Alone Chapter Ten: The Duke's Visit
"A little to the left, Haru."
The Cat Lord purred in pleasure as his lady friend moved her hands across his back, relieving the stress that came from his job. Who would have thought the girl was a masterful masseuse? Her slim hands alternatively rubbed and scratched his back, a guard at the door acting as a chaperone for the couple. Haru giggled as the purring intensified, glad that she had found a way to repay Baron for his kindness. Eventually, she had to admit defeat as she withdrew and sat on a nearby chair, early spring present outside the window.
"At this rate, I'll never leave." The prospect didn't seem as horrible as it had the first week in the castle, her tone making the difference clear to the Cat Lord. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her again, glad that she had started hugging back, letting herself enjoy the affection he kept showering on her. Ever since that first meeting, she had never said the old fiancé's name again, and her face smiled much easier now.
A polite coughing caught their attention, and they reluctantly looked at the window where Toto was perched.
"As much as I hate to interrupt this, there's a traveling caravan downstairs that wishes to speak with you, Baron."
The Cat Lord sighed.
"Yes, I was expecting them; tell them I'll be down shortly."
The crow bowed and turned to fly back out the window as the orange cat linked arms with his girl-friend and started down the spiraling staircase.
Haru had insisted on running laps around the castle every day to stay in shape, even through the winter, and Baron joined her nearly every time, affairs of state sometimes getting in the way (accounting for the missed days). She was always good-natured about the necessary interruptions, understanding what he was in charge of. She didn't even tell him when her twentieth birthday came until a week after the fact, since he had already done so much for her. That didn't stop him from organizing a small celebration on her behalf though.
"Who's in this caravan?"
Baron grinned at her.
"The man leading them is a duke traveling around the world in order to write everything down for some great novel about the different customs and cultures of the world. He sent word about a month ago that he would be stopping by to talk to the mysterious feline ruler here, since there aren't too many of those."
Haru smiled, her eyes starting to fade.
"At least he's talking to the decent one." Suddenly her eyes sharpened. "Do you know if he has any cats with him?"
As Baron had promised, Muta had been keeping all other felines a good distance from the castle, after confirming that the Cat King still hadn't given up on her. At least, the fat cat kept away the ones that weren't already thrown off by the criminal's reputation.
"Muta's probably giving them a background check right now. Just trust me, Haru."
She smiled, having heard him say that multiple times over the past months. She squeezed his arm again as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Where have I heard that saying before? It sounds familiar…"
Baron just shook his head and laughed at her, tightening his own grip on her hand on his arm.
"There's one thing I've never been able to understand, Haru."
She looked up at him.
"What?"
He pointed at the silver disc on the horizon, visible through a passing window.
"The full moon's in the sky during the daytime, so how come you only shift at night?"
She blinked.
"I always figured that it was because the sun's light interferes with the moon's, and that only pure moonlight can make the change."
"If that's true, how come you're a cat when you're inside, where the light can't reach you?"
She was about to say something, and started giggling instead.
"You know, that's a good question! No clue about the answer, though." She thought about telling him the other detail, but decided it could wait a little longer.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
When they entered the main hall, a large caravan was waiting for them; a large mismatched group composed of many nationalities, like the finely dressed man at the front of them had been collecting samples from each place he visited. His eyes widened at seeing Baron, like he didn't actually expect him to be a real feline, but similar to one. He managed to compose himself.
"I take it you're the Cat Lord?"
Baron tipped his hat in acknowledgement.
"I am; do I have the pleasure of addressing the Duke of Gethel?"
The man nodded his head cordially.
"For an obvious cat-lover, I find it puzzling that my Toodles had to wait outside with the rest of my company."
Baron chuckled.
"It's a unique story, but I was lead to believe from your letter that you wished to speak about our customs and laws."
The foreign duke sighed.
"I am, but I have gathered much of the information I needed from traveling through a few of your villages. It's a little strange walking through a town square without seeing a single pickpocket or beggar."
Haru smiled, remembering her own surprise.
"Should I leave, Beh-rohn?"
He smiled at her lovingly.
"If you wish to; I won't be long."
She smiled, but sat down in a corner with a bit of embroidery she kept in a hidden pocket, the travelers following her with their eyes, wondering how a cat-man got a girl like that. Even the Duke could barely keep his eyes on the Cat Lord.
"That's a very fetching wife you have, Milord."
The orange cat and his girlfriend blushed, and composed themselves. Baron decided to set the record straight.
"I'm still courting Miss Yoshioka, but I think I can safely say that marriage is a possibility."
Everyone in the company jerked violently, shocked at what they had just heard. Many turned their eyes to one of the men in the back of the group, who hadn't taken his eyes off the girl since she entered the room, his mouth agape. The duke's eyes widened.
"That's impossible…is her first name Haru?"
Baron nodded, a little curious as to their strange reaction.
"I take it you've heard of her?"
"Yes, and I have some news for you; the girl can't possibly be Haru Yoshioka, or at least the real one."
The girl kept stitching, not even blinking as the Cat Lord chuckled.
"I'm aware that her family believes her to be eaten by a demon, but I can assure you that she is the true Haru Yoshioka."
The girl in question snipped off the end of one color and started a new one, the travelers sizing her up in a different way than they had been a second ago.
"There has to be a mistake; I paid homage to Haru Yoshioka's grave marker myself." The duke was thoroughly confused. The girl in blue laughed.
"I wonder what they buried without my body; my favorite toys doubtlessly, and my sheared hair, since I didn't leave much else."
She had cut her hair off while leaving the village, to symbolize that they were as dead to her as she was to them, but the three years since had replaced the damage. The duke looked at here, his eyes sharper than ever.
"I don't think you're her."
She shrugged.
"You're free to believe whatever you want; it's not my problem."
He took two steps closer to her, Baron's danger senses starting to go off.
"Prove it. Prove you're Haru Yoshioka."