Haru was sitting in the parlor room. It was raining out and Haru was trying to pass her time until the rain let up so she could go to the orphanage. She had two quilts next to her that she prepared for two of the kids. One quilt had a checkered pattern of black and white for a little seven year old boy. The other was a pink with a variety of flowers decorated on it. It was for one of the more girly teenagers.
"Haru!" a small deep voice said. Haru glanced over towards the door. Humbert came running in and jumped on Haru's lap. Haru smiled down at the orange cat. She began to scratch behind his ears causing him to purr.
"Hello, Humbert. I haven't seen you for a week or two. Where have you been? I know the mansion is huge, but it is almost like you don't exist. I asked a couple of the servants and maids about you and they either didn't know about you or they tried to avoid talking about you" Haru questioned.
"I like to sleep in the small spaces behind or under the furniture" Humbert said distantly as he stared out the window. His eyes followed the rain droplets as they trailed down the glass.
"Did Baron tell you he told me he loved me yesterday?" Humbert stiffened at hearing Haru's question. He played it off by standing up and stretching before lying back down on Haru's legs. She was wearing her riding pants and shirt today like almost every day.
"No, I usually only see him at night when I sleep in his room, but I saw you with him last night, so I slept in one of the guest bedrooms" Humbert answered. "Did you tell him your feelings?" Haru sighed.
"No. I told him that I didn't know what my feelings were for him. That was actually a little white lie. I do know my feelings for him. I just didn't want to tell him them yet" Haru explained shamefully. Humbert stopped purring.
"What are your feelings then?"
"I can't tell you. I don't care if Baron can't understand you. You might try to pull something to tell him" Haru said sternly. Humbert bristled.
"I wouldn't do that!" he hissed. Haru giggled. Haru picked Humbert off her lap and made him face her. Haru smiled and rubbed noses with Humbert then kissed him on the cheek. His whiskers tickled Haru's face.
"You're too cute. I know you wouldn't do that. You are a gentleman just like Baron. If Baron were a cat, he'd be just like you. Or if you were a human, you'd be just like him. I guess it's true. Masters and their pets do act like each other." Humbert wiggled out of Haru's grasp and jumped on the coffee table. He settled himself, so he was facing Haru.
"Don't you trust me?" Humbert meowed.
"It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that if I didn't tell Baron my true feelings then I don't think it would be fair to tell you. I promise I'll tell him tonight. I just have to do something first" Haru clarified. Humbert flattened his ears. "Hey! Don't get all pouty."
"I wasn't. When are you leaving for the orphanage?" Haru glanced out the window. The rain was now down to a light drizzle. Haru smiled.
"I'll go now. Do you know where Baron keeps the umbrellas?" Haru asked as she picked up the two quilts next to her. Humbert nodded. He jumped off the coffee table and ran to the door. With a flick of his tail, he signaled for Haru to follow. Haru followed Humbert to Baron's room. "Do we have to go in his room to get it? I don't think I should go in there without his permission."
"It's okay. He told you he loved you, right? Besides, I think he has about three different umbrellas in there. You can probably keep one for yourself. I'm sure he won't mind" Humbert meowed. He walked over to the door to find it closed. Humbert hissed in frustration. He raised a paw to scratch at the door.
"Meow!" Humbert mewed. Haru was about to open the door, but a maid opened it instead. She must have been in the room cleaning it, for she had cleaning supplies in her hand.
"Why hello Humbert, I see you're on a stroll through the mansion" the maid said kindly. Humbert meowed in response. He padded into the room like he owned the place. The maid looked up from the floor to see Haru. "Oh, and it looks like you're walking with Miss Haru too. Are you having a good day, Miss Haru?"
"Yes, I didn't know you knew about Humbert" Haru said curiously. The maid glimpsed back into the room with a guilty face before turning back to Haru.
"Oh yes, he's the little master of the house. I don't see him often, but when I do, he's not usually in the best of moods. Master says that it's because when he's in a bad mood, Humbert can sense it and then Humbert's in a bad mood. I'm just glad to see him after all this time. I'm not surprised to find him with you. You're so easy to get along with. Humbert probably thinks you're a nice girl" the maid stated.
"Thank you. Anyway, I came here to get one of Baron's umbrellas. Humbert was leading me to where he keeps his." The maid nodded and let Haru in the room. Humbert was staring at the wardrobe.
"Are they in there?" Haru asked the cat. Humbert nodded. Haru grabbed the handle to the wardrobe and opened it up. On some hangers were Baron's suits. Situated on the shelf of the wardrobe were four umbrellas lined up against the bottom. Haru grabbed the one that looked more worn out. She didn't want to ruin one of the good ones. She closed the door to the wardrobe and left the room with Humbert following her. She turned around to look at him quizzically. "Did you want to come with me?" Humbert stopped walking. His eyes widened.
"No. I just wanted to walk to the door with you, but thank you for the offer" Humbert meowed.
Haru smiled as they neared the door. She gently opened up the umbrella with one hand and opened the door with the other. "I hope I see you sooner than last time. I like you, Humbert. You're a good friend." Humbert gave a slight bow with his head then trotted off to a different section of the mansion.
