Chapter 21: Bitter Pill

The next few days began to pass quickly – maybe even pleasantly – for Haru. The morning would start with a lazy, late rising in which the Bureau would head out to scout round the town – although Drosselmeyer hadn't turned up again – and Haru would wander down to buy a full breakfast from the pizza parlour that did surprisingly good breakfasts. Sometimes she would bump into Lilie and Pike and she would go along with whatever tragic idea Lilie had in her head at that point. Then she would retire to her room and relax – read a good book, listen to some music – and head out round town with her mother for slow-paced sight-seeing and lunch. For dinner, she would head round to Charon's and they would all have their meal together and afterwards, Fakir and Haru would meet Ahiru down by the lake.

And so her days began to rush by. By keeping herself busy, she found herself able to keep her mind off a certain dapper cat, although she knew she was only keeping that subject off the surface of her mind. If she paused to think too long, that certain topic would eventually float back to her.

She knew sooner or later they would have to start thinking about heading back home, but Haru tried not to think about that too hard. Instead she just enjoyed what time she did have with her recently-extended family.

"Any ideas yet on how to turn Ahiru human?"

Fakir made a disgruntled noise as his pen lay forgotten to one side. "No and I wish you'd stop asking me that. I've been struggling with this for several months now. Your impatience is wearing me thin."

"Sorry." Haru continued staring idly up at the slightly-clouded sky; watching shapes come and go. She had no rush to get back to her room; she had passed barely a word between the Bureau in the last few days and she was trying to fool herself that she was getting over her crush.

Unfortunately, her heart knew she was lying.

"Haru?"

"Hm?"

"If you're a Wildcard, and you cannot be affected by stories, how come you don't remember being here?" It appeared Fakir had given up on the writing front for today at least. "Several years of your childhood were spent here, so surely you were old enough to form memories when you were dropped."

Haru had asked Baron that several days ago. It had been a relatively short conversation. "It would have been traumatic memories – Baron suggested that maybe my mind naturally repressed the memories to help me deal with it. That's the only theory that I have."

"Seems like a sound theory." Fakir paused. "How are things between you and the Creation anyway?"

"Distant," Haru said vaguely. "I don't know, recently it's almost as if he doesn't know how to be around me."

"Nothing's happened between you, has it?"

"Not in the least; which is why it's weird."

"Oh."

"I know." Haru watched Ahiru bob closer to them on the pier and flap onto the wooden boarding. Haru laughed to herself as she stroked the little duck. "The funny thing is, I know so little about him really. He knows just about my entire life history now – more than I did at one point – while I don't even know who the artisan who created him was, or where he was made, or even how old he is." She laughed again. "When it comes down to it, he's probably way, way too old for me."

"Do Creations have lifespans?"

"I don't think so. I never thought to ask. I never thought to ask about a lot of things. From the impression I got; Creations are ageless, although they can be destroyed in either their flesh or original state. I never really got much more detail than that. From his name I can guess that he was made in Germany, although – again – I never really asked. It's strange; I've spent so much time around him, but never has he willingly opened up about his past." She looked down to Ahiru, who was watching her with those large, soulful eyes, and laughed once again, although she sounded a little tender this time. "I don't think he's even got a heart while in his wooden state. How ironic."

"Oh!"

Haru jumped. "Oh?" she repeated doubtfully. "Have you just had a brainwave?"

"I..." Fakir frowned and shook his head. "No, it was just an idea on how to revert Ahiru to human. But it'd be too risky and it probably wouldn't work. Plus he's not even human in the first place, so it might just change her into a cat..." he added.

"W...What? You're talking about Baron, right?"

"Yeah, but it was stupid. Never mind. Sorry for that."

"Um, okay."

ooOoo

"How did the day go?" The question Baron sent Haru's way when she arrived back was routine now, with the same routine answer every time. However, this time Haru added something more than just her usual 'fine'.

"Fine, but I think Fakir's had an idea on how to get Ahiru to human."

"Really?"

"Hm-mm. And I think it concerns you, but he didn't add anything. He just said it was a stupid thought and left it at that."

"But you think it might be something more?"

"Yeah."

Baron thought over this new information. "I'll go and see him tomorrow. Even if it is nothing, we might at least ensure that."

"Would you? Thanks!" Haru found herself truly grinning at Baron for the first time in a while. "I think it would mean the world to the pair of them."

"Sure. It can't do any damage to check, can it?"

