Chapter Eleven: To See You

What would I give

To live where you are?

What would I pay

To stay here beside you?

What would I do

To see you smiling at me?

'Part of Your World Reprise', Disney's The Little Mermaid

xxXxx

Haru gaped in wonder as every glass surface in the room flashed grey before creating a larger scene between them.

He was showing a large grey castle, beautifully covered in green vines and silver roses in a much more controlled version of her own house.

"Oh, wow... is that your home, Baron?"

Both the glass sphere and the seemingly floating scarf came closer until she could feel a warm hand nod her head, but he didn't stop there. He angled the view a bit more downward to show a scattering of stone houses at the base of the castle, and going between them...

Tsuge wasn't kidding. There really were giant half-cats dressed like humans from maybe a century or two ago, going about their lives as if there was nothing special to be seen. About the only odd thing she could find was that there appeared to be less cats than the stone houses seemed to indicate.

"I know this is a rude assumption, but was there a plague recently? It feels like there should be more people."

"Ooh, I think you hit it on the nail," Tsuge grimaced as Baron... shook her head? "No? But he looks pretty bummed out over-"

The scene changed to war. A corner of the right window hinted that the view was coming from inside a tent, but nothing could hide the terrible scene.

It was three armies against one, or so she assumed from the different uniforms. There was no censorship on the slaughter, part of which was caused by violent bursts of magic.

Baron pushed the image away as Haru began to gag, keeping a hand at her mouth as Tsuge started looking a little green.

"Excuse..." he moaned, running into the bathroom to throw up.

Haru forced herself to take long deep breaths through the nose, her eyes wide and horrified as her hands trembled. "I-I'm so sorry, Baron. That's even worse than a plague."

He nodded her head in sad agreement, shifting Muta closer to Tsuge's seat and sitting next to her in order to steal another hug. The glass ball was still in one hand as she returned the embrace.

But after a minute, while she could hear Tsuge gargling from the bathroom, another thought occurred to her. "I know this is going to sound a little crazy, but it almost looked like a war between seasons."

Baron wasted no time in nodding her head.

"Wait, seriously? Do you switch locations when the months change?"

He shook her head before grabbing her hand. He gently slammed it down, keeping it in one place as firmly as a rock.

"Months don't change in your world? No, seasons don't change?"

He enthusiastically nodded her head, making her eyes widen in surprise.

"So, are you in charge of one of them?"

Another nod.

"My guess is either spring-"

He interrupted her with another nod.

"... So not summer." She thought carefully as Tsuge returned to the room with a nauseated expression.

"Did I miss anything?" he moaned, sitting on the far end of the coach.

"Baron's managed to say that seasons don't change where he's from, and that he's the Leader of Spring."

He gave her an incredulous look over the 'floating' scarf. "How on earth did you learn that?"

"By paying attention. This is another guess, Baron, but were your people fighting against Winter soldiers?"

He nodded her head again.

"What was the war over?"

There was a moment of silence before the windows filled with grey mist.

"He doesn't look a hundred percent sure that he can show us," Tsuge reported, still wincing as he held a hand to his stomach. "Really shouldn't have had that extra slice of cake."

"Let's never speak of that again," she ordered, keeping an eye on the mist as it filtered small glimpses of her over the years, but not what the war could have been over.

Eventually Baron gave up, the couch cushion regaining its normal shape as he stood up, placed the glass ball on the piano, and started rifling through her movie collection. The windows immediately cleared once he was no longer in contact with the ball.

"Baron, this is serious," Haru tried not to growl at him. "I don't mind watching a movie with you, but can't that wait until later?"

One DVD case in particular was eased out from the others, the front of it pointedly being displayed to the teenagers.

"Sleeping Beauty? Come on; that would be a chick flick if it weren't for the dragon scene," Tsuge complained, but then immediately shut his mouth with wide eyes.

"Something wrong?" his brunette friend asked.

"... Scary glare. He wants your attention."

