Thanks for reviewing. Finally picked a name for the King, sorry for the confusion.

Thundercat: All the characters are the same as in the movie. I really did not like the idea of making Baron human. He just doesn't seem as cool as when he's a cat.

Naphtali Phoenix: Thanks for your review!

EarthGurdian: Haha, I wouldn't want the PPC to do anything drastic. Thanks for your review.

Chapter II: Make New Friends

Haru sat by the side of the road watching for any sign of a traveler to ask for directions. Her sensitive ears picked up the clip-clop of horse hooves. She frowned. It was a rapid beat, which meant someone was riding in a hurry. She saw a strange cat approach the opposite end of the road with a small parcel clenched between its teeth. Its coat was a charcoal grey and had the oddest green and red eyes. Haru had a feeling that it might get hurt from the oncoming traffic but shrugged the feeling off.

"It's just a cat," she murmured.

Dropping the box, the cat carefully nudged it with its nose, trying to right it to grab a hold of the ribbon. Never noticing the runaway carriage which was quickly closing the distance between them, it gave a yelp of outrage as Haru scooped up both the cat and package in her arms in front of the speeding carriage before collapsing on the other side of the road. She yelled a curse at the horse-drawn carriage to watch where he was going when she had noticed the emblem embedded on the carriage side.

"The royal seal!" she thought. "It must be the princesses trying to find their husbands." She sighed quietly and stared at her reflection in the nearby lake.

Who would ever marry her? I mean, just look at her. The Princesses had long, raven black hair. Hers was a mousy brown cropped short as a regulation for being a servant. The Princesses played all day with a golden ball under a white silk canopy so that their skin remained smooth and pale. Her skin was dark from the sun and her hands coarse from cleaning and scrubbing dishes all day. She sighed dejectedly again.

"Mistress, Thank you for saving my life," an elegant voice said.

Glancing around, Haru could see no one. A quiet "ahem" was uttered and she looked down in amazement to see the gray cat standing upright on its hind legs.

In shock she could only utter, "I'm not an upper class person; you don't have to call me Mistress."

The cat bowed to her quietly, acknowledging her request. "If you would follow me, you can find rest from your journey."

Dumbly, Haru stood and quickly followed the cat which had dropped to all fours and ran off into the bushes. Stooping, and sometimes crawling Haru kept a close eye on the sprinting cat.

"Slow down! I can't go that fast!" she called out as she suddenly lost him around a bend.

Stumbling on a hidden tree root, she fell and rolled several times into an open clearing. Finally landing flat on her back with arms and legs outstretched she stared into a pristine blue sky. Looking around she saw yellow daffodils. She had never felt so relaxed and peaceful in all her life.

She sat up to find herself staring at a quaint green house alone amidst the field of flowers. There the gray cat sat patiently on the porch until she caught up with him. Haru waited a short distance away from the house as she watched the cat lift one paw and rang the doorbell. Wondering who would live in such a tiny house, she had assumed it was another cat. It turns out she was right…sort of.

She could hear the clipped precision of shoes hitting a wooden floor on the other side of the closed door as the owner of the home walked across the room. The door opened and she was met with a most peculiar sight.

A dignified being stood in front of Haru. Dressed entirely in a white suit, it was a cat but he also was adorned with a red vest with blue tie. She could see through the doorway, hanging neatly on coat rack, a matching jacket and even a top hat. She noticed that instead of paws his feet were shod with leather shoes, and that he had gloved hands also. She supposed he could pass for a human, except for obvious cat head and that even at his tallest height he only came up to midway the length of her leg. Emerald eyes surrounded by sleek tawny fur stared piercingly at her.

"He's so cool," she thought dreamily but then she bowed lowly, remembering her place. "My name is Haru. I was on a mission when this cat said to follow him," she said gesturing to the gray cat.

The well dressed cat cocked his head in amusement at the girl who had bent her head so far down during the introduction that he could not see her face. He invited them both in, and despite a tight fit, Haru found herself sitting on a chest being given a tiny cup of specially blended tea.

The gray cat, which Haru discovered was Prince Lune, explained to their patron, the Baron von Gikkingen, that Haru was being modest. She had actually saved his life before he told her to follow her.

Flashing a pleased grin, Baron turned to Haru. "My dear, you have just saved the Prince of the Cat Kingdom. His father, the Cat King, is very powerful."

