Daffy here don't know if I'll be able to update for a few days, good thing I timed it right to make this chapter the long one, keep reading and most of all enjoy.
I'm The Key
Muta, Lune and Lune's men were walking out of the wasteland with Muta complaining all the way.
"Are we there yet? Couldn't we just use a portal?"
"I already told you Muta the wasteland is somehow magically protected against portals; we have to leave the wasteland in order to use a portal," replied Lune irritated at his fat friend.
"Muta, please tell me what happened back there why did the shadow cats just disintegrate?" asked Lune looking at his friend for the answers. Muta sighed before answering.
"It wasn't pretty back there, from the moment we got there all Lock Jack did was torture Haru, even made the poor kid watch her own mother die," replied Muta still able to hear Haru's screams, he paused hearing Lune's gasp. He turned to look at Lune whose head was hung in shame.
"I'm sorry Muta, if only I posted more guards....."
"Not you too. I already got enough of this from Haru," said Muta cutting Lune off.
"But why would Haru think this was her fault?" asked Lune shocked that the thought had even occurred to her. Muta looked around making sure that he and Lune were out of earshot before answering.
"Haru's the Key," he whispered.
"What?!" asked Lune shocked by this revelation.
"Keep it down will ya, the kid's already in enough danger as it is," said Muta shushing the Cat King.
"Sorry," replied Lune looking sheepish. "Are you sure?" he asked fear evident in his voice.
"Yep I'm sure, especially as she brought me back to life," Muta paused, a grin on his face looking towards Lune whose eyes had doubled in size at this.
Seeing that the young king was speechless Muta continued.
"Yea and now Lock Jack knows that she's the Key," Muta stopped walking hearing Lune gasp.
"The Order," Lune whispered.
"What?" asked Muta confused.
"The Order of Grace if they find out that Miss Haru is the Key........ They'll kill her," said Lune in a quite voice looking to the ground. Muta growled "Great not only do we have Lock Jack to worry about, but now we have this Order too."
"Your Majesty," both Muta and Lune jumped at the new voice.
"What is it General O'Reilly?" asked Lune once he identified who the voice belonged to.
"Sorry to interrupt sir but we have left the wasteland, and the portal is about to close," O'Reilly replied pointing to the blue portal. Lune and Muta looked around discovering that other then O'Reilly they were the last to go through. Lune thanked O'Reilly as the three made their way through the portal that would take them home.
Baron sat waiting for Haru to reawaken. Once Yuki and Nurse Cassie had cleaned her up and the doctor saw it fit, Haru was moved back into the room she had been occupying for her stay in the Cat Kingdom.
Baron had refused to leave her side for one second once she was cleaned, even picking her up and carrying her back to her room himself. He had taken vigil at her bedside, waiting. Not even the fact that she won't be awake for at least 4 hours had deterred him.
Yuki came in every 10 minuets like clock work to put her own mind at ease knowing that Haru was safe. Even Toto had taken the liberty of becoming statue outside her room so he could be near in case he was needed as well as to monitor who was going by.
Muta and Lune exited the portal finding themselves in the royal hall, both wanting to check on Haru, they made their way to the infirmary.
"Can I help you?" asked the nurse who was on duty, who just happened to be Nurse Cassie.
"Yes, we are looking for our friend she was brought in a while ago. Her name's Haru," replied Lune looking around the room.
The nurse's expression became sad at the memory of what they had to put the young girl through just to keep her alive.
"Yes your young friend was here earlier, she's back in her room with..... I believe his name was Baron?" replied the nurse. Muta looked to the nurse not liking her expression decided to ask the question both he and Lune were dreading the answer to.
"How.... How is the kid?"
The nurse gave a small smile before replying.
"She's fully healed, the doctor didn't have much choice. It was a close call and we had to use the healing dust on her," the nurse hung her head still able to hear the screams echoing in her mind, she gasped as she was enveloped in a hug by the young king.
"Thank you for saving her, that must have been a very tough choice for you and the doctor," said Lune already knowing how much pain the healing dust can cause, thankful that he had never had to experience it and horrified that Haru had. The nurse burst into tears crying on the king's shoulder, which Lune let her.
Once her tears had subsided she pulled away from Lune.
"Thank you your highness. Your friend is a very brave young lady, I hope you catch the monster that did that to her."
"Yes Haru is an amazing girl. Give the doctor my thanks, come Muta let's go see Haru," said Lune turning to leave.
Baron was stroking Haru's hair chuckling as this small action brought a smile to the girls beautiful face, when Yuki entered taking a seat at the other side of Haru, a smile on her face at the sight of Baron and Haru.
"You really love her don't you?" she asked looking to Baron.
"More then I ever thought possible," he replied not taking his eyes off of Haru, her understated beauty transfixed him.
