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The entire field around Knightside Elementary was in chaos. Kids were running around screaming and giggling, the playground bursting with noise. Soccer balls were flying around, jump ropes were slapping the pavement. Someone was swinging all the way to the top of the bar while other children were darting around playing tag; it was recess, glorious recess.

Running around with the same boundless energy the other kids had was Sam Colt. He was in a group of kids from various grades playing tag. The field was more chaotic then usual, as they were playing tag with a twist; there were 6 people 'it'. The game was growing rapidly. Kids were running way from 'its' as quickly as they could, some just ran in circles while others looked for hiding spots. Sam was one of the kids running.

He had run through the tunnel system of the Knightside playground, which was like a large hamster tunnel track. Just as he got out, the boy collided with another, smaller body.

While rubbing the shoulder that was hit, he glared at the blue-haired girl that hit him. "Watch it!," he said with mild irritation, as if he wasn't to blame himself.

Sam's glare softened up when he saw the hurt expression on her face. The curly haired girl was a bit smaller and younger than him. She had to be what? Ten? Maybe nine. Definitely wasn't in the same grade as Sam. It might not have been a big difference to an adult, but a year or two was huge to a kid.

Annoyance at the girl slipped away when her lip quivered. s**t, she wasn't going to cry was she?

"...Oh..." Sam was starting to feel a bit bad when some other boy called out insults to the poor girl. Sam was shocked that she'd just walk away and be pushed around like that. He grabbed onto her arm and whirled the girl back around to face Billy.

"You're not going to take that." It wasn't a question, it was a direction. He wasn't going to let Istas slip away and hide. Latching on firmly, he kept the smaller girl close. His sugary brown eyes narrowed as he glowered at that Billy kid. Sam really hated bullies. He might have been a bit harsh himself, but he wouldn't pick on a girl like that. "Say that again." A dare was implied.

Nope. Istas was going nowhere. Sam kept a firm grip on her arm, keeping her in line with him. Her soft spoken words didn't make much of an impact. Running away wasn't going to solve anything, Sam knew that much. "So? Tough," was all he had to say about her not being able to stand up for herself.

Sam continued to give Billy a hard stare. "Maybe." He took a few steps towards the other boy, pulling Istas up with him. He was almost eye to eye with Billy, close enough that he could smell what he could only assume was Billy's horrible garlic breath. Sam might have not been much bigger at all, but the expression on his face was serious and full of bitter dislike for Billy.

"She's NOT my girlfriend. But you sound jealous." If there was one thing young boys hated, it was implying that they like-liked a girl.

Sam tried to not laugh as the bully rolled up his sleeves. The kid looked like a joke to him, a caricature of a playground bully. Sam wasn't about to give in an inch. His soft brown eyes glanced over the other boy and his companions, studying them. Was he serious or even worth it? Did Sam really need another trip to the principal's office? A small voice in the back of his head was nagging him to stop and walk away, that this wasn't a good idea. Or maybe that voice was just Istas trying to pull away. But, the cheers and shouts of Billy's entourage were stronger.

"Say what? Jealous?" Sam didn't back away. He just stood there, standing tall with a cocky smirk on his face. For a brief moment, Sam put his hand onto Istas's shoulder and gave her a gentle pat of reassurance. His grip on her slackened as he nudged her away, getting ready to defend himself if necessary.

The dark haired boy took another step towards Billy, so that they were looking at each other eye-to-eye. "Apologize to her, and me."

Sam twisted his hand in a small circle, waving Istas off. Of course fighting was worth it, silly girl. The bully Billy and his friends needed to learn; Sam was willing to teach them. It's not nice to pick on people and call them names.

"Don't make me force you." Sam gave Billy a light tap with his fingers, a light but antagonistic push.

Sam was all ready to fight, giving Billy and each of his friends a stony serious look. But, Istas finally got his attention. He glanced back to her the very instant she said 'sailor'. His eyes widen and he looked at Istas in a meaningful, curious manner; forgetting momentarily about Billy.

What? She knew some? Real senshi like him? His mind buzzed away like a busy bee trying to work it out: who, why.... her, really? He wondered who she could possibly know, certainly she couldn't be a senshi herself! All the sailors he had met as Chibi Ixion had been tough as nails. None of them would have backed down the way Istas was.

At Istas’s insistence, Sam turned back to face Billy. His face met Billy’s fist. It wasn’t a nice introduction.

In retaliation, Sam wound up his own fist and let it fly against Billy’s shoulder. It was a hard blown that cause Billy to step back. One punch was promptly followed up by Sam’s other hand colliding with Billy’s stomach. His fists were fast, and in no time at all really, Sam was on top of Billy straddling his stomach with a fist poised in the air, ready to strike again.

His normally soft eyes were narrow and fierce. Sam’s gaze shifted from Billy to his friends, as a warning, then back to Billy. “Say you’re sorry.”

Seeing the teacher out of the corner of his eye. Sam moved to get up off of Billy, taking his chance to calm down. He cringed at Billy's half-assed apology, but it seemed like all he was going to get. Sam wiped the sweat from his face; a bruise was forming around his eye. After dusting off his slacks, Sam extended a hand to help Billy up. After pulling the boy up from the ground, he pulled Billy in close to whisper. "That was a sorry excuse for an apology. Make sure to tell her again."

Then he shoved Billy away from him. What a low-life jerk. Before moving away from the scene, Sam looked back to see Istas walking with the teacher, off to the Nurse's office to get a band aid. The boy sighed slightly, and wondered what the seemingly weak-willed girl had meant by saying she knew some Sailors. He'd have to keep his eye on that girl.