One month later…
Baron was in his study. Toto and Muta were there in the room with him. "Baron, just ask her!" Muta said in exasperation. "If you don't do it now, then Machida will beat you to it."
"It's not that simple" Baron muttered.
"Yes it is" Muta said.
"You better ask her first. I was talking to her the other day. She told me that whoever asked her first, she would say yes to. She even hinted at that she wanted it to be you who asked her" Toto said threateningly. Over the past month, Toto kept his promise and became friends with Haru after he declared she was trustworthy. Now she was like his little sister.
"I'm not sure about this" Baron said unsurely. His fingers immediately started playing with the cat's eye ring. Before Toto and Muta could say anything else, Haru burst into the room.
"Baron! Baron! I'm so happy. He asked! He asked!" Haru cheered as she grabbed Baron's hands and spun him around the room. Baron looked at her in horror.
"What?! Machida asked you to the ball. Oh, I knew I should have asked you sooner! Stupid, stupid!" Baron said as he hit his head with his hand. Haru stopped dancing. She frowned. She planted her fists on her hips to stare at Baron.
"No, Machida didn't ask me to the ball. Why? Is there something you wanted to ask me?" Haru said as she stepped closer to Baron. Baron froze.
"H-H-He didn't ask you?" Baron choked out. Haru shook her head.
"Nope" Haru enlightened.
"Oh. Umm…did you want to go to the ball with me?" Baron asked quickly before he lost his courage.
"I'd love to" Haru said with a mock curtsy. Her eyes twinkled as she looked up at Baron.
"Chicky, what were you talking about earlier?" Muta asked.
"Oh, isn't it so exciting! Lune asked Yuki to marry him. Isn't that adorable? And she accepted! I hope they're so happy together" Haru cheered. As if on que, a human Lune walked in with Yuki hanging on his arm. They were looking at each other with such love, it melted Haru's heart. She wished she could have that in the future.
"Lune" Baron said as he bowed to the cat prince.
"Baron" Lune said in return. "I have come to tell you I am stealing Yuki away from your staff. She has just agreed to be my beautiful bride. I'm afraid she will be moving away to live with me" Lune said.
"I've heard" Baron said as his eyes darted over to look at Haru. She gave him an innocent smile and wave. Baron turned to Yuki. He walked up to her and gently lifted her hand to kiss it.
"You will be greatly missed. I know you and Haru have become good friends. I have also become quite fond of you too. When will you be parting with us?" Yuki blushed.
"Oh, we were going to leave as soon as possible. Haru dragged me to my room once she heard the news and threw all my belongings into my suitcase. I'm ready to go" Yuki said sheepishly. Baron shot Haru a glare.
"My my, this is short notice, but I guess I can let you go today. We'll all miss you" Baron said as he hugged Yuki.
"I agree" Haru added as she hugged Yuki too. Yuki laughed, but when you looked at her, there were tears in her eyes. "Don't cry. I know you two will be so happy together. I hope you visit sometime."
"I'm afraid, Miss Haru that by the time everything is settled, you will probably be an engaged woman to either Mr. York or Baron" Lune said. Haru blushed and cast a shy glance at Baron. Baron didn't look in her direction; he just fiddled with his ring.
"That's too bad" Haru said in disappointment.
"We really must be going. My father has been dying to meet Yuki" Lune said apologetically. A blue portal appeared in the study. The Cat Kingdom could be seen on the other side. Lune stepped outside the door to the study and picked up a suitcase. Baron raised an eyebrow at the action. Yuki and Lune headed through the portal. Before the portal closed, Yuki turned around. She waved a small box wrapped in a handkerchief around, her engagement present from Lune. Slowly, white fur grew on Yuki's body until it covered her. She sprouted a tail and the same thing happened to Lune. Both smiled at the residents of Baron's study before the portal closed fully.
"So Baron, who do you think I'll be engaged to by the time Yuki and Lune come back to visit?" Haru asked nonchalantly. Baron blushed and turned around to gather some papers on his desk into a pile.
"I'm not sure. It is your decision when the time comes" Baron responded.
"Who do you want me to be engaged to then?" Haru asked. Muta and Toto glanced at a nervous Baron. Might as well not pity him any longer. Muta and Toto looked at each other knowingly. They walked over to Haru. Muta grabbed Haru's right arm, and Toto took Haru's left. "Hey!"
