Chapter 10

Haru continued to look at her large half cat stepfather as she asked, "What is he talking about, Stepfather?"

The white furred half cat just let out a sigh as he explained, "Well you see Chicky, the king's advisor is telling you the truth your mother was in fact a Baroness since she did end up being married to a Baron." His expression then darken as he added, "And his name was, Humbert von Gikkingen. He also had a bodyguard of sorts who's name was, Toto."

Haru's eyes widen after hearing this when she remembered that Baron and Toto had introduced themselves with those same names as she let out, "No it couldn't be..."

Renaldo just ignored whatever it was that his stepdaughter had said as he replied, "Anyway your mother was beautiful back when she was alive. I actually fell for her right when I had first met her." He then lowered his head as he went on with, "But right when Humbert had introduced himself to her I could tell that they both had fallen for one another. And before I knew it, it had already been a year and the two were married and were expecting their first child. A daughter who turned out to be you, Haru."

The brunette then took one step forward as she asked, "If that is true then please tell me. What caused my father to disappear?"

A smirk then formed on the large half cat's face as he confessed, "Simple I paid a witch quite a bit of gold to trick both Humbert and Toto into leaving you and Naoko because she needed their "help". And once they would find the witch I told her to use a spell on them that would kill them within seconds."

The hazel eyed young woman could feel the tears building up inside of her again as she asked back, "Why...Why would you do that to them?"

"Because Naoko should have been with me from the very beginning!" Her stepfather shouted back, as he then lifted his head up so that the young woman could see his bent up rage. After he took some time to calm himself though he gave her a grin as he went on with, "Hey, don't get me wrong or anything Haru. If you had been born after your mother and I had gotten married then I know things would have been different." He then clutched his fists into a balled up state as he ended with, "But since I knew that you had your father's annoying habit of waiting to help other people. I just had to think of someway to try and break that trait of his out of you."

After hearing this Haru could not hold in the tears anymore as she fell onto her knees and broke down again as she placed her face into her hands. Before either Natori or Natoru could say anything to try and comfort the young woman someone asked, 'What is going on here?"

Everyone in the living room of the estate (expect for Haru) turned towards the open doorway to see Prince Lune standing there with a serious look on his face. When he looked downward though and saw that Haru was crying his expression instantly changed to that of a worried one as he asked, "Haru?"

The brunette's eye widen again, but this time it was out of surprise as she looked up at the prince and replied back with, "Lune, why are you here?"

The lavender furred half cat just walked up to her and knelt down in front of her as he got a handkerchief out and began to gently wipe away her tears as he answered, "I actually had come along with Natori and Natoru, but they both suggested that I should wait in the carriage. When I noticed that it was taking them longer then it should to get you I decided to see what was keeping them. Now please tell me what has caused you to-" He stopped himself though when he looked and saw that the brunette was wearing the right shoe of the glass slipper as he added, "I knew it. It was you the entire time wasn't it, Haru?"

The young woman nodded as she answered back with, "Yes, it was me, Your Highness. And I'm sorry that I didn't tell you right then and there Lune. But...I was afraid of what my stepfather might do if he had found out that I had shown up at the ball."

"I see." The Prince responded with, as he then stood up and helped her onto her feet. He then looked right at Renaldo and went on with, "And if you think that I did not hear what you had said earlier then you are sadden mistaken." He then wrapped his arms around Haru as he ended with, "I should have you put in the darkest dungeon of the palace and have your fortune taken away from you for what you did to Haru and her family."

"As much as I want to agree with you, Your Highness. I must ask of you not to do that." Someone said from behind them, which caused everyone to turn around and look up at the top of the stairway.

Haru's eyes widen once more when she saw Baron walking down the stairs at the height that he had been at when she went to the ball last night as she muttered, "What's going on?..."

Once Baron had walked down the stairs and stood in front of them he opened up his suit coat and as he did this he said, "Haru, I want to show you something."

The brunette then watched as the orange and cream half cat took a small photograph and gave it her. She then broke away from the prince as took it from him and looked at it in shock. The picture showed both her mother and Baron standing behind the fountain in the backyard of the estate. She then noticed that between them was a little girl and upon a closer look she realized that it her as she looked up at the former figurine as she asked, "So does this mean that you're my..."

She stopped talking however, when the green eyed half cat just gently placed a hand on her right cheek as he nodded and simply answered with, "Yes, Haru."

The hazel eyed young woman then felt tears fall down her face again only this time they were tears of joy as she hugged him and said, "Father, I-I was worried that I'd never see again." She then looked up at him and into his eyes as she added, "And yet both you and Toto have been with me the entire time. So please tell me what happened to you two after you had met with the witch."

