Moving was a simple matter of eye contact, polite smiles and murmured gratitude; he made slow but steady progress as people stepped aside to allow him past. And in his wake, Xion and Taiki could follow.

Fortunately, most of those milling around were caught up in problems of their own, dramatic scenes or quiet discussions sparking left and right, and they made their way through without incident. Once they were clear of the main crowd, he could step aside, giving her a clear path to Lea.