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So it had been satisfying, at least at first, confronting Ate and taking out her frustrations upon her. She had hurt Virtus, nearly killed him, and she deserved that pain. So why, in the end, had the whole ordeal left her feeling numb and bittersweet? That wasn't how it was supposed to go. She wasn't supposed to have a change of heart midway through beating the snot out of Ate. But that's exactly what had happen.

With a heavy sigh the Senshi of Tumbleweeds slipped down an alley and made her slow way.. where ever her feet felt like taking her. She had no target, no destination. Only a desire to keep walking so long as her head kept spinning with all that had transpired earlier in the night. From the moment she'd found Grant bleeding on her bedroom floor she'd been filled, almost consumed, by a burning fury to do something about the injustice that had befallen him. She'd tried to take that anger out on others, even another Senshi whole in hindsight would make a wonderful addition to their court. It was fueling her, but in chaotic and unpredictable directions.

Then she'd finally found Ate, and she'd wasted no time in rushing the other Senshi, but the anger that had been so prominent for so long had dissipated quickly. Ate was... Her friend. Supposed to be her friend, and when she showed remorse it had all but broken Navi's heart.

She wanted the Senshi of Pollution to stick to her word, and to earn the forgiveness she confessed to desiring. She wanted it more then she was willing to admit, even to herself. The thought of losing Ate as a friend painful.

"Keep your word," she murmured to herself, the arms she had wrapped around herself tightening. Please. Please keep your word. It had been running through her head like a broken record since she'd left the park. It's what kept her wandering along the streets instead of seeking the warmth and comfort of her bed. Despite the exhaustion she felt she couldn't shake a feeling of restlessness that she knew damn well would keep her from falling asleep. No matter how much she longed for it.

Another sigh rolled past parting lips, steam swirling up in the chilly night air. The weather was turning, and Navi couldn't help but think that leaves wouldn't be the only thing to change this fall.

And with that semi depressing thought the Dark Mirror Senshi finally set her sights on home. A soft blanket and a mug of hot chocolate sounded extremely inviting all of sudden, and where moments before she'd felt restless and plagued with jumped thoughts, her mind was starting to shut down.

[Word Count: 456]

Lydia was bruised and sore, but it was her chest that hurt the most as she sat at her desk with her legs pulled up, thin arms wrapped tightly around them and her chin resting atop her knees. It felt like something had pulled her heart from between her ribs and tramppled upon it. Not a completely foreign feeling, considering how she'd felt after having to leave her family behind, but this was different.

She sighed heavily, though instantly regretted it as the skin along her jaw tugged painfully, reminding her that it wasn't just her heart that was hurting. The bruises the Senshi of Danger had given her had blossomed into spectacularly vivid blotches of color, and though they were further along in healing then they should have been, it was still painful, and, she admitted after glancing at herself in the mirror, ugly.

Despite the confrontation and resulting injuries, Lydia had to admit she was.. relieved with the outcome of their meeting. They hadn't exactly settled things, but he had admitted to having feelings for her, and that was enough to make her hope that more was possible.

The real question weighing on her mind now that she was safe at home was did she want more? She had Grant, and he adored her, would do anything for her. She shouldn't have wanted more, it was selfish, and yet..

And yet she couldn't shake the memory of his lips against her own or the feel of his pulse beneath her hand where she pressed it against his neck. The scent of his skin was intoxicating, the feel of his arms around her made her heart race and stomach flutter excitedly. There was something there, something serious, and yes, she wanted more.

So she would be selfish, of course that was already a flaw of her's.

Her mind made up, the teen plucked a pen from the holder on her desk, her free hand pulling a piece of paper from the little pad beside it. Quickly, before her concious had a chance to stop her, or her nerve failed, she scribbled down a note.

"If you feel for me as much as I do you, then stop running. I frequent the park, come find me. I'll be waiting for you."

-N

The next night Navi stepped through the mirror in the basement of the communitee center where they had first met. A part of her had hoped he'd be there, but another part was relieved that he wasn't. Truth be told she was nervous.

She placed the note on the piano, fingertips tapping out a few notes on teh keyboard before she stepped away from it to return to her mirror. In a few days, perhaps even tomorrow, if he was brave enough, she'd see him again, and perhaps then they could properly work something out.


[Word Count: - 484]

The conversation she'd just had with her queen had started out terrifying, turned to relief, then just as quickly turned again to fill the Senshi of Tumbleweed's with dread and unease. Ares, queen of the Dark Mirror Court, had indeed seen Chaonis relfected in Navi's compact when she'd opened it that night.

The walk to the nearest mirror home had been filled with dread. Navi knew she had to return her queen's call, and she knew she would have to answer for the other senshi's presence. The only small comfort was the fact that Ares' had not witnessed the finer points of her and Chaonis' relationship, but only him departing a metting unscathed Not entirely unusual, they were tasked to speak with the white moon in the hopes of convincing them into joining the rightful court, but it was widely known among the more veteran members of the DMC that Chaonis had never before been receptive to the idea. No one yet had managed to walk away from a meeting with him unscathed.

There had also been the matter of the goofy little smile Navi had been wearing before she'd seen her queen in her compact.. That was a bit harder to explain away.

In the end Ares had managed to pull a confession from her loyal soldier. Navi adored her queen, lying to dark monarch was virtually impossible for the teen. She'd expected ramifications, yelling, something, but Ares was surprisingly understanding about the whole thing. It seemed, to Navi, too good to be true, but of course, like most things, it was.

The mission Navi received from her queen was one that made her feel as though the pit of her stomach dropped out. Speak to Chaonis, manipulate him, lead him astray so they could awake him into the Dark Mirror Court. Navi could see the appeal, he was a formidable warrior on his own, and with his powers, he was a force to be reconded with. A valuable player for the white moon, and one they could certainly use. But this wasn't just some mindless soldier, this was Chaonis, her Chaonis. Her Fiyero. He despised all chaos, well.. almost all. Navi was the exception.

It was an impossible mission, but that wasn't what filled the dark senshi with unease. No, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if she did try to sway her Fiyero... He wouldn't just leave her, he'd be;ieve her a liar and a manipulator, and any bond they might have would be utterly destroyed beyond repair. There would be nothing she could ever do to make it up to him, or to make him belive that it was not her intention all along.


[Word Count: 466]