Haru huffed angrily at Baron, who kept walking as she scolded him. He had been dealing with Haru and her complaints for a week now. All because Ume was not dealing with her own needs. Haru was starting to get through to him, not quick enough as they soon approached his room.
"Baron, you need to apologize to her, she has been doing nothing but nonstop training for the last week. She won't even speak to Yuki and I anymore. I doubt she eats anything either." Haru complained pulling on the orange and white half-cat's arm.
"There is nothing to apologize for miss Haru. I simply stated a fact, I can't return her feelings."
"Can't or won't." She crossed her arms. "It may have been rather quick for her to bring up such feelings. Even still, you've always been a gentleman, why couldn't you answer her like one? From what Lune told Yuki and I you were quite rude when you turned her down."
Baron huffed and entered into his room, ending the conversation. Lune was sitting inside scribbling on some papers, surprising Baron. He looked up and smiled softly.
"You better not be here to do what Haru is your majesty." Lune sighed and set the quill down.
"Baron, you're not going to get Haru off your case, nor will you get off me your case now. Even when the fighting begins Haru will most likely continue to bug you about this. You-" Baron was quick to cut him off.
"Shouldn't you be planning the movements for your troops. Last I checked you-" Lune cut him off in return.
"Baron, I'm your friend, I came here to help you realize something. I know after Louise, you refuse to become attached like that to anyone again." Lune approached Baron and put a paw on his shoulder. "She wouldn't want you to be this way though, would she? You're running out of time to apologize to Ume. Our plans will begin in a couple days."
Baron sighed and stared at the ground. "I do owe her an apology."
Lune nodded and pushed Baron out of the room, just in time to see Yuki take Haru away. Baron sighed in relief at the sight. 'Miss Haru certainly knows how guilt trip, Lune just finished the job.' With Haru distracted he could find Ume in peace.
000
Ume was in the gardens practicing some more dangerous magic, a few flames dancing above and between her fingertips. She had her gloves off to prevent them burning, Baron assumed that was why. She didn't hear the soft footsteps approaching.
"The book says the flame won't harm you or your clothing Miss Ume." She looked up and growled at the sight of him.
"What is it you want Baron, and I know. I just prefer to take them off for this kind of magic. Let's me feel it in my hands better."
"I've come to apologize, I could have told you my thoughts in a kinder way than I did." She nodded and let the magic disappear.
"You could've used a nice tone and I would have been fine. You made me feel like I'd done wrong just stating my feelings." She sighed and rubbed her head. "Apology accepted Baron."
He sighed in relief and walked closer looking at the book to see the pages. Fire magic was what she was on at the moment.
"You have been doing nothing but training haven't you." His response was a nod as she flips the page. 'She doesn't even look at it anymore.
"Baron, if you would like something just say so, I'm honestly growing bored of rereading some of these chapters."
"Well, why not show me what you have learned. Or perhaps you should rest." She looked miserable and exhausted. "You haven't rested at all have you?" He grabbed the book.
"Hey! Give that back." Her magic reached to the book, Baron was quick to counter it.
"You need to rest, and fighting me on this would not be advisable, you're strong but inexperienced and exhausted." She grumbled and nodded standing up and taking a few steps towards the castle.
"Baron, why can't you return my feelings?" Baron stiffened at the question, it cam from a tired mind. "It's just a harmless crush. It's hard to tell if you even enjoy my company you know." She walked off without his answer.
Baron went back to the bench she had been sitting on, taking a seat and opening the old book, there were notes inside from Ume. Mostly about hand gestures that made the magic easier, or what emotions to avoid with certain spells. The healing section was full of more notes than any other.
'I enjoy her company, don't I?' He sat and floated in his thoughts for a while before a meeting was called.
000
"Lune we have allies to help us, the bird and rat kingdoms have extended offers." Baron stated to the cat king, all leaders and bureau members were present in the throne room.
"I am aware Baron. Our answers are yes, however I would still prefer peace." A few nobles whispered amongst themselves and a soldier that was with Lune on the rescue mission stepped forward.
"Your majesty, might I recommend we focus our efforts in the dog prince. If memory serves his parents seemed quite emotionless. Something you comoared to the effects of mind control."
That got the whole room talking, the dog prince had never been liked much in other kingdoms, tolerated in his own. Mind control didn't seem so far out of his way. Ume stood up and cleared her throat, book floating around her head slowly.
"I would agree with the theory that they're being controlled. Lune stated his thoughts after fighting in their throne room." Lune smiled gently. "And from my few moments of fighting their son, I did find he was incredibly powerful with magic."
"Yes in all the chaos the king and queen didn't move so much as an inch to escape the room."
"So is that our plan?" A noble asked. "Shouldn't we be waiting for our allies to be having this discussion?" Lune lifted a paw to silence the room.
"Our allies wish for peace just the same, their part in the ear has consisted of them defending their homes. If they wish to participate in out plan to take down the dog prince than we will accept them."
000
The meeting took most of the day, once over Baron pulled Ume aside. She stared at him with a questioning gaze. He blushed lightly.
"Sorry for this all of a sudden. You learned the healing chapters did you not?" Ume nodded hesitantly. "I hate to ask this... There are a lot of injured cats, and healing wears the user out quickly, but do you think you could assist the doctors." She nodded slowly.
"Why are you the one asking this Baron? I was waiting for Lune or a doctor to. Hoped one of them would ask me."
"Waiting for me to ask what?" Lune limped over to them, his leg still healing from the dog kingdom.
"I studied the healing magic in my, er Baron's book. I didn't want to start healing without permission as it could be dangerous if performed incorrectly."
Lune nodded thinking for a moment before smiling widely. "Well test the magic on me?" Ume shook her head and opened her mouth to speak. Lune lifted a paw. "You won't have to worry about messing up, I will accept anything that happens, if you succeed though I would like for you to assist the doctors."
Ume sighed and nodded pointing to a chair, Lune limped over to it and sat down. Ume followed him over and knelt down opening the book to right page she skimmed over the page and muttered a few words her right hand over the slowly healing wound and her left performing hand gestures. Lune's leg glowed for a few seconds, he felt the flesh knit together in the warm light. When the light faded no trace of a wound remained.
"Incredible! Ume could you help all the injured cats?" Lune asked, Ume happily nodding.
000
Haru noticed a surprising lack of Ume as Baron and Lune left the throne room. Yuki noticed the missing member of the group as well, but not as much as Lune walking without a limp.
"Lune you're leg, it's been healed?" She hugged him and he lifted her up.
"Yes Ume did it, she is going to help the doctors tend to the patients." Haru elbowed Baron lightly.
"Your idea was it." He nodded. "Well why don't you go help her?"
"My healing magic is lousy Haru. The most I could do is give her some energy when she tires out."
"Than do that." Baron sighed and nodded walking towards the temporary medical wing of the castle.
"Haru you're trying too hard to put them in the same room. Surely Baron or Ume will catch onto what you're doing." Yuki stated to her friend.
"Don't worry Yuki, Baron is rather thick when it comes to relationships. As for Ume, I think she already knows I keep sending Baron her way.
Switching to my tablet to hopefully stop writing as much, only because my tablet spends the majority of it's time below 10% or dead.