"Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth."

The Bishop's Wife

x

Wednesday 25th December 2012: All the Shining Gifts

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One Year Later

"Come on, Baron!" The brunette looked back towards the house, white snow falling all about her. On the kitchen window ledge, a small, portable radio spewed out tinny Christmas carols across the whitened lawn. "Or are you too scared by a bit of snow to come outside?"

The tawny Cat stood in the doorway, arms crossed tightly before him as he regarded the freezing conditions outside. Haru had rarely seen him so distrustful of the weather, not even when the skies were on the verge of rain. She had to remind herself that he hadn't seen snow until now.

He brought his hand out and let the snow fall onto his open palm. His fingers twitched at the cold touch and curled up in on themselves. "I'm not sure how I feel about this," he remarked. He scuffed his newly-bought wellington boots on the edge, messing up the edge of the snow's carpet. "Are you sure it's quite safe?"

It was Haru's turn to cross her arms before her, one eyebrow raised playfully. "Come on, Baron. Or don't you trust me?"

He grinned back at her teasing question. "Trust you? Of course I trust you. It's this unnatural weather I'm questioning."

"It's just cold. It's not poisonous or anything."

Baron regarded the weather doubtfully. "And you say that Humans actively enjoy this time of year?"

"When it snows, yes. Well, sometimes it can be a pain," Haru admitted. "Especially if it blocks up roads and suchlike, but there's something wonderful about a white winter. Anyway," she added, grinning, "at least it's not raining."

"Rain might be warmer."

"Coward."

Baron raised both eyebrows. "What did you call me?"

Haru stuck out her tongue and mocked him from the relative safety of the snow-filled outdoors. "You heard me. Is little ol' Baron a scaredy cat?"

"Oh, really?" A mischievous grin snuck across the Cat's face. "Right, you asked for it!" Forgoing his previous apprehension, he raced out of the doorway and chased after Haru. Haru realised what he was planning almost too late and only just managed to jolt herself into a run before Baron caught up with her.

"No! No – no! I take it back! I take it–" Baron cannonballed into her, dropping them both into a snow drift against the garden wall. Haru screamed and then dissolved into giggles. "I take it back!" She pushed herself up, shaking the snow out of her hair and then grinning over to her companion. "It worked though, didn't it?"

"It looks like it did," Baron gasped. He didn't move for a moment, just staring up at the whitened sky. "C-Cold..." He shivered and then sat up. "I was right about one thing. It's freezing."

"Well then, you just have to get moving. Come on – I can't believe you've never had a snowball fight or made a snowman... or cat," she added after a moment. "We've got to remedy that."

Baron's ears flickered forward. "What's a snowball fight?"

"Oh, you'll see. First though, snow-people."

Not to Haru's surprise, Baron quickly caught the concept of snowmen, although he found adding the fine detail to their forms much more fun than the actual snow-rolling. Haru leant against the half-formed body of a snowman, a little out of breath and warm from the exercise, and glowered over at her friend. "Hey, Baron, get your tail over here and help with this."

"Just... a moment..."

Haru leant to the side to see that he was carefully shaping their last snow-person with the details of a feline face, currently sculpting large, triangular ears along the side. Haru had to admit it was much more detailed than her usual standard of snow-person, but right now she was a little too impatient to appreciate it. Haru rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Baron..."

"Nearly... done..."

Something round and cold smacked into the back of his unsuspecting head. An undignified yelp escaped from him and he jolted back, gingerly rubbing the back of his head where the cold stung. He spun round. "What was that?"

Haru was wielding another snowball, ready and waiting. "That, my dear Cat, was a snowball." A smile split across her face as she turned her attention to the pile of snow juggled between her hands. "It's a well-refined art, learnt through the trials and tribulations of childhood and processed into a perfect mixture of slush and snow..." Something whacked her head, jolting her out of her mini soliloquy. "Gah! What–"

She looked back up to see Baron already in the process of crafting a second snowball. "Oh, you did not just do that..."

"Well-refined art, were you saying?" Baron teased. "Seems pretty simple to me."

