The Bureau Files: Series 3

by Catsafari

When magic is accidentally released upon the world, new Creations spring to life, causing chaos wherever they go. Now it's up to the Bureau to mend their mistakes before it's too late. But as the year comes to its end, time is running out for Haru Yoshioka. Cover art by Angie/drawerofdoodles.

12. Linked (Part 2)

The Bureau Files: Series 3

ooOoo

Episode 12: Linked (Part 2)

Haru abruptly stopped walking. Through her link with Baron, she had felt the sudden surge of adrenaline. For a moment – a brief moment, but a clear one nonetheless – she had seen the image of the Duke, inanimate and silent.

"He's found him," she gasped.

"What's the matter, Chicky?"

Tsuge paused. "What is it?"

Subconsciously she passed a hand over her heart, as if she could erase away the connection. There had been so much emotion packed into that mental, unintentional punch. Fear. Hatred. Emotions she rarely believed the calm and collected Baron to possess. Was this just his humanity taking over, or was there more anger beneath the surface than she had ever imagined?

"I… I'm fine. Just felt like someone walked over my grave, that's all," she attempted to brush off with a laugh. "I'm fine. Are we nearly at this hoax creature yet?" She shivered, and this time it wasn't from the backlash of Baron's emotions. "I'm not afraid to admit that this place creeps me out."

"Creeps you out?" Tsuge grinned. "I thought you dealt with magic and monsters all the time."

"Yes, but they're usually… more alive. This place feels like a morgue."

"Well, there are times when I'm pleased these are dead." He laughed and pointed towards a stuffed wolf-creature that was almost twice the size of any regular hound. "We picked that up from England a couple of years back – apparently the creature was shot down on the moors. Now that is a creature I'm glad I didn't get the chance to see alive."

The rest of the Bureau lingered at the exhibit, with Muta keeping close to Haru's feet. He tripped a little over his newly-acquired bird legs. "Hey, Chicky… ain't that…?"

"Let's just keep going," she said. "So, Tsuge, what exactly is this hoax creature?"

"It's old – it's been in the Keightley collection for years. From the records, it looks like one of Keightley's ancestors bought the piece only to later discover it was a fake. You know, some taxidermist had taken a group of dead animals and sowed them into one creation. Pretty morbid, if you ask me."

"Those sorts of hoaxes aren't unusual," Toto said. "So why is this one still in the collection? Sentimental reasons?"

"I think it was just forgotten about, to be honest. But there is one very strange thing about it…"

"What?" Haru asked.

"Well, when taxidermists wanted to make something that was half-human – mermaid, faun – they usually used monkeys, but this one…" Tsuge paused outside a heavily secured door, already hovering a hand over the keypad. "Well… let's just say the taxidermist wanted realism."

"They used a real human?" she whispered.

Tsuge smiled grimly. "Are you still sure you want to see it?"

What other choice did they have? From the time scale Tsuge had given them, it looked like it had been their magic which had… awoken this creature. In some form, this hoax was their responsibility.

"Yes. Let's go."

ooOoo

Baron stood before the inanimate form of his old foe – his old self – and felt the emotions pouring out of him. And, equally so, he could feel Haru reeling at the sudden inflow of ugly feelings. He tried to reel it, to only limited success.

"He's so… quiet," he murmured.

Hakamada laughed. "What did you expect? It's just a figurine."

No. He was more than that. So much more. And yet now…

"This isn't right," Baron said. "He shouldn't be empty like this…" He turned to the researcher. "What did you do?"

"Same as with any object in the collection," Keightley answered for him. "Study it." Her eyes narrowed as she observed Baron's distress. "It's a relatively recent addition; it's always emitted magic but, other than that, it's never been too much of interest to myself. Why? What is it?"

"He… It…" Caught in a sudden bout of inarticulateness, Baron stumbled to a verbal halt. Eventually he could only manage the weak echo of, "This isn't right. And, what's more, this doesn't make sense. The magic's there, it's just dormant. Almost as if something's missing…" He trailed off and his eyes shifted to Hakamada. "You're covered with magic."

Hakamada gave a weak, confused smile. "Of course I am. I spend all day in this place. I think you'll find any person who works here will be."

"This doesn't make sense," he repeated. "I was so sure…" 'So sure that the Duke was a part of the other Haru's demise,' his mind finished. 'Now how do I fight against a future I don't understand the cause of? How do I protect her?'

"Look, I've been studying it for weeks now," Hakamada said in what he probably hoped was a reassuring tone. "There's nothing there, mate. Just trust me; I would know. Why don't you come and take a look at my research? Perhaps there'll be something of use there."

ooOoo

"Tucker! I've brought in some guests to admire your little pet!" Tsuge swung the door shut behind them, which slammed shut with ominous finality. "Welcome to the Lair," he said with a grin to the Bureau. "Tucker's a great guy, mad scientist part aside."

"I've told you before, Tomoko, I'm not a mad scientist." A middle-aged man, who Haru assumed was the aforementioned Tucker, strode across the dimly-lit room. "I experiment and observe the results to conclude greater detail about the manananggal."

"The what?"

At Muta's question, Tucker glanced down. Simultaneously, his eyebrows rose up at the cat. "Talking felines, now I've seen everything." He knelt down and prodded at the fat cat. "Cats don't possess the physical ability to talk – everything from their voicebox, their tongue, their jaw, heck, even their brains, should make this an impossibility. So what's the trick?"

"Are you calling me stupid, four-eyes?"

"Muta's a little… short-tempered," Haru warned, gently nudging Muta behind her. "Although I admit I'm equally curious about the creature."

Tucker's eyes lit up from behind his glasses. "Well then, you are in for a treat. Let me show you."

He stood back up and strolled over to the darkened section of the room, flicking on a light switch as he went. The far side of the room lit up to reveal a cell separated by a thick pane of glass. And, in the far corner, was a creature shrouded in a leathery black material.

