The Toy Princess Part 4
Haru gaped at that crow before turning to Tohru, who had an identical expression. She mutely pointed at the black bird with a raised eyebrow of alarm, which made him nod in disbelief.
"Yes, you heard me," he assured her through his tears, rubbing his face and wings against her head for a compromised hug. "Thank you for telling me what happened to my little girl and making her last days so happy."
"Toto?!" she choked in surprise, even though there couldn't be any other explanation.
"Yeah, it's us," Muta answered her with glee, making the girl look down at him with a horrified expression. "I kept thinking 'there has to be a catch to a tenant being this considerate'. What a catch!" he exclaimed with a giant grin, throwing his paws around her neck to hug her happily. "But don't you dare forget your promise to play my song tomorrow!"
"Renaldo!" Haru whispered as her vision began to swim back and forth from the shock.
"Hey, no, stay with us," he ordered worriedly, patting one of her cheeks with a paw. "If you can handle a haunted house, you can handle us."
Haru tried to answer, but she was literally struck speechless as Baron used a new tissue and the condensation from a cold window to dab at her brow. 'I was used to the idea of a haunted house, not talking animals!'
Even if this explained that one tenant that ended up in an asylum.
It didn't stop her from hugging the cat or rubbing one wing since she knew them. Had been told stories about them since she was a child so that she had an idea of what a real family acted like.
She never thought a physical meeting would be possible, but they were here!
Tohru slowly got to his feet, rubbing his head while pacing a bit to get circulation back in his legs. "I don't know what I was expecting from tonight, but it wasn't this!"
"You're telling me!" Toto laughed through his tears, still rubbing his beak against Haru's soft brown hair. "I apologize, Haru. I've been more than a little grumpy over you stealing my daughter's title when the workers talked about who they were working for. I had no idea she willingly passed it down to you."
"It's okay," Haru muttered without thinking twice about it. A few tears were able to squeeze themselves out of her overworked tear ducts. "I should have sent her here!" she fumed at herself. "You've… you've both been here the whole time, haven't you? Like this?"
"The. Whole. Time," Renaldo moaned in agony as he nuzzled one of her shoulders. "But I'm afraid our story's not as interesting or going to be well-told as yours. We woke up like this that Christmas morning with Baron's body sprawled in front of the fireplace. He took it up to his room once he learned how to levitate things as a ghost, and we've been scaring off anyone that comes close to going in there or just ripping the place apart for money."
Haru shook her head miserably. "I'm so sorry." She wanted to say more, but her throat was feeling raw again, and it was all she could do to keep hugging cat and crow the best she could.
Tohru shook his head in bafflement. "Wouldn't it have been easier to kill both of you if he killed Baron anyway?"
Toto and Renaldo stopped drowning Haru in adoration long enough to give each other a short look that ended with a nod.
"Baron's not dead," the cat stated flatly. "His curse is different, that's all."
Haru's mouth dropped open. "I-I'm sorry," she managed to stutter out. "You say 'his body', his spirit haunts the manor, but he's not really dead?"
"Mostly dead?" Tohru summarized with an impish grin at his charge, who glared even if the situation was appropriate.
"Mostly dead," Toto agreed, clearly not getting the reference. "Our curses are tied to his, and we'll all die when we've been like this for a hundred years. Baron knows how to break it, but he hasn't been able to tell us what it is."
Haru jerked a little before looking up at the swan figurine of her beloved nanny. "Toto, the curse keeps you from using your magic?"
"Yes, and yes, I could bring her back for a little while if I had it," Toto answered sadly, guessing where her thoughts were headed. "Even the clocks I made stopped working after the curse took effect."
That made up her mind then and there. Although she was loving all of the attention, she gently forced Renaldo off her lap, and Toto returned to his previous perch when she started rising to her feet since her shoulder was now an uneasy place for him to rest.
"Baron, you're still here?" Haru called out almost desperately with one hand against the wall since she hadn't wanted to admit to herself that her cat's weight had made her legs fall asleep again.
The pen quickly danced over the pad before turning to say 'yes'.
"Louise is owed a final goodbye with all of you, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen."
'Certain?'
"Yes, I'm certain," she insisted, holding her hands in front of her in the almost universal begging position. "If you can't flat out say what needs to happen, can you give me a hint?"
'Wait.'
"For how long?" Tohru demanded as Toto cocked his head.
"Wait, now he knows a good hint?" he asked suspiciously.
Renaldo used his back leg to scratch at one ear. "I hope you know we're going to be having a lot of duets if you can break our curse, Chicky."
"Is that a promise?" Haru couldn't resist asking, smiling like a child.
