Lilith's Mission

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters save for Lilith.

Chapter 2

Memories plagued Lilith as she sat there staring at her beautiful treasure. "Why did you have to die…?" Her voice whined softly. The small gray cat pressed her wet nose to the figurine's wooden one. "If you were still with us… I wouldn't have to bother with this girl." She told Louise, who of course said nothing. She couldn't say anything; she couldn't even hear the small creature's words. Lilith was aggravated again, closing her eyes as she remembered Baron's words.

"Long ago, I was made by very talented artisan." He had begun softly, "However, with me he made my other half… he named her Louise." His voice lowered to a soft tone as he uttered the name. As if it brought him pain to mention.

Didn't take long for Lilith to realize that Baron loved this… "being"… more than anything. "Tell me Baron… please. What happened to her, to your... Louise?" her tone was timid, afraid of striking the wrong chord.

Baron gave her a thoughtful look, those golden-green eyes softening. "When our creator brought us to life with the will of his heart. Her and I, we lived in bliss for a while. Together and happy." He paused and his features darkened, "However, we were separated. A great accident had occurred and she required repair, and while I was waiting in the shop for her return. I was taken here…" They had been speaking in his parlor, he now took the liberty to sit and hold his head in a sorrow-filled gesture. "The kind man who had purchased me also had a lover. Who had promised to return and purchase Louise as well. But a war broke out. The man's lover never returned. And neither did Louise."

There was silence as Lilith allowed Baron time to regather himself. "Baron…" She spoke the name softly, in a soothing manner. "I still… don't understand… If Louise is… gone… then why can't you love Haru?" Her face had hardened.

Not looking up, Baron began to chuckle. "That, my dear Lilith I do not think I can answer fully." Still not meeting her eyes he straightened up and looked to the ceiling eyes shut. "I suppose it is a matter of hope. Hope that she might still return to me." His voice was hushed, as he said his wish aloud.

Lilith could only stare with those wide-eyes; "I will be going on a trip soon. Actually I am leaving tonight."

Baron finally looked over at the small silver tabby that was about the size Haru was when she was turned into a cat. "Oh? Where will you be going?" He inquired as he stood up.

"Somewhere far away Baron." She paused looking out the window, "I'll come back though." She promised looking back at Baron with a smile.

"I am certain you will, I wish you luck."

"Thank you Baron, you've been very kind to me." She bowed, her gaze on the handsome figure. "I will miss you…"

The day passed rather slowly, Lilith searched the room for something of interest. Despite the clutter of the place, she found nothing. With a sigh she jumped up to the windowsill and stared at all the other roofs. She was planning her next move. How was she to get Haru to Baron? Looking down at her paws she counted as her claws came forth and retracted in boredom. Finally she heard the door open. She turned to face the girl enter. Groceries in one hand, attempting to peel off her shoes with the other, "Oh! Hi Lilith! I got some groceries for dinner, hope you're… hun...gry…" Her brown orbs fell onto the beautiful figurine of the female cat. "So… so… beautiful…" She gasped dropping the bags and onto her knees and hands to get a better look at the little doll. "Is she… like Baron?" Her head turned to the silver tabby on her windowsill.

Lilith shook her head, "She was… but she died." Her voice was blunt as she continued to stare out the window. Haru was about to reach out to stroke the delicate features but Lilith was faster. Her eyes wide and slightly agitated. "Please! Don't touch her." Lilith said through grit teeth.

Haru looked at the angry tabby for a moment, "Alright alright, so where'd you find her?" Haru asked in curiosity, her eyes still filled with wonder.

The emerald-eyed cat sighed, "In Baron's homeland of course." Haru's expression changed slightly to one of confusion. "You didn't know…? Baron came from across the sea."

"I wasn't aware… of that." Her eyes wandered back to the feline noblewoman.

"I went there looking for this doll. I had hoped, I could bring her back to Baron… I thought it would make him happy… that is until I realized her soul is gone." Sighing in aggravation she rubbed her chin against the wooden figure in a possessive manner. "What good is she to Baron… if she isn't even alive anymore?" Her eyes pleaded Haru for an answer.

Haru looked back at the deep emotion and shook her head, "I… I dunno…" her expression taken a back, slightly confused.

Lilith furrowed her brow, "I don't think you understand… This… this is Louise. Baron's one and only true love, his soul mate. And she has departed…" Lilith bowed her head in mourning.

It took a few minutes for Haru to understand, her eyes suddenly filled with sympathy, "Poor Baron… when are you going to tell him?" Haru asked softly.

Lilith's eyes opened darkly and stared at the ground. "I'm not…" she announced hollowly. "I WILL bring Louise back to him." Her eyes darted to Haru's in a way that frightened the poor girl.

"How… how are you going to do that?" the anxiety in her voice could not be hidden. Lilith gave a low growl and pounced her, with so much force that despite her size Lilith had Haru on her back.

"I don't understand you! You love Baron! You DID love him! Why didn't you remain a cat!? Why did you come back to … this?" She asked in disgust. "Baron…" Her expression hollowed as she stepped off of the girl allowing her to sit up, "Baron doesn't love you, but he is a gentleman. He would have treated you with kindness and hospitality for as long as you needed it. Actually, who knows? Perhaps you could have made him move on and accept Louise's death." Lilith figured looking away emotionlessly. "I don't understand you at all…"

Haru listened in shock for many moments before her face became angry. "I wasn't going to live my life as a cat! That's insane!"

"What's wrong with being a cat!?" Lilith retorted.

Haru stood up and glared down at her, "It is not who I am! Baron told me to trust myself! And I do!"

Lilith glared back, "So, you really don't think a life with Baron wouldn't have been better?" Her voice challenged.

"I…" Haru's expression of anger dropped, "I don't know…" She fell onto her bottom. "It didn't seem right… to just run away from my life…" She gestured around, "This…" She sighed, "This is my life, I have my studies, my friends, my family…" Her explanation was bland, "What more could a girl ask for?" she reasoned in a tired voice.

"How about love?" the silver tabby leapt onto her desk, "I guess you preferred living in reality when you had the opportunity to live in a fantasy…" The cat shrugged, "Well it's too late to live that fantasy, as YOURSELF…" She emphasized the last word.

Haru took the hint looking at the silver tabby skeptically, "What do you mean?"

"Would you want to make Baron happy? Happier than he has been in years?" Lilith grinned her fangs showing.

"If I could… yes… of course…" Her face suspicious, "Why?"

"Haru… are you willing to give all this up?" The cat looked around her own look of questioning on her face.

"Why?" this time the request more forceful.

The tabby grinned at her more, "Then take Louise's body… and return to Baron."