Chapter Three:

One Hour Earlier

Aiyana sighed heavily as they continued to trudge along the side of the road. They were far enough off of it, that no one driving by would see them, should they (for some reason) happen to look. Kin walked at the blonde girl's side, the boy, Ian, not more than a step or two behind them.

"Stop blaming yourself," the young girl quietly murmured keenly sensing the turmoil.

"I had his hand Iya," the twelve-year-old muttered clenching a fist in anger, "Then five minutes later he pulled it away, but I kept a close eye on him to make sure he didn't go anywhere. The second I let myself gaze too long at a certain spot, and I turn back to look, he's gone."

"Ian," she was patient with him, compassionate and kind, "We can't stop to look for him on our own, my senses still aren't working here and I know your's aren't. Addy is more than capable of taking care of himself; we have to deliver the message, and then they can help us find him. It'll be easier for them to do it."

"I know," the blue-haired boy gruffly stated, "But, I shouldn't have let him have his hand back. I should have known better."

'Stop moping over it,' Kin's words came in a soft growl. 'Everything happens for a reason. Further, Adrian has his father's luck, as well as Suiko's protection. The armor protection would carry over into this time, Neo Universe-sama assured as such.'

Ian would have said more, but his cobalt-blue gaze was set on the large wrought iron gates that had finally come into view, "We're nearly there."

The trio ran up to them, easily slipping through the large slats between the bars. Once they did this, they walked carefully onward and halted upon coming around the next bend.

The blue-haired boy was open mouthed, "Wow, this looks exactly like the painting Uncle Shin did!"

"That's because he drew it," Aiyana pointed out with a small smile, the Ronin of Torrent had always put explicit detail into everything. Though she was deprived of normal sight, she was able to use a somewhat second sight, enabling her to see auras and the like.

Right now she was scanning the grounds, looking for a particular set…And she found them.

"Come this way," the blonde said after several moments of silence, starting to walk away from the Estate, but remaining on the grounds.

Ian and Kin blinked at one another before quickly following after her. The tiger was quick to fall back into step with her, 'Where are we going?'

"Nee-san told us about the smaller mansion that was on these grounds, that should be here now," the girl softly answered. "I merely looked for the auras that ought to be there; and they are."

"Who do you sense?" Ian's tone was now timorous, a sharp contrast to the normal confidence that it exuded.

"Uncle Koma-tachi," Aiyana responded, adding quietly, "Your Mom."

Ian closed his eyes and turned his head, clenching both fists tightly. He'd been afraid his best friend would say that…It brought up so many things he wasn't sure he could deal with, but he knew he had to.

"Strata and Halo are rather late today," Cale remarked as he thoughtfully twirled his cup of green tea, before taking a sip.

Kayura gave a snort to this, "It's a test day. They said when they left this morning that they'd most likely be late." She turned cobalt-blue eyes to the person that had just recently appeared on the porch, "Where exactly have you been Shuten?"

The red-headed Spring Seasonal quickly answered with, "Ah, I have simply been checking around on things. Staying here, day after day gets to be exceedingly dull."

The Lady Ancient raised an eyebrow at this, having noted the slight color in his cheeks and how quickly the explanation was given; yeah, she didn't buy it.

Sekhmet gave a derisive snort, "He goes where he's been going for the past several months. Wildfire let me know, and I checked it. He's been off with the girl that managed to keep the Ronin in slight line, Mia."

Anubis' face went as red as the roots of his hair, as Kayura cackled in glee, "Anubis, you dog!"

"Here I thought I was sneaky," Dais mused having seemed to pop out of nowhere. He blinked when they all jumped and stared at him, "What?"

The red-headed bearer of Oni let out an exasperated sigh, "It doesn't matter that we know you enjoy materializing out of thin air, you still startle us."

"Ah," the white-haired Seasonal remarked sounding as if it were a startling revelation. Of course, the look on his face clearly conveyed the fact he knew full well it bugged them, and that he took delight in it.

