Chapter 9

Hiromi continued to look out the front window of the estate while her father walked down the stairs and into the living room. Her eyes then widen when she saw a carriage approaching as she turned and said, "They're here, Father."

The white furred half cat just nodded in response as there was a knock on the front door after a few minutes or so. Renaldo then made his way to the main doors of the estate as he opened the left one to reveal both of the king's advisors. The light blue half cat then adjusted his glasses a little as he greeted him with, "Good afternoon sir Moon. Both Natoru and I were wondering does a young lady by the name of Haru live here?"

"Actually yeah she does, but you just missed her since I sent her into town to get something." The large half cat answered back, as he moved aside so that they could come in.

The kimono wearing half cat nodded as he replied, "Alright I suppose we will wait until she returns then."

Unbeknownst to all of them though was that Baron was hiding behind one of the tea cups waiting for his chance to get the key as he noticed that the white furred half cat had gotten to the table and had grabbed the kettle as he offered, "Would you two like some tea?"

Baron mentally sighed with relief as the dark brown and tan mixed cat answered back, "That is very kind of you to offer us that, sir. But both Natori and I have been given strict orders from the King to have Miss Haru try on this slipper."

The figurine then noticed that the large half cat had set down the kettle as he mutter something under his breathe as he then leaned up against the table slightly annoyed. Baron then took this chance to lower his cane into the other half cat's pocket and when he had gotten his cane into one of the holes on the key he started to lift it up. He then lightly gasped when he saw that Renaldo's hand was about to come down into his pocket. It stopped however, when Hiromi asked, "Um if it's not too trouble could I try the slipper on?"

The green eyed half cat then looked over at the two advisors who just both looked at each other for a moment before the tinted wearing glasses one answered back, "Well perhaps, but only if you promise to be careful with it."

"Oh don't worry I will." The light brunette reassured them both with, as she then sat down in a chair and removed her own left shoe.

This caused Baron to whip his brow as he then lifted the key out of Renaldo's pocket and jumped down onto the floor and made his way upstairs. He just hoped that this unexpected distraction could buy him enough time to get the key up to Haru's room so that she could come downstairs and get what rightfully was hers.

ooooooo

Haru just continued to cry as she was still leaning up against the door as Toto tried to reassure her with something as he said, "Don't worry Haru, I'm sure Baron will show up any minute now with the key to your room."

The brunette just wiped the tears away with her right arm as she nodded and replied, "Yeah maybe you're right."

She then jumped when she heard someone's voice as it said, "Don't worry Haru, I'm almost there."

The hazel eyed young woman let out a gasp as she quickly turned around and saw the figurine slowly make his way to her room with the key behind him as she exclaimed, 'You got the key!"

"Did you ever doubt me, Haru?" Baron asked, as he slid the key underneath the door.

After Haru had grabbed the item she quickly unlocked the door and opened it as she gave him a warm smiled and answered with, "Not for a second."

She then made her way downstairs hoping that she was not too late to ask the two advisors if she could try on the slipper.

ooooooo

Hiromi let out a light gasp as she exclaimed, "Look Father, it fits!"

"It does?" Renaldo asked, as he leaned in a bit closer.

The light haried brunette then tried to walk with it on, but after only taking a few steps she fell backwards. Thankfully though her father had caught her as he asked, "Hey, are you alright?" His daughter nodded which made the white furred half cat sigh in relief as he added, "Well, that's good."

Hiromi then took off the slipper and approached Natoru as she then put the shoe back onto the pillow that it had been on as she said, "I'm sorry the shoe fits me, but I can't walk in it at all."

"That is quite alright, my dear." Natori responded with, as he then turned to the other advisor and nodded. The mixed half cat nodded in return and as the two made their way to the opened doorway the light blue half cat added, "Well, good day to you then."

His ears suddenly twitched though when he heard a young lady's voice as she pleaded, "Wait sir, may I try it on?"

The light blue furred half cat turned around to see the brunette walk down the stairs as he smiled and thought, "That must be Miss Haru."

The large white half cat got in his way though he suggested, "Hey, now you don't want to rush into having her try on the shoe do you?"

"I'm sorry sir Moon, but these were orders from the King. You are lucky that we let your younger daughter try on the shoe since she is a human like Haru." Natori calmly shot back, as he gestured for him to move. Once the white furred half cat had done this he walked to Haru and took her hand into his as he ended with, "Come here, my dear."

After he had her seated in a chair he then turned and gestured for Natoru to come over there with the shoe. The mixed furred half cat just smiled and nodded as he slowly ran towards the two. But when he was almost to them Renaldo looked from one corner of his eye to the other as he stuck his cane out in front of him and mentally said, "Oops."

This caused the green eyed half cat to trip over the cane as he fell onto his stomach which made the slipper go flying. It then landed right in between the brunette and the advisor as he let out a gasp and said, "O-Oh no!" He then bent down and picked up a few of the pieces of the glass shoe as he went on with, "What will the King say when hears about this? Or worse what will he do?"

Seeing the light blue half cat advisor in such a panic state caused Renaldo to smirk in triumph thanking that nothing could go wrong now. He was sadly mistaken though when Haru bent down and said, "You know perhaps it might help if I-"

She was cut off by the kimono wearing half cat as he looked up at her and replied, "I'm sorry my dear, but I don't think anything you say will make the situation any better."

The brunette just smiled at him as she grabbed something from one of her inner pockets as she answered back with, "I had a feeling you meant say that. But you see I have the other slipper."

Renaldo's eyes widen in disbelief as he mentally shouted, "WHAT?"

Natori on the other hand just gave the glass shoe a few kisses before he gently slipped the item onto her right foot. And when he saw that it fit perfectly he exclaimed, "It's fits." He then helped her onto her feet and hugged her as he went on with, "Oh Miss Haru, if only your mother could see you now. Why I am certain that if the Baroness were still alive she would be over filled with joy."

"Huh, what are you talking about? My mother wasn't a Baroness." Haru replied, confused as to why the advisor would say that.

"You really don't know do you, Haru?" Natori asked, as he pulled away from her and looked into her eyes.

The brunette just gave him a confused stare as she asked, "I don't know about what, sir?"

She then noticed that her stepfather had become very uncomfortable as the kimono wearing half cat answered, "I think it would be best to ask your stepfather about your mother. Since the two were married before she passed away."

As his stepdaughter continued to stare at him though Renaldo gulped as he mentally told himself, "It looks like I'm going to have to tell her everything. She's not going to like it, but oh well...she'll just have to learn to deal with it."