Chapter Eleven: Haru's Past
Hashi tried to ask his sister what she meant, but the door exploded behind them. He turned enough to see Phoebus storm the hallway toward them. The brother stood protectively in front of the girl as the older man approached them.
"180 trunks. Final offer."
Hashi glared at the man, glad to see his two favorite fighters quietly take out the two servants the would-be suitor had brought.
"I said no. Please leave; my sister is not for you."
The man seemed to grow taller in his fury, and slammed his way through, throwing the young landlord against the wall. Haru cried out for her brother, but Phoebus was leaning over her menacingly.
"Have you forgotten who I am, Haru?" he hissed at her. "Have you forgotten what I can do, when someone irritates me enough?"
She glared at the man, and slapped one of her legs pointedly while Baron hissed at the man, claws ready to attack.
"How can I? I'm reminded every time I want to stand, or even move in my chair. You did a real number, when you took my legs."
He chuckled evilly as her brother and friends stopped dead in their tracks; shock clear on their faces.
"Ah, yes. That was one of my finer spells; make legs unusable without damaging them. You are aware that I can fix what I did, if you reconsider? It's obvious you have your brother wrapped around your finger."
"I don't care if you can fix what you did. I'd rather be a wheel for the rest of my life then spend one day as your wife. I don't interspecies."
Muta slammed his hilt over the man's head, making his eyes roll back. Toto grabbed the chair and wheeled the girl back enough so that she wouldn't get landed on when the man fell over.
Hashi groaned as he sat up.
"What do you mean, you don't interspecies? What are you hiding?"
Haru shuddered, looking at the old man on the floor.
"I mean this guy is the Cat King in disguise. He saw me dancing, the time I was out a little too late, and decided to reserve me for when I came of age by making my legs unusable. He also made me forget meeting him, so that I wouldn't get myself inside an asylum. But his eyes… they brought back everything, just like he wanted them to." She squeezed her cat harder for comfort as he licked her face. Her eyes widened. "Yuki's boyfriend. He had the king's eyes."
Hashi rubbed his shoulder as he walked closer to his sister, and leaned against the chair for support. He kissed her hair tenderly.
"Haru, I love you and everything, but this isn't very believable-" he cut off as Baron hopped off her lap, and padded over to the supposed Cat King. Hissing angrily at the man, the tawny cat extended his claws and swiped off the purple gem resting on the man's throat.
Before everyone's amazed eyes, the man shifted into a bulky longhair, with light gray fur that had a touch of lavender to it. The two servants also shifted into cats, still wearing human clothes in their comatose state. Haru smiled at her brother and patted his hand.
"Still think so?"
Hashi shook his head slightly as his sister's cat carefully picked up the purple gem in his mouth, and hopped onto his mistress's lap. Carefully, he placed the gem on one of the legs and pressed it down with both paws. He growled with concentration.
"Meow, grr, hiss!"
Purple light flooded out of the gem, and coated the leg. Carefully, he moved the gem to the other leg, and made the same noises. Haru winced as the sharp power flooded through her body parts.
"What is he doing, Chicky?" Muta asked, as the cat pressed the gem to Haru's throat, and repeated his growls. She smiled happily.
"I think he's trying to help me."
After a few minutes, the light was drained out of the gem, which had become dark, and Baron nonchalantly swiped it off the girl. The orange and cream cat hopped off Haru's lap, and then turned to look at her.
"Stand up, Haru. You can do it now."
She stared at her friend, recognizing the wonderful voice she had been hearing for months.
"I understood you!"
He grinned at her.
"Then prove it, and stand up."
Her heart quivered, remembering the times she had tried, after getting cursed. But, trusting Baron, she shifted her hands around, in order to get out of the chair. Hashi grabbed her shoulder.
"Sister…"
She grinned up at him, and patted his hand.
"Please let me try."
His eyes widened, but he released her. Focusing on the ground in front of her, she concentrated.
Her right foot rose, shaking, from its resting place, and landed solidly on the ground. Stunned, she sent the command for the left foot to follow. Now with both feet on the ground, Haru used her arms to heave herself out of her chair. She nearly fell over again, but Hashi caught her. But instead of sweeping her into his arms like he usually did, he held her arms, allowing his sister to try and find her own balance. With shaking legs, Haru took a slow, painful step, and another.
She made ten steps before she had to sink to the ground from exhaustion, still grinning happily and crying tears of slight pain and overwhelming happiness.
It stood to reason that her legs were a bit weak, after five years of disuse, but with a bit of patience, she would dance again.
"I can walk!" Turning to see Baron, she held one arm out to him. Also smiling widely, he ran into it, purring up a storm as she squeezed him and kissed his head.
"Thank you, Baron!" Not quite paying attention to where her lips were landing on the cat's head, she was a little surprised when Baron's lips suddenly met hers.
The hallway became flooded with yellow light, making the men cry out with pain. Haru closed her eyes, in order to save them. Suddenly, her arm was tilted upwards instead of down, and the lips pressed against hers weren't fuzzy. She had felt those lips before, in her semi-conscious state, but having them pressed against hers was a completely different experience. The young brunette opened her eyes, and stared in shock.
Baron was still in her arms, she could never have denied that. But the last thing her friend could be called now was a cat.
A handsome young man was leaning toward her, and her arm was wrapped around his neck. His familiar green eyes were warm and affectionate as the girl blushed hard. Reluctantly, the tawny-haired man reached up and gently pulled her arm off, bringing the kiss to a close.
"Likewise; thank you, Haru. I haven't minded being your cat, but there were a few drawbacks to staying that way."
Hashi stared at the man as he stood up and straightened his attire. The man was a noble; that much was apparent. The light gray suit looked expensive, but comfortable. Having never been to the city, Haru was a little taken aback by the silk hat, since her family had never cared much for fashion.
"Who on earth are you?"
The man grinned and bowed low for the young landlord.
"Beg pardon for not introducing myself sooner, but I'm certain that you understand why I haven't, all things considered. I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, but prefer 'Baron' from friends. That would include all of you, if you were wondering."