"Sorry Chicky, we're Baron's bodyguards. We can't have you tormenting him."
"I'm not tormenting him! Besides, when you're in his office, you're his advisors not his bodyguards!" Haru protested as Baron's friends dragged her away and out of the study. "Let me go! I just want to know his answer!"
Baron sighed when he was all alone. "I can only hope you chose me" he said to himself. Baron sat down in his chair and began signing papers. The only sound that could be heard was the scratching of the pen against the paper.
The day of the ball…
Haru decided to wear yellow today. Because she wore purple last time she went out, Haru wanted to wear the other color Baron liked on her. The gown she got out had a puffy skirt and long sleeves with a puffed out tops. The bodice was white along with the sides of the skirt. For her hair, Haru curled the ends. Make-up was about the same as before but with grey eye shadow instead of purple. Haru also had long white gloves on that went up to her elbows. The heels she wore were yellow and white like the gown.
The day before, Machida tried to ask Haru to the ball, but she let him down lightly saying that Baron already asked her. So instead of being Machida's date, she promised him a dance or two.
"Haru? Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, I'm coming" Haru said as she finished putting on her heels. Haru opened the door and came face to face with Baron.
"You look exquisite as always" Baron breathed.
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself. I see you chose to wear white for the ball."
"It is a good thing I did. It matches your dress" Baron commented with a smile. He held out his hand for Haru and led her to the carriage. The ball was being held at the recently built City Hall.
As the carriage neared the building, chattering could be heard and music could be heard playing from inside. From the window of the carriage, Haru could see Machida and his parents exit their own coach. Soon enough, their carriage was next in line, and it pulled up in front of the building. A man waiting outside opened the door to the carriage. Baron stepped out first then held a hand out for Haru. Haru took his hand then hitched up her skirt. She stepped out of the carriage as gracefully as she could. She didn't want Baron to look bad if she tripped. She wanted to avoid all accidents this evening. Wait! Suddenly, a realization hit Haru. Haru frantically began to tug on Baron's sleeve. She looked around nervously.
"Baron!" Haru hissed. Baron looked down at the distressed brunette.
"What is it, Haru?" he asked his date. Haru blushed and looked down at the floor.
"I know I said I would dance with you…and Machida but I just remembered I'm a lousy dancer." Baron laughed.
"I'm sure you'll be fine" Baron said reassuringly.
"I don't know" Haru said as she looked over at the dancing couples as Baron and her walked into the ballroom.
"Just trust me" Baron said softly. Haru looked up into Baron's green eyes. They were so full of admiration for her that she couldn't look away.
"Okay" she whispered as if she were in a trance. Baron immediately pulled Haru onto the dance floor. A new song started playing as the newly arriving couples joined on the dance floor. The song that began to play was Cat's Blood or more commonly known as Katzen Blut. Haru placed her one hand in Baron's and the other on his forearm. Baron placed one hand on her waist and began to step forward. Haru did her best to follow. She stepped on his feet twice before finally getting the rhythm down. Her moves flowed like water. Baron and Haru danced with the music with such grace that everyone cleared the way for them leaving them in a circle of onlookers. They were the most beautiful couple dancing. It looked like they were in their own little world.
In the crowd of onlookers, Machida watched with angry eyes. He could almost feel the love seeping off of the two spotlight dancers. Just as the music ended and the crowd began clapping, Machida maneuvered his way over to Haru.
"Haru, may I have this dance?" Machida asked charmingly. His eyes flickered over to a clearly jealous Baron. Haru looked at the ground shyly.
"I don't know. I'm a lousy dancer" Haru said unsurely. Machida laughed.
"Don't be so modest, Haru. You were dancing beautifully" Machida said. Haru glanced over at Baron. She was biting her lip in thought. Hesitantly, she offered her hand to Machida.
"I'll see you afterwards, Baron" Haru called out as Machida pulled Haru to the center of the floor. A new song started up as Machida pulled Haru into a waltz. As the song went on, Haru kept stepping on Machida's feet or stepping in the wrong direction making them run into each other. Machida was getting frustrated, but he didn't say anything. Haru kept blushing and apologizing over and over. Once the song ended, Haru stepped away from her dance partner.
