Chapter Nineteen: Return, Confess, and a Gift

He's free. Ratigan is free. He's free to roam the streets. He's free to talk to people, free to walk in stores, free to be free. The only problem was that people still fear him. They would cringe or run off whenever he was sighted. But, I'm sure that when they see his change, they won't fear him as much. We found Moonlight last night when Basil and I were looking for Ratigan. She was with Loretta; sound asleep on the cat's back. I was relieved that she was okay. Loretta was awfully happy to see me again. She purred and purred; it made the ground rattle. We took Moonlight home, upon meeting Ratigan there, talking to Hayley. I did wonder what they were talking about, but she told me that nothing bad happened. Well, I trust her. Anyway, Basil and Ratigan put a stop to their hatred towards each other. However, they weren't quite ready for a friendship, and I can understand. They're starting off as acquaintances, and then, just maybe, they'll grow into friendship. We decided to visit Ratigan at the Rat Trap. The Flavershams, including the cousins, heard about the change. I told them that they should meet him, but they were a bit uncomfortable. Ever since that fateful night when he kidnapped Hiram, and forced him to work for him, not to mention threatening him with his daughter's life, they hated him. But, I told them to give him a second chance, and that he's a good person.

"All right, we'll try." Hiram concluded. "But, if he hurts my daughter or my nieces in any way, he'll pay." I nodded. Dawson decided to give it a try. The Bishops were out of town, but they heard the news, and they sent a letter, saying that they were proud of me, and helping Ratigan go back to a good man. AL, however, wasn't too sure. I finally persuaded to come, but she was suspicious. Also, Moonlight definitely wanted to come and play with Loretta.

"Maybe we should bring Toby, and see if he'll warm up to Loretta. I mean, he's fond of Moonlight." I quoted.

"Maybe, but it's best if we keep them at a distance until they get use to each other." Basil replied.

That night, we rode on Toby, while the Flavershams grabbed a ride from a horse cart, to the Rat Trap. Mary Ann and Kitty were there, greeting all of us with a smile. I introduced them to my sister and the Flavershams as we made our way inside. Bill, Fidget, and Gus were there, too. They were playing cards, poker I recommend. Ratigan was sitting at a table alone. The guests did stare at him with a little fear in their eyes, but they said they did trust me. Hayley saw him and ran up to him.

"What are you doing sitting here all by yourself?" she asked while hugging him in the back. He was surprised to see her again.

"I didn't know you were going to be here." He chuckled. Moonlight plopped out of my arms, and got onto the table where he was sitting. She stared at him with her black eyes. Ratigan decided to gather up the courage and pet her. To my surprise, she allowed him to. I guess it was because she saw Hayley and I befriending.

"Looks like no biting tonight." I laughed. He laughed as well as I hugged him. Recalling back, Moonlight bit his hand when he kidnapped me, and that's how I ended up in an alleyway. Moonlight is very protective to her family as you can see. AL came up from behind, showing little fear as possible. Ratigan greeted her with a smile.

"Hello, Miss AL. You look rather beautiful tonight." She blushed at the comment, but quickly hid it.

"Uh, thanks. Look you; I'm gonna say this once. You ever hurt K.P. again, you'll answer to me!!!" AL threatened him. Ratigan gave her a look, but then went back to a sincere face.

"I understand. I assure you that I will never hurt her again."

"Good. Now, I got a question. How the hell do you dance in those chunky legs?!" I tried not to laugh as Ratigan reacted about her comment. Boy, that's gonna take a while for him to recover about having…chunky legs. Oh, AL. Like I said, crazy, but I love her. It wasn't too long when everyone else began talking to him. Olivia and Hiram were the last one to greet him. Ratigan apologized about the past, but Hiram forgave him.

"I trust Kiara that you've changed. And seeing through her, I know you won't do it again." Ratigan thanked him for the comment. I went up to get another root beer while AL and Ratigan were discussing about some anime she found before she came here.

"The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya?"

"Yep. What's awesome about this show is the dance at the ending." AL demonstrated, and he laughed.

"What are you kids watching these days? Such odd names. First, Hayley listens to this group called, um, what was it again?" He asked Hayley.

"Panic! At the Disco." She laughed.