"Oh, you are so going to get it now..." Haru ducked down to the ground, scooping up a pile of snow and rounding it off into a ball. Baron's next snowball flew through the air, only just missing Haru by inches. She rolled behind her half-formed snowman, kneeling behind it for protection. Already she was beginning to craft new snowballs. "Give in, Baron! I've been doing this for years!"

She cradled a couple of snowballs in her palms and swung round, both raised in readiness. She froze as the patch of lawn before her was empty, save for the sea of snow. "Uh... Baron?"

A shout warned her just in time to turn around and see Baron bearing down from behind with an armful of snowballs. In the ensuing exchange of ammo, it lasted only seconds but left both covered with snow and breathless from battlecries. Haru tripped backwards and collapsed into her half-formed snowman, disappearing under a cloud of unsettled snow.

"Truce!" she shouted. "Truce."

Baron lowered his remaining snowballs. "Did I win?"

"Not likely." Haru lashed out with her foot, hooking her toes around Baron's boot and sending him sprawling to the ground. They both lay in the snow, still gasping from the fight and flushed with life. Haru rolled her head towards Baron. "So... what's your verdict?"

"On what?"

"Snow."

Baron shrugged and glanced up to the white sky above. "I could learn to live with it." His emerald eyes turned to the young brunette by his side. "Although it doesn't really matter, as long as we're together."

Haru sat up. Surprised by her reaction, Baron shifted to a sitting position also.

"One of these days, we're going to have to decide what we're going to do," she said. Now they had stopped running about, the cold was beginning to seep through her bones. "Whether to stay in the Human World or the Cat Kingdom... Which life do we give up?"

"Who says we can't have both?"

Haru glanced over to the Cat, an eyebrow pointedly raised. "Now you're just being silly."

"We wouldn't be the first people to have multiple houses. That way you could keep working at the bookstore and we would have a place to live when we visit people in the Cat Kingdom."

This time, Haru's attention shifted entirely and solely on her companion. "Are you suggesting we stay in the Human World?"

"All things considered, my home is more of a summer home to begin with. And I know how much you love your bookstore."

Haru laughed. "You know, you're the first person to understand that. Hiromi and Louise and Toto are all expecting me to announce I'm moving to the Cat Kingdom any day now, whatever I say."

"So you like the plan?"

She grinned, leant over and kissed him on the cheek. "We'll see."

ooOoo

"Outrageous costumes! Dramatic backdrops! Hilarious, hilarious jokes! What is there not to like about pantomimes?!"

Louise remained curled up on the window seat, book in hand as she listened to Toto rant. "I take it they rejected your script again then," she remarked lightly.

"You Cats just have no appreciation of culture," Toto sulked. He dropped dramatically onto the other end of the window seat, hand raised theatrically to his forehead as if physically wounded. "Oh, the lengths I have gone to bring some society to this radically backwards kingdom!"

Louise smacked her boyfriend with the spine of her book. "Hey, I resent that!"

"I know." Toto sat up, shrugging off his previous dramatics with an easy air. "But, seriously, Loopy Lou, what am I doing wrong? I thought you Cats would love to have pantomimes introduced to your theatres. And it's not like my writing is bad – my other works have gone down like a bomb round the Kingdom."

Louise leant forward and patted Toto consolingly on the arm. "Hey, I wouldn't get too downhearted if I were you... Anyway, the Catkin Theatre Company still need to get back to you on your last pantomime."

"But they'll just send the same reply as all the others–" Toto broke off as he found Louise's book abruptly smacked on his nose. "Hey – that hurt!"

"Don't be so pessimistic. That's Uncle's job."

Toto grinned. "Your uncle really is such a character."

"I do wish you wouldn't always wind him up whenever he's around – it's bad enough when him and Hiromi have a territory dispute over the kitchen."

"I can't help it. He's just such an easily-frustrated individual–"

"Only around you."

Toto beamed. "You think?"

"Oh, you're impossible."

"I know." Toto leant forward, tilting his head to one side to try to see the title of the book she was reading. "What's so interesting."

"Oh, it's just a lesser-known novel based on a play written by a two-bit author..."

"It's one of mine, isn't it?" Toto translated. He tried to tip the book's cover towards him. "Which one is it?"