It twitched against the oncoming light, and curled up tighter in its protective folds.

"What…? What is it?" Haru whispered. She found herself drawn to the glass, a hand gently rising up to rest against the barrier.

"A manananggal, we believe."

"Try saying that after a couple of beers," Tsuge added with a grin.

Tucker wasn't exactly impressed. "It's a creature that comes from Philippine mythology; half-human, half-bat, all cannibal. Or, at least, it would be if it was real. As things stand, we have no evidence that such creatures have ever or do exist. This individual was a hoax created during the Victorian era, and was simply an embarrassing fake in the collection until recently…" He tapped a hand against the glass. "Rise and shine, my dear. Time to perform for our guests."

A snarl rose through the air. The leathery cover that Haru had mistaken for some type of covering began to twitch; as it extended outwards, muscle and bone took definition amid the black. It rose up until two large, demonic wings stretched out above it, tipped with wicked claws.

Beneath the canopy of its wings, the manananggal stirred. A female form, dressed in rags, stretched, easing feeling back into her muscles. Her fingers flexed, and her hands formed spindly, pointed silhouettes, too gaunt to be human. A forked tongue flickered between her lips.

But it was her eyes that set Haru back.

They were utterly human.

A hand flew up to Haru's mouth.

This… This was the creature she had seen before. The creature she had seen in the mist between dimensions, between worlds.

"Can she talk?"

Tucker shook his head. "The creature seems to be, by all definitions, mad. We've tried to reach out to it–"

"How about, you know, not keeping her caged?" she offered curtly.

"Haru, it tore three people up when it first woke," Tsuge said. "It's dangerous."

"It's the combination of animal and human," Toto said. It was the first time he had spoken since the manananggal had been revealed, and now there was a hollowness to his voice. "Just like with Doctor Moreau's hybrids. In the end, it turns them all mad."

"I thought the magic only awoke almost-Creations," Haru replied. "Not… corpses…"

"Do ya think the corpses just ended up like that?" Muta grunted. "Think, Chicky. Someone's gotta have put them together in the first place. Guess that's making a Creation of sorts, right?"

"For once, the fatso's right. The original taxidermist must have put a lot of effort into creating the fake; enough to make it an almost-Creation. All it needed was a little… push."

"Yeah. Too bad it's off its rocker, huh?" Muta added.

"What are you talking about?" Too late, the Bureau remembered the other two humans present. And Tucker had a sharp ear. "Almost-Creations? You talk as if this is something you understand."

Haru looked to Toto and Muta, and shrugged helplessly. They had said too much to backtrack now. "That's because… I guess we do understand. Several weeks back, we released some… magic. It tends to turn up in… bringing to life certain… objects. This isn't the first one we've encountered."

"Okay, so I'm re-evaluating you right now," Tsuge said. "Also, what kind of magic are you messing around with for it to do something like… this?"

Haru hesitated. Did she really want to explain Creations? Should she?

Luckily, Muta was a lot less tongue-tied.

"Eh, don't bother asking us. That's more Baron's area."

"Baron?"

"David," Haru quickly amended. "Baron is just a… nickname."

Tsuge chuckled to himself. "Suits him." Abruptly there was rapid movement on the other side of the glass. The half-bat Creation flew up and slammed herself against the constraints of her cage. She scratched her claw-like nails across the glass, screeching at the people before her.

Haru leapt back, a nervous chuckle escaping her lips. "Is that normal?" By the way Tucker was sent running for his notes, she was betting on the negative. "Should we be worried?"

"Worried?" Tsuge echoed. "Not a chance. The glass is reinforced, right, Tucker?"

"It's never done any substantial damage yet," the scientist replied.

Writhing against the glass, the manananggal stretched open its wide, wide mouth – why did everything dangerous have such sharp teeth? – and its forked tongue flickered out again. And, trained upon Haru was its so very human eyes. "Let me out…" it hissed.

"Then again…" Tucker said slowly, lowering his clipboard, "it's never talked before either…"

It screamed and sent its claws digging into the glass. This time it gained purchase on the surface, sending cracks across the barrier. "Give me… your magic…"

Suddenly Tucker and Tsuge were looking at Haru.

"You have magic?" Tsuge asked.

"I…"

"Let me… out…"

"Is this really an issue at the moment?" Toto demanded, waddling over to Haru's side. "That thing looks like it's about to break free!"

"It can't be," Tucker insisted. "I've been watching it for weeks now. If it could escape from the cage, it would have long before now."

"Unless… it now sees a way out of this place," Haru whispered. "What if it was only biding its time…?" Her magic, her portal magic… and the ring… Creations could sense magic; was it possible that the manananggal could sense the power she possessed? With the ring, it could leave this place. And if Haru was dragged along, the manananggal could go anywhere from the Wood Between Worlds. "We need to leave. Now."

Her words were accompanied by the smash of the glass shattering. With a victorious screech, the Creation flew towards Haru, her talons outstretched.

"Don't worry, Haru! I've got this!" Toto leapt up, forgot he no longer had wings, and came crashing down. Luckily, Haru was less immobilised; she swung her bag off her shoulder, slamming it into the oncoming claws. She snatched up Toto from the floor and ran towards the door.

"Someone open up the door!"

"On it!" Tsuge was already there, keying in the code. The door slid open and they fled out. Tsuge slammed the close button as soon as they were all past the door, shutting the manananggal inside.

"Tucker, mate," Tsuge said, gasping for breath, "I think you made a mistake in your calculations."

"I could only calculate based on my observations," Tucker replied stiffly. "And from what the manananggal had shown before now–"

"Who cares?" Muta demanded. "All that matters is that that thing's loose."

"Hardly," Tucker scoffed. "That door has a six-digit lock. There's a million possible combinations it has to choose from."

