"Toto! Muta! What happened?!" Abigail cried out as the trio of friends entered the Von Gikkingen mansion.
"It was another one of their fights. This one just got a little out of hand" Baron said with a glare in Toto and Muta's direction. They winced at the cold gazes both the nurse and their longtime friend gave them.
"We'll just be going now" they said as they tried to slink away.
"Ah, ah, ah! You'll be coming with me" Abigail said as she grabbed both Toto and Muta's arms and dragged them away, no doubt to her room where she kept the medical supplies.
"I guess I'm off to my room before dinner" Baron mumbled. He began heading to his room. When he got inside his room, Baron went over to his desk. He slowly looked around. When he didn't see any maid or possible intruder hiding, Baron reached his hand under his desk and hit a small button. Baron opened the bottom left drawer to the desk and opened it up. A small hidden compartment was open. Baron carefully took the green velvet box out of his jacket's pocket and placed it inside the opening. He reached under the desk again and pressed the button once more. The top of the hidden compartment closed. Baron smiled in satisfaction and closed the drawer.
"Baron, it's time for dinner!"
"I'm on my way" Baron called out. He cast one more glance at his desk before exiting his bedroom.
At the dinner table, Baron kept throwing loving glances at the teenage brunette who was sitting to his right. In return, Haru kept staring at him with a suspicious gaze. She wanted to know what he was planning. It was written as clear as day on his face. As soon as dinner was finished, Baron helped Haru out of her seat. Haru nodded at him in thanks, and they were off to the parlor room. "Baron? What's going on?" Haru said warily as they sat down on the settee together.
"Well, I was planning on telling you tomorrow, but I was so excited today that I decided to tell you tonight! We're going to visit the orphanage tomorrow!" Baron said excitedly. Haru looked up at Baron is shock.
"Tomorrow? I thought I was supposed to be getting some rest?" Haru said. Her tone of voice gave away her anticipation.
"It is going to be fine. We are only going to go out for a few hours" Baron said as he patted Haru's hand. Haru sighed out in content. She rested her head against Baron's shoulder.
"I only have one quilt to take with me. I hope the kids aren't too anxious for them" Haru said a little ominously as she bit her lower lip in thought.
"Oh, I'm sure they won't even be thinking about it tomorrow" Baron said. A smile came to his lips at the thought of tomorrow.
"Baron? Oh Baron?!" Haru said as she snapped her fingers in front of the tawny haired man's face. Baron blinked in surprise.
"Huh?"
"I was asking you if you wanted any tea" Haru said as she raised the teapot up with her hands to emphasize what she was talking about earlier.
"Oh! Indeed! I would love some" Baron said as Haru rolled her eyes, a smile threatening to come onto her face. She poured two cups of Baron's special blend tea. Haru mixed some honey in his and milk in hers. She was deciding what he would get today!
"How do you know I didn't want milk?"
"Because I said you didn't" Haru said as she clinked the spoon that had the honey on it against the china to get the drips of tea off the silverware. Baron shook his head. He picked up his teacup and took a sip of the brown liquid. Ah, honey was a good choice today. Haru and Baron sat in comfortable silence as they drank their liquid refreshment. They each cast affectionate glances at each other. Their eyes sparkled in pure happiness and love.
Once Baron finished his tea, he stood up and stretched. "I'm sorry, love. I have to go file some paperwork before I prepare for bed. I wish I could spend some more time with you" Baron said miserably. Haru stood up and kissed his cheek.
"It's alright, Baron. I understand" she said. Baron bowed to Haru with a hand to his chest. His other hand swiftly grabbed Haru's left hand. Baron let his lips brush Haru's knuckles as he stared up at her intensely. Haru blushed at the gesture.
"Good night, Haru" Baron said, leaving the room after wishing her well for the night. Haru sighed. Goodness, what short notice! Hopefully one quilt would be enough.