"So what else is new? Sorry, Baron," she apologized when his soft finger tapped her lips again. She reached up to take Sleeping Beauty from where it seemed to be floating, but he held it away from her, taking a few steps back and doing something to make the DVD shake slightly.

"I think he's trying to say that he's Sleeping Beauty. He keeps pointing between Aurora and himself."

Haru gave a brief confused look before making an assumption. "You have something in common with Princess Aurora?"

Baron enthusiastically nodded her head.

That made her think. Without the dialogue, what would the story look like? But weren't they talking about something else completely before the movie?

Her eyes widened. "The war wasn't over you, was it?"

Baron regretfully nodded her head.

"Are you under a curse?"

Another nod, the urgency making it clear that she was getting close.

She tapped her fingers on the armchair, feeling a sense of dread. "But if the war was over a curse on you, doesn't that have to mean that the one in charge of Winter was-"

He didn't wait for her to finish before nodding her head almost harshly.

"Holy cow, Haru; how are you drawing these conclusions?!" Tsuge demanded. "I give you one vague hint, and you're nailing his back story!"

"The Sleeping Beauty part helped out a lot, okay?" she snapped at him, though now worried about Baron. "So, if you're under a curse bad enough to start a war... are you going to die soon?" she asked timidly, hoping that she was off the mark.

He slowly nodded her head.

"Isn't there something I can do to help?" she asked, standing up while keeping a grip on his wrist. "I mean, you came here to see me, right?"

He nodded her head without hesitation.

"Is there a way for me to save you?"

A shake of the head, but it soon melted into him wrapping his arms around her for a gentle squeeze. She could feel one of his arms fling the movie at the couch so that he could more fully embrace her.

Haru wrapped her arms around him, needing every warm hug he gave her. "... So I'm your dying wish?"

He placed his chin on top of her head, using that to make her nod since his hands were otherwise occupied.

"... Why me?" she asked after a minute, remembering too late to sing. "Why am I important enough to you to leave your world for your last days?"

He held onto her for another moment before walking backwards to the piano, still keeping her in his arms. Despite his obvious reluctance, he managed to pry one hand off her in order to pick up the glass ball, making it glow grey once more.

The surrounding glass filled with grey mist before clearing.

It showed her making faces at a fussy baby in the frozen section, much to the frazzled mother's relief. From the looks of it, she was around eleven at the time.

It showed what looked like her own reflection wiping the other side of the glass, except each window and mirror had their own version of her doing it, no two ages alike.

'He's been watching me through mirrors?'

It showed her pouring her heart out on the piano during the summer, the angle of some of the views saying that the windows were wide open in one of her concerts for her roses.

His roses. He had been watching over her for eight years, protecting her the best he could despite the obvious distance.

Then it switched to her therapy session using Muta.

Oh boy. He had heard everything!

"... I used to be flattered when people called me a lady. Because whenever I heard the word, I'd picture a woman of quality. I'd see someone that was hardworking, loving, and intelligent. That's how I want people to see me."

Baron released her in order to raise her hand to his furry lips with his free hand, stopping the 'recording' for now. She could feel them move as he talked, speaking something that she couldn't help but interpret as 'that's exactly how I see you.'

The floating glass ball flashed grey before continuing.

"... I want to be a part of peoples' lives. I want to be more than a passing face. I want to use my skills to make others genuinely happy instead of entertained. I want to find someone willing to do the same for me, so I'll never be alone again! Someone that can say 'I know what it's like to be told 'you're a prodigy' and then treated like nothing but a disappointment over something they know you can't control."

He started speaking to her again, his lips feeling something between frustrated and understanding.

"... I'm pretty sure he's trying to say he's been there," Tsuge called out uncomfortably. "Maybe over the curse?"

Haru couldn't find it in her to ask. Baron's actions had removed her ability to speak or sing.

