Trails of intertwined stars: Chapter 34

~Chapter 4: The Cat Business Office~

Hikari walked through town, sighing.
"What even is a cat business office?"
A black cat crawled onto a sign, looking down at her. Hikari stared at it for a moment, before shaking her head.
"How am I supposed to find some big white cat?"
Hikari yawned, too tired.
"Well, all this walking around is getting to me," She hummed, setting her bag onto a table.
The girl went to sit on the chair, leaping up with a squeal as she sat on something fluffy and plump.
"Wait, what's going on!?" She squeaked, turning to look at the chair.
On the chair was a thick blob of a cat. It had creamy white fur, with a bushy tail and one brown ear. It glanced at her, sourly.
"Such a fat cat!" Hikari gasped," What are you doing there?"
Hikari gasped, realising, looking at it, curiously.
"A big white cat. Is this the one?"
Hikari sauntered over to it, crouching down and bringing her voice to a whisper.
"I'm looking for the cat business office."
It's ear twitched, slowly glancing at her with a sharp and irritated look.
"I need some help," Hikari smiled.
The cat's expression or state did not change. Hikari furrowed her eyebrows, staring at it, waiting for something to happen. She sighed, picking up her bag.
"Guess I got the wrong guy...or the wrong cat. Sorry I sat on you."
As Hikari walked away, the cat sat up.
"Follow me."
Hikari gasped, turning around to look at it," You!"

The cat leapt down from its chair, surprisingly the plastic chair didn't come down with it either. It ran off, surprisingly fast for its size too.
"Hey wait up, would you?" Hikari groaned, chasing it.
The cat led her through the town, into an alleyway opposite some smaller corner shops. It leapt up onto a stone fence, Hikari following. Jumping onto the small red roof he went on.
"Can't we just walk on the street?" Hikari frowned, following onto more small roofs," You're just mad at me, aren't you? Because I called you fat, or because I sat on you?"
It leapt off a roof onto a metal one, Hikari copying with a gasp. Their footsteps echoed below them. Hikari panted, watching it run down some stairs. Hikari gulped, chasing after it. It led them through an alley between homes, to another much more enclosed stone alley. As Hikari chased him, she traced her hand over the stone wall. He left through an opening, Hikari peered out watching him. He stood up under an archway, surprisingly seeming to be the same height. Hikari followed him, realising that the town was just really small. Built for a cat. It resembled a dollhouse in a way. For some reason, Hikari recognised it. It looked like something from a picture book she had read, long ago.

The town was gorgeous, carved from colourful stones; a pillar with a crow carved in marble stood proud in the centre of the town. It was in a dome curve shape, the only entrance and exit seemed to be the archway.
"What a strange place..."
Hikari watched as the fat cat made his way to a much smaller green and white house. It was even more familiar to the girl. The cat grabbed a newspaper from the side of the home, opening it up as he lazily collapsed onto the chair. Hikari stared at him, tilting her head. She walked over to the house, the cobblestones echoed with each step she took.
"So, where's the Cat Business Office?" She pouted.
The cat ignored her, opening his paper. Seemed he only did half a job.
"Hello? I've got a problem! I'll be taken to the cat kingdom."
Hikari glanced at the window behind the cat, noticing a strange silhouette. It was a statue of a ginger cat in a gorgeous ivory suit and top hat, with a blue bow tie and a cane. He stared out at her, with his fixed porcelain smile. The sun cast strangely on his eyes, making the girl stammer back.
"Is this...the Office?"
The sun emerged, it's golden hue alighting all the windows around. The light pointing at the small home, illuminating it majestically. The fat cat scowled, squinting as he glanced into the window.
"Enough, Baron! Turn it off! Nobody's impressed with your cheesy light show, okay?"
The statue did not change, but the sun faded behind the homes, the town fading into darkness. That was until the lights of the small green and white home flicked on, the doors opening.

An elegant cat took a step outside, approaching the girl as she stared in awe. It was the statue! He lowered his top hat.
"Welcome to the Cat Business Office."
Hikari gasped, stumbling forward slightly.
"Cool..." She mumbled.
"Our world overlaps with yours, but it's different. Sometimes, when people create something... and they put their heart into it...their creation comes alive, with its own soul."
Hikari blushed, nodding.
"Like me. Like him."
Hikari followed his gaze to the pillar, the marble crow transforming into an actual crow. He flapped his wings, sitting in place.
"WOAH!" Hikari gasped.
"This is Toto, our resident gargoyle."
Toto glanced over at Hikari, before it turned back to the gentleman-like cat.
"Baron, you rarely have visitors."
"Rather charming for visiting, isn't she?" Baron smiled, setting his top hat on his head.
Hikari turned to Baron," 'Baron'?"
"I'm Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. My maker named me."
"I recognise you!" Hikari gasped," You're the handsome cat in my picture book!"
"I have also heard of you. Trouble with cats? From the Cat Kingdom? For the avatar of Fear and Chaos to get wrapped up in that."
"I saved a cat from getting run over," Hikari stated," Now they want me to visit their kingdom."

"To pay you back?" Baron sighed, in thought," It figures..."
The fat cat groaned, slamming his newspaper down and waltzing over.
"A goodie two-shoes."
"Am not!" Hikari wrinkled her nose.
"You shouldn't have bothered."
The crow craned its neck," You're as cynical as ever, Muta. Don't you understand? She saved his life."
Toto swooped down, slightly clipping the cats fur as a warning, before landing on the home's roof.
Muta scoffed," And look what she'd gets! Never mess with other people's business."
Baron turned to Muta," Where did you meet?"
"At the crossroad," Muta stated," She knew about the Office."
Baron hummed in response, turning back to look at Hikari.
"I heard a voice," Hikari explained," I didn't recognise it."
"A voice?" Baron raised an eyebrow.
"And what did it say?" Muta scoffed," That's the dumbest... OUCH-!"
Toto swooped down, digging his talons into the cat's back.
"WATCH IT!"
"Why don't you hold your tongue?"
"Butt out! OWWW!"

Baron swooped into block Hikari, before she could go over and break them up.
"Your name is Hikari, correct?" Baron asked.
"Oh, yeah. It's Hikari."
"Okay, Hikari. Please, come in."
Baron practically marched back into his home, Hikari awkwardly following.
"Do not worry about them, Hikari."
"You lousy blackbird!"
"I'm a crow you stupid cat!"
"Ehhh? What are you!? It's too dark!"
"You're so fat you glow in the dark."
"Go get fried, chicken wings."
"Moo shu pork!"
"Well, good job I'm not the birdbrain here!"
"At least I don't look like a giant marshmallow..."
"Yeah!? Well at least I don't have a birdbrain!"
"You already said that, you idiot!"
"I did? Oh then go fry yourself, you big chicken!"
"You already called me a chicken, too! You got a hairball in your brain!"