I have no excuse for my past absence. I admit I was being irresponsible and I will accept all the flames. I was wrong and I felt horrible for leaving this story for another 2 years again...
Thank you for people who's still following this story, really.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Cat's Returns.
"Is that really you...? Baron...?" The man in question was still coughing while holding up a hand. Haru searched the crowd wildly, looking at no one in particular.
"What happened?"
The crowd was no better, like Haru, they were still trying to process what just happened. The five mages were looking at each other, the Ex-Cat King; Lune; and Natori were at a loss, even Toto and Muta looked dumbstruck; their eyes glued particularly at the man. Finally, the silence was broken by Yuki.
"Haru! Are you alright?!" She ran straight to Haru and held her hands. "Are you hurt? Can you breathe properly?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine... I guess. My throat is a little sore, but I can breathe just fine now." Yuki let out a sigh of relief. She turned to the man in front of Haru and spoke in a stern voice which surprised Haru.
"Baron, I suppose you know what have just occurred? Would you care to explain to us?"
"...Yes, Queen Yuki." Baron replied and lowered his head. Haru's breath hitched when familiar emerald eyes met hers. It had a new and strange glint in it.
"To answer your first question, Haru. Yes, I am Baron-" Haru's eye widened. "-and you have my deepest apologize... For the failure of this magic..."
"...What?" Haru blanched. "No, it can't be! You worked so hard! Baron, I-"
"I don't believe this! Baron, you've never failed before! There must be something wrong with the ancient spell!" Toto cawed.
"What?! Are you saying our library is at fault?!" The cat mage at the middle protested followed by the one in his right.
"The ancient spell is like our national treasure! You DARE to insult it after we gave you permission to use it?!"
"Well, someone must have altered it somehow! When a spell is written from generation to generation for hundreds of years, there's bound to be a mistake somewhere!" Muta said.
"Why, you- let me tell you that our scholars are not like YOU who can't even write!"
"Mages, please- calm down. We can discuss this-" Natori tried to mediate, but it only fell to deaf ears. The five mages and the pair of Muta and Toto continued to debate heatedly, uncaring to their surroundings. Natori, Yuki, and Lune looked troubled at the dispute, Haru was scared that this debate will turn into a fight soon and with the look of it, it won't be pretty.
She was ready to jump into the middle of the groups when a deep voice suddenly boomed through the air.
"SILENCE!"
...
All people in the room slowly looked at Baron and his new found voice. The atmosphere turned heavy and stiff.
"The only one at fault in this room is me. So cease your pointless fight immediately."
"But Baron-" Muta tried to protest but he was stopped by a single glare.
"My tongue slipped when I casted the 'water-breathing' spell on Haru. THAT is what happened." Baron turned to haru once again with a pained expression on his face and a strange glint in his eyes, "I am truly sorry." with a little difficulty, Baron stood and walked out of the room.
...
'No...'
Haru thought after a few seconds and ran out of the room, chasing after Baron. Yuki wanted to chase after her, but she was stopped by Lune. Muta,Toto, and the five mages hung their heads low, ashamed of their accusing attitude.
Haru ran through the castle's seemingly endless corridor, searching for a particular blond-head with orange cat ears.
'It's not like him to just strode off from everyone like that...' anxiety rose into her heart when she didn't find him in his room. 'The one who's hurt the most is...Baron.' Tears were ready to spill from her eyes 'He worked so hard for me and yet...'
After searching through the castle's corridors, empty rooms, the balcony, and the ballroom, she finally found Baron...in the Royal Library. This time, he's sitting the middle of the room with new stacks of books around him.
Even after all of that, he didn't give up. He's not even recovered yet from the continuous three days spell.
"Baron..." She approached him quietly.
"Haru." He acknowledged her presence but he didn't avert his eyes from the book in his hand. "You should be resting now. Your throat is sore, right? I'm sure Yuki have-"
He was caught off guard when Haru circled her arms around his shoulders.
'It's not your fault." Haru said with a quivering voice.
"Haru, I-"
"It's not your fault." She repeated, stronger. Rapidly, she walked and sat in front of him. Now holding his face with her palms, forcing him to look at her.
"Everyone makes mistakes in their life. No one is perfect." She took another breath. "You should not blame yourself so hard like this, Baron."
"I know, but because of me, you-"
"I forgive you. So you should forgive yourself too. It's alright, we'll find another way."
Baron's eye widened. When did his Haru grow to be so bold?
...
Shortly after, tears began to roll down Haru's face.
'or maybe not.' He smiled and pulled the brunette close to comfort her. Haru didn't even know why she cried. Sadness, confusion, and relieve were all jumbled in her head. Her sobs stopped briefly when Baron nuzzled her neck and then the sobs turned into a strange giggle when she heard him purring.
"W-Why are you purring?"
"It's my instinct and I see it worked quite well." He nuzzled her neck again, not stopping his purr. Haru was really glad that she managed to cheer him up. She really didn't want to see him with that pained expression again.
"-and I see in the short time we're apart, you have grown to be a lady. Where did you learn such bold words?" He continued.
"Well, uh... You were really down... And I don't like to go circling around with words, so..."
They stayed in that position for a while. Haru's really enjoying the attention, too much actually. When she have calmed down considerably, she noticed that now, instead of fur to skin, she's now in contact with baron skin to skin.
"Uh... Baron... You can let go of me now..." She's blushing heavily now while pushing him slowly. Now face to face with him.
"What if I say no?" He said this with a poker face that Haru didn't know him being serious or not.
"I... Uh..."
With Baron having a new human face, Haru really became painfully aware of him like, how his blond hair was softer than his fur, his straight nose, his jaw, his lithe body, and... His emerald eyes glinting with amusement?
'He's playing with me!' Haru huffed and slapped his shoulders lightly which replied with a chuckle. He released Haru from his arms rather reluctantly.
"Now shall we return to everyone and discuss this properly?"
"I suppose..." Baron replied grimly. Haru noticed the obvious change. Somehow, his emotions were more visible now when he have a human face.
To be continued.