Trails of intertwined stars: Chapter 34

~Chapter 5: Catnapped~

Hikari crawled into the home, setting her bag on the floor, though in there it looked more like a dresser. She gasped in awe. It was just like her toy dollhouse that was so large she could fit inside, except this one was much better. The decorations were intricate, and everything about it screamed elegant.
"Wow!" Hikari beamed, stars in her eyes," This place is super pretty!"
Baron smiled at this, setting his jacket and top hat on his coat hanger.
"Come in and have a seat."
"Okay!"
Hikari crawled in, watching as Baron made his way to a cabinet.
"Tea, with lemon or milk?"
"Milk, please."
Hikari shuffled in, so she sat on a chest with nothing inside it.
"Woah," Hikari gawked, staring up at the chandelier," You'd get on well with Baba."
"Here you are," Baron held out a teacup.
"Oh, thanks!"
Hikari gently took it off him, giggling at this fact it looked like a shot of tea. Baron turned to her.
"My special blend. I can't guarantee the flavour. It's different everytime."
Hikari took a sip, beaming yet again.
"It's good. It's really good!"
"You're lucky."

Muta pushed himself in through the door, scowling," How can you drink that bitter stuff?"
Toto bounced onto the balcony from the upstairs window," Too refined for you, I bet."
"Go catch a worm, bird."
Muta slouched onto the sofa, Baron sitting in an armchair opposite him.
"Now, Muta, tell me about the Kingdom of Cats again."
"The whole place is fake. It's for cats who don't know where they belong."
"Where they belong?"
Hikari cleared her throat," Well...one cat told me...their king wants me to marry his son."
Muta laughed, laying back on the sofa," Why don't you do it?"
"No way!"
"Might not be bad."
Toto scoffed," That's absurd."
"Could be interesting."
Baron sighed," I see."
He set his tea cup down onto the table, standing up swiftly," I've always wanted to visit the Kingdom of Cats. Maybe it's time."
"You've got guts," Muta chuckled," I'll give it a miss."
"You're coming too."
"Sorry, that place gives me the creeps!"
"You aren't taking this child with you, right, Baron?" Toto frowned.

Baron sighed, pacing the room, his arms behind his back," That wouldn't be wise. But, we can't leave her here."
Baron stared at his bookshelf in thought, before turning to Muta, raising an eyebrow; sharply. Muta deflated.
"Don't look at me. Do I look like a babysitter?"
"Are you busy?" Baron asked.
"Not exactly."
Hikari set her teacup down," I better go home."
Both Baron and Muta turned to look at her, surprised.
"I recognise that expression..." Hikari sighed, crawling to the door," I'm just causing trouble for people again, and I don't want that. I got into this mess. So I'll just get myself out, it's nothing foreign to me."
Baron sighed, shaking his head, disappointed," I see. I'm sorry we couldn't help you, Hikari."
Muta kissed his teeth before sighing," Fine, I'll do it."
Hikari glanced back, confused.
"I'll hang out with the kid. Get her something to play with and I'll stay put."
Baron smiled, proudly at Muta's change of heart.
Toto snickered," Excellent, Muta."
"Then it's settled," Baron nodded," Hikari, take a seat."
"But..."
"Muta is always complaining. But he's a good guy."
Muta wrinkled his nose with a hum.

"Ooh! I get it!" Hikari giggled," He's just a pussy cat!"
"Exactly. See, Muta, you'll be accompanied by a smart child at that," Baron chuckled.
Muta rolled his eyes, turning away," Oh, stop it."
Hikari beamed," Thanks for your help, Moo-ta."
Hikari gasped, slapping her hand over he mouth, realising what she just said. Muta swiftly turned to look at her, glaring at her angrily.
"MOO-TA!? Did you just call me a fat cow, kid!?"
"No, but you are fat...Oops!"
Toto covered his face with his wing, trying his best to conceal his amusement," I'm starting to like this girl."
Muta stood up, suddenly," I changed my mind!"
"Didn't we have some delicious chiffon cake in the cupboard?" Baron raised an eyebrow.
"Where?" Muta asked, practically running over to the cupboard.
Baron followed him," Top shelf, right."
"Why didn't you say so?" Muta sighed, pulling out a plate from the cupboard.
"Let's have a little party," Baron suggested, swiftly grabbing his ink and quill before Muta could knock it over to make space for the cake.
Toto bounced outside," Then you'll need my special mulberries."
Hikari grinned," Can I help out?"
Baron glanced over, walking over to the girl.
"Hikari, there's something more important I want you to do. You've got to discover where you truly belong. Then you'll have nothing to worry about," Baron explained, waving the fork.
Hikari nodded, determined.
"Baron, give me a hand with this whipped cream!"
"You're going all out."
"Naturally."

