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"Ah, yes, we should have explained that first," Kelirahc smiled. "Darren is twelve, one of the biggest of the boys - he plays with the teens on the other side of the city sometimes - and he likes to think that he can get away with whatever he wants. He does cause many fights, but this is I believe the first one that he lost. Actually, I was surprised - I did not know that it was Darren at first, and I thought Amalirahc was beating up someone small and weak because he was so strong."

"Amalirahc said he was just angrier," Leyenda laughed. She sighed softly. "At this point, I'm only afraid for Jess, once Amalirahc is gone again. Darren is not forgiving."

Halmir and Arthael were listening quietly to all of this, and at that last remark they exchanged a glance.

"You were all planning on going and ordering some new clothes, weren't you?" Halmir suggested to the others. "Why don't you take the girls and Amalirahc and go ahead, and I'll wait here. I'm not much for shopping anyways."

"That works," Leyenda agreed, seeing from the look on Halmir's face that there was some reason why he was suggesting this. She rose slowly to her feet. "Come, then, let's go get the children."

Earendil rose and put one hand on Lin's back and smiled down at her. "We'll see how Miyuki is," he told her reassuringly. "She loves looking at fabrics and such anyways, so if she's down at all it will cheer her up I'm sure."

Besides, if they got her version of what happened, they would see in that alone whether or not the boy's words had affected her, and if so, how much.

As the grownups headed towards the children, Jess looked up and saw them approaching. He blinked and stared at them, and the ball, which Amalirahc had kicked at him, hit him in the chest and bounced off without him catching it.

"Hey ... who is that?" he asked the other children, pointing at the grownups.

Earendil waved as well, and even Andarien waved both his arms and let out an excited, "Mi!"

River giggled and picked the ball up off the ground. "And that's my grandmama and grandpapa," she added, pointing them out to her new friend. "I guess they're here to come and get us. We're supposed to go shopping for new clothes."

She wrinkled her nose. "I hope I don't have to get more than one dress."

Jess smiled, though it was clear that it was forced. "Oh ... I see."

River blinked at him, then tilted her head curiously. "Something wrong?"

Jess shuffled his feet. "No ... it's just ... I was having fun, really having fun, I mean."

River giggled at him and tossed the ball at him, startling him. He caught it though. "Silly! We'll be back! We'll be here a few weeks at least, I'm sure!"

Amalirahc ran forward and clapped one hand on Jess's back. "We'll be back later," he promised him with a wide grin. "I promise!"

Jess smiled shyly. "Okay. I'll wait here then."

"Good!" River beamed. She turned to run to Arthael. "See you later!" she waved over her shoulder to Jess.

Jess waved back, smiling warmly.

As the group started off, Earendil smiled down at Miyuki. "So, how was your morning?" he asked her brightly.

He looked over his shoulder, and wasn't surprised when he saw Halmir approaching the shy boy and begin to talk to him. He was curious to know what Halmir was planning, but he didn't want to bring Miyuki's attention to it.

"That doesn't sounds sincere," Earendil said, arching one eyebrow. "It looked like you were having fun when we arrived. Did something happen before?"

He didn't like the idea of Miyuki keeping things to herself, he would much prefer that she tell them what happened. Otherwise he would only worry more.

Earendil saw in the way that Miyuki didn't want to look at him how much this was bothering her, and it made his chest hurt. He wished that he could have been there to help her, to take care of those kids - but at the same time he realized that he couldn't protect her from everything, and that there were some things that she would have to learn the hard way.

Of course, he didn't realize just how bad it had been either.

"I see," he murmured softly, wishing he knew the words to say. "Will you tell me what happened?"