Baron entered the stark dungeon, with Muta and Lune by his side. It was rather grim, even for the former cat kingdom. The sounds of dripping echoed like they were in a cave, and even though it wasn't a cliche villain dungeon, the cells has there own intimidation.

Baron stroud through, not glancing at the other cells, as he followed the broken, senseless voice of his friend.

''My master needs me...I must go to him..,'' Toto repeated in a mantra, his voice hollow and overused. Baron's features remained neutral, although the sad glaze that covered his eyes did not. It then turned into a pitying anger, like a higher form of disappointed greif.

''Toto. Where is Haru?'' The bird remained silent for a brief moment before repeating.

''My master-''

''Toto!,'' Baron shouted. ''You have no master!''

''...No...Master?,'' The black bird whispered.

''You are my friend...,'' Baron said softly trying to gain his friend back. The wild, magic glimmer in his eye started to dim.

''...Baron?,'' Toto's voice was hoarser still.

''Yes, Toto. We need to find Haru. Where is she?''

''I...I...I CANNOT DISOBEY!'' He slammed against the bars, moving without order like a wild animal.

''TOTO!,'' Muta roared gaining his attention. The bird stopped and looked at the big white cat.

Recognition passed over Toto and he slowly pulled back his sanity from the dark magic. Then, he cracked a smile.

''...Marshmallow...''

''Shut up chicken wings!'' Muta smirked, knowing it was working, and would continue to as long as he kept up the 'fight'.

''Sorry, but I can't hear you over the sound of you walking. All I can hear is Thump!'' The bird grinned, the dark magic still trying to reel him back as Toto was gaining his mind.

''Why you little Birdbrain! I ott'ta-''

Toto cried out in pain, a burst of black energy leaving him. He was soon gasping for breath on the cold ground of his prison cell.

His shuddering breaths began to subside and he could tell that someone was beside him. Without hearing the cage door open during his outburst, Baron and Muta where now suddenly by his side.

''I-I'm sorry...Baron...It wasn't me...'' He began to shake holding back unshed tears. He turned away from Baron, his guilt not making it possible for him to look his friends in the eye.

''I know. You're alright now, Toto. You're back. Please, we need to find Haru.''

''T-they took her into a room with nothing but mirrors, like a maze. Baron-,' his head turned to him ,''-those mirrors are not normal. They are imbued with powerful dark magic. Unlike anything we've ever seen. They...they broke her. Baron, I'm sorry-I'm so so sorry-''

''What did they do to her.,'' He said, his voice grave and low and even...dangerous?

''I remember the taunting and screaming...Oh god..I-'' Toto's shudders overtook his form. Tears streamed past his guard even as he tried to push down his sobbs.

''Toto, calm down. You need to tell us, do you know where she is?''

''I...I can take you there. It's a day's flight.''

''Let us go then.''

''Baron, look at 'im! He's not going anywhere without proper rest first.''

''I'll be fine.,'' He protested, still shaking.

''No. Listen, birdbrain, you are barely holdin' it together.''

''We need to find, Haru.,'' Baron said, glaring at Muta

''No-''

''What are you implying, Muta? That she is going to have to wait? That she's not important enough-''

Muta bristled, his form large and intimidating as he brought Toto up with him as he stood. Toto, now relying on Muta to stand, looked blearily between the tension between his two friends.

''You suggesting that I don't care about Chicky? You have the guts to say that to my face?! I care about her too, but right now, I'm the only one who's makin' sense! I'm the only one keeping the gang together! Toto just had his mind taken from him, and you?!,'' Muta huffed, enraged. ''You are so caught up in your goddamn grief and misery that you can't think straight! And you have the nerve to accuse me of not caring?''

''You are going to get yourself killed, and I will not stand by and let that happen. I don't know what happened in that mirror, but it changed you. Stop this loony business and take charge of yer head!''

Muta took Toto and turned away from Baron as they walked out of the cell and towards the exit.

''Muta? I'm-''

''No. Come back to me and Toto when ya actually mean it. You'll know where we'll be.''

Many hours passed before the Bureau regrouped to go and save Haru.

During these hours, Toto woke from his sleep. Physically, he was well, but he was damaged. Something that the king did left him in a depressed state. He was constantly looking over his shoulder, paranoid.

Muta sat by his side as he slept. He was as rigid as the form next to him, which was stone. His face was covered in soft lines, showing how tired he was. He was obviously distraught, for their was a different kind of tiredness inside his eyes as they were silently wet with the drops sliding down into his lap.

But then there was the Baron...

Baron laid in the bed that he and Haru shared when they dreamed together. The bed she was asleep in before she was kidnapped.

Her scent lingered the sheets and he breathed in, trying to remember a better time. Desperately, he clung to her memory, trying to forget his grief and guilt.

He thought of the time they had a picnic on the cobblestone ground inside the Sanctuary, and the songs from the music box vendor played in the distant. He remembered them staring up at the sky, laying side by side. When he turned to see her, the smile she had was so pure. It was dazzling and he relished in it. But it all to soon turned from the features he adored to the panic he felt when he suddenly saw the terrified face of Haru.

