Chapter 14: A Knight

'So Fakir's his name... I wonder what he had against me...'

Haru tucked her knees up and hugged them against her, wrapping her bedcovers around her for much-needed warmth.

'I mean, if he is going to judge me before I've even had a chance to say hi to him, how else am I meant to react? Pah...' She huffed and let her head fall onto her knees. 'Moron. I'll just avoid him for the next two weeks. That can't be too hard, can it?'

She cast her thoughts back to her mother, wondering how the redhead was coping without her. Not that she didn't think her mother couldn't cope without her but... she couldn't help worrying all the same.

She collapsed down into her pillow, dragging out some of her stuff from the alcove behind her containing her bag, a few books and a lamp. The lamp was emitting a weak, but warm, red light that bathed the photos Haru took out in a restful, crimson glow.

Out of all the photos, Haru's eyes lingered longest over the picture with the four adults... four adults and two babies. Something felt dreadfully wrong here... Something told her that the few securities she'd clung to her entire life were going to be crumbling around her the further she delved into this. And the most disturbing thing?

Naoko wasn't holding either baby.

ooOoo

"Hey, it's the new girl! Haruhi!"

"Haru," Haru corrected. She paused, allowing the two girls to catch up with her.

"Whoa, you look tired." Pike peered over at the bags under Haru's eyes. "Did you have nightmares last night or something?"

"Can I go for the 'or something' option?" Haru asked, yawning as she spoke.

"Oh, just look at the poor dear!" cooed Lilie. Haru winced as Lilie took her face and shook it fretfully. "You look simply exhausted! No, don't tell me what happened; let Auntie Lilie guess!"

Haru didn't bother to remind Lilie that she was a couple of years older than her.

"It's lovesickness, right? You can't sleep because you've got Fakir on the brain!"

"I... don't like Fakir..." Haru reminded them slowly.

"Then why did you shy away from him when you saw him? It could only be love!"

"Sheesh, when you get an idea in your head, you don't let it go, do you?" Haru finally escaped iron Lilie's grip. "And it's not love. I just... had a few other issues to think about."

"Like Fakir!" squealed the blonde. "Oh, I knew it! I knew it! When you close your eyes, the image of Fakir's face floats before your lovesick eyes..."

Haru made a disgruntled face. "Enough about Fakir, alright? It's nothing to do with him."

"So... Haru, do you have another guy you're sweet on then?" Pike teased.

Haru suddenly had an idea. "Actually, yes. He lives in Tokyo though; you won't meet him here." That should dissolve the Fakir rumour. And they had no way of proving it false.

"So what are you doing here while he's there?"

"I don't have to stick around him every waking second, do I? Can you two give me a break and tell me if you recognise any of these people?" Haru brought out the photograph she'd found most recently. "I don't know when the photo was taken... maybe around seventeen, sixteen years ago..."

The two younger girls peered closely at the faded picture.

"Nope."

"Hang on," Pike said, leaning in again to the photo. "That guy looks familiar..." She pointed to the man next to Naoko. The same man she had found on other pictures. "What do you think, Lilie?"

"Um... well, kind of familiar."

"He probably wouldn't look like that anymore," Haru added, trying to be helpful.

"Well, no duh. This picture looks old."

"Is one of those you?" Lilie demanded, pointing to the babies.

"I think so. But can you remember who the man is?" Haru pressed. One lead was better than none at all.

"Not off the top of my head..."

"Oh, how mysterious! It's..." What it was, Lilie never got to say, because Haru abruptly covered the blonde's mouth before she could tell them.

"Lilie! If you're not going to be helpful, could you be quiet? I'm trying to think here, and you're not helping."

Lilie pouted.

"Will you be quiet?"

Lilie nodded.

"Good." Haru slowly uncovered the girl's mouth. "Now, think carefully. Where do you recognise the man from?"

"Well I can't remember."

Haru sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry for snapping, Lilie, but this is important," she stressed.

"How am I meant to know? That photo must be older than I am."

"Probably very nearly," Haru agreed, doing her best to keep a growl out of her response. "Okay, so you don't know. Pike?"

The other girl shook her head.

"Alright. But if you remember, please come and tell me."

"Okay."