Said look did not go unnoticed by his comrades at all, but before they could make remarks on the matter, Kayura's observation halted them.

"What are children doing out here?"

Immediately the four men snapped their attention to where she was looking taking the sight in. A young girl and boy had come into view, walking down the slightly disheveled roadway that lead back to the mansion.

Anubis was already able to tell from here that there was power about them, and then he noticed they were not alone, "And with an exotic pet no less?"

Sekhmet and Dais were frowning as the children slowly made their way towards them, trying to do what they could to place them. However, Cale was easily able to identify the auras…And who's they so closely resembled.

'How the HELL?'

Ian saw her standing there and moved behind Aiyana, almost as if she were his protector. In a way, the blonde girl was that, and had always been since they were old enough to walk and talk. She looked out for him and defended him, and when he couldn't handle a situation she managed to pull through and take care of it for the both of them.

The girl did not let the presence of her family bother her, capable of staving those emotions off simply because she knew now was not the time, and that they would not understand anyway. She halted a few feet in front of them, and bowed her head in respect, "Hello minna-san. We're looking for someone, and hope you can help us-"

She took pause, strummed the mental line that was all-too-easy for her to access, 'Ian, the hell did Neo say the name was?'

"Elayne," Ian spoke the answer aloud, then queried, "Is she here?"

Both children were holding their breath, the tiger at their side also waiting for the answer. Neo had told them to look for Elayne, and not Universe, saying that the past was far different from what hers' had been originally. But, they had no way of knowing where they had ended up; they were in the past obviously but which one was tricky. Time and space were not moving correctly anymore, they could be anywhere.

Sekhmet decided to take initiative and answer, "You're in luck. She should be back soon." The air about them was confusing him, it did not match someone from this time…And when the pair finally stepped into the light so that the shadow from the porch no longer concealed their faces? He nearly fell off said porch.

'In the name of the Council, Elders, Ancient, and armors!' the flabbergasted Seasonal of Fall cried.

Dais rolled his eye, reprimanding, 'Not so loud.'

"Ya," Ian saw a chance to interject, and could not resist, "You shouldn't swear on so many beings either, Uncle Naaza."

And the Seasonals, well-brought up veteran fighters that they were, just stared at the boy in total complete shock and bewilderment. Cale had already been swearing on every being he knew, he'd just been keeping it private. So when the child blurted out a response to the mental comment, and said 'Uncle Naaza' he was about ready to collapse on the spot.

Kin gave a snort to their reaction, 'Stupidity's in them even now…'

"O-kay," Kayura said slowly, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. She was in slight shock over the boy's appearance. He had the same color eyes as her own…Yet he looked like…

"Sage is going to be a bit later," Rowen announced as he suddenly appeared in a whirl of wind, "And what's all the commotion on the mental link for?" He gave a snort, "You guys are whooping and hollering over the line so ba-" Words left him.

Ian had whipped his head around feeling the presence directly next to him. Now seeing his father he defied the urge to run to him. Unable to forget what had happened in the future…How his father and his uncles had left…

The boy stepped back nervous and unsure, Aiyana reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him and to calm him down. It worked, for the young boy relaxed.

The Ronin of Strata managed to close his open mouth. It was just a little disconcerting to see a child with Kayura's eyes…But more so with her eyes and similar to how he looked when he was little. He took note of the girl that was doing what she could to soothe his nerves, and his own eyes went wide.

"I'm sorry," her voice broke the silence and stillness of the moment, snapped them all back to the present. "I know you have questions, but do you mind if we sit inside? The three of us have traveled quite a distance."

Kayura gave a nod, "Of course." She moved and opened the door, watching as the boy took the girl by the arm and helped her up the stairs. No, Kayura corrected herself, he was guiding her.

"Thank-you," the blonde girl murmured out. 'Thanks Ian.'

'Anytime Iya,' he assured her.

Rowen frowned watching as the Seasonals quickly followed after the newcomers…He made sure he did the same but at a slower pace to ponder things over in his head. The archer wanted very much to know what was going on.

…He wouldn't have very long to wait.