Author's Trivia for the Day:

A - Chizuru Ikewaki (Haru Yoshioka's Japanese voice actress) has her official website at chizuru . ikewaki . japan (you know the country code, I suppose).

B - Did you know Youko Honna (Shizuku Tsukishima's Japanese voice actress) was only a year older than movie Shizuku when she played her role in Whisper of the Heart? She also voiced 5th-grade Taeko in Only Yesterday, and even had a bit part in The Cat Returns as Chika. She is also the one who sang the Japanese Country Road in the Mimi movie.

C - Did you know there are at least two Ghibli in-jokes in The Cat Returns? Look at the side of the box chibi-Haru is eating the fish cookies out of. What's written there? 'Morita,' right? That's the director's surname: his full name is Hiroyuki Morita. And according to him, the Crossroad area is set in 'Kajinocho.' What's so special about that? Well, it's the name of the street where Studio Ghibli is located! And that means I'll have to relocate Haru's house somewhere in or near Koganei! Oh, woe is me! But I'll have to do that later.

D - There might—just might, if words 2 years old are to be believed—be a sequel of sorts to Neko no Ongaeshi. One can only hope.

THE LADY AND THE CAT
and a little dedication to John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, Mamiko Suzuki and Youko Honna. Thank you.

"Yaaah!"

Bright shafts of early-morning sunlight streamed in through the tall and narrow windows at one end of the hall, outlining the two figures wielding their oversized cutlery pieces. One was a muscled tom in verdigris shirt whose long tail slewed in counterpoint to his movements; the other was a young human woman in specially-tailored pants with 6-layer aramid panels and similarly-equipped pullover. Her dark-brown hair was secured in a ponytail at the back of her head. Both had been engaged in a martial dance for some minutes, alternating between playing the lead and the follower.

Gabriel the Swordmaster jumped to one side, letting Haru's epée slide harmlessly past his chest. He took the opportunity to drive the point of his own waster into the tiled floor, millimeters away from her unshod feet. She froze.

"Better, better. You still disregard your defense too much, and have just lost some of your toes," said the old tom. "But we will beat that tendency out of you." His grin was friendly.

Haru's expression became downcast. "But I have to be much better. I have to."

"That's one thing I'd like to know. Why?"

Haru decided to outline what was going on between her and the Baron. When she had finished she swore him to secrecy.

Gabriel nodded. "What goes on between you two is your business. But at least I know now why the fire in your eyes burns so bright. If you are determined to push through with this, I guess I can help you."

"Let's continue, please. Onegaishimasu!" Haru hefted her blade. I hope Baron isn't going to leave any time soon, she thought. I have a sneaking suspicion this is going to take a while.

------oOo------

The session finished, Haru picked up her equipment and extra clothes and exited the hall. Unbeknownst to her, a figure seated in a chair in one darkened corner of the large room got up as she left and walked towards Gabriel. It was the Baron; he had entered noiselessly while Haru was finishing her meeting with the Swordmaster and taken up position there. His shoes pit-patted against the tiles as he approached the larger cat.

"How is she doing?" he asked softly, removing his tan coat and setting it on the nearby chair Haru's things had previously occupied.

"Passing well, considering that she's never had to fight for her life," said Gabriel. "She's fast and quick-witted."

"Will she be able to keep her head on her shoulders?"

Gabriel considered. "If she keeps her enthusiasm, and if I really push her, she might be able to do so at the end of two weeks."

"Two weeks? I hope the King gives us enough time."

"Why?"

"As soon as all his troops and supplies are here," Baron told Gabriel, "Lune is going to march to the coast and sail for the Isles. He plans to get rid of Phaecis and his gang once and for all."

It was some time before either moved or spoke. "Well," said Baron, breaking the silence, "I do believe it's time for my practice with you." He twisted open his cane.

------oOo------

Haru lingered in the bathtub in her bathroom and let the hot water drain the aches of her body away. Soaking herself in a hot tub was a luxury she didn't have time for very often these days, because of her busy schedule, but it was one thing she loved to indulge in.