Louise smacked his hand away. "Hey, I'm reading here."

"Which one is it?"

"Leave it alone, you scoundrel!"

"I'm just curious..." Toto snatched the book out of her hand and, keeping his fingers in her reading place, lifted the cover round for his inspection. "Star-Crossed?" He grinned. "What do you think of it?"

"Um... mostly it seems to be a Romeo and Juliet rip-off–"

"Inspired by," Toto muttered. "Honestly, you're as bad as Haru."

"Well, perhaps if you would let me finish it, I might think differently." Not bothering to even rise from her comfy seat on the window ledge, she raised her hand as she waited for Toto to return the novel. "Come on, give."

Toto grumbled but lowered the book into the Cat's open palm.

"Thank you." Louise curled back up against the wall, diving straight back into its story. "Oh, just out of curiosity... is this a tragedy?"

"Ah, now that would be telling."

Louise gave him a blunt look. "Do they all die at the end? Because that would suck."

"Spoilers."

Louise kicked her slippers in his direction. They managed to hit his head.

"Ow!" Toto yelped. "That hurt."

"You were asking for it."

"Not... in so many words."

A bang echoed across the room, making both individuals jump. Louise looked up from the pages. "I think that post is for you."

"I hate the postal system here," Toto muttered. He disappeared out towards the hallway. "It almost sets off cardiac arrest. Every time. Every flipping time..."

Louise didn't move from her seat; she only leant towards the door after several seconds of long silence had passed by and shouted, "So? What's it about? Is Haru finally moving to the Cat Kingdom?" She laughed gently to herself and returned her attention to the novel. "About time."

Toto didn't reply, instead only slowly returning to the lounge with opened letter in hand. "It's... from the Catkin Theatre Company..." His eyes met Louise's curious azure gaze. "They've accepted my script!"

ooOoo

"Two more salmon fillets for table six." The Cat leant through the serving hatch to the kitchen, sticking the note onto the board. "Also, table two has just put through their orders for dessert."

"Just leave the orders there, Taro," Muta called, "and we'll deal them out when we're done."

"Very good, sir."

Hiromi smirked to her co-chef. "You're a 'sir', Muta," she echoed teasingly. "How does it feel to be treated with respect for the first time in your life?"

"I'm as much a 'sir' as you are a lady," the fat Cat grunted back.

"Are you saying I'm not a lady?"

"You're trouble, that's what you are. Here, catch." A bag of vegetables was tossed to the young brunette. "Time to get started on that salmon. You know how to prepare that lot – have it done in five so I can put it with the salmon."

"While I'm doing this, what are you going to be doing?"

"Hey, do you want to de-scale the salmon?"

"Uh, I'm fine with the veg."

"That's what I thought."

"If I find you flicking scales onto me again, though, I'll de-scale you."

Muta released a gruff laugh and turned to his chopping board. "Nope. Definitely not a lady."

"You're a bad influence on me."

"Me?"

"Do you see any other pudding-sized Cat about?"

A polite cough at the serving hatch prevented the argument from degrading into a fully-fledged food fight.

It had happened before.

Hiromi nudged her hair out of her eyes and turned to see a familiar black Cat standing there. "Jiro? What are you doing here?"

"I just came to see this restaurant that everyone in the neighbourhood's been talking about." The Cat grinned roguishly and glanced to the establishment. "It's a nice place you've got here."

"Yeah, but it's small," Muta grunted. "When we really get off the ground, we're going to start expanding."

"The moment this place gets larger though," Hiromi reminded him, "it'll be too much work for just us two sole chefs. And then you'll have to start hiring more help."

"I can handle that. I've done so before."

Hiromi grinned to herself. It was good to see Muta back on his feet and gaining confidence. She looked back to the Cat standing on the other side of the serving hatch. "So how's your brother doing?"

"Oh, he's already found another Cat to woo, so I can promise you he's never going to bother Louise again." Jiro eyes gave the briefest of a roll. "Some things will just never change."

"Still the womaniser?" Hiromi paused. "Is that correct term? I'm still getting used to the new vocabulary here. Catiser? Oh, that just sounds weird..."

