An upgrade.
In the palm of her hand was the crystal Caedus had given her. A beautiful pure stone shaped like a bird feather. Over a thousand years old? He had been right. This crystal was a comfort to her when she realized that something that old could still be beautiful.
“Amazing” She whispered, walking along the streets, her attire hidden mostly under her warm clock. She wore it still because it allowed her a freedom to move. “Am I ready for this?”
A few blocks away Acrucis stood atop the cafe where she had just gotten off of work. Tristan was off today and so Hannah had helped his sister Arianne close and though she had insisted on giving her a ride home, Hannah managed to convince her that she’d be okay.
Though unseen in the shadows to anyone that was not powered, the Senshi or Prayer made sure that Arianne made it to her car safely before leaning her back against the HVAC roof unit. Before leaving for class today she had let Sheena know that she would be late but beyond that she offered her guarding cat no further explanation since Acrucis knew that the mauvian would deeply disapprove of what she was contemplating doing.
It was a few minutes after she heard her friend start her car and drive away that the lone senshi felt the approach of another order signature feather the edge of her senses.
Phact’s answer to her question came not in words but in the tag of an aura just on the edge of her range. It was order, so that was a perk, but did not tell her who it was. But time had taught her that sometimes, when it was friendly, there was nothing to worry about unless there was a second aura.
Continuing on her path, Phact never found a second one. Just the first she was approaching coming closer to her. Frankly, it was almost atop of her when she stood outside a closed coffee shop. “You know they closed for the night.” Phact called up with a smirk to whoever was up there.
No matter the amount of time that spanned between their conversations, there was no mistaking the sound of the voice that came from the young woman below.
“I know,” Acrucis replied. “I helped close it.” She then added as she pushed herself off the warm unit to peer over the edge.
Standing below was the same familiar face that she had grown up around though her uniform had changed and her aura undoubtedly stronger than it had been before. “Looks like congratulations are in order.” She motioned with her hand for Phact to come join her on the roof least someone pass by on the street and wonder who the raven haired girl was talking to with the way she had craned her neck back to look up.
It had been the voice that made Phact stop and look up. The face that looked down at her was just who she expected to see. “Don’t mind if I do.” Phact smiled, kneeling just slightly to push off and leap up to the roof.
Landing just to the right of Acrucis, Phact rose back up and smiled at her sister. She didn’t even wait before throwing her arms around the senshi of prayer. “I’ve missed you. But I see you are doing well yourself. And a job?”
Acrucis was quick to return the warm embrace with one as fervent as her own. Seeing that her friend had grown was reason enough for such jubilation was it not? If so… why did it hurt so much to smile?
By the way the two women hugged it would be hard to imagine that they had just seen each other just a month ago on the last full moon. “I miss you too…” As the words fell from her lips Acrucis felt a pang in her chest; as if someone had struck her heart with an icepick but the ice walls she had built up over the past year were much stronger than that. And so, with a loving squeeze, she slipped back on the face that everyone had become so use to; the same one she wore to keep her parents from worrying so much.
“I’m doing as well as can be expected,” Acrucis finally added after a lengthy pause. The young woman’s arms loosened before taking Phact’s hand in her own to guide her over to the roof vent where warm air from inside escaped.
“I ran into a guy I went to school with, Tristin. We started hanging out off and on last November. His family actually owns this cafe. Any who his older sister, Arianne, offered me a job since I’ve already kind of been working here for a while already.” As means to help time go by faster and for his oldest sibling, or to help her get caught up on her tasks at work, Hannah often kept her company by restocking the bookshelves and reorganizing the ones that were messy all the while chit chatting about nonsense when Arianne didn’t have to tend to other customers. “It’s been a nice change of pace.” Definitely beat sitting around at home night after night that’s for sure.
The barest of shy smiles lifted the corners of Acrucis’ lips, an indication that there was more to it than just that, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the two girls grew up together, which made them nothing shy of sisters, Phact would have undoubtedly missed it or shrugged the expression off entirely.
Phact’s eyebrow raised as she saw the slip of Acrucis’ lips. She knew that look and it made her own smile grow. “There is something you aren’t telling me…” The senshi of doves added in a very sing song voice as she turned her back on the warm air. She was rotating around to stay warm on all sides. “You are going to have to spill because I have a sneaking hunch you are working here for more than one reason…”
She wasn’t going to say it outloud until Acrucis did but the implication was there. Tristan was more than just a friend. She gave that away when she gave the name. You didn’t drop names of people who were not important.
