Chapter Six: The Inevitable

Haru felt a gloved hand touch her face, waking her from her troubled slumber. Shoot, even that was starting to hurt.

"Baron," she croaked, unable to see now. Blast, she had forgotten about her voice. She could hear her favorite orange cat breathe, obviously close to crying.

Wait… her Baron? Crying? But he was the strongest person she had ever met! He jumped off a tower for her, for crying out loud! She could feel him raise a hand to his lips and kiss it softly, warm tears caressing her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Haru."

She smiled, wondering if he could read lips. She decided to find out.

"Why? It's not your fault I got sick."

He gently put her hand down, and brushed a dark strand away from her sweaty face.

"No, but I should have checked on you sooner. I should have come sooner."

She smiled.

"I should have swallowed my pride and told you what was wrong with me. But, you were already helping me with the cat problem, and it felt selfish to ask for more, after all the trouble I had already put you through."

"No, what's selfish is refusing to let other people help you. Your mother explained about your father. He sounds like a great man, but I am certain that he doesn't want you to join him and leave your mother alone. I don't want you to leave."

Dang it. The words that could have made her blush a month before couldn't manage more than a light tinge now, her heart barely responding. All the cat doctors had managed to do was make her more comfortable while waiting for the inevitable, but that was enough for her.

"I know he wouldn't. I know you don't. I know I don't."

He was still holding her hand, and she tried her hardest to squeeze it. She could barely even close her fingers over his. She could feel Baron's hand tighten slightly, and she silenced the pain that followed. Baron's presence leaned over her, and paused in front of her face.

Was he about to kiss her? No, his furry lips lightly brushed her cheek, the one he kept touching.

Why! Why did even that have to hurt? Tears started to stream, swiftly attacked by Baron's handkerchief, although he sounded like he needed it himself. His touch was still gentle, she could tell through her pain.

"Haru… I'm so sorry." His voice was thick with pain, like he was the actual one being hurt.

As was she. She was so sorry that nothing could come of her love for him… this just wasn't fair.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

That was the last time they were able to understand each other. Haru soon lost the ability to hear as well as sight, and all there was, was pain. The doctors did what they could, but none of their spells did her the good they hoped it would.

Her body glowed from the layers upon layers of spells, almost like she was already an angel. Her loved ones were forced to stay back as the doctors did one last spell, the last of their energy they could give the girl.

Toto and Muta were standing side by side, far too scared to breathe a word. Lune and Yuki were holding each other in fear once more, streaming eyes locked on the girl struggling to breathe. Baron was on the very edge of the line the doctors had warned him not to cross, Naoko's hand squeezing his shoulder. Despite all the obvious reasons she should be protesting about her daughter's crush, it just didn't seem to matter anymore. No one believed the girl would last another hour, her body far too gone for the magic to truly help her. No words were spoken, each speaking their private wish, unknowing that everyone in the Cat Kingdom was praying for the Yoshioka girl, as well as a few humans in her home world.

'I wish Haru had the chance to insult Muta more.'

'I wish we had thought to visit her. I wish we had more time with her.'

'I wish she could have been my maid of honor.'

'I wish we could have helped her the way she had us.'

'I wish she was born with a stronger body.'

Baron reached up and squeezed Naoko's hand, tears shamelessly flowing through his fur.

'I wish I could have another chance to let her know how I truly feel about her. I wish there was a way for it to matter.'

Her body gave a final shudder, and with one last whisper of a sigh, went limp. Her wide unseeing eyes glazed over further, and she was dead.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

This is NOT the end. Wait for it…