Ellenlome: (jumps out of a cyber-bush dressed in a fancy costume of a, well, bush ranger. Haha, cheap joke) Ya!
Muta: (reading the newspaper) You're not scaring anyone kiddo.
Ellenlome: Kiddo! (looks outraged) I'm turning 19 in two weeks! Bleh! (stucks out her tongue)
Muta: I would never have guessed it by the way you're acting.
Ellenlome: Ack! Shut up! I do whatever I want fatso!
Muta: fatso again! Can't you find something new?
Ellenlome: Mmmh…No! You're too much fun to annoy fatso! (cackles)
(Muta and Ellenlome keep bantering)
Baron: (stepping in through a pink door) Hum, aren't you forgetting something?
Muta and Ellenlome: (stop fighting) What? (eyes wide)
Baron: (cough) disclaimer (cough)
Ellenlome: Oh. Right.
Muta and Ellenlome: (go back to insulting each other)
Baron: (sighing) Ellenlome doesn't own "The cat returns". She only owns the plot of this story and all original characters in it.
Fento: (holding a purple…thing and running in trough a random trapdoor) Like me! (starts giggling maniacally)
Baron: (suspiciously) Are you on a sugar high?
Haru: (fading in) He must be. He just had a whole box of chocolate chip cookies, and I believe it is the lady's shawl he's currently holding in a vice-like grip.
Fento: (still giggling) Oh, vice-like grip! I like that! Sounds funny! (keeps rambling on how funny it is to say vice-like grip in between nervous giggles)
Haru: it's a good thing he's already half mad in the story, 'cause I don't think he can get any worse.
Baron: who's that lady anyway? Never heard of her before.
Haru: Oh, she's the one that s…
Ellenlome: (jumps out of her "fight" with Muta and tackles Haru) Sshh! Ya'll spoil the fun! (turns to the readers) Anyway guys, just wanted to tell you that this chapter has some violence in it, so if anyone doesn't like it don't read it! You've been warned!
Baron: she is desperate…(hangs his head)
Muta: I could have told you that looong ago!
Whispers of a distant land: Chapter six
Present time, Japan
"Mo-om! I'm going out!" called Haru as she ran down the stairs, barely avoiding colliding with a small table.
"Honey, isn't it a bit late?" asked her Mum, leaning out of the door of the kitchen/dining room. "And where are you going at this hour?"
"To the park! Hiromi, uh, asked me to meet her there earlier. Said she had something important to tell me."
"Oh. Alright. I'll see you later then, be careful."
"Will be," and with that Haru dashed through the door, a happy and stupid smile on her face. She knew it was stupid, but she just couldn't help it.
As she passed the two cats lying on the sidewalk as usual, she called a greeting, although she knew they would more than likely not hear her, or just plain ignore her. She didn't mind though. Cats were like that, and she wasn't one to complain about their mysterious demeanor.
Haru was almost bouncing now. If it weren't for the many strange stares she would receive from the numerous passersby (not that she cared about what they thought, but they would most likely delay her if too concerned for what would appear to be a slightly crazy woman) she was sure she would be dancing right now. She actually had no idea why she was acting like that. If Hiromi was there, she would have most likely said that Haru was acting like a love struck teen. Of course, Haru wasn't love struck. Nope. She was just happy at seeing a good friend. Nothing more. Of course she had had a crush on Baron when she was seventeen, but one couldn't possibly have a crush for four years straight on, especially when one had a crush on a member of an entirely different species. As Mochita, Baron had helped her get through a period in her life, helping her grow up, become more mature, and for that she was grateful. Her adventure with the cats had brought her so much…It had been tough on her, she had been transformed into a cat, almost got married to the prince of cats and barely escaped before it was too late for her to change back. And even then she had fallen from the sky, only to be saved by crows. She had done things that she was pretty sure not many people (if at all) had done, and, more important than that, she had made great and unique friends in the persons of Muta, Toto and Baron.
Friends. Yes, that's what we are, and I'm glad for it. Haru had told herself that so many times during those four years, it had almost become a ritual to do so each time her thoughts wandered a bit too much for her taste. It had kept whatever else they would have led her to at bay. But it didn't keep the painful stabs she felt in her chest each time she did so; it never did. Even now, it was hurting, but she dismissed it again as joy at seeing a friend, and that was the end of it. Then why does it feel like I'm lying? Haru shook her head, it wasn't the time to become lost in her thoughts, and she had someone to meet.
