Her cellphone rang, dulcet tones of her favorite song drawing her from her restful nights sleep. Throwing the covers off and grumbling at the unfairness of it all, she stumbled lethargically to her desk and picked up her cellphone. Flipping it open, she blinked at the text message.
'Package in place?' - Mez
She shook her head tiredly, quickly typing out a message in return.
'Saotome in play, my money?' - Nabs
She climbed back into bed, cell phone in hand, getting snug under the covers as she waited. She didn't have to wait long.
'Deposited.' - Mez
Nabiki closed her cellphone, tossing the small item on the floor before snuggling into her pillows, drifting off to dreams of Yen notes.
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Void
Written by: Matdeception
Disclaimer: Don't own shit.
Editor: Foesjoe
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Chapter 3: Tempers and laughter.
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Kurt Wagner was an opportunist. That the opportunities he liked to indulge in was really nothing more then practical jokes didn't make him any less then what he was. He was the Joker, the weird little guy people tended to think of as mostly harmless until he went and did something against the grain that, for lack of better terminology, fucked everything up. The outcomes of his little jokes didn't matter, so long as the people involved could look back and smile when it was all said and done.
And he was good at it.
He felt his senses blur, hiccuping as the world twisted and reformed in a puff of purple smoke. The room was dark, what little light present leaked in through the open window, the moons gentle touch bathing the sleeping figure on the bed with a pale outline.
Kurt didn't particularly like the boy sleeping on the bed, especially after yesterday's little 'Test'. While not a malicious person by nature, he was loyal to a fault to those precious few people he called friends and family, and right now his family was hurting because of him, which upset him in a way few people have ever been able to before now...
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Tension was high, an almost tangible cord that ran through out him and his friends. No one talked, pensively sitting and eating their dinner with silence, morose over their complete, absolute, devastating failure not an hour ago. Kurt wasn't blind, friendships had been strained back there, between them all. Jean did not so much as pretend Evan, Scott, or Rogue were even present, ignoring them completely and utterly as she ate her food.
Evan didn't seem to care either, glaring daggers down the table at their new instructor as he stuffed his face.
"Are you paying attention, Mr. Saotome?"
The boy looked up with a blink, licking his lips to clear away the dripping soup, "Eh... yeah." he grunted, grabbing a roll from the basket, "Monday's, Wednesdays, and Friday's I'll be training them." he thumbed at the other end of the table, ignoring the dark looks being shot to him by Evan, Jean, and Rogue, "Tuesdays and Thursdays you'll kidnap me for something 'educational', week ends I'm free to do whatever I like. That right?"
"Correct." The Nubian woman nodded, reaching into her pocket and producing a small, sleek cellphone with the X motif etched in gray on the back, "This is your cellphone, in case of emergencies."
Ranma picked up the phone with a weird look, "Okay..." he shrugged, thrusting his arm out, the black little phone vanishing from his hand, "... anything else?"
The Weather Witch nodded slowly, eying his now empty hand with a curious glance, "Just your school schedule..."
Kurt frowned as Rogue grimaced, tearing her gaze away from the boy, glaring at her soup with fierce eyes. He could see the girl gripping her spoon tightly, knuckles white and threatening to pop. He couldn't even begin to guess just what was wrong with the girl, she had been a tight little ball of emotion since the Danger Room, primarily anger and... something else, but he couldn't figure it out.
Scott grunted, "Looks like we'll be training with him again tomorrow."
"I just want that prick gone." Evan snorted, ignoring or ignorant of the half lidded glare Rogue shot him at that.
"Like, I think he's pretty nice..." Kitty put in weakly, "... at least he's not rubbing it in, y'know?"
Jean set her spoon down, the ting of metal against glass and loud enough to break up the conversation. "Excuse me." she pushed out her chair, and walked away with out so much as glancing at anyone.
Scott glanced at her exit, turning back to the rest with a subtle frown, "Think I'm calling it a night." he left also, food untouched. Evan grunted, following his lead with out so much as a word.
"Ah'm not hungry anymore." Rogue dropped her spoon, casting one last scathing glare at the pig-tailed boy, quietly walking away.