The next day…
Haru woke in her own room, by herself, to her displeasure. Haru threw the covers off her body and went into the bathroom. She changed out of her regular long nightgown and into her original attire of riding pants, brown boots, blue jacket, and a blouse that was green. Haru brushed her hair repeatedly until it shone in the light. Lastly, Haru adjusted her hair comb into her hair so it looked nice and wouldn't fall out by accident. When she finished getting dressed for the day, Haru went downstairs for breakfast. Unfortunately, Baron never told Haru what time they were leaving, so Haru figured it would be best to carry on with her day normally until Baron came to fetch her.
Luckily for Haru, Baron didn't send for her until after lunch, so she got to make one more quilt for the kids although it was small. It would probably be given to one of the younger ones. However, Baron spent the whole morning in his room. He could be heard fumbling around in there since she awoken. Baron's unusual behavior raised Haru's suspicions that Baron was planning something today; she just didn't have a clue to what it could be that he was planning.
"Haru!" Toto sang out as he flung the door to her room open, forgetting his manners to knock before entering.
"I'm coming. Will you be joining Baron and me to the orphanage?" Haru asked as she opened up her wardrobe to pull out the two finished quilts from the bottom.
"Of course, Haru. We would never let Baron go anywhere on his own!"
"But I'll be with him!"
"Oh-ho-ho. You are just as bad as he is when he's alone. You'll run off into the night looking for strangers that need some form of help! We can't let that happen. You two are made for each other. You both are do-gooders that are easily side-tracked" Toto said as he sat down in the chair in Haru's room. Haru turned to face Toto. She raised an eyebrow at what he said.
"What did Baron do before I came along and before you started being his bodyguards?" Toto smirked at Haru's question.
"He always had one regular bodyguard with him before we took over. He would switch between them each day, but they were all the same. They still are" Toto grumbled. He looked up at Haru wickedly. "When he had his regular bodyguards, they let him get away with anything he wanted. He was the boss after all! Anyway, long story short, he would always stayed out late at night either picking up stray kids off the street and taking them to the orphanage or buying someone a nice hot meal. He was a maniac. Did you know that all the servants, maids, cooks, bodyguards, medical staff, you name it, are orphans? Except for Muta and I" Toto added. Haru shook her head.
"No, I didn't know that" Haru responded. Toto grinned.
"Yeah, each time he gets a new worker, he always hires them from one of the two Von Gikkingen Shelters in the city or the one in the next city over."
"That's so sweet!"
"Yeah, he's a real lady charmer. Now let me finish the story so we can leave. After Baron kept staying out too late, he began losing sleep and money. He never got paperwork done because he was never home. As Baron's advisors, Muta and I took it upon ourselves to start watching him and never let him do anything that wasn't of importance" Toto finished off.
"How very kind of you. You took away the chance that some poor person had at being helped" Haru said sarcastically although her tone was playful. Toto laughed.
"Don't worry. He still gets his way most of the time. He always gets away from us. If he didn't, well, then he would have never met you. I'm happy to know some good things come from him being a hero all the time" Toto said as he stood up. He held his hands out for Haru to give him the quilts. Haru handed them over and out the door they went. Baron was waiting with Muta by the front doors.
"Your carriage awaits, milady" Baron said dramatically with a gesture towards the door. Haru gasped.
"You did not get a carriage to go to the orphanage" Haru said in disbelief. Baron chuckled.
"Come now Haru, you know me better than that. I would never do such a thing on such a lovely day" Baron said with a grin. Haru couldn't help but smile.
"Good" she said and went out the door as Baron held it for her. Baron soon followed and wrapped his arm around her waist. Haru looked up at Baron's face in confusion. Baron was blushing. He never wrapped his arm around her waist. He always offered his arm to her. What was going on? Muta and Toto followed in the shadows like always, slinking in and out of alleyways and vanishing behind people or objects. How did they always do that?
