Chapter 13

As the clock stroke midnight, they are now all ready to go back to the castle as they huddle around Toto. Baron already told them of what Louise has to know about her kidnapping and decided now to return.

"All is set" John said to all of them. "Is everyone ready?"

John looked around and noticed that one of the returning party is missing. The others noticed it too.

"Where's the doctor, Baron?" Toto asked instead.

"She will be here in a minute. She just gone to visit the patients she hasn't visited because of her kidnapping." As soon as he finished saying this, Louise came into view, sprinting.

"I'm sorry. I hope you didn't wait long" She said enthusiastically.

"Are you well now?" Haru said smiling at her now.

"Yes. Thank you for your concern..uh...What should I call you..-" She said in a pause.

"Haru" Haru answered to fill her sentence.

"Haru. Thank you Ms. Haru" She said in the most elegant smile she has ever seen from a cat or might as well a creation like Baron. Haru smiled back at her as much as she could. She said as Baron caught the present features of her eyes that almost looked swollen he realized.

"Ms. Haru, are you sick? You're eyes are swollen" Baron said asking her.

"Are you?" Louise said, worrying.

"N-no. I'm fine. I'm just..." She said trying to think of something fast as an excuse. Muta and Toto knew why but only looked at her in a neutral face sharing the mystery of her swollen eyes.

"Didn't much got some sleep again, I assume Haru?" John said as if to cover her in Haru's part.

"Uh...Yes. I also tried to rub it to get into it more but seems like I couldn't still get some sleep..." She said smoothly.

"I've already told you to get a good sleep before we go, didn't I? You know what you look like if you didn't get much sleep, Haru" John said to her, jokingly.

"Yeah, sorry" She said nervously.

"Well then, if you're okay then, Ms. Haru. Let's return now." Baron said as she led Louise in front of his seat on Toto's back.

"Yes" She said weakly.

John climbed too and helped Haru, in turn, to ride. As soon as they were all settled on their seats, Toto flew and grabbed Muta by his claws and flew back to the Cat Castle.

As they near the castle, Haru already dozed off as she felt tired of all the things that happened earlier. Unconsciously, she leaned onto John as he adjusted to Haru's weight and tightened the his hold on Toto's back in one arm and the other held her in place as she doesn't fall during the flight. Baron looked back to check on them and saw that Haru's unconscious, seeing that John held on to her protectively. John caught his stare instantly and only looked at him with no expression, red eyes meeting emerald. Their stare was cut-off with Toto's voice.

"We're landing" Toto said.

Baron spoke now breaking the silence into a stalemate. "Hold on" He said.

"I got it" John said in return as Baron looked in front as Toto swooped into a large window in the ballroom that he could fit, entering the castle. As soon as they've arrived, Lune and Yuki woke to see their friends that have returned.

"Baron, you're back" Yuki said to him.

"Well done, Toto said to me that you've rescued the doctor. Thank goodness" Lune said in relief. "How was it? Have you found their motives?" Lune asked as Baron went done.

"Yes. Quite but I may not be the one who will tell of this story" Baron said.

"Then, who will?" Yuki asked as she saw a white-furred cat came down also from Toto's back, the same time did John carried Haru in bridal style as she still slept in exhaustion.

"Yuki, maybe me and Haru can retire for now. She's already exhausted herself earlier, you know her. I suppose Baron and the others would suffice for the explanation for now?" John said to them in concern.

"Yes, of course. Let Haru rest, let's see each other later" She said as she watched John disappear from the corridors, sensing something is out of place.

Yuki returned her attention to Baron and the white-furred cat that somehow feels to have the same aura to them as Lune spoke. "Who is she, Baron?"

"She's the doctor we've saved. Her name is Louise and also my long lost fiancé" Baron said to the royal couple. She nodded to the royal couple "It's nice to meet Baron's companions. It's an honor to meet you, your majesties."

"Fiance?" Yuki and Lune are both surprised by this and in dire need of an explanation.

"I'm sure you have as many questions as they have been earlier. I'll explain it thoroughly" Baron said.

"Of course, then let's proceed into the round table room. Shall we?" Lune said as he lead the way as Baron and the others followed him to discuss of the details of everything that happened of their trip to the east village and the rescue of Louise.

"I see. So you're a creation too" Lune said. "And you haven't had memories of Baron up until now that they saved you?"

