PHASE 17 - THAT ANTI-PEDOPHILE KICK IS PAINFUL!

I tried my best not to freak out. I blend in, go with the flow as I collect more information on what the heck is happening in this world.

After that fateful encounter on the beach, I ended up in the Solstice residence, which is an apartment near Myrrh City Beach. It must be ideal for Mr. Frederick to live in the beachfront since it’s also near the Black Cross Mansion, the main headquarters of all the Gate Guardians.

Here am I now, in the dining table, eating miso soup that my future father-in-law prepared. I didn’t notice how the food tastes like. I’m more wary of the surroundings.

The calendar tells me that it’s mid-May, almost the start of summer. Last time I remember, it was November before I went to the Underworld. Did I do a time skip? No. The calendar is way behind.

I mean ten years behind.

The other evidence that made me a little bit convinced about “time travel to the past” thing is the TV show which Diadem is watching. He’s watching a cartoon that has been discontinued a long time ago.

This timeframe; this explains why Diadem is still an eight-year-old kid. That also explains why Mr. Fredrick Solstice still looks like a young and healthy playboy, who is currently flirting in the net via Myspace, Yahoo Mail, and Friendster. Yep, he’s emailing three different girls, asking all of them to send nudes.

“Hey, mister. What is your name?” The innocent Diadem asked when I finally finished my meal.

“I...I don’t remember.” I patted the boy’s head like a dog. “It seems like I had amnesia.”

“Ooooh. Maybe you came from a shipwreck or a plane crash, that explains why you have washed ashore.” Mr. Frederick joined the conversation.

I have to hide my name from them. I have to lie. If my hypothesis of traveling ten years back is correct, then I shouldn’t let anyone get involved in me. If I should interact with people, I shouldn’t tell my name at least. I’ve watched enough time travel paradox movies. Anything I do here might change the future, which is usually undesirable.

Frederick sat in front of me and looked at my very eyes with his doubtful irises. The golden cross sigils on his eyes glowed. Then, he muttered words that only I can hear.

“You’re a Gate Guardian, just like me. Maybe you fought an Eidolon and got your head whacked or something.”

“Y-Yeah…” I forced a smile.

“Hey, come with me tomorrow. I’ll report to the Black Cross. Let’s see if we can find some records of you there.”

“N-N-No!” I waved my hands. “That’s not necessary at all. I think I have a clue about my real identity, so you don’t have to help. You’ve done enough, Mister Solstice.”

“Fine.” Frederick was easily persuaded. “But where would you start?”

“Kozukata Shrine,” I said.

“Kozukata Shrine, huh?” Frederick Solstice rubbed his cheek. “I-I’m sorry, I can’t go there.”

I know that he won’t accompany me if I go to Kozukata Shrine. Mr. Solstice wants to avoid getting seen by his daughter who resides in that very place as of this time. He's afraid that an eight-year-old Tiara would see him. Well, that works for me. At least I can investigate and assess all the situation alone.

<>

Three hours of traveling on the bus from Myrrh City to Heightsburg City, and a hundred steps until I reached the mountaintop. Finally, I set foot on the very shrine.

Suddenly, a rubber ball rolled to my boot. It was accompanied by a running kid who was chasing that ball.

"Oh, magic 8-ball! Please come back!" It was a familiar voice.

I was surprised.

The very first person I saw in the shrine is the only light I can see in this confusing world. It’s like destiny itself has forged a reunion for us two.

She’s an eight-year-old girl with long black rapunzel hair, wearing a white-and-red shrine maiden dress. My heart thumped so fast when I finally saw the adorable love of my life in kiddy form.

“T-Tiara? Y-You’re Tiara, right?”

“E-Eh?”

The girl blushed and had a confused stare at me. She’s Tiara, I’m certain. She has golden-brown eyes instead of blue though, maybe because the Fragment of the Frozen Soul has yet to be passed on her. But aside from that…

She had bandages on her arms. She looks pale and thin as if she wasn’t fed for a long time.

“Tiara, what happened to you-”

“GET AWAY FROM HER, PEDOPHILE!!!”

There was a loud shout from afar that is quite familiar to my ears. But I never saw the source of the warcry because I was greeted by a flying kick straight to my right cheek.

“Bwahak!” I cried as the wooden sandal pressed my jaw. I was immediately put down and crashed on a nearby sakura tree.

“A-Asumi-nee!” Little Tiara cried as she went behind her superhero and hugged her arm.

“Don’t worry, my adorable kawaii Tiara-chan! Because I am here!” The idiotic shrine maiden held her hips like a real champion. Those long brown hair, chocolate eyes, and petite build, it really is Asumi Kozukata, the head of the shrine as of this time.

“A-Asumi! That was uncalled for!” I cried as I held my aching jaw.

“Y-You know me!?” Asumi pressed his face and checked my eyes. “Hey, you’re a Gate Guardian! Do I know you?”

<>

Realizing that I’m not a pedophile, Asumi calmed down. She led me to the outside bench and prepared a hot green tea for us to enjoy and calm our nerves. We sat beside each other as she explained Tiara’s circumstances in me.

Meanwhile, little Tiara is happily playing her ball on the background.

“I’m sorry if I mistakenly thought that you’re a pedophile.” Asumi forced a carefree smile at me. “You can’t blame me for being overprotective on Tiara.”

“And why is that?” I asked.

“I’ve worked hard to gain guardianship over her evil stepmother and stepsisters who kept her locked in the basement and forced her to work as a water buffalo! There’s no way I could let my beautiful Tiara-chan suffer again!” Asumi had her eyes flaming with anger. "I even paid lots and lots of money for a decent lawyer to win the suit!"

"Oh, so this is the time where Tiara went back to the shrine after the Disney princess treatment from her step-parents," I muttered to myself, certain that only I can hear my own voice.

I got myself in deep thought. So Tiara got her Cinderella treatment here, just like what she told me and what I saw on her memories on the timeline where I came from. That makes it clear that I was not transported to a different universe or timeline. That means… this is still the world that I used to live.

I looked at the horizon, my eyes fixated on the setting orange sun. It will be dark soon. The day is almost over, and all I ever got are the information about the timeline I’m in. I still don’t know how to return to my own time.

Suddenly, I heard some words that gave me a glimpse of hope.

“So does that information about Tiara satisfies you, time traveler?”

My eyes become wide and my jaws hanged when I heard Asumi’s words.

“H-How did you know!?” I cried.

“I’ve been through parallel universes that I know what type of Gate Guardian I’m talking with.” Asumi winked, but her charm failed to get me. “So never underestimate the head of the Kozukata Shrine!”

“S-So you remember me!?” I pointed at my own face.

“Of course not, silly. You’re from the future. Though I feel we will meet again after a decade. It’s what my says about you.”

“That’s great!” I jollily said. “Can you tell me how to get back to my own time?”

Asumi turned to me and stared at my soul. Her golden cross sigil glowed, signaling that she’s using a lot of pranas to see my future actions. Finally, she was able to give out an answer.

I can see on her frowned face that the answer I seek is not the one favorable for me.

“I’m sorry. I can’t see any circumstances that would make you travel to your original time. You will be stuck here for a decade and continue your life, walking in a dark road of chaos until you can finally free your love.”