"You better believe it is," he growled while grinning at her. "Besides, I want to see how good of a piano instructor my niece was."
"Tamaki's the only one I personally know that plays better than me," Haru promised while grinning back, but was soon distracted when one of her own childhood books floated into the room and toward her.
Haru held her hand out for it, but Baron played a slight keep away game to remind her not to touch it before positioning it in front of her to open the book himself. The pages flitted against each other as he searched for a specific story. She couldn't help wondering how he would know what to look for since it was written in Japanese and as far as she knew, that wasn't a language he was familiar with.
But then he stopped at one page. One of the few that had a picture.
Her face immediately flamed red and her hands shot out to slam the book shut, as if swatting a mosquito that had been buzzing for too long.
"Wait, you got the hint?! Just like that?!" Renaldo yelled in chagrin. "What was it?!"
Haru couldn't tell him. She was too mortified.
"Haru?" Tohru asked worriedly, stepping close enough to her to place his hands on her tiny shoulders. "What's wrong? You don't freeze up over a lot, and I know you want this for Ichigo."
"Y-e-s," Haru was eventually able to stutter out, still blushing like an apple.
"Try to go easy on her, Tohru," Toto interjected, even though he also looked insanely curious. "Adrian had a sadistic mind, and he probably picked something embarrassing for the curse's cure."
"Oh, he did," Haru confirmed, feeling like her face was on fire. "Um, that wasn't a joke, Baron?"
'No'.
She felt her cheeks flame hotter. "No wonder you asked if I was certain," she mumbled under her breath while setting the book on top of the wooden box.
"Oh, come out and say it!" Renaldo snapped. "We've waited eighty years, so out with it!"
"… It's a Sleeping Beauty situation," Haru tried to say under her breath, but everyone in the room still heard her.
"Wait, that's it?" Toto cawed in disbelief. "Come now, Baron! Why didn't you just say so?!"
"Because he didn't want to deal with either or both of you trying to kidnap a girl and drag her to him?" Haru offered only half-sarcastically.
'Correct,' was all Baron had to add to that statement.
"You better believe we would have tried!" Renaldo snapped. "Frankly, I'd smooch you myself if it meant-ow!" he yelped as the pad suddenly fell on his head to silence him.
"That thing's fragile!" Haru hurriedly informed Baron, although she did agree that the cat deserved it. "Besides, if Adrian was aware of Baron's girl troubles, he'd go out of his way to make the curse specify a female."
Baron drew a line under the 'Correct' he already wrote.
"Haru, you don't have to if you don't want to," Tohru informed her with a worried expression as he held her in a protective embrace. "You could easily pay someone to kiss him on your behalf."
"This is all a little much to just dump on someone else," Haru pointed out miserably. 'I know I'm going to do it. I just really don't want to.' "Plus I don't think Baron would like a complete stranger doing it, and I'm already tiptoeing on the edge of that."
Baron drew a half line under 'Correct', almost as if he only agreed with half of what she said.
Toto gave a heartfelt glance to the glass swan before renewing his efforts. "Haru, I'm really sorry about this, but we've waited long enough. I've waited long enough to talk to my daughter again. You'd do it for her, wouldn't you?"
"Do you mind?!" Tohru demanded as he tried to make his charge disappear under his large arms. "She hasn't had her first kiss yet!"
"Oh. That explains a bit," Renaldo mused as he rubbed his head sourly. "Your life was the perfect way to make sure no smooching ever happened."
"Nothing worth the trouble," Haru grumbled in agreement. She took in a deep breath and forced herself to slide out of her bodyguard's hold. "It's no different from CPR," she told herself forcefully as she started walking out the door. "In fact, it is CPR! Baron just needs to be resuscitated, that all. Nothing for me to get excited about, because everyone knows- please wait here," she cut herself off at the doorway, noticing that Tohru and Muta were following her and Toto was stretching his wings to do the same.
"This is going to be awkward enough without an audience. Wait in here; I'll bring Baron down when it's over."
Baron slipped his pad around Tohru. The reason he hadn't beaten her out the door was so he could write 'thank you, follow me'.
Tohru wasn't happy with the request, but the door firmly shut behind her without assistance. It was made worse when there was a locking sound. "Wait, he didn't!" he realized with horror, shaking the handle that refused to budge.
"Leave the door," Toto sighed before preening a wing. "You won't be able to break it down, trust me."
"I tried," Renaldo added with a pout as he hopped back onto a couch. "It should be less than five minutes unless she drags her heels. I swear, the first thing I'm going to do when we're back to normal is march myself into the kitchen and-"
"Eat out everything in the pantry?" Toto asked with a sly smile.
