~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Chapter 6: All Aboard The Catnip! ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Me (looking drowsy): Must not sleep, must not sleep, must not sleep...

Haru: What's with you today, Kuro?

Me (turns head and plops down in chair): I didn't sleep well last night. But I have to stay awake for the show. The show must go on!

Hiromi: Wow your really putting a lot into this!

Me: And so I am

Baron: Anyways, today I think I have the perfect idea for the show (I try not to look drowsy). I think that we should have a ship that goes there (I can barely stand with my eyes open). We should also include the fact that Lune and-"

(I fall out of chair, asleep)

Me (-.-): zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Hiromi (sighs): So much for putting a lot into it

Haru: We better postpone it

Baron: But we must go, as Kuro says it, on with the show!

(I would like to note there is a REALLY bad rhyme in this chapter and also sorry was on vacation so couldn't update :)

ooOoo

The ship rocked back and forth like a cradle. It had been the first they since they had gotten on this boat. The funny thing is that on the first day, you always mess up very badly. In fact, the Baron was writing with his bedside fancy quill exactly what had happen on that day, and how everything got mixed up. He dipped the quill's tip into the murky black ink, thought for a moment, and began to write

"6/15 Today was the day we got on the boat, but it was a real mess. Let me explain..."

ooOoo

Haru

Once again, Haru dreamed, but this time it was a nightmare. She was in a dark forest as she walked forward, she notice a small flat clearing. She walked toward it. In the center of the field of grass was a shining pole, with odd hieroglyphics. She walked toward it to study the pole, but suddenly from within the shadows of the tree, glowed hundreds of red eyes. She looked all around her, as they had surrounded her. Suddenly there was a great rumble, like an earthquake. Suddenly huge black spiders can trampling from the forest to surround Haru and the pole. Those glowing red eyes had belonged to them. They were twice her size. All of them had a mixture of some green glowing fluid, which she recognized as poison, and red blood. However, there was another giant rumble, a rumble that made Haru think that the Earth was about to split in half. A giant spider, about twice as large as the other stepped from the clearing. In his jaws was a bloody corpse, a corpse of someone she knew, in the name of...

Haru screamed. She was awake again. She could feel the cold sweat on her body. But there were no forest, no pole, no spiders, and no bloody corpse. She first looked outside her window. She could see the sun just starting to rise. Then she checked the clock besides her. It was 4:30 in the morning. Then she slowly crept out of bed. On the desk next to her bed was a red blouse as well as a blue skirt, probably put there by a servant yesterday night while she was asleep. She changed, and remembered her cat's eye amulet. It was still there. She put it on, and them walked into the restroom and got prepared for the day. As she stepped out she looked back at the time. It was now 4:45. She decided she wanted to get some fresh air and go to the balcony.

Haru gently stepped outside with her shoes on and crept towards the nearest balcony. When she reached there, she was in for a surprise. The door was already open. She stepped onto the balcony, and there he was, the baron looking outside towards the horizon. Haru gently closed the balcony door. She stared, first at her friend, then at where he was looking at. As he looked onward toward the horizon, the baron turned to her and asked, "Won't you mind staying here and watching the sunrise with me? It really is quite beautiful." Haru continued to stare at the horizon, as if in trance, and slowly nodded. The baron stepped next to her as they watched.

The Baron

Then the sunrise began. As the two watched side-by-side, they heard the loud song of the seabirds, as if they were calling the sun, asking and yearning it to rise and once again give the world light. Then the sun began to rise. The sun, unlike what we would think of it would be normally, was actually a very dark red, similar to glowing coal. Little by little, the sun rose up, and up. The breeze and the song of the wind seemed to encourage it. Then, as if it was a great, enormous effort, the sun began the start of it's daily journey across the sky. It rose up like a chandelier dangling from the endless, sky ceiling. Then rays began to glow. The sun seemed to now be brave enough to see the world around it and to send off it's rays. It was like a blinding steam of light. It was so bright, the Baron had to slightly cover his eyes. But he saw the sky turning a rosy red, as if it was replying to the sun. The sea also shined and reflected the great rays. The whole world seemed to be on fire from the red rays. Then the sun rays seized, they sky returned, and there was light. The seagulls continued their joyous song, as it celebrating the rise of the sun.

As he and Haru stepped out of the room, there was a loud foghorn blare from below. They rushed outside to see what was happening. There it was, a huge majestic purple ship coming into shore. The spied the tiny, purple figure from below, who the Baron recognized as Lune, waving at the ship. There was a knock on the balcony door. A sleepy Kuro rubbed his eyes and asked the Baron, "Ummm (yawns), what had happened? I was still asleep when there was a giant blare. I thought something exploded." Baron said nothing and pointed downward. Kuro looked over the deck and widened his eyes.