Toto raised one ear against the door. "Let's hope it doesn't get lucky then. It's attempting to break the code."

ooOoo

Baron sat amid the swamped disorganisation of Hakamada's office, sorting his way through the research papers and files with rapidly cooling hope. "So the figurine came into the collection about six months back, and during that time it's always emitted a steady flow of magic… except for an incident several months back…"

"Yes. There was a sudden influx of magic but it quickly died back down again," Hakamada said. "Since then, it's been pretty quiet."

The radio beeped, and Tsuge's voice came onto the line. "Miss Keightley, we have a problem."

The woman scoffed and raised the radio to her mouth. "What is it now, Tomoko?"

"Uh… Tucker's project has got a little out of hand…"

"I don't have time to beat around the bush, Tomoko. What, exactly, has gone wrong?"

There was an abrupt scuffle on the other end as another person took the radio from Tsuge. "Tucker here, ma'am. The manananggal has escaped from its cage. It's contained in my research area, however, so the situation is still under somewhat control. It cannot break the code."

"The manananggal?" Baron asked. "What's that?"

"A hoax taxidermy monstrosity," Hakamada explained. "It came alive around the same time the figurine had a blip, although it's a waste of resources if you ask me. The creature's half-mad."

"I've heard of the manananggal before," the Creation murmured. "It's something of Philippine folklore; a half-human, half-bat creature…"

"Yes, and now we've had one caged up for the past few weeks," Hakamada said.

There was yet another scuffle from the other end of the radio line, and this time Haru won the fight. "Hey, is Baron there? I need to talk to him."

Baron grabbed the radio from Keightley, even before she had a chance to ask about the lapse in name. "I'm here. What is it, Haru?"

"It's a Creation. That's what must have brought me here – perhaps some of your remnant magic ended up waking it up–"

"No. The Duke's here. Wait…" A thought passed over Baron's mind. "Did you mention a code?"

"Yeah. It's what's keeping the manananggal on that side. Tucker says that there's a million possible combinations though."

"It may not keep it in for long," Baron groaned. "Everyone in this building is contaminated with magic. Magic the Creation will be able to see. Every time someone types in the code, they'll leave a residue on the buttons. There aren't a million combinations. How many numbers are in the code?"

"Six."

"Then there are thirty-six possible combinations, at most. Haru, get out of there!"

"Gee, thanks. Why are we always forgotten?" Muta muttered from the other end.

Keightley snatched the radio back, glaring at Baron. "Tucker, Tomoko, retreat and allow the guards to tackle the situation. I'll be joining you shortly."

"Yes, ma'am." It sounded like Tucker had retrieved the radio from Haru. "Also, I believe you should know that the manananggal appeared motivated by alleged magic possessed by Miss Haru."

"That… is news to me. Keep Miss Haru and her friends with you until I arrive." She clipped the radio back onto her belt and delivered a dagger-filled glare at Baron. "Drosselmeyer, I believe you have been less-than-honest with me. And believe me when I say that I do not appreciate being lied to."

"I was only trying to protect my friends."

"And I am only trying to protect my collection. Hakamada, keep our guest here until the situation is sorted out with the manananggal."

"But you're going to need me," Baron snapped. He stepped forward, but abruptly Keightley had hoisted a gun from her belt and was aiming the barrel straight into his face.

"And what makes you think I would possibly believe something like that after your deceit so far? Magic you may have, but I doubt that little else you told me was true. And I do not need someone who I do not trust."

"My friends are down there."

"Then you should have thought of that before coming here. I'll be locking the door behind me, and if you so much as think about breaking the code like our little manananggal friend, Hakamada will deal with you."

"I'm a Creation," Baron blurted out.

Keightley paused at the door. "What?"

"You wanted the truth, so here it is. I am a Creation, like that statuette once was," he said, motioning to the inanimate form of the Duke. "My name is Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, and I am a figurine created with enough love that I was given a soul. That is the truth. Now, please, let me help my friends."

The woman watched him carefully. "Show me."

Baron relaxed his magic for the feline side of his appearance to return. Fur flowed back over his skin, reshaping his face and realigning his ears, until he was a half-feline creature standing before Keightley. He didn't reduce the spell to change him back into his foot-high state, but the change was enough. "Please. Let me help my friends."

Keightley's gaze moved over Baron's new appearance, and a little smile twitched at the corner of her lips. "And let such an interesting new specimen escape? I think not. Hakamada, make sure he doesn't leave." She turned and the door slid silently behind her.

There was a slow clap. Baron turned to see Hakamada rise from his seat once Keightley had left. "Well, well, well. That was far more amusing than I could ever have hoped for. You must really care for those friends of yours."

Baron felt his innards go cold. Something new had entered Hakamada's eyes. Something cruel. Something familiar. "Who are you?"

ooOoo

"Are you sure we're going to be safe here?"

"That thing looked like it was coming after you, so I'm not sure you're going to be safe anywhere," Tsuge said, jarring the door shut with a chair. They had retreated to one of the collection's storerooms, where items that had recently been brought in were kept. "And since when did you have magic? I thought it was just residue from that friend of yours."

"It's… kind of a long story."

"Oh, please, go ahead," Tucker said drolly. "It's not as if we have much else to do here."

"Look, I don't have much magic. It only really reacts to certain things. Don't we have a way of keeping track of what's going on outside?" she asked, trying to deter the conversation from herself.

"We're in a glorified cupboard, Chicky," Muta snorted. "How exactly do you plan on doing that?"

"Actually, we do have a wireless internet system throughout the collection," Tsuge offered. "Well, it's more like an enclosed intranet, but I should be able to access the cameras through it…" He drew out his phone and began to type.

"I should be out there," Tucker muttered, looking to the door. "It was my project to study, and now those moronic guard are probably going to shoot it dead."

"Better that than it kill more people," Toto muttered.

"You might be getting your wish, Tucker," Tsuge said. "It's guessed the key code and now it seems to be coming this way. Looks like I was right. Looks like it is after you, Haru."

"Or it's after the person who caged it up," she retorted, looking pointedly to Tucker.

