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Ever since the Halloween incident at the abandoned summer camp a few weeks ago, Mei had been spending an increasing amount of time, both in and out of uniform, pushing herself harder than before. Why? Simple, she didn’t like feeling vulnerable… trapped. To her running use to be a joy, a passion in life, something she could use as an escape from the real world…

Now it’s taking on a whole new purpose… survival.

It was terrifying, being chased through the woods by someone who had an uncanny resemblance to a youma swinging around a blade no less… and to be put into a position that she couldn’t power up. To have been pushed so far by fear and to make sure both Fleur and herself made it out alive just to collapse from exhaustion and be taken away anyway.

Never again…

Sidouer could feel it in the way her muscles screamed, her lungs ached, her throat burned that she had reached her limit, the point of exhaustion. ’Not yet’ she told herself, determination in her eyes she ran up the length of a fallen tree that rested against a boulder. Maintaining momentum she leaped from the peak of the tree to moss covered stone in one fluid motion, not once did she slip or falter while running up the branch littered bark, only when she landed did her knees once again threaten to buckle.

Scrambling to keep herself upright and to keep going she began chanting in her mind ’Almost there… almost there’. Up ahead, maybe 30 feet in front of her was a steady slow moving stream that had multiple fallen trees people used as make shift bridges to cross. Though her true destination, her tree, was no more than 5 minutes past the freezing thread water that weaved through the woods, Sidouer found herself slowing down to a jog then to a walk as she approached the most inviting stream.

Standing at the edge she leaned against one of the tree-bridges to catch her breath allowing the coldness of Fall to wrap her in its chilled blanket and cool her down a bit. Muscles achy, legs shaky, she attempted to stretch which was fine till she tried to stretch her legs, finding neigh impossible to stay balanced on one foot.

Sidouer jumped, at the sound of another persons voice, eyes wide in shock she glanced around to look for the unexpected guest among the scattered trees. For all intensive purpose she thought she was out here alone especially after patrolling her self proclaimed training area not once but twice!

Her body turned in the direction she thought it had come from, though her feet unfortunately refused to move as well. The action of which caused her right knee to buckle under as her arms groped the air behind her in an attempt to grab hold of something to keep her from falling into the icy water.

Pulling herself back up to a standing position. Pink-green eyes fell on a familiar form. Though cloaked in the shadows of the tree branches she recognized the top hat and flecks of blonde hair that shown when the light of the moon graced the golden strands... Mairposite.

Why?.... Why does this keep happening?

"How.. How long have you been there?" she asked nervousness evident in her voice.

Sidouer gave him a questioning look wondering if his lunge towards her was an attempt to help or him second guessing attacking her. She wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or more nervous when he took a few steps away increasing the distance between them.

Through her short time spent as a Senshi there were at least three things she knew about these Negaverse agents. 1) They can summon their weapons at will, 2) their weapons hurt... a lot... and 3) they can teleport. The last one was a bit of a doozy to wrap her mind around but on two different occasions when in the company of one of these said agents they had up and disappeared. Tack on the fact that if memory served her right his weapon was a whip... distance may not be a good thing.


Honestly she didn't know how to reply to his question, she was neither good nor bad though at the moment she felt royally screwed. Running wasn't an option that much was apparent by the way she almost unceremoniously fell into the frigid water. Swan diving into the shallow stream behind her would prove ineffective as it wasn't moving quick enough to carry her anywhere. He was a captain, faster and stronger than her in every way and she was at his total mercy.


It wasn't too long ago that she sought him out, why? she couldn't remember now but she wanted to see him again and to ask him something. But now that he stood in front of her she didn't know what to say so she blurted out the first thing that came to mind "I'm sorry." Shaking where she stood, it was unclear if it was because she was cold or because she was scared she continued "I... I was scared and didn't know what to do... I didn't want to use my attack..." once she started her words just spilled out. "I just... you... and Julienne was laying there. I... I didn't know what else to do." she admitted. She wasn't saying this to save her a**, no she actually meant what she said.

Though it was dark outside she stood there watching him, expecting some sort of reaction. Her only hope is that it wasn't one of retaliation.

Sidouer felt a slight smile tug at the corner of her lips. Either he was a good actor, or he was as nervous as she was; though given by his mannerisms she suspected it to be more of the later.

Pink-green eyes drifted down to his outstretched hand. Despite having nearly just fell into the slow moving stream behind her, she found herself relinquishing her death hold on the water logged piece of lumber and reaching out to take his hand as means of a ‘redo’ of their first encounter.

It took a significant amount of effort to visibly relax given the fact that inside bells were ringing to run. But he seemed sincere enough in his words and actions she was willing to chance it. Looking back up, her eyes met his deep purple ones and for a moment she lost her words.

Drawing in a deep breath to quell the fear she offered him a rueful smile and finally brought herself to offering him a proper greeting. After a tenative nod of her head in reply to his question she offered him her name – something very few knew “Hi," she paused for a moment "My name is Sidouer.” Though her voice was nervous and full of apprehension she just truly hoped this didn’t turn out like last time, if anything unfortunately running wasn’t an option right now and as it stood she was at his mercy, so if he wanted a redo, she would go along and just have to hope for the best.

Sidouer felt a small smile tug at the corner of her lips, it was slightly funny how he fumbled over his words. She knew him... of him well his name at least from the little guardian cat. Though quite a bit of time had passed since their first encounter, she had never forgotten his name.

Listening as he spoke, the creme haired senshi felt more and more inclined to believe the sincerity behind his apology. It was true that was the first time she had ever powered up but with how things have gone since that day... things could have gone a whole lot worse.

"Don't worry. It's.. fine." her voice was neither happy nor sad, if anything more calm and reminiscent of everything that had transpired since the day they met. "If it's okay with you, do you mind if we sit down?" she inquired. With how much she had pushed herself running her legs were desperately needed rest.

Her head was swimming with things she wanted to say but the need to get off her feet outweighed the importance of her questions and replies for the time being.

Left in a bit of a stupor, Sidouer watched unblinking for several moments as his form retreated deeper into the wooded area till not only his form but his signature disappeared all together.

With a puzzled expression she raised a gloved hand and lightly touched where he had kissed her on the cheek, I wonder what that was about she thought, leaning her back against the rough bark of the fallen tree.

Since powering up for the first time and encountering many different things including talking cats, globular feces infested youma, clones, among a plethora of other oddities; this encounter seemed to have taken the cake. Here she thought that a battle was inevitable, a chance for him to settle the score for hitting him with her static shock. But it seemed that was not to be the case.

"You, Mariposite, are a strange strange man."

The motivation she once had to continue running had all but left her and so, once she was absolutely sure that she was alone, Sidouer powered down back into her civilian clothes. A brown bag hung at her side which held her water bottles and a light snack for her to eat once she got out of the woods, back to the park and could find an empty bench to eat at before heading home.