Both Renaldo and Tohru glared at him for that one.
"Make something myself," the cat snapped as he unconsciously began kneading the cushion he was sitting on. "I appreciate being fed so I don't have to dig through trash, but I never knew how I was taking the ability to march into a kitchen and make whatever I want for granted."
Toto sighed. "I've missed that, too. Do you think Haru will be upset I've been helping myself to the food storage?"
"Not as upset as she'd be if you were eating bugs while better food's available," Tohru didn't hesitate to answer for his employer. "As long as there's enough to last us until after Christmas, she won't care."
"We definitely didn't take that much," Renaldo promised as he continued to knead nervously. "Especially since either Louise or Haru made sure I got the good cat food."
Tohru leaned his back against the door, not so much to test if he could break it down as much as keep his eyes on the two animals. "Are you sure you want to be balancing on that chair when you change back?" he pointedly asked the crow, who jerked in realization.
"Thanks," he responded gratefully before hopping off and making a soft landing on a clear spot of ground, where he began pacing nervously. "Come on, Haru," he pleaded under his breath. "No need to drag this out any longer than it's already been."
Tohru grit his teeth angrily. 'Some bodyguard I am. First Louise gets killed on my watch, and now this. Haru deserves a lot better than this for her first kiss.' "Don't be surprised if the first thing she does is try to talk you two into working for her," he said aloud instead. "Haru's in the market for a good toy maker and composer, and she pays well."
Both cat and crow looked up at him in surprise.
"What for?" Renaldo asked point blank.
"You've heard what she did with the Nutcracker. She wants to give other fairy tales the same treatment through an online show, and even has some rewrites of fairy tales set up. She hated being forced into using Tchaikovsky when that was wrong for her-your version of the Nutcracker," the large man hurriedly corrected himself while nodding in Toto's direction when remembering how Haru had it passed down to her. "She really likes the idea of having complete control of the situation now that her old man's out of the picture, and wanted to get her hands on a toymaker and composer to start work while she's in mourning so that they can take their time before she has to worry about it. She can't use the same guy that made the marionettes for Nutcracker because she's got this idea about having a swan puppet that can sort of stand up and turn into Odette, and he said it was too complicated for him."
Toto smirked the best he could around his dark beak. "Before getting cursed, I was working on a music box that's a swan transforming into Odette. A mere marionette of that would be child's play to me."
Tohru couldn't help laughing a little at that. "Ichigo always said you could do that when Haru would talk about the idea. I did know her father was a toymaker before all this."
Toto looked up at the glass swan longingly, and the pictures that depicted her in each stage of her life. "I missed so much," he mourned softly.
"We missed so much," Renaldo corrected while looking miserable himself. "You, me, Baron, Louise. Thank heaven Haru kept her word as quick as she could."
Tohru nodded as he thought about the months leading up to this night. He couldn't help wishing that Haru had told him a bit more about her strange whims and insistence on how she wanted to do the memorial service. He had no problem admitting to himself that he probably would have choked on the magic and Drosselmeyer parts, but a little more information would have-
A flash of light suddenly sparked from cat and crow, distracting him from his thoughts. But much to his surprise, the light was gone as quickly as it came, and the two were still animals.
"Oh, come on!" Renaldo screamed in frustration as Toto also cawed his fury. "What's going on up there?! How hard is it to plant one on a guy that can't even get away from-"
The second flash of light was more intense than the first, and also lasted longer. Tohru had to cover his eyes with his arms, and even after the light faded, he had to blink a lot before being able to see anything other than stars.
He immediately understood how Louise could see the resemblance between himself and Renaldo. The man was about his height, build.
Weight. If Tohru didn't know he was completely Japanese, he'd wonder if Renaldo was related to one of his own ancestors.
He had fallen off the couch with a loud thud thanks to the way he had been sitting on it as a cat, but even that wasn't enough to erase the huge grin on his face. "Finally!" he wept, waving his arms around and kicking his legs like he couldn't believe he had the ability again as he attempted to right himself.
Toto looked like a lightly color brushed version of the old black and white picture on the mantel piece since his skin was still very pale and his hair as black as his feathers had once been. He was bracing himself with one hand against the wall for balance as he wiggled the fingers of his other hand in front of his face. "Hello my little darlings," he cooed at his own fingers as he flexed them happily. "I can't wait to put all of you to good use again."
The fire in the fireplace just as immediately began to die on itself, sending the room into shadows since neither Haru nor Tohru had bothered turning on the lights for the solemn gathering.
