Hey guys. Keepin' ya updated as much as possible. Since Play started, I'm able to write while sitting backstage doing nothing lol. Hope you guys enjoyed so far. I know it's a bit short, but the last chapter or two might be the last. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

Disclaimer: Hate to say it, but I own nothing related to Cat Returns. All wrights go to Studio Ghibli.

As the music, which seemed like it was leading me straight to my fate, played on, Mitsuo was discreetly scanning the room. His eyes shifted back and forth, searching and making sure all was clear. As we trudged on, the retired cat king sneered at me as we got closer and closer to the, now falling apart, alter. An old cat, which whom I recognized to be the King's advisor, assumed the position of the priest. However, he did not seem happy, as such a priest should be. He seemed anxious and was fidgetting thoughout the entire walk up the aisle.

"Remember, Haru…" Mitsuo started. "When I give the word…" He spoke very calmly and clearly. I prepared myself to run, when I finally realized we were almost to the alter. I started to worry a bit. When am I supposed to run? Mitsuo must've noticed, because he tightened his grip on my arm. "Just trust me, Haru." I instantly thought back to that day at the Cat Kingdom.

"This seems all too familiar…" I thought to myself. Suddenly, I felt another arm take my own. I looked over and saw who it was immediately.

"Are you ready, my dear?" said the retired king. I hesitantly nodded my head before turning to the cat priest. He cleared his throat before beginning. All was silent.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here this evening to join these two cats together in holy matrimony…" As he went on, all his words seemed to mash together. I felt completely unfocused, and felt week. Despite all this, I kept my composure. Soon, words became mixed mumbling, which turned into only muffled sounds. Everything started spinning around me. I tried my hardest to keep myself from swaying back and forth. Only when the priest spoke directly to me did I hear him clearly. But only the last few words.

"…as long as you both shall live?" I ended up unconsciously blurting out,

"I do." We waited in silence for what seemed like an eternity. The priest opened his mouth to say something. He then yelled at the top of his lungs.

"NOW!" With this being said, many cats threw all their formal-wear off to reveal many solders and even King Lune himself. I thought I heard someone yelling at me, but all I could hear was muffled cries and screams. Suddenly, I felt someone grab my arm and throw me in the direction of the doors.

"Didn't you hear me?" screamed a very flustered Mitsuo. "While King Lune's father is being restrained, head for the hallway! Keep running no matter what!" he instructed. With that, I picked up the skirt of my dress and shot out the door.

I kept running even though clear vision was no longer a factor in this case. Why was I becoming so weak? I decided to push the question to the back of my mind and take a rest. Surely I was far enough away from the throne room. I could no longer hear the clanking of swords or the screaming of battle cries resonating from the room. I backed up against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor.

I sat there for what seemed like forever. Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming from around the corner. I got up as quickly as possible. As the footsteps rounded the corner, I tried to quicken my step. When I couldn't go on much more due to unending dizziness, I whipped around to face who it was.

"Who are you?" I exclaimed. All that replied was a slow, low chuckle.

"C'mon, babe. The ceremony must continue." The oversized cat said. My eyes widened and the only response I gave was an agonizing scream as I burst into tears.

Baron's POV

As Toto and I descended to the old, run-down castle, we flew up to the one window to the throne room to wait for the signal to attack. Once the signal was given, we burst through the window. When I saw that Haru had left to room, I went straight for the over-grown, retired king.

"You have meddled with Haru's life for quite long enough." I said. "Time to end this." I held up my cane to the now furious feline. He pulled out a sword from a nearby weapon shelf. We suddenly broke into an epic battle between one another. It went on for quite sometime. A lunge then a dodge. A flail and a clash of metal on wood. When it seemed though it would never end, I lost my balance and ended up getting blade to the shoulder.

I fell backwards, wincing in pain. The giant feline stood over top of me, mused at what he had just accomplished. He held his sword out to my face.

"Give up yet?" he said with a sneer. He quickly pulled away and ran out the doors. I got up as best as possible. When I went to go after him, someone stopped me. I turned around to see Mitsuo.

"Not that way." He said. "It's better to go out the back. You can cut him off better that way." I nodded thanked him, and went out the back doors. I ran for so long, I wasn't sure I would ever find him…until…

"AHHHH!" I heard an agonizing scream come from down the hallway around the corner.