She sunk into the water until her mouth was just below the surface, and began blowing bubbles, watching the sunlight coming in from the lone mullioned window playing in the ripples of their passing. Being here was a treat. King Lune was like a rich uncle being very generous with her and the others. But she wondered how long it could last, and whether her mother was already missing her back home. She had promised to return Baron's favor, however, and she wasn't leaving until she had done exactly that. Maybe later, when she got back home, she'd sit her mother down and tell her the truth, crazy as it sounded.

"Honest, Mom," she imagined herself saying, "we were in this huge castle which belonged to the King of Cats–" She could also visualize the skeptical expression on her mother's face.

"Mmm-hmm," Mrs. Yoshioka would reply. "Haru, did you also ride around in a carriage which turned into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight, and had mice for coachmen?"

For some reason, at this point in her daydream Baron suddenly appeared behind her on the couch, and placed a hand over hers as he addressed her mother with undeniable sincerity.

"Why yes, okaa-sama," she heard him say in her mind's eye, "and I'd also like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."

The imaginary Cat never got any farther, because Haru instantly submerged herself, waiting until she could no longer hold her breath before emerging from the water, gasping and spluttering.

What on earth am I thinking? she asked, distressed that she would even conjure up such thoughts. She couldn't see herself seriously considering marriage with a cat now, not after the trauma Lune's father put her through! Not even with the dapper and dashing Baron Humbert von Jikkingen, whom she had a massive crush on and still liked very much despite her current aggravation with him. It was true, in his arms she could feel that maybe life as a cat wasn't so bad. But infatuation never lasted for very long, and if going with him meant losing her friends and being unable to take care of her mom...

Haru had to confess to herself that she was curious about how kissing him would feel. She chuckled. Maybe she'd get hairballs in her throat, and her coughing would ruin the romantic mood. And besides, Baron seemed fixated on Louise anyway...

She decided the wild fantasy probably meant her brain was becoming waterlogged, and that it was probably time for her to get out of the tub. She stood up and let the liquid slough off her body, then reached for the towel hanging from the rack on the wall.

------oOo------

Haru exited her room newly dressed and fresh as a daisy, intending to go look for the Amasawas. As she stepped outside, though, she immediately spied Gabriel and Baron coming down the corridor from her left. The Swordmaster was supporting the Cat, who had an arm draped around the former's shoulders. Baron's other arm held his walking-stick and jacket.

For a heartbeat Haru thought of remaining silent to spite the Cat, but the good-natured side of her personality prevailed and she asked, "What happened?"

"He got winded," answered Gabriel. "Tried too hard too early, he did. His wound's still painful. I don't know if he reopened it."

Without hesitation Haru went to Baron's other side and put his arm around her shoulders. He tried to shake his arm off her, but she held it firm.

"Thank you," Baron said, "but Gabriel's help is all I need."

Haru didn't answer until they had reached Baron's bedroom and deposited the recalcitrant Cat on the sofa. When Gabriel left, she turned to him, hands on hips, and said, "It looks like I'm not the only one with a lack of common sense. Crazy, I think you called me."

Baron slouched in his seat. "Sorry." He grimaced and began unbuttoning his tan vest.

"What're you doing?"

"What does it look like?" The Cat continued until he had unfastened the garment, then shed it and began unbuttoning his shirt. The ginger fur on his chest came into view, and Baron pulled the shirt away and looked down his side.

"Well?"

"Hmm. It looks okay. Probably just not fully healed yet."

"Why, what do you feel?"

"Nothing much. Just a stitch whenever I raise my arms too high or move them too fast." The Baron rotated his arm experimentally.

"If you don't need anything, I'll go now," said Haru. The Cat nodded, and she moved towards the doors.

"Haru."

"Yes?"

"My thanks." A smile. "Look, there's a ball tonight. Would you like to come?"

