The Baroness

Chapter 4

The weeks passed on and Layla never returned to the small town with the live Baron. Muta never returned to the shop for food, even though he had been seen around the neighborhood. The statue of the Baron haunted Layla every time she passed it.

"Mr. Naski, has anyone bought the Baron yet?" she finally asked.

"No, because I plan on never selling it." he smiled at her.

"Wait, why?!" she quickly panicked.

"Because he is part of a set I intend to put back together. The Baroness was off for repairs when I bought the Baron and my fiançe stayed behind in Germany to buy her when she was finished while I moved here and got our business started. Unfortunately, she never came and when I returned to look for them both, the shop was gone, as was my fiançe. So the Baron and I share something in common, left at the alter. That's why I'm keeping him." he explained.

"Soooo there isn't the tiniest chance you want to get rid of him?" she sighed.

"No, why? Do you want to buy him?" he smiled.

"Not in the slightest." she grumbled.

"Well, alright. Have you seen Moon, lately? He hasn't been here in several days." he went back to work on the big clock he has been working on.

"I've seen that fat, arrogant cat around." she sighed.

"Alright. Oh and just so you know my grandson Seiji is coming into town for a while. You two will get along great!" Mr. Naski smiled at her happily.

"Wait, Seiji is coming back from his apperenticship? Doesn't he have a girlfriend or something?" she sighed.

"Yes he does. She is a writer and has been trying to publish a story on the Baron actually. Its very nice. Maybe you'll get to read it." he smiled and got back to work.

"Yeah... Maybe..." she sighed and leaned against the wall.

As the days ran by, Mr. Naski was estatic his grandson was coming home. The day finally came for the violin making protegé to arrive and Layla was forced to pick him up at the airport. Since she didn't have the money to own a mode of transportation, she was forced to walk the entire five miles there. Sure, she could have used his bike to go and pick him up, but he probably had a lot of luggage to carry so there wouldn't be enough room for two people plus a bunch of luggage to fit.

"Seiji?! Seiji?!" Layla called for hours at the gate, waiting for the boy before he finally came.

"Present!" he shouted, hugging her upon sight.

"Alright, where are your bags?" she sighed, looking around.

"This is all I have." he smiled, holding up a small duffle and a separate bag.

"What's in the man purse?" she smirked.

"The Baroness."