They both looked up as the door opened showing the figures of Lune, Muta and Toto
"Baron we need to discus our next course of action, as well as prepare for attacks made not just by Lock Jack but by the Order as well," said Lune addressing Baron looking towards the sleeping Haru.
Baron looked towards Lune nodding his understanding before turning back to Haru taking her small hand into his own.
"We can talk after Haru awakes after all this does concern her the most," replied Baron.
"Of course," replied Lune walking over to Yuki giving her a hug before sitting down to wait for Haru to awake. Muta sat on the floor at the end of the bed with Toto seeing as there weren't anymore chairs.
Muta cleared his throat trying to get their attention.
"Er listen guys I think you need to know what happened during our time held hostage," said Muta gesturing to Haru and himself.
Everyone nodded mentally preparing themselves for something they knew they did not want to hear.
"Well as you all saw, he hurt her physically, torturing her till she cracked, but we all know Haru is an amazing girl and has a great spirit, she stood strong," he paused trying to think of how to tell them this "Her..... Her mum's dead," said Muta looking to the floor ears dropped.
"What?!" cried Yuki, Toto and Baron in unison, Lune had hung his head having already heard this.
"Sigh....... he killed her mum, sank the boat she was travelling on while Haru watched," said Muta through gritted teeth, clenching his paws at the memory. Everyone gasped looking back to Haru, even Lune who had already heard this before.
"But what about before? When Haru thought we had all died could it be the same?" said Yuki after a moment of silence.
"I asked her that, when Lock Jack left us alone at one point."
Flashback
Haru and Muta were chained to the wall not a word said between them since they last spoke.
"All those people," Whispered Haru in such a quite voice that Muta had to strain to hear her.
"What?" he asked in a calm voice, already knowing the answer.
"All those people..... All those people died because.... because of me!" she cried tears falling down her cheeks "They didn't deserve to die.... should have been me." She said in a whisper to herself.
"NO!" shouted Muta catching the young girl's attention "Don't say that kid stay strong. Stay strong for all those people who died, stay strong for all those people who need protecting and stay strong for your friends, we... We need you kid," said Muta, "and hey it could just be a trick, you said yourself once that he made you think that we had all died."
"No this is no trick, last time he put his paws on my head and inserted the memory but this, I'm sorry Muta this is all my fault, you don't deserve this....... and neither did they," said Haru in a whisper.
"Chicky you don't deserve this either..... Kid," said Muta trying to convince her. Haru looked away only one thought came to her head before the return of their gracious host "Yes I do Muta, I let you all down."
End flashback
"That's just like Miss Haru. Always thinking of others first," said Lune in a sombre mood after Muta had explained all that had happened to them.
"I do hope she doesn't blame herself, she is a victim just like everyone else," said Toto looking at Haru.
"That's the problem Birdbrain, I think she thinks that she deserves this," replied Muta looking dejectedly towards Haru.
Haru opened her eyes blinking the sleep out of them, for a second she didn't know where she was, till it all came back to her in one mind blowing swoop. Her eyes began to water, turning her head to the side she could just make out a figure sleeping on the edge of her bed; she froze in fear not knowing who it was, inching to her left careful not to wake the sleeping figure. She relaxed as she identified the unknown person. Baron. She blushed at the thought of Baron watching her sleep, looking around she noticed that the surroundings weren't that of the ones she had last woken up in making her blush deepen at the realization that Baron had probably carried her to her room bridal style.
Haru sat there watching the love of her life sleep, comforted by the rise and fall of his chest assuring her that he was alright. She gentle manoeuvred herself off of the bed, taking special care not to wake up Baron. Looking around her room she found it empty, not knowing that her friends had all reluctantly gone to bed half hour before.
She walked over to the window that had been tinted, in order to make the room seem darker. Haru placed her hand on the window feeling the coldness of the glass. In her mind flashed all she had been through and all who had suffered.
She thought about her mother and all the good times they had as well as all of the bad times, hoping that she could see her mother again just to let her know how much she loved her. Salty tears stung at her eyes and started cascading down her cheeks.
Baron woke up feeling the bed getting cooler, lifting his head he panicked at the sight of the empty bed. Turning he relaxed, spotting the subject of his panic standing by the window. He watched as she placed her hand upon the glass. Watching her reflection he could see all of her emotions crossover her delicate face, her eyes started to tear up. He stood up and silently made his way over to her.
Baron pulled Haru into a hug. Haru didn't resist, having seen his reflection in the glass. Instead she turned and embraced him back, letting out all her pent up emotions. She cried out her fear, rage and sadness onto Baron's shoulder as they both collapsed to the ground, neither one noticing.
After a while Haru's tears subsided, she and Baron sat in a comforting silence, Haru listening to the rhythm of the creation's heart.
"He killed my mother," said Haru without looking to Baron, tears welling up in her eyes again.
"Muta told us....... Haru I'm so sorry for what happened...." Baron was cut off as Haru continued with her self loathing rant.
