Anything to Come
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-Chapter Two-
"...And the Bureau's doors will be open for you, be it day or night."
'Baron, why am I here?'
"Until then... trust yourself!"
'Baron, why do I feel I cannot trust myself to be here? I feel... empty...'
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Haru's face was positioned towards the ground, and you couldn't tell if it was rain or tears dripping down her cheeks. She was quietly murmuring under her breath, eyes pushed closed.
"Why am I here? I feel like I want something... but that seems so selfish... I... need... something..."
Haru realized she had shrunk, as she had three years ago. She felt the strange feeling in her stomach.
"What is it you need, Haru?"
Haru's eyes shot open and she threw her head around to look up over her shoulder. There he was, top hat pulled slightly over his face, holding his cane beneath his arm. He lifted his head, and a glint came across his eyes, yellow in the dark light.
"Baron!" Haru exclaimed.
She stood and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He kept his solemn face but put his arms around her as well, then stepping back, nodded to her and gestured towards the first place Haru had ever set foot in when she had come to the Bureau. His house.
"Haru, I suggest we go inside. I do not think you wish to become sick."
Haru shook her head and they went inside, Haru looking at her feet the whole time.
Baron looked at her once they were under the roof, taking off his hat and coat and hanging them up on a coat rack.
'She has not changed,' he thought.
Haru looked to him, waiting for something to break the akward silence. She blushed, remembering she was still in her pajamas, tugging on the bottom of her shirt to straighten herself up.
"You should get dried off before you catch cold," Baron suggested.
Haru nodded, then asked, "Do you have a bathroom?"
Baron flicked on the light switch and said, "Yes, down the hall, the third door on the left. In the meantime, I shall be preparing tea and cake."
Haru smiled, remembering the last time she had been here. She had been kid napped before she had been able to eat the cake Baron and Muta were readying. She supposed it would taste good. As did Baron's tea.
Haru cleaned and warmed herself by taking a hot bath She sank deep into the water and bubbles, holding her breath.
'I'm here. I'm in Baron's house. I'm going to talk to him... to tell him... No! I can't! If I do, that will change things forever... because I don't even know if that is how I feel. For three years I have kept the Bureau in the back of my mind, trying not to think about it, not to feel sad that I couldn't go back... couldn't go back because that would ruin everything... my life... no, I couldn't... but I'm here now... why am I so confused...?'
Just at that moment, Haru realized she was nearly out of breath. Her eyes widened and she sat up with a jolt, throwing water out of the bathtub and onto the tile floor. She choked and gasped for breath, holding her head and tryingto steady herself.
She finished her bath and made her way into the living room. Baron was sitting, holding a cup of tea in between his gloved hands. He looked up at Haru and smiled at her.
"I trust you had a good soak?"
Haru smiled and nodded.
Baron set down his cup of tea and placed Haru's in front of her and offered her cake. She refused and took a sip of tea, loving the taste. Baron watched her.
"Haru, there must be a reason you came here."
Haru looked up at Baron and sighed, setting her cup down with shaky hands. "Yes," she said, letting out a breath and nodding. Baron sat back and placed his hands in his lap, waiting.
"Go on please, Haru."
"Well..." she hesitated, "I... have missed you and Muta. I have missed Toto and Yuki and Lune... I missed... everyone, Baron. It's almost like heartbreak... and... tonight I had a dream..." Haru cut off there.
Baron raised an eyebrow. "Please continue, I am curious to why this dream led you here this night..."
Haru looked at her hands, then went on, "I... You... you were killed..." She didn't say anymore. She didn't need to.
She heard a crash and jerked her head up, looking at Baron.
He was sitting there, rigid, staring, eyes wide.
"No..." he whispered.
A/N: Yeah, this was mostly a preparation chapter, putting a couple of things together, the boring stuff. I promise there'll be some action in the next chapter. Sorry for the cliffie. X3-shot-
Kurenai-Takusen
