Chapter Five-Shun To The Rescue

When they arrived back in the present,Shiryu,Seiya and Shun were astounded to find that Hyoga still hadn't come back with Cyla. They all sank into their usual chairs. "I wonder where they are...." Shun mused a few minutes later.

"Good question." Seiya agreed. "I'm sure he's just out enjoying his time with her. What do you think happens to Cyla next? How did she wind up escaping Ikki and his knights?"

"Those are questions we'll have to answer tomorrow...I've seen enough of that horrible man for one day." Princess Sienna sighed sadly. "All we know for sure is Hyoga and Shun must've stayed in contact if Monera was going to send Cyla to him."

"Yeah....I become her godfather. But I wonder if we were all named as godparents,and she was just super close to me.."

"That's a good possibility too." Shiryu nodded. "I just wonder when and how you wind up with her,Shun."

"We'll find out in the morning. Right now,I'm going to have Tatsumi order us some food. I hope Hyoga comes back with her soon." Sienna stood then,and left her three knights to ponder the day's events.

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"Alright,Little Swan. We're back." Hyoga opened the door with his only free hand,following the rather excited four-year-old into the mansion. "We're home!"

"Homes!" Cyla echoed,giving Hyoga a toothy grin.

"That's a relief." Shun stood up from his chair in the living room. "Everyone else went out for a while. I told them I'd stay home in case you came back. Sienna's resting."

"I didn't think you dudes would be back until tomorrow or something. Sorry about worrying you guys." Hyoga smiled down at Cyla. "She missed you." The little girl had wrapped her arms around Shun's leg,and was resting her head on it.

"I see." Shun picked her up,and allowed her to rest her head on his shoulder. "Did you two have fun,Cyla?"

"I haved tandy 'ticks." She held up the remainder of the most recent one she'd been working on.

"Is that all?" Shun laughed softly,carrying her into the kitchen. "Well,how about if I get you something more fitting for dinner?"

"What fitting?" Cyla asked him,as he sat her on the counter.

"Something good for you." Shun replied,looking up at Hyoga. "So,what did you guys get?"

"She got a lot of clothes,and some toys. Some candy,as you noticed."

"Sounds good." Shun replied,turning to rummage the cabinets. "Did Shiryu go the store the other day?"

"I don't remember. I think he did...why?"

"We're out of peanut butter." Shun shrugged,and made Cyla a jelly sandwhich.

"Oh. Well,I can still go get some."

"Don't worry about it. You look exhausted." Shun handed Hyoga a sandwich too,and grinned. "Thought you might need one of these."

"Thanks,dude. I always wondered what it was like to have a child...now I'm glad I found out. She's a handful!"

"Well,most children that age are..." Shun replied with a smile. "I'm sure Jaccob was." He added, reminding the blonde of his young friend back in Siberia.

"I think so.." Hyoga told him,and watched Cyla make a mess of her sandwich. "Did you get any of that into your mouth,Cygnet?"

"Cygnet?" Shun raised an eyebrow at Hyoga.

"Little Swan." Hyoga explained,reaching over to wipe Cyla's mouth and hands. "What a mess. Next time,cut her sandwich into fours,alright?"

"Sure thing." Shun chuckled a little. I never imagined what a good father Hyoga would make. This might be his only chance to do so ,at any rate. But we can't possibly keep Cyla here in the past. She has to return t o her time. I wonder what Sienna plans on telling him...Shun studied the two silently for a while,as he remembered the horrible things that had happened to Cyla so far in her young life. His brother was worse than anyone could've imagined. We can't let Ikki bring anymore harm to that poor child. We just can't!

"Sun!" Cyla patted Shun's arm with her little hand,trying to get his attention. "Sun,Siryu toming soon?" "Shiryu? I...I'm not sure,Sweetheart. Maybe." Shun smiled kindly. So perhaps she does know at least two of us. But the question is how? "Come on. Let's get you into a nice bath and all cleaned up,okay?" Shun looked over at Hyoga,who was about to fall asleep. "Your daddy's had a long day." He took her hand,and led her into one of their many bathrooms. After settling her into the tub, he went to look through the clothes they'd gotten for her. "Well,I guess she'll have to borrow one of my shirts. It's no big deal." He went into his room,and got a shirt for her. Just as he was heading back to the bathroom,the rest of the knights return from their outing. "Hey! They're home."

Shiryu nodded. "Good. I'm going to take a shower. "

"Okay. Cyla was asking about you. " Shun saw the look of surprise on his friend's face,and shrugged. "I get the feeling all will be answered tomorrow. But I've to get her out of the tub now." He walked past Shiryu to the bathroom.

"Man. Between Shun and Hyoga,we're going to have a hard time letting Cyla go..." Shiryu muttered,as he walked into the kitchen. Hyoga was telling Seiya a story about his lunch with Cyla.

"....and the waitress actually said,"You've got a beautiful daughter." I was thunderstruck. Guys,I don't end up living a useless life. Do you know how it feels to find that out?"

"Pretty amazing,I bet." Shiryu spoke up. "You do know she can't stay,don't you?"

"Of course not. My future self must be so worried about her as it is!" Hyoga told him. "Anyway,this has been a great, exhausting day."

"Yes, it has." Shun came back out to the kitchen with Cyla in tow. "Someone's ready for bed." He held the child out to Hyoga,and smiled.

Hyoga took her,smiling at his friends. "I'll be out in a minute,then you can tell me what you guys found out."

"Okay…" Seiya replied slowly. He wasn't even sure if they should tell him at all.

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Once in his room, Hyoga laid Cyla down on his bed. "We had a good time,eh,Cygnet?"

"Uh huh." Cyla had her thumb in her mouth,staring up at the blonde man. "I 'taying wif you,Daddy…"

Hyoga smiled. "We'll see. "He kissed her on the forehead, and turned on his mini lamp for her. "I'll be in soon,alright?"

"tay." Cyla watched him go,then sighing happily, drifted into a deep sleep.

Hyoga smiled to himself as he closed the door,and walked back out to the living room. "She is so precious."

"She is. " Sienna smiled. "We have news,but none of it is really good."

"I can take it." Hyoga sat down,and began to sort through the bags he'd brought back from their trip.

Seiya began slowly. "Well, she is your daughter. You wind up marrying a woman named Monera. "

"Okay…." Hyoga held up an outfit. "Isn't this cute?" It was a black and blue jumper with daisies on it.

"It's adorable!" Sienna breathed. "She's going to look so cute in that!"

"I thought so too." Hyoga looked at Seiya. "What else did you find out?"

"This is the bad news. Some time after Cyla was born,Ikki had Black Swan resurrected and he killed you. Monera eventually was forced to work for Ikki in order to provide food for Cyla."

"That…..creep! He left my wife and child homeless??!" Hyoga's eyes narrowed,seeing the somber looks on their faces. "What else?"

Shiryu put a hand on his shoulder. "He killed her. From what we found out so far,he planned to make Cyla a Black Knight. But we think Shun comes to rescuie Cyla. We're not sure. We're going back tomorrow."

"And I'm not there to stop him! I'd rather keep Cyla here,knowing that!" Hyoga raged. "She's way too young to be made evil!"

The others nodded in agreement. "But we can't keep her." Sienna intervened. "Future Shun might be looking for her as we speak. After we know the truth,I'm going to have you guys take her back." No one could argue with that,and after a little more idle chatter,they all went to bed, wondering what the next day would bring.