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!
The Cat Returns: A New Life
Ch.10: The Theatre/New Years/The Suprise
Hana was in the theatre room in the school; helping the other students. "How far did you want this, Takashi-sensei?" Hana called from below, fixing the sand bags and the lighting. He looked up.
"Just a little to the left, then work on the third lamp." He said. Hana nodded and tilted the sand bag to the left. She was unsure of working up above from the stage. She tried to let her mind go, imagining her on Toto's back with Auron's arms wrapped around her. She smiled as she fixed the thrid light. It was nearly done.
Takashi-sensei then looked at Hana. "I'm have to take care of something real quick. Think you can handle being up there alone, Hana?" He asked. Hana smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be careful." Hana said. She was by herself with Haruka. "Oh, I want to congradulate of your mother getting married. How is he?" She asked. Hana smiled. "Baron is a great guy. I just wish that there were men like him running around in the world." Hana said. Haruka laughed. "Yeah, tell that to my boyfriend." She joked.
Hana smiled. "Well, Auron is like Baron, so it counts." Hana said. They both laughed. Haruka was now below from Hana. Hana checked on everything and started to take her leave. When Hana was about to leave, she felt herself trip. She grabbed the rails of the walkway that was above the stage.
She heard Haruka screaming her name. Hana felt her arms giving out. "...now I'm regretting for not taking Gym this year." Hana thought. She then heard a familiar voice. "Hana!"
It wasn't Auron though. "T-Toto?" She asked. She didn't know how Toto got here. "Jump, Hana! I'll catch you!" He yelled. Hana didn't want to let go. Last time she did that, Hana had a broken leg for two weeks. "T...Toto, I can't!" Hana yelled. She felt the tears running down her cheek. "I won't let you get hurt, Hana. Please!" He asked again.
Hana held her breath as she let go. She felt herself landing in strong arms; both of them tumbling to the ground. Hana saw that he was human. He had raven like black hair with black eyes. He was wearing a leather jacket that matched his black shirt, blue pants and black boots. She burried her face into his jacket, clentching onto it.
Toto sighed in relief as Hana wrapped her arms around his neck.. "...told you that I would catch you." He said as he stroked her hair. He sat up, his arms still around her. She pulled away staring at him. "You okay?" He asked. Hana nodded. "J-Just a bit shaken is all." She said. He smiled as he helped her up. "Tell her teacher that she went home." He told Haruka. She nodded. "Are you sure you're okay, Hana?" Haruka asked.
Hana nodded. "Yeah." She said. Toto helped her walk to the outside of the school. "...this is why I think theatre is hazardous!" Hana said while putting her fist into the air. Toto laughed nervously. "Yeah...I can guess why." He said.
Toto realized the decorations being done at the town and crossroads. "What's going on?" He asked. Hana stared at him. "The new year festival is this weekend and they are trying to finish the decorations. It's really fun. They shoot off the fireworks and have a bunch of music playing for everyone to dance through." Hana said. Toto smiled.
"You planning on going, Hana?" He asked. Hana smiled. "...if you guys want to come." She said. Toto stared at her shocked. "Aw, come on! It won't be fun without you, Muta, Baron or Auron if me and mom went there by ourselves." Hana said. Toto smiled and pulled her to a gentle embrace. "...if you want us to come, then we will come." Toto whispered as he squeezed her slightly.
Hana smiled when she rest her head against his shoulder, embracing him in return.
Baron managed to find a potion for both Toto and Muta to become human for awhile. Muta was...big. He had brown hair as was the tallest out of all of them. Hana felt puny around him. "...and I thought he was fat when he was a piggy cat." Toto whispered to Hana. Baron and Auron chuckled while Haru struggled not to laugh.
Muta glared at him. "Watch it, Bird-Brain!" He said. Hana laughed slightly, knowing that they will fight no matter what. Baron and Haru were dancing to a slow song at the festival. "Hey, Fatso! You should enter that cake eating contest!" Toto cackled. Muta glared at him. "Maybe when we get home, I'll make you into a Yakitori!" He said. Hana shook her head. Auron sighed. "...can they not fight for one day?" He asked. Hana laughed.
