Chapter Four
What Jonathan showed Naoko next was hard for her to take in. She watched her husband slowly lose his slim physique in a vain attempt to eat fish until he could feel better, nearly crying with every bite. She watched him wander endless streets, until resting in an office identical, maybe even the same one, as the one she now sat in.
The orange and cream cat from before was sitting in a chair across from the huge white cat, a cup of tea between his hands as he listened to the cat's tale of woe. He had his coat and hat hanging on a rack behind the same desk Jonathan rested his on.
"…not only that, but when I last checked in on her, she had changed her name and my daughter's to her maiden one! Thanks to her, I can't be there for my girl when she's growing up and needs her daddy." The cat doll looked at him sadly.
"My, that is quite a predicament. Unfortunately, this is something that I can't help with, especially since you won't mention any names, including your own." Even the voice and accent was similar to Jonathan's. The undercurrent of his question was clear. The white cat grunted, his eyes distant.
"That name lost its importance when my wife denied who I was. Call me whatever you want." A large crow on the balcony above them opened his beak, possibly to offer an insulting name, but decided not to say something, his face a little sad. The cat figurine held his chin.
"Muta will serve as your name. Well, since I can't help you with your family problem, I think I can help you with accommodations. If you don't object to helping me with other cases, you're welcome to stay here as long as you like." The bird jerked.
"Baron, the Refuge is for Creations." The orange and cream cat looked up at him, his smile a little sad.
"But since you and I are the only inhabitants, I don't see why he can't stay. That is, if you two can learn to behave civilly." The crow and white cat glared at each other.
Jonathan laughed at that.
"They never did. They can cooperate on cases fine, but they never really stop insulting each other. They are truly good friends, underneath it all." Naoko nodded, never taking her eyes off the white cat.
"Does he hate me?" The red cat looked at her sadly.
"Not quite. He's angry for the things you've done, but he still thinks of you. Why else would he check on you as well as his daughter?" She looked down at her feet, ashamed that she didn't even tell him Haru was fine, that time he approached her six years ago. Her heart turned as heavy as lead, thinking about all the fish cracker boxes she knew had to be from her husband. In her mind's eye, she could see the first time Haru tried to flip a pancake, even her footing resembling her father's.
"Look at this, Mommy! Isn't this a cool trick?"
"Mommy, how come other kids have a daddy?"
"What's wrong with cats? Don't you know I can talk to them?"
"If you hate fighting movies, than why do you have them so I can sneak them?!"
"Was Dad in the mob or something? I can handle whatever it is if you'd just tell me."
"Come on, Mom; at least let me get that last ingredient…"
"Does my daughter hate me?" Her voice was small and weak, knowing that she's fully deserved it if Haru did. Jonathan's face saddened, and the screen flickered again.
Jonathan's parents were now walking down a long hallway, their arms and tails intertwined lovingly. Haru had a soft smile on her lips as she leaned her head on Baron's shoulder.
"Of course, we'll want to make frequent visits to the Cat Kingdom. Even if Lune and Yuki wouldn't miss us, I'm pretty sure Sweet Pea will want to see as much of Jonathan as possible, after he's born." Her fiancé chuckled.
"If it were any family but ours, the concept of a princess being in love with our son before he's even born would be quite confusing."
Naoko turned back to Jonathan, who she was certain was blushing, the red fur disguising it well. He coughed uncomfortably.
"If nothing else, my visit to Princess Haru's past has explained her puzzling behavior while I was growing up, as well as that of her parents." The woman laughed.
"If she's as adorable as my Haru says she is, I don't see why you should be sweating." He smiled a little foolishly, obviously thinking that the princess was very much adorable.
"You would understand if you were in my position. But let me worry about my love life." He gestured toward the screen.
Baron squeezed Haru again, softly inhaling the scent of her hair. Haru's eyes warmed as she snuggled closer into his embrace. Suddenly, they looked sad.
"Thank heaven Dad will be joining us after the honeymoon. I don't have a clue on how to raise children." Her lover smiled again.
"If it makes you feel better, neither do I. But Jonathan proves that we do okay as parents." She nodded, a smile on her lips.
"That kid of ours…" He suddenly turned to her, noticing that the smile wasn't reaching her eyes.
"Thinking about your mother again?" She smiled again, not bothering to deny it.
"Just wishing she was a little less stubborn. I mean, she's even admitted in her letters over the years that since I left, her life's been nothing but quilts, bills, and camping out next to the mailbox for my next letter. So why would she pick that over me and Dad? She didn't even ask for your name when I told her I was engaged." He tightened his grip on her, willing the pain to go away.
To the side of the screen, a strange shadow lurked closer to the couple.