Chapter 4 - Strawberries
Yuki made her way directly to the King who appeared to be using the magical staff as a royal back scratcher.
"Please your majesty, may I have the staff?" she asked politely turning her large, blue eyes in his direction.
The Cat King could only waver slightly at her gracious tone and doe-eyed look before he grudgingly handed over the item of power.
Behind his back, the white feline gave her paramour a look of triumph.
Lune gave a wry chuckle whispering under his breath to the brunette, "Yuki can be ruthless if she put her mind to it. April showers may bring May flowers, but those flowers sometimes have thorns."
Haru had to agree. The two months were perfect for the pair. Lune's coloring made him dark as April storm clouds, but his multicolored eyes still represented the joy in his month. Yuki's eyes were as blue as her month's summer sky.
"What's Muta?"
"We ask that sometimes ourselves," Lune chuckled. "But isn't it obvious? He's October, the month of harvests." The large cat's expansive belly was certainly a confirmation of this.
"Toto is December," he added watching Yuki as she took the high place.
Death, Haru thought at first looking over at the bird. Crows were often the portent of that evil, but they were actually unfortunate scapegoats. Death, crows, and December all had bad reputations, but after getting to know the kind Toto, she knew he was the best embodiment for the month that meant change, for after all, what was a beginning without an ending?
The snow white feline took the ice staff, and like Baron before, struck the ground and raised it over the growing bonfire. Instead of oak, trailing grape vines wrapped itself from tip to base. Muta's stomach rumbled in response.
Again the air turned calm with a glorious heat spreading through the glade. Haru began to sweat under her coverings, and took off her long scarf and threadbare coat. She laid it on an unoccupied seat around the bonfire, the one seat where there had never been a representative. She didn't see the shocked expressions of the King's two attendants, too busy observing the plums, blueberries, and bright red strawberries that grew and ripened before her eyes.
"Did you see that, Natori!?" the tan and brown cat nudged his companion with astonishment.
Natori squinted through his spectacles, "It appears that Miss Haru may be the one."
After a confirmation from the snow white cat, the girl busily selected the brightest strawberries hearing nothing of their conversation. When her basket was full, she turned gratefully to Yuki and Lune strolling arm and arm through the wildflowers.
"Oh thank you so much Yuki! You and the others saved my life again!"
The white cat gave her a pretty smile, "Then I am glad to have repaid my debt to you, Haru." She glanced up at her handsome companion, "In fact, I'd say you could take your time. We have a good hour before we have to restore the season. Lune and I will certainly enjoy it." With that said she took Lune's paw in hers, and they strolled off, lost in their love for each other.
The human girl gave a happy sigh after the pair before she turned searching among the milling months for one face in particular.
Stop being so foolish, Haru! He's not interested in seeing you and certainly not interested in your silly problems. He could have his pick of anybody in the land, even the royal princess! You're practically a servant in your own household."
She made to gather her basket of strawberries and quietly leave, but as she was walking the sight of Toto dive bombing Muta caused her to look away from the path.
Would those two ever stop fighting?
As she turned the corner she collided against a firm chest. Feeling her footing slip, Haru grabbed onto strong shoulders. She felt strong hands settle her to her feet, supported against a svelte body. The basket of fruit slipped off to the side, not a single berry bruised by her dropping it.
Well this is familiar, she thought wryly.
Haru glanced up only to encounter bright green eyes and a welcoming smile.
"Leaving so soon, Haru?" Baron murmured.
The girl flushed on getting caught by the one person she wanted to avoid, but delighted he was here before her.
"Baron!"
"At your service," he replied with a slight bow of his head.
The brunette could only blush harder as she realized she was still in his arms, her hands resting against his beating heart. She pulled away reluctantly but was comforted when Baron entwined her arm around his, and they strolled through the meadow arm in arm just like Lune and Yuki.
Haru couldn't help voicing her thoughts, "I have so many questions."
Baron reached over, squeezing her hand gently with his free one, "All you have to do is ask, Haru. We'd never hide anything from you."
She glanced at his serious gaze, the orange fur contrasting with his vibrant eyes. She could trust him, he wouldn't lie to her. Haru now paused unsure if her questions would be considered impertinent or not.
Her walking partner merely waited patiently content to have her by his side.
Haru looked at his hybrid features. "Are you a cat or human? Why are everyone cats and Toto a bird? He and Muta looked different outside my home too, like regular animals."
The orange cat had to admire her curiosity. "The world thinks that those who dwell on the other side would look human because they themselves are. They would never think that the fairies who lived in the Heavenly Kingdom would be animals instead. Many of us are cats because we find that is the best form to observe the mortal world without being obstructed. Dogs are perceived as servants to humans, mice as pests, but cats are their own master. Toto is a crow because he finds it easier to travel in that form. As December, he must report all of the events of the human world at the end of the year to the highest being, the Jade Emperor."
Haru gasped. She knew that the supreme one decided the fate of mortals and fairy alike. Some were taken to the heavenly palace, bad fairies were reincarnated to a cycle of mortal life, and a few lucky humans became fae themselves.
"As for my appearance," this time it was Baron's turn to blush. "That is because of you, Haru."
"Me?"
"Yuki raved so much about your thoughtful deed, I honestly did not believe her. I observed you in the mortal world sure that she was wrong, that what you did was a fluke. To my surprise I saw you feed another cat your food the week after she told her story to us. You intrigued me. I've crossed the veil so many times to see you that I've taken on the features of both human and cat."
Haru paused in her steps, "That's why? I'm not special. There are others out there doing things much greater than I. The princess for example, she feeds hundreds of strays every day."
He took her hands within his gloved ones. "We have to work on your confidence. Everyone is important in their own way, no matter if they're a servant or a princess of the land. You, Haru Yoshioka, are special, and not because you can hear cats talk. You should always believe that with all of your heart."
Baron stroked her hands within his, his brow now furrowed with anxiety. "Haru, you must be very careful around the princess. She has been hunting us all of her life. Do not let her find out you can talk to cats, or that you know where we're located."
The girl nodded slowly, baffled but trusting his words. The princess knew about the months? "I promise Baron. I'll stay as far away from her as I can."
After some time in quiet contentment with her unexpected companion, she turned an exasperated look onto him. "I'd wish you didn't make yourself invisible and would've just shown yourself to me earlier. It would have helped knowing about you over the lonely years," Haru groaned.
Baron chuckled but dipped his head in apology, "I was too nervous to show myself to you. I was hiding a little while longer until I could determine when the time was right to reveal myself to you, but it seemed our encounter in the woods decided it for me."
"Well now that I can see you, I think you're very cool, Baron," Haru admitted with her newfound courage.
The cat could only smile as he turned their way back to the bonfire, "Just for the record, I admire a young woman who speaks from the heart."
Apologies for the lateness. Writer's block on my other story and other hobbies distracted me.
More action coming soon,
Grignard