A girl sits next to her two best friends, one wearing black and the other wearing white. She, on the other hand, is dressed in blue. Other than that, the outfits are identical. She laughs as they begin another argument, knowing this is going to be her last day. She had a conversation with the Hard Master last night about her gifts, and he has come to the conclusion he can't handle it. She's too uncontrolled and meditating isn't working.
"Ne, Amaya, can you show us again?" Snake Eyes, the one in black, asks. She hesitates, under strict orders from her master to not do anything coming from her gift. "Please? We won't tell anyone. We haven't told anyone, right, Storm Shadow?"
The only real Japanese among them nods his head, shoulder length hair bobbing with it. Amaya bites her lip. "C'mon, please? No one's around." Amaya looks around, still biting her lip. On one hand, she really wants to show off with Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow since she's the only one with the X gene. As children, they don't fully understand what's bad about mutants, but Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow think it's okay since their best friend is one herself.
But on the other hand, the Hard Master told her not to. She's going to leave tonight, and he wants it to stay on the down low, even forbidding her to tell the two in front of her. She wants to listen to the Hard Master so he won't report her, but she also wants to give her best friends one last look at what she can do. It'll be the last time they see it anyway.
"Only a little. I'm not going to do like before. I don't want to risk it now that someone might call the cops or... worse." Amaya forms a small ball of water from the air, something she only recently learned she could do. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, who are used to seeing it come from the fountain in a thin stream, clap and smile at her for her work and achievement. She smiles until she looks up to see the Hard Master looking with disapproval. She lets the water drop, unsure to make it evaporate and make it worse.
"Uh oh," Storm Shadow says as he catches sight of his uncle like Amaya did. "Does he know?"
"Mhm," she replies, getting up. "I imagine I have chores to finish. I'll see you guys eventually... Hopefully."
Amaya walks through the doors of a large mansion, her weapon bag held tight to her chest. There are a few kids around her, only a little bit older than she. But they're not paying much attention to her as they walk past her to the outside sun. She traded her blue uniform for dark jeans and a white t-shirt, feeling a bit odd in them. But she ignores the feeling, trying to keep the nervousness from showing as a man in a wheelchair rolls to her.
"Amaya. My name is Xavier Charles. I imagine the Hard Master has told you of me." Amaya nods her little head. "I hear you prefer Night Rain, as it is translated from your homeland."
"Japan isn't my homeland. But the temple is, sir." He smiles at her, and she sees nothing but kindness. She soon finds herself smiling back. "Am I to stay here, Mr. Xavier? I would like to keep my belongings..." Xavier nods, and she feels better about moving to America, if only a little bit. "Thank you, sir." Amaya sees a woman with pure white hair come from another hallway.
"Amaya, meet Ororo Munroe, also called Storm. She will help you settle in. Jean and Scott have to go to school but they'll be back soon."
Amaya turns to the Hard Master. "Will I be able to return to the temple, master? I want to tell Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow all about this place!" She's young, only eight, so she doesn't understand much about being a mutant and being hated. The temple knew her, so only few would turn her in for being a mutant. She doesn't understand that she can't tell Snake Eyes or Storm Shadow because they don't yet understand why mutants are hated either. So when he shakes his head, her feelings are hurt. "Will I get to see you again, master?"
Another head shake. Tears fill Amaya's eyes, and the Hard Master turns to leave. Xavier puts a hand on her shoulder. "Please try to understand. This hurts him as much as it hurts you, Amaya. You will understand when you're older. Give it time. Make some friends here for the time being. I think you'll grow to call this your home as well."
She nods and smiles, but the pain is still evident in her grey eyes. She'll miss home, she knows, but now is time to begin another life. A life as a mutant. A life without her two best friends.
A life as Night Rain.