"It's probably after you, Chicky. Because that's always our luck."

Haru considered this. "You've got a point."

"So what exactly is your magic?" Tsuge asked. "Why would it be after your magic specifically?"

"I… uh, can activate dormant portals. It's not much, but if the manananggal wanted to find a way out…"

"Then you're the obvious target."

"So it would seem." She shifted so to get a better look at Tsuge's phone. "What about Baron? Where is he?"

Tsuge clicked through the camera feeds, and once again Haru was separated from Baron with only a security camera to rely on. Their no-separation policy was becoming shakier by the second.

"I've found Keightley… but he's not with her."

"Try Hakamada's office," Tucker suggested.

"I can't – the feed's jammed."

A wave of second-hand nausea swept through Haru and she felt her knees buckle. She grabbed a nearby crate and dropped herself down onto the floor.

'Who are you?'

In her mind, she saw through Baron's eyes. A tall, dark-haired man stood before him, smiling coldly. And now a new wave of emotions, but this time solely from Haru, rose up in her. Recognition. "No…"

Toto waddled over to her as fast as Muta's short legs would allow him. "Haru?"

"Tsuge, show me a picture of this Hakamada," she ordered. "Now."

Tsuge looked to Tucker, bemused, but followed her demand. He brought up the staff profile list. "Hakamada's been with us for a while. He–"

Haru snatched the phone off Tsuge before he could finish and, sure enough, Haru recognised the man. "He's… He's the one…" she whispered.

Tsuge retrieved his phone, and now was more than a little unnerved by Haru's fear. "What?"

"He's the one who delivered the lilies."

"Am I missing something here?"

Toto and Muta weren't so oblivious to Haru's meaning.

"What?"

"Are you sure, Haru?"

"How could I forget?" she asked. "What's he doing here? And why…?" She groaned and rubbed her hands against her eyes. "Baron needs to know this."

"And how are ya gonna do that, Chicky? He doesn't exactly have a radio on him, does he?"

A thud heralded the arrival of the manananggal at their door.

"Where are those guards?" Tucker hissed. "Give me that." He grabbed Tsuge's phone and reverted the image to the camera feed.

Haru paused, her hands stilling over her eyes. She closed them and tried to bring up that connection that Baron had talked about. The same connection that had, however momentarily, allowed her to see through his eyes.

But there had been strong emotion that had come from Baron with the image. So… did he already know? Whatever the chances were, she couldn't risk it. She concentrate on one thing, and one thing alone.

Baron.

ooOoo

Hakamada grinned at the half-feline. "You don't recognise an old friend? Oh, I am wounded. Well, I guess I have changed a little since we last met." His eyes danced with malicious mirth. "But what about yourself? I thought that you weren't interested in being human. I don't see what could have possibly changed your mind, except for… ah…" His smile widened yet further. "The girl."

"Keep away from her!"

Hakamada only chuckled. "My, such a response over such an ordinary little human girl." He slipped a hand into his desk and retrieved a firearm. "Oh, don't worry. This is just to make sure you don't get any ideas. I don't know how mortal that body is, but I'm sure a bullet will still hurt."

"Who are you?"

"Why don't you guess? You already have an idea, don't you? I can see it in your eyes." Hakamada approached Baron, his hands resting behind his back and his posture straight but relax as he neared Baron. "How did you find so much magic to sustain a transformation? Surely you're not strong enough to hold such a spell on your own. Why, I'm surprised you can even stand with that kind of magical strain."

"What about you?" Baron growled. "That human body is not the result of any enchantment. Who did it belong to before you took it?"

"Took it? My dear Baron, I took nothing."

"That body belonged to a human, Duke. What did you do?"

The other man laughed, clapping his hands together in glee. "And now you finally name me! It's been a long time, Baron."

"I had hoped I had seen the last of you."

"Oh, you'll never be rid of me, Baron. You're too weak and I'm too fond of making you dance."

"Whose body is that?"

"Oh, this old thing?" The Duke looked down at his human self. "Dear old Hakamada. He really was quite the curious creature, you know. Too curious, really."

"What did you do?"

"I made a bet with him. We'd play a game and if I lost, I would tell him all I knew… and if he lost, well then…" and he grinned wickedly, "we'd switch bodies. Only thing is, I took the magic with me in the changeover. And, of course, Creations need magic in order to move. Otherwise they're just… inanimate figurines endowed with a soul. Poor, delusional Hakamada."

He laughed.

"Of course, in time this body will wear out, but I expect I'll find a way to transfer my soul back into the figurine by then, and then repeat the process. You should try it some time, Baron. Maybe the human girl will look your way then."

In Baron's mind, fresh confusion sprang up – confusion that wasn't necessarily his. With a jolt, he felt Haru's presence occupying the back of his mind.

"Haru?"

"Oh, is that her name?" the Duke asked, ignorant of the shared connection between Haru and Baron. "She seems to be a sweet little thing… Pitifully human though, even with her magic. And yet, for some reason I cannot fathom, you've fallen for her."

He felt Haru reel from the Duke's words. It wasn't surprise, so much as the fear that hearing those words said made it real.

"Duke, stop this–"

"Or what? You've mellowed, Baron. When we separated, I took all the real fire you had. And when Louise was lost, it looks like it broke what was left of you. Perhaps that's why you've fallen for the weak little human."

A surge of anger flowed through from Haru and into Baron. Fierce, protective anger. Anger that Baron had rarely seen so white-hot with rage in the brunette.

'No.'

ooOoo

'No.'

Haru snapped away from the connection, her fury blinding her from her concentration. She knew Baron could still feel the rage on her side, but her mental words were too blurred by her anger for even herself to make sense of them. She unsteadily rose to her feet.

"Hey, Chicky… What are you doing?"

"Hakamada is the Duke," she said. "Baron's trapped in his office with him. I need to get to him."

"Yeah, but you can't leave this room – or have ya forgotten about the crazy bat lady outside?"