His breath quickened, the sound of Haru's screams tore through his mind. The feeling of fear gripped his chest and a tightness enveloped his throat, preventing his screams. He was trembling now, his body shook and he could feel the phantom echoes of the gust of wind from Toto's wings. He could hear the glass shatter as he broke the window and took Haru away.

The sound of glass shattering rounded off again, and he was staring at Haru, as if she was a reflection. This Haru was not the magical reflection from the dreams. This Haru had a beauty different than that of her counterpart. This was his Haru and she was falling to pieces.

The world was twisting and turning around him, dizzying and faint. His heart was pounding frantically, he couldn't breathe or swallow. A tingling sensation overtook his limbs, little needles that stabbed almost as rapidly as his heart. He was going to die.

And suddenly he was back again. He was breathing Haru's scent in- he could finally breathe again. He knew the signs. He read about them in the Bureau's library.

It was called a panic attack.

His silent sobs wracked his body until he fell into a dreamless sleep. He didn't dare welcome a dream willingly.

Silence passed the Bureau as Toto flew to a local river, the entrance opening and closing only for Toto, as it was ordered to.

Baron looked at the dim landscape below. Everything was grey and grim; seeming like it was out of a horror movie.

There were colors, yes, but they too were dim, without spark. Without life.

The light from the houses below didn't shine like fire as they were supposed to. The clouds and wind didn't hold the spirit it should have. The very people seemed unfulfilled and unfazed by the world around them.

Everything was wrong.

''She's in the castle. Around the higher up floors. I can't get any closer or the storm will blow us back.''

''Why is there a storm hanging around the castle?,'' Muta asked.

''Rage is a powerful emotion.,'' He simply replied before swooping down to the ground to let his passages off.

Muta and Baron slipped through the palace with ease, ascending to the higher level of each floor like a shadow unseen. The castle itself was a cold dark grey on the outside, but on the inside it was a different story. The walls were a dark- almost black color cast in a red light with no source. The walls had large slashes that coated the decorative, yet grim, tapestries. The wood on the doors was dark and foreboding with its numerous scratches and claw marks and its rusted red door handles. It was one of these doors where they heard Haru's voice.

''They broke my mirror.''

''Yes. How does that make you feel?,'' A man questioned.

''Feel?''

''What emotion is there?'' There was a brief pause.

''...I don't...feel.,'' Haru said blankly.

''The king might feel pleased.,'' The voice said before leaving out the room. Baron got a brief glance of Haru.

Her eyes were missing the glow of curiosity. Her face unmoving; unfeeling. The way she walked and talked wasn't the way his Haru lived.

She was a pale imitation of the young lady he had grown to love. Her mannerisms were devoid of liveliness and there was no trace of the kindness he had know to shine in her eyes. They were devoid of it and everything.

The man closed the door behind him and locked it. As he walked by, Baron swiped the key without the man's notice. They unlocked the door and went inside. Haru had moved from her spot on the bed and was now sitting in a chair by the window, looking out into the nothingness.

She turned around.

''Hello. Why have you come?,'' she said without emotion.

''Haru, we've come to take you home.''

''Home?''

''It's the place where you belong, where you live and feel. Don't you remember?''

''Feelings are dangerous. Emotions should only be kept by those with the power to wield them. Such as my Sire.''

''He is not your Father.'' He sighed sadly before continuing.,''Do...Do you remember who I am?''

''...You are Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. I believe I refer to you as Baron. You are labeled as a friend.,'' she said, emotionless.

''Labeled? What about called, or found, a friend. Haru, please tell me you remember me as more than a label. Tell me- What were my first words that I ever said to you?''

''...I...I shall not repeat them.''

''Why?''

''It is useless information.''

''No. No it isn't, Haru. Haru, please remember me. You have to know that I meant what I said. Please, tell me it didn't mean that. It's not useless.''

''I think it is.''

''Is that what you feel?'' She didn't answer him. ''Please, Haru. Is that what you feel?''

Something stirred in her and Baron could not place it.

''...You feel emotion...You are not one of the royal family. You are dangerous.''

She ran towards the door.

''Guards! Guards there are danger in this room. Commoners who hold emotion!'' Muta grabbed her, a hand over her mouth. ''Mhf!''

''Now what? Where do we run?''

Baron ran toward the window and opening it, he shouted for Toto.

''Toto! Where should we meet you at?!,'' he yelled through the storm.

''There's only one balcony that the storm doesn't cover! Go through the mirror maze!''

''The mirror maze?''

''Yes! It's the room they took Haru in! Be careful, nothing you see in there is real!''

''Thank You, Toto!''

''See you on the other side!''

Baron turned back to look at Muta and Haru.

''She's not going to come quietly, Baron.''

''I know..''

''I think we have to gag her.''

Baron sighed before taking out a piece of cloth from his pocket.

''Haru, please forgive me, but I'm never going to give up on you.''

And he knew that if Haru was really here she would say ''Good Answer''. Instead, he received nothing.

And that hurt even more.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Teaser: ''What kind of emotions?'' ''Powerful ones like anger, fear...love.'' He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. ''Love?'' ''Yes.''/ ''Ah...Clever girl...But this isn't the first time you've entered here, now is it, dearie?''/

''Don't be shy...step inside! I'm sure, one way or another...you'll all survive...''

/''WE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU!''/