"Oh no you don't," Renaldo snarled, wasting no time getting to his feet and grabbing at the wood logs without any regard to the nice if old fashioned evening tuxedo he was wearing. "It's a cold night, and I'm not interested in starting you up again."
"Why would the curse effect the fire?" Tohru asked curiously as he stepped a little closer to the two men.
"It's one of Baron's favorite tricks to let people know he's around when he's not keeping us warm," Toto explained as he experimentally used his feet to walk closer to the mantel. He was also in a nice old-fashioned suit; likely the same one he was wearing the night of being cursed. "He can do it when he's himself too, but breaking a curse is a major disturbance to one's personal magic. Speaking of which," he added with his eyes locked on the glass swan containing his daughter.
"Wait, Bird Brain," Renaldo stopped him suddenly, standing to a height just a little shorter than Tohru. "Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Ten minutes tonight maximum, or an hour or more tomorrow night?"
Toto stopped in his tracks as a terrible hunger filled his eyes. "That's a low blow," he accused.
"Make your choice. Christmas Eve enhances magic," Renaldo added upon seeing the bodyguard's confusion. "It's probably why Adrian waited until then to curse us."
Toto gave another heartfelt glance to his daughter's remains before forcing himself to turn away. "I've waited eighty years. One more day will be nothing. On the bright side, I can get us out of here now," he tried to console himself as his hand left the wall and he began taking careful steps toward the door to test out his legs' strength.
Renaldo tried to do the same, but almost immediately fell on his face.
"Here," Tohru offered while helping the man to his feet. "Four paws is definitely different than two feet."
"You're telling me," the pianist growled, clearly hating the support he needed to get on his own feet again.
Toto gave one smirk behind him before tapping the lock with one finger. It obediently clicked before he opened the door. "I've missed being able to do even that!" he sighed happily, stepping through and widening the door so the larger men could slip through one at a time.
"So where's Baron's room again?" Tohru asked with a tight disapproval.
"Let's meet them at the stairs," Renaldo offered. "They still think you're going to talk to Louise immediately."
"If not for you," Toto grumbled half-heartedly as they walked down the short hallway to the grand staircase.
It wasn't long afterward that shuffling feet were heard from the second story, as well as a pair of voices speaking softly to each other.
Baron Humbert von Gikkingen III was leaning on Haru for support as he had the same difficulty relearning how to walk. His evening suit was clearly more expensive than either of his friends, though there were a few deep wrinkles left from his decades long slumber. His green eyes flashed happily as he saw the trio waiting below. "Hold on tight, Haru," he instructed while taking a more possessive grip on her.
"No, no more levitating! You're exhausted and shouldn't push yourself anymore," Haru scolded him as she gripped one of his shoulders as if to hold him back. "I don't want us to fall down halfway. We can take the stairs, just one step at a time."
Deciding that he really didn't like an attractive man gripping his charge like that, Tohru eased Renaldo's hand to the banister before running up. "I can take it from here," he assured Haru with a grin, picking up the lord as easily as a doll.
"Now see here!" Baron demanded crossly, but he really was too weak to do much more as he was carried back down the stairs with Haru in hot pursuit.
"There you are!" Renaldo exclaimed happily as he and Toto swamped Baron from the front to claim a deeply needed embrace.
Baron nearly wept at the attention, not even putting up a façade of masculinity. "Do… you know how… wonderful it feels? To see both of you? For both of you to see me?!"
"It's been too long," Toto agreed as tears shamelessly fled down his cheeks. "But don't think you're going anywhere, Missy," he added sternly grabbing Haru by the wrist when she tried to sidestep to give the men more room. He then firmly dragged her into the group hug. "I'm really going to enjoy spoiling you from now on."
Haru melted into the warm moment, although Tohru was less than happy about the way Baron strained for his hand to become lost in her hair, since his limbs were too preoccupied for much else.
"Don't you dare think that you're the only one that's going to be spoiling her!" Renaldo challenged flatly. "I didn't let you monopolize Louise, and I'm certainly not going to let you monopolize Haru!"
The girl in question had a big grin on her face as tears also escaped her control, and no one present had any trouble reading her thoughts about the pair fighting over her in such a manner.
"Didn't you say something about marching into the kitchen?" Tohru asked as he subtly tried to end the hug and more specifically, get Baron's fingers away from Haru's hair.
"You better believe I did!" Renaldo grinned as Toto took over helping him now that he was sure of his own footing. "No offense, Chicky, but I'm claiming the kitchen tonight."
"If you're up to it," Haru agreed, though she was still looking at Baron worriedly. "For someone that's been asleep for eighty years, Baron's as weak as a newborn kitten."
