Annie always made time for daily jog. It was important not only for her health, but for her mental well being too. With her knee still being in slow recovery mode the two laps she took around central park, coupled with the walk there and back, were great therapy. 

She was also an avid people watcher, and the most popular park in the city sure attracted all kinds. Including some of the most drop dead gorgeous men and woman she had ever seen. Jogging was, admittedly, a great way for her to get out and ogle people on the sly, too, and she didn't feel super bad about it because tons of other people were there for that exact reason. 

it was a clear day, with just a slight chill in the air, but perfect weather for a jog. Heck, maybe she'd even push herself a little and go for a whole run? It had been a while since she'd dared to go for a run by itself. It was embarrassing having to stop and stretch all the time when her knee started to protest, or heaven forbid give up in the middle of it. 

Then again... she was already doing something daring by her own standards, so maybe she didn't want to try her luck. A jog would have to do seeing as she was already paranoid enough for... other reasons. 

A bus ride and a brisk walk later and she was at the park, which was packed with people already partaking in various activities. She was already blushing as she ushered herself off to one secluded patch of grass and started to stretch, careful not to let her loose RuRu Melon pull over lift too high. 

She didn't want anyone seeing what she had on under neath. But! She had chosen a spot away from the bulk of people, so it wasn't like that was a super big risk. Maybe she could relax a little?

Annie lowered herself down and stretched her legs out to the sides, very nearly in full splits. She'd never been fully able to get all the way there after the injury. Every time she tried it pulled at the tendons funny and she was forced to give up. 

Still, she pushed herself a little to lean over and stretch her arms out until she could touch her sneakers, and let herself sit like that for a bit to let things loosen, before switching to the other side.

The lightning awaits
A chance to strike the earth, and
Unleash its Thunder.

He finished scrawling the text, and looked down upon it with supreme satisfaction. That was how he felt, crafting the last bit of this majutsu. It was close, but something was missing. He sat in the clouds, waiting for earth to call him to strike.

He needed... Inspiration.

Raijin took one last drag of his cigarette, and looked around the park. It had quickly become his favorite place for spellcraft. There was enough room for people to give him space, and... inspiration often jogged by. He watched a woman trod past, sighing a bit to himself as he turned back to his spell scroll. Not enough. He dipped his brush once more, and worked out a few more lines. So far, he had the build up programmed in. The point when the strike hit. He put out his cigarette on the ground, and placed the butt in his pouch meant for them.

It was where he felt like he was, for he couldn't find the right way to add in the release. Much like he felt trapped in that tense area before release in his muse.

He looked up as he heard someone nearing. He couldn't see them, though. Ah, they were on the other side of the tree he was sitting against. He silently wondered if it was someone sneaking up on him for a chance at revenge. Maybe it was Vida-san, or perhaps someone whose wife he had bedded. He tended to make enemies easier than friends, after all.

The Ronin stood and stretched quietly, looking down at his scattered stuff. Either way, it was time for a break. He adjusted his silken lounging robes, and turned to peek around the tree to see who was potentially sneaking up.

He froze in place.

There, before him. Inspiration. A woman in running regalia, attractive, but many people were. No, what drew him, and struck him so profoundly... was the lingerie she was wearing under her jogging clothes. From his vantage behind, he could see the bottom portion as she leaned forward. A smile formed on his lips.

This. This was a worthy opponent. Bold. Wrathful. Intense. Yet hidden in false pretense. A lady jogger hiding skimpy clothing ill suited for physical activity underneath.

He leaned against the tree, and watched quietly, the snap of inspiration finding its way toward completion.

She plopped onto her arms after a moment in order to look up at the sky and listen to the music coming through one earbud. She always left the other open so that nobody could sneak up on her. Annie didn't spend too long sitting though, or her muscles would get stiff again and she'd had to start stretching all over.

She stood, lifted one leg, bent at the knee, and started rolling the hip to get it loosened up.

... It was around then that she turned her head and finally noticed that she had a spectator.

Annie froze like she'd been caught doing something naughty, and openly stared right back. Holy crap when'd he sneak up on her?! He wasn't super close and didn't seem to be trying to creep any closer... and, oh lord, he was hot.

This was bad.

Her face darkened a few shades and she subconsciously tugged the hem of her pullover down. He... hadn't seen anything, right? No way. She'd been careful.

... right?

Stiffy, she decided the best course of action was to stiffly turn back around, continue her hip rotations, and then get out of there as fast as possible. She wasn't even going to bother with the rest of her normal stretches, because they required a lot of bending at the waist, and that wasn't going to happen right now.