Kurt spared Kitty a glance, the girl practically sagging in her seat sadly. It was a sight he'd never thought he'd see of the normally chipper California girl. He frowned, glancing at the boy as he laughed loudly at something, ignoring the less then amused snort from the Weather Witch. This was the guy who hurt his friends...
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Kurt tiptoed across the room, careful not to make a sound and wake the instructor. He found his dresser, easing the top drawer open. He glanced around a second, closing it and opening the next one. 'There it is.' he grinned, picking up a pair of boxers, these with little duckies on them. 'Heh, this is going to look so funny on the flag pole at school!'
He closed the drawer quietly, and readied to teleport when he felt a hand grab him by the back of his neck, turning him around and pushing him up bodily against the wall and holding him there. He instinctively tried to teleport, felt that warm pulse in his belly begin to expand before being ruthlessly beaten down.
"Now ain't this a surprise?" Came the tired, and annoyed voice. He glanced down at the boxers in Kurt's hands, frowning. "Eh... you weren't about to do something with those, were you?"
Kurt chuckled nervously, "Uh, no?"
Ranma nodded. He glanced up at Kurt's face curiously, "Hey, how long does it take to grow your fur back?"
"I... I don't know?" Kurt didn't like this line of conversation.
The boy grunted as a electric razor appeared out of freaking nowhere in his hand, "Sucks to be you then, eh?"
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Funny how a night's sleep changes things? She had gone to bed upset, a little lost, and not a little irritated at their new instructor, but now... well she was still irritated, and a little lost, but not upset. More... sore, she guessed the feeling was, physically and emotionally.
Rubbing her shoulder to ease some of the left over pain from being used as a high speed air mattress, Rogue stepped down the stairs quickly. She almost tripped when the bubbly jubilant girl, Kitty shouted behind her. She glanced, green eyes tracing up the marble stairs to the cheerful girl practically skipping down, smiling brightly. Rogue felt some of that irritation fading slightly with the girls presence.
"Morning Rogue!" Kitty gushed, "Like, you wouldn't believe the dream I had last night!"
The Southern Belle smiled, she just couldn't help it. Kitty's cheer was contagious, but she supposed that was why she liked the girl. "Ah... you gonna tell me I suppose?"
Kitty grinned as she went down the stairs, the other girl in tow, "Like, I had the strangest dream about a guy, he was really really cute! And, oh my god he was wearing the cutest little boxers with hearts and..." she blinked at the Mississippi girl's groan. "I say something wrong?"
"Wasn't a dream." Rogue grumbled, "He's tha new instructor, Ran something."
"Ranma Saotome." a very unwanted voice spoke up behind them, startling both girls who turned and looked at him in wide eyed surprised. "Wha?" Rogue stuttered when she caught sight of his grey-blue eyes.
"My name..." The boy smiled, "... is Ranma Saotome."
"Oh." the Southern Belle nodded dumbly, before she remembered she was still irritated at the jerk. "Whatever." She said with a snort, rushing a little too quickly away from him and into the dining room. The boy watched her go curiously, before shrugging.
Kitty giggled nervously, "Ah... hi."
Ranma glanced at the girl, "Morning Pryde." He stepped past her, heading into the dining room.
"... Whoa, he is cute!" Kitty chirruped, following him into the dining room. She only made it a few feet before she realized something was terribly wrong here. Ranma kept going down to the other instructors, who just looked at him sternly as he sat down.
That wasn't what caught her attention however, it was the other X-men. From Scott to Jean and all the way to Rogue, they were all staring in slack jawed wonder. She followed their gaze to Kurt, frowning a little. What was wrong with Kurt? He was actually glaring at the table, and for the life of her she had never seen the normally happy go lucky boy so much as frown, much less glare. When he glanced up at her she froze in shock.
"What the?" Kitty blinked. She rubbed her eyes, nope still there. The word 'PERVERT' had been buzzed onto Kurt's forehead.
"Not one word." The Demon-like mutant growled, practically glaring holes into anyone who stared in his direction
"... kay." The girl stared even as she took her seat at the table.
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"Why'd you do it, punk?" Logan growled.
Storm frowned, "What makes you think Mr. Saotome did such a thing?"
Ranma blinked, "Huh? What are you two talking about?"
