Chapter Ten: Suitor's Offer
Baron gestured with his paws, trying to mime his story to Haru. Her eyes were sharp with concentration. She actually growled in frustration.
"I'm sorry, Baron, but nothing's coming through."
His growl joined hers. It was just so unfair! The only time she could understand him was when she was half-asleep, although he wasn't sure why that was the only time. But at least she knew now that there was something wrong with him.
"Okay, you're not a regular cat. I've been suspecting that since you licked my hand the first time. But if you're not a cat, then what are you? An angel? A fairy?"
Baron firmly shook his head. She thought a little longer, but patience was already wearing thin on both sides of the strange conversation. He sighed and brushed his body against her chest, begging for a hug. She could understand that much, and wrapped him up in her arms.
"I'm sorry, Baron. I don't know how I can help you." Her lips shifted slightly, and she leaned down a little to kiss his head. The orange cat's heart began to speed out of control, but he wasn't about to turn down this rare opportunity. He tilted his head back and tried to extend his face to hers.
A knocking at the door distracted the girl, a precious half-second before her lips collided with her cat's. He growled with frustration as Haru blinked and shook her head slightly, in order to clear it.
"Who is it?"
"Your brother. There's something I need to talk to you about."
Haru blinked; a little worried at her brother's tone.
"Come in."
He did so, a strange look on his face. He walked slowly over to her, and collapsed on the moving chair. He looked at her, in a strange way.
"What's wrong, Hashi?"
He took a deep breath.
"The man Toto told us about. He's a suitor for you."
Haru's eyebrows shot up, as did her cat. He looked alarmed as he jumped into Hashi's lap, meowing loudly and patting his face. Hashi raised one hand to soothe the cat, his eyes still slightly distant. Haru took a steadying breath.
"I see. What's his name?"
"Phoebus Felinus. He says you've met before."
Baron jumped out of Hashi's lap, growling and hissing in a manner that wasn't at all like his usual dignified self. Haru watched him pace her room angrily, wondering why her cat was behaving in such a manner.
"I don't remember meeting anyone with that name. Was he certain that we had met?"
"Very. He said it was some years ago. He offered nine large chests worth of gold and jewels for you."
Baron jumped into Haru's lap, and held her face between his paws. Haru's eyebrows rose as the tawny feline very deliberately shook his head, his eyes begging.
"Baron's not too hot on the guy. How old is he?"
"Phoebus didn't say, but his hair is gray, and he said his son married his sweetheart a few months ago." He took a deep breath. "Haru; large bride price or not, this is your decision. We've proven that we don't require much to survive, so you can turn him down if you want. He's still waiting in the parlor for your answer."
"Meow! Meow!"
Haru still couldn't understand cat speech, but she could tell that Baron was telling her something along the lines of 'don't do it!' She rubbed his fur and held him close as she thought about it.
She was stunned that an almost complete stranger would offer so much for her. To be honest, she never really thought she'd get married, with her bad legs. But the man was old enough to be her father, possibly even her grandfather!
What about her brother? Would he do okay without her?
Would he do okay with her? Would she be doing him a favor, by saying yes? Baron was still patting her arms, shaking his head and meowing insistently at her. That was what ultimately made her decision.
"Brother… I don't think this marriage would be the best thing for me. If he's old enough to have a married son, I probably wouldn't have many years with him. I'd like to be with someone I can grow old with, if I ever get married."
Hashi sighed heavily with relief, as did her cat, who licked her cheek affectionately.
"Thank heaven; I thought you were going to accept, for a second there. I didn't want to tell you this and force my opinions on you, but Lord Felinus creeps me out. You're worth more than any amount of money he could offer, anyway." He leaned forward enough to hug his sister warmly, as her cat sighed with relief again.
'That was a little too close. But I know that a simple 'no' won't deter Phoebus Felinus.'
"It'd be bad manners to not personally tell him my decision." She reached up for the polished ropes, but her brother just picked her up and set her on the moving chair. Baron stiffened as the man wheeled his sister down the hall, but he wasn't about to abandon her, now of all times.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Haru tried to steady her heart, and keep a cool demeanor.
'Phoebus… Phoebus… no, I never knew a Phoebus. How could we have met? Ah, well; he'll probably refresh my memory.'
Haru painted on a careful smile as her brother wheeled her into the parlor. There were three men waiting for them, all huddled together in a corner. From what she could see, two of them had gray hair. Which one was Phoebus? They straightened at the sound of the door, and turned to face the siblings. Haru was about to study the one wearing a robe, but then her eyes were drawn to the taller man, who also had gray hair. Although his clothes were fancier than either of his companions, his hair was ill-kempt, and kept escaping the ponytail he had tied it back with. What she noticed most of all was his eyes.
They were large, almost to the point of bulging out of his head. She wanted to think that he was cross-eyed, but he appeared to have the opposite problem, like he was trying to look at the sides of his head. There was also the tiny fact that one of his eyes was a bright blue, brighter than the sky outside. She wanted to think that his other eye was pink, but she could tell that it was actually a light red.
Her heart began to pound in fear, as her eyes widened.
"You!" she whispered, drawing back as much as she could in her chair. The old man grinned at her, and bowed grandly.
"I'm thrilled that you remember me, babe-" he cut off, watching the girl grab her brother's arm.
"Hashi; get me out of here immediately. I don't want anything to do with that thing."
Her brother stared at her, since she usually had better manners than that, but started wheeling her back.
"Isn't that a little harsh, sister? Sorry, Lord Felinus, but you heard her."
The man's eyes of fire and ice slit in a growing anger.
"Eighteen trunks, Lord Yoshioka. Ninety, if that's what it takes."
"The answer is no, Lord Felinus. I will never give my sister to someone she didn't want. If you want a bride, pack up your trunks and head to the city. Air around one of them, and girls will be all over you." He nodded politely while jogging down the hall, sensing how desperately his sister wanted to be away with the man. She was squeezing her cat harder, her eyes large with horror.
"It was real. What happened that night."