Yami sighed as he and the others flew back to his and Charlotte's newly shared home, now they were supposed to be going back to their respective hideouts, but at the last minute Julius had a thought.

" Hey, since Josslyn seems to know Hikari, why don't you all stay together? I mean, I'm sure the house is big enough for all of you to stay there comfortably. Plus it'll help us be able to keep an eye on them." Julius had explained to them before they walked out of the office.

Yami shook his head, leave it to Julius to come up with a crazy idea like that! But when he thought about it, it made sense for all of them to be staying together even though none of them liked it very much. Zora had gone back to the Black Bulls hideout to get some of his things while Nebra and Nozel went back to the Silver Eagles to get her things as well. So Yami was left in charge of Josslyn and Ace for a little while, which he wasn't looking forward to too much. He already had how many teens/young adults to look after?!

The three landed in front of the house and he heard Josslyn chuckle.

" This is it? It looks like a complete dump." She muttered as she looked the house up and down.

" I think it looks nice." Ace said with a smile as he grabbed his older sister's arm and dragged her inside the house. " Come on Josslyn I wanna see what it looks like inside!" He added as he pushed open the door, Yami tilted his head; the boy had been so quiet and shy earlier, but now that it was just him and his sister he seemed a little more energetic. Yami followed them inside and closed the door behind him.

Ace looked around in silent wonder; this place wasn't nearly as nice or as big as his home, but it was still nice! It seemed warm, cozy, even inviting! Plus, this was the start of a new adventure! Sure he didn't have any of his friends with him, but he did have his big sister with him so he wouldn't have to worry! He looked up at his sister and saw her still wearing that scowl on her face.

" Are you ok?" He asked her softly, she nodded before crossing her arms.

" Fine. This just puts a wrinkle in my plans, the sooner we can get back to our own time the better." She muttered before looking around the common room again.

" But, we don't even know why or how mom and dad sent us here in the first place. So how are we supposed to get back home?" He asked her softly, he wanted to get back home just as much as she did, but a small piece of him wanted to stay long enough to see how different this time was to theirs.

" I haven't figured that part out yet. But I will, I promise Ace, I'll get us back home come hell or high water." Josslyn said determinedly, Yami walked past the two and sat down on one of the couches.

Yami looked around and frowned; where were Charlotte and Hikari? He figured they'd have come out when he got back. As if on cue he sensed someone coming into the room and when he looked over it was Hikari.

" Oh you're back, is everything ok-?" Hikari paused as she saw the red haired boy and pink haired girl. " Ace? Josslyn?! You're here too!" She asked as she walked up to the two. Josslyn crossed her arms and smirked.

" Well look what the cat dragged in. You're a sight for sore eyes Sukehiro." Josslyn teased, Hikari laughed and shook her head.

" It's good to see you too Josslyn. It's good to see you as well Ace." Hikari said with a smile on her face, she hadn't been expecting anyone else to be coming from her time. She thought she was the only one. A small piece of her was thankful that she wouldn't be alone here, another part of her hoped that maybe some of the others were here too!

" Hi Hikari!" Ace said cheerfully, he had met the young Sukehiro many times before since Josslyn and her were best friends.

" So you two were sent back here as well?" Hikari asked, she noticed Josslyn look over at Yami with a small frown, Hikari recognized that look; she didn't trust him.

" We'll talk about that later." Jossyn said shortly, but Hikari nodded in agreement. Hikari trusted the Yami and Charlotte of this time, but Josslyn didn't. The only one's she trusted were herself, Hikari, and Ace.

" Where's Charlotte?" Yami asked suddenly, Hikari looked over at him.

" She was called over to the Blue Rose Knights. She said she would be back in a couple of hours." Hikari explained, he nodded before standing and getting some wine to drink, after today he really needed it.

" We're going to my room to catch up." She said before walking with Josslyn and Ace to her room, Yami nodded before taking a sip of his wine.

" Alright, I'll call you when dinner is done." Yami muttered, to which Hikari nodded before the three kids walked down the hall. Yami suddenly choked on his drink as what he said sunk in; it hasn't even been 24 hours and he was already starting to sound like he was her dad! He took another gulp of his drink, what was going on with him?