"Sorry, I told you I was a lousy dancer" Haru said in embarrassment. From the corner of his eye, Machida couldn't help but see Baron standing away from them, grinning like a mad man. Haru politely thanked Machida for the dance and promised to speak with him later. She swiftly made her way over to Baron who picked her up and spun her around. Haru started giggling. Machida stormed away angrily at the sight. He wanted to win Haru's heart, but he was at an unfair disadvantage. He only got to spend time with her every once and a while. Baron got to live with her! It wasn't fair.
After Haru met back up with Baron and they talked for a little bit, Haru left Baron's side to go talk to her friend, Hiromi. Hiromi was the daughter of a high class woman and man that knew Baron. The first time Haru met Hiromi, they instantly clicked. They were now the best of friends. She wasn't bad friends either with Hiromi's fiancé, Tsuge.
"So Haru, who are you going to marry? Baron or Machida?" Hiromi asked. The group of girls they were in started giggling to themselves while looking expectantly at Haru, waiting for her answer. Haru shrugged.
"I'm not sure yet. They're both really nice guys" Haru said.
"Well, I think you should marry Baron" Hiromi stated. "I've known him since I was little. He is the perfect gentleman. He can take care of you with his money, and he is quite handsome if I do say so myself. The only problem is I think he has a weird fetish with cats and that ring he wears all the time. It isn't healthy."
"I, personally,think you should marry Machida" a different girl said. "I heard that Baron's family is quite shady. They keep secrets. Nobody is allowed to enter the baron's home until he meets them first. He's not allowed to spend his time outside very much either. I just don't understand why he needs those two bodyguards around him all the time!"
"I agree" one more girl chimed in.
"They aren't just his bodyguards. They are also his friends and personal advisors. Baron asks them questions about work all the time. They even have to sign their signatures on a lot of his paperwork" Haru defended. A few girls snickered at Haru's reaction. They carried on the conversation though. A majority of the girls agreed that Haru's best pick would be Machida, but that was only because Baron's family had too many secrets. Haru didn't try defending Baron's name. The girls would either laugh or find something to say that added on to Baron's list of shady actions. The only person that helped protect Baron with her was Hiromi. Just as another argument was about to start about Baron, somebody tapped Haru's shoulder. Haru turned around to see Baron.
"Would you care for another dance?" Baron questioned. Haru laughed and agreed. She knew it would be bad to deny her date. Haru waved goodbye to the girls and Hiromi and followed Baron to the dance floor.
Baron and Haru danced for a good three straight dances before Haru broke away from Baron, telling him that she promised Machida she would speak to him. Baron reluctantly let her go. Haru's search for Machida was hard, but it all worked out in the end when she found him talking to a few other men. They looked to be Machida's age or some a little older or younger. Just as Haru opened her mouth to call out Machida to get his attention, she stopped when she heard her name mentioned.
"How are Haru and you?" one fellow asked Machida. Machida smirked.
"I won't let Baron win her!" Machida spoke with confidence. Haru blushed.
"She is a pretty little thing" another guy commented. Haru took a step back in offence. She didn't like that guy's tone of voice.
"Yeah, she'll be the perfect trophy wife. I can already see her by my side. I bet she'll be great when the time comes around for me to have an heir…if you know what I mean" Machida said smugly although it almost sounded as if he was forcing the statement out. Haru looked at Machida in shock. Is that how he really felt about her?
"Maybe I should try a crack at her" a third guy added. Haru had enough. She hiked up the end of her dress and stomped over to Machida. Her gloves were already off as she slapped Machida across the face as hard as she could. The sickening sound of skin meeting skin echoed through the room. Everyone fell silent.
"That was for calling me a trophy wife!" Haru screamed in an outrage. Before anybody in the room could blink, Haru balled up her fist and punched Machida in the face. "And that was for making the heir comment! I can't believe that's how you really felt about me the whole time. You are an arrogant self-conceded ass!" Haru hissed. She swiftly turned on heel and went straight for Baron. He was staring at her in shock. "Let's go, Baron" Haru said through grit teeth. Baron nodded his head. Right at the door, Haru stopped walking. She turned around and glared in Machida and his friends' directions. "Just so you know, I am not afraid to punch any of you again. I am no proper lady" Haru warned. Machida rubbed the spot Haru punched him. He stared after Haru helplessly. He whimpered as she walked to the doors. She left with Baron before any comments were made.