Haru began humming a song as she kept on walking. It was a song whose singer she couldn't remember, entitled "Dead was the day she walked". She didn't know why she was singing that song, it was highly inappropriate for the occasion, so she stopped and sang "The Reason", by Hoobastank. She loved that song. She had gotten out early, so she had plenty of time to reach the park. She walked.
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Fento took a sharp turn and quickly melted into the shadows of a porch. Soon after, the two cats the Cat Kingdom's intelligence service had set on his tail passed him in a rush, intent on not loosing their charge. Finally, I'm rid of these two! They had been following him for the past week; no doubt the King had decided to do so right after an advice from Baron. Oh yes, Fento knew perfectly of the visit that had occurred, and he was now more than set upon removing the damn cat from the game. But first, he had to lure Baron to him, and for that the bait had to be set, which was not possible with these two as his assigned shadows. But now that they are gone…Fortunately, he wasn't far from the home of one of his contacts, a rat going by the name of Trash.
Trash…was a very peculiar individual. He lived in an old forgotten bin, hence his name, in an abandoned backyard. The rat wasn't particularly bright, but he would do anything for some promised food, you didn't even have to have the food with you. Trash trusted people, a trait that Fento abused many times in the past. Thankfully for Fento, another trait of Trash was that his memory didn't last more than three days.
Sure enough, the old rat accepted to deliver the letter that Fento had written back at his office for just a spare cracker that the monkey-creature had on him (he had no idea whatsoever how the cracker was in his pocket in the first place, but really he didn't care), and for some promised cheese accepted to let Fento stay in his "home" for a few hours and not to tell anyone of his presence. Fento could barely stand the stench, but he didn't have much choice. Besides, if all went well, he wouldn't have to worry about being found for much longer. The attack of the birds on the Cat Kingdom would soon happen, and then…
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Muta was grudgingly walking up the streets of the small town on all fours. He had fallen asleep (the sun was really hot, and that chair had looked like the perfect spot for a nap at the time), and didn't realize before it was too late that the damn monkey (Fento) had left his home. If he didn't find him soon, Muta was sure that Baron would berate him for not doing as he was asked, and he wasn't even thinking about all the mocking he would have to endure from that birdbrain of a crow! Muta didn't know why, but he suddenly had the urge to go to the nearby park. He turned. His instincts were never wrong anyway, and they told him something fishy was afoot. He walked.
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Faster, faster, faster, faster, FASTER! Baron was practically screaming the word in his head now. Toto, Natoru, Myril and him had been flying at incredible speed - even using some transporting magic, courtesy of Natoru (they had all wondered why he hadn't used that to escape, until Myril told them that Raïtal was warded against outside magic) - for the past two days, the two birds feeling the urgency in Baron's attitude, flying towards Japan, and towards Haru. Baron had the feeling that she was in great danger. He didn't know how he knew this, nor did he care. He knew, and that was all that mattered.
Aside from being worried almost to death for Haru, Baron was lost in an inner turmoil. He knew he cared for her, but when did he start developing such strong feelings for her? He remembered that he had missed her dearly after their adventure in the Kingdom. No, it started before that. When then? When she had come to the Bureau for the first time, he had found her pretty, and had been quite sure that she would grow into a beautiful young woman. His insight had been right, as proved later as he watched her grow into the woman she now was. But that had nothing to do with what he felt for her, or has it? Baron resisted the urge to scream in frustration. He couldn't even figure that out. He could never think straight whenever she was near; even though he was quite sure it hadn't been so four years back.
