Disclaimer: I do not own .Hack or any of their characters. I do own my characters and plot, and if you wish to borrow them, please ask.

:Eternal Sunshine:

Chapter 4:Fast footed

Sirena hopped about, Effie following in suit. Mya and Tai walked behind them, wondering how they did it. Tai had a smirk upon her face. Mya folded her arms over her chest.

"Don't even try it. You know know you'd fall on your ass and you'd cry about it," she mumbled.

Tai was watching curiously, "That's not the point, though. The point is that it looks fun.."

"And it is!" yelled Effie.

Tai shrugged and chased after them, dodging the citizens in Airo City, of the World. Sirena laughed, running after Tai as she passed them. Effie chased as well, though not having a clue as to why. Sirena and Tai raced to nowhere, laughing and tripping, trying to keep up with one another. Suddenly Sirena smacked into someone. That someone wasn't overly friendly.

"Hey! Watch it, kid!"

Tai stopped and went to help Sirena up, "She's more of an adult than you, since she kept her temper, so don't call her kid," she muttered.

A fist grabbed Tai's shirt and lifted her off the ground. Tai whimpered. BIIIIIIIIG GUY..she thought. Sirena screamed. Effie and Mya walked up. Mya confronted the man.

"Hey! What's you're problem!"

"Seems the little missy here needs to learn to keep her mouth shut."

Tai started to panick. She looked about for any means of escape, but that wasn't possible when this ogre had her. Tai whimpered, silently saying thousands upon thousands of prayers.

"Oi, pretty little thing isn't she..might be worth my time to teach her a lesson.."

"Hey! Leave her alone!" Effie and Mya were now throwing things at him. He wasn't paying any attention to them. His grip tightened on Tai, bringing her closer. She tried to kick the guy, missing the first time. On the second try, she succeeded, causing him to drop her. Mya grabbed her arm, Effie and Sirena already running. Tai bolted down the street. She was crossing the bridge when she noticed that the guy was catching up. He passed Mya, which meant that he was after her, and only her. Tai pounded her feet, dodging people left and right.

"Run, Tai, run!"

Tai was instantly angry, What do they think I'm doing..? She ran as fast as her legs would allow her to, gaining more speed. The guy was catching up however.

She turned a corner, and ran directly into open arms. Ryu fell over, holding her tightly.

"See? I knew you'd fall into my arms!"

"Ryu...no..time..for...games..." Tai gasped, getting up and noticing that Zane's entire crew was in front of her, even Zane himself.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Ryu, standing.

Just then the big guy rounded the corner and was running right at her. Tai bolted down the ally.

"Is he a good enough answer!" she yelled, leaving them behind. She kept running until she was hiding in an abandoned house used for storage. She was gasping for air. She hid for almost two hours before she felt safe enough to come out and look for Sirena, Effie and Mya. It was nightfall and streetlamps were lit everywhere. She was just crossing a bridge when Derrin ran up to her.

"We've been looking everywhere for you! We thought you might have logged out, but you're status said online, so Mya posted a wanted on the message board."

Tai smiled and walked with him, "Sorry. Some guy was after me, so I went and hid, cause his level was, like, thrice mine."

Derrin smirked and flicked her nose, "Heh, I would have taken care of him for you. But Zane beat me to it. That guy won't be bothering you again."

"How come?"

"Cause I deleted him from the game," replied Zane, hopping down from a stoop.

Tai blushed upon seeing him, remembering their conversation yesterday. Then she smiled, "Thanks. He was being rude to Sirena, and when I stood up for her, he exploded and attacked me."

"Yea, I know. Rimi saw the whole thing, and told us to come to the city immidiatly."

Tai blushed further, "I had it under control!"

Derrin laughed a poked her forehead, "Hmm..maybe, but running isn't a solution. C'mon, I'll walk you to a save point."

Tai smiled and walked with him. She turned to wave at Zane, but found him murderously glaring at Derrin. She blushed, and he winked at her before turning and leaving.