Chapter 8

/Two Days Later/

Yuki groaned, rubbing her temple with her white paw.

It seemed that the more days that passed the more her stress increased.

But she never knew the main cause of her stress. Was it her Baron dreams? Was it the fact that her wedding was coming so soon? Or was it the mysterious Kuro, whom she seemed to somehow know?

"Ugh!" Yuki cried out.

Lune watched Yuki from the sidelines with a worried look on his face.

'Is she that stressed about marrying me?' Lune thought, sadly assuming the cause of her stress was him.

Lune sighed and began thinking ways to help his beloved Yuki.

Lune's eyes lit up, when an idea struck him.

"Yuki, I think it's about time you got out of the palace and took a break, before the wedding." Lune said walking towards Yuki and putting a paw on her shoulder.

Yuki looked up at Lune.

"But Lune... there is so much work to be done... and I don't think-" Yuki tried to continue, but was interrupted by Lune.

"I insist Yuki. It pains me seeing you like this, so please, let's leave the palace for a while, for me?" Lune said looking at Yuki with loving eyes.

A smile formed on Yuki's face and she then wrapped her arms around Lune, in a warm hug.

"Okay..." Yuki said softly.

Lune smiled and placed a kiss on her brow.

"So... where are we going to go Lune?" asked Yuki.

"Hmm... you know that lake that we used to go to when we were kittens, remember?" Lune asked.

Yuki's eyes lit up.

"Oh yeah! I remember! We haven't been there for years!" Yuki said with a bright smile.

Lune smiled back.

"We could even invite Momo also, for old times' sake." Lune said.

Yuki nodded happily.

"Yes, I would love it if she would come." Yuki said.

Then as if on cue, Momo came in. She held a mop and a bucket of water in her paws and she walked in a daze, hardly noticing Lune and Yuki in the room with her.

"Hello Momo, you came just in time." Lune said.

But Momo walked over to the side of the room like a zombie and placed the mop into the bucket of water and began mopping the floor, still without noticing Lune and Yuki.

Yuki and Lune exchanged questioning glances.

"Momo! Snap out of it!" Yuki said loudly.

Momo jolted a little and turned to Yuki and Lune.

"Oh! Hey Yuki, hey Lune. I didn't know you guys were in here..." Momo said.

Lune frowned.

"But how, you passed right by us, and you were even looking at us?" Lune said.

Momo sighed.

"I'm sorry guys... I just had a bad week..." Momo said.

"Oh? How so?" Lune asked.

Momo's eyes widen, recalling the past event, her attempt of suicide and the human girl that saved her. But Momo closed her eyes and showed a reluctant smile.

"I... would not like to discuss my problems right now... if that's okay..." Momo said slowly.

Lune tilted his head and nodded slowly.

"Well, since you seem a bit down as well, why don't you come with us to the lake we used to go to when we were young?" Lune asked Momo.

Momo's eyes lit up slightly.

"The lake...? We haven't been there in ages." Momo stated mildly.

"I know, wouldn't it be great for us to go? Do you want to come with us, Momo?" Yuki asked.

Momo stared at her two friends for a moment, then a smile graced on her face.

"Sure, I would love to. I could use a break..." Momo said softly.

Yuki and Lune shared smiles.

"Great! Get ready." Lune told Momo.

Momo nodded and left the room with the bucket and mop.

"You know... I almost want Haru to come along with us..." Yuki considered.

Lune turned to Yuki.

"Perhaps she could come if she's not busy... we can even invite the Bureau." Lune smiled.

Yuki lit up.

"Oh yes! I hope they will be able to come!" Yuki smiled.

Lune returned the smile and kissed her brow.

"I'll send word to them right now then..."

OOO

Toto sailed across the sky, with a small sized Haru and the Baron on his back. While Muta hung from his talons, with the ever present frown on his face.

"And why exactly are we going to this 'outing', Baron?" Muta said looking up from where he was at Baron.

"Ms. Yuki has been seriously stressed lately and Lune thought sometime out with friends, would do some good for her." Baron answered holding on tightly to Toto and Haru, when they passed through an air current.

Haru looked down at Muta and gave him a sly smirk.

"What, Muta? I thought you would be glad to go, with all that food waiting for us there at the picnic." Haru said.

Muta grunted.

"Which is exactly why I am coming." Muta smirked.

Toto rolled his eyes.

Haru giggled and turned around to face Baron.

"Where is this lake exactly, Baron?" Haru asked.

"It's just around the western boundaries of The Cat Kingdom, Haru." Baron said smiling down at her.

Haru blushed and smiled back, then turn to the view and sighed.

'I wish I could live in the cat kingdom, it's much more relaxing then my own home...' Haru thought, looking below them at the long cattails swishing in the gentle breeze.

Suddenly Haru blushed and turned slightly to look at the Baron.

'I wonder how things would have been if I didn't make it up that tower in time... I would probably be a cat right now... and I would be fitting in better with Baron and the others... I wonder...'

