A/N: Firstly, thank you so much for all the encouraging and sweet messages/reviews I received last week. You guys really are the best! Secondly, my project is done, I took the weekend off (I went to London and finally saw Wicked!) and I feel strong enough to finally start tackling the workload I've been avoiding. Yes, this means wrestling with the emails and articles I need to write, the revision I need to start, and perhaps even begin job-looking. And, somewhere amongst that mess is this story. But, I feel mentally refreshed and maybe, just maybe, this story will get its wheels rolling again. I'm feeling optimistic!

Cat.

ooOoo

"This Pitch scares me not at all."

Toothania

x

Sunday 14th December 2014

"We have a problem."

The response to Bunnymund's blunt comment upon arriving in the Globe Room was significantly underwhelming. "Is nothing new," North replied, uncannily cheerful as ever. "We have had problem ever since start of month."

"I mean it's getting worse."

Tooth was the first one to notice Bunnymund's limp. She flitted towards him, eyeing the wound along his leg. "What did you do?"

"Well, obviously I didn't do this to myself," he snapped.

Tooth's hands went straight to her hips. "There's no need to get rude." All the same, her eyes travelled over the injury again. "That looks painful. So what happened?"

"What'd ya think?"

"Don't tell me Mother Nature got the better of you."

"Why don't you try taking on Mother Nature alone then, ya frosty freak?"

Tooth's head shot up. "You didn't try that, did you?"

"Do you think I'm suicidal? Of course not," Bunnymund returned. His sarcasm dropped for a moment and he took the time to lean against the wall. "She surprised me, that's all. She's stronger than her old man was, that's for sure, and I think she's going to be more trouble than him too."

Jack dropped his sure grin long enough to register the severity of the other Guardian's words. "Yeah? So what does that mean for us?" He swung his staff idly through the air, bringing a sweep of ice with it. "We chased her off once before. We can do it again."

"She said she had something planned. Can't you take this seriously for once?" Bunnymund snapped.

Jack backed away, his hands raised. "Hey, whoa, calm down. I am taking this seriously – it's just, you know, it won't be anything we can't handle, right? After all, you escaped, didn't you?"

"I didn't escape," Bunnymund mumbled. "She let me go." Beneath the fur, his face reddened with the admission. "She could have taken me down from the moment I stepped into that barn, I think, but she preferred to let her new toys attack me instead."

"New toys?"

"Snow wolves. I think she was just testing them out, playing with her powers. My point is, mate, she's only playing with us. Throwing us off her scent until she's ready."

"But if we find her before she's ready for us, we'll have the upper hand, right?" Jack asked. "So, what are we waiting for?"

"You don't get it. I didn't sense her until she was right behind her. We won't be able to find her unless she wants us to."

"And if she does, it's probably a trap," Tooth mused.

A question mark formed above Sandy's head. A clear, 'Now what?' signal.

"We wait," North rumbled.

"Yer only saying that because it's nearly Christmas," Bunnymund said.

"What can I say? Christmas is Christmas."

"I think a rampant dark spirit raging across the globe is a little bit more important than your annual commercial do."

"Hey, steady on, bigears," Jack said. "Christmas is his thing, after all."

"Commercial do?" North echoed. "I fill the children with wonder and excitement–!"

"Yer bribe them with presents, old man."

"Everyone loves Christmas–"

"So you keep telling us. But no one actually needs it. If you took away the presents and decorations, Christmas would be nothing." The rabbit's usual good-natured feud with the other holiday spirit had changed tones; suddenly there was a bitterness that hadn't been there before – a cruel note that had been unheard of up until now.

"Bunnymund, what's brought all this up?" Tooth asked. Her question was sharp, but her eyes were confused. "Is something wrong?"

Bunnymund started to speak, and then caught himself. He hesitated, and his shoulders slumped. The fight seemed to evaporate out of him. "I... I don't know. I guess I must be just a bit shaken up or something still." One paw rubbed subconsciously at his chest, paying little heed to the steady ache building up in his heart. "I should go." He gave a pained smile and hurriedly hopped out, limp or no.

The remaining Guardians paused in the following silence. North was the first to break it, slapping his hands together as he did so.

"Well, that was unexpected. But now, I have work to do. Keep me updated."

Jack glanced to Tooth. "Do you really think something is wrong with the rabbit?"

"Maybe it's just stress. We're all a little frayed right now," she replied, but she seemed uneasy with her answer. "But we have to be careful. We can't afford to fall apart – not with Mother Nature on the loose."

