• –Chapter 2–

    “You’re Lizzie?” Hotaru growled in disbelief at the girl.
    “Yep,” chirped Lizard, straw in her mouth. “I told you I was.”
    “You were talking so fast we couldn’t understand you!” replied Sora. “Geez, it’s been so stressful lately…Is my face breaking out in hives?”
    “No,” replied Yuri, looking closely. “But you do have a little acne.”
    “WHERE?!” Sora screamed, whipping away and covering his face with his hands. He scuttled away to peer into his hand-held mirror.
    “Lizzie,” Eita began.
    “Lizard,” Lizard interrupted. “My name is Lizard now, see?” She stuck out her purple tongue, then put the straw back into her mouth.
    “Okay,” sighed Eita, “Lizard. Do you have your things packed and ready to go?”
    “Um. Yeah,” Lizard said thougtfully.
    “UWAAAA!” Sora screamed. “I DO!!”
    “Told you so,” said Yuri, scratching her cheek.
    “Do you need someone to carry your things for you?” Nendo offered to Lizard.
    “Whoa!” Lizard gasped, jumping back. “When did you get there!?”
    “Sorry…!” Nendo held up his hands as if surrendering. “I didn’t mean to scare you…”
    “It’s alright, Giant Grasshopper,” Lizard said in an all-knowing way. “I forgive thee.”
    “Um…Thanks?” Nendo smiled slightly. “So, if you’d like, I can carry your things.”
    “Okay, thanks!” Lizard grinned.

    – “Onward, my reptile army!” Lizard boomed, pointing down the road. “Giddyap!”
    The group began to walk slowly down the narrow dirt road, Lizard still pointing in that direction as she rode on Nendo’s back.
    “We’re not reptile soldiers,” Hotaru mumbled, angry.
    “Just go with it,” Eita sighed. “It’s the price we must pay for volunteering our services.”
    “You guys got to volunteer?!” Sora asked. “Aw, man!”
    “You there!” called Lizard with an air of authority, pointing at Yuri, the smallest in the group.
    “Who, me?” she replied, pointing at herself.
    “Yes, you there!”
    “Um. Yes?”
    “Hi,” Lizard smiled and waved kindly.
    “…Hi…” Yuri waved back, confused.
    “No! Like you mean it!” Lizard frowned.
    “Oh, um…Hello!” Yuri waved enthusiastically.
    “There we go!” Lizard gave Yuri a thumb up. “Oi, Nendo!” Lizard said. “Lemme down.”
    “Okay,” he replied, trying to hide his relief. He squatted down to let off his passenger.
    “Alright, my reptile army,” Lizard strode to forward and turned to face them with dignity, hands on her hips. “Now that we’re far away from Nurse Aya,” she gagged as she spoke the name, “I can finally…relax,” she sighed, stretching her arms over her head and plopping down into the dirt.
    She ripped off her shoes and tossed them into the forest. “Nurse Aya always makes me wear these ‘decent’ outfits,” she groaned. “The shoes are so stiff and these kimonos—so HOT and UGLY!” Lizard tugged at the collar of the soft red kimono she wore. “Excuse me,” she picked up her bag and went into the woods.
    The group all looked at each other, eyebrows raised. Then Lizard returned just a moment later. She was dressed in black shorts, a green long-sleeved shirt, and a black cape. “I’m back, my reptile army!”
    “Damn,” sidghed Hotaru. “Her personality’s still the same.”

    – “Look at them,” said Kira.
    “I’m looking, I’m looking,” growled Kaage. “Get off my back, woman!”
    “Quiet, a*****e!” Kira replied curtly, smacking her partner on the back of his head. “You’ll get us spotted!”
    “Ow!” Kaage grunted. “Sheesh!”
    “Now, as I was saying,” Kira drawled. “Look at them…So unsuspecting. So innocent. My favorite,” she licked her lips.
    “Oh, you’re narrating,” Kaage rolled his eyes. “In that ***** thing you do.”
    “I’m not a *****!” Kira whispered fiercely, smacking his head again. “And what part of you’ll get us caught don’t you understand, you ********’ idiot!”
    “Owwww…” Kaage groaned, holding the back of his head. “Sheesh!’
    “I’m not a *****,” Kira repeated. “I’m evil, so shut up about it.”
    “All right, all right…”