THE CAT'S RUSE
Three days before, two travelers, one a figurine come to life and the other a raccoon dog from Tokyo, disembarked from the Nekobus Kitty, just beyond the end of the bridge that led to the main entrance of the Cat King's Castle.
Shoukichi, in his tanuki form, whistled as he looked up at the fairy-tale structure. "That's some building. I sure wouldn't mind living there."
"Not I," said Baron. "At least, not alone."
They made their way, bags and all, to the guardhouse at the end of the bridge, where the gatekeeper asked them the reason for their being there. Baron replied that he wished to speak to the King, and was told to get in line with the rest of the people wanting admittance into the castle.
The queue was about a block long; fortunately, though, it moved regularly, and after about an hour and a half Baron and Shoukichi were allowed into the throne room where King Lune and Queen Yuki sat in attendance.
Queen Yuki, upon seeing him, was amazed that he had waited in line with everyone else. "You should have told the guard who you were," the cat with the snow-white fur said. "That would've gotten you here far sooner."
"No, I don't think I had the right to do that, Your Highness," Baron said, straightening up from his bow and tucking his top hat under an arm.
"Very well, then. Why have you come here, Baron Humbert von Jikkingen of the Cat Business Office? It's very unusual to find one from your agency here."
"Indeed it is, Your Majesty. I came not on business of the Bureau but for personal reasons, to consult with you about the Lonely Isles."
The change of expression on Lune's face was remarkable. It became guarded; Lune ran his eyes around the throne room and asked, "The Lonely Isles? What about them?"
Baron couldn't help noticing it, but since he didn't know the reason behind the change in Lune's demeanor, he forged on. He told the King of his search for Louise, and asked if he could somehow arrange passage to the Isles.
"What do you want to do there?" asked Lune.
"I'd like to speak with those of the Phaecis Gang, Highness."
A wave of murmuring rose from those assembled in the room at the Baron's audacity. One didn't simply turn up at the Pirate King's door and ask for admittance, one bystanding wag told another. Nor did the said person usually return home afterwards.
King Lune leaned forward and motioned for Baron to come closer. "I will have you sent to a room. Wait for me there. I think we can be of use to each other."
------oOo------
"Assassination!" Shoukichi all but shouted. "Why? Who is this thief anyway?"
"The reign of the Black Cat started back in the days of my father," Lune explained. He and Baron and Shoukichi were in an empty drawing-room, sitting at a table recently laden with food. Outside the door, two of his black-suit-and-tie Secret Service cats stood guard. Lune had appeared just two hours after he had sent Baron and Shoukichi there, and Baron guessed whatever he wanted to talk to him about was of the utmost importance, considering that he had canceled the rest of his daily audience with the people for it.
"Before she came along there was always the Phaecis Gang roaming the coasts, raiding and stealing, but they weren't that much of a problem. It somehow amused my father to have the Navy sending their tails running helter-skelter all over the littoral." He sighed. "Little did we know that we would rue the day we failed to eliminate them."
"The Black Cat came upon us, unawares, one winter's night. Her presence was first reported during a raid by the Phaecis Gang on a major coastal city. What each party got out of their heinous alliance we couldn't tell then, and we still can't now. It appears to be that the thief gets a share of the Phaecis Gang's loot, and they provide the muscle to make her schemes possible."
"The year before Haru was brought here by my father things got really bad. My father beefed up the coastal garrisons and somehow managed to place a detachment of troops on the Lonely Isles themselves, but the Black Cat and the Phaecis Gang continued to stage raid after successful raid on the coastal towns and cities. Money, gems, taxes, valuable pieces of art, even livestock were stolen. On some occasions the Black Cat would pull off a heist all by her lonesome, slipping through my father's traps like sand through one's fingers. The troops were worse than useless, the people began to complain loudly—there was even talk of revolt, from what I heard—and my father's good sense began to unravel. You recall the state of his mind when you rescued Haru from his clutches, Baron, don't you? You must forgive him; he wasn't always like that. Much of his... condition can be directly attributed to the anxiety he experienced while trying to stop the Black Cat."