The cat figurine thought harder. And then he remembered. She had just turned eighteen – three years or so ago – and Muta and Toto had finally managed to drag him into making a small celebration for her. A "coming to age" party as they had called it. Haru hadn't yet made any visits to the Bureau at the time, what with all that had happened and her final year in school, plus all the changes (both in mind and in her life) that she had made. She had been "rediscovering life and my friends" as she had called it herself on one of the brief times he talked to her after that. But he was wandering off the subject. At the party (held in the plaza) when he saw her after a whole year, he was…surprised…to find out that the teenage girl had grown into a very beautiful and mature woman, even more so than what he had imagined. Not only that, but the wonderful personality that he had had a glimpse of back at the Cat Kingdom had completely hypnotized him. Yes, hypnotized was the right word. He couldn't keep his gaze to wander back to her throughout the whole day, and had seen her blush quite a few times when she had caught him watching her. Baron smiled slightly at the memory, despite the seriousness of the current situation. He knew, of course, that she had had a crush on him, but that she still had it after a year, he had found it – and still did – quite endearing, if not amusing. She had changed so much in such a short time. He had watched her go through the ordeal with cats, and the results had started to show full force. Yes, things definitely changed after that. He started to watch her differently after that day, and he knew it, but he just couldn't put his finger on what it was. His feelings were still quite unsure about the whole matter. He had seen plenty of young girls grow up into young women since he was created, but, somewhere, somehow, Haru was different. If only I knew why…
A sharp turn of Toto on the winds brought him out of his thoughts and back to the situation at hand. It was no time for dallying around. Haru was in danger. Faster, faster, faster, faster!…The litany came back as the group flew on in the cold night air.
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The night was cool, and as she passed between the gates of the park Haru inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of the sakura trees and the gentle wind blowing on her face and through her short chocolate hair. She was not the only one taking advantage of the wonderful night. Many people were present, many couples holding hands. A few kids walked holding their parents' hands tight, or were carried when too tired to keep running around after the festivities of the evening. The young woman smiled.
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"We're here!" yelled Toto over the roar of the wind.
"Get down!" replied Baron. Nodding, Toto slowed down until finally coming to a stop on Haru's windowsill, followed closely by Myril who perched herself on the fence, much to the interest of the cats talking on the roadside.
"Is Miss Haru here?" asked Natoru, clutching tightly to Myril's feathers (he was afraid of heights, one of the reasons he hadn't really liked the idea of going to Raïtal).
"The room looks empty," answered Toto, "and the rest of the house is silent."
"Haru's mother seems to have gone to sleep already, but where is Haru?" murmured Baron.
"No idea," said Toto.
"She went out about an hour ago," said a new voice. The group turned to the one who had spoken. The brown and white cat was eyeing them, his head cocked to the side. The crow descended to the sidewalk, and Baron hopped off his back, asking: "Do you know where she went? It is a matter of utmost importance."
"Sure, I think I overheard her telling her mother she was going to the park, which one I don't know though," answered the grey cat.
"I think she had a meeting with her friend, the one with the short hair," continued the first cat.
"She was lying though, we could smell it," said the grey one.
Baron's fur bristled. Something was definitely not right here. If it wasn't with Hiromi, who did she have a rendezvous with? Was it a romantic escapade? He felt a twinge of jealousy for a moment when he realized that she was with another man, most likely. This should have calmed him, but instead the feeling of danger increased tenfold.
"Thank you, you have been most helpful," said Baron. "Is there anything else that you could tell us that would help us locate which park she went to?"
"Mh, maybe," said the brown and white after some time. "She went in that direction," he pointed a paw to the right, "and there's only one park that way. You can't miss it; it's got huge sakura trees in it."
"Thank you," said Baron as he took off on Toto's back, not even sparring a second to grab hold of the feathers.
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Haru finally arrived at the fountain she thought the rendezvous was at, but she quickly realized that it wasn't so. There were lots of people there, and she was sure that Baron didn't want to be seen by any other humans. She hung her head in shame. The fountain he had been speaking of was most likely the abandoned one, at the other end of the park. No one went there anymore, and wild grass had invaded the area. Sighing, she made her way there. She was going to be late after all.
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Fento consulted his pocket watch. 9:20 pm. She was late. And here he had thought that she would be so eager to meet her baron that she would practically run here. The cat figurine was no idiot; he would be coming to save his precious human when he found out she was missing. Yes, he would kidnap the foolish woman, and when the cat came for her, he would kill him.
Fento lightly fingered the small silver crossbow in his hand. It only had one bolt in it, but it was coated with a most powerful tranquilizer. A single shot in the right spot and the human would be in Morpheus' hands for the next twenty-four hours.
A twig snapping to the left made him retreat into the shadows; it would be no good to be discovered before hand. Then he smiled. The human was there. Fento slowly adjusted his aim.
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Where is she? Baron was scanning the park beneath him and his friends. He hoped the two old cats had been right in their assumption that it was the one Haru went to. If not, they would be too late. Baron did not want to think about that.
"There she is!" cried Natoru, pointing to a small clearing a bit to their left and ahead of them. He then waved his paw enthusiastically: "Miss Haru, Miss Haru!"