Not while an impossibly attractive man was watching, while shrouded in a robe that didn't do a whole not to hide how physically fit he was.

Oh, god, head out of the gutter, Annie! Focus!

His patience was rewarded. She changed position, lifing a knee to stretch her hips. Good balance; she was used to this. She was a runner first, a voyeur second. It made sense, assessing her level of fitness. Well toned legs. Good, he didn't want her to tire too easily.

He was getting ahead of himself. Right here and now, he could make out more details when it came to her little secret. Erolace... He'd seen it in Lingerie Lover's magazine a couple of months back. His keen eyes could spot that bit from a mile away. But was she wearing the top as well? Black straps. Thin. Yes, yes she was.

Smoke shot from his nostrils, or at least he imagined it did as he sat there silently watching.

And then she looked at him. His arms started to uncross just a little bit, but she didn't react. Didn't run. Didn't say hi. She just... stared at him. She looked him up and down, drinking him in, the knowledge that he'd seen plain on her face as her surging passion caused her to flush. In his mind, she was deciding whether or not to pounce.

No, instead, she turned away, and continued. His jaw set. Oh... She wanted him to watch. His hand rested on the tree trunk, and he gripped it silently. She was a force to be reckoned with, wasn't she?

He had to make a move. He couldn't allow her to keep the upper hand, after all! "You favor your right knee, stretch your left more. Injury?" That's right. He was watching her form! No interest otherwise. Those creatures that preyed on men like this woman clearly did often found themselves thrown off when their wiles found no purchase. He would stay just out the the mantis's reach, make it so she had to move from her defensible position to strike.

When that happened, he would have the advantage. He held out a hand as if to ask if he could approach.

What was she doing the whole time she finished stretching and he silently watched? Running through various scenarios in her head, like normal. There were the normals ones, like 'What is he attacks me' or 'what if I'm overreacting', sure... but there were also ones unique to Annie. (to be honest, a lot more like her too, but that is beside the point)

She was imagining him in other, more lewd scenarios, too. What if his robe fell off? What if he was an artist and he was secretly smitten with her and wanted to paint her naked? What if he marched over and grabbed her by the waist, dipped her, and-

Goodness, it was getting a bit hot under her collar.

She lifted her other leg, balancing on her left leg now, and started to rotate her right hip, and then a deep voice popped up from behind her. She simultaneously whole body clenched and jumped at the same time, and tried to cover it by putting her leg back down and turning to face the unnamed man.

Oh... he'd noticed that, had he? That was a first Maybe he was watching her because he was into fitness or something?

That thought was both disappointing and a relief at the same time.

He gestured in a friendly manner and her raised hackles smoothed a little. "Oh, um. Yes, actually." She offered a smile that wasn't far off from her work mask and rubbed the knee in question with her palm.

"Patellar tendon tear a few years back. Still in recovery mode."

As he approached, the mask she's slipped on saved her from looking like absolute lunatic no doubt. She hadn't even started running yet and she was starting to sweat in places just from the stress alone. He didn't seem to be making eyes at her though, so that made the interaction at least bearable for now. She just had to focus on not stammering like an idiot and keep her cool!

She noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt under his robe and zoned out for a moment.

... KEEP YOUR COOL, ANNIE.

"I'm surprised you noticed from all the way over there!" Deciding to distract herself from him, she pulled the other earbud out fully and slipped her hairband off her wrist so that she could tie her hair up in a high ponytail, unwittingly exposing all of her long, creamy neck.

He'd been fairly sure his assessment of her was correct. He knew how to observe weakness and strength in his opponents. It apparently came in handy in his more primal pursuits as well. She invited him in closer, and he obliged, moving into normal conversation range. It was worth noting he had one arm out of the sleeve of his silken robe, resting against his belt. It was, after all, difficult to draw calligraphy with the sleeve in the way.

He could tell she was wearing a bit of a facade. A mask to cover a seductrices grin, no doubt. He did the same, his face remaining calm though his inner self was tense, and ready to counter. He nodded as she confirmed his statement, rubbing at herself a little. That wouldn't do.

She spoke again while she pulled her earbud out, which he hadn't noticed at first, it being on the other side. Oh. She was running with ears in. What was typically a sign that one didn't wish to be interupted. Had... he mistaken this whole thing? Had his inspiration been a simple misunderstanding?! Was he a complete fool?!

She exposed her neck, tying up her hair. His inner thunder god wailed as his eyes traced her soft skin. She'd nearly gotten him to drop his defenses! She... This woman was dangerous. He needed to move now, or his facade would falter, and she would strike!