"Thank you." Haru started to move round the room, shutting the window and turning on the lights, when she paused and turned back to the Creation. "Baron... if it is something too risky, you'll be careful, right?"

Baron was a little taken aback by the sudden worry for him. "Of course."

"Don't do anything stupid." After a slow second, Haru added, "You're important to me too. Whatever I say, you're still important to me. Remember that."

"I... will."

ooOoo

"So what did you say your full name was again? Baron Humbert something?"

"Baron Humbert von Gikkingen."

Fakir leant back in his chair on the pier, regarding the Creation with his grey-green eyes. "My sister cares for you a lot, you know," he eventually said, somewhat frankly.

"I know."

Fakir let a few more seconds slip by before voicing his question. "So why exactly did you come to talk? I'm guessing there's a reason."

"It was about the idea you had yesterday."

The youth groaned. "I told Haru that it was nothing."

"You didn't tell her what the idea was."

"No, because it probably won't work, and it puts you at risk. And I expect Haru would have my head if anything happened to you."

"Would you care to share the idea?"

Fakir tapped his pen against the paper on his lap hesitantly. "Well... I've been thinking that in order to change Ahiru back to human, there needs to be something to balance it out. Before it was a shard of the Prince's heart, but that left the Prince without feeling so I'm not going to do that. Plus that involves Lohengrin's Sword, which I am not in possession of."

"So what do you think can balance it out this time?"

"It was... Well, I was thinking..." Fakir shook his head. "No, it's stupid."

"Let me be the judge of that."

"At one point I did have an idea that someone's life-force could work to turn Ahiru human, since that's a type of power, but it would most likely kill them. So I discarded that idea and turned to other theories. But I was thinking..."

"That with my longer-than-most lifespan, it could work," Baron finished. "Yes, I see what you mean."

"But, one: you still might be killed – rendered lifeless – if I try this and two: you're a cat. Admittedly, with a few human features, but essentially, you're a cat. If this worked, Ahiru might end up as a cat, and then we'd just be back to square one."

"I was given a soul by a human; made to think and be like a human, so I believe that it could still work to turn Ahiru human."

"Okay. But... I don't know whether you'd survive. Ageless you may be, but you still might end up just a piece of wood."

"This is the only idea you've had that could work?"

"Yes... I could try and come up with another solution – there probably is, but–"

"No, I'm happy for you to try."

"A-Are you sure? Didn't you hear what I said – if this works, it could kill you?"

"I heard you the first time; I know the risks." Baron's eyes dulled a little. "But at least this might bring about one happily-ever-after."

ooOoo

"And these are the art rooms." Haru led Naoko through the doors and into the large spacey room. Round the edges various art materials were scattered in a deceivingly organised mess.

"I thought this was only a dancing academy," the redhead commented.

"Apparently it has other branches as well."

"Hm, I wonder which you'd be better suited for," Naoko mused with a smirk.

Haru rolled her eyes. "Thanks. You know my art is only composed of sketches and suchlike. It wouldn't be good enough for any of this stuff anyway."

"Your normal subject is good enough to go on canvas. You sketch so much of that cat-person that you've certainly got the practise."

"Mum," Haru stressed, "I'm not going to paint him. Small doodles; fine, but a whooping great painting?" She blushed. "No thanks." 'That would definitely be bordering on obsession rather than just a crush...'

"Did you ever come up with a name for that character you created?"

'There's no way on earth I can call him Baron... she already knows I know a guy by that name...' "No, I never did."

"Are you a student of the dancing school?" a quiet voice queried. The question seemed mostly directed at Haru.

Naoko and Haru looked around the room; they had thought they were the only people there. "No," Haru said, "we're just guests."

"Oh. It would explain why you're not in uniform." The newcomers finally pinned down the owner of the voice as a slight girl sitting at an easel at the other end of the room. She had very little presence in the room, seemingly quite happy just to be unnoticed; the only thing contradicting this was her unusually sea-green hair. Haru made a note of how everyone had unusual-coloured hair, so she wasn't sure why this was a surprise.

"I'm Malen, by the way," the girl added, her eyes never straying from the painting; flicking between the canvas and the subject.

"Haru."

"Naoko."

"What nice names," Malen commented absent-mindedly.

"Thanks." Haru wandered over to see the subject of the painting – an impressive still-life of a bouquet of flowers. "You're really good."

"Thank you. Do you paint?"

"Not really. I doodle in my spare time."