"There it is! Cattail Lake!" Toto said swooping down.

"Oh!" cried a startled Haru.

Baron quickly pulled Haru into his chest.

"Don't worry Haru, I won't let you fall..." he said.

Haru nodded slowly, pink tinting her cheeks.

OOO

Yuki, Lune, and Momo stared out into the lake with soft smiles on their faces.

"Memories..." Momo sighed.

"I know..." Yuki said softly.

Lune watched the two felines and sighed.

"I hope we brought enough food..." Lune said looking at the food lined up on a picnic blanket.

Momo turned to Lune and tilted her head.

"Why wouldn't we have enough? There's plenty!" Momo said.

"Oh didn't we tell you? The bureau and Haru are going to be spending the day with us also." Lune said.

Momo's eyes widen, and then saddened.

"So... it won't be just the three of us...?" Momo said putting her head down.

"Yes, the more the merrier!" Lune said oblivious to Momo's sudden change of feelings, Yuki however caught it.

"What's wrong Momo?" Yuki asked.

"Well... I just thought that... it was just going to be-" said Momo, till a shadow covered the three of them.

The three of them looked up to see a large crow fly just above them.

"Look, it's them" Lune said.

Momo sighed.

"Never mind..." she said softy.

Muta jumped out of Toto's grasp and landed first, before Toto.

Baron and Haru hopped off of Toto and turned to the trio and smiled.

"Thank you for inviting us." Baron said bowing along with Haru, Toto, and Muta.

Lune waved a paw.

"No, we are happy that you were able to come." Lune smiled.

Yuki turned to Momo and motioned for her to join the group.

Momo nodded slowly, and walked up to the group reluctantly, only for her eyes to widen in horror.

"Let me introduce you to our friend." Yuki said to Haru and the Bureau.

"Haru, Baron, Muta, Toto... this is a very good friend of mine, her name's Momo. Momo, this is the group that I told you about. This is Baron, Muta, Toto, and Haru." Yuki said.

Momo's widened eyes, locked on a certain brunette that she thought she never would see again.

Haru's eyes were also widened looking at Momo, recognizing her instantly as the maid that tried to kill herself two days ago.

Everyone stared at the two girls, puzzled.

"Is everything alright...?" Yuki asked.

Haru and Momo broke out of there trances and turned to Yuki.

"Oh no! Everything's fine!" Haru said waving her hand.

Momo nodded in agreement. She was glad that Haru didn't say anything more.

"Well then, shall we start our picnic now that everyone's here?" Lune asked everyone.

"Yes, let's start this thing!" Muta said anxiously making his way to all the food.

Baron and Toto 'sweat dropped', while Lune and Yuki chuckled, and the four of them followed Muta to the picnic blanket.

Haru and Momo stayed behind however.

"Just so you know, I am keeping my promise. I'm not going to tell anyone, okay Momo?" Haru smiled reassuringly to Momo, glad to know her name now.

Momo stared at Haru some more and nodded, and the two of them followed the others.

OOO

"The water is so clear here..." Haru said staring out into the lake, along with Baron at her side.

"I always admired the Cat Kingdom's land..." Baron said.

Haru nodded in agreement.

After everyone was done eating, everyone ventured out to explore the land to pass the time, Haru decided she wanted to see the lake, and Baron joined her.

Haru sighed and begin to lie down in the long grass in complete contentment, like she did when she first came to the Cat Kingdom.

Baron smiled down at her.

"Tired...aren't you?" he asked siting down next to her.

"A little... I find this place very relaxing... I always feel so at home here..." Haru said, as she closed her eyes and a relaxed smile showed on her face.

Baron unknowing began to blush, staring down at her relaxed form, lying in front of him.

'Ms. Haru...' Baron thought admiring her simple beauty.

'Why must the littlest things like this, make my heart flutter...' Baron thought.

'I don't remember the last time I ever felt this way about someone before... that is...'

Baron eyes widen thinking about the other person on his mind.

'After Louise...' he finished his thought.

His thoughts of his dreams began to drift to him again, his dreams about Louise being Yuki.

Baron had done his very best trying to ignore the dreams and continue on with his life, but they keep returning without fail.

'What should I do about this...? If Louise really is Yuki, then what shall I do? Ignore the fact and let Ms. Yuki be, or confront her about this all... maybe she knows something too...' he thought.

"Baron?"

Baron broke out of his reveries and looked down at a concerned Haru.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Baron's expression melted into a soft smile and he gently put his gloved hand to her head and caressed it.

"I'm fine Ms. Haru... it's nothing for you to worry about..." Baron smiled reassuringly.

Haru blushed at the sudden affection Baron was showing her and nodded.

OOO

Momo looked out at the lake, looking at the two figures near the water, which she now knew as Haru and Baron and sighed.

'They must like each other...' Momo thought looking at the brunette and the figurine.

'Must be nice...'

Suddenly Momo saw something being put into her face.