"She's not alone!" yelled Myril. "There is someone else in the shadows of the bushes!"
Sure enough, the light reflected upon a small silver object, a shape familiar to Baron…his eyes widened in recognition, and he yelled, as loud as he could:
"HARU!"
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"Baron!" Haru turned around at hearing his voice in the opposite direction to the fountain. As she did so, she heard a thud behind her, and in the bark of the tree she had been standing near was embedded a small green bolt! She jumped even more when she heard someone curse not too far away from her.
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Fento cursed with all the swear words he knew from around the world. Not only had he missed his shot, but that damn Baron was back sooner than he thought! No matter, he would get the woman; the bolt wasn't the only weapon he carried. As he stepped into the light, he took out a long blade from within his cane. It wasn't the first time the weapon would see blood, nor was it the last. Fento smiled, but the girl had already ducked behind the fountain.
But she was no match for Fento. As hard as she ducked and turned, she couldn't escape him, and soon a crimson line could be seen on Haru's arm. Of course, that was Fento's first wrong move. As he moved to strike the wounded woman, another cane-sword got in his way. Fento stopped short.
"Baron," he growled.
"Fento," was the reply. It took all of Baron's self control not to follow his anger; he knew it would lead to his death if he did. But nothing stopped him from baring his fangs at the monkey-creature, and his green eyes ordinarily so kind had taken on a hard quality to them, reduced to two glowing slits in the shadow of the trees.
For a minute or two, both creations stood eyeing each other, assessing their opponent's strengths and weaknesses. Baron slowly held up his sword. Both opponent's muscles tensed, and then…all that could be seen were a white and a black blur, sometimes resuming into Baron and Fento when they briefly parted, but soon gone again, too quick for the eye to follow.
"Haru, Haru! Are you all right?" asked Toto as he landed on the rim of the fountain near her (Baron had jumped directly when he saw Fento attack Haru).
"Yeah, I'm alright, it's just a scratch. Toto, what's going on?" she asked as she tried to follow the moves of the two creations. She could only see moving blurs though.
"Baron is fighting Fento for you. Yay! That's the way to show him Baron!"
"You can see them, Mr. Toto?" asked a bewildered Natoru.
Haru turned in shock: she hadn't noticed the small cat. "You again!" She then saw the eagle. "And who are you?"
"I'm Myril, nice to meet you," said Myril as she bowed.
Haru bowed back.
"It's a long story as to why we're here, Miss Haru, but I'm sure that as soon as Baron is finished with Fento he will tell you all about it," said the advisor. He then turned to Toto: "Since you can see them, can you tell us what is going on?"
"I can't really tell very well; the only reason I'm able to see them at all is because I'm a creation myself. From what I see, they seem to be going all out. But none of them is at their maximum yet."
"What do you mean Toto?" asked Haru as she strained her eyes to try and see the Baron.
"I mean that I've seen Baron use all his capacities in a fight before. What you are witnessing right now is nothing compared to an all out battle between immortals."
There was a loud sound, of steel on steel, and the white blur was projected on a tree, resuming into the limp form of Baron. Haru started towards him, but the cat was already back on his feet and into the fight. Haru blinked. She hadn't even seen him move. How many other powers did Baron have that she did not know about?
"Don't try to help him, Haru," said Toto, "you would only hurt yourself and get him in trouble. We can't do anything but wait for the outcome."
Haru nodded, thinking on all the new information she had just been given. And, looking back at the battle, she thought: Immortals…?
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Baron's blood was boiling in cold anger. How dare he! How dare he harm the one he loved! Yes, he knew he loved her now. He had always loved her; it had probably been love at first sight as things were. Realization had downed on him when Fento had struck her. The sight of her blood had nearly made him go mad with rage. He believed his senses left him there, and the next thing he knew he was off Toto's back and blocking Fento's strike. As soon as he realized what he was doing, his consciousness jumped in, not dulling his anger, but working with it. He had known that state but once before, when anger was giving him all the strength he needed and made his senses sharper than the blade of his sword, making him a dangerously strong and intelligent opponent.
