Chapter 4: Mysteries

Kohari: Sorry about the slowness, guys. I really am. So instead, I'm changing the authresses' note so we don't get in trouble with the site. I'm updating without Slytherinprincess right now 'cause I'm in a hurry, but y'all seriously wanted this chapter, so we better get some reviews for this thing or we'll stop.

Haru, unusually sleepy, woke up to the buzz of her alarm clock. She pressed the snooze button lazily, just like old times, and buried her face in the pillow again. Subconsciously, she felt that this was going to be a day she'd rather not deal with.

Seconds later, she realized what she had done and sat up quickly in her bed, rubbing her eyes. As fast as she could, she dressed, stumbling as she struggled to get her socks on, and went downstairs for breakfast. Her mother had left a note for her saying that she was going shopping to make the "Early Bird" sale, to be good, and that lunch was in the fridge. Haru sighed with relief. She had forgotten that there was no school today.

Glancing at the table, she noticed that her mother had failed to retrieve the paper, so she slipped on her shoes and did it herself. Reaching for the news in the roadside box, she perceived a hint of a blue ribbon. Curiosity sparked, she separated the newspaper from the strange letter that had been sealed with this mysterious ribbon. Who could it be from?

In her interest, she allowed the newspaper to slip from her hand, landing forgotten in the driveway with a plop!Haru, uncertain of what the letter may bring, reluctantly pulled the ribbon carefully from the letter and opened it all the way. English words decorated the page, but for a moment, Haru, in her confusion, could not understand a single sentence. When she recovered, she read.

Dearest Haru,
Although I had originally sent Muta to retrieve you, I believe it would be best if I summoned you myself. If you have no other plans, it would be an honor to have you over for tea this afternoon. There is urgent business I must discuss with you. Please arrive at the Cat Bureau at three o'clock.

Sincerely,
Baron

Haru reread the message a few times before rolling it up in her hand. Urgent business? What was he talking about? Was there trouble in the Cat Kingdom? Something told her no. She scanned her memory to see if there were anything important scheduled for her this afternoon and decided that this "urgent business" must be attended to.

Taken slow, baby steps as she had gone through the letter, she saw that she had finally reached the door. She gasped, remembering the newspaper she had dropped. She jogged to grab it, then went inside the house. She silently wondered why the sun were shining in such a happy, cheerful way when there was urgent business to attend to.

She tapped her fingers on the kitchen table restlessly, waiting. After a few minutes, when the activity did not seem to ease her restlessness, she took the paper into her hands and began to read through it. There did not seem to be anything important printed in it today. Who cared about birthdays and school reports when there was urgent business?

She spent the day mostly walking around the house, completely forgetting about lunch. She was searching for something to do to relieve her of her boredom and help her to shake this restless feeling.

Restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless, restless...

She found herself constantly toying with her necklace, as though touching it would bring some ease of mind. Her closet was also a destination in many of her routes around the house. What could she possibly do when there was urgent business?

It never crossed her mind that urgent business was urgent and that it should be taken care of immediately. If it truly were urgent, Baron would have asked for her immediately. It was urgent to him, yes, but an urgency that he was hesitant to face. An urgency that he would put off as long as he could, but Yuki would never allow him to put it off forever.

Three o'clock...

Kohari: Okay, it was really, really short but...well, it's an update. And it was an update that was not proofread. Oh, well. Please review if you ever wanna find out what happens!