The Feral like man pointed his finger at Kurt, unaware of the children staring at them while Kurt just shrunk in on himself, "You shaved that into his forehead, didn't you?"
The Pig-tailed boy blinked, following the elder man's hand to the person in question. He grunted, nodding, "I sure did." he turned back to the Wolverine with a frown, "There a problem with that?"
"PROBLEM!" That shout did not come from Logan, but rather Rogue as the girl slammed her hands on the table, "Ya jerk! Ya think ya can come in here an just do crap like this?"
Ranma glanced at her, irritated, "You got a problem with me?"
"Yer damn right, ah do!" the Southern Belle snarled, ignoring Kurt as he tried to waved the girl down. "Yer a prick, ya ain't got no right ta do this ta Kurt!"
The pig-tailed boy shrugged, stepping away from the table. "Before you go and throw around insults, why don't you actually ask Wagner what he did to deserve it." he pushed into the kitchen, ignoring the death glare Rogue and Logan shot him as he walked away.
"Asshole." The Rogue sat back down, ignorant or ignoring the frowns from Logan and Storm as she did so. She glanced at Kurt, the guy looked horrified, "What?"
"It..." He winced, "... He caught me trying to pull a prank..."
Rogue frowned, getting a sick feeling in her stomach at that, "... What did ya do?"
"... I tried to steal his underwear and..." he sighed, "... put it up the flag pole."
"Ah..." Rogue winced herself. Open mouth, insert foot, you're so gonna get it for this Rogue ole girl.
"Oh is right." Logan stepped up behind the girl, irritation dripping off his every word. He glanced at the other children, thumbing the door, "Get lost."
The children tore out of there like the fires of hell were on their ass, in all honesty it probably would have been if they had stayed. Kitty didn't make it far, Storm calling out to her. "Kitty, can I talk to you in the kitchen a moment?"
The Cheerful girl nodded, pivoting and running through the table and then the wall, vanishing into the kitchen.
Storm spared Rogue a disapproving look, following after the Shadow Cat
Logan waited until they left, grabbing the girls chair and twisting her around until she faced him. "What is your problem?"
Rogue squirmed under his gaze, head lowered shyly, "Ah... Ah'm sorry, Ah didn't know Kurt had tried..."
"I didn't ask for an apology." Logan coolly snapped, "I'm not the guy you need to apologize too anyway, but that can wait for later. I want to know what your problem is with Ranma."
"Ah don't know what'cha talking about." the girl shrugged apprehensively.
The Wolverine snorted, "Cut the shit Rogue. I could understand being upset yesterday, he worked you all over good, but not even that hot head Evan was all that mad this morning. If that punk can get over it, I know you can, so either you let it out to me or you can let it out to Chuck."
The Rogue winced at that threat. As kind as Xavier was, he had a temper that made Logan look like a playful kitten when he really got going. She shuddered, "Ah... ah just don't like him. He's such an ass... and I dunno, I just don't want him ta be around me."
Logan blinked, "... You don't like the fact he can touch you." he was more surprised then curious.
"... Ah never said that!" the girl defended weakly, cheeks going a little pink at the accusation.
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"..." She said nothing, finding the carpet particularly interesting this morning.
Logan grunted, "I ain't gonna push this for now." he raised one eyebrow at sudden relief to pass through the girl, "But if I were you I'd get whatever bug crawled up your ass out of your system right now. He's going to be around awhile, training you lot, pissing him off isn't going to help you out at all."
Rogue frowned, "Ah... can always refuse tha training, right?"
"Sure can." The Feral Like man nodded, "You'd be off the team faster then you could blink, but it is your right."
"Why?" The girl choked out, "Jus cause I don't want ta deal with him..."
"This stopped being about you when you became part of the team, Rogue." Logan grunted, "It's about what's best for the whole group, and that kid is what's best for you guys now, like it or not."
"Ah..." the girl took in a deep, shuddering breath. "... Ah understand."
"Good."
