Chapter 3
Yuki watched the man leave out the back door, leaving her and the familiar tawny cat alone on the table.
The minute the man left, the tawny cat made some movement, before turning to the stunned Yuki.
He smiled gently at her and looked away to a nearby window.
"Hmm, he left earlier this time..." said the tawny cat in a thick English accent.
For some reason beyond Yuki, she felt her heart skip a beat hearing his mysterious voice that felt so familiar to her.
The tawny cat then turned to her again, and then frowned slightly.
Yuki noticed this and flinched.
He made his way over to the nervous Yuki.
"Are you okay?" he said with concern in his voice.
Now that the mysterious tawny cat was up close, Yuki could see some type of resemblance to his face that brought her back to the time when she helped Haru escape the Cat King.
"B-Baron?" Yuki said with an uncertain voice.
The tawny cat smiled softly at her.
"Yes?"
Yuki's blue eyes widened.
'So he is Baron!' Yuki thought.
Finally finding her voice, Yuki replied to the baron.
"Where are we?" she said looking around the antique shop.
Baron tilted his head at her.
"Why Louise, we're where we have always been." said Baron looking at Yuki strangely.
Yuki was now very confused.
'Did he just say Louise?' thought Yuki.
"What do you mean, we have always been here and I'm sorry, but you have my name mistaken. I'm Yuki, remember?" Yuki said as calmly as possible, to keep calm herself.
Now Baron was frowning slightly again.
"Yuki...? Louise, are you sure you're feeling well?" he insisted.
Before Yuki could continue to argue more on the topic, everything once again dissolved into nothing.
Yuki awoke upright in her bed and groaned before she rested herself on her bed once again.
'It's that dream again...' thought Yuki.
'A dream about the baron...'
Why does she keep having these dreams? Why do they all involve Baron? Why do they take place in the same setting? Who was that human? Why is she having these dreams, now of all times?Why did Baron call her Louise?
Yuki sighed and looked out of her bedroom window.
"I'm so confused..."
OOO
Haru ran to the crossroads, with excitement rushing through her body.
She was going to see Yuki and Lune again! But Haru was not looking forward to seeing the old Cat King again, who would most likely be there.
Haru shivered thinking about that old pervert.
Haru sighed and smiled to herself.
'Then again I don't have anything to worry about. Baron is going to be with me, and I'm sure he'll help if the King tries something foolish.' thought Haru blushing slightly at the thought of spending the day with the baron.
'It's still hard to believe that I going to The Cat Kingdom again nor did I think I would see Baron again, and yet Baron came to my home yesterday and gave me an invitation back to the kingdom.' Haru said making her way to the crossroads.
Haru broke out of her thoughts and looked around for a certain fatso.
Finally Haru spotted the white cat laying on one of the white chairs next to a white table, staring out into space.
Haru giggled and sneaked closer to him, carefully, making sure that he would not notice her.
Then Haru pounced.
"Boo!"
"MEEEYOOWW!" Muta cried, falling off the chair and landing flat on his face.
Muta looked up at Haru angrily.
"What the heck was that for Chicky?!" Muta said hissing out his words.
Haru frowned and put her hands to her hips.
"Like you don't know...this is payback for the time you scared me when you first arrived at my home without warning" Haru said crossing her arms.
Muta paused for a minute, and then smirked.
"But you got to admit... your face was pretty hilarious..." said Muta busting into helpless chuckles.
Haru glared at Muta, with a blush across her pale face.
"Oh stop! That was not funny! Besides, we are even now..." Haru said looking away from Muta, with the blush still across her face.
Haru then noticed she was being stared at by others, who had strange looks on their faces.
Haru blushed even harder and looked down at the chubby cat.
"Hey Muta, let's go to the bureau now... I'm getting weird looks..." Haru whispered to Muta, putting her hand to the side of her mouth, making sure no one could see her talking to him.
Muta stopped laughing and looked around at the people around them.
"Yeah, I can see how a young girl, would get weird stares from talking to a cat in public" said Muta smirking at her.
"Oh, hush!"
OOO
Baron looked out of the bureau window waiting for Haru and Muta to arrive.
