Hey guys. Next chapter up. Hope to end this story soon…running out of ideas. That's why it was so short to begin with. ^.^; Nothin' really else to say except, hope you enjoy the next chapter
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing involving The Cat Returns
Baron's POV
As the days went on, we were no closer to finding a cure for Haru's illness. I was starting to think we would never find anything. Minutes felt like hours, and hours felt like days. Everyone was getting restless. Everyday I made it a priority to check up on Haru regularly. Each day it killed me to see her so weak. But, despite her current condition, she was always smiling. Always cheerful; whilst we sat back and watched, worrying about the worst that could happen.
I walked in one day to bring Haru her lunch, when I noticed she was still fast asleep. I quietly shut the door behind me. I went to wake her up, when I noticed a letter sitting on her lap. Curiosity getting the best of me, I carefully picked it up and started reading what she had written.
It's an exciting adventure
Traveling along the way
You can go right now, tomorrow
Or any other day
The vision ….. Beautiful
Of every kind
The sounds ….. Soothing
Is what you will find
The road goes in many directions
It matters not, the one you take
Just travel with an open heart
That's the decision, you need to make
What do you think you will find
At the end of this trip?
Kindness, Advise
Understanding, Support …..Destination, Friendship
I'm so happy this trip lead me to you!
I frowned a bit, but continued to read on.
Don't ask me why we're friends…
The best relations don't need reasons
They just need one single promise:
The promise to stand by in all seasons
Don't ask me when we made that promise…
It really doesn't need to be spoken
You know it in your heart, and I know it in mine
That this is never going to be broken
Don't ask me what's not good about you…
We're all different and make our own mistakes
I wouldn't want to change you, but if you want to change
I'll give you the help that it takes
Don't ask me why I want you around me…
Cuz I myself am not too certain
Is it just because of the habit of you,
Or because you're a whole lot of fun!
Don't ask me why I need you to be with me…
Cuz yet again, I'm not sure
To be a mirror and show me my faults,
Or to encourage, motivate, and reassure!
Don't ask me when's the best time I spent with you…
Special people make all times special
And the kind of person you are,
Just by being a part, you make life beautiful!
Don't ask me what's great about you…
It would be impossible to choose one
But it would be one of these two -
Your honesty, or your heart full of compassion
Don't ask me what's kept us together for so long…
I don't think it has to do with you or me
I really believe this is God's plan
And that you're a part of my destiny!
Don't ask me why I scream at you when I do…
It's a reason I'm reluctant to give
You don't do things all that wrong;
It's just that I know you'd forgive
Don't ask me why I'm not all sugary sweet with you…
Even you know you'd find it odd!
Don't you always expect (and in heart of heart, want)
Me to check thy erring with a rod!
Don't ask me what the future holds…
You know it and I know it too…
We're always going to be the friends we are
Wherever we are, whatever we do
Don't ask me why I wrote these verse
sCuz the only reason is that you asked me to be sweet
But you really have to know this -
Even when I'm not saying it, I mean it!
Don't ask me why I'm writing this last verse -
It's a silly reason – to make the count thirteen!
Yea, it's been that long since we're friends
And what a brilliant experience it's been!
I'll miss you Hiromi, and I'm so sorry I had to leave. Enjoy the rest of your life. Live every day to the fullest and make it count. You may not know what could happen that day
love, your dearest and most trusted friend,
Haru
When I finished reading, I felt very light tears welling up in my eyes. I looked down to find Haru now sitting up and smiling sadly. I sat down next to her on her bed and embraced her lightly.
"I'm so sorry for all that has happened, Haru." I said. "I should've taken better care of you…" She pulled away from my embrace and shook her head.
"No, Baron." She said with a smile. "You've been taking care of me these past few days. Being able to spend these last few days with you has given me a lot of time to think things over. No matter what would've happened, I still would have been happy either way. I got to see you again, go on an adventure with you once more, and express feelings to you in ways I could never have before." Tears were now streaming happily down her face. "Now, all we can do is hope and believe that, not only I, but all of us can pull through all this." I smiled sadly before cupping her face in my hands, wiping some tears away with my thumbs, and lightly capturing her lips in my own. She wrapped her arms around my neck as she lifted herself into me deepening the kiss. When we finally broke for air, we rested our foreheads on each other's.
"I love you, Baron Humbert von Gikkengin." She said with the very smile that had captured my heart the first time I saw it.
"And I, you." I replied. We sat like that for what seemed like forever before she again fell back to sleep. I left her to her dreams and left quietly. I walked to the castle library where everyone else was diligently looking for a cure to Haru's condition.
"Any progress-" I started but was cut off immediately when the others noticed I had entered the library.
"Baron!" Mitsuo exclaimed. "I think we found something that could help!"
"Well then, Mitsuo?" I started. "Would you kindly explain?" He nodded and gestured for me to sit down on a set of chairs. When I did, he held out a book that read 'History of Cat Kingdom.' He took a deep breath and began.