He moved with confidence, keeping a straight face as he slipped his muscled, and tattooed arm from his rest on on his robes, and kneeled down, placing a gentle hand on her knee, and beginning to massage it. "It is cold out. Wise of you to stretch, though maybe a bit soon to stop." His hands were warm. They always were. His grip, perfect and soft, as if he'd trained to have excellent control over his fine dextrous movements and had plenty of strength to back them up.

Also, this put him far, far from her exposed neck. It was a safe move, akin to attacking a weak flank when your opponent's army was charging you head on; they would have to pull resources away from that charge in order to avoid a quick defeat.

All rational thought flew right out of her head the moment this man, this deity of tattoos and muscle, knelt and touched her. Any semblance of words was replaced with the long, grim beep of a machine after a patient had just flatlined. He... he was massaging her knee. HE WAS MASSAGING HER-

"Oh, I wasn't about to stop. I'd just gotten started."

She wasn't even sure if she was breathing anymore, because she was slightly afraid that if she did this feverish daydream would pop like a bubble and she'd find herself convulsing on the ground or something. Clearly, she was having a stroke, right? Normal people didn't just appear and give you sensual knee massages.

The screeching in her ears faded, and she came to the horrifying realization that she now knew how this guy smelled. Kinda smokey, but with some kinda cologne under it?

Oh, @#$%, she was being a creep. This was a totally creeping territory.

Good thing she'd showered before deciding to go running

"You're really good at that!" Oof, great job Annie. So smooth. How was she supposed to get her knee out of his grip without being rude? It was obvious that he was just trying to be helpful. In fact, her physical therapist did something similar when she saw her once a month for check-ins. Annie was clearly just being weird because this one also happened to be super hot.

"I'm alright though, I still have other stretches to do and-" His fingers tickled the back of her knee. It jerked and she GIGGLED and then spent a horrifying eternity in her head wishing she could erase that from reality.

"uh... Sorry. I'm a bit ticklish." She reached down to try and gently shoo his hands away before she made any more embarrassing sounds.

Oh, hadn't she been preparing to run off again? She'd been posturing like it was he last stretch. Maybe that was also in his imagination. She complimented his technique, and he nodded calmly. "One must know how to manage onesself to prevent injury." She was predictably tense, she was waiting for her chance to pounce, after all.

She was about to dismiss him, when he looked up, and a stray finger found the the right spot and. A giggle sang from her lips. His eyes widened in spite of himself. Kawaii. He looked down to hide slightly reddening cheeks.

Damn, this would be hard to recover from. She'd brought out the big guns, and he hadn't been prepared for the direction she'd chosen to go. Modest. But he knew she was not modest. He hung on to that reality as he removed his hands slowly. "Apologies."

Momentum was beginning to fade. She was going to defeat him before they even got started if he wasn't careful. His quickly scanned for anything to latch onto to regain his advantage, even as the back of his mind wished to hear that little giggle again.

There. When she'd jerked, her lingerie had retreated up once more, even though she'd subtly tried to tuck it away. An opening. Peel away the facade and meet her on equal ground. Subtle, though. "Oh, I am Raijin. You run here often? I write here often."

Pick your timing carefully. She hadn't noticed yet.

He didn't react to her, and she had never been more thankful for a non-reaction in her whole life.

He introduced himself, Raijin. He even had a cute name, oh god.

She could feel the flustered butterflies swarming to life in her stomach as even more fanciful scenarios clawed their way to life in her head. It didn't help that he hadn't gotten up yet... he'd dropped his hands from her knee, but he was still kneeling in front of her, and that alone was doing things to her she didn't like.

The blush that had never left her cheeks darkened a little, and she had to concentrate on not just opening starring at his tattoos. She didn't run into his type very often being the meek number cruncher she was.

"I-i'm Annie." She offered back, clasping her hands behind her back loosely to cover for her nervous fidgeting. She was absolutely not aware that he could definitely see a little way up her loose pullover. Annie was light and lean in body, made up of muscles used to running and leaping vs any sort of strength-based power.

Awkwardly, she wondered what to do, and realized that she'd kind of trapped herself by telling him that she wasn't done stretching yet. "I do run here often. There's plenty of people here and it's big enough to get a good jog in without too many laps." She didn't elaborate on when she often came, because she wasn't terribly comfortable handing out her schedule to people she'd just met.

The fact that he wrote caught her attention and she was ashamed to admit to herself that she wouldn't have guessed him the type. "Oh? What do you write, if you don't mind me asking?"

She took a step back so she had a little more space, and picked back up where she'd left on with her stretches. Dipping down a little, she grabbed the toe of one shoe and pulled back a little to stretch her hamstring on.