"That will be the day when pigs fly." Hana said. Auron laughed. He then pulled Hana close to him; one of his arm wrapped around Hana's shoulder. Hana smiled as she snuggled into his embrace.
Soon, the fireworks were shooting in the sky. Hana had a little problem. She cannot see the fireworks since her view was blocked by a few people infront of her. She let out a moan, knowing that it was no use after being the shortest person at the Bureau. Auron noticed and then smirked. Auron then whispered something at Baron. He smirked. "...be my guest, Auron." He said. Hana then felt herself being lifted.
Auron puts her on his shoulder. She was blushing a dark red, clentching onto his top hat. He was laughing. "You could of told us you couldn't see, Hana." He said as he stared at her. Hana then stared at the sky in awe. She can definently see the fireworks. Auron chuckled as he adjusted a little with Hana on his shoulders.
After a few hours of watching the Fireworks shooting into the sky, it soon ended. Auron lets Hana down from his shoulders so she can walk. Hana stared at Auron. "Next time, at least warn me when you are going to do that." Hana said. Auron chuckled as he placed his top hat on her head. "I'll keep that in thought." He said. Hana blushed as she adjusted the hat on her head.
For some reason, he liked how the way Hana blushed. "Say, Baron. Why don't you take Hana around for awhile? I need to talk to Haru about something." Auron said. He smiled and nodded. "Shall we, Hana?" He asked, offering his arm to her. She smiled and rest her hand on his arm, walking around the festival for awhile.
"What did Auron want to talk about to my mom?" He asked. He chuckled. "You'll see soon." He said. Hana stared at him. "You know what it is?" She asked. Baron smiled guilty. "Don't worry, you'll like it." He said. She shrugged it off, knowing that Baron won't tell her. Baron then noticed a stand. He smiled as he stared at Hana. "Do you mind if I get something real quick?" He asked. Hana smiled. "Go on ahead." She said.
Baron soon came back after fifteen minutes. It was a necklace. It had a black and white diamond on it that was encrested inside a cat face. Hana smiled. "It reminds me of you and Auron so much." She confessed. Baron chuckled as he puts it around her neck. "I knew you would say that." He said. She then heard a familiar voice.
"Hana-chan!"
Hana turned and saw Haruka. Hana smiled. "Hi, Haruka." Hana said. Haruka then noticed Baron. "Haruka, this is my new father. Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. Dad, this is Haruka. She's my best friend." Hana said. Baron smiled as he gave a polite bow to Haruka. "It's and honor meeting you, Haruka." He said. Haruka gave him a courtsey. "It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Gikkingen." She said.
Haruka smiled when she heard her parents yelling for her name. "Well, I'll see you at the graduation ceremony, Hana." She said. Hana smiled. "See you then." Hana said. Baron chuckled. "...she's a nice girl. I can see why you are friends with her." Baron said. Hana smiled. "Yeah. She's been my best friend since third grade. I'm just glad that she's there for me." Hana said.
Baron smiled as he gathered her into a hug. Hana smiled sadly as she tighen the hug.
As soon as they returned to Haru and Auron, there was a crowd. Hana tried to look. Baron chuckled and lifted her up, setting her on one of his shoulders. When Hana and Baron saw what was going on, they sighed in irritation. "...naturally." They both said. Auron and Haru stared at them. "What?" They asked. Hana gave Auron his top hat back. "...they are at it again."
It was Toto and Muta, in a sword duel.
"At least I can dance!" Toto said. "I can dance too, you big chicken!" Muta countered. Toto smirked as he slashed the fake sword at Muta. "Yeah, like a drunk!" He said. Hana sighed. "...I guess that they will boost up the bets now." Hana said. Baron stared at her. "...I'm just suprised that the police didn't break them apart yet." He said as he adjusted the weight that was on his left shoulder, with Hana sitting on there.