Yami didn't consider himself very 'paternal', maybe an Uncle or a Big Brother, but not as an actual parent. Yet here he was, telling Hikari that he would call her when dinner was ready, threatening Finral for flirting with her. He sighed and leaned back in the chair with his eyes closed, what was going on with him?

—

Hikari closed her bedroom door behind her and sat down on her bed across from Josslyn, who sat on one of the other beds with Ace. She looked her friend up and down, she couldn't believe she was actually here!

" So you two were sent back here too?" Hikari repeated her earlier question, Josslyn nodded shortly and leaned back on her arms and sighed.

" Yeah, mom and dad sent us back shortly after you did I assume. They didn't tell us why though, I'm assuming yours didn't tell you anything either?" Josslyn asked, when she shook her head the pink haired girl sighed. " Why the hell would they send us here without any information?"

" I don't know, it's odd. Usually my parents tell me everything, well, everything they're allowed to tell me anyway." Hikari said, pulling her legs up to her chest.

" Do you think we were under attack?" Ace asked as he grabbed a nearby pillow and hugged it, the two girls looked at each other for a moment.

" It's possible, but unlikely since they've never sent us away when we were under attack before." Josslyn told her brother as she put a thoughtful hand under her chin.

" Unless the threat was just that dangerous." Hikari pointed out, Josslyn nodded in agreement as Ace's face blanched considerably. Silence fell upon the three at her words, it was something they were all thinking but didn't want to say out loud.

" It's still unlikely though, we haven't been attacked seriously in years. Plus, what kind of threat would be dangerous enough to warrant this? Our parents got rid of most of the devils decades ago, so there's no way there could be a bigger threat than them." Josslyn argued, Hikari shrugged, either way they would find out eventually.

" Hey Joss," Hikari started after they sat in silence again. " Do you think the others may be here as well?" Josslyn 'hmmed' in thought.

" Could be, especially since the three of us are here. Are you asking for a reason?" Josslyn quirked an eyebrow slightly, and Hikari shook her head with a soft smile on her face.

" No. Not really." She sighed before looking away and rubbing the back of her head nervously. " I guess I'm just hoping he'll be here too." She added softly, she looked as the pink haired girl snorted.

" Who? Pretty boy? Pfft. Please, I doubt he'll be here. He's Mr. Chivalrous, remember? Plus he's the type of guy who'd willingly stay behind and sacrifice himself for the sake of others. Even if they don't deserve it." Josslyn said. " He's an idiot." She added, causing the dark haired girl to frown.

" He is not an idiot, he's far from being an idiot and you know it." Hikari told her seriously, she didn't like it when people spoke ill of him. It always irritated her and made her angry, although she wasn't sure why.

" I know that geez lighten up." Josslyn looked away and rubbed her neck in embarrassment. Hikari sighed.

" Sorry I shouldn't have snapped." She said with a soft laugh. " Anyway, even though he is all of those things you mentioned, except him being an idiot, I do think he would leave. Especially if his father told him too."

" True, he really only listens to his father," Josslyn smirked a bit. " Or you, apparently." Hikari blushed at the statement and looked away, what was Josslyn insinuating? Sure he listened to her whenever she would offer some advice or things like that, and Hikari would do the same when he offered advice as well. They were best friends, so why wouldn't they listen to each other?

—-

Yami opened his eyes when he heard the door open, he saw Charlotte walk in and he sighed again before closing his eyes. She frowned before closing the door, walking over to him, and sitting down across from him.

" Rough day?" She asked leaning forward a bit, she noticed the wine glass on the table which confirmed her suspicion.

" Oh yeah. Apparently, Zora and Nebra Silva have two kids together. Both traveled here just like Hikari. They're in the bedroom catching up." Yami told her before opening his eyes and looking at the blonde. She was looking at him with wide, surprised eyes.

" So, there's more kids out there?" She asked in shock, Yami chuckled. She was more worried and surprised by that than about Zora and Nebra, but then again, she didn't really know either of them too well to form an opinion.

" Apparently. But we don't know if anymore have traveled back, and if they did, how many." Yami said softly, Charlotte sat back in her chair; how many more future kids could be out there right now? Lost, alone, frightened? She shook her head to clear those thoughts.

" Did you tell Julius about what Hikari told us?" She asked, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other as Yami nodded.