Haru shut the door as she stepped out. She smiled at the pitter patter of the rain on the umbrella. Haru made her way down the cobblestone street while weaving through the streets. She knew them like the back of her hand. It only took about fifteen minutes to reach the orphanage since the streets were almost barren due to the weather.
"I'm back!" Haru called out as she shook her umbrella in the doorway before closing it. The sound of laughter and voices filled the air.
"Haru!" multiple voices shouted with joy.
"Hello everyone, I finished the quilts" Haru said as she help up her masterpieces. The one boy and girl that requested the quilts ran up to Haru.
"Thanks" they said at the same time. Haru smiled. Just as the two were about to run off to their rooms to put their new blankets away, Haru stopped them.
"Whoa, slow down. I need to tell you all something before we play" Haru said with a grin. All of the children looked at Haru with heightened interest. "Guess what happened yesterday?"
"You got a puppy?" one little boy guessed.
"You got a new dress?" a girl asked. Haru shook her head and smiled.
"I stopped allowing Machida to court me" Haru said. All the children looked at each other before bursting into a cheer. "That's not all either." The kids went silent at Haru's words. "Baron also told me he loved me." Laughter and cheering filled the air again.
"Yeah! We knew it!"
"Did you tell Mr. Von Gikkingen you loved him back?"
Haru shook her head and smiled. She crouched down to look at the younger kids better. "Nope. I didn't tell him a thing. I made a promise to you guys, remember? I told you that if I loved Baron that I would tell you first. So…here I am. I couldn't go telling Baron I loved him before you. If I did, then I would have broken my promise. I can't go making promises that I can't keep."
"But wouldn't that mean that Mr. Von Gikkingen is sad? He probably thinks you don't like him."
"Yeah!"
Haru sighed. The kids were getting testy. "Don't worry. I promise I'll tell him my feelings tonight. I'm sure he'll understand when I tell him that I promised to tell you first."
"Alright" some of the kids sighed in disappointment. They wanted to hear Baron's reaction to Haru's confession.
"Do you want to play now?" Haru asked while pulling out her gold pocket watch. It read twelve o' clock. "I have four hours before I want to get home. What do you want to do?" The children grinned before pulling Haru away with a mischievous grin on their faces.
Four hours later, Haru was back in the Von Gikkingen Mansion. Muta and Toto were rolling around on the floor trying to punch each other. They were arguing about how they couldn't find Baron and then that led to name-calling then a fight. Haru would have tried to break them up before they hurt each other, but she knew it would be a useless attempt. Perhaps she would have some tea before heading back up to her room until dinner.
After dinner…
Haru dabbed the napkin to her mouth and pushed her chair back before standing up. "Baron, may I have a word with you?" Haru asked trying not to show any emotion. Baron raised an eyebrow at her in question but nodded nonetheless. Baron excused himself and followed Haru out of the dining hall and down the hall towards their rooms. "Can we go in your room to speak? I want to go somewhere I know nobody will interrupt us. I know you rarely let anyone in your room."
"Certainly" Baron replied as he opened the door to his bedroom. Haru and Baron stepped in. Baron locked the door behind him. "What is it you wanted to speak with me about?" Haru took a deep breath. In truth, Baron was quite nervous to hear what Haru had to say despite his calm demeanor. Her words last night put doubt in his heart that she would love him. She may have said about liking him more than a friend but she could have meant she loved him like a brother.
"Do you know how I said that I'd tell you my feelings for you once I sorted them out?" Haru asked while going to sit on the edge of Baron's bed. Baron slowly nodded. "Well I've actually known my feelings for quite some time. I just didn't tell you them last night because I promised the kids at the orphanage that I would tell them my personal feelings towards you before anyone else, including you. That's why I didn't tell you. I told them my feelings earlier and they weren't too happy with what I said. I hope you aren't upset" Haru babbled. Baron's face fell into a frown.
"It's okay. I'm not upset. I understand" Baron said solemnly, thinking he was being rejected. Haru looked up in surprise.
"You're not angry that I told little kids my feelings before you. I'm so relieved. I knew I loved you for a reason" Haru said as she jumped up off the bed and hugged Baron. Baron froze at Haru's words. She loved him? But didn't she just reject him?
"Haru, did you just say you loved me?" Baron said quickly to make sure he heard her right. Haru nodded. Baron smiled and lifted Haru up to twirl her around. "I'm so happy!" Without thinking, Baron set Haru down and kissed her. Haru's eyes widened in surprise, but they fluttered shut after the shock passed. The kiss started off sweet and gentle until a minute passed. It grew more passionate and ravenous. Slowly, Baron pushed Haru backwards until she hit the bed and fell back onto it. Haru laughed as Baron climbed on top of her to keep kissing her. Suddenly, a thought struck Baron and he stopped kissing Haru to pull back and look at her.
"Wait, why were the children angry at what you told them?" A chuckle escaped Haru's lips.
"They were angry at me for not telling you I loved you and for telling them first instead" Haru explained. Baron shook his head in amusement.
"You are just so beautiful" Baron said as he pulled Haru off his bed to hold her. Haru smiled at his loving embrace.
A/N: Comment, please!