The occupants of the room flinched as the manananggal threw herself against the door. Again. It was beginning to crack from the strain, and this time the Creation's long, spindly claws dug their way through the wood.

"The ring," Haru said. "I can use it to transport to the Wood Between Worlds, and then step back into the Human World portal. If I focus on Baron, like I did before, I should appear much closer to where Baron and the Duke are."

"You've used so much magic already today," Toto warned. "If you jump there and back again, you could collapse."

"I can't leave Baron alone with the Duke. I need to get to him."

"Wait!" Tsuge grabbed Haru's arm before she could collect the ring from her bag. "Keightley has arrived with reinforcements. Look." He turned his phone over to Haru, showing her the video feed from the camera outside the door. Sure enough, the woman was marching down the corridor with the guards at her heels. She held a simple gun at her side.

"No…" Tucker gasped. "Don't shoot!" he shouted from within. "It's one of a kind! It's a miracle!"

On the camera, Keightley narrowed her lips into a thin line and raised the gun.

There was a single bang.

The manananggal's furious attack stopped. There was a dull thud as the body dropped down onto the floor.

The moment the danger had been lifted, Haru was out of the door in a heartbeat. She went running in what she believed to be the direction of Hakamada's office, only for Keightley to grab her arm as she went by.

"Why the hurry, Miss Haru? We've barely been introduced."

"Please, I need to get going. I need to get back to Baron."

"The two of you are like a broken record," Keightley remarked. Her hold on Haru's arm tightened, bringing Haru's attempts to pull herself free to a complete halt. "So eager to get to the other's side. We have some unfinished business, Miss Haru."

"Look, we can discuss this later, but right now I need to get going! I think Baron's in danger!"

"He's with a trustworthy employee of mine, Miss Haru. No harm will come to him while he's under my watch."

"You don't understand. Hakamada, he's not–"

"Explain to me why the manananggal was so eager to reach you," Keightley ordered. "What is so special about your magic?"

"She can control portals," Tucker offered. "The manananggal saw her as a means of escape."

"It's not that simple," Haru snapped. "I can only activate dormant portals."

"She was talking about leaving via a ring of sorts."

Haru glared daggers at the scientist. "Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?"

Tucker didn't reply. Instead he only snatched Haru's bag away from her. She lashed out, trying to snag it back, but Keightley pulled her away. Suddenly there was the cold metal touch of a gun in her back, courtesy of Keightley. Haru stilled.

"That's better. Now, explain the ring."

"Don't touch it!" Haru shouted. "If you touch it, it'll transport you away instantly." If Tucker, who was already rummaging through her bag, made even the slightest contact with the ring, he and her bag would disappear. "Let me show you."

Keightley stared down at her, weighing up the truth of Haru's words. After what felt like an age, the woman nodded for Tucker to pass the bag over to Haru. "Attempt even a single trick," she warned, "and you won't be seeing your friends again."

Haru shivered and took her bag back. She dropped a hand into an inner side pocket and drew out the tissue in which she kept the ring covered in. She really needed a better system. Carefully, she unwrapped it. "This ring takes a person, or group of people, to a place called the Wood Between Worlds. From there, you can travel to almost any known world."

She was not surprised by the overt greed that rose in Keightley's eyes. "I've heard of such rings. The stories say they were all destroyed. Is that… how you got here?"

Haru nodded.

"Wait, the gold rings only take you to the Wood Between Worlds," Keightley recalled. "Where is the green one? Where is the counter ring needed to transport you away from the Wood?"

"We don't have one."

"That's impossible. You cannot travel out of the Wood Between Worlds without one." Keightley's eyes narrowed. "Unless… you can activate dormant portals, like the ones in the Wood…"

Haru paled as Keightley's greed shifted from just the ring, to the person who held it. "Please, I've told you what you wanted to know. Let us go to Baron now."

"But this is wonderful. Think of the possibilities! Oh, you will be a far more valuable acquisition to the collection than even your little Creation friend…"

"What?" Haru's head spun, but not only at the term 'acquisition'. "What do you mean, 'Creation friend'?"

"I know all about Baron's real identity," Keightley laughed. "He told the moment he heard about the manananggal. He was so scared for your safety that he traded the truth for a chance to save you. It's a shame I had to go back on my word but, you know, it's hardly every day that one discovers a living doll. I couldn't let him escape…"

Fresh rage coursed through Haru. She could feel Baron recoiling from the onslaught, but she was past caring. Let him know her fury. "What… have you done?" she snarled. "What did you do?"

"Oh, nothing. Yet. But there's simply so much to learn from something like him. As there is from you."

"No."

Keightley dropped her head to one side and smiled thinly at the brunette. "Oh, sweet child. Do you think you actually have a choice about this? You see, you two are each other's greatest weakness. I possess one, I possess both."

"No."

Now Keightley's smile finally faltered. "No, what?"

"I said NO!" She grabbed Keightley's wrist and wrapped her free hand around the ring. They vanished.

ooOoo

Baron's head was silent.

The presence that had been Haru disappeared without notice. He had received backlash from an onslaught of anger and hatred, paired only with a screamed, "No!" He stumbled where he stood. From Haru's disjointed memories, he recalled the gun that Keightley had been carrying.

"No."

"No, what?" the Duke demanded. "Can't you see I'm talking here? Rude."

Baron was now shaking, his world shaken with the thought of Haru gone. Perhaps this was how it happened. Not with Louise or even the Duke. But killed by the thoughtless bullet of a single cruel human, while he… he had abandoned her.

"I should never have let her leave my sight," he whispered.

The Duke finally took notice of Baron's new unease. He tilted his head to one side in a notably feline manner. "Who? The girl? Probably not." He grinned a Cheshire Cat smile. "But, then again, you were so eager to find me, it didn't even occur to you, did it?

ooOoo

Haru came to in the peaceful glade of the Wood. Her memories were hazy, but there were still tears on her cheeks. Tears? Tears of what? Anger? Happiness? Sadness? She couldn't recall. The air was just so warm and still; she could stay in that calm little wood forever…

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Remnants of the emotions she had left behind when she had transported herself and Keightley to the Wood Between Worlds.