"If that were true, I wouldn't have made it to the stairs," Baron corrected with a tight smile. "Now then, shall we head back to the drawing room?"
"Change of plans. Renaldo pointed out that we'd all have more time with Louise if I do it Christmas Eve instead of tonight." Toto gave an adoring look at Haru as he helped his brother-in-law down the opposite hallway leading to the kitchen. "Thank you for not waiting until tomorrow. Christmas magic will make it so that we have a lot more time with my daughter if we simply wait a little longer."
Haru beamed as she and Tohru followed them side by side.
"I assure you I can walk, albeit with a bit of assistance," Baron tried to hint to Tohru, who wasn't all that eager to set him down.
"It's just a little longer," the bodyguard promised, still thinking about the way the man had held onto Haru.
It wasn't disrespectful at all, but… even if he was being foolish, it might not hurt to maintain a little space between the lord and his young charge.
By the time they reached the kitchen, Renaldo was more or less able to limp around on his own as he began inspecting the cupboards for what he had to work with.
"Would you fill a kettle and start warming it for me?" Baron pled weakly as Tohru slipped him into one of the chairs at the table. "I know all that's here is tea bags, but that's better than nothing."
Renaldo pulled a face but Haru was already grabbing the tea kettle to fill it from the sink.
"If it makes you feel better, Herb Heaven is still in operation, and they're usually open until noon on Christmas Eve," Toto reported to his friend with a smirk as he leaned onto the table. "It's even owned by the same family."
Baron beamed happily at the news. "Excellent! Haru, if I assemble a list of herbs and such, will you-"
"Make arrangements for it. Not a problem," she promised with a warm smile as she set the kettle on the stove before turning it on. "Ichigo told me a lot of stories about your tea blends, so I'm eager to find out what you can do. What type sounds good for tonight?"
"Earl grey, please," he sighed happily, still not taking his eyes off her as she also began opening and closing cabinet doors. "The cupboard next to the refrigerator."
"Thanks," she responded before heading to the mentioned cupboard.
"Still think that stuff's no better than boiled grass," Renaldo muttered under his breath as he finally decided on something and began pulling out ingredients. "So what happens from here?"
Haru blinked as she tried to open the little box holding the tea bags. "Well, I'm hoping to talk you and Toto into working for me, but other than that..." She shrugged a little helplessly before dropping some tea bags into a lovely tea pot.
Baron sighed tiredly before resting his elbow on the table to place his chin on his interlocked fingers. "I must admit I lost faith in getting released years ago. I do know that I'm more than eager for a nice long vacation away from this house, but it would be best to decide on an explanation to give the general public and authorities. The locals might believe us if we tell the truth, but I don't think talk of magic will do any of us favors."
"It won't without demonstrations," Tohru assured him, purposefully choosing the seat to the right of the baron, both because the man clearly had no problems with being casual with common folk and to keep Haru from sitting next to him.
"That will lead to trouble anyway," Toto added as he tapped the table with one of his fingernails. "Do you think it would be too much if we said we were our own descendants? No, I wouldn't remarry," he answered himself sadly. "Maybe I could force myself to say I was Louise's long-lost grandson."
"Providing proof won't be hard," Haru offered as she opened the fridge to take out a grape soda so she could bring it to Tohru. "If you remember from my story, I got in contact with someone that can falsify backgrounds for the right price. Just come up with a backstory, and I'll make it happen," she informed them while deciding on what teacups to take out of the display cabinet.
The toymaker strained his brain before sighing. "… I just… can't think of a good story that would explain where our family's been, or the coincidence of your arrival when we 'returned' to the manor. I think we'd all have heavy German accents if our family's been held captive by a band of surviving Nazis for all these years, and authorities would want details about our lives leading up to coming back to the public eye."
Renaldo was now happily beating eggs and butter into the same bowl as one hand started measuring sugar. "Yeah, even Nazis knew better than to keep us all in the same camp. If we had been captured, the first thing they'd have done is separate us and go through elaborate brain washing on descendants if we were imprisoned that long to make sure we didn't know about 'our Three Musketeer' friendship," he grinned impishly at Haru, who returned the grin as she got three tea sets out and filled the sugar bowl.
"Not that it would help my case," Baron fretted while gnawing on a knuckle. "Although I was able to keep anyone from finding my body, it's general knowledge that I died that night without a wife or heir. I would have to be a nephew to myself, but authorities would be most fine-toothed in combing down my ancestry to make sure I'm not a fraud. The internet is all well and good, I'm certain, but there are still paper trails that can't be rewritten. That would be used as evidence."