He considered himself a man of great strength. Not showing a great outward reaction to her giggle had taken all of this strength, and more. Indeed, he had surpassed his limits in containing himself and not tackling her right there.

This battle was too important, though. He couldn't lose. It was a measure of himself as a man. She maintained a flush, and it deepened, betraying her desire to destroy him. He didn't mention that as well, though perhaps he could soon, with the right context.

"Ahh, Annie-Chan. It is a pleasure to meet you." Oh, he was still kneeing, wasn't he? She'd attacked too fiercly for him to recover, and now he was stuck in this position unless he could expressly find a way out of it. His eyes caught her subtle maneuvering in order to show him more of her fit body. She was taking advantage of his positioning. He resisted the urge to sweep her off of her feet. It was a lure. He would not bite. Not yet.

"Yes, there is a lot of space, and you can often find a good vantage point to watch people, and... soak in the atmosphere." He tilted his head a bit when she asked what he wrote. Was this genuine interest, or another ploy to lure him into a more compromising position. No, if he moved he would be in more trouble.

"Haiku. I had settled in just around the tree." He wouldn't tell her about the spellcraft, of course, not that she would understand anything on the other side of that tree; it was all in his native pen. "I often look for inspiration... among the leaves of the trees."

He motioned toward the tree, and turned back to see her stretching once more, leaaaaaning. Ah, that's what it was. Draw his attention away to hit him from another angle. His own attack right back at him. Was he being bested here? Every move he made, she was one step ahead! This was it, he needed to be bold.

"Oh, Ah... Annie-chan. Your... What is the word. Ahh... Lingerie. It is poking out."

Annie-chan

oh no. That was a cute nickname. Raijin was dangerously charming. Her anxiety spiked and she almost fell over. Thankfully it happened at a time when he'd turned to look back at where she'd first seen him. She recovered quickly enough and was thankful that he'd actually given her something she knew about to reply to.

"Oh, Haiku? I took a creative writing class years ago that went over some of that, and my intro to Japanese teacher was super into it." There was genuine interest there, but it was a bit hard to convey it while bent sideways and looking at him awkwardly through her bangs.

Would it be weird if she asked him to show her? She wasn't sure. Writing was sometimes deeply personal for people. Maybe she shouldn't. "I can see how this park would provide lots of inspiration." Keep it simple. Just friendly chat. Don't look at his tattoo's.

He said her name, that gut-punch of a nickname, and she looked up at him after switching sides to stretch. "Hmm?"

...

Oh.

...

OH NO.

She snapped up faster than someone who'd just been smacked across the back of the legs with a switch and yanked her pullover down to cover anything that might be showing.

She'd forgotten all about it! Oh god! A small struggle began because when she pulled down on the top, one-shoulder slid all the way off, and she had to pull up on the top with her other hand.

Her whole face went beet red and she may have blacked out for a second.

".... I have to go. Nicemeetingyou!"

She turned, intent on sprinting away as fast as possible before he could laugh at her while screaming in her head about how Thad was never going to let her live this one down.

Yes. He'd timed his blow perfectly. Out the layers of defense would peel, and she would show her true nature when he was prepared to counter. He could see it now, her eyes hardening, and telling him to take her, right then and there.

Instead, she immediately sprung up, causing him to lean back in surprise. What was this?! She was leaving? His hand reached out, but her careful spring had caused him to lean back, and she was out of range. A skillful retreat, but why?! Did she not wish to bed him and take decisive victory?

He walked her round the corner and frowned, standing only to pause as he noticed something. Her music player and headphones... on the ground at his feet.

Truly, she was a strategic genius! His fists clenched so hard they shook. Damn! He'd gained the upper hand for but a moment when she played this wise strategy! Retreat, but leave something behind so that he would be forced to pursue. "KSUHHHHH." He reached down, and grasped the device gently, looking in the direction she'd bolted in.

There was no choice. He couldn't deny that she was winning, but if he didn't follow, the game was over.

He stood, and started trudging after her, only stopping to quickly scoop up his spellcraft.

-----

Meanwhile, another hunter sat in wait. It was the third turn on the jogging trail, in the back corner of the park. The place with the least visibility, and where he often waited to pounce.

He was Douglas Ritter, nicknamed the highwayman, for his tendency to entrap trail runners and hit on them ruthlessly. His next prey was rounding the corner already, apparantly in a hurry. He stepped out from the side-path and in the way of the young woman. "Hey, hey, hey, baaaabe, what's the hurry!" Ohhhh, she was a hottie! He'd struck gold.

"You look beat... Your cheeks are all red. Maybe you should take a break, huh?"