Keightley.

Even quicker than the previous times, Haru's memories came rushing back. Along with her simmering anger that threatened to turn her stomach. An acquisition. That was what Keightley had called them both. She and Baron were to be nothing more than another exhibit in Keightley's family collection.

She rose to her feet, tucking the ring back into her pocket. Keightley was as absent-minded as any newcomer to the strange, void-like quality of the Wood Between Worlds. The older woman could only smile pleasantly as Haru walked by, all memory of her life back on Earth gone.

It would return sooner or later. Probably later.

Haru swept up the gun that Keightley had brought with her to the Wood, and strode towards the pond that led back to the Human World. It somehow seemed wrong to leave the weapon idling in the peaceful glade.

"You wanted to see other worlds," Haru muttered. "So enjoy this one."

She stepped into the portal's waters, and found herself sucked into the strange, between-worlds dimension. She would come back for Keightley later, she promised herself. Eventually. But for now she had to find Baron.

He was her priority.

It was far easier this time. Both Baron and the Duke's magic lit up the same spot of the world. She was drawn almost effortlessly towards the bright light that consisted of their shared magic. The Human World dropped into focus around her as she stepped out of the between-dimension and into Hakamada's office.

Her feet touched down before the world cleared, but when it did, her eyes focused immediately on Baron.

Alive.

Asserting that he seemed to be unharmed, her gaze moved straight on to the other human in the room. Hakamada. The man who had given her the box of lilies. The man responsible for Baron's time in Cap's world. Her eyes narrowed.

"You."

"Ah, the lady of the hour arrives!" Hakamada lifted his hands in a mockery of the hat-tipping motion that Baron so often indulged in. "We were just talking about you."

"You're okay," Baron gasped.

Haru straightened a little at the overwhelming relief from Baron; both through his words and their shared mental link, which had returned upon her re-entry into the Human World. The force of his relief nearly bowled Haru over.

"Baron?"

"Your mind went silent. I thought…"

"I just took a little trip to the Wood Between Worlds," Haru said. "I'm okay."

"Well, isn't this sweet. But, Baron, you've yet to introduce me to your lovely companion."

"I know who you are," Haru snapped. "I know what you did."

"Oh, I'd forgotten we'd met once already. My mistake. But allow me to introduce myself properly this time." Hakamada grinned and gave a sweeping bow. "The Duke, at your service. I hope you've heard of me. Oho. I see from your expression that you have. What an honour."

"He's human," Haru whispered, her voice hoarse. She looked to Baron. "Why is he human? Is he using a spell like yours?"

"Not hardly, my dear," the Duke answered. "The original Hakamada lost this body in a little bet we placed. It's a much more reliable way to blend in with the humans; far easier than exhausting your own power to maintain a shapeshifting enchantment. Even using an exterior source of magic must exhaust you. You must be as weak as a… well, a kitten by now."

Haru slowly stepped over to Baron and gently raised a hand to his back to support him. She could feel him shaking as he fought to retain his human-sized form.

"What do you want?" Baron demanded.

"Would revenge be too petty?"

"There's more. There has to be."

"Oh, really?" The Duke grinned. "I would have been quite happy knowing you were rotting away in that Creation prison, but then your little companion had to drag you back out of there. An impressive job, if I do say so myself, but somewhat against my wishes."

"If you had stuck around, perhaps you would have had the chance to air your feelings, and I mine," Haru snapped.

"See, that's the kind of fire that has kept you alive in the Bureau for so long," the Duke chuckled. "And after that failed, perhaps I thought that it'd be fine to wait for you to find me instead. And, when you did, it would only be a matter of time before Keightley discovered your true identity and added you to her fine collection. You would become caged, just like you caged Louise."

"That's what this is about," Baron said. "Isn't it? This is about Louise."

The Duke's playful expression soured. "Maybe it is. You took the only person I ever loved and locked her away all these years–"

"I loved her too!" Baron roared. "Do you think it was ever easy for me? I watched the Creation I was born to love, crumble away into a mockery of her true self. If I had let her go, who knows what damage the two of you could have caused? I didn't have a choice!"

Haru grabbed Baron's shoulder, holding him back. "Baron, please."

Breathing heavily, Baron calmed. Externally, at least. She could feel the anger still simmering away inside him. "Well, your plan failed. Again. Now what? All your cards are dealt, Duke."

The Duke only laughed.

"That's never good," Haru murmured. "I hate it when they do the evil laugh."

"All my cards are dealt?" the Duke echoed. "Oh, have you forgotten who I am, Baron? Have you forgotten the curse of being a cast-off Creation? I'm empty. I'm swimming with potential." He lunged for them, grabbing Haru's wrist and dragging her towards him.

Baron jumped for him, but a fresh wave of dizziness from the enchantment rolled over him. He staggered and nearly fell. "Please…"

"Oh, more of your pleasantries? I'm sorry, Baron, but all the pleas in the world cannot rescue her." The Duke laughed, and this time it was sharp. Cruel. "You took Louise away from me, and now I'll return the favour. Say goodbye to your sweetheart."

The Duke slipped his fingers against the skin of Haru's wrist. The cold contact sent Haru's mind reeling back to the last time she had encountered the Duke; albeit a parallel, past version of himself. The memory lasted only a moment before the Duke tore through her mind. From the contact, he drew in her memories, her life force, and left only pain in his wake.

"So much hurt," she could hear him crowing. "Your time with the Bureau hasn't left you unscarred, has it?"

