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"Kuilak's a good father, he's been able to manage this far. I think he'll be fine. But if you're worried about Tariq, I don't mind going back."

"If Kuilak can manage them, I think Tariq will be fine following his lead," Rue said.

"Alright, then," Setsuko folded in her glider so it was reduced to a simple staff. "So what's on your mind?"

Rue sighed. "It's just....why did Ayumu tell us to bring the kids? Setsuko, we can't bring them there! You know that!" Yet another sigh, this time heavy with frustration, escaped her.

Setsuko's expression immediately changed, showing the distress and worry she was under. "I don't know," She muttered. "I wish I did! But what can we do?" She released an exasperated sigh. "I don't want to bring my children to the Caverns. I really, really don't. But...oh!" A few lone tears started leaking out of her unique eyes. "I also want to go home! I want us all to go home and to be safe! But we need to bring everyone to the caverns first...and if we do..." She paused a moment, choking back a few more tears, "How do we know..." Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper, "How many of us do get to go back and be safe?"

Rue shook her head, at a loss for words. Seeing Setsuko's tears, along with Rue's own distress, seemed to spark something inside her. Tears began to trace paths down her cheeks, brown eyes tainted red from the tears. This was only the second time Setsuko had seen Rue cry, but at the moment, she didn't even care.

Setsuko glanced up. She could see through a watery haze that Rue was crying as well. The moment jarred her slightly; Rue was one who hardly ever shed tears. Trying to get a hold of herself, she muttered, "Are..are you a..alright?"

"I'm not sure," Rue said, voice thick from crying. She cleared her throat.

Setsuko took a deep breath and put her hand comfortingly on Rue's back. "I know," she murmured, her own voice cracking slightly. "I know. It's hard. It's hard for me to." She paused a moment. "But we can do it..." I hope.

"I hope so," Rue murmured, closing her brown eyes momentarily. She sighed. "When are we going to take them?" she asked, her voice dropping in volume.

Setsuko hesitated for a long time. When her answer finally came, it was in the form of a whisper. "...tomorrow. The sooner we get it over with, the better." But her eyes betrayed her worry and anxiety.

"Are you sure about that, Setsuko? Shouldn't we tell them about it tomorrow, and give it time to sink in?" Rue asked. Instead of wanting to get it over with, she hoped to put it off as long as possible.

Setsuko paused her train of thought. Rue was right; they would need some time. "I...don't know," she said finally. "I just don't know."

Rue took a breath. "If you want, we could tell them when we get back. But I don't want to go tomorrow. The day after at earliest," she added.

"...Alright," Setsuko agreed reluctantly. "I suppose we should go now, then?"