Haru bit on her lower lip thoughtfully as she assembled the right number of teacups on a platter. "Would anyone be offended if I offered a suggestion for what's been happening the past eighty years?"
"Certainly. You've apparently been doing my family's story justice for years, now let's hear what your mind can come up with," Toto said eagerly.
Haru poured a little milk into a saucer before bringing the platter to the table. "Baron, be as honest as you can. Before everything happened, would you have considered the possibility of marrying a girl in secret to keep her safe both from the harpies and from your enemies?"
His mouth fell open in surprise. "How did you know?!"
Haru smirked at him before sitting down at the table as well, since the water wasn't boiling yet. "Because I've been studying everything I can about you for the past two years so I would find a way to sweet-talk you into letting me stay in your home when I thought you were irreparably a ghost. Here's my idea: everyone in Japan is more than aware that I'm a Nutcracker fan thanks to what I've been up to. Let's say that two years ago when I couldn't sleep on Christmas, I was surfing the internet for more Nutcracker ideas, and came across an article about your death in this manor, thus confirming that the Drosselmeyers were a real family."
Tohru nodded without question as he polished off his grape soda. "No one would have trouble swallowing that."
Haru tapped her fingers against the table in thought. "Because I'm rich enough to get away with it, I bought the manor after doing all the research I could on it to find out more about you, Renaldo, Toto and his daughter, but I was also intrigued by the mystery of what might have happened that night. Tamaki will be able to confirm the timeline after I give him permission to talk about it, which I'll explain by saying that I didn't want anyone scoffing at me for thinking that one, the manor was haunted, and two, for thinking that I would be able to solve the mystery of why. Ichigo was my only confidant about this, sorry, Tohru," she added with a guilty smile, but he just nodded after taking a long drink from his soda.
"This will also explain why I wanted the manor restored instead of renovated; I believed the stories that it was haunted, and after Ichigo's death, I made up my mind to come here as soon as possible and solve the mystery in her memory. Pay attention, this is where I'll get creative," she added, making all three of the men at the table lean closer as Renaldo also tilted in her direction as he measured vanilla into the bowl.
"After getting settled in, I flat out asked Baron's ghost to explain to me what was going on. Instead of telling me how he died, he instead used the tablet to communicate with me that his spirit was resting uneasily because his heir hasn't returned. Because I've been studying him for two years," she repeated with a sly smile at Baron, "I was able to confirm that he'd had a secret marriage with a maid to keep her safe from slander and intrigue, which is why no girl throwing herself at his feet could make him blink, because he's definitely a one-woman sort of man."
"Agreed," Baron affirmed happily before blinking once. "Jeanette Howard," he stated firmly.
"Jeanette?" Toto asked with surprise. "But she was dead three years before then!"
"Was it all that hard to fake a death back then?" Haru asked, clearly pleased that he had someone real to solidify the story.
Toto thought it over. "No," he agreed, sitting back in his chair. "I know she'd have happily agreed to fake her death to get away from that brother of hers, even with Baron around to make him back off."
Baron flinched. "She and I did talk through that possibility before she fell ill, and she was a good girl. I don't mind people believing our friendship went a little deeper. There were rumors of the sort anyway, so why not weaponize them?"
Haru grinned viciously as she got up to check on the water's temperature and turn the oven on for Renaldo. "That's why the name was familiar! Those rumors are recorded, so it will flow right with our narrative."
"Your narrative," Tohru corrected while waving a hand for her to continue the story.
"Because Baron had enemies and the world was dissolving into war, he and his wife worked out what needed to happen in advance in case an enemy got lucky. So after Adrian finished his work and Jeanette heard that her husband was dead, she was heartbroken but put the plan into motion with some money and jewels he had stashed away for her to use if something happened to him. I think with your accent the easiest explanation is that she relocated to a different part of England."
"Which would make sense since she got seasick easily!" Renaldo recalled with a wide smile. "Haru, this could work!"
"I'm still getting warmed up," Haru promised as she leaned against the counter since the water was getting close to boiling. "She'd be going under a different name by then, and it gives us the freedom of deciding whether she was pregnant or already had a toddler by then. After the war ended, she knew the plan was to come back and claim the baronetcy on her son's behalf with the documents Baron had given her to prove that her child was definitely his. But because of her life as a maid on top of Baron's horror stories about what power-hungry people do when they're bored, Jeanette ended up deciding that life wasn't worth it without her husband, and just never told her child about the family title."
Baron grinned almost wolfishly. "That's exactly what Jeanette would have done. Granted, that was why I didn't consider courting her, but this is definitely feasible! Then that child has a child, who has a child-"
"Who has you," Haru finished with a nod of her head.
