Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone that's reading this, I can't believe there's so many of you! But I haven't gotten a single review so I don't know what you guys think of it! Please review, I want to know if you guys enjoy it or if you don't! Thanks!

-Stryker Young =]

*******************************************************JP************************************************************************

In the monastery the monks were meditating quietly. Usually they would be talking, laughing, and goofing around. But after everything that happened that day, they were grateful for the silence.

"Uh, guys," Dojo said, coming into the vault room and gaining their attention. "I don't know if you knew this, but there's a large, black jet outside with Jack's signature eye thingy trying to park in the front yard."

The monks' eyes widened as they raced out to the gate. Sure enough, Jack's jet was flying overhead, moving back and forth in search of a place to land. Rai shoved Kimi and Omi out of the way as it suddenly plummeted to the ground with a loud crack, barely missing one of the statues. The top popped off as they stared at it warily.

"Nice landing, dude!" they heard someone groan from inside.

"Shut up," they heard next. "You try landing this thing in a garden full of everything except plants!"

Omi, Clay and Kimiko grimaced and turned to Raimundo, who had clenched his fists and was trying to keep his eye from twitching.

"Stryker!" he called, stepping up to the jet. "Jack!"

There was silence as they waited for a response.

"...Yeah?" Stryker called back.

His answer only made Rai grind his teeth in anger.

"Get out here!" he ordered.

"...'Kay..."

They waited a second, then saw Jack fly up onto the hood of his jet and land with a thunk, followed by Stryker jumping out and sliding off the jet. He landed right in front of Rai.

"'Sup?" he asked, giving the Brazilian a lazy salute.

Rai answered by grabbing his coat collar and shoving his face into his, snarling.

"I'm going to gauge out your eyes and feed them to a rat unless you give a very good explanation of why you're here," Rai threatened.

Stryker blinked, taken aback by how serious he was.

"Uh...my...my uncle's going to kill us..." he stammered.

Rai stared at him a moment longer.

"...Crap..." he sighed, shoving Stryker back. "Okay, come inside."

Stryker fixed his shirt and helped Jack up, returning more than a few of the monks' glares.

"Yeah, I'd say about as close to Hell as you can get," he said.

"This doesn't seem like a good idea anymore," Jack mumbled dejectedly.

"Just stay close and we'll be fine."

"Y'all comin' or what?" Clay called, unable to keep the snide tone from his voice.

"Yeah, we're comin'," Stryker called back, then mumbled to Jack: "Overgrown, loudmouthed hick."

Jack tried to smile but couldn't keep it long as they followed the monks into the temple. Master Fung was already waiting for them in the main chamber, meditating in front of a lantern. He leaned forward and blew out the flame before standing up to address them.

"Is something..." he paused upon seeing Stryker and Jack. "Nevermind. And what brings you two to our temple?"

"Kinda ticked off my uncle," Stryker answered, shoving his hands in his pockets and giving the elder a wary look. "So we needed a place to go and this was the closest."

Master Fung's gaze made Jack nervous, and without thinking he slid behind Stryker and dipped his head. Stryker glanced back at him and stood taller, shooting a glare around at the monks, as if daring them to comment.

"I see, M. Fung said, turning to the monks. "There are extra blankets and pillows in the storage room. Please bring them."

"But, Master-" Omi started to protest.

"Right away, Master Fung," Rai interrupted, leading his team away.

He and Stryker exchanged one last glare before they left.

"Got those reigns pulled pretty tight, don't ya?" he remarked.

"Your spiked comments are not needed now, Stryker Young," M. Fung said. "And you don't have to hide, Jack."

Jack flinched in surprise and stepped away from Stryker, keeping his head low as M. Fung came closer.

"You are welcome to stay as long as you are peaceful," he said. My students know this, so if there are any problems I would like to be notified."

He turned and motioned for the boys to follow him. They hesitated, then Stryker shrugged and they obliged.

"So, why aren't you reacting like they are?" Stryker asked as they went down the hall. "Aren't we like the 'evil delinquents bent on taking over the world'?"

"Perhaps," M. Fung answered patiently. "But there's more to a puzzle than the finished piece. The only way to know someone is to take them apart, know why each bit fits where."

Stryker and Jack exchanged confused glances.

"Ye-ah...Okay..." Stryker said as Jack trained his eyes back to the ground.

"For instance, you are the nephew of Chase Young, yet you do not wish to follow in his footsteps, if I am correct. Whether this is because you don't believe in his ways or because you do not enjoy his company depends on what is inside you."

"Right...and for that reason, you're not giving us the cold shoulder."

"Precisely," M. Fung said, pausing near a row of curtains. "Now, there are two extra rooms, one at this end, one at the other-"

Stryker instantly felt Jack's anxiety skyrocket at the mention of different rooms.

"One is smaller than the other, so one of you-"

"We'll just settle in the bigger room," Stryker interrupted, much to Jack's relief. "Any rules besides peace-keeping?"

"Bed is at nine, and dinner is at seven," M. Fung said without missing a beat. "The other children will be in the main room training if you wish to join them."

"Yeah, sure."

"Let me know if you need anything else, then."

The boys nodded and started towards the rooms.

"Jack," M. Fung said suddenly; Jack froze and grew rigid. "May we speak?"

Jack bit his lip and shot a quick glance at Stryker. The other boy examined M. Fung intently, then met Jack's eyes and slowly nodded. Spicer bit his lip and reluctantly followed the elder back the way they came. Stryker sighed quietly, watching after them.

"Hey."

He turned and furrowed his brow at Kimiko, who was standing a little ways away holding blankets and pillows in her arms.

"I was expecting one of the guys," Stryker said, accepting the materials.

"They were playing rock, paper, scissors when I left," she said quietly. "Do you guys need anything else?"

No, we're okay. We're only staying until my uncle calms down, we're not joining your cult or anything. Which room's farthest from your boyfriend?"

"The one at the end, and we're not a cult," Kimiko answered. "We're certainly a better choice of a team than Jack."

"Yeah, which I'm sure anyone would say if they met someone who was on what they call 'opposing sides'. You'd better go before your boyfriend thinks I'm hitting on you."

"His name is Raimundo. And he knows better than to think that."

Stryker snorted, glaring down the hall.

"Does he? That's not what his scowl tells me."

Kimiko looked past him and saw that, in fact, Rai was leaning against the doorway at the end of the corridor, exchanging snarls with the mohawked boy. She quickly went to him, speaking quietly; he responded by putting an arm around her shoulders protectively and leading her away. Stryker rolled his eyes and pushed the curtain of the empty room aside with his boot, starting to lay out two pallets for him and Jack.