Chapter Two: Secrets
"I'm back," called the Rum Tum Tugger from the entrance hall.
"Oh, thank the Everlasting Cat!" cried Bombalurina. "I don't ever want to see those tiny white paws again! Now go, get out of my house, the both of you, before I hurt you!"
The Rum Tum Tugger did not smile. Instead, he reached down and grabbed the kitten from his hiding spot under the coffee table. Then he solemnly started to head out of the door.
"Hey, not so fast!" said Bombalurina. "What's the matter, Tugger?"
"It's nothing, said the Tugger, but his voice conveyed otherwise.
"Oh, come on, you know you can trust me," said Bombalurina.
"Actually, of all the cats in the Junkyard, you're the one I can trust the least," said the Rum Tum Tugger affectionately.
Bombalurina smiled. "So, if nothing, you can trust me to be untrustworthy. Now tell me!"
Tugger sighed, knowing he was fighting a losing battle and it was best to surrender now. He lowered his voice. "Bomba, do you think, that, maybe, I dunno, Quaxo might be a… well, uh… maybe a… magical cat?"
Bombalurina snorted. "There are no such things as magical cats, Tugger."
"I know, but still… if there were…"
"Well, he's certainly got enough energy," said Bombalurina.
Tugger looked down at the sleeping kitten in his arms and raised one eyebrow.
"Though apparently not at the moment," whispered Bombalurina with a smile.
"Well, all cats need a nice long nap now and then, right?" said Tugger with a smile to match his friend's, taking a step closer towards her.
"Ain't that the truth?" muttered Bombalurina. "I think I'll go take mine right now…"
"Do you want me to come tuck you in?" whispered Tugger into her ear.
"No, Tugger, I'm a big girl…"
Her sentence was interrupted by the touch of Maine coon's lips against hers. She was so shocked by this sudden display of emotions that she almost pushed him away, but then realized that she was actually enjoying it. When the tom finally pulled away, she was at a loss for words.
"Tugger… I…"
"Shhh," he said, putting one paw above her mouth to silence her. "Our little secret," he whispered, before walking out of the door with the sleeping kitten still in his arm.
"Our little secret," repeated Bombalurina to herself. The words sounded nice.
*~*
What happened back there, Tantomile? What was wrong with the tom?
He heard us talking, Coricopat.
How? And how did you know?
I knew because he was in my head, and not yours. I suddenly felt as if my thoughts were no longer my own. Then I realized it was him. I saw his thoughts. I had to shut him out, and quickly. I forced him outside of my mind. That was what gave him the sudden headache.
How was he in your mind in the first place?
I don't know. The only answer I can come up with was that he must have a bit of the Gift.
You mean, he is physic as well?
He is no where as near as powerful as a physic male should be at his age. I suppose he was a rare case, born to normal parents who had no idea of his ability. So he went on, living life as normal… but now, around two other physics, his abilities started to get out of hand.
You saw his thoughts?
Some.
I thought we agreed not to go searching through other's thoughts?
I could not control it. My mind was open to his, which could only mean that his mind was open to me. I tried not to look, but, oh, Cori! I saw the kitten.
The magician?
Yes, I saw him. He is here. And the one who is physic must be his father.
We must go talk to him, before it is too late. The stars have written a great fortune for that kitten. He will do much good. If we don't act soon, his magic will be lost.
His great fortune will happen with or without his magical powers, if it is written in the stars, my dear Coricopat.
Be that as it may, my Tantomile, a little magic can never hurt.
*~*
"You are the Rum Tum Tugger, are you not?" said a male voice behind Tugger. He closed his eyes for a moment. Not really wanting to talk to the two newcomers, but feeling he should make a good impression, he turned around.
"Yes, I am," he said the two cats.
"You are the father of a black and white kitten, are you not?" asked the female version of the voice.
"Quaxo?" asked Tugger.
The two looked at each other, then quickly back at him. "Yes, Quaxo," said Coricopat.
"You are his father, right?" asked Tantomile.
"No," said Tugger.
"Could you perhaps tell us who his father his?" asked Coricopat.
"I don't know who it is," responded Tugger.
"Could you perhaps point us in the direction of someone who does?" asked Tantomile politely.
"No, I can't…" said Tugger. "Listen, I kind of have to go…"
"Go where?" asked Coricopat.
Tugger wanted very much to say 'It's none of your business,' but instead decided on "To go get dinner."