The girl gave a small laugh. "What about you, ma'am? Do you paint?"

"Haru didn't inherit her doodling abilities from me," Naoko laughed. "I quilt, though."

"Each to their own."

Naoko watched Malen dab some paint onto the canvas, a smile beginning to curve on her lips. "Do you mind if we had a try at drawing?" she asked.

"No, not at all. There's some art material in those drawers over there and in the cupboards round the top," said the girl, pointing round at the respective drawers and cupboards.

"Mum," Haru laughed, embarrassed.

"What? We have several hours before we're due to meet Charon and Fakir for dinner. Anyway," she added, a devil-may-care grin slipping onto her face, "even if my talent is nonexistent, it'll be fun to try."

ooOoo

Fakir hovered the pen over the still-white, still-blank piece of paper. He glanced, once again, down to the Cat Creation. "I'm still not sure about this," he eventually said.

"I've already given my permission," said Baron. "Although, you don't really need it," he added quietly. "Being a Creation, I'm particularly susceptible to being 'written' and have got very little say in the matter."

"I'm still asking whether it's okay," Fakir insisted.

"And I said it was fine."

Still, Fakir couldn't bring himself to write.

At the end of the pier, Ahiru doubtfully watched the proceedings, her wide blue eyes flicking over from Fakir to Baron. She waddled up, quacking gently.

Fakir's face darkened. "Ahiru, do you always have to be so self-sacrificing?" he demanded. "This is for your sake."

Baron looked from the boy to the duck and back to the boy again. "I didn't know you spoke Duck," he said.

"I don't, but I have a pretty good idea what she is saying."

"And what would that be?"

"Probably that she doesn't want anyone to suffer for her and that if it's going to harm anyone we shouldn't bother." Fakir tutted to himself. "That's the kind of person – duck – she is. Never thinking of herself, always of others."

"She's not the only one," Baron muttered.

Fakir sighed. "Let me guess; Haru is much the same?"

"When she first came to us, she didn't want to be an inconvenience to anyone. She kept offering to leave if she thought she was getting in the way."

"Baron, are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You could die by this. Or, at the very least, become permanently stuck in your wooden state."

"I'm aware of that. But it's not as if I've been cut off in the prime of my life; I've lived a long time."

"Are you saying you have nothing important to keep you here?" Fakir asked bluntly.

Baron hesitated. "Well, there is the rest of the Bureau to consider, although Toto and Muta will survive without me."

"What about Haru?"

"She... will carry on with life."

"Baron, my sister cares for you greatly. I hope you're aware of that."

"I..." The Creation glanced guiltily down. "I know. Believe me, I know. I overheard her confession at the Bridge of Riddles. Unintentionally," he added before Fakir could react. "But I heard every word."

"Enough to know how she feels about you."

Baron faltered, then nodded. "Yes."

Fakir gave the feline a hard stare. "Baron, how do you feel about my sister? Really? And I don't want a politician's answer; I want something plain and simple."

Baron didn't answer immediately, instead staring intensely down at a spot on the wooden planking of the pier, finding it immensely preferable to having to match Fakir's gaze.

"Baron, if this goes wrong... if you do revert to only wood... this may be your last chance to tell your real feelings for her. She deserves that much, doesn't she?"

"She deserves someone better than me," Baron said quietly. "She deserves someone who will grow old alongside her and support her throughout life. And I'm not that person."

"Baron, I want to know what to tell her if this goes wrong."

"Tell her... Tell her that she's important to me. Tell her to remember that." A brief smile crossed the Creation's face at the thought of a particular brunette. "And tell her not to do anything stupid."

ooOoo

"You know, when you mentioned your nonexistent talent, I thought you were being modest..." Haru teased, looking over Naoko's shoulder. "I mean, what is that?" She pointed to a yellow blob on the redhead's piece.

"It's a daffodil, can't you see?"

"It looks like a mistake on the page to me."

"It's yellow! The daffodil is the only yellow flower in the bouquet!" Naoko stressed, but she was trying not to laugh. "Anyway, what does yours look like?"

"I thought I was doing okay."

"Uh-hm. And so would you care to explain what that red mess is?"

"Well, it was meant to be a rose, but then I gave up and tried to turn it into a poppy instead," Haru admitted, giving the hybrid flower a doubtful look. "It didn't come out looking like either."

"You can say that again."

"Hey!" Haru dipped her fingers in the water pot and flicked a few drops at Naoko. "That's my masterpiece we're talking about!"