A cat ball? Ladies in fine costumes and men looking their best? The clink of wineglasses and the gentle murmur of hushed talk? "Sure, I'd like to come. Maybe Natoru will be kind enough again to scrounge a dress for me..." She and Shizuku were being lent clothes until Queen Yuki's seamstresses could finish their creations.

Baron straightened up in his seat. "Then I'll see you later."

Haru smiled fleetingly at him and left the room.

As she shut the twin doors, an attack of nerves suddenly overcame her. She began trembling and put her arms around herself.

A phlegmatic mole repairman saw her as he came ambling down the corridor. His close-set, beady little eyes peered curiously from behind round spectacles as he asked her what was wrong.

"Nothing much," Haru replied. She jerked a thumb at Baron's room. "Um, air-conditioning's too cold in there."

The mole mouthed an "Oh" and let her pass, still shaking and shivering. As he reached the next bend he suddenly stopped.

"Hey, wait a minute," he mumbled to himself. "What air-conditioning?"

------oOo------

The ball was a fine enough occasion, but the dance began as a disaster. Haru's confidence deserted her in the opening minutes, and being in Baron's arms only served to heighten her nervousness. Knowing only basic steps when it came to formal dancing, she struggled gamely through the Cats' Blood Waltz, then pleaded with Baron to sit out the next one. He refused her plea. To Haru's fright the next piece was much faster.

"I'll embarrass us!" she hissed at him.

"Never mind!" Humbert von Jikkingen seemed tickled pink by her discomfiture. "Put your feet on mine, there's a good girl! Now let the music sweep you away!" In a whirl of puffy skirts and pleated pants they glided away on the dance floor.

------oOo------

"Going fearlessly, that's the way I live in the dream I saw."

"Shh! Seiji! You're making me lose the rhythm!"

"Sorry! Sounded like it, for a moment."

Shizuku saw Baron and Haru twirl past them. The girl had a half-terrified, half-fascinated look on her face, while Baron's self-assured attention was wholly focused on her.

"Envy!" she said.

"What?" asked Seiji, perplexed.

"I want to dance with Baron too!"

"Oh, so I'm not good enough company, am I?"

"You know that's not true! Anata, please?"

"All right, later. Say, I didn't know they imported music, these cats."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you recognize what they're playing? C'mon, it was running on Minna no Uta a couple of months ago."

"Oh, really? What is it?"

With a smile Seiji pulled Shizuku closer to him and began to hum the melody to Mio Isayama's Waltz of the Moon.

------oOo------

The musicbox tinkled out the last few notes and the piece ended. There was a smattering of polite applause. The couple clapped as well, and Haru gave her escort a wide smile. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was exhilarated.

"Thank you!" she said. "That was fun."

"Glad you liked it."

"Pardon me."

They looked up to see Shizuku standing there in her scarlet dress, with Seiji beside her in a white tux.

"Baron," he said, "might Shizuku cut in?"

The Cat looked at Haru, who smiled and inclined her head. With a bow and a curtsey they separated, and Seiji led her back to the sidelines. As they walked away she heard Baron say, "No hunting lapis lazuli for us tonight, eh?"

Haru wondered what it meant, and felt a little twinge of jealousy.

------oOo------

The party went great after that. The maestro at the podium, upon Yuki's request, had Seiji play something on a violin. He agreed to the performance, although he took Shizuku away from Baron before he started and whispered something in her ear.

"Eh?" she exclaimed, embarrassed at being caught flat-footed by such a request in front of all the important-looking cats in the room. "You can't be serious! I'm no singer! I can't sing my translation of Country Road here!"

"Why not?"

"My voice isn't good enough!"

"Listen, Shizuku. If I like listening to it, they'll like listening to it too. Trust me on that."

Seiji seemed so earnest in his appeal Shizuku felt she just had to give in. "Oh, alright." She let him limber up on the strings, while she cleared her throat and, with her back to the audience, anxiously sang a few notes on a scale. After she indicated she was ready, Seiji introduced them both and told the audience to excuse his wife, since she was nervous, and that any wrong notes were his fault because he had called on her to sing on his whim.