She turned to see Muta holding out a peach to her.

"Momo... that means peach, doesn't it...?" Muta asked.

Momo blinked at him and nodded.

"Here have it. I noticed you didn't have much to eat..." Muta said.

Toto, who was sitting nearby, eyes widened and turned to the large cat and the vermillion feline.

"Thank you..." Momo said taking it from Muta, with a surprised look on her face.

"How did you know that peaches are my favorite?" she asked.

Muta awkwardly looked away and shrugged.

"Just a hunch I guess..." Muta said.

Momo smiled at him.

"I now have another reason to admire you Mr. Renaldo Moon..." Momo smiled with a slight slyness in it.

Toto twitched, struggling not to laugh at Momo's use of Muta's actual name.

Muta turned abruptly towards Momo and blushed.

"I told you! You don't have to call me that! You can call me Muta, and would you quit talking like that with me!" Muta hissed.

Momo giggled.

"I can't help it... after all I am your biggest fan." she smirked.

Toto started cracking up laughing, not caring anymore.

"Quit laughing birdbrain!" Muta hissed at Toto.

Momo joined in the laughter, and surprised herself.

This was the first time in a while since she laughed like this.

OOO

Yuki and Lune walked in the Cattail forest paw and paw, in bliss.

"Thanks again Lune. It was a good idea coming out here with everyone. Seeing everyone having fun and enjoying their time here makes me feel a lot better. I feel less stressed..." Yuki said.

"I'm glad..." Lune replied.

"I knew some time away from the palace and time with friends would do you some good."

Yuki hugged Lune.

"You know me well..." she said rubbing her head on his chest.

Lune smiled softly down at her, love filling his mismatched eyes for her and he cupped his paw under her chin so she can look up at him.

Yuki blushed softly when their eyes met.

Slowly, the two of them inched closer together, their lips only inches away from each other's.

"Yuki..."

"Lune..."

"BIRDBRAIN!"

Lune and Yuki froze to the sound Muta's outburst coming from outside the forest.

Lune sighed.

"We should return to everyone..." Lune said softly.

Yuki nodded reluctantly and followed Lune out of the tree like cattails towering above them.

OOO

"Try that again, Chicken Wings!" Muta growled.

Toto smirked, and swooped down from above, and swiped at Muta.

"Gah!" Muta cried.

Momo watched the two from the sidelines with growing interest.

"You're not going to take that, are you Renaldo?" Momo asked.

"I told you! Call me- Gah!" Muta tried to say, but was interrupted by Toto who swooped down at him again.

"Toto! Muta! Stop at once! We're here for peace, not a feud." Baron scolded, walking towards everyone, along with Haru.

"What are they fighting about now...?" Haru asked herself out loud.

"I'm pretty sure they don't know either." said Momo, hearing Haru's question.

"They don't most of the time..." Baron said frowning in disapproval.

OOO

The sky was beginning to turn orange and the sun was lowering, much to Haru's confusion.

"Okay everyone, the meteor shower is about to begin, so make sure to look up at the sky soon." Lune said to everyone.

Haru raised an eyebrow and leaned in towards Muta.

"But I thought it was always noon here..." Haru said.

"It is yes, but being in the boundaries of the Cat Kingdom, the time changes, no problem." Muta replied.

Baron sighed and stood up.

"Excuse me..." he told everyone and walked away.

Baron walked down to the lake and stared out at it.

'Louise, are you really Yuki...?" Baron thought.

Baron's ear twitched at the sound of somebody nearby.

Baron turned to his side to see, Yuki also staring out at the lake, with a dazed expression on her face.

"Hello, Ms. Yuki..." Baron said.

"Huh...? Oh! Hello Baron." Yuki said turning to him.

"Aren't you going to sit with the others to watch the meteor shower?" Baron asked.

"It doesn't start for a while, I have time..." Yuki said.

"I see..." Baron said.

The two of them stared out at the lake silently.

Baron then gazed at Yuki from the corner of his eye.

'I should say something... Perhaps this is all a misunderstanding...' he thought.

"Ms. Yuki..." Baron said.

Yuki turned to Baron.

"Yes...?" she replied.

Baron hesitated a little, and then continued on.

"Do you perhaps...? Is it possible that...?" Baron stuttered not knowing how to say what he wanted to say.

Yuki blinked at him.

'I wonder what he's trying to ask me..." Yuki thought.

Suddenly, Yuki's dreams about Baron came into mind.

Yuki then mentally shook her head.

'Baron probably has no idea about all of this. For all I know, Baron probably doesn't know anything about this... 'Louise' person... I need to ignore these dreams and move on.' Yuki thought.

Baron then spoke again, finally finding his words.

"Are... are you familiar with the name...Louise?" Baron asked.

Yuki gave Baron her full attention, eyes wide with wonder.

"Y-y-yes... but how...?" Yuki said, but was interrupted by the sky turning completely black and small objects in the sky, starting to fall, one by one.