"Where are you going afterwards?" asked Tantomile.
"Back to my box."
"Is Quaxo there?" she asked.
"Maybe."
"Could we come and meet him?" asked Coricopat.
"You don't even know if he's there or not!"
"Yes we do," said Tantomile.
"We'd very much like to meet him," said Coricopat.
"Why are you guys so obsessed with him anyway?" yelled the Rum Tum Tugger angrily. "Leave him alone! Leave me alone!"
Coricopat looked at Tantomile, or perhaps it was the other way around. Tugger wasn't paying too much attention; he had turned away and was walking angrily away from the two cats.
"Quaxo is a magical cat, Rum Tum Tugger," said Coricopat loudly. Tugger stopped, and slowly turned around.
"First of all," he began, "it's the Rum Tum Tugger, and second of all, there are no such things as magical cats."
"Oh really?" said Tantomile, walking slowly towards him. "Are you absolutely sure of that?"
"I'm positive. There's no such thing as magic," said Tugger decidedly.
Tantomile took a step back and raised her right paw. A moment later, the Rum Tum Tugger noticed her paw sort of sparkled, somehow – but he had no more time to think about Tantomile's sparkly paw because it suddenly produced a bolt of lightning. The lightning hit an old bicycle wheel and shattered into a million tiny little sparks – all of which disappeared a few moments later.
"Still have no belief in magic?" whispered Tantomile.
"You mean…" panted Tugger, "that my Quaxo… has the power… to do that?"
"That, and much more," said Coricopat.
"Just what I need," muttered Tugger sarcastically. "Of all the kittens in the world…"
*~*
"Hello?" shouted Tugger into the box.
"Tugger, are you back already?" called Jennyanydots. "I didn't expect you be that quick."
"No, Jenny, I got…distracted from dinner," said Tugger. "Where's Quaxo? He has some visitors."
"He's still sleeping," said Jenny. "Over on the mat."
Tugger walked towards the end of the box and picked up the black kitten. "Quax, Quaxo, wake up," he said into the kitten's ear.
"Mmmmm," said the young tom grumpily, putting his paws over his ears.
"Come on, Quaxo," sighed the Rum Tum Tugger. "You've got visitors."
"Vis-i-tors?"
"Yeah, visitors," whispered Tugger. "Come on."
The Rum Tum Tugger lifted the drowsy kitten off of the mat and set him in front of Coricopat and Tantomile. "There he is," said Tugger. "Do what you wish, but don't go putting silly ideas in his head about being able to blow up bicycle wheels."
"May I ask what's going on here?" asked Jennyanydots, sounding rather concerned.
"Why don't you step outside and explain it to her, the Rum Tum Tugger?" said Coricopat.
"We would appreciate some time alone with Quaxo," said Tantomile gently.
The tuxedo kitten cocked his head to side and stared up at Coricopat and Tantomile with a peaceful expression.
"I don't think I am going to be able to allow near strangers to be alone with my foster son," growled Tugger angrily.
"It's okay, Tugger," said Quaxo suddenly, his head still cocked to one side, still looking intently at the two newcomers. "They have pretty lights."
"What was that, Quax?" asked the Rum Tum Tugger, walking towards the kitten.
"I said they have pretty lights," said Quaxo, shifting his gaze to the Maine coon. "You have pretty lights, too, Tugger, but their lights are more prettier."
"What does he mean?" murmured Jennyanydots, walking towards the kitten too.
"He's talking about our auras," said Coricopat. "He can sense them."
"Auras… sense... what?" asked Tugger, sounding confused. "What's an aura?"
"An invisible breath that radiates around every being," said Tantomile. "Each one is different… each aura is distinctive depending on the one to whom it belongs. He sees the goodness in our auras and knows we will not harm him…"
"And these auras… what do they look like?" asked Tugger anxiously.
"It depends on the one to whom the aura belongs," stated Coricopat.
"I mean, in general," said the Rum Tum Tugger.
"As Quaxo said, like some form of light… some are colored, others are not… it is hard to describe them, Tugger," said Tantomile. "You don't really see an aura, you kind of feel it… like in you," she said, suddenly rounding on Jennyanydots. "I can sense that your aura is one of kindness… always caring for someone else… looking out for others… always being reliable and dependable."
Jennyanydots blushed slightly.
"And Quaxo's aura is clearly one of a magical cat," said Coricopat.
"A what?!?" exclaimed Jennyanydots.