Haru's POV
As I climbed out on top of the pillar, I was overwhelmed by what I saw.
"AHHH! Where am I?" My voice echoed throughout the vast emptiness of the fog and mist. I noticed that I was starting to grow in size…and was losing my balance in the process.
"Oh no! Oh no! I'm falling!" I yelled. I then, lost my balance and fell off the pillar. Luckily, I caught hold of the ledge and held on for dear life. I started slipping when something grabbed my hand (more like a paw). I looked up to see who it was and saw the sneering face of that wretched king staring back at me.
"Ciao, Babe." was all he said. And with that, he sent me spiraling to my death. I screamed as I fell, hoping it would be a quick and painless hit. I saw the ground rapidly approaching as I accepted my fate. The ground got closer and closer until finally…
I snapped awake in a cold sweat. When I realized that I was still alive, I layed back against the pillows again.
"Whew…Just a dream…" I said. I took a few moments to catch my breath, before I noticed something sitting on the table beside me. It was a flask of red liquid. I eyed the liquid carefully, before something in the corner of the room caught my eye. I was about to yell when it spoke.
"Please, miss! Do not be alarmed!" It instructed. "I have no means to harm you." I said. I was a bit skeptical, as I couldn't see it clearly. "The illness in which you have contracted, is very fatal. It can kill you if not treated. There is no real cure for the illness, but there is a way to dispose of it in a way that wouldn't seem very possible."
"Being in this place long enough can get you to believe in the impossible." I responded with a smirk. The cat chuckled at this remark. "So, what does this flask do?" I asked.
"It will transform you into whatever you desire." The cat replied. I was beginning to get confused.
"But…how will that get rid of the illness?" I asked.
"You see, when the disease has a host, it stays with that host only. If the host changes form, it will fool the disease into thinking it has just changed hosts. Not being in the disease's natural nature, it will flee from the host, and disintegrate over time." He explained. My eyes widened upon hearing this. "But, be warned, dear Haru…That whatever you truly desire will be what you turn into. What you want then, is what you will turn into. Choose your decision wisely." He warned. There was a giant flash of light, and the cat was gone. I turned my attention to the flask on the table beside me.
"Hm…" I thought out loud. "What I truly desire, huh?"
Baron's POV
"So…all the King did was change forms and the disease was cured…Interesting…" I thought out loud.
"Yeah." Mitsuo said. "I couldn't believe it myself when I read it. I thought it was just an old legend. But when this happened, it had me thinking…" I thought long and hard about it.
"Now the next question…how do we come about changing Haru's form?" I asked. Mitsuo shook his head.
"That I'm not sure of…" He replied. "It didn't say anything as to how he changed forms."
"I think…I can answer that…" We heard a small voice come from the doors of the library. I jumped up quickly when I heard who it was. We were all shocked at who was standing weakly in the doorway to the library.
"HARU!" I exclaimed as I ran to hold up the staggering girl. "What are you doing? Why are you out of bed…" My voice trailed off as I noticed a small flask of red liquid in her hand. She looked up at me with the most confident look I've ever seen on her face.
"I know what to do, Baron." She said. "Just…trust me." She winced a bit in the middle of her sentence due to the pain in her side. I nodded, before helping her over to a chair to explain to us what she plans on doing.
When we sat down, she seemed to gain her strength back a bit. When she was able to pull herself together to explain things, she held up the flask to show us all.
"This flask…" She began. "Will allow me to change into whatever I desire. It will only work once though, and will change me into whatever I truly desire at the moment. So I only have one shot at it…" She looked directly at me when she continued. "…and I have chosen." I frowned just a bit at this statement. I had a feeling she was going to make the better choice…not like I was going to like it much, but it was what was best for all of us.
"Well, we'll let you do what you think is best, Haru." Lune stated. "But, where may I ask did you get that flask?"
"Some cat gave it to me. He came and went so strangely…like magic." She replied. We all looked at each other, all with puzzled looks. "We should hurry though…" She finished a bit more weakly than usual. I noticed this right away. "…I think this illness is finally taking a larger effect on me." We all nodded. We helped Haru up and loaded up back on Toto.
"I'm sorry we couldn't stay longer Yuki…" Haru said when she was comfortably mounted on Toto.
"No, Haru. We're sorry you had to go through all this." She replied. She was joined by Lune as they both bid us farewell.
"Come visit again soon…but make sure it's a friendly visit, ok Haru?" Lune mused. She smiled weakly and nodded. We waved good-bye before flying to the top of the tower to fly through the exit.
"Hang in there, Haru…" I thought to myself. "We'll have you back to normal in no time."
Whew! Long chapter, but mostly taken up by those two poems. Which of course I do not own. I'm not that creative. ^.^; Hope you enjoyed. Next chapter should be the last. Hope you liked the story! R&R, comment, and Criticize! Love you all! Ciao!