But she was avoiding one big thing. Acrucis had slipped on her mask.
Phact knew it. She had seen it before when she used to hide it from her parents. Mentally, she made a note to ask...but not now. All she could do was pray her remission was still good…
Caught with her hand in the cookie jar, or so they say, Acrucis’s gaze slid sideways as she tried to suppress her grin. “He took me to go watch fireworks for New Years and, I don’t know, one thing lead to another and now we’re kind of dating.” She hazarded a glance at Phact to see her reaction.
Phact’s eyes lit up the more Acrucis spoke. But the moment she said the word ‘dating’ the senshi of doves had her arms around the senshi of prayer’s neck so fast one couldn’t blink!
“That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you!” She cheered stepping back enough to see her face. Phact was smiling so she was waiting for the reaction. “You have to tell me all about him. I don’t need to come scare him at all do I?”
Acrucis laughed at the thought of her interrogating Tristin, “I appreciate the offer but I don’t think it’s necessary.” She combed her fingers through her periwinkle hair while trying to think of what to say.
“He really is a sweet guy. He usually walks me home, or to the bus stop, after work. We went on a few dates however his sisters were there with us on the last one for New Years.” There was a sweet smile of remembrance on her face however it did not overshadow the look of worry on her eyes. Like most stories there almost always was a but that followed.
“I like him a lot, I really do. I just… I don’t want to have to lie to him more than I already have. You’re lucky in the sense that you n’ Quinn know each other’s identities, it must have made things a lot simpler.” The Senshi of Prayer glanced sideways at Phact in a way that seemed to be asking for some sort of sisterly guidance on this one. Relationships clearly were not her forte.
Phact’s eyes softened at the look of worry. That question was to be expected so as she turned once more towards the warmth, the senshi of doves slipped from overly excited best friend into advice giving sister. “It did and it did not.” Phact said with a long sigh as she let her eyes drift away from Acrucis and down towards the ground.
“I had no intention of telling him but I did not expect things to get this serious.” Phact seemed...meek...in her answer. “The bigger problem came up when I found out who he was before we really started seeing each other. The dingbat transformed in front of me!” Shaking her head, Phact gazed over at her ‘sister’ and smiled. “So I went into this knowing where all his injuries were coming from and for a long time, he had to lie to me about them. It was quite a while before I came clean to him.”
This was Phact’s secret. She was VERY picky about who knew both sides of her life. Even more so when it came to her boyfriend. His actions at the meeting on the hill were a huge evidence as to why. “In a way, I wish I had not told him. He respected me in uniform more before he knew Phact and Delilah were the same. Now…”
Her voice trailed.
“What’s going on now?” Acrucis asked out of sincere concern for her long time best friend. “Did he do something to hurt you?”
Neither Quinn nor Havasu seemed like the kind of guy who would lash out but there was no denying the sound of regret in Phact’s voice which made her worry even more.
“Hurt me? Of course not! The man could only ever hurt himself. Dear lord I don’t know why his parents don’t put him in a bubble.” She admitted with a smile. Phact was pretty sure they had tried. Quinn had a thrill seeking side to him. “He takes a lot of stupid risks. I can’t tell you the number of times she shows up with cuts, bruises, broken bones...and none of them from battles on this side!”
A long exhale and she looked up. “He treats it like a game. I don’t know if you were at a large gathering recently but when he showed up, even as I was standing, talking to a group, he picked me up, spun me around, and then tried to neck on me half the time because a half naked Knight and I were talking!”
“He’s like a sometimes. I adore him, I do. But it really only felt like it was working before things on this side go...serious.”
One brow raised in a mix of confusion and disbelief. “The meeting with Cadeus? I was there with Sheena over by Maia and Shangri-La. Had I’d seen you there I’d have likely stuck by you, things got a little out of hand when I arrived.”
“Huh…” Acrucis rubbed her hands together thoughtfully. “I don’t know why but he never struck me as the PDA or territorial kind of guy. My initial impression of him was more like a loveable class clown that tries to make everyone laugh.” I really hope Tristin doesn’t try that with me in public She shivered at the thought since her neck was unfortunately sensitive and overly ticklish; just someone’s breath alone could make her a bit squirmish.
“Have you talked to him about it yet?” Acrucis wondered since from what she learned from her parents, communication was key to a healthy relationship.