"Yes. I believe that when I was lost in the war, I woke up only inside your kingdom, King Lune. Everything has been a blur to me. I've lived my life as a doctor since then and I've only remembered Baron as he stated words that I could familiarise with when we were still together" She said. "Baron even stated that I could use magic too as far as the limits that a creation can do but I haven't known that I could until now, even that was something I haven't known"

"Well then, I understand your circumstances. We welcome you here, Louise. Please treat us as a friend just like we've treated Baron" Yuki said. "I hope you regain you're memories"

"Thank you" She said.

"I have to ask Louise now, do you have any idea why did they kidnap you?" Lune asked.

"I've heard one of the cloaked men said and it's something you should be ready for. They were laughing at the tower, they said I was only part of a grander plan. I am just a bait in order to have greater power and in order for them to achieve a world where their queen ruled and promised them everything. She is absolute they've said. It's the beginning of all who had powerful magic will be used in order for them to achieve this goal" She said remembering grimly what the cloaked men said as they've locked her in one room.

"The beginning of all who had powerful magic?" Lune said.

"It's the kid" Muta spoke in seriousness.

"If it's Haru that they're talking about, does that mean that they've planned on what happened in the tower?" Toto said registering only now the details in deep thought.

"It might be. The east village kidnapping was only just a diversion, what is their real goal?" Baron contemplated.

"Maybe...it can't be true..." She said realizing something now. "I've heard from where I was imprisoned that one of them reporting to the other that an army is ready and it's ready to attack at moment's notice. Their voices were muffled the next words so I didn't realize it up until now what the sound of one syllable means..."

"What is it, Louise?" Baron said to her.

"War" She said. "They're planning for a war and there is one thing on which they could both get what they want, Ms. Haru and control...then maybe the first they will conquer is-"

"The castle" Baron said in surprise in himself.

"What?" Muta said in surprise as Yuki gasped.

"Oh no..." Yuki said.

"That is grave news" Lune said.

"What should we do, Lune?"

"Since no one still knew about Haru's departure from the castle, I suggest we should still proceed with that plan." Baron said.

"I agree, Baron. I'll try my best to prepare for her departure at the quickest time. After that, I think we have no choice. For the sake of our friend and the peace of the kingdom, we need to be ready for the attack that they've planned." Lune said to all of them. "Louise is there anything that you could still remember of your time in the tower about their plan?"

"There is nothing more. I apologize" Louise said to him in helplessness.

"Don't be. What you have said is enough. Thank you Louise, this will save more lives than we are unaware of it" Lune smiled at her as he walked towards the door. "Well, I should be going now. I'm going to the general. I will prepare everything immediately. Please keep safe everyone" He said lastly as he opened the door. Yuki looked at them in worry as she followed after him out of the room, leaving the Cat Bureau and Louise inside in contemplation of the upcoming war.

Haru already had been laid down on her bed as John sat at the edge of his bed. He looks at her sadly across from her. She was exhausted. She cried the day that has just passed. It's all because of her bleeding heart for the Baron. His blood boils for him. He had already had doubts on him on protecting her but what did he do? He made her cry. That Baron doesn't even amount to his word. These thoughts repeated in his head.

As he was lost in his thoughts, Haru moved from on her bed and looked like having a bad dream. John went to her side and stroked her head to calm her. With his touch, she felt comfortable. Her head turned to his hand as a tear ran down from her eye and spoke. "Baron" She said in her sleep.

John was surprised and hurt hearing the name from her in her sleep led him to take back his hand on her head. 'Why? Why does it have to be Baron, Haru? He had hurt you but you still you...If only you looked at me, you wouldn't have to cry...you wouldn't be in pain...' he said to himself. "You wouldn't be..."

"...I've put an enchanting spell on you. Remember this, in three days, you could make any maiden fall in love with you as long as you gave them your kiss. After those three days, you're ability to do so will be gone..."

Those words took over him as his thoughts raised. 'Will she not be hurt again? Will she not cry for him? Would you forget all about him, Haru? Would you be more happy? Or will you hate me for it? I only wanted you to be happy...smile just like you used to...' He said as his face got closer to Haru's face as it descended slowly until their faces were only a few inches away. John wished Haru happiness and he hoped he could give it to her, the happiness she wanted. What her father wanted for her. Their faces were only a breath away and everything would change. One second more and the love that they have lost will be filled.

A/N: Will Haru really forget the Baron now? Will she be kissed by John? What awaits her on this second day since the voice had given John the enchantment? What comes next?