A smile appeared on Baron's face.
"Toto? Could you go see if Ms. Haru and Muta are nearby?"
Toto, who was also in the room, nodded and left out the window.
Baron watched Toto fly away from out his window.
Baron sighed and went over to his coat hanger to grab his jacket, top hat, and cane.
Once he was done, he headed towards the twin doors and went outside to wait for everyone.
He stood there in silence, looking up at the clear blue sky.
'Lately there has been nothing but sunshine. I almost forgotten the last time it rained.' thought Baron smiling slightly.
Baron's ear twitched at the sound of the upcoming voices of Toto and Muta's bickering and some giggling belonging to Haru.
Baron smiled softly.
'Ms. Haru's laugh is so lovely.' Baron thought to himself, thinking about the charming brunette for the eighth time today.
Just as Baron was about to make his way towards the three voices to greet them, Baron's eyes grew wide, with almost horror.
"L-Louise?!" Baron said aloud, looking everywhere frantically, but finding nothing.
Baron frowned.
'That's odd...I could have sworn, I felt Louise's presence just a second ago...' Baron thought still looking around.
"Hey, Baron! We're here with Chicky!" said Muta coming from the archway, along with Haru and Toto.
Baron turned abruptly to them and smiled.
"Ah, Ms. Haru, it's great to see you again" Baron said making his way towards the three of them.
Haru smiled as her cheeks tinged a bright red.
"It's great to see you too Baron."
Baron smiled up to Haru, before turning to Muta.
"Muta... do you have the shrinking dust for Haru?"
"Of course I do, Natoru dropped it off not too long ago." said Muta pulling out a bottle (from who know where) that contained golden substances in it.
Baron took the bottle from Muta and pulled the cork off the top.
"Toto, if you may..." said Baron.
Toto nodded and took the bottle from Baron's hand, using his beck, and flew above Haru.
Haru prepared herself for whatever was to come.
Baron chuckled a little.
"Don't worry Haru, this will not hurt one bit. In fact, you might find it quite enjoyable" said Baron giving Haru a reassuring smile.
Haru smiled, knowing she could trust the baron, and gave Toto her okay.
Toto tipped his head and let the golden dust fall down out of the bottle and on to Haru.
When the dust made contact, Haru giggled at the tickling sensation on her body, as it spilled down upon her.
Before she knew it, she was next to Baron and a head smaller than him.
Haru beamed up at Baron.
"Yes, that was enjoyable."
Baron blushed slightly at Haru's fair smile and smiled back.
"I wouldn't allow using the dust, if it were to cause any harm to you, Ms. Haru."
Haru blushed and looked away.
"T-Thank you..."
Muta coughed and got everyone's attention.
"I hate to interrupt this lovey-dovey moment, but we have to go." said Muta.
Haru blushed harder at Muta's comment and Baron just ignored it.
"I agree." said Baron walking towards Toto who had landed back on the ground again.
"We better make our way there" said Baron motioning Haru to come along with him.
Haru followed Baron towards Toto and stopped right behind his back.
"Wait a sec... I hope this doesn't mean I'm riding to the Cat Kingdom, hanging from birdbrain's claws..." growled Muta.
Baron, who was helping Haru on to Toto's back, turned to Muta.
"How else are you going to get there...?"
"Umm...walking..." Muta said.
"Why is that? Can't handle the talons..." Toto said mockingly.
Muta growled.
"Of course not!" hissed Muta.
"Then why?" asked Toto.
Muta was silent for a moment, and then made a break for it, to the archway.
Baron sighed with irritation and jumped behind Haru on Toto's back.
"Let's go" said Baron to Toto.
"Okay!" said Toto already taking off.
Quickly, Baron and Haru held on tightly to Toto and Baron wrapped one arm around Haru's waist, making sure she wouldn't fall off.
Toto flew just above the retreating Muta, before sweeping down and snagged Muta with his talons.
"YEOW!" Muta cried, as the four of them flew up higher into the sky.
Still holding on to Haru, Baron turned back to look at the Refuge, with a questioning look on his face, as they flew away.
'Perhaps...I was just imagining Louise's presence...'