Hana giggled. "You know you didn't mean that, dad." She said. He chuckled. "I know..." He said. Hana was in deep thought. "...if anyone ask, we don't know them." She whispered. Baron laughed, along with Auron and Haru. "Know who?" Baron asked. Hana laughed as she wrapped one arm around his head, hugging him.
After an hour, the fight was off. Baron lets Hana down. Muta and Toto were gasping for air, after the sword duel and yelling comments to each other. "This is ridiculous! You two are grown men and you're acting like spoiled children, arguing at each other!" Hana said. Haru laughed. "I think she owned you two." Haru said. Muta and Toto had their heads low; being told by a eighteen year old girl.
Auron then held her hand. "Mind if I talk to you, Hana?" He asked. Hana nodded. If Hana knew better, she could see Baron and them smirking at her. Hana was confused. She then felt a blindfold around her eyes. "Don't take these off until I say it's okay." Auron said as he swept her off of her feet. Hana smiled as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
After fifteen minutes, the noises were soon silence. Auron then sets her down on the ground. He then took the blindfold off. Hana stared and saw that they were in a field, where the stars were shining brightly. Hana smiled. "...it's beautifull, Auron." She whispered. He smiled. "...it's not as beautifull as you, though." He said. He then got down on one knee. He took off the amulet, revealing his cat face to her.
"Auron?" He smiled.
"Hana, I love you ever since I first met you. I want to make you happy as long as we are together. You always brighten me up when I'm ever down. You are funny, kind, and have a true pure heart that I ever seen in one person in my life. I wish to be with you forever and make sure that you deserve true happiness. I have to ask your parent's permission to do this..." He said as he got out a small box. Hana's eyes went wide when she saw a engagement ring.
"Hana...will you marry me?" He asked. Hana was so stunned.
She smiled as the tears ran down her cheek. She lunged at him, her arms wrapped around her neck; forcing them onto the ground. Auron chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. "...I take it that's a yes?" He asked. Hana smiled as she rubbed her cheek against his. She then soon closed the distance with a passionate kiss. He started to kiss her back; purring deeply.
The bell struck midnight as the fireworks were shooting in the sky.
Hana pulled away, smiling at Auron as a single tear runs down her cheek. "...yes." She whispered. He smiled warmly and pulled her close again, with a gentle kiss. Hana smiled during the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck; deepening the kiss. Hana then rest her head against his chest; embracing him tightly. Auron returned the embrace as he sat up.
Hana smiled as he rest his forehead against hers. "...I'm holding the wedding after the graduating ceremony at the school...if you don't mind, Hana." He said. She smiled. "...I don't mind at all." Hana whispered.
The high school held the ceremony the next spring as Hana accepted her diploma. Haruka smiled in the picture with Hana as the photographer took their picture. Hana then saw her family. Lune and Yuki were there, disguised as humans. "Care for a family portrait?" A male photagrapher asked. Hana smiled as she went to her new family. Muta and Toto were on each side. Yuki and Lune had their arms wrapped around each other. Baron was next to Hana while Haru was on the other side. Auron had his arms wrapped around Hana's shoulder from behind; his chin resting on her cap, giving his top hat a affect in the picture. Hana had her hands resting on his arms.
Hana smiled at Lune and Yuki. "Thank you again for coming, Lune and Yuki." Hana said. Lune smiled. "It was nothing, Hana." He said. Auron smiled. Hana then thought of something. "Baron? Can I talk to you about something?" She asked. Baron nodded. He came with Hana under a tree. "It's...about the wedding." She said. Baron stared at her.
"I..was wondering...if...you can...give me away at the wedding?" She asked. Baron smiled sadly as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "...I would be honor, Hana. I am your father now and you don't need to hesitate about asking me about something." Baron whispered. She smiled as she hugged him in return. "...thanks, dad." She whispered.
Ch.11 Up soon