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Sitting with her back to the wall and feet sprayed out before her Lexi was the living epiphany of miserableness. It was 9pm. She was hungry, tired and had a horrible feeling she had sat in something disgusting as she waited for the bus home. She never liked sitting on her own for too long, not in the dark at least which was quickly growing as the last of the summer rays fell from the sky. Her gymnastics had run over by an hour - another routine another session where someone had forgotten to learn a move which Lexi had ecstatically re-shown them time and time again. Not that she minded, she just had to show them again until they got it as right as she did! But it was having a negative effect on her home time and right now all she could think about was the school project due tomorrow and the new showing of the Circ de’ Solay fire breathing teaser on Youtube. Of course school had to come first but that teaser came a close dam second and she pulled the sleeves of her jumper over her hands in barely contained excitement, her thoughts running over the possibilities of her favourite pastime. “Just 10 minutes of watching the clip, maybe its Joni Silozoksy doing it…no he had that trapeze accident. Maybe Sammy Ringwall? Nahh too young, she is barely out of the academy…Ohhh maybe it’s the Nalwhal Twins! Eeeiii!” Her mood lifted at the thought and she allowed a little squeal of delight to escape into the night air. Shhs-ing herself she looked about to see if anyone had witnessed the girlish glee was happy to see this place was pretty deserted, and other than a few police sirens in the distance no one got to see the deep red her cheeks went at her embarrassment. At least now she knew she was alone with her thoughts of pyro techniques and celebrity gymnastics.

Well not quite alone.

Down the block a pace or two sat another girl, her back to the wall, her feet out in front but her mood was far away from being miserable, it was utter fear. She couldn’t tear her eyes off the brick wall across from her, how the gutter ended abruptly and poured out its produce on to the filthy floor. “Someone needs to fix that” She thought suddenly as if the predicament she found herself in wasn’t really happening, that she was just viewing Destiny City with a workman’s eye. Her labored breath came in raspy chokes as she struggled again, her hands reaching up to grasp the one that had ploughed itself into her chest, ripping at her insides and tearing at her soul…or at least it felt as much. She could feel something being pulled and her energy sapping as the form before her removed her arm, the light a blurred vision though slitted eyes as she fell over to her side, her mind entering the big dream.

Ate watched her slump, saw her shoulders shudder and then everything stilled. Even the sirens stopped for this girls final moments and Ate smiled at the notion before pocketing the starseed, its burning energy cutting though her hands as if her skin was nothing. Her first attempt at claiming a victim, it had gone well, better than well. It felt good.

“Thank you cutie, I will always remember you as my first.” She bent down and picked up the body, the heaviness of it pulling at Ate muscles as she pushed the girl up and over into a dumpster by her side. With a quick pull of energy she gathered the trash and filth from around the alleyway and poured it on top of the body, her senses separating the more diseased and bacteria covered items to lay just on top of her prey to aid in decomposition. Ate was nothing if not sensible she didn’t want anything to get back to her, pollution just happened to help her crimes in so many ways. It was almost like she was meant for this life.

“Another day another dollar…what do you think Lyssa?” Her eyes caught the cat sitting just above her overlooking the scene that had just happened, her red fun damp and sticky from god knows what. Ate would never quite understand that creature.

“ShE is a BeauTifuL TulIP! Why CanT she MovE in WitH my OthEr FriendS? I caN make RoOm, I pRomiSe! I woN’t be AblE to HeaR heR frOm HerE! YouR So Mean, BuT I love yOur EyeLashes So I ConcurE witH your Plan …CaN we Get the KetChuP Now?”

Ate had spaced out while listening to the kittens incessant ramblings, she found it gave her less of headache not to concentrate on her too hard and pick out the key words when she could. She still regretted not hitting her with a brick the first day she met her.

“Not yet Lyssa, I want to try and get one more, a good one this time. Then I promise, all the ketchup you want you little freaky thing.” She threw a two fingered salute the kitten’s way and turned to jump onto the fire escape, her progress up the side of the building dauntingly fast as she gained access to the rooftop, her eyes searching for her next victim.

Bingo

Leaning over the Corrupted Senshi spotted Lexi who had put her earphones in and was innocently bobbing her head to the groove and Ate couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“Heh….I bet its Another one bites the dust heehehee…..Aww why is no one here when I say my amazing one liners!? God dammit…” Taking a running jump Ate launched herself from the rooftop and started making her way towards her prey.

Like most cats, Guardian or otherwise, Horatio followed a strict "if I fits, I sits" policy. Said policy extended to laps, chests, bags, beds, and hidey holes. A hidey hole was where she found herself now, stretched out beneath a bench at a bus stop. Okay, so it had originally started as a hidey hole with the intent of grabbing at someone's ankles and scaring them. What could be better than an innocent little prank like that that might lead to new friends? ...or at least to someone jumping up and shrieking and feeling silly when a tiny cat poked her head up and mewed at them. The look on that face would be priceless!