"So, what do we do?"

"Keep looking, I guess." Tooth accompanied her words with a hesitant shrug. "What else can we do?" She glanced to the silent Guardian still in their midst. "Sandy, what about your friends we met? The Cat Bureau? Might they know something?"

Sandy only repeated Tooth's earlier shrug.

Jack gave a dry laugh.

"Looks like we have a whole lot of don't knows."

ooOoo

Haru dropped back into her empty flat with the click of keys and the kick of her shoes being slipped off. She rubbed at her eyes and stumbled into the hallway, taking a few slow seconds to locate the light switch. When she did, the flat flickered into sharp, electric light, and she gazed sadly along the cluttered apartment.

The small lounge was still littered with lesson notes for a class she would not be leading this Monday. For a lesson she would not be able to teach until, one way or another, the case with the missing Michi was dealt with. To her tired embarrassment, there was still a plate of toast crumbs and a glass of water among the notes; something she had promised herself she would clean up but had forgotten and then become tied up with the investigation. She was gathering the debris up when something rustled behind her.

She froze, the plate in one hand, a glass in the other. Her eyes flickered to the side and saw her shadow cast across the room – and, directly behind that, another shadow. It was taller than hers, and seemed distorted somehow.

It wasn't Baron.

That much was obvious.

She slowly lowered the glass back to the table and shifted her grip on the plate. Now she was aware of it, she could hear the ruffling of something hovering behind her. She swallowed nervously. She was no fool and knew she stood little chance against a spirit like Mother Nature. That didn't mean she couldn't go down fighting.

All this had passed in a matter of seconds, and so it was only a second later that Haru spun on the spot. She raised the plate to slam into the intruder's face–

Toothania screamed.

Haru screamed.

The plate slipped out of her hand as she swung to avoid Tooth, and she had to double over to catch the falling crockery before it smashed on the floor. When the panic had passed, Haru straightened and turned to the fairy, who in turn had flown a good foot in height in shock.

"Don't scare me like that!"

"Me?" Tooth demanded. "You were the one with the weapon!"

"It's a plate," Haru flatly retorted. She swung it idly, pointedly glaring at the Guardian. "It's hardly a weapon of mass destruction. And what about you?" She waved the aforementioned plate in Tooth's face. "What were you doing just hovering behind me like that? What was I meant to do?"

"I want mean to startle you!"

"Well, fine job you did there!"

The two women paused, glaring at the other until the terse atmosphere started to break up. Haru snorted, and then Tooth replied in bubbling laughter. Suddenly the both of them were doubled over, wheezing in relieved laughter.

"But... honestly," Haru managed between laughs, "don't ever do that again. Next time I might not miss."

"Oh, don't worry. Lesson learnt."

Still smiling, Haru pulled herself back together and now her gaze was caught by the room again. A little of the smile died; the flat was such a lonely place with just her. So far from the family environment that usually soaked the Tomoko's household. "So... why are you here?" A thought struck her and she straightened so suddenly that Tooth nearly jolted back again. "Michi? Do you have news? Is it good? He isn't..."

"He's... still with Mother Nature," Tooth admitted. "But perhaps no news is good news, huh?" She tried a comforting smile, but the fairy's eyes were tainted by sympathy. "If anything had happened to the boy, I think Mother Nature would have told us. There is still a chance, Haru."

Haru shook her head, although it wasn't clear whether she was shaking off Tooth's optimism or trying to unsettle her own pessimistic thoughts. "So if nothing's happened, why are you here?"

"Well, I wouldn't say nothing's happened..."

"What?"

"Mother Nature confronted Bunny," Tooth said, "but she let him go. We don't know why, but if she was comfortable enough to release a Guardian, then I don't want to imagine how powerful she's becoming."

Haru swallowed hard. "And you're telling me this because...?"

"Because the boy is important to you; you deserve to know something of what is going on."

"But I'm just a human," Haru stressed. She gestured to herself, and then to the tired room around her. "I'm just... just me. I'm a skint schoolteacher who can barely afford the roof over her head – what good will I be able to do? Especially if even you Guardians are afraid of Mother Nature – look, I just want Michi back..."

"I know."

Haru paused in her rant and took a second look at the woman before her. She dropped her own woes long enough to see that Tooth was far from the bubbly fairy she had seen upon their first meeting. She sighed, and calmed her voice. "I'm sorry. I forgot that... I'm not the only one involved here. I can't imagine what it must be like to have all this pressure on you..."

