"Do you know how long it's been since I've gone to the mall?"

Jack looked back and grinned at how awkward Stryker looked. His shoulders were tensed and his hands were shoved deep in his pockets; his eyes were darting around suspiciously at the people around them. He could admit that it was a little crowded, but Stryker looked as if thousands were around him.

"I'll guess that it's been quite a while," Jack said. "You don't do to good in crowds do you?"

"Not really," Stryker admitted, giving his friend a weak smile. "Never went in any crowded places, you know?"

"Well, your in one now. And this is one of the slower days."

His smile faltered at the thought. Jack motioned for him to follow into the game store to their right, and relief flooded him. Hopefully they could find some refuge in there.

He was scanning the crowd behind them once more when he suddenly bumped into Jack, who'd frozen just outside the store.

"What's up?" Stryker asked, rubbing his nose and looking past him.

His breath caught in his throat when he made eye contact with Raimundo. He was across the store beside Kimiko, who was giving Jack a wary look of her own. a Goo Zombies game in her hand. Jack swallowed hard and started to turn away, as if to leave. Stryker grabbed his arm.

"What's up?" he asked Rai.

The Brazilian cocked an eyebrow at him suspiciously.

"Nothing much," he answered, his words sounding stiff. "...You?"

"Same," Stryker said, his voice just as rigid. Jack relaxed and turned back towards them, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Little busy out there, ain't it."

"Yeah, a little bit."

They held their gazes for a couple of seconds longer, then Stryker looked away and went towards one of the shelves of games, as if nothing had happened. Rai turned and said something quietly to Kimiko, and then they went back to looking at the games in the display case.

"This is trippy," Jack said quietly, shooting looks at the monks. "Guess we really are okay now."

"Let's just get the game and go, okay?"

Jack furrowed his brow at him as Stryker studied the back of a case.

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Nothing wrong, they just don't trust us," Stryker stated.

"What, and we trust them?"

Stryker gave him a look that clearly spelled "no". Raimundo gave the cashier money for their game and he and Kimiko walked out.

"That was awkward," Kimiko said as they walked through the crowd.

"Yeah, a little," Rai agreed, grabbing her hand as they squeezed past a group of people.

Kimiko's face grew pleasantly pink and she started to walk closer to him.

"Hey, uh," Raimundo suddenly started, slowing down significantly. "Do you think Stryker has a sister?"

Kimiko's eyes flickered and she snapped her head towards him.

"What?' she snarled.

"Well, I'm just wondering," he said, pointing at something. "Because...that girl looks a lot like him."

Her temper froze and she followed where he was indicating. Standing near the food court was a girl with short, white blonde hair and light purple eyes, the pupils sharp and reptilian. There were those green streaks splicing through her hair, even through the bangs that went across her pale forehead. She wore a simple black cloak that reached the floor and was pulling it closer to her as she looked around at those around her with intense suspicion.

"...Oh boy..." Kimiko squeaked.

"Maybe," Rai said with a shrug. "But maybe she's not that bad."

Kimiko cringed as they started towards the girl, wondering where Omi was with his "love meeting new people" attitude when they needed it.

"Hi," Rai called, causing the girl to turn towards them. "You look kinda lost, girl. Are you looking for someone?"

She only looked Rai up and down and pulled her cloak closer to herself. Kimiko cleared her throat.

"You...wouldn't happen to be looking for a boy with a Mohawk and green eyes that look like yours, would you?"

The girl straightened and stared at Kimiko in amazement. She released her cloak and they could see her black t-shirt and black jeans. On the shirt was a picture of a bunny holding dynamite in it's cute little paws. Rai and Kimiko exchanged glances.

"How did you know that?" she asked, her eyes wide as she stepped towards Kimiko.

"We just saw him in the game store over there," Kimiko explained. "I'm Kimiko Toho...hey!"

They watched the girl dash towards the game store, her cloak flying wildly. Without much thought Kimiko started after her, tugging Rai with her.

"Stryker?!"

Stryker's spine froze and he straightened from the display case he and Jack had been looking in. There was no way...no way he'd just head that voice. It was impossible!

"Stryker?!"

Jack turned and furrowed his brow at someone at the entrance, but Stryker stayed where he was, his eyes closed tightly as he silently hoped he hadn't heard right.

"...Stryker?"

He cringed, then slowly, grudgingly turned towards the small voice that had sounded behind him. The one person he'd hoped he wouldn't see beamed up at him so innocently he wondered if he was seeing the wrong person.

"...Entropy?" he questioned, that little hope that he was incorrect still flickering.

She lept up and wrapped her arms around Stryker's neck, squeezing him with all her might.

"...Entropy..." Stryker choked, his hope forever crushed.