A little over an hour later, the couple and their bodyguards made it to the orphanage. Baron and Haru were the first to enter the building. Toto and Muta followed behind them, but they stood near the door waiting. A female employee walked over to Toto and took the quilts from him before disappearing. To Haru's astonishment, not one child came into the main room to see who had entered the building like they always did.
"Where is everybody?" Haru said quietly. Baron grinned. He puckered his lips and blew out some air, creating a loud high pitched whistle. Haru's attention turned to Baron. A bunch of giggling could be heard coming from all directions. Suddenly, the room flooded with children who were all holding up a sign. The children lined up to make up a sentence. Haru studied the letters to decipher the individual words. The sign spelled out: Haru, will you marry me?
Haru gasped from her spot beside Baron. She turned to look at him. He was kneeling on the floor. When did he let go of her waist? Baron gulped at Haru's shocked stare. Her brown eyes searched his face.
"Haru, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I have loved you since I first saw you. I could never love another woman because it will always be you in my heart. You have the most beautiful soul, personality, and heart of gold I have ever seen in my life. I never want to spend a day without you." Baron said as he pulled out a velvet green box from his pocket. He lifted the lid to reveal a cat's eye ring with jade. Haru's hands immediately flew to her mouth. The room went silent. Haru studied the ring one more time. She examined the jade, and her hand reached up to touch her hair comb on its own.
"B-B-Baron!" Haru said in embarrassment. "I-I'm lost for words!" All the boys giggled. The girls sent them glares to shut them up. They were ruining the romantic moment. Baron's nervous smile began to turn into a frown.
"I did not mean to put pressure on you, love" Baron said softly. "I just wish that—"
"Oh Baron, just stop talking! I'll marry you" Haru said as she jumped on Baron and kissed him. Baron almost fell backwards, but he transferred the ring box into one hand and used the free one to wrap an arm around Haru's waist. He held her and kissed her deeply. A purr erupted from his throat. Haru pulled away to look at Baron in amusement. His emerald eyes shone in delight. Although, he grew a blush after the children surrounded the newly engaged couple and gave them a group hug. The girls giggled at Baron's purr and teasingly petted his head. To his embarrassment, the gestures made him purr louder at the wonderful feeling of being rubbed and petted. Haru started laughing at his discomfort.
"Haru" Baron growled threateningly. Haru ignored Baron's attitude and pulled him down for another kiss. Baron continued purring. Haru reached up and slid her fingertips from the bottom of his chin down to his chest. Baron shivered and pulled away. Haru smiled innocently and held her left hand out. Baron gently grabbed it and slid the ring onto her finger. Behind them, Toto and Muta were smiling uncontrollably.
"We knew you'd marry Mr. Von Gikkingen" a small boy said proudly.
"Now you'll be Mrs. Von Gikkingen" a teenage girl said.
"That means you'll own the orphanage too!"
"And the shelters!"
"That all depends on if Baron gives me partial ownership" Haru said, addressing the kids. Haru looked over at Baron. He shrugged.
"He better give you some rights to it!" a young girl, who probably didn't understand what they were talking about, said.
"Oh, I will" Baron said as he grabbed Haru's left hand and held it. His thumb traced circles in her skin, and his other fingers played with her engagement ring. "I want to make sure she has something to take care of if something ever happens to me. If it ever happens, she'll get to take care of the orphanage and all of you!"
"Yeah!" everyone cheered. Haru smiled.
"Now that we're engaged, I don't want you to pay me anymore for making quilts" Haru said out of the blue. Baron looked at her in question.
"When we get married, your money will be my money and my money will be your money" Haru said simply.
"Anything for you" Baron said.
"You have to stop saying that" Haru laughed as she laid her head against his shoulder. She watched the children run around and play. Some of the boys were bashfully talking to a girl while some of the girls chatted about the engagement.
"I'm afraid I can't do that" Baron said with a smile. Haru shook her head. Today would forever be implanted in her memory.
A/N: Review, please!