He lightly jumped out of the way as Fento trusted his sword forward, bringing down his own sword from the right side. But the monkey-creature had foreseen the move and rolled out of the way, sweeping at Baron's legs in the motion. Baron jumped up, and then leapt forward. Steel caught on steel. Strike, parry, duck, roll, strike again, jump, swipe to the right, trust, roll, spin around and strike the middle section from the left. Sweat was rolling in his eyes, adrenaline strong in his blood. Block, strike, block, swipe, duck and twist. Steel on steel, two wild cards. Strike and parry, feint to the left, roll and swipe at the legs. It was almost a dance now. Both opponents had torn clothes, tinted red in numerous places. A few drops of blood fell on the Sakura petals, unnoticed. Duck, trust, jump and strike, jump again and block.
Baron had no idea how long they had been fighting. It could have been hours, it could have been mere seconds. But he knew that he couldn't keep on fighting like that for eternity. Adrenaline was keeping him up right now, but his strength would soon leave him. He had to make a move. Feigning exhaustion catching up to him, Baron slowly fell into a defensive pattern. But he was far from exhausted, and it wouldn't take long for his opponent to realize that he was faking. He would have to find an opening soon.
And then, he found one. Fento had let his guard down a millisecond in order to strike Baron in the shoulder, something that he would never have done hadn't his hate for the cat figurine blinded him to the act Baron had been putting up. Quicker than lightning, Baron ducked lightly to the right and, twisting his blade around his nemesis', disarmed him, bringing down the sword on the now unprotected wrist and incapacitating his enemy to fight with a sword ever again. Fento fell to his knees, clutching his arm in pain, a low growl of pain and frustration mingled escaping his clenched mouth.
"I win," Baron said simply as he stopped barely three paces away from his vanquished opponent.
"You may have won today, but in the long run, it is I who will stand over all," said Fento as he lifted his gaze to the baron.
The cat figurine frowned slightly. Advisor Natoru, with the help of Myril, would warn the Cat Kingdom of the impending attack by the birds, and Baron knew that cats were good at diplomacy if anything, so they would most likely find a way to settle the matter of the war without shedding any blood, so what did Fento mean by that?
"I see I've confused you. But I can tell you the answer isn't that hard," and at that Fento smiled, showing very sharp teeth indeed. "Actually, I can tell you that it is NOW!"
The monkey creature jumped forward, pushing past Baron that he forced out of his way with a dagger that barely missed him, scratching him slightly instead of the full blow the cat should have received, and disappeared into the night.
"Baron!" cried Haru, finally able to see the state he was in. "Are you all right?"
"I believe I am, Miss Haru."
Toto looked in the direction the monkey-creature had disappeared. "Too bad, we can't catch him now."
"Hey, did you guys loose that thing? I found him trying to run away," came a gruff voice.
"Muta!" Haru smiled, she hadn't seen the fat cat for some time now.
"Hey, you caught him! Guess a fatso is useful sometimes!" cackled Toto, happy at seeing the white cat stride in, holding a very much raging Fento by the collar, dagger gone and a definitely black eye starting to appear. He even had a split lip, and for once Haru didn't feel sorry for a wounded someone.
"Shut up you birdbrain!" replied Muta. "Hey, Baron! You alright? Quite a nasty gash you've got one your arm."
"It's just a scratch Muta, nothing more than a scratch." And then he collapsed.
Tbc…
Author's note:
Here you go! An extra long chapter to make up for my long absence! Hope you liked it. And yes, I'm evil, 'cause things are far from finished for the poor couple. (grins evilly) Anyway, that chapter was far longer than I expected. My muses just wouldn't leave me alone, and kept waking me up at 2 am for three days straight until I finished this. (glares at muses) which is quite annoying, considering my assessments start tomorrow.
I actually have a good part of the later chapters already written, but I still need to write those in between. Damn muses won't leave me alone. Argh. Also, I just reread the last few chapters and realized that Baron has been a bit OOC. Tell me what you think please.
Oh, and here's the link to my deviantart page (without the spaces). I've posted two pics for this fic there, and I intend to post more soon.
http // ellenlome . deviantart .com/
Anyway, review responses time!
Review responses:
e-chan: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter too:)
Earthangel: yeah, I heard of it, but I just haven't seen it. I'm actually trying to buy the entire Studiio Ghibli collection, and am desperately trying to get my hands on a copy of "Whisper of the heart", but it apparently hasn't come out yet in Australia (pouts). Anyway, thanks a lot for all the encouragement you gave me. It helps me keep writing:D
Elise Rose: I love your fic too! Thanks a lot, I hope you still like the story! Oh, and thanks a lot for the fav! (blushes furiously)