"Early last year I started a campaign to rid the kingdom of this menace once and for all. My generals and I planned in secret for a long time, and twice this year we have managed to score victories against them, capturing many of the Phaecis Gang and preventing them from carrying out other depredations against the people of the coast. The number of pirate raids has gone down by over seventy percent, and I was hoping to continue this successful avenue of action when last month someone painted a threat on the castle gates. How they did it, no one knows. My guards saw nothing and heard nothing, but in the morning there it was, in great red letters." King Lune held his paws up, as if framing a message. "'Stop your pressure on us or we will be forced to eliminate you, King Lune.' The sods even had the audacity to sign 'Love, the Phaecis Gang' at the bottom."
"What did you do then, King Lune?" asked Shoukichi.
"Why, I ignored it, of course. I even had it proclaimed everywhere that I wouldn't give in to a bunch of ruffians. I kept my word, and the week after I sent that message we foiled another scheme by them to steal a precious artifact from the town of Katrice. Then, just last week, there was another message, written on a piece of paper and stuck to the back of my throne."
"What did it say?" Baron asked.
"I think I can guess," Shoukichi interjected, making a face.
"It said 'Bye-bye, Your Majesty. We gave you fair warning.' Since then I have beefed up security around the palace. It's not so much myself I'm worried about, as Yuki. Knowing the Black Cat as I do, I don't think it would be above her to strike at me through the one I love."
Baron rapped the surface of the table with his knuckles. "Well, there is that. But tell me, did they say when they were going to eliminate you, King Lune?"
"Not explicitly, but there was a comment included with the threat: 'We hear the Midsummer Harvest Festival this year's going to be a doozy.'"
"Ah. A not-so-subtle hint, I should say."
"Yes. And as I'm supposed to open it tomorrow..."
"That'd be a perfect time for them to strike," concluded Shoukichi.
Baron nodded. "But now that you're forewarned... you've got your soldiers and your Secret Service bodyguards, King Lune. What would you want from me?"
"Simple. I would like to engage your services, Baron, as an added layer of security for myself and Yuki. A wild card, as it were, to throw into the mix where the Black Cat would suspect none. In exchange, I would extend support for your voyage to the Isles." Lune's eyes shone with an eager gleam. "I also have a plan on how we might stop her once and for all, if you're interested."
The Baron raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, let us hear it, then."
------oOo------
Midsummer Harvest Festival was opened by the Cat King in the town near the castle. This year's promised to be particularly successful, since the inhabitants were grateful to Lune for providing them with the jetsam from the demolition of the damaged tower, enabling them to repair their homes, to make them stronger and drier. Other than that, it was business as usual.
Except for the almighty skirmish which occurred during the opening ceremonies.
Shortly after King Lune had made his speech and declared the festival underway someone started a fight in the crowd. As guardsmen and cat constables tried to pry them apart, friends on both sides of the fray joined in. Within minutes there was a large mass of struggling felids in the square where the ceremonies were being held, yelling and shouting imprecations, pulling and beating on each other with a gusto that made the King shake his head.
Then smoke bombs were hurled towards the throne. Acrid-smelling gray clouds quickly dispersed and hid the ruler of the Cat Country from sight. The King's guards and Secret Service protectors sought to close in and form a protective ring around him, but their efforts were hampered by the opaque smoke, which stung their eyes and deadened their sense of smell.
"'Protect the King!" came the shouts. "Protect the King! 'Ware all threats!"
The situation got so out of hand that the bodyguards started to lead the King back to his carriage for a quick getaway. One of them, a massive tom wearing the Secret Service's characteristic black coat, white shirt and black tie, pulled his charge after him and managed to make his way to the four-wheeler. He yanked the door open and found a compatriot sitting on the plush bench seat, his legs stretched out in front of the door.
"Out of the way," he growled. "We've got to get His Majesty out of here." He gave the other cat a tug on the sleeve.
The agent fell headlong out of the carriage. He was unconscious.
As the shocked Secret Service cat knelt down to find out if his fellow was still alive, a heeled boot came down hard on the back of his neck. He arched his back in agony, then slumped on top of his colleague.
"Oh, dear," came the contralto as a figure clad in tight black leather emerged from the carriage. "Did I step on something? How clumsy of me."
One could easily mistake her for a distaff, feline version of Zorro or a bizarre escapee from a Frank Frazetta painting. Tall and lank as the King himself, with fur of a solid creamy light brown color and a body dressed all in black, from the mirrored-eye mask covering her face, to her gloves and leather artilleryman's jacket, with its three rows of obsidian buttons holding up the front panel, and leather leggings and boots with two-inch heels and uppers that reached up to mid-thigh, to even the sheathed smallsword hanging at her hip, the Black Cat was without a doubt singular in the Cat Kingdom when it came to fashion.