Jiro laughed, and shook his head. "I understand what you mean. And, yes; he still has a way with the young ladies. Somehow, they just all fall for him."

Hiromi nudged him. "Hey, you're twins, right? So you must have Cats falling over you too."

"Unfortunately not. Machida won in the charm department."

"I can't believe that." The young brunette smirked. "You're not all that bad looking... for a Cat, that is."

The black Cat shook his head good-naturedly. "Hiromi, I know you meant that to come out a compliment, but I'm trying very hard not to be insulted right now."

"Hey, you two! Enough chinwagging – Hiromi, you still need to get those veg ready – and, you, Jiro – stop distracting my co-chef. Either order something or leave!"

Both Human and Cat rolled their eyes, and then saw the other doing the same and laughed. Hiromi returned back to the depths of the kitchen, flicking her hair out of her eyes and returning to work, but not before she spared a grin back to the tom.

It was a new world.

A new beginning.

ooOoo

Across the palace, sleep was falling over its occupants. Even the busy hustle of the kitchens had died away as the last of the washing was finished and the final dish was stacked away. Most of the servants were already heading back to their quarters, ready to sleep and refresh themselves for the next day. Only the newest member of staff was still tidying the kitchen.

As she tucked away the last handful of cutlery away, a small smile slipped over her pale features. She yawned and stretched, a new kind of spark trickling into her gaze. She dropped her apron onto the hook and crept along the empty passages. Her silent movements led her up staircases and down servant corridors and finally onto the roof.

Upon opening the door, it was clear she wasn't alone.

Across the flat roof, another Cat sat; his grey fur looked almost silver in the moonlight. He glanced back and mismatched eyes of fire and ice met her sky-blue irises. A smile spread across his features and he offered a hand to the white feline.

She took it and stepped up onto the edge. Far below, the palace spread out, sandy stone dulled to grey by the night light, and the Cat Kingdom stretching out to the horizon. The world was silent that eve. Nothing stirred.

Not even a mouse.

The two Cats – a maid and a prince – sat side by side in silence, watching the world go by. Just two friends, nothing more.

After all, even true love takes time.

ooOoo

A/N: Thanks as always to ye old amazing reviewers: Nanenna, PsychEmpress, Cecily Mitchell, Solar, Delilah Hunter, The GamerSwordsman, Riika Duskraven, annemarie, Midnight the Black Fox, isara-love, Princess lost in darkness, neko girl, Waterpokemon, phantomoftheknight17, Raye of the Sunshine, Tasolea, Sindy Sugar, InYuJi, inujisan, Gemini-Victoria, Day-Dream Writer, Baron's Girl, Lady LonelyLove, Tiara Shin, Suzumehime, Emori Loul, LxiaNi, The-Right-Girl, SilviaDiSaetta, E-man-dy-S, and to every Anon Guest who graced the review button. You guys keep us writers writing!

This story was my first story to be based on a chick-flick, and I have to say it was... an experience. The movie was "The Holiday" - a friend's favourite Christmas film and her enthusiasm eventually infected me. One of my favourite things was that this meant I wrote Toto and Haru as brother and sister, which I absolutely adored and would love to write again. What can I say? I love sibling relationships. Anyway, if you want something sweet and Christmassy (even if we've kinda passed the season) take a gander at the film. It's a pretty good rom-com.

Thanks for all the support you've given, especially over the chaos that has happened recently – all your prayers and well-wishing made such a difference. I started at the beginning of December with half a story and just followed where the plot went, attempting to juggle whatever plot points appeared (or, didn't, in some cases) and I would never have been able to finish this without you guys.

Since the end of The Bureau Files: Series 1 preceded the start of this story, it's time for the next story's summary!

"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult."

This has been written and waiting for a long time – long before TBF:S1 or this Christmas story – so the style will be closer to "Reflections" in quality and pacing. (It was also written long before "To Know Oneself" was posted, before anyone points out the similarities that will later become clear...) I hope you enjoy it – the first chapter will be posted this Friday, returning back to the usual weekly update.

Merry (Belated) Christmas,

Cat.