"How can you even bare to look at me!!? After every thing that's happened..... After so many people died!!! Because of me!!!" she cried pushing herself away from Baron hugging her legs to her chest, avoiding eye contact with Baron.
"Haru it was not your fault, none of this is your fault," replied Baron in a gentle caring tone moving closer to Haru pulling her into his lap. Haru looked up with moist eyes searching Baron's eyes for any sign that he was lying just to make her feel better. She found none; he was generally telling her it was not her fault and yet it was so hard to believe that it truly wasn't her fault.
"Yes it is! I'm the Key! He told me to show my powers he warned me but... But I don't know how! I don't even know how I did what I did back there!" cried Haru miserably thinking about what happened with Muta and the shadow cats. "Muta even died because of me..... Maybe it would of been better if I was never born......"
"That's enough Haru!" said Baron cutting her off, "If you weren't around Yuki would be dead, Lune would be dead even Muta would be dead and I would be alone, never having your smile to brighten my day. Just think of all the wonderful things you have done all the lives you have saved."
"Saved?" whimpered Haru not being able to think of herself as a heroine.
"Yes, saved remember. You told me all about them, like how you met your best friend Hiromi," Baron said, Haru looked thoughtful for a while trying to remember.
Flashback
A young girl who looked to be no more the 13 was running happily along playing with her football. She giggled as the ball bounced against the wall. The girl smiled as her friends Tsuge and Mina came around the corner, calling them over to play they started to play a game of football. The girl's mother came out to call them in for lunch, watching as her daughter and her friends laughed.
The phone could be heard going off from somewhere inside the house, the mother turned walking back inside to answer it. Tsuge accidentally kicked the ball over the fence of the front garden, where the ball rolled out into the road.
The girl laughed and shouted.
"I'll get it!" she ran out into the road picking up the ball when suddenly there was a loud noise coming from the side of her. A car was speeding down the road towards the girl, showing no signs of slowing down.
The girl screamed and closed her eyes, barely registering the sound of her mother's terrified screams and missing the look of pure horror painted on her friend's faces, nor was she aware of when a pair of arms grabbed her pulling her to safety.
The girl felt herself fall but was too afraid to open her eyes. The next thing she knew she felt a stinging sensation on her arms, mustering up her courage she opened her eyes and came face to face with a pair of chocolate eyes. Sitting up she was then enveloped in a hug.
"Don't you ever ever do that again my baby!!!" it was her mother who had her in the tightest bear hug she had ever felt. The mother turned to the figure that had save her daughter's life. "Thank you, thank you so much!" The mother cried with tears in her eyes.
"No problem, I'm just glad she's ok," said a voice. The girl, curious as to who the mysterious voice belonged to wriggled round in her mothers grasp to see a small brunette who looked to be the same age as her. The girl pulled out of her mothers hug to thank her heroine.
"Thank you for saving my life," said the girl bowing her thanks. "My name's Hiromi. Huh! Your leg's bleeding!" cried the girl noticing the cuts and grazes the brunette had gotten from the ground.
The brunette looked at herself noticing all of her injuries she had sustained from this heroic act.
"Don't worry it doesn't hurt, my name's Haru, I just moved in down the road."
"Haru, thank you for saving my little Hiromi, please come in so we can bandage you arm and legs."
"Haru!! Where are you!?" called a red headed women who appeared around the corner, her eyes widened in shock at the sight of her daughter with blood trailing down her legs. "Haru what happened to you?! Are you alright?"
"Please come in and let me explain, I am Amy Hysen, your daughter just saved mine from being hit by a car."
"You did what!? Haru! I know you only want to help people but........ One of these days I'm going to lose you and I couldn't bear that." Said Haru's mother giving her only daughter a hug. The two women made there way inside whilst Hiromi introduced Haru to her friends, starting a new friendship that would only grow as time went on.
End flashback
Baron watched as Haru seemed to be lost in past memories, her eyes staring beyond him, he hoped that this was enough to get through to the girl of how important she was, but if not he was prepared with more examples.
Haru's eyes lost their distant look as she slowly came back to the present, taking a detour on the way, she thought of all that had happened in her life and all the good she had done, suddenly she remembered what her mum had said during her time in the void, "You have to go back and stop the gates of darkness from being opened." She then heard a voice in her head "Stay strong for all those people who died, stay strong for all those people who need protecting and stay strong for your friends, we... We need you kid" it was what Muta had said to her during their imprisonment. She looked at Baron her eyes red and puffy no longer able to shed tears.
"You're right Baron I have helped a lot, but I have also caused a lot of damage, I can no longer spend my time crying, people are counting on me and I promise I will not let anyone else get hurt. I will protect them no matter what," Haru said her eyes lighting up with determination.
Baron let out a mental sigh, although he was happy to have Haru back he had hoped that she would do this for herself, and not because she had too, "But that's Haru for you" he thought smiling "Always putting others first."