The ride to the mansion was silent. Haru was too busy staring out the carriage window to say anything or notice that Baron was with her. Her fingers drummed against the seat in anger. Baron was too busy staring at Haru with admiration. She was so beautiful angry. He wanted to speak but didn't know what to say.
Before they knew it, they were back at the mansion. Baron and Haru walked together to their rooms then split ways after going into their respective rooms. After preparing for bed, Haru tentatively went to Baron's room across the hall. She knocked on the door. Baron opened up a few seconds later. He was wearing a green pajama shirt and pants.
"Can I come in?" Haru asked. Baron gulped then nodded. He was trying to advert his eyes from Haru's body. She was wearing one of her silk night gowns again but without a slip underneath. Sure she wore the regular nightgowns every once and a while, but she insisted that she get more silk nightgowns since it was getting close to summer. Now she wore them more often.
"Sure, anytime" Baron said nervously. Haru stepped into the room and looked around. It was her first time seeing the place since she first started living with him. Sure she could see the room when she stood outside the door, but she never actually went inside. The room was actually very simple even though it was huge! It only had the necessities. There was a bed, wardrobe, dresser, and desk. All the furniture wasn't fancy and gaudy like hers. It was average. Actually, the bed had four posts and a canopy, but it still looked ordinary. In the corner, Haru could see a door that was partially open. It must be his connecting bathroom. "Haru?"
"Hmm?" Haru hummed. She was too distracted looking at the room. It just fit Baron's personality so perfectly.
"Did you need something?" Baron questioned. Haru looked at Baron with sad eyes. Baron frowned. "What is wrong, Haru?" Baron said while going over to hug Haru. He embraced her, and she hugged him back with all the strength she had.
"You're not using me either, right? I don't think you are using me, but I just want to be sure" Haru said fearfully. Her grip on Baron tightened. Baron's eyes widened.
"Of course not!" Baron said firmly. Haru choked out a weak laugh in relief. She buried her head in Baron's chest.
"I guess you're the only guy courting me now" Haru said. Her voice was muffled by Baron's chest. Baron gasped.
"I suppose so" Baron said thoughtfully. His grip around Haru tightened this time. He looked down at the brunette holding on to him. He smiled. Carefully, Baron began stepping backwards until the back of his knees hit the bed. Haru followed obediently while keeping her face buried in Baron's chest. Baron sat down on the edge of the bed. Haru situated herself so she straddled his lap. "Haru, I need to tell you something." Haru pulled her face away to look up at a blushing Baron.
"What is it?" she asked with a tilt of her head. Baron swallowed.
"I-I-I—" Baron tried. Haru reached up to touch his cheek reassuringly. Baron's eyes instinctively darted down to Haru's. Her brown ones were so warm. "Haru, I should have told you before, but I was so scared. It wasn't until Machida asked to court you that I've begun to really think about it. But now I'm ready to tell you that…I love you, Haru. I have been in love with you ever since I first saw you try on your earrings. You looked so beautiful and excited. I was instantly smitten" Baron confessed.
Haru's eyes flickered across Baron's face. His green eyes were full of fear, doubt, and love. Haru smiled. She leaned up and kissed Baron on the cheek. "Thank you for telling me your feelings. I don't know my feelings for you yet. I know I feel more than friendship for you, but I don't know if it's love. But I promise, I'll tell you my feelings as soon as I sort them out." Baron nodded miserably. Haru patted his cheek. "Cheer up! I better be getting to bed now. I'm going to visit the orphanage tomorrow." Haru climbed off of Baron and headed to the door.
"Alright. Goodnight, Haru…I love you" Baron called out softly. Haru glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
"Goodnight, Baron."
A/N: Oh! Baron confessed his feelings directly to Haru. Do you think Haru feels the same way? Did you figure out the curse yet? Drop me a review and tell me what you're thinking. Oh, and if Haru and Machida's relationship ended a little too soon, sorry. Their relationship just isn't relevant, but just so you know, Machida does appear later.