"Well, I'm quite used to pressure," Tooth said, but only half-heartedly. She smiled feebly and shrugged with one shoulder. "Do you know how many teeth have to be collected in a single night?"

"I daren't imagine." Haru smiled, and this time the emotion spread faintly to her eyes. "Look, why don't you properly come in, and I'll make you a drink or something – you do eat, don't you?"

"Not exactly," Tooth admitted. "I don't need to eat... but I can."

"Do you like tea?"

"Occasionally."

"Good. Because goodness knows I need a calming brew." Haru motioned for the Guardian to follow her into the kitchen, quickly selecting a well-tested hibiscus tea blend that she knew would settle the nerves and started to prepare it. "You're lucky to have caught me when you did," she said. "I've only just returned from the police station – they couldn't hold me without any further evidence, but even so..." She fetched a fresh packet of plain biscuits and set them down on the table. "Actually, it's eerily good timing... Did Baron set you up to this?"

"Set me up for what?"

"To... I don't know, keep an eye on me. Guard me. Something like that."

"Would it be so bad if he had?"

Haru hesitated. "It's... flattering that he worries, but I really don't see why I'm in danger. Mother Nature has Michi and that's what she want – why would she come after me?"

"I don't know. You're close to the Creation, aren't you?"

"I guess so, considering the circumstances," Haru admitted.

"So it would be natural for him to worry. Mother Nature has become... playful in her attacks. The Creation might be fretting over the idea that she would come for you merely out of... sport." Tooth paused, and then grinned. "But, like you said, I doubt that you are in danger. And... just so you know, the Creation didn't send me here to protect you."

"Oh. Then why...?"

Tooth lowered herself to perch on a kitchen stool, her fingers tapping nervously on the breakfast bar. She watched her fingers play over the surface, and then raised her startling eyes to Haru. "To be honest... I don't know. I just... needed to get away from it all."

Haru finished the tea and pushed a mug to the fairy. Tooth took it without really looking.

"That's understandable. It's natural for you to be stressed..."

"It's not just that. Something's... something's wrong."

"Yes, we have a raging spirit on the loose," Haru chuckled grimly.

"No, I don't mean that. No, something's... something's wrong with Bunnymund."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he was attacked by Mother Nature, and ever since then, he's been acting strangely. His temper has shortened, his words are crueller, and I can sense the fear rolling off him..."

"So?" Haru took a long swig from the tea, taking a moment to savour its sweet taste. "Like you said, he was attacked – he's probably just shaken by that still. I know I would be."

"This is different."

"How so?"

"I... I can't explain it. But I can sense that something has changed. I tried mentioning it to the other Guardians, but they all said the same as you – that he's just recovering, and still..."

"And you think there's another explanation for it?"

Tooth hesitated. "This was stupid – I shouldn't have come–"

She started to fly up, but Haru leant forward and caught her hand. "No – no – stay. For one, I probably need the company and two... you sound like you do too." This time Haru could feel her smile warming her heart; it was the kind of warmth that came from reaching out to someone who needed that kindness. "So the other Guardians don't believe you – okay. But... I'll believe you, if you need someone to. I'll listen."

"You'd do that?"

"I'm a teacher. It's what I do best."

Tooth's smile split across her face, and Haru felt the warmth double inside her. Someone needed her. Baron had told her that the Guardians required the belief of children – and Believers generally – in order to stay strong. But she wondered whether anyone had ever told them that they should have belief in themselves, too.

"So the Easter Bunny returned from his spat with Mother Nature, and something changed?" she prompted. "Is there anything... notable about this feeling? Do you have any idea what kind of change might have happened?"

"No, it's... it's difficult to explain. It's like... knowing that someone is watching you. Like the hairs on the back of your head rising. It's not a... tangible feeling. I just know that it's there."

"What's there?"

"The darkness."

Haru sat back, tea cup still in hand. Now they were getting somewhere. "The darkness?" she echoed.

"Yes!" Tooth almost jumped forward at the word, so relieved to have finally pinpointed what was unsettling her so. "It's darkness. Like... a shadow or a blot... like fear or hatred..."

"And you say it's coming from the Easter Bunny?"

"I... I'm not sure," Tooth said. She deflated a little at the admission. "It's too faint to tell... but something dark has wound its way between us since Bunnymund returned yesterday... But the others can't sense it at all..."