Haru pocketed the picture, carefully folding it back and sliding it into her bag and set off. She had asked around and had made annoyingly little progress so far. Well, she could hardly expect to have discovered much on only her second full day there, but she only had a fortnight... She supposed if she needed to, she could find some way of staying longer, but she felt that would only complicate things.

"Yeah, because life isn't already complicated," she remarked out loud. A tired frown flittered across her face. No one, not even any of the older teachers, recognised her mother even vaguely. Haru began to doubt whether her mother had been correct when she had said she had worked there, but it was one of the few facts Naoko had given her. Some people had recognised the other people – most often the same man Lilie and Pike had – but no exact names had been given.

"For goodness sake," Haru muttered, subconsciously picking her pace up, "you'd think in a town as small as this, there would be someone who remembered some proper details! This darn story stuff has muddled everyone's brains!"

"No luck then, I take it?"

Haru managed to remain calm as a large crow landed on her shoulder.

"Nope."

"You've asked round though?" Toto asked.

"Well, I've shown the pictures I have." Haru remembered Toto – nor Baron or Muta for that matter – had seen the most recent photo she'd found, but maybe now wasn't the time to break the news. "If I had any names to go by, it would be a lot easier, but all I have is the name Naoko Yoshioka, and even that name might be incorrect... she might have gone by a different name when she lived here." Haru paused along the wall she had been walking alongside, realising Toto wasn't adding anything. "Toto, is everything alright? Is there something I should know?" she added after a moment.

The bird made a displeased noise in his throat. "You should be asking Baron that."

"Wha... What do you mean by that?" Haru turned her head to where Toto was perched, but suddenly found her shoulder bare.

Toto flew up to the wall, and rested himself there instead. "There's a lot he hasn't told that he should. Your past is just one of those things."

"Toto? Like what? What about my past?" Haru demanded.

"He should be the one to tell you."

"Darn it, it's my past!" Haru snapped. "I don't care who the truth comes from, I just want to know!"

Toto took a look beyond Haru and snapped his wings together, lifting up into the air.

"Don't you dare just leave me with nothing! What did you mean by that?"

Toto disappeared over the other side of the wall, leaving Haru shouting at empty air. She growled and turned around, slouching against the wall. "Stupid bird," she muttered. After a moment she added, "Stupid Baron. Why couldn't he just tell me whatever it is?" Her eyes drifted over to what she supposed Toto had seen.

'And I thought it couldn't get worse...'

The boy – Fakir, Haru remembered his name was with distaste – was heading her way.

And he certainly didn't look pleased to see her.

Still, she wasn't quite prepared for when his hand connected with her shoulder, slamming her back into the wall.

"What is it? What do you want?" he demanded.

Haru tried to twist away from his grip, scared by the anger in his voice.

"I... I don't understand..."

"Who sent you? The Raven? Drosselmeyer?"

"I don't... I-I- don't..." Haru stuttered. "Who...?"

"Are you after Ahiru? Is that it?"

"Ahiru...?" Haru repeated dumbly.

'Duck? Why is he talking about a duck?'

Fakir's mouth turned down into an angry glower. "Maybe you would recognise her better if I called her Princess Tutu."

'Wait, he's talking about a person? What kind of princess gets called Duck?'

"I don't know... I don't know anyone called Ahiru... or Princess Tutu."

"There's no need to lie; I know you're in league with the Raven! I saw you with that... that bird..."

'Right, it's official. He's completely barmy. Off his rocker. Why do all the mad ones flock to me?' she wondered miserably, recalling the long list of maniacs she'd come into contact with... especially over the last year or so. 'You'd think being a Wildcard would protect me against this, but apparently no...'

"Raven?" she wheezed. "I'm not in league with any raven..."

"Liar!"

"Please... you're hurting me..."

Fakir finally released her; a scowl setting on his features as he stood back. Haru sunk to the ground, shaking a little. She rubbed her shoulder and stared up at the furious Fakir.

"If you touch one feather on Ahiru's head..."

"I don't know any Ahiru!" Haru protested. "I'm just..." Kneeling on the ground, she could see that she had dropped her bag; the photo spilling out onto the grass. She reached out impulsively, but Fakir snatched it off the ground before she could take it.

His eyes scanned the picture; they suddenly widened. He turned back to the brunette who was slowly picking herself off the floor.

"Why have you got this?"

"It's mine! Give it back!" Haru snapped, reaching out to take it back. "It's my... my mother's!"

