Daffy: finally managed to get Scribble off her fat bum to join in the fun.
Scribble: don't be so mean I have a medium sized bum and I've been busy! Besides you seemed to have done a brilliant job by yourself.
Daffy: well I am awesome and have gained so much experience in my 16 years of living and you with your 18 years of sleeping - just kidding, I wuv you really! Here's the next update, enjoy.
Attack
Haru awoke the next morning to the sound of someone knocking on her door. Blinking away the sleep she got up and answered the door, a smile crossing her face seeing Yuki standing in the door way.
"Oh hey Yuki," Haru greeted giving her friend a hug which she happily returned.
"Good morning Haru, are you coming down to breakfast?" asked Yuki with a smile on her face, Haru's stomach grumbled as Yuki said this, bringing a blush to Haru's cheeks; well, she hadn't eaten since her late lunch yesterday with Muta.
"I guess my stomach says yes," replied Haru, willing the blush of her face this time successfully, making Yuki laugh. The two girls walked down to the hall where Muta, Toto, and Lune were already eating, Muta hidden by the pile of food that dominated his plate, next to Toto who was watching Muta's eating display with mild disgust and Lune sitting three seats down waiting for the others to arrive before starting his breakfast. Haru took a seat in between Yuki and Toto, gratefully accepting the tuna casserole that was handed to her.
"Hey where's Baron?" asked Haru once she had finished her meal.
"He's in the library going through the rest of the scrolls hoping to find something," answered Lune, having finished his meal. Haru smiled to Lune before standing up to take her leave.
"Thank you for the food Lune it was delicious. I think I will go see how Baron's doing," said Haru before turning and making her way to the library. On her way to the library Haru felt as if someone had started to watch her again. Looking over her shoulder, the hallway that connected up to the library was suddenly enshrouded in darkness.
"Hello Haru".
Haru froze at the unknown voice; she turned to see a black cat in a blood red robe. As he took a step forward Haru was able to see his eyes. Yellow. Looking him in the eyes she had another flashback, or rather, another tidal wave of flashbacks.
Gripping her head in between her hands she fell to her knees screaming in pain while the mysterious figure watched in amusement.
Looking up Haru could see moving shadows. Shadow cats! Her mind screamed at her.
Baron was in the library going through the last of the scrolls when his head jerked up at the sound of a pained scream.
"Haru!" he cried, dashing towards the exit of the library. Skidding on the marble floor, he turned to see Haru crouched and shaking. Her hands covering her head, fallen before a group of dark figures.
"What have you done to her?" he screamed.
Eight pairs of burning scarlet eyes turned towards the intruder. Lock Jack, unfazed by the interference, kept his eyes firmly locked on the young brunette before him. Those glowing, yellow, unforgiving eyes. A subtle yet wicked smile dawned on his features, his whiskers twitching with sadistic delight.
"I've done nothing. Nothing, but remind her", his darkly charming voice replied from beneath his shadowed hood.
"Of what?" hissed Baron, from between gritted fangs. Lock Jack looked up towards him, a devious smirk plastered on his muzzle.
"Why, of the time she spent with me of course," he answered in that debonair voice of his. "You know we have history," he smirked, taking off his cloak to reveal a tall slender cat with black fur. He was a handsome cat, well built and could probably give Lune a run for his money in a fight. Around his waist was a belt that held all sorts of weapons and torture devices.
Baron shuddered, recalling the wounds Haru had sustained previously.
"So it was you. You hurt her."
On hearing this, Haru looked up. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and however she tried, she could not control the sobs that wracked her slender frame.
"Baron..." she whimpered.
Lock Jack looked down at her. He smiled with conviction, remembering the satisfaction he felt at the memory. Baron noticed this and growled, feeling his blood boil, catching Lock Jack's attention once again. He tensed as Lock Jack knelt down in front of Haru.
"Get away from her!!!!" bellowed Baron charging towards them before he was knocked back by one of the shadow cats.