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Ranma opened the refrigerator curiously, examining it's innards before pulling out a small bottle of orange juice. He popped the cap, taking a drink, enjoying the cool tangy taste. Ah, that hit the spot. He leaned up against the counter, closing his eyes tiredly. He wasn't irritated with Rogue, in fact if he had to describe how he was feeling it would be apathy, he had to deal with worse blow ups and aggravations back in Nerima. He was still curious, however, he couldn't miss the genuine out rage and anger radiating off the girls in waves. While he hadn't actually been examining the girls aura, that didn't mean he couldn't feel the waves of raw emotion radiating off her...
He frowned. The fact he could feel emotions radiating off her shouldn't be possible, not unless he actually switched his perception to Aural sight. She wasn't a martial artist yet, shouldn't have an aura to speak of, shouldn't be able to hit him with her feelings like that. Only other martial artists could do that, or anyone with a developed aura primed for Ki manipulation he supposed, but that always meant you were a fighter anyway.
So how? What made her different from the grain. He couldn't really think of anything, aside from the whole mutant...
'Oh you have got to be shitting me.' The boy groaned, rubbing his head tiredly.
"Ranma?" Storm's voice broke in on his quiet contemplation. 'Perfect.' he grinned mentally, taking in a deep breath as he twisted the aura around his head. He opened his eyes, a small blue consistent glow coming forth, and winced at all the bright, vibrant colors that threatened to blind him. He shook off the sudden disorientation, he didn't really use this ability all that much, as it always came with an extreme sense of vertigo when he tried.
"Like, Mr. Saotome?"
"Oh for the love of!" the boy snapped, glancing at the girl, "Call me Ranma, just..." he blinked, rubbing his eyes. Nope, still there, the little girl's aura was practically blinding in it's intensity, but it was weird. Like it had been fragmented into a million pieces, still part of the whole but definitely separate. He glanced at Storm, frowning. Her aura was like a lightning cloud, thick and dark with what he could only describe as... aural lightning bolts twisting through out the 'clouds'
"Unreal..." he breathed in awe, staring right into the center of Storm's aura.
"Ah, Ranma." Storm frowned, crossing her arms, "My eyes are up here, young man."
Ranma snapped to attention with a blush, ripping his eyes away from the woman's chest, where the center of her aura JUST so happened to be. "Ah, it ain't what it looks like!"
"... Pervert." Kitty teased playfully.
The Nubian woman raised an eyebrow at the agitated looks he was throwing both herself, and Kitty. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes! No! I dunno!" he pointed a hesitant finger in their direction. He had a sinking suspicion he knew exactly what was going on here, but he wasn't sure. "Pryde, do me a favor will you?"
"Like, another one?" The Cheerful girl shrugged, "Sure sure."
He ignored the 'Another One' comment, quickly asking, "Can you walk through something?"
"Eh... sure." The girl shrugged, walking through wall and back.
Ranma frowned. He had seen it, but only for a split second as the girl passed through the wall and came back. "Do it again, slowly though."
Storm glanced at the Shadow Cat, shrugging.
"Like, okay..." her tone was hesitant, but he ignored that as she walked through the wall slowly. As soon as she came in contact with the wall he saw it happening, her aura breaking apart slightly and literally becoming part of the wall. He couldn't get anymore then that before she passed completely through the wall. He waited for her to come back, grunting as her blinding aura appeared on the wall a half second before she herself appeared, looking curious and annoyed.
"This isn't fair." Ranma pouted adorably, "How do you do that?"
Storm frowned, "It's her mutation Ranma, we went over this."
"Yeah yeah, I know that." The boy snorted, "I'm talking about how she breaks apart her aura like that. It's in pieces, it just seems to shoot out when she's about to walk through the wall."
Kitty blinked, "Uh, like, have no idea what that means." she glanced at Storm, the older woman shrugging.
Ranma rubbed his chin thoughtfully. So Mutations had something to do with their Ki, which was cool and infuriating all at the same time. He had to train his aura from scratch to get to where he was, but here was a little girl with no martial arts training just given a fully trained aura. Sure it seemed to only be one dimensional in what it could do, but it still wasn't fair.
Though that did raise the question if all Mutations had this. Storm was furthur proof, he looked down at himself curiously. He didn't see anything strange, at least nothing stranger then he saw when Cologne first taught him this trick. That must mean he had activated that Void mutation prior to learning the trick, or even before Cologne showed up, he didn't doubt the woman didn't regularly scan him, yet she never mentioned seeing his aura change.