"…and foolish," she heard Lune mutter. Surprised, she wished to ask why he thought that, but fearing her nosiness might be rude she remained silent. Lune sensed her questions and explained that his Father was still ruling despite his periods of insanity. Lune personally had spent much of the time cleaning up his Father's messes, like blowing up one of the main towers with dynamite. Expecting a laugh from Haru, Lune looked at her only to see she had a sober expression on her face.

"At least you have a father," she murmured off in thought. Lune, startled, realized that it was true. He didn't know what he would do without his father around. Baron, sensing that she, too, had a story to tell, gently cajoled her to speak. Desperate to tell someone her situation, she told both Lune and Baron everything, leaving out no details, and soon found that she had talked non-stop for a complete hour.

"Well that certainly is a predicament," Baron murmured while pouring another cup of tea for everyone. Lune glancing at the time exclaimed the lateness of the hour and excused himself to go back to the Cat Kingdom. He wished Haru luck in her mission but then stared pointedly at Baron and replied, "I'll be sure to tell my Father that you said hello, Baron."

Haru tilted her head in thought. Why did that seem like such an odd comment to make? As if there was a secret message in there. Baron replied with just a wave of dismissal as he sat thinking in silence, seeming to forget about Haru too. She tried to cover a yawn of exhaustion.

Glancing up, Baron suddenly remembered she was there and asked if she wished to sleep. Admittedly she did, but there was no room amongst his furniture. Suddenly remembering how comfortable it was outside, she asked if it was safe.

"Perfectly so," Baron replied, and pulled out the largest blanket and pillow he had. Luckily the night was cool and not cold and Haru slept deeply for the first in a long time.

Daylight broke and Haru woke to see the sun rising on the field of flowers. It was even more beautiful than from her view from the tower. She washed her face from a nearby river which ran behind Baron's house. Giving a cheerful greeting to her benefactor, she saw Baron dressed in the same clothes standing in the doorway.

"I have made a decision. I've decided to come back with you to the kingdom, Haru, to help you with your situation," he told her.

She stared in amazement. "Why would you want to help me?" she exclaimed. "I'm no one. I don't think I can even win the first part of the contest!" She was taken aback as his emerald gaze was fixed upon her.

Angrily he replied, "Haru that's no way to talk about yourself. Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear."

Hiding a blush from his intense stare, Haru stood up and paced a little. "I have to warn you my uncle is crazy. You never know what he might ask," she said warningly.

"So is the Cat King," Baron said derisively, "and I've dealt with him many times."

Haru sighed and agreed. At least she would have an ally going through this ridiculous ordeal. Picking him up at gently as she could between thumb and forefinger she placed him on her shoulder and walked the distance back to the castle.

As she approached her uncle in the throne room, she noticed she was the last to arrive. It even seemed that he was about to start the contest without her until she appeared. She eyed the men her cousins' chose. Both were tall and quite handsome: perfect facial features, with dark ebony hair and strong bodies. She snorted quietly. These men had probably never done a day's work in their lives. She even bet that the only swordplay they knew was just fancy dance moves.

Seeing Baron on Haru's shoulder, Mitsuki and Ying shrieked with condescending laughter.

"Hang on midget! I feel a sneeze coming on! Don't fly off now!" one had cackled mercilessly. The other just continued laughing until she nearly doubled over. Baron ignored their ridicule and simply observed the group in silence.

Glaring, Haru could just console herself saying that Baron had more poise and gentlemanly manners than the two buffoons they chose.

Laughing uproariously, King Yoshi said, "If that is the husband you chose, Haru, so be it." He announced that the first task was to find him the most delicious meal he ever tasted by tomorrow afternoon.

Groaning, Haru cursed inwardly his selfishness. Cooking! A ruler's abilities were not known on how good of a cook he hired! Baron remained silent on her shoulder.

Knowing the King, he must have said to "find him a meal" so that the princesses could probably force their cook to make something or order something from a neighboring kingdom instead of cooking it themselves. Haru, who couldn't afford anything, would have to cook it on her own. They were all dismissed to plan for the meals.

As she climbed the stairs to her room she was approached by the cook. Nervously, he said that he could try to sabotage the princesses' meals in order for hers to taste better. Haru smiled quietly, and patted him on the shoulder.

"It's ok," she said grateful he was willing to risk his life for her. "I'll figure out something."

"You certainly will," Baron consoled her. He urged her to get a good night's sleep as he settled himself into a more comfortable position on the softest rag Haru could find atop the single table adorning her room. She crawled into her bed and fell asleep after an hour of worrying over the first task.

Please review,
Grignard