“Some.” Phact admitted thinking back to their conversation after the night of her upgrade. “But it’s hard to talk about this when he’s scolding me for taking matters into my own hands in regards to calming a group of people.” Phact’s hand went to her hair. She wasn’t sure how she liked down in powdered form.
“I guess what’s more in my mind with him is I’ve realized something.” Phact turned to look at her. “I care about him. I adore him even. But I don’t...love him.” She put her hand up to her chest.
“Not like you would think one should. And I’m just coming to realize that. It’s why I wish I had not told him about being Phact.” Her head hung again. “That’s when it all changed….for me.”
Not really knowing how else to console her friend, Acrucis wrapped her arms around Phact’s shoulders in a tight embrace not unlike the number of times Delilah had in turn given her a hug when she had been scared or upset. “You can’t force yourself to love someone.” Her tone was reassuring as she rubbed small circles on her sister's back.
“As far as I know he’s your first serious relationship and it sounds like he’s not really respecting you in the way you deserve. Powered stuff set aside, if he doesn’t make you happy,” She pulled away from her friend enough so she could look Phact in the eyes. “And I mean truly happy… then he might not be the one…” It pained her to say it but Acrucis felt that the raven haired woman she had grown up with since kindergarten needed to hear it from someone other than herself.
“You are an amazing person and you deserve someone who makes your heart skip a beat, who can make you smile no matter what mood you’re in, but most importantly someone who respects you.” Delilah was a special kind of person; driven, focused, serious a lot of times, but that wasn’t all there was to her. She knew how to have fun, enjoy life, had a caring heart the size of Texas and even that might not be a good enough comparison. What more than that was her strong sense of duty and desire to protect those who are otherwise unable to defend themselves. All admirable qualities that only barely touched base on the kind of person she was.
They had been friends for almost fifteen years and even though, as they got older, they saw each other less and less; the two girls could still finish each other's sentences or know what the other was thinking without having to say a word. “You need to do what is best for you.” Acrucis gave Phact another tight hug because in the end what mattered most was that her sister was truly happy since this war had a tendency of ripping that away.
Her hands came up to rest atop Acrucis’ arms in the hug. The jester was nearly breaking the walls Phact had up on the matter. She wanted to cry. To turn around and just cry into her best friend’s chest. Honestly she had not let it all out since before the start of these events. She had taken on a senshi in training. Sabine was growing quickly but was still very young and rash. In a very short amount of time, she had taken on even more. People came to her for answers and she kept the face of strength and focus. Even Quinn...the one person she should have been able to break down to had not seen her like this.
“Hannah…” She said finally giving in and turning into the senshi’s arms, tears at the corners of her eyes. “What am I doing? So many are looking up to me now…”
She was shaking slightly as the release came. Something even Phact herself did not know she needed.
“You’re being the person we both knew you to be.” Her arms tightened around the Senshi of Doves in a comforting manner “Whether or not you realize it, you were always meant to be a leader.”
Acrucis gave her sister a kiss on the side of her head. “Remember when we were still new at this and we use to talk about how Order is broken and that nobody was willing to work together? It’s because so many have lacked someone to turn to, to guide and teach them. We’ve been missing someone like you. I feel like you have a better grasp of what’s going on than most of the other Order senshi because you take the initiative to figure things out.” It was true especially when it came to figuring out what happened in the past regarding the Moon Kingdom.
“Phact… Rank means nothing if you do nothing with it but assume because you’re the biggest and baddest that people owe you some sort of respect. You don’t have to be an Eternal or a Royal to be a leader. You just have to have the desire and willpower to want to bring people together into a cohesive group, to help them grow and make sure they all stay safe. That’s why I’m not surprised that people look up to you, it’s just a shame it’s taking them so long to see what I’ve known to be true all along.” At some point during her heartfelt speech, Acrucis’ eyes began to blur and by the time she was done talking, she was crying too.
Her body shaking, Phact almost missed the fact that the one she was leaning into, her main support and comfort, was also close to a breaking point. Eyes full of tears, the senshi of doves lifted her head up to catch the forming ones in Acrucis’ eyes.
“Hey, none of that now.” Phact said as a shaky smile went across her face. Thumb coming up to brush away the prayerful tears, the senshi of doves gave a long sigh. “You are right of course. I just never believed it would be possible. Me...of all people.” She was trying to stand up but it wasn’t going well. Her mind was still scrambled. “I guess it’s one of those things why let someone else do it if you can.”