"Haru…!" I exclaimed quietly. I charged in the direction of the scream.

Haru's POV

My scream was cut off by a tight grip around my neck. I struggled hard to fight it but failed. I suddenly couldn't feel the floor beneath me as I was suspended into the air. I felt the world around me slowly slipping away. Darkness started to consume me as I started to think that all was lost. I believed so until I heard someone shouting my name. I thought I recognized the voice, but couldn't focus enough to find out. I felt the grip around my neck loosen immediately following. As I fell to the floor, I watched as two felines were on the floor, one strangling the other. Unfortunately, the one being strangled isn't the retired King. Baron was struggling to break free of the cat's chokehold, but with little luck.

"Baron…" I managed to choke out. I looked around frantically for something to use on the over-grown feline. I noticed a sword on the floor next to them and scrambled to retrieve it.

"If I can't have her…" the cat started, "…then nobody can have her." He finished. He tightened his grip even tighter, if even at all possible.

"Hey! Fur ball!" I exclaimed. He turned. And just as he did, I lunged the sword straight at him, striking him directly in the chest. He shrieked in pain as he clenched his wound where the sword was still lodged into his body. He fell to the floor, and with his eyes expressionless, died right then and there. Baron got up off the floor cautiously before turning to me. He had a worried expression spread all over his face. I smiled at him.

"I'm glad…you're…ok…" I managed to say before I fell into darkness. The last thing I remembered was Baron rushing to catch me and yelling my name.

"Haru!"

When I woke, it was a very bright light. I felt quite weak, and couldn't see much. I tried hard to scan my surroundings. I noticed that I was in what looked like a royal bedroom. I was in a large bed, with many covers. I felt like I was floating on a cloud. I happened to look over and see someone hunched over asleep on the side of my bed…his hand in my own. I smiled.

"Baron…" I quietly said. Not loud enough to wake him. Just enough to say his name out loud. I let a tear escape from my eye, before I started to feel dizzy again.

"Strange…" I thought. "This is how I felt at the old, abandoned castle…but why do I feel this way now…?" I thought long and hard about it, but came to nothing. I decided to once again push the matter to the back of my mind and get some more sleep. But, just as I was about to lay back against the pillows again, an agonizing pain shot up through my side, making me wince in pain.

"Ah!" I exclaimed. It must have been loud enough for Baron to here, because he shot awake. I was now clenching my side in pain. "Baron…!" I exclaimed quietly. "What's happening to me, Baron!" He just embraced me lightly.

"Apparently, someone had placed some type of poison in the food at the old castle. You are not the only one who contracted the disease. Lune's father had also contracted it, considering he too ate some of the food." He explained quietly, trying to sooth my pain. "Not many other people had eaten the food, but a few other casualties were found." I perked up at this.

"Casualties!" I exclaimed, with emphasis on the word. "You mean, they all died?" I was getting extremely worried. I wasn't ready to die yet. I had so much more I wanted to do in life!

"Relax, Haru, please." Baron pleaded. I could tell he was scared too. "As long as you get plenty of rest, eat well, and stay strong, you will pull through this. I know you will. You're much stronger than you think, you know." He stated. He smiled lightly at me, which I in turn smiled back. He tilted my head down, and kissed my forehead, before laying me back on the pillows. Before he left, I grabbed hold of his sleeve. He stopped.

"Please…stay with me…" I asked, a bit of weakness in my voice now. He smiled sadly.

"I'm not going anywhere." He said. He sat back down on the chair next to me, pulled out a book, and sat with me until I fell asleep. Before I did so, I needed to ask him one more question.

"We…missed sunup this time…didn't we?" I said. More of a statement than a question. He looked over and frowned, before nodding slowly. I let a small tear escape my eye, before I finally fell back to sleep. Baron came over and kissed my forehead once more, before walking back out the door.

Well, there ya have it! Play practice comes in handy! Your drama meter goes up extensively, and you get a lot more creative and dramatic scenes going. Hope you guys enjoyed! Next chapter or the following should be the last, as I said in the beginning! R&R, comment, and criticize! Love you all! Ciao! ^_^