The Behemoth

Chapter: 4, Mirrors…

Two days later, and not a word to anyone about their night together, charlotte took John
out to the nearest shopping mall for clothing, as the borrowed clothes were not fitting too
well.

"Honestly, you look like you're wearing kid clothes in those things john. You need
something your size to wear." And that was the end of that argument.

So John got dragged by the tail to the nearest shopping mall.

* * * *

Meanwhile, on the other side of town.

* * * *

"Come on Jane, you need a new set of clothes, that camo pants/tank top combo is NOT
working on you anymore."

"Jenny, for the last time, I'm FINE with what I'm wearing! The last thing I want is to
look like YOU!" the leopard Zoanthrope retorted.

"What on earth is going on out here?" Alan's booming voice resounded from his
personal gym.

"Oh, nothing honey, just persuading your daughter to go shopping with me."

"I DON'T NEED NEW CLOTHES!"

"And from what your father's been telling me you've been telling him that for about 5
years now. I think it's time for a few new things, hm?"

Jane glared at her father. "You put her up to this didn't you?"

Alan faked looking appalled. "Now why would you accuse me of that?"

Jane rolled her eyes. "God, I never seem to be able to do the right thing around here.
Fine, fine, I'll go like for some fresh clothes. But you try to get me to even try on as
much as one damn dress I'll…"

"Whoa, hold on there Jane, no need to get defensive on me. You do need some kind of
decent outfit to wear to a party or something, don't you?"

With a growl not unlike her beast form's, Jane nodded.

"Good, now then, I think-"

"But I am not going with YOU telling me what looks good on me!" Jane snapped.

"And just who did you have in mind?" jenny asked.

"I'll call Long." Alan spoke before Jane could say anything.

"But I never said anything about…" His daughter said, flustered.

"You didn't have to dear." Jenny said, taking her car keys off the hook by the door.
"Now please, we don't want to keep Mr. Shin waiting, do we?"

* * * *

Long was in his back yard, practicing various techniques in a sand pit when the phone
rang.

Stopping to towel the sweat off his face and hands, he picked up the cordless near the
door.

"Hello?"

"Long?" came Alan's rough voice.

"Alan! Good to hear from you sir… unless…?"

"No need to worry, nothing's happening that need's you to intervene, I just called to let
you know that my daughter and my wife are coming by to pick you up, Jenny's going
shopping and Jane need's some new clothes."

"Only, Jane wouldn't go with out you using me as a lever, right?" Long asked.

"How'd you guess?" came Alan's sarcastic reply.

Long sighed. "When can I expect them?" he asked.

"They should be there any minute now, they already left."

"Right, thanks Alan." Long said, and hung up. "Typical."

* * * *

"Hmmm… this looks nice… Here John, try this one on." Charlotte placed a folded pair
of khaki pants on top of a pile he was already carrying.

"Right… anything else?" He said, straining under the large load.

"Not at the moment, no." She gave him a tiny push towards the changing rooms. "Go
on silly, you can't change here!"

"Right…"

* * * *

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mall.

* * * *

"Oh, this would look great on you Jane!" Jenny exclaimed, taking a black, sleeveless
dress down off its hanger.

"I said no frills…" Jane protested.

"And it's not. Look, there's nothing fancy, it's just a simple dress. You do need
SOMETHING to wear on special occasions, don't you?"

Jane looked at Long.

"Uh… well, it doesn't look that garish Jane… you might look good in it… I think." He
said, sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

Jane sighed, disgusted. "Fine, I'll try it." she muttered, and snatched the dress out of the
bat Zoanthrope's hand.

After she'd gone into the changing room, Long and Jenny waited for about 10 minutes
outside before…

"Jane? Jane, is everything ok in there?"

"… I look stupid." Was the curt reply.

"Come now Jane, it can't be that bad! Please, let's see you in it.

"Ok, if it'll get you off my back fine!"

Long's jaw dropped when she came out.

"I knew it, it's horrible." Jane said, turning to go back into the booth.

"NO!" Long yelled, stunning both Jenny and Jane. "Er… it… looks good on you…
Jane." He said, embarrassed.

Jane raised an eyebrow. "On second thought… I'll take this."

"Good, in that case I'd like to show you…" Jenny started.

"MOM!"

* * * *

After shopping for about 3 hours, Charlotte decided they'd done enough.

"Well, I think that's enough clothing for you John. How about we go and get something
to eat hmm?"

John's stomach growled. "I'm way ahead of you." He said, and picked up the bags
they'd been collecting.

* * * *

"Ok, I believe that's enough new clothes for all of us, now why don't we get headed
back…" Jenny said looking at her watch, then realized they'd missed lunch. "Whoa!
Lunch was an hour ago! What do you guys say we get something to eat here?"

"Sure. Why not?" Jane said sarcastically, her own complaints having gone unheeded for
about the last hour. "Coming Long?"

The Tiger Zoanthrope, packages and clothing piled up several feet in his arms,
completely destroyed his visibility, staggered after them.

"Just point me in the right direction… please…"

* * * *

"Hey, John?" Charlotte said to her companion as they made their way to the food court.

"Yeah?" the white tiger Zoanthrope replied as they walked.

"Does… walking around the mall bring back any memories?" she asked.

"Not really. All seems new to me- OOF!"

A pile of clothing and packages fell onto John as he accidentally collided with someone,
and was buried under the cloth completely.

Throwing off the clothing, he came up yelling at the person he'd collided with. "HEY!
Watch where you're…"

John found himself looking at his own face.

"Shenlong…?"