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Madison counted her fingers as well. There were five of them, but the real question was how they were going to organize rooms.

"Well, we can split it between two rooms, after all. We wouldn't want someone to be alone in case if there is an attack." Madison whispered the last part of her words quietly to Katie. Although it was a good idea, that wasn't the reason why Madison suggested it. The rabbit oddly enough simply didn't want to spend the night alone.

Smiling, moved closer to the door and gave a listen inside. It sounded awfully quiet.

Almost too quiet, even for an inn.

Very strange.

Ichigo had been awfully quiet the entire time Katie and Madison searched for an inn. He was too busy keeping an eye out as he followed along with them, trying to see if anyone suspicious was following them or catching on to them. There had to be a reason why Sunstrike wanted them to act like tourists, so Ichigo assumed that they weren't entirely safe inside Reen.

Either that or Ichigo was, deep in his mind, trying to get the odd cosmic force controlling his actions to hop to it and direct him. Narrators could be so goddamm lazy.

Now they had finally found a place to stay, and the two girls were trying to figure out what to do about rooms. Ichigo felt it was time to put his two bits in about it.

"We'll probably need someone to stay awake while everyone else sleeps, and move in shifts," said Ichigo. He remembered having to use a similar strategy back when he was trying to protect a friend from their enemies.

"I don't really need a room. I didn't bring any stuff anyway. I'll stick around outside of the doors and keep watch."

Of course, Ichigo needed sleep. Or at least he would need it eventually. However, he didn't want the girls to spend extra money just for that, and he didn't feel right about sleeping in the same room with a girl. At least Rukia slept in his closet rather than his bed.

But someone else had their own idea about what should be done.

"Speak for yourself, dumbass!" shouted Kon, popping his head out of Ichigo's jacket. "You may be a glutton for punishment, but I actually wanna get some shut eye!"

The stuffed animal then looked over to Katie and Madison, trying to pull off the usual cute-talking stuffed animal routine.

"Maybe I could room with one of you laides?" asked Kon, "I'm so defenseless and it gets cold at night! It's not easy for a stuffed--MPPH!"

Ichigo stuffed Kon back into his jacket. "Keep it down, damnit! We're supposed to look like tourists!"

They hadn't even gone inside yet, and already Kon was acting up. Keeping their cover would be tough if Ichigo didn't keep a lid on him.

"Yes, completely serious. And I can do better then that. Here, let me just,"

And he pulled a piece of paper from somewhere behind the post. The light was good just in front of the gate, so Quinn and Stephen would be able to see the very clear and definitive trail the group had taken.

"There, this should help you out. I imagine a few orcs wouldn't be much of a problem to you two. Like I said, they went out a few hours back now, while the sun was still bright. Took some toys, most looked bored to go, to be honest. I'm half expecting you to meet him on the way, carrying all the kids on his back. Good luck, see you if you get back."

And with little more then that, he shut the door, a heavy bolt the only sound left.

~~~

The Stumble Inn, warm, big, inviting, and at the hub of the town itself, glowed warmly amidst the sellers that lined the mercantile street. Large doors opened into a cozy reception, and the girl behind the desk was only too happy to sell them any kind of room the travellers needed. It was a downtime for people actually staying over night, that was usually more of a winter affair.

So any buisness that walked in was a glad reprieve from the boredom that went along with a desk job of this sort. There were plenty of free brochure's that talked about everything to do with Reen in a nifty little cubby to the side of the desk as well, should anyone take a fancy to a bit of light reading.

It was strange, even after everything Sunstrike had said, the town seemed pretty peaceful. Serene even. No one really seemed to be plagued by these things called 'shades' or even showed any recognition of such creatures.

Maybe this town would be a lot easier then previously thought.

~~~

"There ya go, a nice restful night for you, and then fill out a report in the mornin if you remember it."

The officer sighed as he watched the shaking lump of the man that he'd carted in from the bar. Something wasn't right bout that. He walked into the room where two other men on duty were having a break.

"What's up, Denern? You look like you swallowed a lemon or something."

"It's the old man, spoutin new stories. Got me thinking."

"Careful, you know what that does to your poor head."

"Hah, ******** ha. Just for that Kery, YOU can go out on the next patrol to the ruins. "

A curse, and a scattering of cards as both men got up, and stretched. It was gonna be a long night.

(I assume he gave it to Quinn and Stephen, pm if I'm wrong)

Examining the map, he turned in the direction of their starting point and began walking, mumbling something to himself about 'collateral damage' and 'stupid people'. "Bloody ********' 'ell."

Immediately, he hoisted up the rifle, keeping the safety off as he walked the path denoted on the map.

He was motioning with his hand, finding direction while staring intently at the map, when Stephen talked.

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I did stints in several branches before becoming a teacher."

Those were the days. Camaraderie, respect for a man by his skills and not his status. Not a day went by that he regretted.

Wait...but, did he? Did he really spend that time in the military? Memories, flashes, large buildings and strange things- whispers, yet from the distance a shout. Who- what was he? What was this life he kept seeing? Whose memories were his, or someone elses? What was real and fake?

Quinn was silent for a few moments. Realizing the strangeness of his disappearance from reality, he shook off the look of intrigue and concern and turned his attention back to Stephen.

"Y-yeah, military man." Clearing his throat, he ran his hand through his hair.

"But aye, yourself?"

"Not a problem. We're not deep enough in the forest for me to really care about noise level yet. When I need it quiet, I'll ask for it, my friend."

Smiling to himself, he remembered that his companion had a daughter, which presumably meant a larger family.

"So, are you a family man?"

Quinn nodded, thinking extensively back on his family. For a moment he even stopped walking.

Children, a lot of them. He knew they were real, knew they weren't fake even if everything else was.

"Ten children between two wi-" he stopped talking for a moment, pausing at the last time he had spoken to Tru. "Two wives, yeah." He got emotional for a moment. His first wife and their four children had died. One of his daughters by Tru, dead. What a horrible family man he was. What a truly horrible person he was.

Shaking it off, he began walking again.

"Yeah, I know how it is."

Katie's turquoise eyes fell on Ichigo. She was staring at him and that stuffed thing. If the stuffed animal or whatever it was pushed her buttons she was going to stuff it you know where. Though, she kept that comment to herself, for now. It barked out again with strange requests it might get a boot up its a**.

She'd then round on Madison.

"No, no we're not sending out anyone alone. Anyway, it seems we all are here." (Just going to assume since Sakura followed that Asherah did also.)

With a firm nod, she glanced from Sakura to Ichigo then back to Madison.

"I do think we should investigate while we still have some daylight. Sakura and Ichigo can go one way. Madison and I will cover another. How does that sound?"