Spot: Chapter two. Woot! I'll, er.. Spare you the gory details.

Allen: Indeed.

Spot: Shyaddap, boy. Get back in your box afore I MAKE you! *crawls in box after him* TEEHEEHEE! Chapter 2 : Mysteriously Appears the Pleated Skirt! A stream of unbelievably colorful profanity followed the startled blonde up that streak of blue light as the world went by at a dazzling speed.

Her breath shot out of her body painfully as she was deposited unceremoniously onto the ground again.

Disoriented, Chizu lay on her back and waited for the stars to come back into focus. The stars....

"Whoah!" She exclaimed, blinking repeatedly, "where are the stars?" Those pinpoints of light above her were NOT the same as those she was so used to seeing. And there was a strange blue orb hanging over her head. A vaguely familiar ord. A blue moon of some sort.

She sat up carefully, looking around, one hand to her head.

The surroundings appeared normal enough. Pleasant flora shone in the watery blue light of the moon. Crickets chirruped cheerfully, and a small owl swooped by over head.

Not to mention the ring of rough-looking vagabonds surrounding her--

"AH!" she yelled, jerked backwards as her view surrendered to a grimy face, bad teeth and foul-smelling breath. A cackle emerged from the rogue's throat.

"Hello girlie!" he crowed. Chizu gagged, rubbed her nose vigorously, and shook her head. She thus demonstrated several techniques by which one might rid oneself of "all-day morning breath".

"Doesn't your company offer a free dental plan?" she demanded, glaring at the offender. A few confused blinks from the surrounding ring of shadowy figures and shining eyes met her query. The leader just cackled again, waving away the question.

"We're here to take whatever money and precious items you might have on you, my girl," he announced. Chizu rolled her eyes.

"Well, obviously. I would assume tha--HEY!" She lashed out with her foot at an adventurous young villain who had taken a great interest in the amount of thigh her pleated skirt was showing. Come to think of it, she didn't remember putting on a pleated skirt this morning. In fact, she didn't even own a pleated skirt!

The boy pulled away with a shriek, gripping his face.

"M'nophe! Phe kicked by nophe!" (My nose, she kicked my nose!). The commander of this legion of scoundrels stared for a moment, then his face began to turn reddish from anger.

"You little-!" He growled at her, "That's it. Off with the clothes! I wasn't going to do this, but you asked for it!"

Chizu snorted.

"God you idiots are dull." She rolled over and pushed herself to her feet. A kick sent her tumbling forwards again, blasting the breath from her body.

Damn, didn't seem 'em behind me, she thought.

Suddenly, there were hands on her, pulling at her clothes. Anger and fear turned her blood to ice and brought heat to her eyes and cheeks. She lashed out furiously with all four of her limbs.

Despite her gallant efforts, she could not overcome the enemy. Every time she bashed one of the rogues out of the running, two more filled his place. Screaming with rage and frustration at the top of her voice. She struggled against a restraint of three men. She felt her zipper give, and anticipatory snickers from the men tickled her neck and set her hair on end.

Then, the three heads closest to her suddenly fled their necks and found their feet.

Chizu fell heavily to the ground, and was rendered temporarily incapacitated by a sunburst of color and stars. Something wet and sticky coated her face and hands, but she couldn't make the nature of the substance out in the blue-dark of this strange place.

Several screams resounded in the clearing around her, and feet whipped past her sight. Not quite ready to face whatever new horror awaited her, Chizu kept her head down and tried to hide in the grass.

Think grass, think grass. You are grass. You are one with the grass, She thought to herself. The area had gone silent, and a set of lone footsteps were slowly making their way towards her.

Grass. Green, waving, grass. Grass, grass, gra--

"Excuse me.. Miss? Are you alright?" The voice was inches from her ear. Shrieking, the girl rolled away, trying to find her footing on the slick ground, and managed to fall over backwards instead.

Staring down at her was the sihouette of a tall man, sword in hand, with some sort of strange bird on his shoulder.

Squinting, Chizu endeavored to make out his features.

"Who are you?" she snapped, hand roving about for something to throw.

The sword slid back into its sheath with a metallic shhhhink, and the silhouette dropped into a squat. The light shone on long blonde hair and pale skin. A few wrinkles marred the perfection of his unflawed features and he peered at her.

Chizu's mouth hit the ground.

"I won't harm you. Are you injured?"

"N-n-n.... no..." Chizu stuttered, swallowing a lump in her throat. He looked relieved.

"Good. I am glad. What are you doing out here all by yourself? Where is your escort?" He looked around. Chizu flushed.

"I don't have an escort," she said brusquely, "I can take care of myself."

The stranger leveled her with a dubious glance, and then sighed.

"My name is Allen Schezar. Here, let me help you up. I live nearby, we can go to my home and get you cleaned up and then... maybe you'll tell me your story? Those are strange clothes you wear..." She accepted the hand he offered her, and her eyes widened as he lifted her easily up from the ground and set her onto her feet. She staggered, blinking away afterimages. Her body felt weak, but she pushed it away. Probably just hunger.

"Yeah, strange is right," she mumbled, tugging at the pleated skirt. "I feel like an anime character."

"Are you sure you're fine?" Allen asked her, placing a steadying hand on her arm as she swayed and muttered under her breath. She shrugged him off.

"Yes," she growled.

Then the world rushed up to meet her, and someone turned out the lights.

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Spot: So... how does everyone like it so far? Leave me comments, suggestions, whatever. WHEE ON TO CHAPTER 3!