"How–" Fakir abruptly cut off his sentence as a blur of black feathers ripped past him. He ducked, but not quite quick enough. A wound ran along his arm.

Toto wheeled around and came to stop on Haru's shoulder, the photo snared in his beak.

"Thanks, Toto." Haru took the photo back and dumped it into her bag; being careful to zip it up this time.

"Anytime. I'm sorry for not getting back here sooner. I didn't think he was going to actually hurt..."

"I'm fine, Toto. A bit glad you landed on the other shoulder though," she added quietly.

Fakir stared horrified at the bird. "It... it can talk..."

Haru brought out her hands in a calming gesture. "Please, just listen. He's a Creat–"

"It's talking... and I can understand it... The Raven must be getting stronger..."

"Please..."

"Haru, we should go," Toto cawed. "Like, now."

Haru nodded and turned on her heel. Fakir wasn't going to be in any mood to listen or think reasonably by the sound of it. She ran back the way she'd come; returning to the one true place of safety. Her room. Toto took off from her shoulder and flew up to take the more direct route, while Haru sped along the staircase.

Once inside her room she collapsed against her door, sliding down to the lowered floor. Her body was pumped way too full of adrenaline right now; her pounding heart and wheezing lungs only testified this.

"Ow..." Haru moaned quietly, her eyes half closed. She tilted her head and pulled the neck of her top to reveal her shoulder. She examined the bruise beginning to show; gingerly prodding it. It was going to turn a beautiful shade later on...

"Haru?"

Haru quickly covered her shoulder, looking up to see the cat Creation standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at her with worried eyes.

"I'm fine," she lied. "It's just a bruise."

Toto cawed incredulously. "I don't believe this. Haru, the guy had you pinned up against a wall, and you're passing it off as nothing?"

"He did?" Baron demanded. "Who?"

"Just some local weirdo," Haru muttered. "Going on about some raven and a duck that was a princess..." She trailed off. "Baron, what do you know about this?"

The feline was looking somewhat distressed. Not to mention guilty. "We should have thought about that before allowing Toto to check up on you... Stupid of me... But I thought no one would remember..."

"What?" Haru asked icily. "Baron, what happened in this town? You never did tell me what 'stories' were occurring here." Her head shot up. "And another question; who's this Drosselmeyer that I keep on hearing about?"

Baron flinched. "He was a... writer here once. Many years ago."

"Dead now?"

"Well... it's complicated."

"How can a guy's living status be complicated?" Haru demanded. "I mean, he either is, or he isn't." A thought occurred to her. "He wasn't a Creation, was he?"

"Interesting idea but, no; he found a way to cheat death... He used a machine of sorts to enable him to carry on writing even after he was killed and so he could continue to affect reality. He was one of the most famous persons with that ability."

"And now?"

"And now, according to records, that machine was discovered and destroyed a few months ago. Technically Drosselmeyer has no affect over reality anymore."

"So he is dead now."

"That's what we came to ensure."

"If he doesn't have his machine anymore and he can't impact what's going on here, then why do you doubt that he's dead?" Haru asked. The whole concept seemed a little surreal to her.

"We want to make sure."

"Okay." Haru placed a hand to her temples. "Okay," she repeated, "I'll pretend that I fully accept and understand what you're talking about. Explain to me why that guy went whacko over Toto."

"Drosselmeyer was in the middle of writing a story when he was killed. That story was thus never finished and the two main characters – a raven and a prince – were stuck in a never ending battle."

Haru winced. "And I thought my life was boring."

"Just wait; it gets complicated. The prince shattered his heart–"

"You mean killed himself?"

"No, shattered his heart. There's a difference." Baron paused. "Apparently. Look, it was a story; unusual stuff happens. Haven't you ever heard of suspension of disbelief?"

"I have, but what you're talking about basically goes and hangs the whole theory of logic."

Baron shrugged. "You're the one talking to a living cat doll. Are you going to argue about logic?"

"Fair point. So he shattered his heart..."

"And the raven and the prince escaped the story."

Haru opened her mouth to protest, then sighed and closed it. "Oh, whatever. I'm not even going to argue over this one. Carry on."