"I'm terribly sorry to have to do this, King Lune, but you leave me and my katzen no choice in the matter." She looked down to check that both Secret Service cats were out of commission, rolling them over with the pointed steel toe of her boot. Her voice hardened. "You shouldn't have been so stupid, Lune. Your country has more than enough wealth to go around."
"I'm afraid that belongs to the hard-working people who earned it," said a voice not the King's. "I'm terribly sorry to have to do this too."
The Black Cat looked up at the King through the drifting gray smoke. Surprise showed in her eyes as she said, "You're not Lune."
"How nice of you to notice," said the figure wearing the crimson and black robes. The Black Cat watched as it flung the garments off to reveal a tuxedo. Then the figure reached under his coattails and produced a disk-like object, which with a single rap against the knuckles popped out to form a top hat. This went on the figure's head, replacing the bejeweled crown previously occupying that station. Then it took the cane which had been hanging from the side of its black pants and held it horizontally in both hands, slowly drawing it apart, bringing out the sword concealed within.
"Baron Humbert von Jikkingen, at your service."
------oOo------
The Black Cat stared for some seconds as von Jikkingen brought out his sword fully, then threw down the scabbard and assumed a ready position, free left hand raised in the air behind him.
"Surrender now and I promise the King will be merciful," said he. "Or take your chances with me. Either way, you will not be allowed to leave this place a free cat."
The Black Cat let out a ringing peal of laughter. "I can't believe this," she said, guffawing. "Von Jikkingen, whatever happened to your lovely ginger fur?"
"Eh?" The Baron's confidence momentarily dipped to zero as he realized that the Black Cat knew him. "I had it dyed to resemble Lune's. Well, come on, don't stand there laughing," he said petulantly. "It did fool you, didn't it?"
"It most certainly did." The Black Cat lowered her fist from her mouth and whipped out her own sword. She was a left-hander, the nobleman noted. "It's been ages, Baron." She covered the distance between them in one surprisingly powerful leap. Baron parried her thrust and stepped aside.
"I beg your pardon, Madam," he said as he riposted, discomfited by the familiarity with which she addressed him. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of being introduced to you." Something nagged at the back of his mind; he was too busy endeavoring to read his opponent's body language to try and figure out what it was.
As the Black Cat avoided his sword, she sweep-kicked at Baron's legs, trying to knock him off his feet. "Oh, dear. Where are my manners? Most people know my nom de guerre. I thought you would too."
Baron leapt up and backward to avoid the kick. "So you won't tell me your real name? You must excuse me. King Lune only recently made me acquainted with Your Ladyship's history." He dashed forward and sliced at his opponent with an upward cut.
The spitfire in leather deflected his stroke to her left. "And probably colored it too. I shall have to speak to him, he's forever doing that. Takes after his father." She spun about, catching Baron on the cheek with a vicious backhand, sending him staggering back and falling onto the seat of his pants. As she did so, however, the Cat's push-kick landed on her rump, sending her sprawling onto the grass.
Baron quickly got up and shook the stars out of his eyes. "Yes, well, I hear he's been pretty successful against you and your gang lately."
The Black Cat rolled and stood up, rubbing her posterior and raising the tip of her sword to eye level while keeping her hand waist-high. Her tail twitched. "Oh, Humbert. I had no idea you were such a cad. Kicking my behind was positively uncalled-for."
The Cat stiffened. "Please, Madam. I object to your use of my given name."
To the Baron's surprise, the thief lowered her blade and stood there looking at him speculatively. "Do you now? Do you find my calling you Humbert offensive?"
"Very much."
The tabby raised her sword again, vertically in front of her face. "There's no reason why you should. Don't you recognize me?"
The thing that had been bothering Baron finally came to the fore, and he froze.
The Black Cat had hands. And her legs weren't articulated like normal cat legs were. Because of her words, Humbert von Jikkingen could only think of one other person.
"L-Louise?"
------oOo------
"Yes, dear Humbert. It is I, Louise von Arno, the one you left to rot in the Doctor's cells." With those words the Black Cat recommenced her attack.
