A Friend in Need:

Author's Note: Alright…I know that this chapter sounds stupid…but gimme a break! I couldn't think of a good name for it…okay, bear with me cuz this chapter doesn't really have a…y'know…an exact outline of what's to come…I mainly put it in here for a little humor and brevity (cuz this story is kinda depressing) Anyway, PLZ READ AND REVIEW.

Washington D.C.

2:48 pm.

As Jamie stepped off the plane he found it strange, and a little reassuring that he was back on American soil…after spending so much time in Japan, Rome, England, and Paris, it felt nice to be back in the good ol' USA. The sun was out and the clouds were as light and sinewy as cotton candy. It didn't look like it was going to rain anytime soon, which was good, Jamie was sick of rain for awhile…it seemed that during this whole ordeal when it wasn't night, it was overcast and gray.

He had changed into another pair of clothes that Justin had sent in the care package. This time he was wearing a pair of wide legged jeans, brown leather sandals, and a gray t-shirt. The shirt had Bruce Lee on it, and the caption below proclaimed the martial arts master as Jamie's "Home boy".

Raven led the way across the landing zone, followed immediately by Jamie and Mina (it felt weird for him to be in the front of the line for once). Mina, once again, wore Xiaoyu's black, cherry printed dress. She wore her hair down…it was shiny and hung down to her shoulders…her bangs were brushed across her forehead…and it smelled like strawberries.

Behind these two were Jin and Xiao. Xiao wore her floral printed dress, but wore her hair down. Jin was wearing a pair of dark jeans, and a black button down shirt. The two had their arms wrapped around each other as they walked…cuddling silently, and making up for their lost time.

They were followed by Asuka, Dimitri, and Kazuya…Kazuya looked blasé as ever, but wore a polo shirt and work pants…while Asuka, was taking in the sights. Dimitri wore a pair of khaki pants and a faded, tight, black t-shirt.

Hwoarang, Julia, Christie, and Steve stayed together chatting and laughing at private jokes together. Bringing up the rear were Kyo and Billy…but as Jamie glanced back, he noticed that they couldn't be found.

"Everyone seems to be in a good mood." Mina said with a grin.

"Yeah," Jamie said with a smile. He wrapped an arm around Mina and she snuggled closely in the crook of it. "This isn't so bad."

"It ain't over yet…" Billy warned, coming up next to Jamie and Mina.

"I know…" Jamie muttered.

"You woke us up last night with your screaming…and then when you finally did calm down enough to explain it…I couldn't get back to sleep."

Jamie sighed, as the memories of the last night came back to him…he had fallen asleep, but dreamed about Toshio…this dream was intense…he felt everything, the cold, the fear, the thudding heart in Toshio's chest…and…the agonizing death of the Nephilim.

"I'm sorry about that." Jamie apologized.

He wasn't too sure whether he liked Billy or not, but for the sake of the mission, he had decided that he would attempt to get along with him…afterall, they all wanted the same thing…and it was senseless to fight.

"Yeah…well…" Billy attempted to let an insult fly…but even he knew that this moment of brevity was precious in a time like this…he didn't want to be the one to ruin it. "It's okay…" He finished.

Billy retreated back towards Hwoarang where he and Steve got a debate going on whether or not Maxim magazine was right in naming Eva Longoria the sexiest woman on the planet…the girls weren't too thrilled.

Jamie laughed out loud and decided to join in.

"You guys are forgetting one key person! Angelina Jolie!" Jamie called.

"Auh?" Mina feigned shock and smacked Jamie lightly on the chest.

"You'd better watch yourself James Brandon Parker! I am the hottest thing that has ever, and will ever come into your life!"

"You tell 'em girl!" Christie called.

"What do I have to do to get you hot? Dress up in Tomb Raider clothes?"

"Please don't let that be sarcasm." Jamie wrapped his arms around Mina's waist and kissed her neck, and whispered something in her ear.

"OH…SHUT UP!" Mina said through peals of laughter. "I…" She gestured to the other girls. "Am going to have some much needed girl talk, so you guys can just…do whatever."

Suddenly, the group split, girls in the back, boys in the front.

"Seriously, that Tomb Raider doesn't accurately depict what a real adventurer goes through!" Julia called.

"Speak for yourself." Dimitri said coolly.

"Oh c'mon, what do you do Dimitri? Clean pots and look for fossils or whatever?" Hwoarang asked.

"If you define whatever as being shot at, pissing off ancient gods, swinging from vines, stopping ancient prophecies, and getting the girl at the end…then yeah, whatever." Dimitri responded.

Everyone laughed…but broke into peals of it when Billy commented.

"Dude, that sounds awesome! Sign me up!"