"... Others find me boring? Fine! Then I'll save my efforts for someone worthwhile. He's out there, I feel it. If I ever touch a piano again," her past self swore while firmly closing the lid over the piano keys. "It will be for me or for him, because he'll be the one person to know I'm not a piano, or a music box, or a glass doll. I am a person to love, and so is he."

Haru could barely breathe. Despite her efforts to think of something to say, her mind was completely blank, although her heart was beginning a hopeful beat.

Baron set the glass ball back on the piano, using both of his hands to press hers against his heart, which was pounding hard enough to make her think that it wanted to be in her palm instead of his chest.

This is yours. You were talking about me.

Haru started swaying slightly, hardly daring to believe it. The one who could see her... had been with her all along? Watched her long enough to know her better than her own kind? Her own Westley?

Heck, this guy outdid Westley by a mile! He traveled farther, took on more people to reach her, and healed her arm for a birthday present. Of course, the little girl in her was willing to stack him higher than Westley for the magic alone.

Haru still couldn't say anything, but a sob escaped her throat as she tore her hands from his heart to give him an even harsher embrace than when he fixed her arm. His arms wrapped around her just as quickly, warm and as steady as a rock as she cried into his shirt, burying her face against the cloth unashamedly.

One of his large broad hands started rubbing her back as he nuzzled her hair happily, finding complete satisfaction in just holding her.

ooOoo

Tsuge squirmed uncomfortably from his place on the couch. As touching as the scene was, he couldn't help but feel that it should be a more private moment. His vocal chords tried to say he needed a drink of water, but the need for silence overrode the urge. Giving up, he simply moved into the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as possible while getting himself the glass of water.

'Poor Haru. This is probably the first time anyone's told her they loved her in years.' Just as he tried to sip his water, the phone rang out a deafening tune.

Tsuge hurriedly answered it before checking the Caller I.D. "Look, whoever's trying to reach Haru, now's not a good time-" he tried to whisper, but the man on the other end cut him off with a military abruptness.

"This is the police. Is Yoshioka-san intact?"

Tsuge felt what was left of his stomach drop in dread. "She's in much better shape than she's been in a while."

"Is the cat creature in there?"

"Yep. I have my eye on both of them right now," he answered honestly, leaning over slightly to see them still hugging. "Haru's not really in a mood to talk though-"

"Do you think you can lure it out of the house?"

Tsuge gave an offended snort. "Baron is a 'he', and no, I couldn't lure him out of the house if my life depended on it." He spared another glance at the cat, noticing that Haru's tear-stricken face was now pointed in his direction. "I don't think you could drag him out of this house with a tank."

"Unless I'm the one driving it," Haru managed to giggle, giving Baron a tighter squeeze while wiping her face clean with one hand. "The police?" she asked as Baron used a handkerchief to wipe the remaining tears away.

"The police. You want to try talking to them?"

"I thought you said she wasn't in a mood to talk," the officer growled in a dangerous manner.

"She's not, but she looks like she will if she has to."

"She has to. Get her on the phone, now."

Sighing in exasperation, Tsuge held out the phone.

Haru gave an identical sound, but didn't really lessen her grip on Baron as they nearly walked as one back into the kitchen, only stumbling a handful of times because the girl couldn't see her companion's feet. Although it was clearly not what she wanted to do, the brunette took the phone but kept her free arm around the feline's chest as he held her against it.

"Yoshioka residence, Haru speaking. ... Excuse me? No, go get your own cat! Yes, but... how much property damage?" She gave an impressed whistle before looking up at his scarf. "You really know how to wreck a building, Baron! They're considering closing the school for good!"

Tsuge flinched and took a step back. Although he was certain that Baron wasn't planning on doing anything to him, his feline face could make an incredibly evil grin. But Haru was more interested in his purr, or so Tsuge assumed since a soft smile overtook her own face and she snuggled deeper into the cat's arms.