"Thank you. They escaped the story and came here – to Kinkan Town. The prince's heart was shattered and the heart shards, each containing a different emotion, were scattered across the town, affecting life... to put it simply. Sometimes they just affected objects... other times they affected people. Princess Tutu–"

"That's her!"

"Who?"

"The girl... the princess Fakir was rambling on about. But he also called her... Ahiru."

"Duck?"

Haru nodded. Something else came to mind. "If you touch one feather on Ahiru's head..." She looked over to Baron. "That's what Fakir said..."

"We didn't have full records on what occurred here – and we're unlikely to get it since most people's memories of the unusual events here were lost – but the name Princess Tutu kept on cropping up." Baron sat down on the ledge, bringing their eyes to a more equal level. "From what we can tell from stories, Princess Tutu was a character designed to return the prince's heart to him, but she could never tell how she felt about him or she would disappear in a flash of light."

"That's... terrible."

Baron nodded. "Her story was meant to be a real tragedy."

"And... what about the Raven?"

"He was vanquished, according to what we heard. He was... written to be full of hatred and the town suffered through what he did. I'm sorry about what happened today; I had taken it for granted that people's memories of those events had been erased... I wasn't expecting anyone to remember anything, let alone react the way he did."

Haru tried to wave it away. "I'm fine."

Baron looked unconvinced.

"Why can't people remember what happened? You wouldn't forget something like that, would you?"

"It's... slightly more complex than that..."

"Try explaining it then."

"Okay. Imagine that reality is like... an elastic band," Baron said slowly, stretching his hands apart to emphasis holding just such an elastic band between his gloved hands. "Usually, when a story affects reality, it's like the writer has put in... pins to the elastic band to keep the shape that the writer desires. This is because with most stories that affect reality, the plot is only a minor extension of life. Only a few pins are needed. Therefore, when the story ends, the shape of the elastic band is maintained and those events remain in people's memories.

"Now, keep that analogy in mind. When Drosselmeyer wrote The Prince and the Raven – the story the characters escaped from – he had installed those pins. However, after that he began to twist the story – and reality – so much that that elastic band was stretched and tangled out of proportion. The story began to fly off its pins. So when the story ended, there was very little to keep that reality in shape and the elastic band snapped back into its old place. This erased memories, returned any strange characters to a recognisable part of reality – there were a few cases of anthropomorphic animals apparently – so to either human or animal. Reality continued as if the story had never occurred. This town had been under the influence of the story for... years."

"Okay, I followed that. More or less. But why does that guy remember the Raven then?" Haru rubbed her shoulder subconsciously. "He obviously bore strong hatred for the Raven still..."

"My best guess would be that he was one of the main characters of the story – he may have been in the 'eye of the storm' when the story finished and so his memories remained intact. He probably assumes you to be in league with the Raven and unless you find some way to disprove that theory, you should steer clear from him."

"Ha, don't worry. I'm not going to be going near him after that."

Baron watched Haru rub at her shoulder. "You should probably get that seen to."

"It's just a bruise," she insisted. 'A lovely coloured one by the look of it, but a bruise all the same.' She didn't voice that additional thought though. She consciously pulled her top further up her shoulder. "Isn't it complicated though?" she added, changing the subject back.

"What?"

"Erasing people's memories?"

"Not really. The mind is a complex thing, but when you get down to it, memories are always being forgotten, replaced or just shoved to the back. And, if you think about it, the brain itself is nothing more than a bunch of chemical reacting; in some ways it's a miracle how it's more than the sum of its parts."

"Oh, okay." Haru looked content with the reply, but then another thought came to mind. "Baron, what about your mind then? I mean, you're part wood, so how...?"

Baron abruptly looked uncomfortable. "I assume I am what I am because the artisan that created me willed me to be like this. No more, no less." He picked himself up from the ledge, muttering something about needing to go and talk to Toto and Muta about something.

It appeared the conversation had been ended.

ooOoo

A/N: Okay, I know people might be a little shocked by Fakir's reaction to Haru, but on watching the anime, I felt that a calm Fakir (even one changed by the end) wouldn't quite fit his character. Yes, Ahiru changed him over the series, but still... if he felt that someone important to him was in danger, I don't think he would be all kind and understanding... And Haru was talking to a black bird, possibly a raven... what was he meant to think?

Oh, and does the elastic band analogy make sense? It's how I interpreted the turn of events; I hope it seems logical.