Chapter Sixteen: Of Secrets and Sweets
Naomi was tapping her foot, when a gray-cloaked brunette walked into camp, just after dark had fallen.
"Where have you been, young lady?" the aunt demanded. Haru shrugged, and made for her tent.
"With Father Hashio again. We had a lot to talk about."
"That's five Sundays in a row that you've been late," Naomi said, taking quick strides in order to grab her niece's arm. "What could you have possibly been doing with that old priest?"
"Talking, mostly. I have Sundays off anyway, Aunt Naomi. My time at the cathedral shouldn't be bothering you."
"But it is, Haru." The raven-haired gypsy sighed. "I'm trying to understand that half of you belongs in that world, but don't forget that you belong here, too. We love you, Haru."
The brunette sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, I know that. But you get me six days out of the week, and Father Hashio only gets me one day out of the week. I don't see what the problem is."
"Haru, you carry the gypsy blood. Don't try to tell me that you are loved by everyone inside those cold stone walls."
The girl gave a shudder, remembering Friar Nashi.
"I'm not, but I wouldn't try claiming that everyone in the gypsies' circle loves me, either. Aunt Naomi; if you're this worried about me staying so late, then just start expecting me to come home about now."
"Haru-"
"I swear I'm not doing anything stupid," the girl insisted, kissing her aunt's cheek lovingly. "Good night." With that, she slipped into her tent, leaving the aunt out next to the dying fire. Stunned, the middle-aged woman felt her cheek.
'She hasn't done that in years!'
ooOoo
Baron reached one hand over to grab the comfortably slim one, as it once again appeared over the staircase.
"Hello, Haru," he said, grinning. The brunette beamed up at him, stepping into his pad.
"Sorry about being late again, Friar Nashi was following me."
The orange cat shook his head angrily, releasing the girl as she gathered her bearings.
"He's been following Father Hashio around for a while, too. Few things would give me greater pleasure than to… well, Father's asked me not to even think those thoughts."
Haru giggled. His tone gave her a good idea of what he wanted to do, since she felt that way herself. Reaching into her thick cloak, she pulled out a linen-wrapped package, and handed it to him shyly.
"This is for you, Baron. Good thing Muta isn't here, or he'd want it for himself."
Nodding politely, the tawny half-cat started unwrapping the modest gift. His eyes narrowed in confusion as he opened the box; finding several small things nestled into individual places, each one colored differently.
"What is this?" he asked politely. Haru giggled.
"I had a feeling you would say that. Close your eyes."
He obediently did so.
"Open your mouth," she said, shifting the strange thing around in his hands, like she was taking one of the things out of it. He opened his mouth, wondering if she was about to play an evil trick on him.
Something fairly solid slipped past his sharpened teeth, making his mouth automatically close. His rough tongue ran over the strange object as it began to melt in his mouth. Whatever it was, it was sweet and creamy. Baron spent a full minute savoring the delicious morsel, his deep purr making the brunette giggle helplessly into one hand.
Finally, Baron opened his eyes, the sweetness now faded from his tongue. The taste was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
"What was that?" he asked dreamily. Haru laughed at him again.
"That one was a strawberry cream. They make this candy over in Haja. I was going to get you some chocolate, but then I remembered that cats can't have chocolate."
"What's chocolate?" Baron asked, having never heard of the stuff before.
"A really tasty candy, but it's poison for cats. They make that in Haja too, but the trees that apparently grow the beans for this are found deeper south."
"Beans? Candy can be made from beans?!"
Surely the girl was mistaken. Haru nodded her head, getting a kick out of his reaction.
"A special kind of bean, but the process of making chocolate is a highly guarded secret. Still, I thought this would be a good surprise for you."
Baron nodded, wrapping the bundle up and placing it behind some books in his shelf.
"It was wonderful, Haru. If I keep it in doses, this should last me for a while."
"If Muta doesn't find it," she giggled. Baron nodded, and grinned at her.
"True, but the one place I can guarantee Muta won't touch is my bookshelf. He avoids knowledge like the plague."
Haru burst out laughing, which managed to cover the mews of protest coming from the wall.
ooOoo
Father Hashio kept his arm over the cat's mouth as Toto struggled not to laugh. Although the elderly priest knew that the children needed time alone to get to know each other, there was no way in heck that he was about to actually leave them alone. Being an invisible chaperone seemed to work nicely, since Baron had never told the girl that they were being spied on. Telling her would only defeat the purpose of hiding the old priest, cat, and bird, and she wouldn't be as open with him if she knew they were on the other side of the wall.
"Touch Baron's candy, and I'll use your hide as a blanket," Father Hashio managed to quietly hiss at the fat white cat in his arms, making the large tom sulk terribly.
ooOoo
"That was something I never thought I'd hear you say, Baron," Haru managed to say through her giggles. He cocked his head, amused.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, I thought you were more proper than to poke fun at a friend's intelligence." She bit back another giggle. The orange cat was smiling at her, biting back a laugh.
"Mother and Father Hashio raised me to be more proper, but sometimes I slip up. I apologize." Baron grinned at his dear friend again, and extended one arm to her.
"I think your little surprise deserves one in return, Haru."
She blinked at him, but took the arm.
"What kind of surprise?" the half-gypsy asked, wondering if he had a surprise that could rival the candy. Her friend looked back at her while opening a solid door, and smiled warmly.
"Just trust me."