Raven lead the group to a shuttle bus, which would take them to the pentagon. The seats were plush and comfortable…and offered three to a seat. Jamie and Mina sat next to each other, and were chatting quietly with the others. Mina had started getting into a conversation with Xiao and Asuka about their respective fighting styles, while Jamie, Hwoarang, and Billy, continued to comment on the hottest in Maxim.

Dimitri was telling Steve that he had actually dated Eva Longoria at one point, while Kazuya and Raven were talking about the mission.

Suddenly, Kyosuke (who was being rather sullen) stood in front of Jamie and Mina's bank of seats.

"Hey…can I sit with you guys?" He asked.

His headphones from his Mp3 player were perched atop his fire truck red hair, and it was apparent he was listening to some music.

"Sure!" Jamie said with a bright smile.

"Me and Jamie decided that we are gonna be that annoying couple that sits next to eachother all the time." Mina said with a smile.

It caused Kyo to laugh.

"Yeah, but look who got the window seat!" Jamie said.

"Hey, I've never been here…'sides I'm the girl…you need to treat me like a princess." She said with mock haughtiness.

Kyo laughed and sat. The bus lurched forward, and for a minute, Jamie felt like he was on his way to a field trip…everyone was talking and laughing…and it was hard to concentrate. Kyo was listening to his headphones silently, so Mina decided to include him on the conversation.

"What are you listening too?" She asked.

He didn't hear her at first so she repeated.

"What?" He looked startled. "Oh…just some Linkin Park…" Kyo said.

"Cool," Jamie approved. "What song?"

"I don't know really…Kaori grabbed my Mp3 player and put a bunch of new songs on it…something about the 'darkness of my past' or something."

"Don't get me wrong, I like them, but almost every one of their songs has phrase in it…so you'd have to be more specific."

The two laughed for a bit, before continuing their conversation.

"Who's Kaori?" Mina asked.

"Here, let me show you guys." Kyo reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

He flipped through the photos until he found the desired one. He handed it to Mina, while Jamie looked over her shoulder.

She was a pretty Asian girl with short, orange hair, a baggy white sweater, and a pair of jeans.

"She's cute," Mina said with a smile. "I like her hair."

"I remember her…from the tournament right? Kaori…" Jamie trailed off.

"Mitsaki." Kyo finished for her.

"She seemed real nice…sorry if I didn't interact or anything with you guys…it's just…I kinda had a job to do and well…y'know…"

"No," Kyo said. "Don't worry about it…I kinda knew who you were anyway, Jin told us about you."

"Really?" Jamie started to get interested.

"Yeah, he told me, Billy, Asuka, and Kaori about you….and what you guys were doing…he didn't want us to get involved though because he had just met us and didn't want to…y'know, lose us."

"I hope you can forgive me Jamie, I didn't want anymore of my family to get hurt." Jin said out of nowhere.

Startled, Jamie jumped. "I'll forgive you if you promise not to do that creepy, sneaking from behind the shadows thing that you always do!"

The bus broke out in laughter at that comment.

"So…where's Kaori now?" Jamie asked.

"She's at home…we have a house in a nice suburb in Tokyo." Kyo added.

"Neat...you miss her don't you?" Mina asked.

"Yeah…" Kyo said softly. "Since me and Billy've been going after those orbs…I haven't talked to her in a couple of weeks."

"Well," Jamie reached into his pocket. "I'll fix that."

He pulled out his sleek, silver, camera phone and handed it to Kyosuke.

"Give her a call." He said as simply as if he was asking for a glass of water.

"Really?" Kyosuke's face beamed. "But…she's in Japan, and it's really expensive and…"

"Don't worry about it; I'll pay the bill it's really no biggie." Jamie said.

"Are…are you sure?"

"Christ Kyo, just make the god damn call!" Hwoarang bellowed.

His face turned as red as his spiky, fire engine hair, as he walked into the small bathroom.

"Aaaaaaaaaawwwwwww." Every one called after him.

They chatted some more until Jamie looked up and saw that they were close to the Pentagon…he sighed as he saw it, because it snapped him and the others back to reality…back to the fight…and back to the unspeakable…and seemingly invincible enemy that lay before them.

Jamie had experienced, through Toshio's eyes just some of Jinpachi's power…and he knew that he would probably witness the full extent of it when it came time for him to fight the Mishima patriarch…and the incarnation of evil itself…

Author's Note: Y'know, I am so sorry I put you guys through such a crappy chapter…I guess it really wasn't necessary, but I wanted to try to lighten the mood a little since the story was all about gut wrenching misery and horror…sorry if it sucked, please read and review but please DON'T FLAME ME!