He caught himself before he fell, scanning the area for any sort of weapon, having left his cane behind in his haste to get to Haru. He spotted a sword hung on the wall; he made a dash for the weapon, dodging the shadow cats' attempts to stop him by somersaulting over the top of them, and landing gracefully on the carpet floor, sword in hand.
He thrust the tip of the blade into the nearest shadow cat, gasping as the blade merely went through the creature causing no damage what so ever.
"Baron!!" cried Haru, frightened for her friend and secret love.
"Don't worry Haru, I'll protect you!" Baron called out, taking on the shadow cats, cutting the creatures in half, slowing them down as they pulled themselves back together. Lock Jack's eyes snapped open with surprise, a look of realization crossing his features "Is it possible that Haru herself is the key?" thought Lock Jack remembering that the key was under the living cat doll's protection. Looking from Baron to Haru Lock Jack smirked "I always knew there was something special about Haru, I just never thought in my wildest dreams that she would be the key, but yes, she must be! How else would she have broken through my memory blocks without any aid? Just how powerful is she?" Lock Jack wondered, staring at the young brunette he had fallen for.
Lock Jack knelt down placing his hand under Haru's chin, tilting her head up to look at him. He brought his face in close to hers, licking the tears off her cheeks savouring her taste. "The taste of power" he thought before standing up again.
"I told you to stay away from her!" shouted Baron, having witnessed the act whilst still trying to dodge the shadow cats.
Meanwhile, Yuki, Lune, Muta and Toto were watching the events, hidden round the corner, waiting for the right moment to strike, having heard Haru's scream.
"It's no use the sword has hardly any effect on these shadow creatures," claimed Lune, trying to come up a plan.
"Light," said Yuki
"Pardon?" asked Lune looking towards his beloved.
"Light. They're shadows we have to create enough light, maybe that will do it," said Yuki looking towards one of the lit torches.
"It's worth a try, we can't just let them kill Baron," said Muta, grabbing a torch off the wall before Lune stopped him.
"Wait. We can't just rush in there. Yuki, Toto, go get the guards, tell them to bring enough torches to light the dungeons. Hurry," Yuki turned, running towards the guard stations to find help, while Muta and Lune waited for the right moment.
Haru turned towards Baron after hearing the clutter of his blade dropping to the floor. "What am I doing, Baron needs me and I'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself, letting this creep touch me."
Fire burning in her eyes, Haru looked back to Lock Jack who was watching the fight. Seeing that he was distracted, Haru took the chance and kneed him in the gut, making a dash to get to Baron, only to be grabbed by one of Lock Jack's minions.
"Arghhhhhh! Let go of me!! Baron!" cried Haru, trying to push the shadow cats off her. Baron watched from his spot on the floor where he had fallen, as Lock Jack made his way towards Haru.
"You shouldn't have done that Haru." He smiled seeing the fear in her eyes. "Don't worry, I forgive you, but I will have to punish you," he said, raising his paw and striking Haru across the face hard enough to knock her down.
Lune and Muta couldn't wait any more. Seeing red they both charged into the fray. Baron stood up, a fire burning in his eyes; a rage building up so powerful it was amazing that he didn't radiate fire. The shadow cat before him trembled at the intensity of his gaze.
Muta and Lune were hitting the shadow cats with the torches, discovering that although it didn't destroy them, the fire did hurt them and temporarily blinded them, making them flay their arms around in hope of hitting something, all in all fire good. Muta threw his torch to Baron deciding to use his height and weight to his advantage.
Lock Jack watched the display, deciding he had had enough; he pulled Haru to her feet, signalling to the shadow cats that it was time to leave. The shadow cats stopped fighting, their bodies melting to the ground, forming a huge inky circle round Haru and Lock Jack who then started sinking into the black abyss.
"Baron!!!" cried Haru, trying to squirm out of Lock Jack's grasp, when suddenly a pair of black talons wrapped round, her shoulders pulling her out of the sea of black.
"Toto" cried Haru in joy, whilst Lock Jack, still sinking, snarled at the winged creation.
"I'll be back," said Lock Jack, before his head was fully submerged beneath the inky blackness.