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"I thought you could make yourself look elven," Kaito said, slightly confused. "What are you worried about? If anyone's got anything to worry about, it's Shiro and me."

He stretched his arms again. "Oh, man, that was a long flight. It's not like being on a ship, at least on a ship you can move around."

"Well, you were talking about yourself and your mother," Kaito defended himself, though he was grinning. "But yeah, I'll talk with Shiro and maybe we'll work something out. Maybe talk to Lancaeriel about it. If anyone knows what might be done, she would."

He pulled a coin out of his pocket and started flipping it with his thumb and catching it again. "Flight was ten hours. Too long to sit tight. Aurin's good company, though, so at least it wasn't overly boring."

Kaito's tail swished back and forth contentedly. "Good. And I don't know if I'll see if Andarien wants to train a bit right away or if I should find Shiro afterwards and take a nap first."

He grimaced and stretched his wings again. "Maybe I'll do my own training first. Man, I'm stiff."

He saw the sign for the gear shop and grinned. It looked very steampunkish, and he knew that Andarien must be happy there.

The shop was empty when the two of them entered, and Kaito looked around appreciatively at the things that were on the shelves. He let out a low whistle. "Wow ... I can see Andarien being very happy here."

Suddenly the rope curtain parted and Corazin stepped into the room. He grinned when he saw Miyuki. "Oh, Miyuki! Glad to see you. I suppose you're here to see your brother?"

He looked at Kaito as if sizing him up and added, "And you must be Kaito."

Kaito grinned and nodded. "Yep."

Corazin grinned. "He's back in his bedroom with your father. Go on back. Down the hall and second door on the right."

"I hope we're not disturbing anything," Kaito said politely; but before he could say anything more, Corazin held up one hand.

"I think Andarien has something he'd like to show you," he told the two, "and we were taking a day off from lessons today anyways. So don't worry about it, just go ahead."

Kaito smiled and bowed. "Thank you."

Kaito followed Miyuki up the hallway, keeping to himself but looking around curiously.

"Come in," came a muffled voice from through the door. But before Miyuki had the chance to open the door, it opened from the other side, and there stood Earendil, grinning widely.

"Hello, Miyuki," he greeted her. "Come on in. Hello, Kaito, good to see you made it safely. Everything all right?"

"Yup," Kaito replied with a grin. "Came to bring Andarien his stuff."

Earendil stepped aside. "Come in, both of you," he invited them.

Andarien was also in the room, though he was not easily recognizable. He had grown since anyone had seen him. He was tall now, nearly six feet tall, far taller than his mother or sister, though he was still only up to his father's mouth. His hair was a bit longer, his face - his entire body, really - thinner. His baby fat was entirely gone now. He was not wearing his own clothes - even the clothes that Helen had made for him in anticipation of his growth. He was wearing the same type of clothes that Corazin wore, a loose black ruffled shirt, form fitting black pants, and a red sash around his waist. His feet, however, were bare.

"Hi, Mi!" he greeted his sister with a grin, his violet eyes sparkling brightly. "Look what happened last night!"

Andarien giggled and hugged his sister tightly. "Yup! And you should have seen Corazin this morning when he saw me! He couldn't speak for a while!"

His voice had deepened as well with his growth, and his laugh didn't sound the same either.

Earendil chuckled at the two of them. "Corazin and Andarien are going to join us for dinner again tonight. Shall we tell your mother before then or surprise her?"

"Surprise her," Kaito grinned.