Chapter 36: The Cavalry's Here

"You should be thanking me, you know there is no way you would have made it here any other way."

"Shoulda snuck onto the train." Muta growled at Toto.

"Your lucky I heaved your fat-"

"-I think that might be enough from you two-" The Baron interviened.

"No, you have no clue how I- woah, hold it. What the-" Muta looked at the human who's voice was clearly the Barons, whose dress was clearly the Baron's, but whom stood much larger than before.

"It seems upon my arrival some things have changed." He cleared his throat.

"Some things? HA! You know I called it! The moment that Miss Haru's eyes got all sparkly way back in the beginning at you, and then you acted all dumb I mean, I've never seen eyes sparkle exactly like that, beyond your gaudy green ones and-"

"Ahem, well I have seen eyes sparkle like mine before but-" The Baron's eyes looked to the broach on Haru's pyjama shirt, raising them to meet hers. "But I don't suspect it will be the last time I'll see that."

Haru's eyes widened as her cheeks blushed. "But-I-I- Thought-"

"Hah! So you changed to a human this time instead of Haru changing to a cat! It's cheesy but hey it works doesn't it?" Muta seemed rather boastful of it all.

"I thought you said it was because of my song Baron-" Haru mustered out.

"Well frankly I'm not sure of it all." He put his hand to his mouth perplexed, resting his chin thoughtfully as he had so familiarly done as a cat.

"Well if a song did that then write me one up about a never ending feast chica!"

"It's not like that Muta! And why couldn't you have came and talked to me this whole time!"

"I'm with her on this one." Toto flew in the room and perched himself on her shoulder.

"Ughh- It wasn't really my place. You know blame the Baron for being so stubborn. It wasn't by the books that you needed him, and plus I mean I'd seen the guy back in the day when the- uh- you tell her?"

"I did Muta." The Baron said calmly.

"Well-it just wasn't my place. I helped you find the Amasawa's new house? Can't I at least gets some credit for that? Speaking of which do you have any food in here I'm starved-"

"Muta! It's not your place to ask! We're in Haru's home now, not mine." The Baron scolded.

"Yea well you ain't got too much of a home at that size!" Muta laughed.

"Where will you stay Baron?" Toto asked seriously.

"Frankly I'm not sure at the moment but-"

"Well you'll have to stay here." Haru proclaimed suddenly.

"But Haru I couldn't-'

"You don't have anywhere else to go- not to mention you'd stick out in a crowd."

"Why might that be?"

"Have you seen the city Baron? Nobody Human wears that ged-up."

"Well I particularly-"

"Which is why you should stay here. I mean I have a couch so I can just-"

"No, no Haru. That is plenty. I will take your lounge, and following the morning, I will make some arrangements for myself."

"How-"

"Don't worry about it much. It's not quite clear how long I will stay like this so-"

"There you go again Baron. You're doing it. What you did last time. I'd thought you might keep the spirit's up with this but-"

"Stop droning on Muta!" Toto complained.

"I'm not complaining! I'm stating the fact that the Baron likes to tiptoe on the tulips here and acts way too-"

"It's fine." Haru smiled. The Baron noticed something in her eyes had changed. Was it a bit forced? "However long you need to, you can stay here. I just can't let anyone know you're here. I'm sure if they saw me talking to a cat and a bird and a mysterious – ahem, Baron, I would be kicked out for sure."

"Fair enough. I don't even need a couch." Muta shrugged. "Chairs work fine."

"Muta she didn't invite you, you lug-head!" Toto flew off her shoulder and swooped down near him causing Muta to claw back.

"It's okay. Whoever needs to stay can stay." Haru tried to stop their fighting.

"Well I'd love to but I prefer the fresh air. When you want to kick the old fur ball out just let Baron know and he'll give me a signal. Hope it all works out."

"Goodbye Toto." The Baron nodded as he left out the window.

"So about that grub?"

"I don't have much yet. I suppose I could find something." Haru lead them to her living area. "Here, I got some sushi at the market today I guess that might be okay?"

"Not bad. I'll take it. Goodnight." Muta shuffled off over onto a chair to which he swiveled around and seemed to preoccupy himself with eating, which soon lead to sleeping.

"Haru, it seems my arrival has been more of a hindrance then anything. I apologize. I never intended it this way."

"You're not a ...hindrance…its just a lot at once. I'm happy you're here. And I'm happy I could finally talk to you. Even if it wasn't how I expected."

"I am too Haru. If I had it my way it would have been much less intrusive but I-" The Baron caught himself looking at her eyes. They seemed much more cloudy then normal. They weren't as brilliant a sapphire color as the Baroness's had been but they way they seemed to stare so intently at him, Muta had been right. He'd been blind to it for too long. He had this feeling he wished to get a bit closer to her, the distance between them filled the air with a sense of awkward tension.

"It's all right Baron. If you don't mind, I think I'll go to bed too myself. It's been a long day." Haru gave him another kind smile. "Are you sure you want the couch? Theres a spare quilt folded for it but I don't want to be a bad host."

"No, no Haru I'm quite positive it will do fine, but Haru I-" He found his hand reaching towards her.

"Goodnight Baron." She gave him another warm smile before she turned to go back into her room.

He nodded absently. He shouldn't think too hard on the matter, it was clear it had been a lot for her…but still it was a strange adjustment for them all. Tomorrow he would make things right.