The ride home took less time than Kokoro had expected it to, and she was almost bummed out.

Almost.

Actually, the antidote had kicked in rather quickly, and by the time they arrived, Kokoro was hanging onto Toto's feet. But she didn't mind; any extra moment she got to spend with her newfound friends was valuable.

Kokoro pointed out her street, and Toto swooped down and gently set her on the front lawn before flapping to land on the picket fence.

Once she was on the solid ground again, her legs shot up, and her body readjusted to her proper proportions, and she was back to regular size. Then she rushed over to the fence.

Baron hopped off Toto's back and handed her the little white bundle in his hands: her clothes. She accepted them, and as soon as her fingers touched the fabric, they began to expand until they too, were the proper sizes.

Turning around, she reached into the bodice of her dress and pulled out the green stone that caused her so much trouble in the past few hours. Smiling broadly, she knelt down and placed the stone in Baron's hands.

"You did very well Kokoro," Baron said. "I knew that your name fit you perfectly."

She blushed. "Thanks Baron. And thank you Toto," she said, turning her attention to the crow. "You did great. All of you, even Muta." At that, the crow snorted, but she continued. "If you hadn't rescued me, I might be in the same situation as Belinda used to be."

The cat nodded. "It was nothing really. I'm just a busybody cat doll, after all." Kokoro giggled as he grinned.

"To the former Cat King and Fairy Queen, you certainly are," Toto added, a wicked grin adorning his features. "Especially after today."

The sun crept over the hills and slowly spread to cover the city in golden rays. Dewdrops sparkled on the flowers and grass, shining on Kokoro's dark hair and adding an extra glimmer to Baron's gleaming eyes.

As she watched the sun peek over her rooftop, her eyes turned sad. "Will I ever see you guys again?" she murmured.

The two Creations shared a secret smile before Baron spoke again. "If you ever need us, you will always be able to find us again, and we will always be there to help you."

She grinned. "I have to admit Baron, I think you may have stolen my heart."

"And a worthy heart indeed. Until we meet again, Miss Kokoro." Baron swung up onto the crow's back, grasping his hat and cane in one hand while the other cradled the stone. "Remember, Kokoro, trust in others, and trust yourself." With that, Toto took off, leaving behind a gust of wind and a girl who had gained back her humanity, and perhaps a piece of herself.

Smiling to herself, she skipped around to the back of her house. A wooden trellis her father had built for her mother on one of her birthdays, before she died, stood beneath her bedroom window. Her father had already trimmed down the little yellow roses that laced themselves through the framework every year, so it was relatively safe. Believing in her father's building abilities, she scaled the trellis and lifted up her window, reminding herself to lock it next time.

Once inside, she had started toward the bathroom when movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye, and she stopped to peer at herself in the floor-length mirror.

In truth, she rarely looked in it because she never liked the way she appeared. But now, curious, she wanted to.

Her dark eyes shone in the dim light, her brown hair windblown in an attractive manner. Her skin was pale, and the dress Queen Esmeralda had given her that she'd had no time to remove still looked good, clinging to her curve-less body in a flattering way. She had been right the first time; she did look beautiful.

She headed past the mirror and into her bathroom, where she changed into pajamas and tried to devise a clever enough story her father wouldn't question.

By the time she was done, she could hear him clanging about in the kitchen. Probably searching for the coffee pot, she thought, smiling as she bounded down the stairs and latched herself onto her dad's back.

The tall man jumped as his daughter squeezed him, and tried to turn around. "Whoa Kokoro, can't breathe!" he wheezed, and Kokoro let go. When he turned around, he found her beaming up at him, and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Have I told you how much I love you Dad?" she asked, closing her eyes as her surprised father stood there, holding the coffee pot in one hand.

"Uh… not… recently. Kokoro?"

She pulled back. "Yeah Dad?"

"You haven't been drinking this recently, have you?" He held up the pot.

Giggling, she gave her dad a playful shove. "No way, I don't like coffee. I just…" She hugged him again. "I just really missed you."

Confused by his daughter's sudden affection, he carefully unwound her arms from his waist. "Jeez, I'm sorry kiddo," he said, frowning. "I didn't know you'd miss me that much. I was only out a couple extra hours, and I thought you'd be okay with it…"

"What're you talking about Dad?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

He brought his hand up to the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly. "Well, I went out on a date last night. I tried to call, but then I remembered you'd be at your environment club thing and I didn't know when you were getting back home, and, well…" his voice trailed off nervously, "I didn't get back till about one last night, and I was so tired I just went to bed. I forgot to check on you, but I was sure you there." He suddenly laughed. "I mean, where could you been? Out with a boy or something?"

Kokoro looked away and laughed along, though she wasn't nearly as enthusiastic "Yeah… no way Dad," she replied.

At least it saves me from having to explain where I was last night, she thought happily. "Oh! So how was your date Dad?"

Her dad actually blushed. "It was nice," he said. "We went to dinner and saw a movie, then we went for drinks afterward."

"What's her name?"

"Emiko."

"Emiko." She rolled the name over her tongue. It didn't sound too bad. If this had been before yesterday, she probably would've resented the woman immediately, and begged her father not to see her anymore. After all, no one could ever replace her mother, and she despised anyone who tried. But it wasn't; it was after. So, with her recently opened mind, she asked, "Is she nice?"

He sighed. "Very."

"How about pretty?"

"Yes." He then placed a large hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair affectionately. "But nowhere near as pretty as you, sweetie."

Grinning broadly, she threw her arms around her father's waist again. "I love you Dad," she murmured into his T-shirt.

Embracing his daughter as well, he whispered back, "I love you too, Kokoro."

~*~