The Willful
Note: I don't own "the Cat returns" I can only dream.
Summary: Haru awakens to find that Mouta has sent Toto to retrieve her, but somethings wrong with Baron.
Haru sat hunched over with her head resting on the top of her medium sized oak desk. She had crammed the night before foran importantsemester test, got caught sleeping in class, and as a result recieved detenion for four hours every day after school for the rest of the week. The thought of the test results only added to her silent panic. What if I fail?What if Mom gets mad at me? She closed her eyes. "I suppose I'm worrying to much" she said quietly. "some sleep should help clear my head." Using what little strengh she had in her arms to push herself up out of her seat, Haru stood and began to walk the short distance to her bed. The 16-year-old's legs slowed and her feet dragged with fatigue. As soon as she reached her bed she plopped down on the soft comforter, and fell asleep.
She awoke two hours later to the feeling of extra weight slightly pushing down the left end of the matress. Her habit was to look at her small alarm clock whenever she awakend. 11:15PM. She slowly sat up and looked around, only to have her gaze met by a somewhat large silohouette perched on the wooden end piece of her bed. She could hardly tell what it was. She guessed it was a bird or a rat.Just then,a faint bit of moonlight began to shine through the window, making the creature's feathers glisten. It slowy became completly vivid as the shape of a bird. It can't be! she thought. She reached over with her right hand and touched it's long dark, wings, and feathers cold with the night.There before her was a very familiar blackbird. A friend she hadn't spoken with, or even seen, in a year and a half. She had thought fondly of her adventure nearly every day, holding on to every fragment of memory she could, ensuring that she still knew that what happened was not a dream, that she had actually met cats who talked, danced, ruled kingdoms and fought. All the while guided by the raven named Toto, a fat cat named Mouta, and a very valiant (and rather handsome) cat figure whom she knew as Baron. The whole time she was back, Haru never allowed herself to forget that they were real, and that he was real. "Toto" she whispered. "Is that really you?" The raven hopped down onto the bed. "I knew it was you Miss Haru! Long time no see huh?" He must have been excited to see her again because he was practically yelling. "Sssh" Haru put her forefinger to her lips. "My mom'll hear you!" "And what are you doing here? Did Baron send you? Does he want something?" Toto shifted his claws uncomfortably. "Mouta sent me, and about Baron..." "What about him?" She asked anxiously. Toto's tone of voice had already began to frighten Haru. Toto looked down and stayed silent. she impatiently grabbed Toto by his sides and began shaking him "What about Baron! What about him! Tell me!" He freed himself from her grasp and flew onto the window sill. Alright! Mouta told me not to take you there, but I guess i'll have to for fear of youshaking me like that again. Follow me" he said before diving gracefully out the window.