Haru dropped a spoon into her tea and stirred at the contents, thinking quietly. Then, "Years ago, miners once used canaries as warning systems for leaking poisonous gas. The canary, being smaller and more susceptible to the poison, would die if there was gas, and then the men would know to run before it could affect them." She paused in her stirring as she searched steadily for the right words. "Maybe that's what you are. Maybe you are the canary."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Maybe you are the early warning system." She tapped the spoon on the side of the cup and dropped it onto the placemat. "Have you had much contact with Mother Nature before?"

"No. But... but Pitch did capture my fairies that time..."

"Maybe that's it then," Haru suggested. "Maybe because your fairies have had prolonged exposure to the shadows, you're more sensitive to them now."

"Even if I am right, what do I do?"

"I don't know." Haru smiled weakly. "Look out for the other Guardians. I think they're going to need you. Even if they don't know it just yet."

Tooth snorted, an expression Haru hadn't seen in the Guardian before. "Me? Look out for them? Haru, I'm not a fighter like the others. All I want in life is to look after the children; I was not made to battle." But there was something in her tone not quite fitting with her words. A note of... grief.

"You fought once before, didn't you?" Haru asked. "Fought for something precious to you."

"My parents," Tooth said. "And I lost."

The brunette took a moment to absorb that. The right words – if there were any – didn't come immediately, but she knew she still needed to reach out. She curled her fingers around Tooth's fidgeting hands, applying just enough pressure for Tooth to feel the contact. "I can't pretend to understand how that feels, nor can I speak on your parents' behalf, but take it from me... you won't always lose. Yes, it'll always be painful, and no, it's not something that can just be forgotten, but I believe you are stronger than you imagine."

Tooth laughed hollowly. Her fingers itched to pry loose from Haru's grip, but the other woman didn't release her. "Strong? How can I be strong? I found the creature responsible for my parents' death, and do you know what? Even after what he had done – chased my family apart, torn my parents down... I still couldn't kill him." She shook her head, tears clouding her eyes. "I was a coward. I left the jungle to take care of him instead."

"And you think that's a weakness?"

"It's hardly a strength."

"Tooth... there are different kinds of strength," Haru insisted. "True, maybe you are not as physical powerful as the other Guardians, but you are strong. When things go wrong... when we lose... that defines us more than any victory. And the fact that you are still standing and willing to help your friends..." Haru sighed and shook her head. "That's a strength too."

"Do you really think so?"

"I have to. If finding the courage to carry on isn't a strength, then I don't know what is."

Tooth smiled weakly. "I can see why you're a Believer."

"Oh, trust me; I'm a Believer because I've seen stranger things than a handful of spirits."

"No... I was talking about your heart."

Haru grinned. "I knew that. You'll just have to excuse my humour." She moved away from the table to dump the empty cups into the sink. "Listen, Tooth... Do you need to go back to the other Guardians... or whatever it is you do... straightaway?"

"I doubt it." The fairy sounded suddenly so tired, as if fatigued by just the thought of rejoining her companions. "My fairies would tell me if anything had happened. I suppose I should go back..."

"Why don't you stay here for a little longer? When was the last time you took a break?"

"Oh, Guardians don't really need breaks," Tooth said, laughing softly. "I think you'll find we're much hardier than the average humans."

"So are Creations, but they still need to stop once in a while." Haru's smile was equally tired, for it had been a long couple of days, but still the smile was genuine. "Have you ever had a girly night in?"

"A what?"

Haru laughed; it helped her to push away the worries that were crowding in on her. "A girly night in. That means a good movie, some good food, and good conversation. Usually the conversation dissolves into laughter before long, but that's no complaint of mine." She raised an eyebrow at the other woman. "Have you never had a girly night in?"

"It's been a long time before I had anything you might consider an ordinary life," Tooth admitted.

"Well then, let me educate you." Haru shook her head and started towards the lounge. "Please, humour me," she added quietly. "I've had an awful couple of days and I need some normality and company." She gave a short, faint laugh. "Even if that company isn't what most people would call normal."

After all, it wasn't as if she could just call Hiromi over.

She was still partly to blame for Michi's kidnapping. Even if it wasn't for her presence that had caused him to be chosen as Mother Nature's victim, she could still have reached him faster. She should have done. She should have run faster. Perhaps, if she had, she would have stopped this from happening at all.

But, then again, hindsight is twenty-twenty.