The redhead laughed as she flinched away from the water, quickly returning fire with some water from her own water pot. "Master-disaster, I think would be more appropriate."

"Oh, look at the pot calling the kettle black. I don't think you have any room to talk," laughed Haru, flicking a few more droplets of water Naoko's way.

"Me? Of course I do. I am older, wiser..."

"Older, yes. Wiser... hm, I don't believe wisdom is an essential part of growing old..."

"Cheeky."

"I think you're starting to gain a few white hairs..."

"With you as a daughter, it's a wonder I didn't become prematurely grey."

"Right, you asked for it!" Haru dipped her paintbrush in the much-used green palette and leered towards the older woman. Naoko jumped out of her seat and Haru promptly started chasing after her, paintbrush raised threateningly in hand.

"No, don't you dare! Don't you dare! I'll–" Naoko suddenly cut off, mid-flow, stopping mid-step too.

"What's the matter, Mum? Decided to give up already?" Haru teased. She caught up with the woman, but then felt her blood go cold. "Mum? Mum!" The redhead was frozen in the moment; the laughter still frozen on her face.

"She can't hear you," a crooked voice said.

"You again!" Haru hissed. She couldn't see Drosselmeyer yet, but she could guess he was there. "What have you done to her?"

"Nothing."

"Liar, she's..."

"I've done nothing to her. But I have taken you out of time."

"What?"

A large shadow passed over the expanse of one of the windows, blocking it out completely and revealing Drosselmeyer's face. "You're out of your time."

"I thought I said I wanted nothing to do with you!" Haru snapped. "You said I would come for answers about my power sooner or later, but I haven't. So why are you here?"

"I grew bored of waiting. Anyway, you might be wanting my help sooner than you think."

"You're demented," Haru muttered. "Now... put me back in time or however it works. I was having a fun time before you cared to turn up."

"So you don't want to know about the dangerous activities of your dear Creation?"

Haru stopped. Damn, he knew how to make her listen. "What dangerous activities?" she asked hollowly.

"Why, the ones concerning my other descendant – your brother – and the Creation in returning Tutu to human."

"Ahiru," Haru growled. "Her name is Ahiru. Tutu was your character, but she's not under your influence anymore."

"Aren't you curious of the solution they came up with?" Drosselmeyer asked, ignoring Haru's heated comment.

"If it returns Ahiru to human, then I should be glad."

"Even if it means you lose the Creation?"

Haru froze. "What?"

"Didn't they tell you? The knight's plan was to take the Creation's life force in order to turn Tutu human by his writing." Drosselmeyer tssked. "Such a dangerous task. Even with his longer lifespan, the Creation is unlikely to survive."

"Idiot!" Haru hissed. "I told him not to do anything like that!"

"The knight is currently writing and... alas, you have so very little time left."

"I need to go. But," she suddenly said, raising one hand to the dead author, "I don't get this. Why are you helping me?"

Drosselmeyer only smirked. "When you need my help, you only need ask."

"That's not an answer!"

Just as suddenly as before, life resumed around her. Naoko skidded round on the smooth, wooden floor, still laughing when she realised Haru had somehow moved halfway across the room within an instant. "Haru?"

The brunette was trying hard though not to hyperventilate. "I need to go," she repeated. The paintbrush was dropped to the floor. "I need to go now." Without waiting to give a reason or apology, she set off into a sprint.

"Haru!"

'The pier... Fakir's usually at the pier mid afternoon. Please let him be there...'

Her feet led her the now-familiar route to the lake; one phrase ringing round her head.

'Please let it not be too late.'

She arrived at the pier in record time, to only receive more questions. A girl she had never seen was standing at the far end, looking as if she had never seen the world from that angle before – or, at least, not for a very long time. Haru could only guess that was Ahiru as a human, despite the fact that even though she had yellow feathers as a duck, as a human she had long, fine pink hair.

But the eyes were the same.

However, if she was human, then...

"Where's Baron?" Haru demanded.

Fakir jumped from his seat; pen and paper in hand. Was it just her imagination, or did he look guiltily? "Haru..."

Haru stormed up to him, a growl manifesting in her throat. "I'll only ask once. Where. Is. He?"

Her brother only gestured helplessly to the motionless Cat Creation.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

ooOoo

A/N: PTT fans will recognise Malen from the art rooms. I couldn't resist giving her a cameo for a little bit of mother-daughter time between Haru and Naoko.

P.S. Please don't kill me.