Kuro

Kuro knew that they were going on a ship, but he never though it was going to be that big (but he forgot to claculate how many guests there were). The shipe was about the size of the whole castle. It was a very vibrant purple, and it seemed to glow in the presense of the sun. Kuro spied a tiny, almost invisible to the eye purple dot, which he assumed to be Lune, waving it's little arms at the massive ship. Suddenly the foghorn blared again, and Kuro jumped. He nearly fell over the balcony fence, but luckily the other two caught him. Kuro, who wanted to see the ship in person, said, "C'mon! Let's go downstairs! I want to see the ship in person!" Before Haru could answer though, Kuro had already started dragging her despite her weight, to the balconey door. The Baron chuckled and followed them downstairs.

As they got downstairs, they crashed with Lune. Kuro rubbed his head as he asked Lune, "Is that giant ship the ship we are going to get on?" Lune smiled warmly and said, "You guys saw the ship? Yes that is the ship we will be getting on. Would you guys get a closer look?" Kuro nodded happily. As they got up, Lune brought them to the ship. The ship was huge and purple, with fish and cat designs on it. Looking closely, Kuro spotted a cat dancing and also a fish skipping from the water. There was great clouds of smoke rising from the ship was well as cats hollering from the ship. There was a cat who rushed past them with a giant crate in his paws up and aboard the boat. Suddenly, a dark-brown tabby wearing a sailor suit hollered from above, "Your Magesty, about when will our dear guests get aboard?" Lune looked up at the cat and asked, "Is that you, Captain Mizu?" The cat nodded. "Well I think they will get on board at around 10:00 a.m., so you will have to wait around 4 hours and 45 minutes." The captian nodded and vanished from sight.

... 3 hours later ...

Muta

Muta was still dreaming in bed. He dreamed he was sailing in a giant banana split, sailing down a river of chocolate. There were little islands made of peppermint with little living marshmellows on it chanting, "Eat Me! Eat Me!" Muta was just about to take a giant bite out of the banana split boat when...

Knock knock knock. Muta awoke from his dream. He was very cross with the person knocking because they made stopped him right before taking a giant mouthful of the banana split. With a cranky voice, he yell, "Well don't just stand there, come in!" A young, light brown cat servant stepped in. But before she could say anything, Muta start yelling, "Why did you have to wake me up from my dream? It was perfect. It was almost at the best part and you woke me up!" The maid shuffled her feet uncomfortably, "I'm very sorrry sir. I just want to tell-" But before she could finish, Muta interrupted, "Well couldn't you tell I was sleeping?" But before Muta could say more, the maid quickly said, "Please get yourself dressed. Breakfast is also starting. Then we will be going to the boat. The others will be downstairs as well" and rushed out the door. Muta stood there speechless. Then he got up, dusted himself and went to brush his teeth. Then he walked downstairs to the dining room.

By the Muta had gotten there, the others were already seated. Muta studied their clothing. Yuki was wearing a white satin dress. Lune was wearing his general uniform, while the Baron was in a fresh, clean, suit, still pretty much the same as the old one and also holding a shiny, new oiled can made from the finest peach wood. This had been a present from the royal couple. Finally he saw that Haru had a yellow dress, similar to the one she had last wore on the last visit here, and Kuro was wearing a set of black pants and a black coat. Muta quickly rushed to the only available seat, the seat next to Toto. Then Lune stood up and said, "We will be boarding our ship, The Catnip, very soon; I will infor you of that later. But first, bon appatite!"

Kuro

Kuro was quite hungry, but deafenetly not as starved as Muta would be. As he reached over for a crossant and for some butter, Muta had alread scorfed down 3 danishes, 4 crossants, and a whole pile of pancakes, not to mention drowned in maple syrup. But still, despite his fat, food-vacuming friend, he continue to eat and talk to Haru, who sat right next her. He heard the Duchess of Catsville chattering away to her friends about the ship and if there were pools, spas, and stuff. Then he watched Lune and the Baron chatter away like old friends, as if they had been friends for life. Haru then brought him back to earth by asking, "Hey, Kuro, where are we going again my boat?" He answered, "Were are going to be sailing to the Island At The End of the Universe, or better known as CatStar, where Lune and Yuki will be looking for the sage to bless their children." Haru peppered Kuro with questions, "Do you known him? I mean the sage of CatStar? Is he mean? How long will it be to get there? It the trip dangerous?" Kuro sighed, took a bite from his crossant, swallowed and washed it down with some milk, and answered, "First, I have no clue who he is, but I'm guessing he is some old dude who has a very weazy voice. I don't think he will be mean, because he is the Sage of CatStar, he ought to be nice. Next, I have no clue how long, but I'm guessing perhaps at week to get there and back. Last, I think there is probably something dangerous. Now let me eat plz" he said as Haru opened her mouth to pour out more questions.

All of a sudden a few of the women screamed and pointed to the glass ceiling. Kuro looked up at the ceiling. There was a swarm of black things flying in the sky. As they gott closer, Kuro saw that they were small, black paper cranes. As he watched, all of the sudden, they dived at the castle ceiling. Every in the room but he and the Baron panicked. Suddenly, with a crash, the cranes swarmed into the building. Then they flew to the ground. Oddly they began to bunch up into a large group. Sudden, with a flash of light, all the cranes came together to form a giant crane. But that crane didn't move. Instead, it glowed with a odd green aura. Then, on the side that faced him and Haru, There were scorch marcks beginning to form in odd symbols, into what he knew was ancient scripture, a type only the oldest ancient priest families could read.

