Return of the Cat
Origins
The Baron turned on his heel and returned to his desk from the window. The Cat Bureau. He had started it to help people, but it seemed nowadays that they'd rather help themselves.
He set his cane horizontally on the furniture and shuffled through some papers. Moota entered the miniature house, waddling on his hind legs and plopping down on the couch. "I gave it to her. You owe me, Baron."
"Thank you, Moota." The scratching of a pen was the only noise for a moment, until a raven landed deftly in the upstairs balcony. "Perfect timing, Toto. I need you to take this document to Prince Lune," the Baron said, rolling it up. He had become a powerful political figure in the Cat Kingdom thanks to the Prince and his wife. They were very grateful for his assistance in the case with Haru and always welcomed and valued his opinion.
The black bird swooped down and retrieved the paper, then flew off into the clouds with it in safely in his beak as the baron called out his thanks.
"Stupid birdbrain," Moota muttered, halfway expecting a sprig of freshly picked berries to smack him in the head.
"Now, now, Moota," the Baron chastised lightly. "You know he's a very intelligent character, and very reliable."
"Birdbrain," the addressed repeated, reading his newspaper that he had brought in, rather noisily. Baron shook his head and revised some of his work.
Quiet.
True, he was just a creation from one man's imagination. But he was real, and that was all there was too it.
He had started out a human. That all changed when his creator died due to old age. Never in his life had he forgotten Baron.
But Baron, a curious fellow, began to take interest in the affairs of the Cat Kingdom. There were a few practices they had that he didn't quite approve of, and decided to step in. He had a knack for meddling in other people's business.
He wound up going to a ball with the intention of speaking against these procedures, disguised as a cat himself. He listened to the conversations of the counts, duchesses, the king, and other members of high class, to their opinions and views.
He began to lose himself…
The Baron was no longer what he was. When he had returned home, he found the costume nonexistent.
He didn't want anyone else to suffer his fate. The Cat Bureau…it could save them, if only they looked for help.
There was a servant in the castle, Yuki, who had become curious as to who he was and why he had been at the castle for the ball. She alone had noticed that there was someone there who shouldn't be.
She came to ask her questions and befriended the Baron. He told her of his mission and she told him of her problems. They talked of taste and society. Yuki's counseling increased when she first met the Prince in person…after all, she did have a heart.
The Baron alone knew of the two courting. All involved were afraid of the King's wrathful reaction if he found out. A royal and a concubine? It was unheard of! Especially if there were plenty of cats who had fallen for the King's son who had status.
Yuki had watched over Haru and knew how she felt about the cats' affairs when she had saved her fiancée.
The Cat Bureau.
It could help her. And it did. The only one it couldn't help was the Baron himself.
Forbidden.
What was to happen now as Yuki continuously watched the Baron sink? He never let it show, and he'd never reach the breaking point. That was his way.
But was it worse than being stuck in the middle?