Chapter 11
They got back to the village. As the villagers noticed who they were carrying, they led them to the clinic where only nurses are housed and the Doctor has been well taken care of. Now, they are waiting in one of the rooms for the nurses to update further on her situation. Somehow, a heavy heart had crept unknowingly between all of them.
"What do we do now?" Muta asked.
"Should we go back then?" John suggested.
"For now, let's wait for the Doctor's condition to get better. Then, we can leave as soon as possible" Baron said, claiming a plan. "For the meantime, Toto can you deliver the message to King Lune and Queen Yuki that we are alright?"
"Sure, Baron. I'll get there as fast as I can to tell the news" Toto said agreeing.
"Thank you, Toto. We'll see you later then" He said to him before Toto flew from the window on which he is perched a while ago.
"Take care, Toto!" Haru shouted for her friend to hear her as she received a nod from Toto in return. They all looked at him as he flew far away from them until he was out of sight.
"Finally, we're almost done here. I could get some grub now in here" Muta grinned at the thought.
"You're still hungry?" John asked Muta with a smile.
"Are ya' kidding? The food from earlier doesn't stand a chance against me" Muta said with pride.
"What?" John said surprised.
"Muta just really eats a lot" Haru laughed a little at the thought.
"Indeed. He's even been branded as a wanted criminal in the Cat Kingdom for his gluttony" Baron said as he smiled at the memory.
"That's why he's being accidentally called Moo-ta all over again" Haru teased.
"Moo!? Moo!? You're still on that joke again?" He said a little mad at Haru.
"What's the problem, Muta? I thought it was pretty common already" Baron said in retrospect.
"You're in this too, Baron!? Who says it was common!? Only the Chicky calls me that!" He said. "I'm not fat. I'm not even near a cow" He said grumbling.
"Awww and here I thought you've liked the name" Haru teased more.
"WHO WOULD!?" Muta said as Haru laughed at him whole-heartedly forgetting for a second the worried feeling she got from earlier.
"What did he do exactly?" He asked the Baron.
"Apparently, we were informed that he was the white cat from their history who ate all the Cat Kingdom's fish in the lake in one eating" He informed John.
"What? He did that!?" He said nervously. "Good thing he hasn't been brought to jail" he laughed at it.
"Well, I think that greatly has been influenced by his size and also, for helping the Cat Kingdom with us last time. Beneath really from his thick exterior, he has a heart of gold. Something I've already told Haru once." Baron said smiling at the still laughing Haru and the grumbling white cat. John looked on to them too and looked puzzled remembering a memory from long ago with Haru's father.
Have you ever trusted someone before, John?
"Next time we're out. Find yourself another white cat to put up with you" Muta said to her and huffed.
"Oh c'mon, Muta. I was just teasing you" she giggled.
"Whatever, kid. I don't believe ya'" Muta said his head turned and arms crossed to show his irritation to her.
"Forgive me, alright? I'll make your Angel Food cake later extra special!" She said.
"Make it two" He said peeking down at her.
Haru giggled. "Alright! Truce?" Haru said extending her hand.
"Truce" Muta finally looked at Chicky with a grin again and shaked his extended hand.
As everyone has lifted themselves from the heavy atmosphere earlier, they heard someone scream.
"No!"
They all went immediately where the shout was coming from and it led them to the room where the doctor resides.
"What's happening?" Muta said as they all went inside the room and saw the nurse worried for her patient as it suddenly sat right up.
"The doctor she...she's having a bad dream even when I shake or call her, she doesn't respond and started shouting in agony..." the nurse said as words of 'no', 'who are you?', 'don't touch me' came out from her the doctor's mouth in despair and tears. Finally, she said 'help me'.
Haru doesn't know if it's her imagination or not but somehow she noticed Baron flinched. As everyone still look in worry at the doctor, Baron spoke.
"Let me try to handle this. I'll try to calm her, is that alright?" Baron said to the nurse.
"What? Are you sure? She can't even hear me" The nurse said.
"I'll try my best. Let's hope she can" Baron said trying to reassure the nurse.
After that, he carefully went forward to the doctor that is lying on a traditional japanese futon and kneeled in front of her as he spoke to the terrified patient that is the doctor holding her hands to her head. 'Wait...hands? Shouldn't cats have paws? Why does the doctor have the same fingers that humans have just like the Baron...'. Haru thought as she looked astonished at what she just noticed of the doctor.
"Excuse me, are you Louise?"
"Who goes there!? Don't come near me!"
"Well, It would be terrible if I was not allowed to come near a beautiful lady"
"Beautiful lady? That- Who are you? Why do you-" she talked now slowly somehow gaining consciousness.
"I'm sorry I'm late to see you, Louise. It has been quite a long time that I haven't been beside you" He said to her solemnly.
"You are..." she said almost recognizing him as she held her head again in pain.
"Do you still trust me?"
"Trust...I-" She shouted in pain as she held her head again as she felt more pain.
"Louise...believe in who you are. As long as you do so, you have nothing to fear" He said gently to her.
Haru looked to Muta. He looked grim almost knowing already the gravity of the things Baron has said to the doctor before us. Haru could tell he really knew what was going on. And those words that Baron spoke to her, those we're the words he already told her before that she values so much. 'Of course, those words were not reserved only for her. I'm just like any other people that Baron have saved and valued also as a friend...' she said to herself finding herself in a sad realization.
One last painful shout from the doctor and she sat still. After a few seconds, she made a sound.
