Creation's Lament Chapter Four: The Forbidden Love
Haru stared out the window of her new hut, still in her wooden state. She had only been comatose for a few hours when an extremely beautiful white cat bounded up to her, a familiar pink ribbon tied around her neck in a bow. Smiling inwardly, the Creation shifted into her flesh form and stepped down from the window opening. She was now in a green kimono with a yellow sash.
"You must be Yuki. You're just as beautiful as Lune said."
The cat was taken aback, whether from the half-cat's familiarity with the Cat Prince or that he mentioned her, it was uncertain. The cat looked at Haru in wonder. Although the Creation was now undeniably a feline, she still somewhat had the look of a human. By wearing shoes and gloves, she was able to keep her hands and feet. Tightening the sash around her waist ensured that she kept her human figure, and she had longer head fur like a human. In fact, she looked quite a bit like someone else the white cat had heard of.
"I just wanted to thank you for saving Lune."
Haru smiled.
"It was no problem. Would you like to come in?"
Yuki nodded, and did so. The hut was much like the others in the Cat Kingdom, except for the travel bag in the corner, and the hut had to be a little taller to accommodate the Creation's height. Both cats curled up on the floor, the lush grass making a comfortable carpet.
"I'm afraid that there is a problem, Miss Haru."
"Oh, what?"
The ribboned cat struggled to think of a way to put it nicely.
"When I was serving the King his meal, he was talking about what a fine princess you would be for Lune."
The Creation laughed.
"I didn't know he had a sense of humor! That's hilarious!"
Yuki was relieved, and worried, that Haru wasn't taking the idea seriously.
"Actually, Miss Haru, he wasn't kidding. He really was considering it."
Haru stared at her.
"I take it Lune hasn't told anyone besides you how he feels?"
Yuki nodded.
"That was my idea. I want him to know that I like him, not his rank. But the king is used to getting what he wants, and I'm certain that you can see the potential for trouble."
Haru nodded, and then stood up.
"I'll tell the king that Lune and I are just friends-"
Yuki grabbed her hand, noting with relief that the prince was already in sight. He looked just as happy to see Yuki there.
"Thank heaven that you're both here. There's a situation at the palace."
Seeing the serious look on his face, Haru stepped aside so the feline prince could come into her hut. All three sat comfortably on the floor.
"Haru, I know you haven't seen much of my father's character, but there is something you need to understand about him. He has a terrible temper when roused; last time he got angry, he blew up a tower."
Haru looked incredulous as she giggled.
"Well, you only have so many towers at the palace, so that explains why you'd need to be careful. Why have you been keeping your courtship of Yuki secret, if you like her so much?"
Both of the cats looked down, casting nervous glances at each other. Lune spoke first.
"Father cares greatly about status and position. Yuki was an orphan kitten when she came here and I got her a job at the palace. It doesn't matter to Father how sweet and wonderful Yuki is, because she's invisible to him."
The white cat blushed at his praise, but a sad smile was left on her lips.
"If the other servants find out that I've been seeing Lune, they will put it in the worst light possible when they tell the king about it. I'd think Lune was cool even if he was a servant like me, but they would never understand that."
Haru looked down, her fist holding her chin up.
"But we can't let him think that I'll be joining the royal family! I am an immortal, and I don't have a clue on what that would mean for possible offspring, if any can issue. I don't want to be a perpetual widow mooching off the royal family forever, and I've made it clear that I intend to leave for the Refuge after winter anyway."
Lune nodded glumly.
"Father told me to persuade you otherwise. I like you, Haru, but Yuki is the one I wish to be with."
He was holding her paw shyly, making the white cat beam at him and tighten her own grip on him. Haru thought about the terrible situation. She should have known there would be cats wanting to take advantage of her kind as well as humans. The Cat King undoubtedly thought that having a Creation for a daughter-in-law would give the royal family more status.
"What if we make the transition nice and slow?"
Both cats stared at her, confused.
"How about we let Lune's father think he's courting me, and just happen to have Yuki here whenever he stops by? You two will need to tell the king eventually about how you feel, but I'll help keep your secret for a while."
Both cats jumped on her and squeezed joyfully.
"Thank you, Haru!"
Yuki's grip was around her waist, and Lune's was around her shoulders.
"I swear that we'll tell Father the truth before you leave for the Refuge. And we really appreciate your help."
She hugged the two cats back, wondering how life managed to throw her into this new mess.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Lune and Yuki decided to walk around the forested area of the kingdom a little before separately returning to their duties at the palace. They were still holding paws, lost in their own world.
"Didn't I tell you Haru was cool? Now we don't have to worry as much about being spotted, and we get a chaperone for propriety's sake."
Yuki nodded her agreement, her eyes slightly distant.
"We should do something in return for her kindness, Lune."
He nodded, since sheltering her from the winter was just covering the rescue.
"I know, but since she's a Creation, she hardly needs anything more than a roof over her head, and she already has that."
She looked at him through the corner of her eye.
"I think I know something she might want. You've heard of the Cat Bureau, haven't you?"
Lune stopped in his tracks, the glint from Yuki's eyes spreading into his own.
"Of course. It's perfect, Yuki! If connections between the Cat and Human Kingdoms weren't shut off at the beginning of each winter, I'd go there now." Although he had never personally seen the owner of the Cat Bureau, the descriptions alone were intriguing, considering the situation.
"So, should we tell Haru next time we come to visit?"
"No, let's not let it torture her through the whole winter. We'll tell her before she leaves." She fondly kissed her prince's cheek, making him blush and return the favor.