Chapter Text
The sound of shouting greeted the three as they stepped out the door of the candy shot and onto the busy street. It drew their attention just as a small boy wearing an odd conical straw hat dashed towards them. It had two men of the small group reacting. The tallest with black hair standing before the smallest of the group who had been pulled back and into the safety of the other's arms whose red hair fell over his shoulder. Simultaneously, the third member blinked wide amethyst eyes in shock as they witnessed the small boy in the strange hat crash into the legs of one protecting her.
A soft grunt was heard before a rather loud squeak reminiscent of a mouse came from the small boy who seemed to fall backward. Green and Amethyst's eyes watched as the boys' fall was stopped, and they were lifted like a child and placed back on their feet. It gave them a view of the boy's small, slightly angular face under the hat. Neither missing the fact that the small boy was wearing pink lensed glasses held in place by what looked to be twine? A very prominent flush highlighted high cheekbones as the boy quickly took a few steps back once hands were removed from their person.
"Ōi kobito anata wa nani o shite iru to omoimasu ka?" [Oi midget, what do you think you are doing?]
The sound of a foreign language drew all three gases as they saw a tall man with long white hair and amber eyes push through the crowd, followed by a man in deep purple robes. The latter was smiling widely as his gray-blue eyes seemed to sparkle with amusement from under choppy black bangs. When a soft mutter in the same language came from the boy before them, the trio looked down at the boy. Who had their head hanging while their body tensed up and their sandaled feet nudged at the cobbled road.
They watched as the duo made their way quickly to the young boy before the white-haired one made a fist and lightly punched the boy on the top of the head. This drew a pained hiss as the boy crouched down, hands rubbing the spot through the conical hat.
"Nē, watashi wa anata ni shitsumon o shimashita. Son'nafūni nigeyou to omotte ita no? Soshite, naze anata wa anata no baka no kyōkai ni haitta nodesu ka!" [Hey, I asked you a question. What were you thinking running off like that? And why did you go into a church, you moron!]
Before any of them could say anything, the guy in purple robes grabbed the white-haired man and pulled him back. When he turned and looked at them, they were shocked to see that easy smile on his face still, but the amusement was gone from his gray-blue eyes as he looked at them seriously. Then he bowed at the waist, his hand that was still grasping the white-haired man's clothes jerked him down as he spoke, his voice heavily accented.
"I am sorry for any trouble our wayward friend may have caused you in their eagerness to explore your city. We are with the delegation that is visiting from the East and mean no harm. And we do not mean to disrespect or offend your customs."
The tall red-haired man gave a soft cough as he let go of the girl he'd been protecting in his arms and stepped forward. His green eyes were assessed shrewdly before he gave a reply.
"There was no offense taken. The boy just ran into my older brother after he stepped before our sister to protect her just in case. So, please rise from your bow."
As the man in the purple robes rose from the bow, his eyes were still serious, but it was easy to see that amusement had returned.
"Miroku?"
"Ah, yes, we need to return, lest we get a lecture from His Highness. Thank you so much for being so understanding."
They watched as the other two bowed at the waist in acknowledgment of what the purple-robed man, Miroku, had said before Ruenti gave a soft laugh and motioned for the three of them to rise from their bowed position.
"It is quite alright. I am honored to have an unfettered meeting with members of the delegation. I am a part of the Wizards association, Ruenti. And from the height, the boy is still young and learning his social manners, yes? It is alright to let him explore and be curious, for I find that is the best way to have children learn what they like and don't like."
The words spoken by Ruenti were punctuated when he placed his hand on the boy's head, easily engulfing the hat worn, before giving it a small rub that was more like a shake. Only to get a horrified squeak, as both Miroku and the white-haired man went wide-eyed and looked like they wanted to say something and laugh at the same time. Only the sound of flesh hitting flesh was heard as the boy screeched in that foreign language, sounding utterly indignant.
"Hentia!" [Pervert!]
This drew a chuckle from the tall dark-haired man and the amethyst-eyed girl, as well as the two companions of the boy while Ruenti's face flushed darkly. Having studied the language enough to understand most of it when not spoken quickly. His green eyes were shining with a dark light as he sputtered. All while, the boy turned and ran to hide behind the white-haired man.
"Ah, forgive our friend. But in our culture, it isn't polite to touch someone else without permission. Especially wh-"
Miroku was cut off by a sharp tug to his robes, making the other three stare, interested as to why. Though the boy's face was flushed a dark red, it was clear he was still embarrassed from being touched. A short whispered conversation took place before Miroku seemed to sigh and looked back at the trio.
"Forgive us; we need to go. As I said, we don't want a long lecture from his Highness, our Crown Prince."
Once more, they observed the strange trio bow and rise before leaving.
"Ruenti, what did that boy say when they shouted at you?"
"Nothing, Leslie, nothing you need to know. Bethrion, I think it is time for us to head home to mother and father."
"Yes, it is getting late."
As the group turned to find their family carriage, the tall, dark-haired man, Bethrion, looked in the direction the trio had gone and smiled. He didn't feel the need to correct his younger brother or sister about the boy. In fact, he had been a bit surprised when he had grasped the child only to feel bandages binding a chest, yet he wasn't insulted like his younger brother.
TBC!