"I- I-...You...you're...Humbert...is..that you?" She said removing her fingers from her head and turned to him tears running from her face.
"Yes, It is me Louise. Glad to see you again" He said to her gently smiling at her as he proceeded to hold her hand in reassurance.
"Thank goodness. You're here." She smiled in happiness as more tears went out from her eyes. Suddenly, she lost her consciousness and fell forward as Baron caught her in his arms. Gently, she laid her down on her bed and tucked her properly as he stared at her in silence.
"Thank you for helping, Sir. She must be exhausted from that ordeal. I think it is best to let her have her rest again. I'll let you in if she's conscious later again. I'll take care of the doctor from here" she said in relief and gratefulness.
"Yes. I believe so. She needs her rest. I give my thanks also for letting me handle this situation"
"No need, sir. You've helped both of us here. For that, I express my gratitude. If there's anything you need, we'll gladly entertain you" She said smiling at him.
"Very well" He said as he stood up and turned around to see the blank faces of his friends. He returned to them. "I could say you have questions" He said to Haru and John as he glanced to Muta that only has his eyes down. "Shall we talk about it when we return to our room? I'll prepare tea" Baron smiled weakly to ease them as he first walked out of the doctor's quarters as the rest of them followed suit. John looked at Haru and felt her seriousness even Muta's sudden silence.
"Haru, are you alright?" John asked.
"Huh? Uh, Yeah. I'm fine. Let's go." She said nervously also quite sensitive at John's remark as they follow Muta and Baron from behind.
After that, not a word was spoken as they make their way to their destination.
They all now are inside the waiting room and sat, sipping tea to try to release the tension. Haru who can't bear much to take this tension a little longer is the first one to speak.
"I...could assume that you know of Miss Louise greatly, Baron. You too, Muta"
Muta stayed silent and finally looked at her. "I thought the doctor must be someone else" he said after a few seconds.
"Could you tell us then, who is exactly is Miss Louise?" John asked curious.
Baron and Muta looked at each other "Louise is my fiancé. The one I'm engaged with, my destined partner, you could say" Baron explained.
Haru is surprised to his answer as question by question began to appear in his head. John continued the conversation.
"Destined partner? Could you care to explain more?" He said almost aggressively.
"Louise is a creation like me. She is the partner that the artisan who made me has given. A counterpart for me, a female cat with a soul."
"Then...how come that you only have seen each other right now? Do Toto and Muta know her personally? Has she been part of the Bureau back then?..." Haru asked wanting to learn more. "What happened...?"
"We were creations that was made to symbolize the love of my artisan and his wife. In the human world when World War II broke, we were separated along with the artisan who holds me and his wife that took Louise with her in evacuation. Making them believe that if ever, we've meet again, they will too as long as their love for each other lives. After that, I haven't seen her until now. Muta and Toto only knew about Louise is because I've told them about it a long time ago. They've never knew about her much more than the portrait of her hanging in the Bureau"
"A portrait?" Haru said remembering if there was such a portrait.
"Yeah. There's a picture of her there, Chicky. Got us all riled up when Baron first put up that picture of his" He said sighing.
"I-I see" Haru said still absorbing what Baron has just said and organizing her emotions a bit, she still felt a heavy feeling in her chest.
"So what do you plan now that you've been reunited with her?" John asked.
"As of now, she seems to be still recovering; she must have suffered before we have met here. She's trying to remember but can't fully do so as at first she was not able to recognize me. I hope to bring her to the castle with us when we return to help her recover properly. I wish to honour our creation's wishes and by all means, I'll support her from now on"
"You really serious about this, Baron?" Muta said annoyed.
Haru during Baron's explanation, sorted her thoughts and answered the best she could thing of for her friend. "I'm sure that Lune and Yuki would like to help you, Baron" Haru said with a smile.
"Thank You, Miss Haru. I think so too" He said smiling in return.
After a short pause, she proceeded.
"Seems like we've all sorted it out. Maybe you'd want some food now? I'm starving" Haru said concluding their discussion.
"Now you're talking. We feel the same way now, kid" Muta said gleefully.
"Alright then. I'll ask for the people here to bring food at least over from the festival" She said smiling at them.
"I'll come with you" John said.
"No need. I'm just going to request it anyway. I can take care of this myself. Thank you for the concern, John. I'll be going then." She said as she turned her back towards the door and closed it behind her.
"Wait!...Ah..Haru" John said kind of worried.
"Chicky's gonna be fine. Trust her" Muta said to John unexpectedly.
"I guess so" John said dumbfounded as the room went quiet again.
Not knowing that Haru still stood in front of the door frame of the room she came from, she slid down to breathe all she want. She wanted to breathe so much now realizing how much breath she held inside the room, how nerve-wracking to be in that room. While she catches her breath, a tear came down unconsciously from her face. She felt hurt. Her chest hurts so much that she can't breathe. 'I can't now. I need to forget about it. I need to because I'm not the one he loves. I'm not meant to be with him. I never expected him from the start to return my feelings but why does it hurt so much? I couldn't let them see me like this. You should support him Haru. It's the only way for you to be both be happy.' She said to herself exasperated, holding out. She sorted again her emotions, wiped the wild tear that ran down from her face and went to the kitchen on which he could request some food for her friends. She walked through the corridor trying hard not to waver. 'Starting now, I'll try to forget everything that made me love you, Baron. It's for the best.'
A/N: Haru holds his feelings for the happiness of everyone dear to her, to remain as a friend as return for what her love for those people gave to her. What would happen now?