A/N: The story A Creation was left on rather a cliff-hanger of an ending, in fact it was left on no ending at all. I couldn't pick one, so I'm putting up all sorts of various endings that it could have, this is the second of such endings, and flows much better from the story than the original ending did. End A/N.

Chapter 9 or Art of the Heart

"I like this one!" Toto said loudly, drawing the attention of the girl and figurine as he cackled and cawed, laughing at the world in general, but particularly at fat cat beside him.

Haru wandered closer to her friends to see which picture had captured their attentions. "Oops," she said. "I'd forgotten about Rehearsal for a Duel." It was for sale, one of the very few she had done that was. It was of two men pretending to fight, or at least, that was how it had begun – someone had said something at some point, and the duellists faces were no longer the calm masks that they had once been, rather, they were contorted with rage.

The fighters were men, but to anyone who knew Muta and Toto, there was a definite resemblance. Haru had even put Toto in the tree, mocking Muta who was hissing up from beneath… it was very obviously her two friends fighting, in two different shapes. She hadn't meant to have the fight so very far in, just beginning, but it had become a later moment, and the duellist resembling the crow had the upper hand, being of a slimmer physique than his opponent.

"Well, I'm sorry Toto, but it's already been sold," Haru said, pointing to the little red sticker on the panel that detailed all the intricacies of the work.

"That's all right Haru, I'll just carry the memory of it with me forever," the crow assured her, a smile crooked on his beak.

"Excuse me Miss Haru," a crackling male voice called out from the next hall over, causing everyone to turn and look.

"Oh, hey Joe," Haru replied, smiling at the pimple-ridden and ever-so-slightly nerdy guy who was the guard on duty for the exhibition. "Want me out of here now?" she asked; moving so that he wouldn't be able to see Toto, or the Baron in her arms.

"If you wouldn't mind," he said. "And could you take the cat with you? I don't want to have to explain to any of your classmates that your pet messed up their work just because you forgot to hold the door for it."

"No problem Joe," said the artist heading for the closest exit, Toto and Muta close behind her, the Baron still in her arms.

"Oh, Miss Haru, I was wondering… that little portrait of the two cats in love…" the guard said, running a large hand through mousy curls.

"What about it?"

"How much do you want for it?" the older guy asked all in a rush.

"For the last time, it's not for sale Joe, I don't care how much of your father's money you're willing to give me for it. It's a present for a very dear friend of mine. I'm sorry," Haru said, collecting the small picture from the wall and taking it with her out the door.

"That's not allowed!" he called after her.

"It's my work, and I'll put it back in the morning. I'm not sure that I trust you with it," explained Haru, making sure that her friends were out the door before she closed it.

"I take it that he has made several offers for the miniature?" the Baron asked as they all walked to the residency where Haru was staying… well, Haru and Muta walked. Toto flew and Baron was now riding on Haru's shoulder.

"Yes," Haru said, barely able to see the painting by the street lights as she neared the door. "His Kitten is very popular, with everyone, but Joe was raised with money, so he thinks he can buy everything that he wants, it's been difficult getting him to understand that this time, he can't have it."

"His kitten?" Muta asked. He sat down beside her feet while she unlocked the door.

"That's the name of this picture I painted for the Baron," Haru said, showing fat cat and bird as they made themselves at home in her habitat. "Everything has to have a title," she added, rolling her eyes. It was obvious that she didn't much care for putting titles to things.

"Oh, that's lovely," Toto said, genuinely touched by the emotion he saw between the figures rendered in the pigments.

"Thank you," answered Haru, passing Muta a tissue. The fat cat was crying, but he seemed surprised to find out.