To Baron's credit he defended himself perfectly, despite being in such a state of shock that he kept staring unblinking at the thief's masked countenance even as he parried and deflected her blows.
"Louise... Louise..." he kept on muttering as the Black Cat forced him back into the smoke still lingering over the surrounding area.
"What's the matter, Baron?" Louise taunted him. "Surprised to see your old lover?"
"Louise... why?" came the anguished question as the Cat warded off another blow.
"Why? You have to gall to ask why, after leaving me so long in the clutches of that madman?"
"But... I looked everywhere for you but couldn't find you. I never stopped searching!"
"You lie!" The Black Cat aimed a draw cut at Baron's forearms. As he jerked back to avoid it, he stumbled over a rock and fell on his back. Louise's smallsword managed to graze his fingers, causing him to let go of his cane-blade.
Baron lay on the ground, unmoving and dazed, as his long-ago fiancée stood over him and pointed the tip of her sword at his throat.
"Now I pay you back for all the hurt you caused me," she snarled. The sword tip descended and began to press against Baron's skin.
"Baron!"
The cry caused both von Jikkingen and Louise to look up. Charging toward them, with a longsword in his hand, was King Lune, still dressed in his ceremonial robes.
Louise quickly moved to deal with the new threat, and Baron rolled away as she stepped off him. He grabbed his sword, ignoring the sting in his hand, and watched as the Black Cat slashed at King Lune.
"No! Shoukichi!"
The blade caught the disguised tanuki on the forearm. Shoukichi yelled in pain and let go of his sword, sinking to his knees and changing back to his animal self even as Louise aimed at his heart and prepared to dispatch him.
She never got the chance. Baron caught her with a flying tackle, knocking her sword aside, sending the two of them rolling on the grass.
The Cat ended up straddling her at the waist. He was angry; it was one thing to be devastated by the sudden reappearance of his old love as a villainous thief, but it was another to see one of his friends harmed in any way. He thought of Shoukichi's human family back home in the real world, and of his responsibility, and was thankful the adventurous tanuki was still alive.
Baron tore Louise's mask off and looked down at her face, receiving final confirmation of her identity as he looked down at her large teal eyes and her very short blond hair. Her shorn mane saddened him immensely: he used to love running his fingers through her tresses. Then he raised his hand and slapped her.
"You insane woman! Why are you doing this? Why?" He grabbed her by the jacket and started lifting and slamming her into the ground. "Why? Why? Why?"
The Baroness waited until he had stopped trying to drive her into the earth. "If I tell you why, Humbert, we'd still be here after night had fallen and the stars had come out in the sky. That's how long my list of grievances against you is." Louise swallowed. "If you only knew all that has happened to me... If only I could make you feel how bitter I was when I waited day after day after endless day in the Doctor's dark dungeons and you never appeared... many times I tried to escape and was caught and tortured for it. Baron, the awful things he did to me..." Louise closed her eyes, turned her face aside and sobbed. Tears started falling down the side of her face and her muzzle. "Kill me, please! I'm damaged goods now... my soul will never be free of the darkness. I would rather have death by your hand than this bitterness I taste every day."
"Louise..." Baron looked down at her and his heart softened. Perhaps, he thought, there was still some chance to retrieve and reform this person whom he loved. "I'm sorry."
"Please, no time for that," the tabby beneath him said. "You must kill me before he comes back. He's inside me now, Humbert. I will never be free of him. You must kill me now!"
"No, I can't do that." Baron stood up and pulled her to her feet. "Anything's possible, now that we're together. I will help you any way I can."
"You don't..." Something seemed to make Louise change her mind. "Oh, how I want to believe you, liebchen. Humbert?" she asked shyly.
"Yes?"
"May I?" A slight puckering of the lips told Baron what she wanted.
Baron nodded and Louise girlishly put her hands behind her back, leaned towards him and gave him a kiss. It was a fleeting, tentative one, and when they finished it turned into the crushing embrace of two lovers, long separated, but now together again.
Only Shoukichi, who still knelt on the grass watching the two while cradling his injured arm, saw the unholy glitter in the Black Cat's eyes just before she drove the dirk hidden in her hand into the Baron's side.
Author's Postscript: I am assuming that since Nishi Shirou got Baron from 'a faraway town in' Germany, the Cat and Louise would know how to speak Deutsch.