Welcome to Gaia! ::

"When you put it like that," Shiro said thoughtfully, "then doesn't it seem like it should be longer? So many generations ... Mother still talks about the time before Aliya was born, and she says that wasn't long before your father went there to start the ranch."

Impatient as always, Kaito called back to them from the top of the stairs, "We could make it simple and just ask someone, you know."

Shiro and Ura were not far behind, and as soon as they were all four together again, Kaito turned and headed to the door that led to their greatgrandmother's study. He hefted his bag on his back and knocked three times, his tail flicking back and forth impatiently.

It was barely a moment before the door opened, and a guard appeared, barely visible in the doorway. The room beyond was dark, save a single torch that was lit near the opposite door. Obviously they had arrived in the middle of the night.

"Ah ... visitors," the guard murmured, his face expressionless. He thought for a moment. He wasn't entirely sure what to do with them ... after all, he couldn't just show wake someone up in the middle of the night. Nor could just just give them all rooms ... and would they even wish to sleep? He was aware of the time difference between the worlds.

"I apologize," he said sheepishly after a moment. "I am quite taken by surprise ... pray you, follow me." He bowed low, then motioned for the four of them to follow him towards the corridor.

The guard nodded at Lin. "Daylight will break in only an hour or so," he assured her. "But until then I cannot wake anyone. For now, I will take you to the parlour. There is a fire for you to sit by, and books to read if you wish."

He looked over the strange group again, giving the talking cat an extra odd glance, and then turned back to Lin. "Tell me, who is it that I should send for once it is time?"

The guard nodded. "I shall summon the princess," he decided. "She has no duties before breakfast, and I am certain she will be glad to see you."

He didn't bother asking for names, everyone knew about the palace's Gaian visitors - especially Lin by this time. He led them to the parlour where Yue and Yukito had so long ago fascinated Gion and Mikhail, both of them only young boys then, with tales of snow and ice. There was a fire in the fireplace, as promised, and torches all around the room were lit, almost as if they had been expected, giving the room a warm, welcome glow. As promised, there were shelves of books, and even a small wooden labyrinth with a marble that could be used for navigation. Small things to pass the time, or simply entertain children while adults visited.

"Thank you very much," echoed three separate neko voices, Shiro and Kaito bowing their heads politely while Ura just smiled. Then Ura and Kaito settled onto the couch while Shiro headed towards the bookshelf, his red eyes searching out a book that he had not read the last time they had been there.

It was not long before the first hints of dawn began to streak across the sky outside the window, and it was Kaito who first noticed them. "Shouldn't be long now," he smiled with relief.

Shiro looked over at the others, though he had to tear his eyes away from the book he'd found. "You two must be the most impatient people I know," he chuckled teasingly. "It's barely been an hour! Considering we could very well have arrived in the middle of the night, I'd have to say this isn't a long wait at all."

Ura just looked around at everyone, remaining silent.

Shiro chuckled again, and was about to reply when a voice broke in, "It seems I've kept you waiting ... though I'm afraid, lin, that if you cannot abide one hour, then you may wish to think twice before going on long journeys."

There was a soft laugh, and Tinuviel appeared in the doorway, her cheeks flush and eyes bright with sleep. Obviously she had just woken: though she was dressed, her hair was still in a simple braid that just barely glided over the floor without touching it.