Using the base of her palm to brush away her own tears, she gazed back at Acrucis. “And you shouldn’t be crying. Things seem to be going well for you.”
“I know,” for a moment the Senshi of Prayer fell silent before she was able to find her voice again. “I guess, I just miss you. Ever since last year I feel like I see you less and less.” I feel left behind she wanted to add but the words stuck in her throat.
“You’ve grown into your wings and they’re taking you to new and exciting places full of new people and adventures,” Like ones we use to go on together her mind interjected again as she remembered the time they explored the deteriorating haunted house only to have the crap startled out of both of them by a little kitten.
Acrucis unwound her arms from around Phact’s shoulders then touched her fingertips together so her arms made a ‘V’ out in front of them. “You’re like the lead bird bringing people together and guiding them to a common goal.” Metaphorically speaking of course. “But this isn’t where it ends for you. You are meant for even greater things.” Please her heart clenched in her chest once more please don’t forget me. “Just remember that I’ll always be here for you, ok?”
It was near impossible for the Senshi of Prayer to manage a smile, but for her sister she made a valiant attempt despite the twin trails of tears that slid down her pink tinted cheeks. It was a shameful thing to consider but Acrucis had often wondered from time to time if anyone, besides Sheena, would notice if she disappeared but then she’d remember what happened after the incident at the Umbrae Hotel and those thoughts would disappear, at least for a short while.
“Thank you Acrucis...Hannah.” Phact sighed. She needed to know that Hannah was there for her...always. Ever since they had both awoken, things had gotten harder. After last New Years, Phact had to blame herself. She had grown distant even after Mei had taken her to see her sister. She blamed herself over and over again for Acrucis being taken. For the near death and months in the hospital.
For a long time, Phact believed if she would have just walked out of Hannah’s life, things could have gotten better. Heck, they had! She had a boyfriend. A job. A guardian cat even. Arthur might stay with her but he was clearly more freeloader than anything.
She had managed to stay as neutral as possible. Something even Phact battled with even now. She found when one took the lead, walking down the line was damn near impossible. She did not want to kill. She did not want to lose anyone who could be saved.
But she would also not let one of her flock be harmed.
“How could I ever forget you? You know far too many secrets that could ruin my chances at world domination missy.” She managed out with a wink.
The last comment startled a laugh out of the Senshi of Prayer causing her to drop her head against Phacts shoulder. “One step at a time, though you don’t need to worry about me telling anyone about the dumb stuff we did as kids.” After wiping her eyes Acrucis sniffled a bit all the while wishing that she had grabbed a few napkins from work before Arianne locked the door.
“This is true. It would throw you under the bus as well.” She smirked, glad they were both smiling at how silly they had been.
Phacts’ last statement startled a laugh out of Acrucis because she knew how true those words were. She seemed to sober up quickly though before finally switching gears “Hey, will you do me a favor please?” Though she had every intention to go alone, it wouldn’t hurt to ask if Phact would accompany her on her evening errand to the hillside where the meeting had taken place.
Though at the mention of a favor, the senshi of doves gave her head a smile tilt. “For you, anything. What do you have in mind?”
“I was actually going to go see Cadeus before you showed up.” The senshi of prayer untied the small black velvet pouch from her senshi uniforms sash. “I’ve been thinking about those shards he gave us and I just… I can’t bring myself to use them.”
“He had said that they won’t kill a person, they’ll only make them sleepy. But you and I know there are always exceptions to that rule.” Though she didn’t turn her head, cerulean blue eyes slid sideways to glance at her friend. “You know better than anyone what will happen if I use it on myself.” Passing out from a loss of energy never boded well for Hannah in the past and almost always landed her back in the white walled room at the nearby hospital with panicked parents and IV’s
“It might be best if I can find some other way to help.” Acrucis shrugged not know what else to say on the matter. But using it on others was out of the question because it simply went against her nature; and using it on herself could cause a third relapse if she wasn’t careful. “Which is why I was kind of hoping you’d come with me…”
Phact’s face faltered for a moment as she heard Acrucis bluntly state she couldn’t use them on herself. After nights upon nights of people having issues of them, Phact was literally split second away from giving a long sigh and explaining how she had used it on herself just the other night when the reality of the situation smacked her square between the eyes.