Was she even hearing him? Or was she only hearing him through the mind of Baron? The scene shifted around her and now she was back in Baron's mind, away from the Duke. She was watching her body twitch as the Duke sapped her life from her bones, and Baron's grip on his spell was slipping. He was edging towards the Duke, torn between attempting to tackle the other Creation in his human-sized form, or giving up and shrinking back into his full-Creation form.

"Duke, whatever you want," she said – or was it Baron; it had to be Baron. Her mind was so muddled as it rocked between her head and Baron's. "Whatever you want, tell me. Just please… don't harm her. Don't harm Haru."

"Let's start with whatever is boosting your power," the Duke ordered. "Throw it to me and back away. Now! Unless you want me to drain your pretty little human dry of life immediately."

Baron fumbled in his inner jacket pocket and drew out the lapis lazuli. He tossed it down to the Duke's feet and, in the action, the human spell broke entirely. It reduced Baron to his foot-high form, shaking and vulnerable.

"Thank you, Baron."

'No…'

The fog from Haru's mind shifted, just long enough for her to remember herself. The anger that had flared up so hotly before began to grow and stretch inside her, overpowering the pain of the Duke's transfer.

She snapped into action.

She tore her wrist away from the Duke, and turned on him with the pilfered gun in her other hand. She stared down the barrel at the face of the Creation. Physically, he had only taken one aspect of her – her brown, dark eyes.

And the Duke only smiled.

"My, my. What an interesting human you've picked. What do you think of this, Baron?" the Duke called. "The girl you've chosen has spunk after all."

"Don't test me," Haru growled. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"Oh, but I do. I've been rootling through your mind, after all. You and I, Haru, are not that different after all. We'd both do anything to keep those we love safe." Again, he grinned with that same malicious spark. "You really do have the guts to carry it out, don't you? I can see it in your eyes."

"Haru, please…" Baron begged. "Don't shoot. You're not a killer."

Her shoulders were shaking, but her hands were strangely steady. And, as her shoulders shook, tears began to stream down her cheeks. "But I am," she sobbed. "First at Fenland House, and then with Mary… and now this…" She threw her head back towards Baron, barely able to see his small figure amid the tears clouding her vision. "I have to protect you, don't you understand? You and Michael and Hiromi and Muta and Toto… I have to keep you all safe."

"Not like this…"

"You can't always save the day, Baron," she cried. "I try to do my best, but sometimes things go wrong. You weren't there at Fenland House, and you were injured in the Fabricated World, and I had to do something. I can't always be like you, Baron! You always seem to find another way, but I… I'm scared."

The Duke chuckled, bringing their attention back to him. "Don't you see, Baron? Don't you see what you turn people into? Miss Haru, you'll never be like him, because you're human and whole. But him? He's shattered. He took the worst parts of himself and created me." A bitter growl crept into the Duke's voice as he spoke. "He'd never be able to pull the trigger because he, literally, doesn't have it in him. Anything that could allow him to murder is in me. Isn't that right, Baron?"

Baron was silent as he unsteadily walked over to Haru's side. Haru could feel the frustration rolling off him at the limitations of his shrunken size. "Haru, please…"

"Please what, Baron?" the Duke demanded. "Do you think that if she spares me, I'm just going to leave and that'll be that? No, this'll never be over, not as long as we both exist. You're lucky you have the human on your side; if it was just the two of us, this discussion would be long finished. This is what you turn people into, Baron. You don't dirty your own hands; you leave the bloody business for someone else to finish because you can't. Do you really think that makes you any less responsible? Do you think that makes you the hero?"

"Shut up," Haru whispered. "Just stop."

"Or what? You're going to shoot me? Go on. I can see you want to. You do, don't you?" the Duke taunted. "You want to finish me so that your little Bureau will be safe. Go on. Do what my better half never could. Shoot me."

Haru stared into those dark brown eyes, eyes stolen from her, and fingers flickered over the trigger. This was the person responsible for nearly breaking Baron in Cap's world. Perhaps next time he would succeed. Perhaps next time Haru wouldn't get there in time.

She dropped the gun to her side. "No."

"Wrong answer!" The Duke lunged towards her.

Haru jumped to the side, but the Duke continued to run. He grabbed his inanimate figurine form out of its cabinet and keyed in the code for the door.

"Thanks for everything, Miss Haru!" he called back. He threw a loose salute in her direction. "I'll be seeing you around!"

Haru started after him, but a small hand caught on her trouser leg. "Let him go, Haru."

"After all that? He has the lapis lazuli, and he's dangerous, Baron!"

"We've dealt with enough today. You've dealt with enough. And we still have Catherine Keightley after us."

"Actually… I may have stranded her in the Wood Between Worlds," Haru admitted. She paused, and then added, "And I may have left Toto and Muta to the mercy of her guards."

"Then that is our priority."

Haru knelt down to face the familiar figurine form of Baron. "Hey, about what just happened…"

"Later, Haru."

She nodded and lifted Baron onto her shoulder, pausing a moment to regain her breath. Adrenaline was still supporting her, but she didn't want to still be in Keightley's museum when it ebbed. With the door unlocked, they were free to leave Hakamada's office, and it wasn't long before they came face-to-face with the aforementioned guards, as well as a couple of other familiar faces.

Haru threw her hands up in the air. "Unarmed!" she shouted. "We're unarmed!"

"Where is Miss Keightley?" demanded one of the guards. Haru recognised her as the same one who had found them earlier in the collection. Rikku, she believed she was called. "What did you do?"

"She's safe!" Haru shouted. "Please, if you let us take our friends with us, I'll send her back."

Rikku raised an eyebrow. "How can we trust you?"

"In the last hour, I believe Miss Keightley has broken far more promises than we have," Baron helpfully pointed out. "Despite what she has done, we mean her no harm. We will return her."

"I believe them," Tsuge said. "Come on, we want this to be over with as soon as possible. Just give them back their friends."

Rikku faltered. Evidently Keightley's willingness to break agreements wasn't a new development. She lowered her weapon. "Fine. Take your cat and crow and get out of here."

