Title: Mirror, Mirror

Author: Lightnings-Shadow

Pairings: Mild/Implied Chack (Chase/Jack)

Summary: Some things in this world are best left undisturbed.

WARNING: There is death in this story; I hope you can handle it. There is, too, an implied MALE pairing. Keep in mind that this is only a story; just like the death, it's not real. So don't go whining about how offensive my story is, that you chose to read, even after this warning! If you don't read disclaimers and try passing that as a valid excuse for complaining, then douse yourself in cold water right now. Trolls will be shot on sight. Consider yourselves warned.

Disclaimer: The whole 'universe' used here, characters included, belongs to Christy Hui, creator of Xiaolin Showdown. As for the Mirror of Onitachi and it's demon... my own creation. I'm not making money off of this, nor do I want to.

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Prologue

The air in Chase Young's Citadel was palpably tense.

Most of the cats chose to hide and watch from behind statues or pillars. The more daring ones watched him avidly in the open, tails dragging back and forth like furry pendulums.

Chase was on the meditation level of his home pacing back and forth. It was a simple enough act, but it intrigued and frightened his warriors because their master never paced. He meditated, and it was as simple as that.

His eyes were on the ground, unfocused, one hand behind his back and the other at his lip. His stride was brisk and jerky, and his brows were furrowed over slitted eyes, pupils thin enough to be nonexistent.

If the felines didn't know any better, they'd think Master Chase was...

"Mmm," Chase hummed, but he said no more. His mind was working furiously.

This is not good. This is not good at all. Of all the times for it to reveal itself... and of all the people to win it! Good lord, this is bad. Very, very bad. If anyone finds out that that mirror is the Mirror of Onitachi, I'll be dead before morning. Oh, Spicer, I pray to whatever deity can hear me that you are not a complete imbecile. Please say that you haven't removed the Mirror's cloth...

Chase paused.

A few pairs of ears perked up at the sudden change.

He brought his back hand around and opened it, revealing a palm-size stone with a good sized hole clean through the center.

Chase's eye caught his own reflection in the marble floor. Just to sate the grain of curiosity, he held the stone between his thumb and middle finger and peered through the hole. His reflection, seen through the stone's hole, was that of his reptilian form holding the Shen Gong Wu up to one large, narrowed eye.

"Hmm..."

Chase let the Stone slide back into his palm. He stared at it for a while as his cats started raising their heads. Their lord had a decision to make, and they knew it.

Steal the Mirror, warn Jack, or trust him.

Chase could not steal it. No matter how dangerous the Mirror was, Spicer had won the Wu, and he'd won it fair. To steal it, especially so soon after losing it, would be dishonorable. Not to mention how much of a sore loser it would make him out to be.

Warning Spicer of the Mirror's dangerous power was probably also unwise. Should Wuya or the monks corner him, Jack would tell them anything they wanted to know if it kept him from getting bludgeoned (though knowing the monks these days, they would likely bludgeon him anyway).

He could always tell Jack to keep the Mirror locked away without mentioning exactly why. Jack wouldn't ask what for, obedient thing he was, and he was bound to have a safe or five in that mansion, what with his parents dripping in money and all. Ah, but no; Spicer was obedient, yes, but also highly curious. It would be only a matter of time before his need to know would get the better of him, and... well, that was simply unacceptable.

There was no trusting Jack to leave the mirror be. Just as before, he was a curious youth, and in possession of a new Wu. When one has new toys to play with, who won't poke around? Jack wouldn't be smart enough—no, no, not sensible enough – to consider the repercussions of leaping before looking.

Which left Chase with only one alternative. He would have to approach Jack himself and re-challenge him for the Mirror.