Toto flicked his fingers as if numbering the decades against generations. "That would work out about right," he said dubiously.
"Baron, I'm going to say this as gently as I can," Haru started with a very apologetic smile as she carefully lifted the kettle and carried it to the table to poor into the waiting tea pot and bags. "You stand out. People remember whether or not they've seen you."
"This is not news," he conceded begrudgingly.
Haru carried the kettle back to the stove before turning the burner off. "So I think it would make sense if your father decided you would be homeschooled. Because family genes would run true and he wouldn't have wanted you to deal with crazy girls going overboard to get your attention like he did, and then you would have decided to work from home after a few attempts to go outside without things to cover you up don't end well."
"Agreed. I could be a writer," he said hopefully.
"We'd need evidence of your published works. Unless you're a writer for something boring but needed, like milk carton labels."
"Milk carton labels?!" he protested as Renaldo paused in rolling out the dough to laugh at his distress.
"Baron, we want your life to be so unremarkable that when people start prodding our story, they won't find anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. If we tell them you write labels for milk cartons or hair spray, no one will believe we're lying."
"Can it at least be tea labels?" Baron begged. "In the very least?"
"Deal," Haru agreed before continuing. "After I talked to Baron's ghost and found a handful of documents in his hand-"
"That I can easily write up and use a spell until they look and test the right age," Baron added with a smirk.
"I'm able to track down the last remaining descendant. You'll need to pick out a new name, but when I contact you through the internet, I have a hard time getting your attention because you assume I'm either after a date or a cheap laugh until I show you a photo of 'your great-grandfather'. It would be best if Tohru and I pretend to go get you in a few days so that no one gets suspicious about you suddenly showing up, and you're able to soothe the ghost in a way that he very obviously recognizes you as his heir. Maybe entering your chambers since everyone else hasn't been allowed in there."
Baron nodded in approval. "That would satisfy the local community without much trouble."
"And I bet I could talk Tamaki into a DNA test for further proof if he's getting a 'cousin' out of it," Haru assured before turning her gaze to Toto. "So, do you want to be a brother, cousin or best friend that's also a roommate?"
"Best friend," Toto answered without thinking. "Baron and I might be able to pass for cousins, but if I were a brother, the baronetcy would be mine since I'm older."
"We could rewrite it so your documents make you just younger than me," Baron tried to wheedle, but Toto shook his head stubbornly.
"I'm older, I've been older for over a century, and I'm not going to relinquish it now."
"It's only three years, and you never really looked like it."
"It's three of my years, thank you very much!"
Haru quickly used a hand to cover up her amused smile. 'So men never do grow up!'
Baron's eyes briefly flickered to her as if detecting her humor without the weak protection. "Well, we wouldn't have to remember any lies if we stick to childhood friends," he conceded reluctantly. "If I suddenly inherited a manor, I wouldn't hesitate in asking you to live here with me."
"It'd be easier. I guess I can pass myself as a carpenter," Toto sighed regretfully. "It's boring compared to toys-"
"You could still be a toymaker," Haru interrupted with a grin. "I've read enough history to know that eerie coincidences pop up in families all the time, like choosing to befriend a toymaker and musician. We don't have to change that; just acknowledge that it's weird and move on."
"And you want to hire him and Renaldo," Tohru added with a smirk.
"I pay well having them do what they love, I doubt they're going to fight me too much," Haru countered while side-eyeing Toto hopefully.
"Tohru explained what you want to do. I'm in," he confirmed with a mischievous grin that caught at her heart. "The transition between swan and Odette is no feat for me."
Haru couldn't resist the urge to squeal like a little girl. "I knew you could handle it, I knew it!"
"What's this?" Baron asked curiously as the teenager quickly turned around to see if Renaldo had the same wish as his brother-in-law.
"I'm in, too," he promised as he closed the oven door and scowled at the front of it. "But come here and show me how to set the timer. I could never see when I was a cat."
Haru happily got up and assisted him while Toto briefed Baron on Haru's idea.
"That sounds like the perfect match of talents," Baron admitted as he checked the teapot before pouring it into cups. "But what about Renaldo?"
"I think I got an explanation for Renaldo, since he was fine with being 'Muta'," Tohru offered, making everyone look at him. "Haru, if you noticed I was having a hard time adjusting to being in England, would you do me a favor of letting a relative come live with us?"
Haru flinched while Renaldo raided the fridge for his own drink. "I don't really get along with your mother, Tohru."
"No, not her," he insisted. "Let's say I had a cousin. Mom would be the only one that would notice anything, and I think even she would agree that Muta has to be a cousin somewhere. She is mad I moved so far away, but she loves Japan. I think we can get away with her making an annual visit, if that."
