Chapter Twenty Six: Truth Revealed

"Back in those days, I had a crush on Machida."

Aaron started gagging.

"Surely not!"

"My standards have gone up, okay?! I didn't know back then that he was a selfish, prideful jerk. I saw him as a handsome gentleman." Haru sighed, thinking about those days. "You keep hearing things about me being clumsy and tardy all the time, right?"

"Yes, but it's difficult to take those rumors seriously."

"They aren't rumors, Aaron. Back in those days, I was late so often that Usho-sensei could tell when I was sneaking in without turning around. I was also invisible to boys, unless I did something clumsy so they could laugh."

Aaron started shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Haru, but this is something I can't believe about you."

"What if I told you what caused the change? Would you believe me then?"

He looked at her, but slowly nodded. Taking a deep breath, and firmly directing their route to what she wanted, she told him everything about her adventure to the Cat Kingdom. She lingered over details like her tea blend, especially when Baron came into the story. As she continued, Aaron's eyes became wider and wider.

When they reached Haru's goal, the library, the story wasn't done yet, so they sat down on the stone steps until the narrative was finished.

"… so here are these people, wallowing in grief for five years thanks to a crooked wizard that cares only for power and blood-stained earth. Their only hope for a future literally rides on how soon I can finish writing Hatachi's manuscript."

Aaron's eyes were now downcast, and he was leaning over his knees, fists clenched angrily. Haru looked up, seeing that dawn was beginning to appear.

"I know what's likely to happen if I walk away from my own life, but there is too much for Rosemary's people to lose, if I put myself before them." She sighed. "Look, I'll understand if you don't believe me-"

"Is Baron really that wonderful?" he asked, still facing the ground. Haru's heart quivered at his tone, but she wasn't one to back down.

"I used to dream that someone like Baron would come and sweep me off my feet when I was little. He's everything I could want, except I can never have him. He doesn't even like me back the way I like him. We're just friends."

"Like we are?"

"Yes." She stood up, and walked around so that she could kneel down and put one hand on his shoulder. "If circumstances were just a little different, I'd give my heart to you without thinking twice about it. But there are people that need me more than I need a sweetheart. They may be artificial souls that only live in a book, but they are still souls, and I'm going to help them, even if it means renouncing several things that I want. And… I still don't know what my feelings are for you, Aaron. I have no clue if I like you for who you are, or if it's because you remind me so strongly of Baron. It wouldn't be fair for me to lead you on like that, if I'm not even sure of my own feelings. You deserve better than to be with a girl that sees you as someone else's shadow."

Aaron rested his elbows on his knees, and held his hands to his face. He started shaking uncontrollably, and she could see tears through his hands. She hugged him around the shoulders, wishing that she could just love him the way he deserved. But she was so weak, she couldn't do it.

He suddenly grabbed her by around the waist and squeezed hard, his chin on her shoulder.

"You're wrong," he choked out. "You have no clue how wrong you are, Haru."

"What do you mean?" she asked him, hugging him back. He struggled to speak through his tears.

"Baron… loves you with all his heart and soul. I know he does." He could feel her light laugh brush against his golden hair.

"Aaron, there's no possible way that you could know that. You've never met him."

He looked down again, hating himself more than ever. With one hand, he slowly released the fair brunette, and fished around in his pocket.

"I don't have to." Aaron handed her the folded paper. A little confused, she opened it up. Her eyes widened.

It was her favorite sketch, the one where she was dancing with Baron again. She pressed it to her heart with trembling hands.

"Out of all the sketches Hiromi could have taken…" she muttered angrily. Aaron shook his head, tears still running down his face.

"Hiromi didn't rip that out of your sketchbook, Haru. Brimstone did."

She looked at him, not quite sure that she had heard him completely. He sighed.

"It's about time I told you the truth about what I really am, Haru. You were honest enough to me. The day Rowan was returned to the princess, Brimstone tried to rip out your heart, just like he did with Hatachi." He looked at her, a small smile showing through his grief. "But you had protection from an amulet, so he couldn't touch you. He saw your sketchbook, and that picture."

Haru stared at him, realization starting to creep in as she reached for her throat, and felt the green amulet lying underneath her thick sweater. Aaron brushed away a few tears, and nodded.

"I was born that night, from a few drops of Baron's blood that had spilled on the gold pile. A lot of Rowan's was everywhere, so it was tough to find Baron's."

Haru started shaking her head.

"No… you have a mother! You had a childhood! I saw! There were pictures everywhere in your home!"

He shook his head sadly.

"No. After Brimstone gave me life, he allowed me to name myself, and gave me enough magic so that I could provide rock-solid proof that I had never been anything more than a regular guy. My mother is actually a shadow servant that I gave enough personality to so that she seems like a real person, and put her in a situation where she could become good friends with your mother."

Haru's mind started going numb.

"You… were sent here… to entertain me?"

"To win your heart," Aaron corrected, a sad smile still present. "Whoever controls the heart of the writer controls the fate of Malgea. But, there was a small flaw in Brimstone's plan." He stood up, and walked down the steps, past the brunette. She watched him go, wondering what she was supposed to do next.

When Aaron reached the base of the stairs, he looked back at her and smiled with tears in his eyes.

"The only thing Brimstone knew about Baron was what he looked like, and that you were crazy about him. He didn't even have a name to work with. As a result, I'm a complete copy of Baron's genetics, only in a human form." The look of longing in his eyes made Haru want to start crying again. He kneeled on the cold stone steps, still gazing at her.

"I was only supposed to pretend to fall in love with you, but what's happening inside my heart isn't exactly acting, Haru. I really do love you. Baron's known you for much longer. There is no doubt in my mind that he worships the ground you walk on."

The slim girl started shaking her head.

"If that's true, why didn't he ever say anything?"

Aaron sighed.

"Well, if I was the immortal cat doll in love with a human girl, I would want you to find someone you can share your life with, since only a handful of the barriers between us could ever be crossed."

Haru looked down, and studied her hand.

"That sounds like something Baron would think."

Aaron nodded, and walked up to her.

"Come along now."

She looked up at him, wondering what he wanted her to do. He smiled sadly.

"You want to break into the library and go to Hatachi's secret place, don't you? It's probably the only place in Tokyo that absolutely no living person knows about, so it would be the safest place to finish writing the book, wouldn't it?"

Haru nodded, and got to her feet.

"The key Rosemary led me to was a skeleton one. I just hope that the locks hadn't been changed in the past fifty years."

Aaron nodded, and escorted her up the stairs. An amused smile finally played upon his lips.

"Just out of curiosity, Haru. Do you realize that you're still wearing the wig?"