The distinct accent cursing behind her did not escape her notice, but she blamed it fully on the guy laughing at her rather than at some made-up attempt at her trying to lure him away.

Pssh, as if. She was about as suave as a lump of moss.

Annie hustled herself away quickly, jogging out of sight of Raijin before he could stop her, and then pushed herself even further just to gain some extra distance. She reached for her headphones and-

... they weren't there.

She patted the little built-in pocket in her yoga pants and-

... Music player. Gone.

She started to slow, facing down the fact that she was going to have to embarrassingly go back there for her lost items in the face of having just run away from him.

Great.

Someone popped out of the literal bushes in front of her and she immediately went on the defense. She put a few steps between her and him and he pressed further into her space.

Great. Lovely. She'd run into an actual creep. Running back there to get laughed at some more didn't seem so bad anymore.

"No thanks. You need to back off." She was firm and planted her feet, one hand hovering at the hem of her top, just light she'd been taught. He was being creepy but hadn't proven to be an actual threat yet. She wasn't about to draw on him until she was sure she was in danger.

He held his hands up but took another step toward her. Her mouth set in a thin line. "Ahh, don't be like that baby! I'm just looking out for you! Wouldn't want you to over-exert yourself or something." He didn't bother to hide that he was looking her up and down, and fixating on specific parts of her body.

She held up a hand to stop him and shuffled back a step herself, "No. You need to Back off." She was fairly sure she could skirt around him if she needed to. Maybe if she just-

She side-stepped and moved to go around him, and he darted into her bubble and grabbed the closest wrist, effectively stopping her and attempting to pull her toward him. She started reaching for her holstered gun, up and under her shirt, when-

He was wearing wooden sandals. He always wore more traditional garb when he was writing and transcribing. It made him feel more creative for some reason, to be steeped in his cultures traditional garb.

It made him much louder as he ran after her, though- PLONK PLONK PLONK! She'd made some pretty good distance, running off into one of the more obscure areas of the massive park. Gathering his stuff had really slowed him down. He'd gotten a good idea of her general direction, though. Ohhhh, maybe he wanted to be more obscured as well! She really did want to do it out here! Smoke shot out of his nose again.

Ah, he saw her, just barely around the corner. "OOOOY! Annie-Chan! I have your-" Wait was someone grabbing her? SHE'D ALREADY CHARMED SOMEONE THIS QUICK?! No, this man was being more forceful. He was attacking!

Douglas was a bit frozen in place by the appearance of a clog wearing samurai from around the corner, so he didn't react in anything other than a shocked stair as the Ronin reached back without pausing in stride, and sent a fist right into his face. Without stopping, he grabbed Annie's hand and clopped off, shaking off the tooth that was stuck in his knuckle.

As they made their way around the next bend, the ronin glanced back toward her. "Annie-Chan, have you killed someone before? Would that have been the first?"

He looked back to make sure that they weren't being followed. He didn't get the sense that the man was the type to get up after being running punched that hard, though. Honestly, he'd saved the man's life, not that he got the sense that he deserved it.

Douglas was trying to reel her in closer, and as her fingers wrapped around the warm handle of her concealed gun, she took a half step toward him and shoved her left hand into his shoulder. She was going to keep him at an arms distance away and then draw. He was already reaching for her body, not realizing she had a weapon quite yet.

The slapping of wood on the old pavement was enough to distract Douglas, who stopped trying to grab her and turned. She hesitated in pulling her gun out fully and finally spotted none other than Raijin as he appeared and came sprinting at them.

Her gun clipped back into place loudly as Douglas let go of her, and she immediately put distance between them. Good think too because Raijin hit him hard enough to knock him off his feet and send him spiraling to the ground with a spray of teeth and blood.

Then, he'd snagged her hand in a much gentler grip than Douglas had, and pulled her off with him. She was almost mystified by the absurdity of it all. Was this real life?

Raijin tossed a question plainly back at her that might have had other girls balking. Annie had long since gotten over the shock of potentially having to take a life someday. "That would have been the first!" It was a little hard to talk and run, with her chest still heaving from the adrenaline rush she'd just had.

She had definitely been in iffy scraps through the last few years, but generally when she flashed her weapon whoever was trying to intimidate her ran off, and it had been a long while since anyone had actually put hands on her. That was the second time in her life she'd actually thought her life was in danger.

"People keep trying, though." Her tune was a bit different. She was calming back down but still riled up enough to not try and hide her more... crass nature. She tugged her pullover back down into place with a huff, and then her eyes fell on his big hand holding hers and-

....

Crap.

Here came the blush again. "...Thanks." Aaaaand there went the attitude. She was alone again, with Raijin, who was still problematically attractive.