Haru grinned in relief and took Toto and Muta as they were handed over. "We'll send Keightley back as soon as we get there," she promised. With a little difficulty, she dropped a semi-free hand into her pocket and brushed a finger against the golden ring.

Suddenly they were transported back to the Wood Between Worlds. Haru dropped her passengers and went stumbling over to Keightley, who hadn't travelled far in the time Haru had left her. She was still devoid of memory, but that would be amended as soon as she returned to the Human World. Assuming that Keightley would be dropped off where she had been spirited away from, Haru guided her over to the Human World portal and stood her in the shallow waters of the pond.

Gently, she re-awoke the portal and it absorbed the elder woman into its depths.

The case was over.

Well, save from one more trip through the ponds and back into the Sanctuary.

Haru stood before the little side pond that marked the separate world of the Sanctuary, and gathered up the remaining strength of her magic. Keeping hold of the rest of the Bureau, she stepped into its depths and let it sweep them back home.

ooOoo

"What number am I thinking of?"

Baron smiled wanly. "Seven?"

"Nope. Two." Haru grinned back as she made the tea, stirring in Baron's newest batch. "Looks like that return portal home really did do the trick."

"Yeah. Thank goodness!" Muta collapsed down onto an armchair. "It's good to be back!"

"You're telling me, fatso."

"Well, I don't think we had it so bad," Haru said with a shrug. She tapped the teaspoon against the cup to jolt any last drops of tea, and handed the tea over to Baron. The Creation was, unusually occupying the sofa. "My head feels quite quiet now."

Baron's wan smile remained as he took the drink. "My thoughts exactly. It seems we shall have to communicate by traditional conversation now."

"I think I'll survive." Haru took a seat beside the Creation, holding a cup of tea for herself as she joined him. After a long moment, she leant softy against him. Softly enough that it was nothing more than a brush against his shoulder.

There was a pointed cough and Muta pushed himself back onto his paws. "I think I'm gonna hang out at the Crossroads. Perhaps someone'll actually feed me there."

"I'll check on the komainu," Toto said. "It's been a while since anyone's visited."

Haru glanced back just in time to see the balcony window and Bureau doors swing shut. "You think they'd be more subtle about it," she remarked after a moment. She turned back towards Baron. "Talking of traditional conversation, I think we should talk about what happened back there. You know, with the Duke."

"I know."

There was a silence as both searched for a way to start.

"Baron, I…"

"I'm sorry…"

They both paused, awkwardly waiting for the other to continue.

"I'll go first, otherwise I won't be able to keep the courage to say this," Baron said eventually. "Haru, I'm sorry. I should never have allowed the situation to have spiralled so far out of control."

"It wasn't you who was holding the gun," Haru murmured. "I was the one who lost control there."

"No. You only did what you felt was right in order to protect me. I pride myself on holding the higher moral ground, but the truth is, sometimes that puts other people in peril. Sometimes it's not enough." He paused, staring into the cooling waters of his tea "It seems that Cap was right."

Haru flinched at the words. "Don't say that. Please. Don't… Don't ever say that again."

"Everything the Duke said was correct, in his own way," Baron continued. "Haru, look at what the Bureau has turned you into. You are not the same person you were when you first arrived."

"People change," Haru said stubbornly.

"Are you sure you want to become what you're turning into?"

The question silenced whatever reply Haru could think of.

Gently, Baron lowered his tea, and curled his hand around Haru's.

"I just… want you safe," she whispered. She dropped her head onto his shoulders, hiding the tears that were welling up. "Because sometimes you do stupid, stupid things in order to save others, and it scares me. You nearly threw your life away at Mary's feet. Today you were willing to reveal your identity in an attempt to help Toto, and Muta, and me… I'm scared that one of these days, you won't make it out alive. And I can't imagine a life without you."

Hesitantly, Baron brought his free arm around Haru's shoulders and pulled her closer. He propped his chin against her head as he felt the shake in her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Haru. I never wanted to scare you."

"It's not that I want you to stop helping others," Haru murmured. "It's just… sometimes I wish you'd think of yourself, because you're important too. You're important to me."

"And you're important to me. Which is why I do stupid, stupid things sometimes. Because I have to protect you."

Haru gave a weak chuckle. "Look at the two of us. So hopeless." She buried her head into his shoulder, inhaling the comforting, homey scent. Her mind drifted over the memories of the last day, lingering nervously over the emotions she had sensed rolling off Baron. There had been so much anger, but so much of it was directed towards himself. For ever allowing the Duke to become the monster he was now. And fear, of his darker reflection. Fear of what he could have become.

But there was light, too. She hadn't missed the fierce affection he held for her. And he, she suspected, hadn't missed her own feelings that ran deep for him.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

"What are we to do?"

ooOoo

Inspired by: Doctor Who: Dalek. Written by Robert Shearman.

Star Trek (Next Generation): Attached. Written by Nicholas Sagan. Directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Additional inspiration: Scooby Doo the Movie. Directed by Raja Gosnell. Written by James Gunn & Craig Titley.

Shrek the Third. Directed by Chris Miller & Raman Hui. Written by Andrew Adamson.

ooOoo

Next story: The Refuge's Labyrinth

Teaser: "Michael, you have been so important to me in the last few years. You've kept me sane in the madness of the Bureau, been my anchor to the Human World, but… like you said, I just need space. From… everything, for a little while," Haru said. "You, the Bureau, everything." / "Baron–" Haru stumbled to a halt, the name dying on her lips. The feline raised her head and smiled thinly. "No. Not Baron, I'm afraid." / "She's in there," Baron breathed. "She's in Louise's painting…" / Haru stared down at the game board, one eyebrow raised. "Chess?" she asked. "How cliché." / "Do?" the Duke echoed. He tipped his hat forward to the Bureau in a greeting eerily reminiscent of Baron, and a Cheshire Cat grin spread slowly across his face. "There's only one rule in this game for you: Survive."