Epilogue:

A few days later, Baron sat at his desk and worked on the last of the paper work of the last adventure. He sighed and tried to stretch out his back from the aches that he felt. He growled in the back of his throat when he found that he could not reach a specific ache.

"You're working too hard again," a soft voice whispered into his ear as a hand massaged the section in his back he couldn't reach.

"I didn't even hear you come in," he purred and turned his chair to face her, "How was your mother, love?"

Haru giggled, "I love it when you call me that."

He chuckled and stood up to embrace her and kissed her on her brow, "So?"

"She did well at the convention. Brought home a bonus too," Haru smiled and walked with him toward one of his high backed chairs. He sat down and she sat comfortably on the arm of it, "She's sleeping though. It took a lot out of her."

"How did she take your hair?" he asked and brushed a gloved hand through her longer strands.

"I told her I was trying extensions until it grew back out again."

"Do you know when you will be able to bring her here?" Baron asked and rubbed her hands, "You will have the power to shrink her yourself if you keep up in your studies with your father's books."

"I know I will, but I want her to regain her strength before I jump the whole boyfriend issue on her," Haru giggled again, "Not to mention he's a figurine that comes to life and puts his nose in other people's problems."

"Hm," he nodded, "But remember, I want to meet her soon. I want to ask for your hand from her first. It is only right."

"Always the gentleman," Haru kissed his cheek.

"Do you two always have to have to do the mushy stuff in here?" Muta groaned and fell on the couch.

"I do live here, Muta," Baron reminded him.

"Don't worry, Baron, he just doesn't understand the whole concept of love," Hiromi strolled into the bureau and to the back of the couch and looked at Muta, "At least not yet. I saw you eyeing that pretty cream colored cat across the street today…"

Muta looked away from her and blushed.

"Aw, the kitty has a crush," Toto teased as he came through the window above them all. He looked down where Hiromi just sat down her bag and then quickly transformed into her magpie self and flew up to perch next to Toto. He chuckled and pecked her on the beak, "How did you do on the urban maze to get here?"

"I did just fine," Hiromi smiled a little proud, "Muta kept up a good pace today."

As the group began to fall back into their regular routines and new ones with the girls now being regular visitors. Haru and Baron shared duties in making another cake for Muta and some mulberries for Hiromi and Toto while Muta told them about any weird activity at the Crossroads. Hiromi looked down at Haru and tilted her head a little.

"What's wrong?" Toto asked her.

"I just wonder how he brought her back with just words," Hiromi shrugged.

"He gave her something to live for by pleading himself to her," Toto smiled, "And he will stand by it until he does turn to ash and they both can meet on the other side."

"That's good," Hiromi nodded, "Because I didn't want to make him firewood for hurting my best friend."

Toto laughed a little at the visual that came to mind.

"So, another kingdom saved," Haru sighed after the cake was done and Baron settled back into his chair. Haru slid in next to him and circled her arms around his neck, "Is there anything that you can't do?"

"Love you any less?" he asked and surrounded her with his arms around her waist and kissed her sweetly on her lips. As the separated they heard a noise outside the bureau and noticed that it had begun to rain.

Hiromi frowned and looked at Toto, "Well, so much for our flight tonight."

Muta closed the doors to the bureau while Toto closed the windows. The rain began to come down a little harder as the five of them watched it pummel the ground.

Haru giggled a little and made Baron look at her, "Time to cash in that rain check?"

"That sounds like a great idea," he nodded and she got off his lap so he could lead her to the space behind the couch.

Music began to play with a snap of Baron's fingers and he took Haru's hand to lead her in a waltz. She smiled and followed him effortlessly as Muta kept stuffing his face and the two birds looked on with laughter in their eyes.

Toto looked at Hiromi quickly and then back at their best friends, "I am sorry that I will not be able to dance with you like that."

"We dance in the sky," Hiromi rubbed her feathered head against his, "It's so much better."

As the dancers pass for another turn around the room, they pass in front of a new large painting where a portrait once occupied. There in the painting another couple danced in one another's arms in a grand ballroom. The gentleman with the head and tail of an orange cat and the young woman wore a golden gown that seemed to swirl with the silent music.