Short chapter. Was going to add more to it, but when I got to the end, I thought it was perfect.
"Hiromi!"
"Huh? What?" Hiromi looked up from her desk to see Haru chuckling, looking at her friend. "Hey, sleepyhead! School's about to start; you get enough sleep last night?"
"Oh, hi," her friend replied. "Things have been a little weird since getting back from the Cat Kingdom, that's all."
"Like what?"
Hiromi looked around from side to side, then whispered "I can talk to cats now!"
Haru whispered excitedly "I know! My mom told me!"
Announcements were over, and the teacher began class. "We'll talk later," winked Haru.
During gym, the girls hung out on the roof together.
"So tell me all about it." Said Haru.
"Well…" Hiromi twiddled her thumbs, "ever since leaving the kingdom, I got this ability to understand cats - here, in our world! It started with this kitten by your house. He asked me if I lived there. I told him no, it's your house."
"Awesome!" Haru replied. "Something must have happened when you completed your transformation. Did you two say anything else?"
"He asked me if you guys had any fish in the house. I told him to wait, and went to check. That's when it hit me; I was talking to a cat!"
"So, did you get him some? We do have fish in the refrigerator."
"I talked to your mom first, of course! And also to tell her about this whole 'talking to cats' thing. Then I brought him a couple filets. He said thanks, and carried them away," she smiled, a little nervously.
"That was very nice of you Hiromi. Hey! You know, with your new ability, you can help me!"
"Help you?"
"One thing I want to do while here is find cats that want to journey to the Cat Kingdom. Muta doesn't want me walking around town, talking to them in my cat form - not until I get better at avoiding trouble."
"Mmm hmm," Nodding, Hiromi gave her a knowing look.
Haru rolled her eyes. "Anyway...I can try doing it in human form - and now you can help me!"
Hiromi frowned a bit. "Well...but how do we do it without people thinking, you know...we're a little nutty?"
Haru laughed! "Be discreet, I guess. Look around first; make sure no one's watching."
"So, what do we say? I mean, do we just go up to a strange cat and say 'Hi! Wanna go to the Cat Kingdom?' - what's the approach?"
Haru chuckled. "I was discussing it with Lune and Yuki. They granted me the authority to give cats entry permission, but the Baron suggested I talk with Muta, since he knows practically all the cats here."
"Good idea."
"I know Muta's going to tell me I'm sticking my nose into others' business again, but hey! This time it's my job, right?"
"Yeah, and he'll say you're now roping me in!" They both laughed.
After school, the girls went to find Muta at the crossroads, then the three journeyed to the Cat Bureau to discuss their plans with the Baron.
"Yeah, I can think of some good cats," said Muta.
"Well, what about that kitten you talked to, Hiromi?"
"What kitten?" asked Muta.
"Right after I got back from the kingdom. He was the first cat I talked to," said Hiromi.
"Hmm. Iku had a litter recently. Coulda been one of hers. Good luck talkin' to her, though; she's extra careful about staying away from humans."
"Can you show me where she lives?" Asked Haru. "Maybe I can talk to her as a cat and..."
"Oh, no!" Said Muta, "Didn't you learn anything from the last time?"
"I don't think your mother would approve," said the Baron.
"But, Muta would be with me!" Haru protested.
"I still don't like it," replied Muta.
"I have an idea," said Hiromi. All turned to her.
"What if I carried Haru in a cat carrier to where Iku is located? Then I can let her out and she can go talk to the mother."
"Hmm. As long as Haru's mother agrees, and Muta tags along, that might be a safe way to do it," said the Baron. "Haru, do you mind being carried by Hiromi?"
The next day, with Naoko's permission, Hiromi was following Muta in Haru's neighborhood carrying a certain brown and white cat in a carrier.
"You OK in there Haru?"
"I'm good, Hiromi, just...try not to jostle the carrier around so much!" Haru said in cat.
"Oh, sorry!" Her friend stopped waving her arm back and forth.
"Typical human. Thinks luggin' a cat carrier's like haulin' a piece of luggage," complained Muta.
"Hey! It's my first time, OK?" A few passers-by saw Hiromi talking to two cats and gave her a strange look. She blushed.
"Haw! Gotcha!"
"Oh, stop, Muta! Hiromi's got to learn how to do this!"
Muta led them to Iku's hideout. It wasn't far from Haru's house; there was a large retaining wall, over which a huge overgrowth of vines and weeds had sprung up.
"That's where her home is," said Muta.