"Uh, Jenny, maybe it would be best if I took you outside and explained all of this," said the Rum Tum Tugger suddenly. "Don't you dare let it slip to him or to anyone else that he is magical," whispered Tugger to Coricopat and Tantomile. "I don't want anyone else to know, and I'm not sure I even want him to know… yet."
With that, he and Jennyanydots went outside to talk.
"Quaxo, why don't you tell us about yourself?" asked Tantomile gently, sinking down next to the kitten.
"Well…" began the kitten thoughtfully. "Um… Tugger found me in the woods… and when I'm old enough I'm gonna be a Jellicle cat!"
Coricopat and Tantomile waited for a moment or two for him to go on, but it was clear that that was all he had to say.
"How old are you, Quaxo?" asked Tantomile.
"Tugger's Daddy says that I'm two and half moths," said Quaxo.
"Er… you mean months?" said Coricopat.
"Yeah."
"Who were your parents?" asked Tantomile.
Quaxo shrugged. "Tugger says that he's the only parent I need."
"Quaxo, why don't you go back to sleep?" prompted Tantomile. "You look tired."
"Yeah, I guess I am a little tired…" said Quaxo. "But I'm more hungrier. Do you have any food?"
Tantomile laughed. Quaxo liked the sound of her laugh. It was a very nice sound, and it made him think of happy things like the stars and the sunshine.
"No, Quaxo, we don't have any food, but if you go to sleep now, I promise you'll have a nice meal ready to eat when you wake up."
"Oh, alright," muttered Quaxo, settling himself back down on the mat. A few seconds later, he was sound asleep.
"He's way too young," said Coricopat immediately. "I was expecting an older kitten, around six or eight months. But two and a half?"
"I know, he's way too young to learn about his powers now. It will completely overwhelm him," said Tantomile, standing up and beginning to pace around the box.
"So we'll wait," said Coricopat. "We'll wait until he's old enough."
"By that time, it might be too late!" said Tantomile, wringing her paws. "Macavity is quickly gaining power… and the one who was meant to oppose him his only two and half months old!"
"Not to mention the fact that the Rum Tum Tugger is going to oppose us every step of the way," muttered Coricopat. "He doesn't want Quaxo to be a magical cat, I can sense it… the question is… why?"
"It doesn't matter why," said Tantomile. "What matters is what we're going to do now."
"The only we can do – wait for the kitten to get older and stronger," said Coricopat. "If Quaxo really is meant to fight Macavity to the death, then it'll happen when he is ready."
"But who knows how much suffering we'll have to endure by that time…" mused Tantomile. To anyone else, her statement would have made little or no sense, but Coricopat, her soulmate, only had to look into her eyes, and he understood every word.
*~*
"So Coricopat and Tantomile say Quaxo is a magical cat," said Jennyanydots. "And you believe them? Hasn't anyone ever told you there's no such thing as magical cats?"
"Yes, I've been told a hundred thousand times, but yet I have to believe them," said the Rum Tum Tugger. "First of all, because Tantomile showed me her magic. She is a magical cat, and Coricopat, too."
"And second of all…?" prompted Jennyanydots.
"Because… well… there's something inside of me that says to listen to them, and I have to listen to that voice, Jenny. I just have to." The Rum Tum Tugger sighed. "Do you believe me, Jenny? Or do you think I've gone mad?"
Jennyanydots placed a comforting hand on the Maine coon's shoulder. "You were already mad, child, and of course I believe you. You don't lie, Tugger, you just… exaggerate the truth a little."
"Well, this time I'm not exaggerating," said the Rum Tum Tugger. He paused for a second, and then continued. "Jenny, if I tell you something, will you swear to the Everlasting Cat that you will not tell a soul?"
"Of course. I swear," said Jennyanydots.
"Alright." The Rum Tum Tugger took a deep breath. "The secret is… that… I can see auras too… just like Quaxo… I've always been able to. When I told my father when I was just a kit, he told me to keep it quiet and never bring it up, to anyone, again…"
Jennyanydots was silent.
"I don't want Quaxo to be a magical cat," said the Rum Tum Tugger decidedly, "and whatever Coricopat and Tantomile say isn't going to change my mind."
*~*
Author's Notes: Weeee! That was actually really fun to write. Anyway, I'd like to make a little request of you, the reader… if you have the time, would you please read & review my story 'To the Moonlight'? That one is my baby, and I would be eternally grateful.
--jemi gr 14-july-2003