<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>By the time the driver was in Alida's face, she had begun to tear up from fear. She had never seen someone get so red and blotchy before. Spit and curses flew from his mouth and his nose was almost touching hers. Alida couldn't seem to find the ability to move, her chin quivering as the man continued his onslaught.<br/><br/>It was about then that Alida was pulled away from the man and into the hard body of Izu,<span style="color: #BF0000">"She said she was sorry. If your car isn't damaged, would you kindly fuck off? You're frightening her and it's starting to really piss me off..."</span>Alida had never heard Izu sound so vicious and was inwardly glad that it wasn't directed at her. Izu's words seemed to sink into the driver, who left in a huff.<br/><br/>Izu turned Alida to face him, looking at her with concern,<span style="color: #BF0000">"You hurt...?"</span>She shook her head no, her eyes glassy and wide. The concern left Izu's face and it was replaced by sudden anger,<span style="color: #BF0000"> "What the hell was that about?!? You can't just run into the street like that! You could have been killed!"</span>Alida jumped at the boom in Izu's voice, leaning back some as Izu leaned forward as he continued to berate her.<span style="color: #408000">"Alida sorry! Alida not know!" </span>she said apologetically, in the end promising Izu she wouldn't do it again.<br/><br/>He finally seemed to let up once Alida said she understood. He began to lead her once more and she resisted any urges to explore, despite how much she wanted to. They eventually arrived at a large building and Izu grabbed her hand, pulling her close to him,<span style="color: #BF0000">"Stick close, I don't want to have to run after you again."</span>Alida nodded,<span style="color: #408000"> "Alida not go. Alida stay with Izu,"</span>she said as she looked up to him. She was still a bit shaky from earlier and had decided she didn't want to leave Izu's side anyway.<br/><br/>The first place Izu took her was some strange shop with various items that only looked like pieces to things. She stood next to him, watching as he tore into the poor clerk for some reason. It seemed they did not agree about the trade they were about to conduct--but Izu ended up winning anyway with sheer will power. Izu pulled Alida out of the store, clearly happy to be the victor in the situation.<br/><br/>He looked at her with a smile and her breath caught at it as she found Izu's smile extremely handsome.<span style="color: #BF0000"> "And that is how you get a good deal. I hope you took notes,"</span>he said with a laugh and Alida looked at Izu with a half lidded stare.<span style="color: #408000">"Izu mean to man,"</span>she stated as a matter of fact, clearly teasing him about his supposed bargaining skills. He gave a huff but otherwise dragged Alida to the next store.<br/><br/>Alida wasn't sure what to make out of Izu's chosen destination. He seemed rather excited and hesitant all at the same time, which didn't bode well with Alida at all. She looked up at him curiously and he simply pulled her into the store. Almost immediately upon stepping foot inside, an excited sale's clerk approach. Alida frowned as she found the clerk to be too cheery for even her tastes. Izu spoke to the woman and the woman smiled at Izu, before grabbing Alida by the hand and pulling her around the store.<br/><br/>Alida was not happy at all and tried to pull away, but the clerk was rather insistent in showing her around. The woman spoke in a very annoying voice, speaking about the strange items on hangers around them. Alida didn't understand any of it, but she was beginning to get the idea of what everything was as she caught sight of various pictures posted around and the mannequins that were littered throughout the store. Alida pouted, craning her neck to search for Izu.<span style="color: #0040FF"> "...and here is a bra that I think you would just love...it's made out of silk and..."</span>the clerk's voice drowned in and out for Alida who had, by now, began to feel overwhelmed.<br/><br/>The woman didn't seem to notice until Alida absolutely refused to stop walking. She turned to look at her and upon seeing her shimmering eyes and quivering chin began to show a bit of concern.<span style="color: #0040FF">"Oh my! Are you alright? Is something the matter? Do you not like our selections?"</span>the woman asked in rapid fire, her eyes darting around in panic. She had never had to deal with a customer who was about to cry before.<span style="color: #408000"> "Alida want Izu. Alida not like this. Alida want to go home,"</span>Alida replied in a watery voice.<span style="color: #0040FF">"Well, how about I just pick you out a few things and then we'll find your friend, okay?"</span>the woman negotiated, not wanting to lose her customer. Alida weighed the pros and cons of it. It seemed Izu had brought her here to get her some sort of clothing and he'd probably be upset if she didn't get something. She nodded.<br/><br/>The clerk gave a relieved sigh and sat Alida down, giving her a magazine to look at. Alida didn't bother with opening it, but rather stared at the floor with sad doe eyes. The woman seemed to come back in no time with three bras, several sets of panties, two pairs of simple jeans, and three plain shirts.<span style="color: #0040FF">"Well, I usually would try to get people to buy the most expensive stuff in here..." </span>the clerk admitted rather bashfully,<span style="color: #0040FF">"but you don't seem like the type who would be too happy with that anyhow..." </span>Alida wasn't sure what the clerk meant, but nodded anyway.<br/><br/>The clerk brought her back to Izu, holding up the items for him to see.<span style="color: #0040FF">"Little lady here doesn't seem too fond of shoppin'. I tried to find her the more comfortable items in the store, while keeping the under garments a little more...pleasing for the both of you,"</span>she said with a sly wink and smile. Alida, who would likely be bothered by this on any other day, didn't even bother to look up at the exchange. Alida knew, that in some way, she should probably be thankful--but the fact of the matter was she hated clothes and she now knew she hated shopping. She had felt overwhelmed and bombarded by the store and Izu had let the clerk just drag her off all over the place. She felt a little betrayed, to say the least.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"Alida thank Izu," </span>she said softly to him as she looked at her feet, because she was actually grateful Izu was trying to help her mesh into his world.