"No, Baron only understands what I say when I'm singing. Don't look at me, I don't get it either. The answer is still no, Baron's not going anywhere." She squeezed his arms a little tighter against her, making him squeeze her gently and rub one cheek against her hair while purring softly.

"Yes, that's him in the background, if you want to call it that. I'm in his arms right now. Well, that would require me to want to get away from him. Look, he's not going to do any more damage, and he's not interested in leaving my house. Can't you just think of him being here as house arrest?"

Tsuge didn't know what the officer answered with, but it immediately made him glad that Haru had forgiven him. Her glare was just as scary as Baron's!

'Holy cow, these two are soul mates!'

"Yeah, well, Baron's a lot more trustworthy than 'most inmates', and if all you're going to do is insult him, I'm hanging up! Go ahead for all I care! They won't bat an eyelash!" She tried to slam the phone into its cradle, but Baron was holding her still. "Dang it! Tsuge, would you mind?"

"My pleasure," he answered, slamming the phone on her behalf hard enough to crack the side a little. "Oops, I overdid it," he laughed nervously.

"No, that was perfect," Haru growled, turning around in order to hug the feline back. "Stupid, perverted, close-minded jerk!"

Baron seemed worried at her outburst, so he forced himself to take one arm off her in order to repeatedly tap her lips.

"You don't want to know," Haru answered in a savage snarl, squeezing him the way she probably squeezed Muta

Baron's face turned stern as his finger kept tapping her lips.

"I said no."

He didn't stop tapping.

"I don't think he's giving up, Haru," Tsuge offered timidly. "Was it really that bad?"

"I refuse to demean Baron by telling him what that sorry excuse for a policeman implied! I don't need to ask to know the answer's no!"

Baron's lips curled into a snarl, making him tap more insistently. Haru scowled and finally tried to get out of his arms, but he wasn't having it. The orange tabby held onto her just tight enough to prevent an escape, using one hand to keep her from stopping him from tapping her lips.

"No, Baron," she snapped, trying to turn her head to keep him from tapping her lips.

Feeling a bit childish, especially since the ginger was holding her arms fast, Tsuge reached over and started tapping her lips when Baron couldn't get to them.

"Not you too!" Haru yelled, making her captor unsuccessfully fight back a laugh. "You know what, fine, you overgrown children! The officer... implied that house arrest with a cute teenage girl was something most convicts would kill for, and Baron's planning to take advantage of me since no one would be able to-"

The kitchen windows shattered as Baron immediately lost his good mood, making the two humans jump in surprise.

"Agh, don't do that!" Tsuge yelped, slamming one fist against his heart to encourage it to start working again. "The first time you did that shaved ten years off my life!"

"I didn't want to tell you, remember that!" Haru added, her eyes wide with panic even though she couldn't jump as much as Tsuge could.

The feline still had her very much wrapped up in his arms.

Baron heaved with rage, trying some odd breathing exercise in an effort to calm himself down. He still wasn't completely calm when he took Haru by the chin and shook her head in sharp but gentle movements as he spoke to her. His tone was not one to be questioned.

Haru gave a melting smile as she tried to look above the scarf, reaching up with her own hands to clumsily cup his face.

That action immediately cut off his stern speech.

"Baron, I feel safe in your arms. I know I should be terrified of you for being a giant, stalking, invisible cat that can do magic, but... I'm not anymore. I'm not sure how much I like you yet, but whatever happens from here, I'm choosing to trust you."

His large green eyes melted with thankful adoration. He couldn't help but press one hand to the back of her neck to keep her from escaping a chaste kiss to the forehead.

"Like when you do that? How am I supposed to get the impression you're a creep when you do something that respectful?" she asked in fake exasperation.

Baron gave her a loving smirk as he shook her head one more time.

No translation was needed.

ooOoo

Hasho paced around his hotel room, knowing that he needed to get some sleep. All the information his team had to offer was already turned in to his superiors, who were working on finding out where that one piece of asteroid had landed. If there were anything else his team could help with, he would need to be at his best.

