I'm back! The Professor makes his decision.

GoldGriffin: Thanks! As for your question...I'm not sure if I clarified this in earlier chapters. Claire's not dead. She's alive; Tom sent her back into the real world as she was traveling through the time stream. Everyone can see her. That's why she has to stay out of sight of the Professor, because the Professor "knows" she's dead-creating a paradox. What the Oculus does is it prunes out one of these realities, resolving the paradox. The problem is that the Oculus is missing. Thus, until the Oculus is found, Professor Layton cannot find out that Claire is alive. I hope this explanation helps!

Hollyshadow the medicine cat: Yes, shopping is certainly...a good test of patience and character...lol.

Enjoy le chapter! Yes, it's really short, but I decided to move, like, half of the content to Chapter 5, as I felt Tom's second encounter with Professor Layton was important enough to deserve its own chapter. Next chapter might/will take a while.

Chapter Four

It Begins

We finally did it.

It took hard work and lots of time, but we did it.

Such were Tom's thoughts as he, carrying a bag with his new clothes, followed Claire into the hotel.

I probably would have died of boredom if we'd wasted another second...which was actually a minute...which felt like an hour...

But it's all worth it, I suppose. I do like how I look now.

After a quick dinner, Tom and Claire decided to sleep early.

"We've got a long day tomorrow. I need to revisit Professor Layton, and then I'll need to contact the people who know him. Recruit them, in a manner of speaking."

"Even if he doesn't want to help us?"

"Yes," Tom said. "Even if he doesn't, his friends probably will."

Claire still looked unconvinced. "But isn't Hershel the most important person you need?"

Tom nodded. "He is."

"And...you don't know if he'll help you or not?"

"I don't know. We must...hope."

"CLAIRE, IF YOU DON'T WAKE UP THIS INSTANT, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

"IF YOU KEEP WAKING ME UP LIKE THAT, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Not even eight o' clock and they're already screaming at each other.

Lovely way to start the day.

"Look, Tom, all I want to do is sleep right now, okay? I'm not going to Gressenheller with you anyway."

"Well, I'm leaving right now, and I'm pretty sure you want to listen in on the Professor, so you might want to get up within thirty minutes. Your earpiece is on the night stand. Oh, and there's breakfast downstairs."

Claire sat up. "You could have just said that last part earlier..." she grumbled.

Tom laughed. "I thought the cravings only started AFTER-"

"Don't. Even. Finish. That. Sentence."

"...yes ma'am."

"Stop calling me that!"

Tom hopped off the bus and walked to Gressenheller University.

"Only 8:05," he muttered. "Claire better get up REALLY soon, unless I have to wait twenty minutes again. Oh! there's a student." He walked over. "Excuse me, sir, but is Professor Layton in his office? I need to speak to him."

"I'm sorry. He isn't. Maybe he'll be back in about...twenty minutes? Check if he's available then."

Tom swore under his breath. "Thank you. I'll wait."

"No problem, sir." The student continued walking.

After he was out of earshot, Tom prepared himself for yet another twenty minute period of boredom. Luckily, since he'd already had a six hour one the day before, twenty minutes felt like no time at all.

Meanwhile, the Professor was finishing up his archaeology class.

"In conclusion, the Azran civilization was extremely technologically advanced for its time. Next week, I will bring an Azran artifact for all of you to see. That will be all."

With those words, the Professor's lecture ended, and he hurried out of the room, eager for a cup of tea.

Carefully avoiding the gaze of a certain student named Rosetta, he opened the door to his office...

And saw Tom sitting at his desk.

"Welcome, Professor. We have much to discuss."

"I brewed tea for you. I figured you'd need it."

"You figured correctly. Thank you." Professor Layton took a sip and grimaced. Well, I suppose it's better than Flora's cooking...

Tom, noticing the Professor's uncomfortable expression, chuckled. "Tastes decent, doesn't it?"

"Well, it certainly is...stimulating."

"Always the gentleman, Professor. I'm sure what you mean to say is that it tastes horrible." Tom sighed. "I'm not very good at brewing tea, I must admit."

"I'm quite sure that lamenting over your lack of tea-brewing skills is not the principal reason you are here."

You are correct, Professor. I'm simply here to ask you what you've decided. You know, about helping me."

The Professor put down his teacup. "First off, I will say this: it was not an easy decision. Not at all. Part of me wondered why I should even bother helping you. After all, I don't see how doing so will help me in the slightest. I have nothing to live for, after all. But then I was curious. Why would you seek my help, if you knew full well there was a good chance I would refuse to give it? There must be a good reason. And you also mentioned my friends...do they still remember me? I don't know. But if I don't join you, I doubt I will ever be motivated to find out."

"Thus, I will offer my assistance, Time Guardian, and I will allow you to use my name to gain the trust of people who know me."

Tom grinned. "Very shrewd, Professor Layton. Thank you. I will use your name to gain allies. In the meantime, I suggest you behave normally, so as not to draw suspicion."

"I shall. By the way, may I ask why you are wearing such...drastically different attire?"

Tom paused. "My old outfit was rather worn, so I decided to purchase some new clothes." He heard a voice laugh in his ear and sighed. "Goodbye, Professor."

"The same to you."

As Tom left Gressenheller University, he muttered, "Alright. First stop, Misthallery."

Next chapter, Tom convinces people to join the cause. Yes, he even reaches Luke, even though he leaves for a different country at the end of Unwound/Lost Future. How? Find out in Chapter Five!

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