"Right. She listens to that, and then there's this animated show called the 'Melancholy of Satsumismi…'"

"That's 'Haruhi Suzumiya.'" AL corrected him.

"Whatever!" He threw his hands in the air, and we all laughed.

As everyone was talking, Ratigan noticed I was in deep thought.

"What's wrong?" He asked as I came to.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing really." He gave me the you-don't-fool-me look. I laughed at his look.

"Kiara Lee, you better tell me." I laughed again.

"Okay, okay." I let out a sigh. "I was thinking about the whereabouts on Chippendale." Basil heard the name as he was talking to the Flavershams. He came over when he was done.

"Come to think of it, I have been wondering where that nuisance went off to. Do you know?" He looked at Ratigan. He shook his head.

"No, I haven't seen him since the other night." He put his heads over face. "I was so stupid to let him out." I patted him on the shoulder.

"Hey, hey, it's not your fault. You didn't know that buck-toothed idiot was gonna go crazy." He chuckled and sighed.

"Well, knowing him, he's obviously ticked off at me. He won't just let this slip by. That man is determined to be the only one who is always right, and what he says, goes."

"Well, stop worrying." I said. "If he shows his sorry little face again, we'll be ready. Won't we, Basil?"

"Absolutely." He replied. "He's going to pay for hurting you, Kiara."

"I agree on that, and of your sister." Ratigan concluded, and then his ears perked up. "Oh! I have something for you." He dug through his vest pocket and pulled out his dinner bell. "I want you to have this." He put it in my hand.

"But, won't you need it for Loretta?" I asked him. He chuckled.

"No, no. This is a different bell. I just created that last night. I was going to give it to you then, but you weren't home, so I decided to wait today." I gave him a confused look. What did he mean by a different bell? Ratigan noticed the look and explained. "This bell links your world to ours. You can come visit us at any time." I looked at him.

"You mean, I get to see you again…all of you?"

"Yes. Just ring it three times in front of a closed door, and open it." He smiled. Oh, my gosh! No way! Even Basil had the same expression on my face. I get to see visit them anytime I want! I can see Basil, Mary Ann, Kitty, Ratigan, everyone!!! I leaped out of my chair and kissed Ratigan on the cheek.

"Oh, thank you, Ratigan! You can count on our visits!" He blushed, but finally laughed. Hayley's mouth hung open in surprise, and AL jumped with joy. They joined in our hug.

"Thank you! Thank you!" They both cheered. Basil laughed at Ratigan's red face.

"What's the matter? I thought you knew how to handle women, dear man." Ratigan couldn't help, but laugh. I know why. He never had been loved in any way by anyone. It saddens me that he was rejected, discriminated, and isolated. I think the love of friendship, the love of family, was something he should've deserved a long time ago. Now, I know why I'm here. I'm not here by accident. God sent me to purify a lost soul. Ratigan's soul. And you know what, I'm glad I was chosen.

The door pounded forcefully. Some of us jumped from startled. It pounded again. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Kitty called out as she went up to it. Instead, the door swung open and in came a hooded figure in black. I couldn't tell at first if it was a man or a woman.

"Oy, whut's the big idear?" Mary Ann spoke up for its rudeness. The figure didn't answer. It quickly walked to our table.

"Professor Ratigan?" It asked. It was a woman's voice.

"Yes?" Ratigan replied in a monotone. Suddenly, the figure grabbed me and grasped my neck. Before anyone got up, she held a gun at my forehead. I stood stiff. Oh man, oh man, oh man, was I scared!

"Any last words to her, professor?" the figure spoke. Nobody moved. Nobody, except for AL who slowly shifted her way behind the mysterious person. Everyone else was too afraid that if they did make a move, bang! It'll be over for me. No, no, no! This can't be happening! I don't want it to end like this! Just then, Ratigan's shocked face changed to an annoyed look.

"Yes, I do have one thing. Why in the world are you threatening her life with a toy gun?" Huh? A…toy gun? Basil scratched his chin.

"You're right. It is a toy gun." No way! How can they tell? Wait a minute. Duh! They're geniuses! I couldn't even tell!

"Aww, why do you always ruin everything, James? You're no fun!" The figure whined. I could see AL shifting her leg into position.

"Me? You're the one who's scaring the daylights out of her!" Ratigan shouted. The figure let go of me and blew a raspberry at him.