Haru

What was surprising was that the cranes never surprised her, as if everyday there were giant mobs of black paper cranes turning into a single giant one, not to mention that they could fly on their own. What really surprised her was that she actually seem to recognise the weird symbols. Just as Kuro opened his mouth to read the words, he heard Haru speak. She read, "He, the master of the trump of spades, you crystal soon shall be in my hands . For Four shall reuntine as one, the truth beneath my plans. And shall I open The Gate of Worlds, shall the world forever perish as barren lands."

Just as she had finish speaking, the glowing stopped and the crane suddenly bursted into flames, but oddly, nor the cloth carpet it was on or the tables near it ever caught on fire. You could not feel the heat of the fire. There were even no scorch marks on the carpet after the flames. Haru noticed none of this. She was too busy thinking about the words. She mumbled, " Four shal reunite as one. What are the four? The Gate of the Worlds? Why does that seem so familiar?..." as she trailed off, lost in her thoughs. Sudden, Lune's voice woke her from the midst of the thick fog of thought. He announced, "Please settle down. I do not know what this sorcery is but, gladly, there are no causualties. Please excuse this event. Please return to your room and pack you luggage. We will be boarding the Catnip within an hour."

Murmurs continue within the crowd as to what had just happened continued as the guest crowded out of the door. Haru followed them, but waited a bit. Kuro walked to her. He asked, "Can I ask you something while we walk upstairs?" With her approval, the pair began to make their way upstairs, but stayed a bit behind so they could hear each other rather than having to yell at the top of their lungs over the other voices. He turned to her and asked, "Haru, how did you know what those symbols are? I know them. They are ancient symbols of magic. I've read that only the descendents of the ancient priests and archmages from the Magic Dimension can read them!" Haru shrugged and answered, "Actually, I'm not sure how I read them. They just seemed to make sense to me!" Just then, they got to Kuro room. They seperate and Haru headed for her room downstairs. Now she was wondering herself, how did she read them.

Haru shook her head and pushed this to the back of her mind. She had to pack her luggage today was the big day. She hurried to her room.

45 minutes later...

The Baron

As the Baron made his way to the dock with his luggage in one hand and his cane in the other, he saw the crowd beginning to form. He managed to flock through the crowd and find Haru, Kuro, and Toto, but saw no sign of Muta (of course, he was probably in his room lost in the thought of light, fluffy chocolate chiffon cake with whipped cream). Just as the crowd was silenced and Lune was about to speak, a fat white cat (a.k.a. Muta) came rushing out of the castle to the dock. As he was about to exit the castle, he tripped on the steps, slipped, and landed flat on his face, with luggage case flying over his head. The case, already bulging with crammed rather than neatly place stuff, exploded into a fury of flying bags of chips, clothes, wrapped sandwiches, and obviously disorderly packed books and papers. The Baron showed a face of disapproval, as Toto, Kuro, Haru did their best to hid their laughter. As Muta pulled his face out of the ground, he looked at his surroundings with a dirt-covered face and bewilderment, while stammering, "A-am I late,? D-did the boat leave? Am I left behind?!" Muta saw the ship, and collapsed onto the ground with relief. The Baron, as well as the other there rushed over to help their friend to be back on his feet.

Lune held back a laugh as the butterball got on his feet. After that was settled, Lune silenced the crowd and annouced, "We are about to board the ship. As you get on board, please check your name with the ship attendents and they will hand you your room's number and keys."The crowd hustled and boarded onto the ship, and as each person pass, they were given a key number. But what they didn't know was that there was a cat from another place, who also was in the crowd, given a key. He, with his black cloak trailing behind him, dashed to the stairs without anyone noticing, and went to a secluded room, on level 13, and on a small room numbered "666" so far individuals never even noticed there. The onld captain had built it, but it was said that he had lost the keys. As he slipped a small copper object from his pocket to the doorknob, he pushed on the door and entered. Oddly, this place seemed very clean, and also had not a trace of dust and was much more fancy-looking than the other room. But he didn't head for the luxorius beds and couches. He re-locked the door, and headed to a smalled chest. He opened it with the smal key as the one to the door, and lifted the top. In it was an assortment of small, odd trinkets, some glowing with light, others emiting an evil dark aura around it. The cat reached his hand in and pulled something out. Then he locked the chest, and sneaked his way back to the deck.

ooOoo

Me: I NEED MY CAFFEINE!

Baron: Too bad, we dumped all the coffee out. Anyways you already slept through the program.

Me: Gahh!

Haru: Oh well just don't fall asleep next time

Me (runs to the nearest Target): NEED COFFEE NEED COFFEE NEED COFFEE

Haru (turns toward audience): while Kuro "enjoys his time" destroying the coffe aisle in the store, I hope you like the story! R&R plz!

(End of Chapter 6)