Of course she couldn’t use it. Anything could put her back in the hospital and Phact felt like a moron at that moment. So with a sigh now at herself, Phact gave a nod. ”Of course I will come with you. I have already gone and introduced myself to him. After some chatting, he gave me this too…” Her hand reached under her cloak and pulled out a small crystal, pure white, and in the shape of a bird’s feather. “No magical abilities but he gave it to me to have something to remind me that just because the starseed I carry is over a thousand years old doesn’t mean it can’t still have a use.”
With that, she smiled down at the stone and put it away. “So of course I will go with you. Though you could do a bit of what I have been doing and draining the annoying ones at school.”
Before she could utter a word of thanks or marvel at the feather shaped crystal Phact just showed her the Senshi of Prayer’s mouth snapped shut then canted her head to the side causing several strands of periwinkle colored hair to fall over her shoulder as she raised one elegant brow in curiosity.
Acrucis didn’t even need to utter a word as her expression did all the talking and to be frank it really didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what question was currently balancing on the tip of her tongue with that somewhat disappointing yet more amused look on her face. Phact knew her sister well enough however to be able to tell that somewhere the gears had started turning and that was possibly even considering it as an option.
“Ask woman before you turn blue. Yes I went by myself. Sidouer has already scolded me for that one so you don’t need to.” Phact sighed, rolling her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest. “I promise Caedus is not a bad person. I think some of the older senshi just have issues seeing past the end of their noses.”
“Relax relax.” Acrucis placed her hand on the raven haired senshi’s shoulder. “I wasn’t going to say anything about that but while we’re on the topic I’m glad to hear Sidouer said something.”
“The look was because you’ve been using it at school. I know it’s the start of a new quarter but man talk about a rough start for the poor soul.” She shook her head while laughing more so to herself than at her friend. “Who are you using it on?” Acrucis finally asked though she already had a sneaking suspicion on who it was since there really was only one girl that gave her sister so much grief.
“I plead the fifth” Phact answered looking away but smiling with a small grin. It was then she looked back and caught Acrucis’ face before sighing.
“Oh come on! She always has to have it her way! Nothing I do is ever right and if it wouldn’t be on a Paris runway, she refuses to even put it on.” Phact sighed, her hands coming up over her head. “That woman drives me nuts! I just want to stab her in the a** with my scissors”
“She’s been your model for almost two years now. Don’t you think it’s time to get a new one and pass her off to one of the other designers?” The Senshi of Prayer shrugged her shoulders as if things were just that simple. “If you’re short on volunteers I can ask Arianne if we can move my work schedule around a bit.” It was an option at least and it would give them time and reason to see each other more at least.
“Could you?” Phact said, looking a bit...dreamy at the idea. “The problem is there is no one else! Most of the models are with friends and don’t want to change. When a model leaves, they like to fill it with someone new before moving people around.”
Rolling her eyes, she sighed. “Sometimes I think she requests me…” Shivering at the thought, but still believing it, Phact turned her eyes back on Acrucis.
“But you! Oh I could do wonders with you!”
“Once everything with Cadeus is sorted out I’ll talk to Arianne and see about moving my hours around.” Blue eyes cast a glance over her shoulder in the direction their initial group meeting took place.
Her initial reaction to him was a wariness but that came hand in hand with time spent in the war. It made her look at things a bit more objectively which is why she didn’t lash out or shout like the higher ranked knights and senshi. There was a distinct part of her that wanted to believe that all he truly wanted was to go home and that he truly wanted to work with them. However, his anger towards the Negaverse as a whole, though seemingly justified, was a bit unsettling.
Acrucis was about as neutral as anyone would get to a center alignment in this war. I never really mattered which side a person was on; if they were hurt she helped. Fear unfortunately halted her pursuit of that initial mission after what happened a year ago at the Fun House but things had changed and she was stronger now. More importantly she knew that darkness resided in the hearts of Order as light did in the hearts of Chaos; it is impossible to have one without the other.
Nothing in this constant struggle was black and white. No, things were sadly not that simple; there was simply too much gray in between.
“We should probably go before Sheena starts calling to ask where I’m at.” Acrucis draped her fleece blanket over her shoulders then waited for Phact patiently to join her at the lip of the buildings edge.
“After you then.” Phact said with a smile, stepping up just beside Acrucis. “You might owe her a treat if she worries too much.”
And stepping off, she let her new skills land her with ease.
Sirene Naiads
