Ankoku: Here goes Chapter 2.

Dan: Am I in this chapter?

Ankoku: Nope. *Dan opens his mouth to complain* Don't complain or I'll smash your face.

Dan: You? I doubt that.

Ankoku: If you don't believe me, you'll believe it when I call Runo.

Dan: Don't you dare!

*Marucho enters the room* What's going on now? I heard something about Runo and figured—

Ankoku: You figured right. Do you think I can smash Dan's face?

*Marucho's eyes narrow* Why?

Ankoku: Because I said I'd smash his face if he complained about not being in the chapter.

Dan: Well, why is it always—

Ankoku: I'll call Runo if you spill that too. And he's not.

Marucho: If I'm correct, Dan, you will be in the next chapter. *adjusts his glasses and leaves the room*

Dan: Really?

Ankoku: If you don't behave, you won't be.

Dan: Ankoku does not own Bakugan Battle Brawlers or any of its characters. If she did... well, let's say it wouldn't be fun.

Ankoku: You got that right.

*Marucho comes back* I'm in the next chapter too, right?

Ankoku: All the Brawlers except Runo and Alice.

*Marucho and Dan sweatdrop* Dan: Of all the girls you could pick, it had to be Julie.

Marucho: Oh, I see... Julie and Sakura...

Ankoku: Glad you do. Stop spoiling the story. Here's Chapter 2.

Marissa's POV

It was a typical Saturday morning. That is, if you could call Sakura on a sugar high typical. It was, actually. We always went to Starbucks for a light breakfast. Then again, it isn't exactly considered "light" if Anrui was stuffing her face with Mallorca sweet bread and a McSkillet that she had picked up from McDonalds.

"Everything in our lives has been leading up to this moment," I proclaimed dramatically. Anrui rolled her eyes in response and stretched one leg out. "Are we racing or what?" she asked impatiently.

"Hell yes!" Sakura shouted. She was jumping up and down in anticipation.

I sighed. "What the fuck were you thinking when you decided to head to Starbuck's three years ago?"

Anrui shrugged and stretched her other leg. "I don't know, maybe after that Friday rush for a mocha frappuchino before Math, I had to do it again."

"Let's go!" Sakura shouted, already racing ahead. Anrui glanced at me before sprinting off and jumping over one of the bushes in Sakura's mother's garden.

"Oh, hell no! That is so unfair!" I took off at a fast run, my shoes hitting the pavement rhythmically. Sakura was already slowing down at the corner of the next block, so I caught up with her easily and we jogged together.

"Sometimes I wonder why I decided to do this again in the first place," Sakura told me. "Especially with that shortcut Anrui found last week. She's probably at Starbucks already."

In fact, she had been. She was standing outside with her tall mocha frappuchino and her bread in one hand, the other holding the McSkillet. "Geez, Ari, you really shouldn't run like that," Sakura kept saying as she shook her head.

The three of us were now headed to Anrui's house for some hardcore Rock Band. As usual, Anrui was planning on playing both the vocals and the guitar. Sakura preferred the drums, which left me (once again) with the bass guitar. Not like it mattered—I knew from experience that it was always easier to be in the background.

So we were off to Anrui's house, going through the park like we always did, when I heard footsteps. The strange thing about them was that they were softer, almost inaudible.

I could tell Anrui had heard it too. She walked ahead, her eyes searching the trees I was tempted to ask why she was looking above, but decided that I should just keep an eye out myself. I didn't want Anrui getting hurt, even if she was the one who was most capable of protecting herself.

"What is with you guys?" Sakura asked as we entered a shortcut that Anrui had found. "You two need to lighten up."

But even she, the one who almost always had a carefree smile on her face, was looking around. I had no idea what she was worried about, but the firm footsteps behind us reminded me of last night's dream. I shuddered, then reminded myself that it was just a dream. Besides, Anrui's fanfiction last night must have gotten through to me. Yeah, that was probably it.

Boy, was I wrong.

Anrui stopped. I stopped too, sure now that something was wrong. My fears were confirmed when she began walking more quickly. Sakura and I had to run to keep up (more like I was dragging her), and I could make out more footsteps joining the first.

She stopped again, and I think that was when Sakura fully realized what was going on. A twig snapped, and we all took off at breakneck speed, the sounds of many footsteps giving chase.

Anrui's POV

My mind was racing, my heart was pounding, and I felt absolutely exhausted despite the fact that I had woken up less than an hour before. I could hear the footsteps of about 6 of 7 people. Who would want us that badly?

Behind us, the chasers showed no signs of stopping. I was aware of Sakura and Marissa slowing down, so I grabbed their wrists and dashed onward.

Almost there...

At last we reached a clearing in the depths of the park. A ring of trees hid the sky from view. We backed up slowly, expecting someone to find us. But the footsteps faded, and Marissa sighed in relief.

"Hey, what's this?" Sakura asked. I dared not turn around for fear that they would come back for us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marissa turn around and gasp.

I was itching to turn around myself, but I waited tensely for Marissa's next reaction.

She turned to me. "Look at this." Then she turned back around and her eyes widened. "Sake, don't do that!"

"Do what?" came the reply. "It's not like it's a vacuum cleaner that's going to suck us up or something."

Marissa folded her arms. "And how would you know that's not what it is?"

"That's not what what is?" I still hadn't turned around, but I'd relaxed slightly. "Just describe it to me," I added quickly, tensing again at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. I couldn't take them all on, but I figured I wouldn't have to if I was right about what was going on behind me...

"Well, it looks sort of like that blue circle in that game on your iPod Touch," Sakura said. "You know, the one that twisted the screen."

"Oh, that one. That was—" Then I remembered what had happened next.

The footsteps were getting louder.

Then, in a spectacular display of how bad an influence fanfiction can be, I turned around and yanked Marissa and Sakura into the circle.

Next thing I knew, we were running straight off a cliff.

Dan: That's it? So short...

Ankoku: Cliffhangers are so hard to hold off. Even after the coffee scene it turned out to be really short.

Dan: I am in the next chapter, right?

Ankoku: Actually, no.

Marucho: I thought we would be...

Ankoku: I did too, until I realized something else I wanted to put in as another chapter. It's way too long to combine with this one.

Dan: What do they look like again?

Ankoku: Good question... that's on my profile.

Marucho: But—

Ankoku: Now, Marucho, be a good boy and don't spoil anything.

Dan: Right... do I win this round?

Marucho: Statistically, Dan, the only thing you excel at are brawls.

Ankoku: Maybe I should move you to a different story, Marucho. You and Ciela could have some intelligent conversations.

Dan: Ha! I do win!

Ankoku: Only because my OC is supposed to... never mind.

Dan: Spill!

Marucho: May I have one final action before I take my leave?

Ankoku: Of course.

*Marucho kicks Dan in the shin and dashes off. Dan shakes his head* Well, what can I say?

Ankoku: It was supposed to end with him kicking you.

Dan: …

Ankoku: Forget it. Please review, and you can expect another story from me soon. And don't forget to subscribe! Bye!