Chapter Five: Heart's Cry
Muta could very clearly see the change of attitude in the girl's eyes when Baron brought up the blonde gypsy girl. Although the mask covered half of her face, her eyes were still visible, and the joy seemed to have been sucked out of them. The large white cat struggled not to hiss at his friend.
'Nice going, Baron. You managed to offend the first girl you've come in contact with in under two minutes. What a record.'
With the shape of her face, there was a possibility that the girl wasn't exactly a dog, either. The orange cat didn't notice anything wrong with his petite companion, his eyes sparkling more than ever.
"What's her name?" he asked excitedly. Haru sighed. Her voice became soft, almost intangible through the roar of the surrounding crowd.
"Louise. Her stage is this way." Now barely even touching Baron's arm, she guided the orange cat through the ever-changing maze of people, and close to a large wooden stage raised to an even level with Baron's chest. "She's the opening act for the King of Fools competition."
Toto humphed angrily, thinking that Baron should be crowned immediately, for not realizing the girl's pain. Couldn't the guy see how Haru's fists were clenched so tightly, and how strained her voice is? She very clearly had some unsolved issues with the half-cat's crush. Baron leaned as close as he dared to the stage.
"Thank you, Miss Haru."
She nodded stiffly, determined to be polite until the end.
"I'd like to wander around some more. It was nice meeting you, Baron."
"Likewise," he said, not even turning to face her. The girl's shoulders fell, and she studied the paved cobblestones in the street while walking away from the strange man. Keenly feeling the need to be alone, she wandered to the opposite side of a stall and sat down. Her best friend looked down, confused as she handed a customer his change.
"What's eating you?" she asked while Haru huddled into a tight ball.
"I ran into another Louise fan," the brunette mumbled, wishing to disappear. The green gypsy girl's mouth made an 'O' shape, and the girl leaned down to hug the blue one.
"Stay as long as you need, Haru."
The brunette made a sad smile, glad that she at least had a loyal friend, if nothing else.
"You're gold, Hiromi." Suddenly, Haru felt something brush against her, and looked to her left. The ridiculously fat white cat from before was rubbing against her, purring softly in a comforting manner. She petted him and scratched his fur while Hiromi sold her trinkets.
"You're the one who's gold, Haru. If I had a cousin like yours, I wouldn't be half as nice to her as you are."
The brunette sighed, taking comfort from the feline's presence as he kept purring, although his large pointed ears had flicked upwards at hearing the word 'cousin'.
"It's not Louise's fault that she's every man's dream. No more than it's my fault for being born in her shadow." Her scratches on the cat turned a little fiercer, but she regained control of her emotions before the cat started complaining. Hiromi finished with the customer she was working with, and leaned down to hug her friend again.
"You just wait, Haru. Someday, there will be a guy that will like your sweet spirit more than Louise's pretty face."
Haru scoffed, her grief almost making the sound a sob.
"Probably about the same day that pigs start flying. We both know that when men look for a girl, they always pick the prettiest one, no matter what she's like. I might as well not exist."
Except for drunkards, apparently. The cat in her arms snorted.
"I doubt she's that ugly."
The brunette looked down at him.
"I'm not ugly, but I'm not a breath-taking beauty either. I just blend into the background too well." The fact that she had never had an admirer had proven that fact all too well.
The fat cat's jaw dropped.
"Did… you…"
She waved one hand dismissively.
"Yes, I can understand cats. Whoop-de-doo."
Hiromi started giggling at the fat cat's priceless look.
"I just love watching their facial expressions when they find out. Too bad you refuse to use that ability for the cause."
"I already explained, Hiromi, it's not fair to the cats. When I earn my bread, I do it myself."
The white cat was still staring at the girl, a grin overtaking his face.
"Wait till Baron hears about this!" He tried to run off, but the brunette somehow managed to grab him, holding the cat by his neck with her arms.
"Why on earth should Baron care if I can talk to cats?"
He turned to look at her, the slightly evil gleam in his eye increasing.
"Suffice it to say, Baron thinks he's the only one that can understand felines."
Stunned, Haru allowed the cat to slip out of her arms, and head back into the throng. Hiromi tilted her head at her friend's strange expression.
"What did he say?"
The brunette bit her lip, wondering if her unique ability would mean something, after all.
"That I'm not the only cat-speaker in town."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Baron's eyes were locked on the stage, although he couldn't quite focus, thanks to Toto's talons, which were steadily increasing their sharp grip on his shoulder.
"Baron, that's about the most classless thing I have ever seen you do," the crow whispered harshly, making the orange half-cat slip out of his daydream.
"What is?" he asked, genuinely confused. Toto glared at him.
"That girl was very nice to you, and you dropped her like a stone as soon as you got distracted." He shook his head in disappointment. "Honestly, I know you don't have much experience with girls, but that's no excuse for your behavior."
Baron stiffened, but he sighed.
"How was I supposed to know that she wanted my attention?"
"She was smiling at you, but stopped after you asked after another girl," Toto pointed out. "You, sir, are in serious need of a crash-course in understanding females." And the crow had been so sure that talking to his mother would have taken care of any problems like this.
Suddenly, Muta waddled up, making the half-cat realize that he hadn't noticed his fat friend's departure. The white cat was grinning mischievously.
"Guess what?! Haru can talk to cats!"
Baron sharply looked down at his friend, shocked.
"Are you sure?"
"She made it blatantly clear to me, and a friend of hers knew, too."
The tall feline blinked twice, and made to move away from the stage.
"This sounds like something that requires further investigation."
From behind him, a willowy figure appeared in a puff of smoke, and began to dance gracefully around the stage.
"After the show," Baron added, facing the stage once more. His friends struggled not to make a scene; their irritation slowly gaining the strength of an active volcano.