The problem was that (1) she had fallen asleep in the cool shadow that comforted her from the blazing sun when she had initially slipped under and (2) it was night time before she opened her eyes again and how many people were really coming out this late at night? The Himalayan had been about to give up and go home to get a bath (seriously, Destiny City was a filthy place if under the bench was any indication!) when she heard the sounds of approaching feet. Wow, someone was really coming? Awesome! The small kitty drew herself from prone position to pouncing stance. She just had to wait for them to stop and sit. Her rear wiggled in anticipation, the pupils of her eyes growing wide as she slipped on her goggles.

Yes, there were the tempting feet and legs at last! A true hunter would slowly sneak up on the desired prey at this point... but Horatio was never one for the subtle approach. Nope, speed was one of her favorite things in the entire galaxy and she used it now to propel herself for those fleshy targets. The sound of the squeal even before her successful pounce made her all the more determined to get the human's attention. Whatever it was she was enjoying, surely a cute kitty was way better, right? Much more fun to play with! Horatio's claws were sheathed as fluffy paws batted at her 'prey', and she mewled loudly to add to her sneak attack.

It just... wasn't fair. Everyone else got to ignore their conscience and do whatever they wanted, but hers was loud and demanding. There was a powerful chaos signature here and like it or not, she couldn't just let it go without investigation. Just because she couldn't feel anything or hear any screams did not mean they weren't silently killing someone, or covering their mouth while they ripped out their starseed.

Ida's own twinged in memory as she turned and stomped towards the aura she sensed, venting some of her frustration and, yes, fear into the pavement. A good night had turned sour fast. Hopefully it wouldn't go disastrous.

It took very little time for her to round the corner and catch sight of her quarry, the young senshi's heart sinking as a woman in a dark fuku and bat wings held a girl by her throat. Dang it... she hadn't wanted to be right.

"Stop! Put her down!" She shouted as she darted forward, closing the space between them in short order. Geez, she looked like a senshi... was this what corrupted senshi felt like? Ida had never honestly met one before, only negaverse officers. How could a member of the white moon fall so far?

If eyes could have fallen out from shock Lexi’s would have been well past her shin bones by now as she felt the woman’s hold take place and the sharp pain arrive. As it was Ate was doing a dam good job at making them bulge with her strong grasp around her throat her fingers feeling like steel against Lexi’s skin.

“Ghhggh-leuugh-gouhh” Her face already red from panic the gymnastic tried to peel the stone digits from her windpipe as her legs kicked out in alarm . She couldn’t believe she was being lifted from the ground but then again she was a tiny little thing and from what she could make out from blurry eyes this woman was stocky and strong – a horrible combination right now. Thoughts swimming she swore she saw a flower speaking, its purple petals waving in the moonlight before an ear piercing screech hit her ears. The fingers tightened in response and Lexi lost the ability to breath.

Ate on the other hand had not lost the ability to feel tiny razor sharp nails or teeth, both she would have rather done without as she yelled out despite her tough demeanour. She knew from living with Lyssa that you serious did want to feel those little claws more than once and Ate needed no second bidding. Dropping the girl she snatched Horatio from her arm leaving red trail marks in her skin as the claws peeled back her skin, her love for animals completely out the window as the Senshi threw the guardian cat out in an arch, her heart hoping it smacked against the wall as she inspected her ******** little beast!!” Her eyes darted back to Lexi as she lost sight of the kitten, her focus back on the teal haired girl who sat coughing and choking on the ground for only a second before being disrupted by the appearance of the other Eternal. Any and all memories of Ida had long gone as she looked with contempt upon the stranger. The only thing that registered with Ate was her wings and the aura that shone from her body like an halo. It was sickeningly pure.

“Or what flower? You think you can take me on!” Her shout rang out in the otherwise empty area, her anger getting the better of her as she steamed the little blood streams on her arm. She must have looked a mess and she hadn’t even started fighting yet! This was not how it was mean to go!

“I will give you a choice girl! I either slit this ones throat and take her starseed or I’ll stamp on your cats head until its paints my shoes! Your choice gorgeous, I am no longer in the mood for games!”

Her mood was more out of embarrassment that a cat could do this too her than true cruelty but either way Ate let it flow out of her as she stared back defiant at her power equal.

Horatio went flying through the air, but the speed demon was used to such aerial acrobatics. She twisted and managed to land more or less on her feet. Granted, it was with a pretty good amount of force and almost instantly after her feet hit the ground she fell to her stomach with an oof, but hey, no permanent damage done! She immediately began to spit the taste of Corruption out of her mouth while waiting for her legs to cease being jelly.

"Yeah, you go Ida!" She cheered for her friend as she snatched away the teal-haired girl from the loser Senshi. Seeing her in action managed to get the Himalayan's gumption up again. She shook off her jitters and sprinted as fast as she could to the hooded Senshi.

The two Senshi might have history, but the Mauvian? She was completely unattached and, frankly, didn't care to know a loser. So, she pawed at the civilian and mewed, "Hey, hey you. You alright? Hey!"

Dusky Indian skin paled as Ida realized why the woman before her looked so familiar, though far darker now and baring bat wings at her back. She had known her once, back when she had been white.