There was a sharp knock on the door, Hikari turned around.
"Maybe that's Toto?"
She crawled to the door, opening it. Standing there was the brown cat, grinning smugly.
"Miss Hikari," He extended his arms," We've come for you nya!"
"No!" Hikari gasped, recoiling back.
From the doors and windows, grey cats appeared, swarming around the girl in a circle.
"What are you doing!?"
Baron looked up, confused, piping cream on the cake; Muta also looked up, since all he was doing was judging Baron's every move. They watched as Hikari flailed and screamed, being spun around by the cats until she landed on her back; being dragged out of the door.
"Not good," Baron threw the cream aside, grabbing his jacket and top hat, Muta rushing ahead.
"Calm down!" Hikari whimpered, trying to grab onto the sides of the door," You promised to help meeee!"
She squealed, being pulled away. Toto flew into the window out of breath, landing on the balcony, berries in his beak.
"A horde of cats is headed this way! Are-?"
"NOW YOU TELL US!?" Muta yelled, storming out of the door.
"After them!" Baron exclaimed, jumping up onto the balcony to mount Toto.

Hikari and the brown cat sat upon the horde of grey cats, ducking under the archway out. They jumped down a ledge, Hikari yelping and rubbing her butt in pain.
"We looked everywhere for you."
"I'm going home," Hikari stated, trying to crawl off the running cats.
"Nyhon-!?"
As she attempted, Hikari fell backwards with a yelp, the cat catching her.
"Careful!"
Hikari gritted her teeth, grabbing the cat by the scruff of his neck so his ear was level with her mouth," LET ME GO! TAKE ME BACK THIS INSTANT!"
"Don't worry, every bride gets nervous."
Hikari screamed in his face. Toto followed closely, Baron perched upon him, searching; Muta following behind.
"This is completely insane," The pessimistic cat grumbled.
Toto swooped down, grabbing Muta by his scruff and into the air; the cat hissing and trying to bat him off.
"AH-! GO AWAY! OUCH! HEY, LET GO!"
Hikari gasped, turning around after pulling the brown cat's cheeks, her eyes shining.
"Muta, Baron and Toto!" She grinned, trying to crawl closer.
"LET ME GO, I'M TELLING YOU!"
"Toto, now!" Baron commanded.
Toto let go of Muta, the cat deadpanning for a split second, before being thrust down.
"DON'T LET GOOOOOOO!"
The brown cat stared in horror at the incoming passenger, whereas Hikari waved her arms thrilled. The cats split in the middle, the fat cat face planting the pavement with a heavy thud.

Hikari seethed, grabbing the brown cat by its scruff again.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT!?"
"We had to!"
Muta followed close behind, he'd never been faster, rage making his speed rocket.
"Why, YOU...!"
Muta leapt on, digging his claws into the grey cat's fur; Hikari tried her best to pull him on.
"He's too heavy!" The brown cat wailed.
A blue portal appeared at the end wall.
"Toto," Baron held on tightly to his hat.
"I'm there!" Toto responded.
Toto just managed to squeeze into the portal, behind the horde of cats. The portal emerged on the roof of a building. Hikari screamed, the cats running down the wall.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING AHHHH-!?"
At the foot of the drop was another portal, both the horde of cats and Toto made it in time. It emerged in a park, the crow flying onto a tree, getting a faceful of leaves.
"We're losing them!" Baron groaned, trying to make out the movements from inside the branches.
It looked as though they were getting closer to a lake.
"Climb!"
Toto nodded," Hold tight!"
The crow rocketed up, with the upthrust of the wind. The horde of cats leapt into a portal over the lake; Toto too far to reach. The portal disintegrated into stars.
"Now what?" Toto groaned.
The stars seemed to travel the way they were, Baron clenched his teeth.
"They're riding the wind!"
"I'm on it!"