Return of the Great Cat and Mouse Chapter 2

Chapter 2
We're Going There?!


Haru stumbled out of bed groaning, looking at the clock that read 10 am.

Haru was glad it was summer and she didn't have to be woken up by her cow alarm clock, to go to school. Although she is not late to school anymore, it's still a pain to get up out of bed every morning.

"Haru! Please come down stairs!" said Naoko from down stairs.

Haru rubbed her eyes as she opened her bedroom door and headed down stairs to where her mother was waiting for her.

"Haru! You won't believe the news I have!" said Naoko smiling widely.

"You got me a pet panda?!" said Haru in a teasing way.

"No." said Naoko rolling her eyes. "It's about the next quilting convention."

"Hmm... what about it?" asked Haru.

"Guess where the next big convention is at?"

"Umm Soka?"

"No."

"Chofu?"

"No"

"Kashiwa?"

"No"

"Hachioji?"

"No"

"Fujisa-"

"Its London okay!!!" said Naoko hardly containing her excitement. "Can you believe it?!"

Haru paled.

'London....' thought Haru. 'But that's where-'

"Talk about nuts! I haven't been to England in years! I can't wait to go!" said Naoko literally marching in place like an excited little 4 year old, who's going to Disney World for the very first time.

"But mom, the conventions you go to usually take place in Japan, not England." said Haru.

"Yeah, but this is an international event that I was invited to. I will be one of the 10 delegates representing Japan! Isn't this wonderful! And you get to come along with me, Haru!"

Haru stayed silent with uncertainty. She didn't know whether to be thrilled, like her mom or to be terribly disappointed.  

'London....' Haru thought again. 'Last time I've been there with my mom, I promised myself I would never return there. But...mom wants to go really bad.'

"But mom, I really don't want to go. Can't you go by yourself? I mean this won't be the first time you left me alone to go to a convention." said Haru trying to convince her mom not to make her come along with her.

"But Haru, that was when the conventions were close by and for goodness sakes girl, why would you not want to go to England?! You loved it there!" Naoko said

"Mom, you forget. That's the place where dad died. I don't want to go there when it will just bring back bad memories." Haru said struggling to keep her voice from breaking.

Naoko went silent and looked down at the floor sadly. At the thought of her beloved husband, Isamu, bad memories began to flood in.

"Listen.... you do realize, that just because Isamu died there, doesn't mean that we can't go back there, you were born there Haru. Don't you want to go back just for a little while?" said Naoko.

Haru began to think to herself : 'Sure, I would love to go back. London was where I was born. But... my dad's death also took place in London. The whole reason my mom and I left, was to escape the bad memories it brought being there. Now mom wants to go back?!'

"Please Haru....please. I want you to come with me..." Naoko said in a pleading voice.

Haru sighed in defeat.

"When do we go?"

Naoko lit up.

"It's next month, but we better get prepared now."

Haru nodded.

"I'm going to get dressed and tell Hiromi and my violin teacher the news." Haru said.

'Not to mention Baron and the others' she thought as she headed up stairs.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

***Baron's POV***

I frowned slightly at the newspaper presented in front of me.

'New criminal at large!' read the headline. 'Very dangerous rat by the name of Ratigan has come out of the shadows, in London and is threatening the Cat Kingdom. King Lune comments that the kingdom will be heavily protected as well as his family, Queen Yuki and his two kittens. Recent reports have stated that Ratigan wants something from the royals, but there are no reports on what it could be. Cats in London are keeping an eye out for anything, to make sure no rats are leaving the area to Japan.'

"Crazy, isn't it?" said Muta, making me look up from the paper.

"I assume you already heard." I said.

"You kidding? All the cats in the neighborhood are talking about this. Everyone is making such a big deal out of this..."Ratigan". Apparently he has a reputation on being the most wanted criminal in all mousedom."

I put my hand on my chin and thought.

"I think we should pay a visit to the Cat Kingdom to talk to Lune about what's going on." I said.

"Why?" Muta asked.

"We are the Cat Bureau Muta. We should help when the Cat Kingdom is in possible danger." I said.

Muta nodded and headed toward the door.

"I'll get birdbrain." said Muta as he walked outside.

I headed towards the coat hanger to get my jacket, top hat, and cane, but stopped halfway remembering something, Haru.

I should probably leave a note for Haru, if she decides to pays a visit to us.

I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and began to write a quick note for Haru.

When I finished, I put my jacket and top hat on and grabbed my cane and headed outside to where Toto and Muta were waiting.

"Ready to go?" asked Toto.

"Yes." I replied as I put the note on the door of the bureau and walked towards them.

"Lets go."