"Ah, forget it." Ranma sighed, his eyes returning to normal as he killed his aural sight. He'd need to do some more research on this, heck if he could find a way to copy a mutants aura... the possibilities were endless!
"If you're done then..." Storm smiled calmly, "Kitty has agreed to lead you to school, and show you around."
"Eh.." Ranma nodded with a smile, "Thanks Pryde, means a lot."
"Hehehe..." the girl nervously laughed, glancing at the clock and gasping, "Like, we have to run! We're going to be late!" She said, storming out the kitchen like a demented lemming.
Ranma blinked, rushing after the girl.
Storm just sighed.
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"Yo Pryde, hold up!" Kitty slid to a halt as the boy caught up immediately.
"No time!" the girl groaned, "Everyone already left, he have to run a mile in ten minutes if we're going to make it in time!"
Ranma nodded, lifting the girl up in her arms much to her sudden agitation. "Hey! Let me down! I can walk you know!'
"Yeah, yeah." the boy grunted, glancing around, "Which way to school?"
She idly pointed to the south, "Like, I said let me dooOOOOOOWN!" she screamed as the boy took off, the world becoming nothing more then a blur of lights.
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It had been a long walk, time spent deep in thought. She could have gotten a ride, Rogue knew, but she really just wanted to be alone for now. Given her earlier foot in mouth moment, and Logan's harsh, if completely true words, she really needed time to think about herself, her place on the team, and what she was going to do about Ranma.
Did she want to leave the team? Of course not. She liked being an X-men, liked Kitty and her cheerful attitude, Kurt and his playful nature, Evan and his rebellious stance, Scott's charismatic presence, heck she even liked Jean... when she wasn't being stuck up. They were her... family, a real family, not like the cold distance her Foster mother had with her... this was something special, something warm, something she hadn't ever really felt before in her short life.
Was she really so self-centered to risk giving that up, all because of a boy that irritated her? She really didn't need to think about the answer, it was no, she wasn't willing to give it up. She didn't think she'd ever get over it if she ran away like that.
She was glad she had made the choice, but that was by far the easiest thing on her mind. She still had to deal with Ranma, apologize for shooting her mouth off like a childish little girl, but how was she going to do that? He didn't seem very happy with her after she got done mouthing off. She sighed, hugging her book bag to her chest tightly. She'd just have to think of something, try to be nicer until she could catch him alone.
"Rogue!"
The Southern Belle blinked, looking up as a girl ran out of the school. She had short dark hair, purple eyes that match her purple highlights. "Risty?"
"Hey girl!" The England girl smiled, "I waited for you, wanted to see how my new friend was doing!"
'Waited for me? New friend?' Rogue blinked, smiling slowly, sincerely, "Ah ya didn't have ta wait for me."
"Bollocks!" The girl gushed, slinging her bag over her shoulder, "It's the least I could do, especially after all the help you gave a little no body like me yesterday."
"Ah... it's no problem, ah enjoyed helping ya out Risty." The Rogue started off hesitantly, not entirely sure how to deal with the girl. She liked her, she wouldn't deny it, she was the first friend she had made since... since before the X-men honestly.
"Come on, I still don't know my way..." Risty paused, looking around curiously, "Do you hear that?"
"Ah, hear what?" Rogue blinked, pausing to listen herself. She didn't hear anything at first, but... yeah, there was a low sound, almost like laughter? Where it was it coming from?
Risty blinked, a sudden swoosh of air blowing against her, followed by the sound of glorious laughter from behind her.
Rogue just stared.
Ranma chuckled, "I see you got into it, eh, Pryde?" he set the girl down, holding her shoulder to keep her steady.
Kitty laughed, half glaring at the boy, "Hehe.. hehehe... like, it started tickling! But it was sooooooo scary at first, but then you hugged me and..." she paused, suddenly blushing brightly, "Uh... never mind." she finished shyly, toeing the ground hesitantly. She glanced up and caught sight of the two girls staring at them, "Hey Rogue!" she chirruped.
Rogue waved dumbly, even as Ranma glanced in her direction still smiling, he turned back to Kitty. "Come on Pryde, you promised to show me around the school!"
