You follow the aisle up past the lower seating sections, moving patiently and with the crowd to avoid trouble. As you pass the nearest door, however, you run into people coming down from the higher seats.

"Hey, kid, watch it!"

"-door's back there-"

"-very rude-"

"-swear I know that guy-"

Fortunately, the number of people is low enough that you're able to get past with a determined expression, some words of apology, and just a bit of plain old bulling through. The foot-traffic thins out as you continue to ascend, and then changes direction; you reach the next door without incident, and once more go with the flow as you make your way into the halls. At the first intersection, you make a left, heading away from the bathrooms and the snack shop, and thus, the crowd.

You pass two more intersectons as you walk. By the first, you get the feeling that someone is following you; by the second, you're almost sure of it.

"Briar," you murmur, "is there someone behind me?"

The fairy turns around. "I see two Japanese boys, about your height - probably thirteen years old. The one in the lead looks unhappy about something, and the other one has a face of stone going." She pauses. "Huh. The scowly boy looks familiar. Yeah, he was one of the ninjas in the Under Fourteens Division - the one that lost to the swordsman in the first quarterfinal match."

Thinking back, you remember the guy, mostly because of his proficient use of the Body Flicker. You're not sure why he and his companion are tailing you now, but the fact that they're doing it openly suggests they might want to talk - at least for starters. That there are two of them, approaching you in an otherwise empty hallway, well...