"OK, I'll stay here," said Hiromi, and opened the carrier. Haru and Muta went in to the overgrowth.
"Iku?" Called Muta. She came out of her hiding place. "Muta? What are you doing here? Who's that?"
"This is Haru. She's a friend of mine."
"Hello Iku," Said Haru. "I'm from the Cat Kingdom. I want to help you."
"Help me? How?"
"By helping you with your kittens. I am a Minister in the kingdom, charged with bringing cats there, especially mothers with kittens who are having a hard time."
Iku moved away a bit. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"She's a good kid, Iku," said Muta.
"Are your kittens eating well?" Asked Haru.
Iku sighed. "We were, at first. There's an old lady who feeds us. She gives us plenty. But...she's dying."
"Dying?" Haru asked.
"Yes. I can smell it. She grows weaker by the day. I'm afraid...lately, she's been coming less and less frequently. She's been so good to us! I love her so! I wish I could...be with her, to say goodbye, but I must tend to my children."
"One of your kittens came to a friend of mine, asking for food."
"Tai! I scolded him! He should never approach a strange human!"
Haru smiled. "Luckily, it was a friend of the kingdom. Her name is Hiromi. She brought me here."
Iku sighed. "He did it because the old lady had not been by in a few days. We were hungry. Your friend gave him fish, and he brought it to us."
Haru had an idea. "Can you bring me to the old lady? I'd like to talk with her."
"Talk with her? but...how?"
"Talk with her...in human."
"Haru...what are you doing?" Said Muta.
"Easing an old woman's transition, and letting Iku say goodbye."
Muta sighed. "You and your crazy ideas."
Iku and Haru left the hiding place, while Muta stayed with the kittens.
"Where's Momma?" asked Tai.
"She'll be back." Said Muta.
"Hiromi, this is Iku," said Haru.
"Hi!" waved her friend. Iku nodded.
"We'll be back." And the two cats took off.
"There's her house," said Iku.
"Let me go in." And Haru looked at the name on the entrance, "Kaneko". She jumped up on the bedroom window. The old woman was lying down. She opened her eyes and saw Haru at the window. "Oh! Hello, kitty! I've never seen you before!" She struggled to get up. "Let me get you something to eat. Oh! I'm sorry, kitty." She fell back down in bed. "I'm not as strong as I used to be."
"It's alright, Mrs. Kaneko," said Haru in human.
The old woman looked at Haru, startled, then laughed a bit. "Oh, ho ho! My poor, tired mind; I thought I heard you talk!"
"Oh, but I did! You see, I am not an ordinary cat. I am from a special place, called the Cat Kingdom. I'm here to help the mother cat you've been helping."
"The Cat Kingdom? Am I dreaming?"
"No, Mrs. Kaneko," Haru jumped off the window and jumped on her bed. "I'm real." She put a paw on her arm. Haru's cat senses could smell her imminent death; it was a strange, unpleasant sensation, like nothing she'd ever experienced in human form.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Haru. I want to take the mother cat and her kittens to my kingdom, where they'll be well taken care of. But, the mother - her name is Iku, wants to be with you. Iku knows that your time is near."
"My time," the old woman sighed. "Yes, my time. You will watch the kittens for Iku?"
"I will."
"Please, can you get Iku for me?"
"I'll be right back," and Haru left the bed to get Iku. She returned with her. "Iku, this is Mrs. Kaneko. It's alright; you can talk human with her."
Iku jumped on her bed. "Hello, Mrs. Kaneko. Thank you for feeding us."
"Oh, Iku," she smiled, "It was my pleasure! I'm so sorry I couldn't get food to you recently. I've had a hard time getting out of bed."
"That's alright," said Iku. "Haru will take my family to a place where my kittens and I will be happy."
"I'm so glad!"
"Can I stay with you?"
"Oh, that would be so nice, Iku! Thank you!" And Iku snuggled next to the old woman. She put an arm on the mother cat, stroking her fur. Iku purred quietly.
"I'll look after your kittens," said Haru.
"Thank you," said Iku.
"Goodbye, Haru," said the old woman, weakly.
"Goodbye, Mrs. Kaneko," said Haru, and left out the window. She returned to the hiding place to care for the kittens. The scent of death remained in her memory, and it made her sad.
Iku stayed with the old woman, purring quietly, listening to her labored breathing, until the end. She got up, went to her face, and licked her cheeks.
"Goodbye, dear lady," she said, and getting off the bed, she jumped up to the window, and returned to her kittens.
Thanks for reading. Please review.
