Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from The Cat Returns. They all belong to Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. All praised them. I do own my character, Hana. Without a further more, let's begin!
Lonely Heart
Ch.6: Gains and Losses
Hana felt someone stroking her hair gently. She thought it was Baron, but this touch seemed different. She fluttered her eyes opened and saw another Cat Figurine that looked like Baron, but with different fur, eyes and outfit. He smiled. "Evening, Miss Hana." He said. She recognized the voice.
"Auron?"
He smiled as he sat next to her. "I take it that you're not shocked from my real appearence?" He said as he flickered his ears. She then noticed the electric blue eyes of his. "...you were there that day when I ran away when I was little. You were that cat." She said. Aruon's smile grew wider. She then wrapped her arms around his neck; hugging him tightly.
"I thought I would never figure that you were the cat that helped me that day." She whispered. Auron smiled as he wrapped his arms around Hana, clearly that she never had forgotten about him. "...it's my job to help others in need, and you did need someone to talk to and help you stay warm until that Detective came to pick you up." He whispered into her ear. He rubbed her back in soothing circles until she pulled away.
His arms were still draped around her waist as she took his appearence. She then reached up and scratched his ear. "To be honest, I like your cat form better." She said. Auron purred softly as she scratched his ear. Hana smiled sadly as she scratched Auron's ear. "I never got a chance to thank you for helping me, Auron. I mean...a few days ago with that incident with my mother." She said.
Auron stopped purring and sighed sadly. He pulled Hana into a gentle embrace. "I'm sorry that I didn't see this coming, Hana. You didn't deserve to get loved ones taken away from you." He said as he tighten the hug. Hana had her hands pinned to his chest, so she clentched onto his jacket. He nearly crushed her in the hug, but she didn't mind.
Hana then heard polite coughing. It was Baron. He smiled as he sat next to her. "How do you feel, Hana?" He asked. Hana smiled. "I feel good, a little confused, but good." Hana said. Baron smiled as he gave her a cup of tea. "That's my personal blend. It's a little different everytime, so I can't guarantee the flavor." He said. Hana took a sip and smiled. "...Baron. Your blend beats mine by a long shot. It's the best blend I had ever tasted." She said. Baron smirked.
"Then you're lucky." He said. Just then, a gruff sound came. "It taste like boiled grass to me." A voice said. She turned and saw Muta. Toto perched on the railing. "Tea has no refine taste to your delicate tongue." Toto commented. Muta glared at him. "At least I don't eat worms!" He said. Hana was confused. Baron smiled. "They usually fight alot, but I told them to behave themselves when we were with you." Baron explained. Hana smiled.
"Wait, where's Haru?" She asked. Baron smiled. "She's fine. She just went home to rest since the adventure tired her out." Baron said as he held her hand warmly. Hana smiled. "Well, I never got a chance to thank you guys for being there for me. I usually don't talk to anyone about my personal life, but I think you helped me broke my shell and I don't have that painfull feeling in my chest anymore."
Baron smiled as she gave him a warm embrace. "Thank you, Baron...for everything." She whispered. Baron smiled as he stroked her silky black hair. After awhile of resting, she went out to the courtyard. She stretched slightly as Baron and Auron joined her. She then noticed that her waist didn't hurt at all. "You can thank the Cat doctors in the Cat Kingdom for helping out with your inuries." Baron said.
Auron smiled as he squeezed Hana's shoulder slightly, knowing that she won't be alone anymore since she's at the Cat Bureau.
After weeks, Hana bonded with everyone really well. Toto takes her out flying every now and then. She even did a little referee between Toto and Muta's fights. She even helped Baron and Auron and Haru with a few clients. More by then, Hana was bonding with Auron alot. They usually hang out at the crossroads and gaze at the stars at night. Hana smiled at Auron as he pulled her close to him. She was starting to fall in love with him.
For some reason, she didn't know if she fell in love with him when he was her partner at her dancing lessons or when he rescued when she was little and he was a cat.
