Chapter Eighteen: Family's Intervention

Haru stiffened to the point of terror.

"In that case, tell as many people as you want. I can't just bring someone he doesn't know into his room."

"Wait, you actually go into his room?" Louise looked happily scandalized.

"His place is a big room with different areas for cooking and such, but yes. Father Hashio's always with us, but he hides behind a wall so that we at least look like we have some privacy." She wondered if Baron knew they were there. He probably did, and was just being polite about ignoring them. But what about the jab at Muta's intelligence?

"Well, weren't you a stranger, when you first met him?"

"Yes, but Father Hashio had told him a bit about me before bringing me in, so that he would have an idea of what to expect."

"Well, there you go. Tell him a bit about me, and then bring me up."

Haru's heart seemed to stop, remembering the longing in Baron's eyes when they had first met. Was her beautiful cousin still present in his thoughts?

"Louise, there's something I need to tell you."

"Yeah?!" The golden-haired girl leaned in closer, her china blue eyes sparkling brightly in the darkness.

"Men are drawn to you like flies to honey. You have countless fans that would lay themselves in mud puddles without thinking twice about it, so that your feet wouldn't get wet. I, on the other hand, have only a few guy friends, and only one man that seems to be interested in who I am. Please, can't you just let me keep the one I have, while you keep your collection?"

Louise blinked, shocked.

"Haru… I never knew you were bothered by my fans."

"That's because I didn't want to hurt you. Louise, you're the sister I never had, and I love you dearly, but it hurts when handsome strangers come up to me, and ask after the cute blonde gypsy girl, like I'm a tour guide to the city. Daron sees me as a person, not a road sign, and I'd like to keep it that way. That's partially why I never mentioned him to you or Aunt Naomi." Haru turned onto her side, and tried to go to sleep.

"I let him see and feel my scars, and he still likes me enough to try persuading me to visit him more often than just Sunday. If I didn't have work and family to think about, I would probably never want to leave him."

Louise was silent for a while, making the brunette think that perhaps her voice could be heard, if she would just speak up. The blonde sighed, just before Haru was lost to slumber.

"All right, Haru. I won't insist on meeting Daron, and I'll keep him a secret."

The brunette came close to crying with happiness.

"Thank you," she whispered, wondering if she was being selfish, not letting Baron see his crush. Oh well, she supposed there was only one way to find out… to ask him. But it would be a bad idea to let her cousin see Baron without fair warning, considering their last meeting.

"Have you two kissed yet?" the blonde mischievously asked, making her dark cousin grab a pillow, and start hitting her bed partner with it, trying to ignore how wildly her heart was beating, at the thought of kissing her feline friend.

ooOoo

Naomi drew her cloak tighter around her, so to cover up her gypsy uniform. The guard at the gate pulled a face, but didn't try to stop her. The dark-haired gypsy stared in amazement at the huge hall now open to her. How was she supposed to find Father Hashio in this labyrinth?

"And what are you doing here?" a voice hissed at her. The woman turned, and nearly laughed in relief.

"I want to speak to Father Hashio. It's about my niece."

The baby-faced priest flinched.

"Oh… her. What do you need to talk about her for?"

The gypsy woman stiffened.

"That's between Father Hashio and myself. Who are you?"

"Naomi! Is that you?"

The green-clad gypsy turned once more, to see the slightly familiar priest that her niece adored. He wasn't quite running up to her, but it was a fast walk. He bowed respectfully to the woman before sending a cold glance at the friar.

"I'll take it from here, Brother Nashi."

The middle-aged priest fumed, but then started walking slowly away. Father Hashio bowed once more to the woman, and gestured for her to start following him down the opposite hallway.

"To what do I owe this pleasure, Naomi?"

The woman took a deep breath.

"It's about the young man Haru's been seeing."

The priest stopped dead in his tracks.

"She actually told?!" he asked with horror.

"Not everything, which is why I'm here. Father, I fear for her. Please, I want to meet this young man," the elderly gypsy pleaded.

The aged priest started sweating.

"That wouldn't be the best idea, Naomi. He's… not well, and-"

"No one comes to him without giving a warning first. Haru mentioned that, but how am I supposed to let her keep seeing a man that she refuses to introduce to the family? How do I know he's a respectable fellow?"

The priest stiffened.

"I have raised him as my own son, since the day he was born. And I made it completely clear to him that if he hurts Haru, I'll hurt him worse than he could imagine. And he has a pretty vast imagination."

Naomi relaxed, though not by much.

"That's good to hear, but I still wish to meet him. As my niece's guardian, I think I have a right to know just who Haru is spending so many hours with, especially if she's made it clear that only duty prevents her from spending even more time with him."

Father Hashio held his breath, a soft surprise in his eyes.

"Did she say that?"

"Pretty close. This Daron fellow seems to have impressed her greatly."

The elderly priest's eyes flicked with surprise, but then became lost underneath his calm mask.

"Really? She's impressed him as well."The churchman gave a sigh. "But you have a powerful point, Naomi. You should meet the one your niece has been seeing, but it wouldn't be wise to introduce more than one person to him at a time, so your daughter will have to wait for her turn. I'll explain things to my young friend, and you'll come with Haru next Sunday, to give him time to prepare?"

The woman nodded, pleased that this was going so well. She gave a polite bow before leaving the priest.

"Until then, Father Hashio."