Shizuku took the resulting scattered applause as genteel encouragement. Seiji poised himself, began playing the opening build-up, and shortly afterwards she began to sing.

Hitoribocchi osorezu ni
Ikiyou to yume miteta
Samishisa oshi komete
Tsuyoi jibun wo mamotte iko...

------oOo------

After Shizuku had finished singing, she bowed and hopped off the dais where the symphonic band was stationed. The violinist reclaimed his instrument from Seiji, who joined his beloved on the floor. He glanced Baron's way, and the Cat indicated that he could take this turn.

As the music started up again, Seiji gathered Shizuku against him. "Well?"

"I have to admit, it went okay."

"You see? I told you you had nothing to fear. You might not be a pro, but still..."

Shizuku leaned her forehead against her husband's chest, the tenseness from her impromptu recital gradually draining away into nothing, leaving a warm glow in her chest.

"Thanks, Seiji. You know, I think you just made my day, and my night as well."

------oOo------

At the same time the newlyweds were waltzing, Muta was with Toto, sampling the dishes on the tables. It seemed the kitchen staff had prepared for his presence: the serving plates and food warmers were very large, heaping, and the dishes were many and varied.

"Aren't you going to dance, chum?" Toto asked Muta from his awkward perch astride the cat's shoulders.

"Dance? Don't make me laugh. Besides, who'd want to dance with me?"

"Well, there's the tabby in the veil over there who's been looking at you for the past couple of minutes," the crow pointed out.

"Naah, she's probably just shocked at how much food I can fit in my mouth at one time."

"Why don't you ask her? Come on, what've you got to lose?"

"All right, all right, anything to shut your yap. But if the roof comes crashing down while I'm on the dance floor, Toto, I'm going to tell everyone to blame you."

------oOo------

After the final toast by Lune which closed the gathering, Baron escorted a tired but happy Haru up to her room.

"Baron, about the bad things I said to you earlier," Haru hazarded to say as they strolled down the corridor, "I'm sorry I said them. I'd like to apologize."

"That's alright. I'm thankful to be the... object of your worry, Haru. But I still wish you wouldn't come with me."

Haru smiled and shook her head. "We'll just have to disagree on it for now. I have to thank you for asking me to the party. I enjoyed myself so much, I wish we could do it again."

"Ah, but to an end all good things must come," Baron quoted. "But it isn't the end that's important, it's what happens before that matters."

"Yeah." They came to the double doors of Haru's room.

"Well, good night," Haru said, feeling shy and awkward, like she had been on her first real date.

"Good night." Baron's eyes glittered in the soft yellow lighting, and for a moment Haru felt a joyful sort of dread as she imagined the Cat was about to kiss her.

Baron leaned towards her, and the brown-haired girl's hair leapt to her throat. He was going to kiss her! He was going to kiss her! She closed her eyes.

All of a sudden she felt her right hand being lifted, and Baron's warm pecks on her lace-gloved fingers. She had to suppress a groan of disappointment as she opened her eyes again.

"Goodnight, Haru Yoshioka."

"Goodnight, Baron Humbert von Jikkingen."

The Cat then did something that almost made up for the loss of the kiss. He placed a hand on Haru's cheek, like he did years ago when he left her at the end of their adventure, and caressed it. Then he turned away for his room.

"Baron!"

The Cat turned round, a noble, statuesque but somehow lonely figure in the middle of the corridor.

"Yes?"

"I... nothing. Goodnight." Her hand waved from waist level, and she quickly retreated into her room.

Haru closed the door and leaned back against it, her heart still beating its frantic tattoo against her ribs. She actually expected Baron to kiss her! A cat and a human! It was all too much for her to ponder long upon. What about poor Kei, who right now was probably worrying about her along with her mother? Wasn't having these feelings being traitorous towards him? And what about Baron? Did he feel anything for her, or was he just using her as a substitute for his absent love? It was all so confusing!

Haru sighed and tried to lower her heart rate to an acceptable level as she reached for the zip in the back of her pale-yellow court dress.