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The Amazon was right behind the rabbit when she called out all child-like. It made Katie raise an eyebrow.

"I'm standing right behind you."

She could see that Madison was not the very patient type. Well, Katie was calm, take things cool type. She wanted to make sure they didn't go running right into a disaster, which meant taking their time and investigating thoroughly.

Without another word Katie started off, getting in front of Madison.

"Well, come on then."

She started towards the opposite way that Sakura and Ichigo headed. It was good to break the search up.

It was about that time she got a beep from the two-way. She grabbed the communication device, pressing the talk button.

"I hope things are fine."

She didn't put the communication device away yet, just in case Quinn responded.

"Hey....Hey, over here!"

As the girls walked in, sans Sakura and Ichigo, they'd find a slightly suspicious looking person beckoning them over to one of the corners of the inn, almost instantly, almost...as if he'd been expecting them.

Swathed in darkness he sat in one of the big cushy reception chairs quite comfortably. In fact, he was rather sprawled over the chair itself, one leg crossed over the other.


~~~

Sakura and Ichigo would find themselves immersed in the crowds that were generally heading home for bed, leaving darkness closing in for another day. A few unlikely attendants were trying to haggle and make trade, and after a few unfriendly answers to quite friendly questions, the two would probably feel as though they were put through a waste of their time...

"Hey! Hiya..." A tall figure stood up against one of the walls, tossing something up in the air, then catching it again. He looked vaugly suspicious, quite similar to the person that had been chased by police for murder earlier. But it was up to the two to decide what they'd do with him.

~~~

There was a cry from the other side of the bushes, loud enough to set both men's hearts going. It sounded like a child, lost, scared, lonely....Quin and Stephen may have stumbled on the first of the children.

It's a safe assumption that the girls didn't get away from the Inn like they had intended.

A deep voice called out to them. Katie turned around to see a figure lounging around in the reception chairs. He sat in a dark corner, well hidden, which would explain why she hadn't noticed him until this point.

Any person that sat in the shadows always raised a concern or awareness with Katie.

She'd stroll towards him, but she kept a certain distance between them.

"Can we help you?"

Even with a distance still between them she was now close enough to make out certain things of the man. She was inspecting the dark corner, scrutinizing the man before them.

"Hurrk---H-HEY!"

Ichigo was caught off guard by Sakura's sudden yanking. Moreover...where the hell did she get Stra---...oh wait. Nevermind. The mere thought of it had him thinking of another green-haired girl who also played upon the Japanese homonym that was his first name.

He soon wrestled his arm from her grip, adjusting himself and his jacket. "Ya don't have to drag me along like that," said Ichigo, "I know how to walk, damnit." It was a much calmer "damnit" than one would expect after being dragged like a child. It was most likely since he was used to that sort of treatment from Rukia.

As they headed in the direction Sakura had dragged him towards, he looked at the passersby on their way to their rooms. Seemed as if there were quite a few people staying at this place. Not that it was very hard to believe. There seemed to be enough hubub amongst the attendants (unless they're referring to us ><) that there wouldn't be much of a problem getting by. It at least made them blend--



Well, scratch that thought.

Is that guy talking to us?

Ichigo wasn't quite sure, but the tall figure wasn't giving him any good feelings. On the other hand, he wasn't getting a heavy negative vibe off of him either. But what did he want?

Stephen/Quinn:

Both Stephen and Quinn would find themselves breaking into a clearing. But instead of an enormous, and probably rather bullet riddled monster over the child, they'd find just an ordinary guardsman, whole and unharmed, trying to stop a small girl from screaming.

He didn't seem too calm himself, in fact, the man was shaking and white as a ghost, but still he seemed intent on getting the small child to be quiet. Finally, he brought out a packet of sweets, just in time to meet Quinn's eyes with his own fearful ones.

"Y-you're human! But you aren't the normal patrol! Why are you out here?"

Stephen, who was still back in the clearing with his revolver aimed over towards the bushes where Quinn had foolishly charged, listened as much as he could to pick up what scraps of conversation were going on.

"What is it, Quinn? You find the missing people?" he shouted over, presuming that if something was indeed in the area that they already knew they were there because of Quinn's previous actions.

From the fact that he didn't hear any ripping flesh or other monstrous noises, he presumed as much. Either way, he held his position.

Things just seemed a little too fishy for his taste.