Chapter Twenty One: Aunt's Decision

Father Hashio huffed and puffed his way up the winding staircase, a little put out that the entrance was covered. With one shaky fist, he began pounding on the solid wood.

"Let me in, Baron!" he shouted, hoping that his young ward would hear him. A steady pair of feet pounded closer to the entrance, which began to shift around. Baron lifted the covering off, and offered a hand to the elderly priest with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Father. It couldn't hurt to be extra careful, concerning Mrs. Yamani."

The priest bit his lip, and looked over at the couch while coming into the room. The elderly gypsy seemed to be taking the shock fairly well, just sipping from the small teacup in her hands, and her dark eyes pondering. The churchmen took a deep breath for courage, and sat down on Haru's other side while accepting the tea the young girl was offering him.

"Anything to say, Naomi?" the priest asked softly, taking a sip from the tea. The woman slowly shook her head at the teacup.

"No. I… saw everything I needed to."

Haru took one of her aunt's hands and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Are you still angry at me?" she asked softly. Baron noticeably stiffened, in the other chair. A lot could go wrong, if the elderly woman decided to hold a grudge against her niece.

Naomi took a deep breath… and slowly shook her head.

"No, Haru. I can see there's nothing dangerous about Baron, and why he needs to stay hidden." The woman leaned over in order to kiss the girl's forehead. "If the conduct I saw you two displaying is the norm, than I have no problem with you seeing him on weekdays as well, as long as you promise to come home before dark."

Haru nearly squealed with delight, and glomped her aunt happily. Suddenly, she looked over at the half-cat shyly.

"Well, that is if you don't mind," the brunette hesitantly offered. The orange and cream cat started purring at the sweet idea of spending even more time with the girl.

"I believe that I've made it clear that I wouldn't mind seeing more of you in the least, Haru."

Now the real question would be if they really could focus on their duties when they needed to and not each other.

ooOoo

Louise kept looking up at the entrance to their portion of the family tents, struggling to keep her mind on keeping the dinner stew warm. Muttering underneath her breath, the golden gypsy added more wood and stirred the liquid again, praying that it wouldn't burn on her.

She should be happy. She knew that with all her heart. Her soft-spoken cousin had finally found someone that she was crazy over, and who was obviously crazy over her. Haru deserved a little happiness, right? Right?

Louise sighed, wondering why she suddenly felt so empty.

Steady footsteps caught her attention, making the blonde look up with expectation. A sigh of relief escaped her throat.

Her mother and cousin had returned. Louise happily ran toward them, and hugged both girls hard.

"Do you guys have any idea how boring it is here without you?!"

Haru laughed softly, her dark eyes twinkling happily while the older gypsy woman hugged her daughter.

"I'm sorry, dear, but I needed to go today," Naomi consoled, making Louise nod happily.

"So? What's he like?"

Naomi bit her lip nervously.

"Dignified," was the only thing she could think to say. Louise cocked her head, but smiled anyway.

"And I get to meet him next week, right?"

The smile faded from her mother's mouth.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, sweetheart. He needs peace and quiet."

"I can be quiet!" Louise protested while Haru shook her head.

"I didn't want to mention this to you earlier, but he's horribly scarred from a childhood accident. That's why hardly anyone knows about him, and why I wanted to keep him a secret."

Louise stared at her cousin.

"How badly scarred?" the blonde asked flatly.

"He doesn't even look human," Haru said softly, looking straight into her cousin's eyes letting the lighter cousin know that the darker one was telling the truth. "If you find a man-sized cat disturbing, this guy's appearance would make you want to run away screaming."

The blonde shuddered at the memory of the cat-man. And her mother wasn't making a single protest to the contrary of her niece's claim.

"All right, I'll take your word for it."

A relieved smile came back on Haru's lips, making the girl hug her taller cousin once more before rescuing the dinner from the fire.

'That was almost too easy.'

ooOoo

Father Hashio was rounding a corner of the vast cathedral when suddenly Friar Nashi appeared again, his small eyes livid with fury.

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to!" the taller man said, pointing a finger at the senior figure. The father smiled politely while readjusting his hold on the latest books Baron had requested.

"Oh? What am I up to, Brother Nashi?"

The younger priest did his best to lean over the shorter figure, in a misguided attempt to look more intimidating.

"The gypsy girl. You're helping her with something."

"Of course I am. She is in need of much guidance concerning an understanding of the faith, but she is patient about learning."

Friar Nashi scoffed.

"I'm so sure. Just watch it, Father. I know that girl means mischief, and when I find out what it is, she'll be burned like the witch she is, and you'll be excommunicated for helping her with her cause-"

The elder priest slammed the taller man into the wall, one hand gripping his scrawny throat tightly as the books fell neglected to the cold stone floor.

"Listen well, Brother," Father Hashio hissed angrily. "Haru is no witch, nor will she ever be. She is a good girl, one of the best I'll ever meet. The day you try to harm her will be your last, for I will not tolerate anything to happen to her." Smiling grimly, the priest released the younger, and started walking away.

"Poor unfortunate boy, to only be able to see with your eyes. You have no idea what you're missing, by judging Haru from her background."

Friar Nashi glared at the older man's back while rubbing his throat.

"Then what about Baron?"

The elder priest wheeled around, his eyes full of fear.

"What do you know about Baron?!"

The priest smiled grimly, and also started walking away.

'Enough to know that he shouldn't be here.'