Chapter Fourteen: Silent Cries

Baron nearly broke the door open, in his eagerness to escape the furred and feathered tormenters, slamming the wooden door behind him. Two bodies collided against it hard, making the half-cat smile grimly.

'Serves them right.' It wasn't either of his friend's business, concerning how to break the curse on him.

The tall orange cat started pacing the enclosed pavilion madly, his long cape billowing slightly with the passing wind. His lungs heaved heavily, but it wasn't just from running through the secret corridors of the church, to escape to this second sanctuary.

'Would it be fair? To ask one more thing of Haru, let alone something that precious?' He had no doubt that she had never been kissed, thanks to the time he had spent in the confession stand listening to her, but what made him think that she would consider giving her first one to him? A freak?

"You still don't look all that terrifying to me. Sorry, Baron."

"You owe Haru big for this, Baron."

"If I were in your position, I'd go for her!"

Baron groaned, looking out at the darkening sky.

"How could I possibly ask her for more?" he asked the heavens softly, hoping for an answer. It just wouldn't be fair to the girl, to keep taking more and more from her, when he had nothing to give back.

Father Hashio banged the door open, his eyes large and livid as the cat and bird trailed behind him.

"You had better not be considering-" the priest started yelling, before Baron raised his hand in a soft but defensive gesture.

"Haru deserves better than to be used in such a fashion, Father. That goes without saying."

The priest slowly lost his anger, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. She has enough issues." The elderly man walked up to his surrogate son, and squeezed his shoulder firmly. "I know you wish to be free of this curse, and I want the best for you. Although I agree with Toto and Muta that Haru is the most obvious choice to break the curse on you, I don't want that to be the only reason you two may see each other in the near future. And if she finds out that this is how to break the curse, she'd probably jump you, just to end your pain. I won't allow that."

The orange and cream cat sighed.

"Then what would you suggest, Father?"

"There is something I know Haru wants with all her heart. Be her friend, Baron. Be there for her, as she has been for you. If a kiss happens, let it happen, but don't rush it." Father Hashio smiled a little more evilly than his profession allowed, and raised a fist in front of the orange and cream feline's face. "And last of all, if you hurt her, I'll show no mercy. Understood?"

The half-cat nodded firmly, not really needing the extra incentive.

"Understood, sir."

ooOoo

Haru struggled to keep her attention on the sleeve she was mending, as Tsuge patiently waited next to the wagon.

"But seriously, do you think Hiromi would like a red rose for her birthday?"

Haru giggled.

"She'd like that, but you know what she'd really go crazy over?"

The tall juggler leaned a little closer.

"What? What?" he asked excitedly. The brunette laughed at him.

"She likes yellow flowers better. Try buttercups."

Tsuge nodded thankfully as she passed the fixed tunic back to him.

"Thanks Haru. I knew I could count on you." Then he ran off, probably to find the yellow blossoms. The slim girl watched him go, her warm smile slowly turning sad.

'That's me. The one everyone can count on.' She reached to her side, and pulled a light green dress onto her lap. With a skilled hand, she felt the gown over, to find what was wrong with it. Just a long seam rip in the back. Minor, but definitely bad, if anyone tried to wear it anyway. The girl reached behind her, to find the correct color thread in her thread collection. She sighed again, watching Louise kiss Machida goodbye as he dropped her off from their date.

'A girl anyone can count on. That's all I'll ever be… to anyone.' Although this fate wasn't so bad, when compared with others, it made Haru want to break down and cry.

'What's wrong with me?! I look like my mom, and she had two guys that wanted her! Will I ever find love?'

ooOoo

Deep within the cathedral, a tall figure lurked. This would have been menacing, when applied to anyone else, but Friar Nashi wasn't exactly the physical type to inspire fear. He was tall, but had this ridiculously innocent baby face, which he loathed with a passion. He wanted a face that was a little more somber, but when he tried to be serious, people would only laugh at his expressions, since baby-like innocence and religious piety didn't exactly go hand-in-hand.

He just knew that if he did the church some great service, he would at last be taken seriously. Friar Nashi slammed his fist into the wall, remembering… her.

She had no business inside the cathedral. She was one of them. A gypsy infidel. Who did she think she was kidding, with her constant attendance for services, and her close friendship with Father Hashio?

There was only one explanation for a gypsy to appear so devout, and that was mischief. The girl was planning something, and something big. It'd have to be, since she had been a constant presence here for years. What was her plan? What was her reasoning? Whatever it was, it was certain to be disastrous for the church.

He shuddered again, thinking about her large dark eyes. They always seemed to be staring right through him, like she secretly knew how strongly his body reacted, whenever she was near. First, it felt as if his body was turning to ice. Then, his body's temperature would rapidly increase to a dangerous level, one that could rival an active volcano. When that was over, it felt like all his bones had disappeared, and he was seconds away from melting into soup, and it became so much more difficult for him to form a sentence, especially to her, unless it was angry.

It was a spell that gypsy witch had conjured to ensnare his soul, he just knew it. For the safety of his soul, and that of the church, he would make it his personal mission, to rid the world of this terror to mankind, before another soul could be lost within her dark brown eyes.

Friar Nashi shivered once more, and turned back to his books. There had to be something in here to free him from that witch's curse.