"So she wandered into the bureau, passed out, and when she went into one of the houses she somehow turned into a creation?" Haru asked Baron, his reply was a little delayed.
"That sums it up miss Haru, I'm afraid one of the bureau's older residents left a few surprises. A pin that changed miss Ume into her current form being one of them."
"Well where is she right now? I have yet to see this mystery half-cat." Baron's response was to point nextdoor and to shrink Haru down to his size.
"The house next to the bureau, second floor. She is getting ready for the marriage ceremony for Lune and Yuki." Haru nodded and made her way out if the double doors and to the house next door.
Making her way to the second floor she found all the doors closed except one. approaching it and knocking she was greeted with a small yelp of fear and the sound of objects hitting the ground.
"Baron?" Ume called out the open door. "You scared me, come in." To her surprise Haru walked in. "Oh? You must be Haru."
"And you must be Ume." Haru smiled at the half-cat, now in a red dress. "Would you like some help?" Ume nodded her back not done correctly.
After a bit of fiddling and some choice words muttered under her breath, Haru managed to get the mess undone and done correctly. Ume smiled in the mirror and turned to Haru, who was holding up a pair of white gloves and a pair of similarly colored boots.
"I, never wore dresses, or gloves. Sorry for the trouble." Haru smiled softly and shook her head.
"Don't worry about it, helping you get ready is rather nice compared to what I normally do." Ume raised an eyebrow in question. "Well I started working as a cashier at a market, so life is rather boring for me at the moment. I was all too happy to receive the news of the wedding."
"So you know this, Lune and Yuki too? Wait dumb question, Baron said you were invited."
"I do, I fed Yuki while she was a kitten, starving and filthy, she is so beautiful now. I saved Lune from getting hit by a truck."
"Well I'm glad you survived, I would never have met you otherwise. If it were me who did that I would probably of just tripped and fell on the cat." Ume smiled shyly pulling the boots on. "Never worn boots like this before, usually wore work boots for yardwork... Can't say I hate them though." She stood and spun a bit in place. "This is almost like a fairytale, one I'm trapped in, but I'm not complaining."
Haru shook her head an walked to the door, gesturing for Ume to follow. Once outside Ume saw Baron and Muta waiting for them. Recieving stares from each one she looked away blushing lightly.
Baron watched as they exited the house smiling at Haru and staring at Ume, she looked quite nice in red. Muta just looked a little confused, staring because Baron was. Muta nudged him and Baron snapped to attention and back to reality.
"Ah are we ready to be on our way. the portal is ready when you are." Baron asked clearing his throat quietly. Ume nodded and walked over. "Very well, follow me." Baron stepped over Toto's pedestal and tapped his cane on one of the side, the entire structure lifting and revealing a portal beneath it.
"I always wondered how you followed us to the cat kingdom. does this only go there?" Baron shook his head no.
"The portal goes where we need, other kingdoms, or to another point in our own world." He stepped through the portal and was followed by Muta, Ume stared nervously at the circular portal. Haru smiled and took her hand gently walking in with her.
000
The exit was a bit more rough then entering, with Ume ending up on the floor, facedown and groaning. she stood up and dusted herself off looking around, a smile slowly spreading across her face. they were in an open field but it felt so nice to her. Relaxing.
Haru arrived next, followed by Baron and Muta. Ume walked up to them as trumpets sounded in the distance, her ears twitching and turning in their direction.
"Is that where we're going?" The response was simple nods from the group
"Ume, you have a bit of..." Haru pulled a few blades of grass off Ume's face. "There, don't worry you'll get used to the portals."
A large group of cats were making their way over to the group, headed by a dark colored cat with mismatched eyes. He smiled at the sight of Baron, Muta, and Haru, but looked confused at Ume.
"I'm happy to see you all could make it, but might I ask who the newest addition to your group is?" Baron stepped forward to shake Lune's paw.
"This is Ume, she's... the newest member of the bureau, after miss Haru. At least for a time she will be with the bureau." Ume stood there unsure what to do before doing a strange bow.
Haru giggled and shook her head showing her how to curtsey, which Ume repeated, albeit clumsier. Muta simply stood there watching.
"Could we get a move on, there's a wedding, which means there will be cake."
"Do you think about anything other than food Muta?" Ume asked Muta shrugged and walked past the group towards the castle.
Lune pulled Baron aside. "There is something I need to discuss with you. there has been trouble brewing in some of the other kingdoms, we can talk more about it later." Baron nods as the cats and the rest of the group start walking to the castle.
((Alright, this may not be getting any better, but that is because my thoughts are swimming with ideas, I usually write my favorite down and hope it makes sense. I hope it gets better. Also somone actually said something positive about this, thankyou.))