"I can handle an annual visit," Haru sighed happily, making the other three men look at her curiously. "I'll let you form your own opinions of his mother," she added evasively, since she did know how much the woman meant to her bodyguard, who smiled in appreciation.
"Are these any good?" Renaldo asked while holding up a bottle of grape soda.
"Hey!" Tohru protested even as Haru raised her hands to quiet a potential quarrel.
"I can have more delivered, it's no big deal. It won't taste like real grapes, but it's still good," she answered Renaldo, who shrugged before opening it.
"I'm all right with having a cousin. As long as I can write music again and operate a door handle again, I don't care."
"Actually feeling the door handle is a nice change," Baron agreed as he mixed a little milk into his tea. "Then everything's decided?"
"Well, the layout is," Haru corrected, sitting down to fix her own tea the way she liked it. "I'll need to teach the three of you how to use a computer and catch you up on eighty years' worth of knowledge before we go public. Whether or not you want to take back your baronetcy will at least be up to you."
Baron thought that over while taking a sip. "… If you would be so good as to help me find out how it's been holding up without me, I will be able to answer that."
"First thing in the morning," Haru promised while Toto casually rubbed one finger against the rim of his cup.
"Most of the catching up will be for Baron, though. You'd be shocked at how much Muta and I picked up as animals when we'd stray into the town for food scraps."
"Do all of you know how to use a typewriter?" Haru asked the trio, earning three nods. "Oh, good. You're already half-trained on how to use a computer then. The newer versions are really user friendly."
"I'll take your word for it," Baron promised with a smile that made her glad she was sitting.
Renaldo sat down next to her while experimentally sipping the grape soda, scrunching up his face as if trying to decide if he liked it. "I guess that just leaves the question of who gets the manor. Haru bought it, but it's rightfully Baron's. Unless you want to go the traditional route and-"
"Are you okay with co-ownership?" Haru asked a little loudly as another violent blush stained her cheeks. "I did spend a lot of money to get this place fixed up, and I really do like it here."
"I think I would be offended if you left," he promised her with another warm smile. "Without us, in any case."
Haru laughed at that. "So, what, all of you are going to follow me to Yale?"
"You know, that's not a bad idea," Toto admitted with another evil smirk. "I know you've got a bodyguard but imagine how disappointed gold-diggers would be if you had a whole gang of men backing you up."
Haru wasn't mature enough to resist the urge to smile wickedly at the mental image. "I was going to stick with telling potential dates I believe in background checks and prenups, but I can work with this."
She felt a lot better seeing that everyone else at the table was grinning just as wickedly.
"Frankly, we owe you that much for granting us a second chance at life and closure with Louise," Baron added, his green eyes glowing with fondness.
Haru smiled and enjoyed her tea, feeling for the first time since Ichigo's death like she had a reason to celebrate Christmas.
Whatever happened from here, she and her new family were going to face it together.
"One more thing, Chicky," Renaldo suddenly growled, breaking her out of her blissful mindset. "What happened to make us flicker like that before changing back?"
Haru blushed crimson, and she had a bit of difficulty making words come out instead of incoherent noise.
"She tried kissing my cheek first, just in case," Baron translated, smiling warmly at her again. "I already informed her that exact instructions could prove detrimental in magic, so don't give her a hard time about it."
Tohru cocked a suspicious eyebrow at the lord, wondering if that was the only reason the man objected to her foiled attempt to get out of surrendering her first kiss.
"It was CPR," Haru defended herself under her breath.
"How do you do CPR on the cheek?" Toto asked with feigned curiosity.
"Toto, leave her be," Baron ordered a bit firmly. "She's had enough shock to her system for this year."
"So wait until next year?" Tohru demanded.
"Hey, you stole my line!" Renaldo protested.
"You stole my soda, fair is fair."
"It wasn't even that good!"
"You take that back!"
"Hey, fighting with Renaldo's my job!" Toto interjected.
"Not tonight, it isn't!" Tohru shot back.
"Three of them," Baron moaned in horror, resting his forehead between his hands. "Now there's three of them! How will the furniture survive?"
On the bright side, that reaction alone relaxed Haru enough to start laughing.
xxXxx
A/N; It was so much fun to revisit Refuge, and I'm tickled that people still love it and consider it a Christmas classic! We'll be going back to our regularly scheduled story, but thank you for coming along for the ride down memory lane. There's a chance I'll do another piece with the Host Club visiting Haru, but there's no definite plans for that. I hope everyone had a good Christmas 2021, and an even better New Year 2022!