" I did. It concerned him just as much as it did us. He was curious about the Time Gate, but I think he pushed that away when I mentioned our future selves being worried and dragging Hikari through said portal." Yami said with a sigh before pinching the bridge of his nose. " Julius said to keep him informed of any changes, but he's pretty worried about it too."

Charlotte nodded as the room fell silent, she couldn't help but be anxious about all of this. If multiple parents sent their children back in time to avoid a threat, how big and dangerous was it? Did everyone send their kids back or was it just the mighty few who had powerful connections and a high status such as themselves? She stood up quickly, she didn't want to think about all of that right now.

" I'm going to get started on dinner. I'll admit it's been a while since I last cooked so I can't promise it'll be very good." Charlotte said with a small laugh before walking into the kitchen.

" I'll come help, we're going to need to make extra since there's 7 of us." Yami stated before standing and following her into the kitchen.

" 7?" She questioned before turning around to face Yami, he looked away sheepishly as he explained what Julius had done. Charlotte's face turned a bright red shade, irritation and anger clearly on her face.

" WHAT!"

—

Julius stared thoughtfully at his desk. These children were very peculiar. How were they able to travel back in time? Did they have a time mage like him? If so, how come they were able to open a Time Gate and he wasn't? He was both perplexed yet curious, if he ever got the chance he really wanted to meet this time wizard or the mage who invented the gate! He stood up quietly, ready to turn in for the night, when he suddenly froze on the spot.

" My, when did you get here? I thought I sensed someone's mana, but I just assumed it was my imagination." Julius said with a laugh, talking to the person hiding in the shadows. He had sensed this mana for a while, but he wanted to see what the mage was going to do before commenting on it. But the mage didn't move, not one bit. He turned to face where the mage was hiding.

" I know you're there. So why don't you please come out so we can have a conversation?" Julius offered kindly, even though he was treating this intruder kindly, he wasn't about to let his guard down. For all he knew, it could be the threat Yami told him about.

The 'intruder' walked out from their hiding spot in the shadows and they stepped into the light. Julius wasn't normally surprised, but once he saw their face he couldn't stop it from showing slightly in his eyes.

A young man, around Hikari's age, appeared before him. He was tall, lean, and wore a warm smile on his face. His hair was short, white, and messy, his piercing blue eyes stared kindly at Julius and his smile looked so familiar, and yet so different, what really struck him though were his clothes; they were the Golden Dawns uniform.

" Ah a member of the Golden Dawn. Welcome, although I don't believe your Captain knows you're here and usually I have to be the one to summon you." Julius said light heartedly, the young man nodded and laughed.

" Yes sir you're right about those, although my Captain does in fact know I'm here. So it shouldn't be a problem." He shrugged, his smile staying in place. Julius analyzed him. His posture was calm, warm, and non-threatening, as though he were completely comfortable in the Wizard King's presence. The boy carried himself proudly, but not in an intimidating way, he smiled and was so far treating him as though they were old friends.

He wasn't here to hurt Julius. That much was clear.

" You're one of the kids from the future, aren't you?" Julius deduced rather quickly, surprising the boy in process.

" Wow. You really are as smart as they say." He laughed in surprise. " I didn't think you would figure it out so quickly."

" Well you don't get to where I'm at today without picking up a few tricks." Julius said kindly before sitting back down at his desk. " Why did you come straight here?"

" Because I thought this is where my father would be today. But I guess not." The boy said scratching the back of his head nervously.

" Your father?"

" Ah yeah," the young man laughed again, apparently that was a nervous habit of his, to laugh when he was either uncomfortable or nervous. " usually this is where I find him most days. But I guess he's different in this time." He added with a small sigh.

" Most likely. People grow and change over the years, we adapt and evolve. That's just how things are." Julius said with a nod before tilting his head.

" Y'know, you seem to know a lot about me. This office. This entire building in fact since you were able to bypass all the security and Magic Knights. But yet, I know so little about you. What's your name? I'm Julius." He introduced himself to the young man with a warm and kind smile, the boy looked at his hand before looking back up at his face. He quickly took his hand and gave it a firm shake.

" My name's Alistar Vangeance. It's a pleasure to meet you Lord Julius. But I think we need to call my father and tell him that I'm here, don't you?"