Chapter Five: The Creation

It broke Yuki's heart, watching the brown half-cat cry at the king's table, Muta suspended in a large vase of catnip jelly behind her. The white cat vaguely listened to the noblewomen talk about how pretty Prince Lune's bride was as their servant poured them drinks.

'Just hang in there, Miss Haru. Help is on the way.' She dared to sneak a peek at the entertainers in the corner, trying to spot Baron. He wasn't with them, at least from where she could tell. Where was that Creation?! Haru was running out of time!

The king ordered entertainment, in a rather fruitless attempt to get the brunette to start enjoying the festivities. One entertainer after another tried their luck, but not one could get her to even acknowledge their existence as she was too lost in her own world.

After a second cat was thrown out the window, the king stood on his hind legs; his eyes wild and angry.

"Whoever's next better not stink; got it?!"

The remaining acts gasped, knowing their king meant business when he used that tone and volume. As one, they slowly inched backward, none wishing to try their luck.

One brave fellow stepped past them, and took his time walking up to the royal table. The only fur exposed was around the mask and on the bottom portion of his face, the rest being covered by a steel mask. Yuki's heart began to beat faster, recognizing the orange and cream fur.

'So he didn't give up after all.'

"Your majesty, I promise that I will make the young lady smile."

The king gave his consent for the entertainer to try, and the orange cat asked Haru for a dance. She wasn't very excited by the prospect, apparently having little practice in the area, but gave in to his pleas to trust him.

One musician started on his accordion, and the couple started their waltz. Despite Haru's protests about being a meowsy dancer, she was showing an amazing amount of grace while underneath the Creation's guidance. As he led her through a dip and twirled her around with expertise, Yuki remembered something else Aunt Haruka had once told her.

There were only two Creations still in existence. All the others had been killed off in one form or another, and the other Creation was a stone crow. Creations were immortal, and had to watch an endless line of people die, some being close friends. She felt sorry for Baron and the other Creation. It must be so lonely, after all those centuries. But one thing the orange cat most certainly didn't look right now was lonely, as he twirled Haru around again. She could vaguely hear them talking, but she couldn't tell what it was about.

"Stop right there, pal!" The king suddenly yelled, standing on his hind paws. The accordion stopped, as did the lone couple on the dance floor. For all Yuki could tell, both of them were wooden.

"You're not from my kingdom, are you? Exactly who are you?!" The longhaired monarch demanded.

"How rude of me. I should have introduced myself." The Creation pulled off the large plumed hat, and tossed it to the side, still facing Haru.

"I am exactly who I appear to be." He carefully pulled off the mask so that Haru would be the first one to see his face. From where the white cat was standing, she could see the ex-human gasp softly, her brown eyes wide with astonishment. Then Baron faced the king, and the court.

"I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, and I have come for Haru."

The partial cat in question smiled widely and jumped up in order to hug his neck warmly.

Yuki thought fast, as chaos began to take over the dining hall. She fought back a giggle as Baron used his steel mask to take out a few guards and release Muta from the jelly prison. Between all the screaming and tossed dishes, she was able to easily reach the table Baron and Haru had ended up standing on in their avoidance of the guards.

"Over here," she called up to them urgently after Muta ran off, distracting the guards from their true opponent. The two cats looked at her, and jumped off the table next to her. Haru's eyes flashed happily, seeing the white cat again.

"Yuki, you're here!"

The servant smiled at both of them while taking off the maid's cap that made her lowly station apparent.

"I'm so thankful you were able to help Miss Haru, Baron."

"Do we know each other?" he asked, the question clearly being the one he had wanted to ask her earlier.

"Many of us here know of you and your Bureau."

"Yuki, I'm such an idiot. I should have left when you told me to; now look at me." She felt the tips of her cat ears with her paws to further her point.

"Listen, if you leave here by dawn, you can still turn back into a human."

"I will?!"

Yuki hopped over to the secret escape hatch in the table and opened it.

"This will get you out of the castle."

"Perfect," Baron approved. Haru wasn't quite so ready to leave.

"Wait; where's Muta?" The human girl used the time Baron looked over the table to check on his friend in order to pull off the large yellow ball gown the Cat King had given her; her school clothes thankfully underneath. The Creation looked at her again.

"He'll be fine. We just need to get you home."

Haru nodded at him as she crawled in first. Baron hurriedly pulled off the black outfit, revealing his gray suit from before underneath. Yuki kept watch as the Creation crawled in next, and then followed. She knew that she would need to explain the portal tower to them.

As the tunnel sloped downward, Yuki remembered the first time she had gone down one. Lune had gotten really bored with a party when they were both kittens, and had managed to snag her long enough to get her to go down the long slide with him.

What a time to think about such a thing.

They came to a sudden stop into a large empty room, Yuki recovering first from experience. She climbed up the ladder leading up to the opening, and scanned the area carefully before allowing her company to climb out.

She explained the maze and tower to them before leaving, determined to have a back-up plan just in case things went wrong again. She could hear Haru calling out to her, but didn't turn back.

The human was running out of time, and the white cat hadn't forgotten about the fish crackers.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yuki reached the tapestry that led to the king's study, but she waited to enter until the voices were far down the hall before entering. She bit back a cry, seeing the crystal ball gone.

She paced the room, determined to find a way to contact the prince. Even if he hadn't told her that he was already in love with someone, she knew he wouldn't stand for his father breaking his son's oath for him. She hoped never to see that broken-hearted regret in Haru's eyes that she had seen in Haruka's. Perhaps if her heart hadn't grieved the loss of her family and world for all those years, the beautiful obsidian cat would still be alive.

Her eyes glittered, knowing she would have to commit treason against her king in order to serve her prince. But if it worked, then she wouldn't care if she was killed for it or not.

She used the secret chamber into the prince's personal bedchamber, certain that it would be cleared out by now, with the chaos the human and Creation were certainly causing. She was correct; the room was deserted. Praying that she wouldn't get caught, she slipped in and opened up Lune's special drawer, to see his crown. Her heart beat faster, knowing she could be killed if she were caught.

She picked up the purple gem, and held it to her heart.

"Lune," she said softly. His response was just as soft, inside her head.

"Yuki? How are you contacting me?"

"I'm using your crown. There's an emergency at the palace."

"It'd have to be, if you're going this far. What's happening?"

"Remember the promise to your mother? Your father kidnapped the girl that saved you yesterday, to make her your bride. She only has a little time left. Please, you have to come back and stop the madness."

She could hear her love gasp.

"Thank you, Yuki. Meet me at our spot behind the stone gate. I'll be there shortly."

The white cat smiled warmly as she placed the crown back and fled into the secret corridors. If the Bureau wouldn't be enough, surely her prince would.