One day, she felt an unnerving feeling. "Baron? Something's wrong." She whispered. Baron stared at her.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" He asked as he puts his report aside to stare at the window with Hana. She tensed up a little. "I don't know...but it's a bad aura. I can feel like something bad is going to happen." She said. Baron stared at Hana confused. He then felt the feeling that something was wrong now. "Whatever it is, it's not good. I want you to stay here where it's safe." Baron said.
Hana was about to protest, but Baron cut her off. "I know that you want to help, but I don't want you to get hurt. Understand?" He asked as he stroked her cheek. Hana sighed but nodded. "Okay. I'll stay here, then." She said. Baron smiled and left the Bureau. Toto, Muta, and Auron went with Baron as Haru stayed with Hana.
Hana was getting the feeling that something was going to happen. "Haru...I have to go with them. Something will happen if I don't." Hana said. Haru stared at Hana. "Baron told us to stay here." Haru said. Before she said it, Hana was already gone. Hana could hear Haru yelling for her name, but she kept running. "Please...let me get there on time..." She thought.
Baron, Muta, Toto and Auron were at a park, now taller now since no humans were out since it was night out. Auron glared around, feeling that someone was watching them. Just then, something came out of the bushes. It was Hana's mother. She was holding a bloody knife in her hands. It seems to be glowing in the moonlight. "So...you're the famous Cat Bureau I keep hearing about. Since you are here, I was hoping that you can help me find someone for turning me in." She said with an evil smirk.
Auron stood infront of the Bureau. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can tell when someone is lying or not and right now, you are lying from the very beginning. You just want to find Hana so you can finish the job." Auron glared at her. She smirked. "So, you know my daughter? You do know that it's her fault that I'm like this now. If she didn't find that room, none of this would be happening right now." She said. The blade then glowed black.
Auron knew that spell. It wa death magic. "Take cover!" He said when the blade shot death magic at the Bureau. Everyone managed to dodge it. The woman scowled. "Let's see how long you can keep up." She said. After a few hours of dodging the death magic, Hana's mother was now fed up. "Looks like that we are going to do this the hard way." She then threw the blade at them. Auron stood protectively infront of them, trying to take the hit. Instead, it hits something else.
It was Hana. She took the hit for the Bureau. The blade had sunken into Hana's chest. Auron held her upper half when she collapsed to the ground. "Hana! Stay with me, Hana. You're going to be okay!" He said. Auron then picked her up and made a blue portal. Auron rushed through the portal with Hana's life on his hand. With the Bureau behind him, they reached to the Cat Kingdom.
The Cat doctors were rushing in and out of the room. Auron was worried that Hana might not make it. Haru then managed to get to the Kingdom, thanks to the shard that Lune gave her if she ever wanted to visit.
Then, Natori came out of the room. Auron stood up. "Well?" He asked. Natori had a sad look on his face. "There's...nothing we can do. There is no cure for death magic. I'm afraid that...she only haves a few minutes to live. I'm sorry." He said. Auron fell to his knees, knowing that death magic has no loop hole for a cure. He then entered Hana's room, with the bureau behind him. Hana's eyes were very pale, even her skin was white as snow.
Auron sat next to Hana, holding her hand. "Hana...I'm so sorry. I...wish there was something I can do for you..." He trailed off, feeling a single tear running down his furry cheek. Hana smiled sadly. "It's...not...your fault...It's mine...I...didn't...listen...to Baron." She said. Baron smiled sadly. Hana smiled. "I'm...glad...I got...the chance...to see you...guys...one last...time...Auron..." Auron stares at her.
"Theres...something you...need to know..." She said. Auron stroked her cheek. "...the truth...is...I liked you...more as a...friend...ever since...I found...out that you...were the cat...that rescued me...I knew that...you were the one..." She said. Auron smiled as he killed her forehead. "...I also felt that way, Miss Hana." He said. Hana smiled sadly as she stroked the top of his head.
He gently leaned foward and kissed her on the lips. When he pulled away, Hana gave her last breath. The death magic has consumed her. She was gone now.
She was dead, leaving her only friends with a gap in their hearts.
This is not the end, so don't go throwing knifes and torches at me!
Ch. 7 Up soon