But he couldn't think about rest. He couldn't even think about the odd space rock. As he kept pacing around the bed, his eyes never strayed from his cell phone, lying in the direct center of the bed.

"She's probably in school right now, she won't be able to answer her phone."

'So leave her a message and call back after school.'

"Why not just call after school? I could sleep until then," he tried to reason with himself.

'Right, because you're sleeping so well since she's started ignoring you. Just pick up that stupid phone and wish your daughter a happy birthday before it gets any worse! Do it! Pick up the phone!'

"But what am I supposed to say to her? When she asks why I haven't really been saying anything-"

'She can't ask that if you just send her a message when you know she can't answer. Come on. The emails aren't getting you anywhere. Isn't Haru worth a little getting yelled at?'

No, not from his girl! That was bad enough from his wife.

'Now that the circle is destroyed, you know for a fact that you can't do much else to help. Just tell your bosses that you're taking some overdue vacation time and tell Haru that's your plan. Don't you think she's been patient enough with you?'

Taking in a deep breath, Hasho picked up the phone and tapped on a name he hadn't touched in over a year. His stomach clenched worse with every ring until the machine picked him up.

"On the off-chance that someone is trying to reach me," a cold detached voice hissed into his ear. "You can say it to my face, because I won't call back."

Hasho's mouth dropped open in complete shock. 'Did I get the right number?' He quickly hung up and made sure that he was tapping the right name.

On the second listening, the middle-aged brunette recognized his daughter's voice underneath the chilly delivery.

"Hi, this is Haru!" a familiar voice nearly sang from his memory. "I'm super sorry about not picking up, it's probably because of school or because the principal is borrowing me again. But if you leave your name and number, I'll be more than happy to call back," the old recording persisted, just barely covering how much she would love to talk to someone, no matter who they were or what they wanted from her.

The realization hit Hasho like a bag of wet cement.

"She's given up on us," he whispered in horror. 'Why didn't I see this coming?'

For once, not even his inner voice had any snark to offer.

"No, I can't lose my little girl! I'm not losing you!" he yelled into the phone, but the dead tone made it clear that it wasn't recording.

Hasho called the number again, even though it meant listening to his angel sound like an ice queen one more time. "It's okay if you don't call back, because I'm coming home right now. We are overdue for a nice long talk with your mother. I'll see you within twenty-four hours. I still love you, Haru."

The message cut him off before he could add 'happy birthday', but at least he was able to say that he did love her.

He tapped the name next to hers as he one-handedly started throwing clothes into his suitcase.

It only rang three times before the other side picked up. "Have you heard from her?" Naoko asked in a heartbeat, her voice as strained as his own nerves.

"Worse. I haven't. I tried to call her for a happy birthday for once, and her voice message was so... she's given up on us. You haven't heard from her since last week either, have you?"

"No. I was hoping she was talking to you, at least. Dang it, why didn't I just call her after the accident?" she lamented.

"Probably the same reason I didn't. The 'time' question. I'm going to ask for time off right now, how soon can you get off the boat?"

"Not for another week. Did her message really sound that bad?"

"Try calling her after we hang up. It's bad. ... Do you want me to call when I get to her?" he asked a little timidly. "I know you have classes to teach-"

"Interrupt me. Please. I haven't been able to focus on anything for days. This just isn't like her to shut us out!"

"... I know I shouldn't say this, but... it's a miracle that it took her this long to give up on us. She's a lot more forgiving than I would have been."

"... Or me," Naoko admitted, close to tears. "I'll cancel the tour after the cruise. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"That's all I can ask. ... I still love you," he offered, even though he couldn't shake the feeling that it was far too late.

For one terrible minute, her silence seemed to confirm his fear. But when his wife started crying, he realized that he finally said the one thing he should have said years ago.

"I... I still love you, too. I'm so sorry!"

Hasho cradled the phone between his hands, wishing he could do the same to Naoko. "So am I. Now let's show Haru."