Baron let out a sigh as he explained, "Well you see dear daughter, after Toto and I had reached the location of where the witch was she used some sort magic to trap us inside the house that she had led us into. She then apologized and told us that she really didn't want to this, but she was getting paid a good amount of gold by someone to have us killed." The orange and cream furred half cat then showed his daughter a warm smile as he went on with, "But after I had showed her that same picture she then showed pity on us and decided that instead of ending our lives she would turn us into statues or in my case a figurine. And that the only way the curse could be lifted was if the one who had paid her to do that horrible deed were to confess to either Naoko or to you, Haru."

This heartfelt moment was ruined though when Renaldo took a few steps towards the two as he shouted, "What? So you're telling me that just because of some stupid picture the witch didn't kill you!" After the lord had nodded in a yes motion the large half cat then marched right up to the two as he lifted Baron up by the front of his shirt causing him and his gaughter to let go of another as he added, "Well, I guess I should have just gone through with my other plan and had taken care of you myself!"

"I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you, you idiot!" Someone shot back, causing the white furred half cat to turn to face whoever it was that was trying to interfere.

But when he did turn his head the only thing he saw was a black furred fist as it collided with his face as it caused him to let go of Baron and take a few steps back and cover his nose in pain as he asked, "Who or what the heck was that?"

He then looked in front of him and noticed that a black furred half cat now was standing in front of both Baron and Haru with a death glare type look on his as Renaldo just scoffed and said, "Well, what you know Humbert's bodyguard finally decided to show up."

To this the only response he received was another punch, but this time it was to his stomach as the black furred half cat snapped back, "You know I really should beat the stuffing out of you not only for what you did to me and Baron. But for also taking his wife away from him and then for treating Haru like dirt." He looked back at the brunette as he ended with, "But she doesn't need to see that so consider yourself lucky that she's here right now."

"Thank you for doing that Toto, but that really wasn't necessary." Baron replied, as he then walked towards the large half cat. And before anyone could ask what he was doing he continued with, "However, there is just one thing that I want to say to you, Renaldo." The orange and cream furred half cat then extended his hand outward as he ended with, "I want to thank you."

Renaldo just looked at the lord's hand confused as he asked, "Huh? Why in the world would you want to thank me?"

"Because even though you did terrible things to my daughter you never let anything harm her to the point where she would die." Baron stated, as he then looked over at his daughter. He then continued with, "And even with all of the money that you had gained after marrying my wife you could have just as easily thrown her out onto the streets or have paid someone to kill her. But you did not do those things and for that I am grateful." To this the white furred half cat just nodded understanding the meaning behind wanting the hand shake as he then grabbed a hold of the Baron's hand and shook it. But within a few seconds the orange and cream furred half cat's grip became very tight as he ended with, "However, since I have returned I strongly suggest that you and your two daughters gather your things and leave my home at once."

To this the large half cat quickly removed his hand and nodded as he turned to his daughters and said, "Girls, pack your things because we're out of here."

The two nodded and did what their father told them to do. But as Baron watched the three go upstairs to get their things he was caught off guard when his daughter hugged him again as she said, "I'm glad that you're back to normal, Father. And thank you for taking care of me even when you were a figurine."

Hearing this caused a smile to spread across the lord's face as he wrapped his arms around her and replied, "Of course, dear daughter."

ooooooo

The church balls rang the next day as Haru walked out of the church with her newly wedded husband Prince Lune. But as the two made their way to the carriage to go on their honeymoon her right glass slipper (which was a white pair) fell off of her foot. She then stopped walking and told her husband, "Please wait here, I'll be right back."

When she had reached the shoe though she felt her father's hand as he gently removed it from the slipper. He then took glass slipper and slipped it back onto her foot as she then kissed him on the forehead and whispered, "Thank you, Father."

The orange and cream furred lord just nodded and gestured for her to go on to which she did as the prince then helped into the carriage and then got inside of it with her. And as both Baron and Toto waved goodbye to the two they both smiled when they saw the brunette and the half cat prince press their lips together for a kiss.

Well, that's the end of this story and I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have had typing it. Also thank you to everyone who has left a review since I'm always glad to hear when one of my stories is good or interesting. Now sometime soon I plan on making another Cat Returns crossover story, but this time it will be with Howl's Moving Castle. Also I might make a sequel of sorts for this story. However, you just have to wait and see what it will be about. Anyway though thank you once again for reading and/or reviewing this story.