"You big meanie. Ah, well. At least I fooled almost everyone."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do you think? I'm trying out my acting skills. Don't ya want me to go on theatre?" Ratigan's ears perked up. I looked at her in surprise. Acting skills? You mean she was faking it?

"Jasmine?" Ratigan said. At that moment, the figure took off her cloak to reveal a rather beautiful young woman with black hair and fur, and baby blue eyes. AL stopped moving, realizing she wasn't a threat. Knowing her, the black mouse would be unconscious if AL moved in sooner.

"That's Mme. Hathward to you." She said. She wore a blood red overcoat with fuchsia boots and skirt. "I swear, James, you're such a party pooper."

"What? You came up here scaring us all."

"I know. Wasn't it great?"

"You little—No, it was not!" She blew another raspberry at Ratigan and looked at me.

"So, you must be the famous Kiara Lee Phoenix. Word is that you change old Jimmy here into a goody two shoes." Jimmy? I stifled. That's an unusual nickname for Ratigan.

"Jasmine, I told you to stop calling me that! I'm a grown man, for heaven's sake!"

"Oh, stop being such a baby." She looked back at me again. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mme. Jasmine Odette Hathward, a former associate to Professor Ratigan." No way! He had women work for him as well?

"A rather annoying and happy-go-lucky former associate is more appropriate for you." Ratigan sighed. Jasmine glared at him.

"And you aren't? Mr. Arrogant, Feisty, and Sensitive?"

"Hey!"

I laughed a little.

"Well, well. I guess my sense of humor does have effect." She smiled. Everyone continued to stare.

"I don't remember seeing you around here. How long were you working for him?" Basil spoke up.

"I quitted before the case of the jubilee. I helped him out since I was 18." She answered. Everyone else seemed relax and sat back down, but they listened closely.

"She wanted to go on the path of theatre." Ratigan said as he sat down. Jasmine suddenly bopped him on the head.

"OW!"

"I'm tellin' the story!!" She shouted. Whoa, talk about violence. I can't believe Ratigan lets her do that. He would have her throat by now. "So anyway, I wanted to go on the path of theatre, but it wasn't easy to get out of his hands." She glared at him for a moment and talked again, not noticing that Ratigan stuck out of his tongue like a little kid. "So, I ran off. Never came back. He was wondering where I went off to, but gave up on the chase a week later. I was so relieved."

"Then, why do you come back? I mean, don't you hate Ratigan for everything he put you through?" I asked. She laughed.

"No, no. Ratigan was fine. I just got bored doing his job, and I went off. Then, after a few years later, while I was on my tour to France, I got the news about the queen being saved by a human girl. I thought for a minute that it was just a bunch of hooey, but a couple days later, and you were mentioned again. This time, you changed a big man's heart." She took my hand and shook it. "I wanted to thank you for being the courageous girl, and stepping up to him."

"Gee, uh, you're welcome." I said. Jasmine turned to Ratigan and cocked a smirk.

"As for you, I want to know how she got here. I already knew that a rodent-sized human had to be your doing." Ratigan stood silent and turned away. Jasmine's look changed to worry wonder. "What? What's wrong with you?" I knew what. How is he going to tell her the reason he brought me here? "Come on, Jimmy. It can't be that bad."

"Jasmine, enough." Ratigan replied in a cold tone. "I don't want to talk about it." Jasmine looked at him and at me. Then, she looked at Basil. He shook his head.

"I can't tell."

Ratigan got up and went down in the cellar. "Come with me, Jasmine." And she did. I tried to follow, but Basil stopped me.

"It's best if you don't." I looked at him and at the direction where they both left. Basil went back to sit down, but being the curious girl, I went down the cellar. Basil did call out for me, but I didn't stop. I quietly followed Ratigan and Jasmine to his lair. I took an additional boat the thugs usually take, and silently rowed along the waters. As I came to shore, I saw Ratigan and Jasmine standing in front of his lair. I hid myself behind a wooden post and listened carefully.

"So, what's this all about?" Jasmine asked. Ratigan sighed.

"What I'm about to tell you is something terrible."

"What could be more terrible than you?" She laughed.

"I mean it, Jasmine. This is serious." There was a slight pause.