"A-Ate?" She gasped out as she pushed herself to her booted feet, feeling as though she left her stomach behind, or that it had crawled into her throat to choke her. This couldn't be that sweet senshi... the one who had cried over something she hadn't shared. Had... had this been why? But... how had it happened?

Her power signature stank of corruption and it suddenly hit home that corruption was a very real, very possible thing. It was a terrifying prospect, especially when coupled with the image she had in her head and the reality standing before her. Corruption changed a person, made them unrecognizable both in looks and it seemed, in personality.

"I'm not giving her to you!" She said as she firmed her stance, bringing up her fists. "You'll have to kill me first, and that's not going to be an easy feat."

Whoever this person was, she wasn't the Ate she had known. Even if she was, it was her duty to protect civilians from chaos, and that's what she planned to do.

"Get her out of here, Horatio!" Ida called as she dashed forward to take on the Eternal, hopefully distract her long enough for the guardian to evacuate the civilian.

Ate saw the look of confusion and then panic set in across the brunettes face, she smiled at the torment she caused for this girl. She had obviously known her from her previous life, something Lyssa had encrypted told her about after she was found. She knew she had been forced against her will to fight for the Moon court, an attempt to use their enemies as allies and maybe it might have worked on lesser beings but Ate had fought back because she felt right like this, felt at home – felt at peace. She knew being forced to be anything different would have drove her crazy, she was always going to come back to the loving arms of Chaos, she just knew in her bones it was meant to be so. The only thing that distressed her about the change was the way her memory had been wiped clean. Every encounter, ever battle, every possible bit of information had been snatched from her along with how to handle certain enemies and old “friends”. Although finally at harmony with her demons she was also reduced to that of a newbie learning the ropes of being a Senshi once again but this time at least on the winning team. She was more than happy to prove that to this pretty flower.

“Oh sweetheart, did you really think I wasn’t going to kill you anyway? Its just this way, if you don’t give her to me, am going to drag your pretty little face through the streets until you bleed to death - the other way would have been much more simple.”

She skipped back a foot as the Eternal Senshi raced forward, her hands flying up to her chest as she quickly spoke the words that would call forth her attack “Toxic Cyclone Blast“! The dregs of pollution scattered around the street started lifting forming into a heavily ball before her outstretch hands which she promptly threw at the moving target as she approached her space.

~*~

Lexi’s mind still couldn’t handle the talking cat. It wasn’t possible, she was too busy with school and gymnastics to become crazy, she had things to do! Yet she couldn’t help the uneasy feeling that this was all really happening. That she could hear the smack talk between the two costumed fighters, she could feel the fur under her hands and smell the fear emanating from herself. She couldn’t have possibly thought this all up in her mind, this was really happening. Her tears had started to slow with the gentle nuzzling of the kitten and despite her shock she found herself smiling down at the fur ball with something akin to adoration. How could such a small thing be so confident where she had become a sniveling wreck at the first sign of attack – not that she had much experience of being attack that she could scold herself for reacting this way, Ate had indeed taken her victimized virginity! Shivering at that thought Lexi concentrated on the movement of Horatio, her cute face peering up at her as she spoke of protecting

“I-I don’t know…I mean - I mean of course I want to protect you…am just not very good at it as you can see…although I do donate whatever spare cash I have to animal shelters…is that ok?” She wasn’t always this dim but in this current situation she couldn’t imagine what else the cat was taking about as she pushed herself to her feet, Horatio still wrapped in her arms.

“I think we can hide behind the gymnasium over there” She motioned an elbow to the building that made one of the tall walls that shadowed them, the very place she had been happily practicing in earlier that night. “I have the key to the side gate but we cant get in the building, it would be locked by now” She fumbled one handed in her coat pocket before pulling out a key that would fit a padlock, she shrugged slightly before holding onto the kitten tighter and racing for the tall metal fencing “I have the key cause am normally the last to leave but maybe I can ring the police when we get there…will your friend be ok?” She didn’t get chance to see the sludge ball scatter across the floor where she had just sat, oil and filth sticking to the pavement in huge chunks and seeping deep into the cracks.

The Guardian Cat kept an eye on the battle behind them, and what she saw made her fur stand on end. This Chaos loser was intense... and nasty! That attack was just gross. Yeah, the sooner she and the new girl could get into the scrap, the better.

As soon as they were far enough away, Horatio hopped down from her new friend's embrace because she needed to dig out super special items. She gave a small dash in front of the locked fence, leaving the teal-haired girl to the task of opening it. What appeared in the rip of light left behind with twin clatters were a henshin pen and a cellphone. These the Himalayan batted towards the girl before bounding over herself.

"Okay, well, good enough for me! I need you take these, but really the pen first. And hold it over your head and say Bohlinia Power, Make-Up. Then you can go and help Ida and protect people and kitties." Teal eyes shone up brightly at her, encouraging her to perform the action that, as far as the Mauvian was concerned, was completely logical and everyday. There would be time to explain the finer points of Senshidom when a Corrupted loser was not trying to kill all three of them.