Trails of intertwined stars: Chapter 34

~Chapter 11: Lune and Yuki~

The cat king cackled, skipping into the tower. Muta, Baron and Hikari sat cross legged on the floor, watching as they all rushed in.
"Gikkingen!" He laughed," Splendid to see you again. Hikari, I'll have you back in the castle in a jiffy."
Baron sat on the floor, fanning himself with his hat.
Muta smirked at Hikari, who stared unhappily at the floor," A cat's life isn't so bad."
Hikari pouted," Do I have to learn to like mice?"
"Hold on," Baron smiled," It's too early to give up."
The cat looked outside, so Muta and Hikari followed his gaze. Standing in a line, there were grey cats in red army suits; one general in a blue suit. The sound of trumpets filled the air. From a doorway, a familiar purplish-grey cat, dressed in a royal white army outfit came out. His heterochromic eyes widened at the sight he was met with, gasping.
"What in heaven's name happened here? FATHER!"
The cat king spun around, his eyes widened at the voice, watching the figure rush over.
"Lune, you're back already!?"
Natori scrambled up," Stand at attention for the crown prince!"
"The prince?" Hikari hummed.

Lune rushed in, followed closely by his men.
"Yuki sent word for me to return," Lune glared at his father," What's going on here!?"
Yuki ran in from behind a guard, smiling happily at Hikari.
"Hikari!"
Hikari gasped," Yuki, it's you!"
Yuki smiled, sitting beside her," Good, we're not too late."
"I was just, err," The cat king mumbled," Welcoming her? And I thought you'd be happy...to have a demon like Hikari for your bride..."
Lune sighed," You needn't have worried. I'm going to marry Yuki."
Yuki stared at him, startled, Hikari turned to the cat.
"You're joking!" The king roared in laughter.
"Surprise, surprise," Muta sighed.
Baron chuckled," The prince has style."
Lune picked up the present box he'd been carrying the day Hikari saved him, walking over to Yuki.
"Yuki, it's for you. I bought it from your hometown."
Yuki gently untied the bow, Hikari watched curiously as she opened the present. It was small goldfish biscuits.
"My goodness," Yuki gasped," It's been so long."
"I used to love those cookies too," Hikari hummed.
"I know!" Yuki smiled," You gave them to me when I was homeless and hungry!"

"Here!" Hikari set the entire box in front of the kitten," Eat them all!"
She watched, giggling, as the small kitten stuffed its head into the box, eating. It looked up at her, even happier, mewing again.
Hikari gasped, realising. It all made sense.
"That kitten, that was you! You're so beautiful, I didn't recognise you!"
Lune smiled," Yuki...Will accept these as a symbol of our life together?"
Yuki nodded, happily.
"Which means..." Hikari pondered, before gasping in realisation," You two are getting married!?"
Both blushed at the respond, the cat king glared, confused.
"That's great!" Hikari exclaimed, flinging her arms over Yuki," I'm so happy for you, Yuki!"
"Thank you, Hikari!" Yuki laughed," If you hadn't found me I might not have survived."
Lune nodded," And you saved me from that truck. I never dreamed that you were the person Yuki talks about. You saved both of our lives. How can we thank you?"
Hikari shook her head, giggling," You don't have to! You've made me super happy already! I'm so glad I helped you both!"
Baron smiled, Muta nodding in agreement. Everyone collectively paused, hearing fake sobbing in the crowd of people.

The king walked over, dramatically," This is very moving. So, you already had a fiancee. Oh well, it can't be helped. But poor Hikari, you must be heartbroken."
Hikari shrugged," Not me."
"Nyow, nyow, nyow. If you can't marry Lune...why not marry me?"
Natori gasped in horror. Hikari stared at the king, no emotion behind her features.
"Just imagine! You'll have all the cookies and fish you can eat. Well?"
"Just put me back the way I was."
"Of course," The king nodded," That is, if you say yes."
Hikari pouted, puffing her cheeks up. The girl stood up, gritting her teeth as she clenched her fists.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?"
The king stared at her, blinking.
Hikari stormed over to him, screaming and prodding him back," Of course I don't want to marry you! YOU CREEPY, OLD, PERVERTED SLEAZEBAG CAT!'
Each one of the cat king's fur stood on end as he yowled in agony, stumbling over onto his butt.
"I don't understand!"
Muta burst into a roar of laughter, Baron having to cover his own with his hand.
"This is great!" Muta wheezed," The brat's got spirit!"

Natori gasped, turning to look at the cat, squinting his eyes in concentration.
"Marry you? Never!" Hikari stomped her feet.
Muta groaned, getting up onto his feet," I'm proud of that kid. Speaking your mind like that."
Muta smirked, grabbing Hikari by her shoulder, pulling her in," I'll let you in on something, cuz you earned it. I'm Renaldo Moon!"
The guards turned to each other, whispering the name to each other. Natori's eyes widened, the cat stood up swiftly.
"Now I remember!"
"What?" The king frowned.
"Have you forgotten, Sire?!"
Natori jabbed his hand at the ceiling, where historic art had been carved into the ceiling.
"The most notorious crime in the Kingdom's history!"
It was a drawing of a monstrous, white cat by the water side, his ginormous mouth open, bearing sharp teeth. Thousands of fish jumped into his mouth, as other small cats watched on in fear.
"A huge cat appeared suddenly and devoured all the fish in the lake, and escaped! That was Renaldo Moon, the criminal of the century!" Natori exclaimed.
"Unbelievable!"
"He's a monster!"
Baron sighed, standing up," Muta, you did that? That's disgusting."

Muta let out a cold laugh, slowly removing his paw from Hikari's shoulder.
"Maybe I'll gobble up THE ENTIRE CASTLE THIS TIME!" Muta roared, somehow growing larger in intimidation.
The guards all backed away in fear.
"Quick!" Natori commanded," Get his majesty to safety!"
The cat king growled, flinging away his body guards with a scream.
"Protect Hikari!" Lune commanded his guards.
"Yes sir! Forward!"
The king trembled in rage as Lune's army created a barricade, blocking him.
"How dare you!"
"Your Majesty!" Natori frowned.
Lune rushed over to Baron, Hikari, Muta and Yuki," I'll handle my father! You'd better go now."
Baron frowned," But the tower has fallen."
"Don't worry," Lune pointed upwards," It's still connected to the other side."
They looked up all the looping stairs to see the blue sky, the clouds floating among.
"Strange..." Hikari hummed.
"Oh no!" Baron grunted," It's already dawn!"
"Leave it to me!" Muta yelled.
The cat grabbed Hikari, holding her under his arm, spinning her around to gain momentum.
"What are you doing!?" Hikari yelped.
"NYRRRRRAGGGGHH!" Muta screamed, launching her up.
"DON'T THROW MEEEE!" Hikari wailed, being chucked up four levels.
The girl landed on four feet, Muta grinned, proudly," Yush!"
"Hikari!" Baron yelled," Run! We're right behind you!"
"Take care!" Lune yelled, waving.
Hikari nodded, watching as Lune's guards escorted Yuki and Lune away, the white cat smiling as Hikari ran off.

Thanks, Yuki. I guess I did right after all. Hikari jogged up the stairs, ignoring the commotion below. Saving the two of you... Feeling lost and down...That was all part of discovering where I belong.