"There is some connection between you two, isn't there?" She spoke up.

"Yes, but it's a different one. The one we had before was something I did." A slight pause.

"Well, tell me." Ratigan sighed again.

"I…fell in love with her, Jasmine." I peeked behind the post. Jasmine's back was facing me and Ratigan was looking away from her.

"Why?" Jasmine asked.

"Because of what she said about me. You know of my past, Jasmine. I thought that having her on my side would bring back what I've been missing." He sighed again. "But, I was wrong. All I brought her was fear." He looked at Jasmine. I quickly hid again. "You should've seen her face, Jasmine. I was scaring her. Her screams and tears; they never left me. All she would do is curl up into a ball and let fear consume her. I became angry. I did such awful things to her. I bought her with money so I could keep her. I slapped her so hard, it made her cheek bled. I brought her sister here, and I took her back home, along with destroying the time machine. I even threatened her, telling her that her life was mine. And when she punched me, I…banged her up so badly. She was bleeding all over. I broke her leg. She went back up into a little ball." He took a breath. "And that night, when I slapped her, her look was…oh, God." I peeked again, seeing Ratigan burying his face in his hand. "It gave me nightmares. I hated it. I wanted it to go away." Finally, Jasmine spoke up.

"You did all that…for your selfishness?"

He nodded. "Like I said, I was wrong." He looked up. "But, she forgave me, and gave me the love of a friend. More of a father as well. But, I don't believe I deserve it. I kept thinking, why. Why did I do that to her? Why did I torture her so? Yet, she set that aside, and gave me a second chance. I couldn't help but cry in her arms, telling her that I was sorry. And, she forgave me." Jasmine looked down and back up again.

"Do you…still love her as she was yours?" She asked. Ratigan shook his head.

"No, not anymore. I now know that I can't do that. But, you know what? Loving her as a friend and daughter is more than I ever wanted." At that moment, he cocked a smile. "And that's enough for me."

Jasmine chuckled. "Wow. A mere child facing her fear, and loving it back."

"Young woman, Jasmine." Ratigan corrected her.

"Yeah, yeah. She brought out the inner you that was locked up for many years. I can see why she's special to you. You're a better person than before."

"Maybe. But, I'm still feared by others."

"Ah, they'll get over it. Besides, you've got fans upstairs." Ratigan chuckled.

"Right. I am glad about my change. But, I'm happier that the woman I scared so much forgave me and gave me something that I've desired."

"Love, right?" Jasmine said.

"Yes, a family love."

I smiled. I'm happy as well. I remember seeing him on television, and I would wonder. What would've happened if I were to meet him? Well, I never thought of being it like this. Changing Ratigan's heart was the last thing on my mind. Now, it's the first.

"Okay, Kiara. You can stop hiding." Ratigan's voice said. I jumped. What the—how'd he find out? I came out of my hiding place, but I was a little scared of what was to happen next.

"Uh, hi?" Was all I said. They both laughed.

"All right, you two." Jasmine said. "Let's go back." We headed towards the boats.

"Um, could you take the other boat, Jasmine? I want to talk to Kiara alone." Ratigan said.

"And let a lady do all the rowing?" She asked.

"Oh, come on. You did all that when you worked for me."

Jasmine laughed. "I know, I know. Be nice to her." Ratigan gave her an annoyed look. She winked. "All hail fluffy and cuteness!" She waved as I laughed and Ratigan sighed.

"She's so random." I said.

"Indeed." Ratigan agreed. We got into the boat and rowed back to the Rat Trap.

Along the way, I asked him, "So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" At that moment, he put the oar and pulled me into a hug. I was a bit surprised. "Ratigan?" I said his name.

"I don't want you to leave just yet. I want to spend more time with you." I looked at him in the eye with a smile.

"I'll promise you one thing. I'll always be with you. We're connected, Ratigan. You'll never lose me." I thought for a moment, well that was just sappy. But, Ratigan smiled.

"Then, I'll promise you the same. I'll be with you always." He kissed my forehead and hugged as I hugged him back. Huh, now this is funny. Back then, I hated being in his arms. Now, I feel safe. He actually feels warm. We rowed back the pub where another mouse that made the same promise to me, was waiting for me. I had one godfather. Now, I have two.