Chapter Nineteen: A Sunday Stroll

Friar Nashi quickly removed himself from his little corner, so that the gypsy woman wouldn't notice that he had followed her and the older priest. The baby-faced churchman almost started skipping down the hallway, his heart aflame.

The gypsy woman wasn't as nimble as her niece, or Father Hashio. Whatever they did around the corner, he would be able to find out about.

But who was this Daron? He had heard 'Baron' before. Were the girl and priest keeping secrets from her own flesh and blood?

Oh, this was too wonderful… he couldn't wait to find out what that witch was planning.

ooOoo

Baron started pacing his tower room, the priest watching him from the worn-out couch.

"This doesn't bode well, Father Hashio," the half-cat said worriedly. "At this pace, the entire city will be able to knock on my door within a year."

The older man sighed.

"It's not quite that bad, Baron. I don't think Louise will make it up here, if her mother understands the situation. Naomi has a good head on her shoulders, but her daughter's a bit of a gossip. Haru was wise, to only tell her a portion of what's going on."

The orange and cream cat nodded, and then sat down to try sipping his cold tea, his insides a nervous bundle of nerves.

"Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn't mind meeting Haru's aunt in the least, but… what if she doesn't want Haru to see me anymore because of what I am?" Although he had lived a vast majority of his life without knowing the brunette, the thought of her exiting his life was a painful one. And it wasn't just because of his curse, that he wanted her to stick around. The priest tilted his head at his surrogate son, sensing the lad's inner turmoil.

"Still, I can't back down from my word. We'll just have to hope for the best."

ooOoo

Haru nervously pulled her gray cloak over her best dress for church, her emotions swirling around inside her.

'What am I doing?! What is Father Hashio doing?!'

Louise was smirking at her cousin, from underneath the still-warm blankets.

"Remember, Mama said I get to meet him next week."

Haru nodded numbly, wondering how she was supposed to keep a handle on her cousin's loose tongue. All it would take is one wrong word, and Baron would be in for it. As would she.

"I must be insane," she muttered to herself, walking out of the tent. Her aunt smiled soothingly at her, and covered the basket in her arm with her sturdy cloak.

"Nonsense, child. You should have introduced me months ago."

Haru hesitantly nodded, as she and her aunt started walking down the road to town.

"So, is this Daron a handsome fellow?" Naomi asked conversationally, in brighter spirits than she had been for weeks. Her niece smiled softly to herself, trying to ignore how strongly her heart was beating.

"The world wouldn't think so, but I do. I really love his eyes, but I like his spirit more. He's a sweetheart."

The elder gypsy woman sighed as the two turned a corner, lost in her own world.

"Somehow, a part of me has always known that you would one day choose a townsman, and not a gypsy. Your mother's blood runs true in you."

Haru turned a deep red, but it wasn't from the compliment alone.

"It's not like that! I mean, we like each other and everything, but we're just friends!" the girl insisted, trying to silence her rebellious heart, which was pounding out of control. The aunt looked at her from the corner of her eye.

"A friend that tries to get you to spend even more time with him than you already are? Does he ever get angry when you leave him for home?"

Haru sighed, remembering how Baron looked, each time she descended the staircase in order to join the real world again.

"No, he just gets really sad, and I can't blame him. I'm the first friend he's ever had in his own age group, but I can only spend a few hours with him each week. The rest of the time, he only has Father Hashio, a cat and a crow for company. If I could manage it, I'd take a day's work to the church with me, and just talk with him while we do our duties. Do you think there's a way we could manage that?"

Naomi sighed.

"We'll see, dear heart. Tell me, do you really stand up all through the services, even when there are seats available?"

"Only to avoid Friar Nashi from harping at me again about protecting the sanctity of the building. I swear, if I so much as blink in front of the man, it'll launch another tirade about what an unholy demon I am, because I have close relatives that perform fake magic."

Naomi frowned.

"He's the nosy baby-faced priest, right? How can you take him seriously?"

"Who said I take him seriously? Laughing at him always puts him in a foul mood, so it's best to try avoiding anything that will try to make him act like a glorious holy man," Haru scoffed angrily, wiggling her fingers around in a mocking gesture.

The aunt started giggling like a little girl.

"I can see your point. Um, Haru?"

"Yes, Aunt Naomi?"

"Have you kissed Daron?"

The young brunette turned a deep red.

"No! We've never kissed! One, we're talking about a real gentleman, two, he's never given me a reason to believe that…" Her mind trailed back to that waltz they shared, the week before. Her heart began to pound louder, thinking about how much she had enjoyed him holding her close.

He was just so warm…

Her aunt was grinning at her.

"Yes?"

Haru blushed even deeper, and faced the church that was fast approaching, trying to forget what she had been saying as her heart continued its unsteady pace.

"Well, we've never kissed. That was your question, wasn't it?"

Naomi fought the urge to laugh at her niece, whose actions had always been as transparent as glass.

'She's completely smitten! I hope he's as good a man as she and Father Hashio insists he is.'