Sighing out, Mei closed her eyes. She had finally spoken to him, and she was more than sure of her decision now. Breathing out slowly she stepped out of the safety of her room, and slowly walked down the steps to the chilly night outside. The brunette girl closed her eyes slowly as she rubbed her hands over her bare arms. The friction helping only momentarily before the Swanna Bumps over her skin were rising for a completely different reason than the cold.

Mei could feel the presence of someone else and she opened her eyes, looking out into the early autumn night and stepping away from the house. Whispers were swirling around her, and she wished she could just close her eyes again and hide, but this was her choice. Besides, if she flinched away from them, his dream would never become a reality.

"She is the reason we no longer have purpose."

"She made us flee... leave the only people we ever had contact with."

"It's all her fault."

"But."

"But?"

"But What?"

"She might be the one to bring us back..."

Suddenly, before Mei one of the Shadow triad appeared before her. His shoulders hunched and arms hanging down in front of him. The wild white hair around his face just short enough before his eyes to see the strange glint they held. Holding her ground Mei did her best to keep eye contact with him, before the other three appeared. None of them even seemed to be affected by the cool chilly winds sweeping through the town.

The lead member turned his head over his shoulder. Whispering something to the other, before the man to his right stepped forward. He was also hunched over ut he walked with a slight waddle to him. As though his knees or hips wouldn't turn right. Mei have up trying to make herself look calm as her breath swirled around her face, the man handed her a small vial. The shiny clear liquid inside was going to decide her fate.

"This is what he has given us... To pass to you." His voice rasped much like the second whisper. And in a flash the other second hand man was behind Mei. He stood taller than the other two, and his chin rested on her shoulder. A hand playing with her long hair which was down for the meeting.

"Drink no more... and no less... and more and you'll die..." His chuckle was mellow, almost hollow even. "Any less and you will wake up too soon." The voice faded just like their bodies.

"What is it...?" Mei asked as she looked into the empty night air around her. The Swanna bumps... They were only from the cold.

"Mei?" Jumping the girl pocketing the vial into his pajamas. "What are you doing out here, it's freezing." Kyouhei stepped into the doorway as he shuddered. His wet hair looked like a bit of frost was forming on the tips as Mei smiled.

"Just getting a quick breath of fresh air." She responded and walked into the doorway, pushing her brother out of the way before closing the door behind her. "Besides, it's not that cold, you just think so because you got out of the shower," She gestured to the fact he was only in a towel before rushing to her room.

"Sleep well!" She called after him before closing the door.

"Qwilfish Poison." The two words sent Mei's blood cold, as she closed her eyes. A vision of a spiky haired bluenette coming to mind.

"This is stupid!" A little boy pouted as he sat outside the curb of a preschool. The Halloween party was that night, and everyone was voted on a pokemon to dress up as. Hyuu, had gotten pinned with a Qwilfish. He threw his tail onto the street as a girl came up, she laughed and picked up the item holding it out to him.

"It's not stupid! It's fun!" The girl smiled, and he blinked taking the tail back but only dropping it back onto the curb next to him.

"Not when everyone makes fun of you for looking like a Qwilfish." And he was back to pouting again. The girl smiled and sat next to the boy as he sat with his arms wrapped around his legs as he scowled deeply.

"If you keep making that face, it will stick." She giggled as she poked his cheek which was done up with yellow and blue makeup. "By the way, I'm Mei." She smiled wide, her teeth showing as she did so and he turned looking at her before huffing.

"Hyuu..." He muttered back before Mei was standing up and pulling his arm. He didn't notice it until now, but she was dressed as a Feebas. Hyuu gave a scoff as he picked up his tail and stomped back into the apparent party. Really, it was just another day of school, just all day of play.

Still, Mei never left his side, and she even threatened to punch someone when they said Hyuu didn't need his costume.

"Why were you outside, anyways?" She asked and he groaned over his eighth cup of Apple Juice.

"I was getting upset, and father said I need to stop getting so rageful. That I'll hurt someone." He muttered before taking someone else's little paper cup of juice. They complained, the little boy dressed as a Pidove, before he made a nervous nose as Hyuu glared and he ran off, leaving his pretzels behind as well. Mei didn't hesitate in taking those for herself as she blinked in wonder.

"Well, then it's settled," She laughed and a blonde came bounced by. She was a Sunkern. "You, I, and My brother will be best friends for ever!" Mei announced and she stood up yelling across the room. "Kyouhei! Get your butt over here!" A boy with a Bidoof hood stood from where he once crouched by the blocks, and made his way over.

"Meet Hyuu!" Mei grinned that bright smile again and pointed to Hyuu. They all talked for a while, getting the grumbly boy to lighten up a little, though he suddenly took Mei's arm and pulled her out of the hearing of Kyouhei.

"Why do you want to be my friend?" He suddenly demanded and Mei laughed as though he were being funny.

"Because, if you're angry you have to have friends to help you, silly. Besides, if you get mad, and can't hit someone you have me by your side to keep you calm! Promise!" Mei held out her hand, fist closed, but little finger extended. Hyuu looked as though she grew a second head.

"Like this..." She took his own hand and wrapped her pinkie around his own. Mei closed his fist and they shook hands like so. Sealing their little promise.

"I'll be there, no matter what." Her smile grew before dragging her back to their table where Kyouhei had two pretzels on his teeth.

"Look! I'm a Walrein!" The boy laughed before stepping and prying the sticks from his teeth. "So where did you two go?" He asked before Mei laughed.

"Oh you know, kissing in the closet." This made Hyuu choke on his Apple Juice and Kyouhei's eyes grew as bit as saucers. In a heartbeat he was on his feet skipping around the room. "Mei and Hyuu! Sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Mei laughed as she kept Hyuu from running after him by tackling him into a beartic hug.

"See! I told you I'll keep you calm!" The laughed as the boy stopped trying to escape her clutches.

Mei felt a tear fall down her cheek. The girl had a feeling Hyuu probably didn't even remember the stupid promise, and she wasn't sure why she did herself.

"I'm still going to break that promise Hyuu... I'm sorry..." She muttered and pulled the small cork off the vial. Bringing the glass to her lips before throwing her head back and swallowing the liquid. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, and Mei capped it back up. Shaking her head as her vision grew fuzzy. With a very slow shake of her head, she made it to her bed and slid the vial under her pillow before falling to the floor with a small choking cough.

Her breathing came into harsh gasps, and even though she could no longer turn back... She could never tell them goodbye, or even apologize.