
Waving her hands in the air to stress her point, Hiromi spoke with a bit of irritation towards Haru. "How could I forget! I still have anxiety attacks over, how I on earth I was going to explain to your mom how you got hurt running into the road to save a cat from a speeding truck!"
Haru looked guiltily towards her friend. "I am sorry about that Hiromi."
Mood somewhat dampened now and suddenly feeling awkward about putting her best friend in such a position; it never crossed Haru's mind that Hiromi would be burdened with guilt if Haru had been truly hurt. Clearing her throat she hesitated, wanting to apologize again and promise not to do something so foolish anymore, but knowing deep in heart it would be a false promise.
Waving away the building guilt she could see in Haru. "Don't worry too much about it, I'm tough it doesn't really bother me as much anymore."
Blank unbelieving stare.
"Okay, so I'm not over it… yet. But… I'm getting there," Hiromi admitted. Shrugging absently with no real anger towards her friend for her actions, she encouraged Haru to get back to her story. "So, back to the story. Dirty kitten. Fish crackers. Truck almost running over strange cat years later."
Forcing herself to put as much cheer and giddiness into her voice, to try to dispel the somber mood, Haru picked up where she left off. "Get this. That dark colored cat that I saved was taking that box as a gift to the little white kitten I met as a kid. The box was fish crackers!"
Hiromi sat forward slamming her hands down on the table with excitement. "WHAT! NO WAY THAT HAPPENED! You're making that up! How would you know it was the same kitten? That like happened when you were… what? Five? There is more than one white cat in the world, it can't possibly be the same one?" Hiromi exclaimed.
No longer needing to put false cheer into her voice, Haru became excited once more with being able to share this small secret with her best friend. Getting giddy with excitement over something that seems so fantastic, so impossible, that even Haru has to remind herself it really happened. The excitement of both girls completely dispelled the previous unhappy mood that fell over them.
"I'm not kidding. Apparently, the cat remembered me." Leaving out the fact that she can talk to cats, and that Yuki told her exactly who she was to Haru... That's a secret for another time. "It took me awhile to figure out that it was in fact the same white kitten from before, I mean the fish crackers did help some. But… how amazing is that!? Who would have guessed that I ended up saving two cats that would end up together later?" Haru smiled widely.
"Oh my gosh. That is amazing. And you're are right I have a hard time believing you but that is very romantic. Just imagine it." Getting a faraway look in her eyes.
"A little kitten on the brink of death being saved by a kindhearted stranger. That same white kitten grows up and falls in love. She tells him about her tragic childhood, the love of her life is so moved by her story he tries to prove his love by venturing into the dangerous human world, to retrieve an item from her childhood in honor of the kind stranger his love had met so long ago. By a twist of fate, only to be saved himself by that same stranger. They all meet once more and come together to pay thanks to the stranger that saved both their lives and they all lived happily ever after. The end."
Getting a dreamy look in her eyes that quickly turned into a determined look as she side-eyed her friend. Hiromi stared at Haru and started plotting.
"Oh my gosh!" Unable to control her giggles Haru teased her friend. "Hiromi, I think you need to stay away from your mom's romance novels. You have practically written an entire book right there."
Watching her friend continue to giggle to herself, Hiromi cast Haru a genuine smile in return. One thing that Hiromi could say about her klutzy friend is that she is a warm soft-hearted girl and can be entertaining sometimes. Just because no one else at school ever bothered to get to know Haru they miss this wonderful side of her. Their classmates were always looking down on her for being what they considered flaky and clumsy. Hiromi knew better… her friend could have some really amazing moments. Like the incident that happened with the truck, she may have been upset with Haru because of it, but she secretly envied her friend for being so selfless and brave.
"Oh, come on. The cat part is kinda iffy, but you must admit that it does make for a good book. Hey! That's it! Haru you should turn your story into a small book!"
Haru gave Hiromi a look of disbelief. "Are you serious? I can't do that."
"Why not? You have always been a good story teller, why not make your story into a book? Listen as your best friend I'm telling you, your story would be fantastic as a book." Hiromi watched her friend nervously pet her hair. Must be a nervous tick that she must have recently picked up.
Trying to reassure Haru that she really believed that this was something that Hiromi truly thinks Haru should give a try. Reaching across the small table and gently pulling her friends hand from running her fingers though her hair again.
Holding Haru's hand lightly in hers.
"I don't know. Do you really think so? That I can turn my story into a book?" asked Haru still uncertain.
Taking pity on her friend who was looking a little lost.
"YES! This could be your ticket to small time fame," Hirmoi replied while gently squeezing Haru's hand.
Haru gave a small smile in response. "Not big-time fame?" she questioned.
Waving a negligent hand Hiromi elaborated. "No. That is where everyone messes up, they always assume they are going to hit it big. Then become disillusioned alcoholics gripping about how such and such owes them. Look I'm not saying that your story is going to sell a million copies or that it will even be well liked by anyone. All I'm saying… is as your best friend, that I really liked your story and I think you should tell it to more people… Even if the people are little kids."
Still looking a little unsure. "I don't know."
Letting go of Haru's hand, Hiromi stood up and stretched. That feels good. "It's getting late I'm going to go. Just think about it okay. Tell your mom. Talk it over with her see what she thinks. If anything, I bet she will agree with me." Hiromi gave her friend a serious look. "Hey, I believe in you. What happened to that girl earlier today who was more confidant in herself than I have ever seen before?"
Always believe in yourself… Spoke a pair of green eyes that flashed across her thoughts. Nodding to herself Haru stood up and stretched as well. Rubbing her backside, a little she winced. They need to consider another brand of chairs. These are not made for sitting for long periods.
"Hiromi?" Watching as her friend gathered her bags together.
"Yeah?"
"Earlier when you were telling your version of the story, why did you mention the human world?"
Looking thoughtful Hiromi shrugged, truthfully, she didn't know why. Huh, now that you mention it, good question.
"I don't know, it just felt more right. You know when you have a feeling deep down that just begs to be heard? That was the feeling I felt when I said human world?" Shrugging again she hoped Haru understood the point she was trying to make. Watching her friend, a little more closely Hiromi was glad that Haru seemed to back to the girl who told her that she was no longer interested in Machida. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. I guess, it's just like you said it felt right."
"Of course, it was right! Because, I'm always right. And cute! Now, go home and sleep on what I said."
"If Tsuge ever married, you he is going to be in for a ride," Haru laughingly replied. "Okay. I will see you Monday. And I'll call you sometime tomorrow to let you know what I decided."
"If Tsuge ever married me I'd be the happiest girl in the world." Clasping her hands in front of her face Hiromi offered up a small prayer. If someone up there is listening?
Laughing at Hiromi's antics Haru glanced at her watch. "Time to go."
"Okay. See ya later, and don't forget to call me or I'm going to show up at your house to nag you." Giving Haru a quick hug Hiromi headed off in the opposite direction.
Taking one last look at her friends retreating back. "Okay I promise," replied Haru with a thoughtful soft expression. Sometimes I forget how awesome Hiromi can be, I'm glad I have her in my life.