"Like, call me Kitty." The valley girl, she grabbed his hand and practically dragged him inside, "I know just where to start the tour!"
"Hey! Kitty! I can walk you know!" The boy shot back playfully, ignoring the girl stick her tongue out childishly.
Risty watched the duo walk into school dumbly. "Wow..." she whispered in awe, glancing at the dumb struck Southern Belle, "Who was that guy?"
Rogue took a deep, shuddering breath. What should she say? She didn't think mentioning he was the new instructor would be a good thing, it would raise questions, questions like how the heck a kid like that could be teaching and still be in high school. "Ah, he's a new kid at the institute, showed up yesterday."
"Really." Risty breathed, throwing a grin at the girl, "He's dreamy, and you're living with him! Oh, tell me you know his name?"
Rogue restrained the urge to grimace, barely, "Ranma Saotome." She blinked when the girl froze in place, eyes slightly widening. "Risty, something wrong?"
"Ah... no... no I'm fine." She smiled pleasantly.
"If you say so." Rogue shrugged.
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Taryn Fujioka was an half America half Japanese immigrant. She was bright, happy, go lucky girl who praised the Kami every day that allowed her father to get a job overseas and rescue her from that crazy life in Nerima just a year ago. Every day in America was a day away from Bowl Cut obsessed Principals, a energy vampire English teacher who didn't particular care who got in her way, and most importantly it was a day away from the Fiancee brigade and the epic pissing matches that tended to send Furinkan into a pit of Chaos the likes of which hadn't been seen since the last time they ended up starting a school wide brawl.
She was in heaven, honestly. Here in America she didn't have to constantly look over her shoulder, devise escape plans, watch out for perverted gnomes looking for a grope, and didn't have to worry about losing her sanity and bathing the district in a deluge of blood when she lost it and decided to get stabbity. Here, she could have friends and not immediately question whether or not she could out run them. After all, when escaping a horde of ravaging girls it wasn't about how fast you ran, just that you could out run your 'friends'.
"Today's going to be a good day!" Taryn grinned. She believed it too, there was just a feeling of impending awesome she couldn't quite describe.
"Glad some one thinks so." Came the quick, tired voice of her best friend as she closed her locker with a sigh.
Taryn rolled her eyes, "Come on Jean! Buck up! Start the day with a smile, as they say!" Honestly the girl couldn't appreciate how... how wonderful it was to be here. The school was so bloody boring, and after living in Nerima just as the Fiancee Wars were getting started, she couldn't even imagine a better place to be.
The red head sighed, leaning against the lockers. "Sorry. Just had a bad night last night, is all."
Taryn blinked, "Scott turned you down?"
"What? What brought that on?" Jean eyed her best friend warily.
"Oh, so you didn't finally break down and ask that gorgeous hunk out?" Taryn sighed. It figured, it really did. Jean and Scott were so obviously interested in each other, but despite that they couldn't get past that first hurdle and just admit it to each other. Reminded her too much of another couple she had the nightmare of knowing, even if only vaguely, back in Japan.
"We're just... friends, nothing more." Tayrn couldn't help but notice the stress the girl had put on 'friends'.
Jean winced as the girl invaded her personal bubble, pressing her up against the lockers, "Okay, out with it, what's got you so upset?" Taryn ignored the cat calls from boys spying them, not even blushing as the other girl flushed pink. This was a trick she had learned, once upon a time while hiding in a closet, from the Middle Tendo girl. Oh how easy it was to get what you wanted when people were flustered and off balance.
"... It's nothing! I'll get over it." Jean sighed, "Some things were said, that's it."
"Right." The Nerima escapee drawled, "Is there some other girl in the equation? Or girls? Did you catch him digging through your underwear screaming 'Hotcha'?" the girl frowned thoughtfully, "Not a cross dresser is he?"
"Where do you get these silly ideas?" Jean just snorted. "Things are just strained now, it'll calm down on it's own."
Taryn sighed, stepping back much to the disappoint of boys everywhere, "If you say so."
"Like, this is B hall, and the stairs lead up to the Circuit. Like your third period Math class is up there, and, like, over here is the Cafeteria." Came the Jubilant chorus of words from Kitty as she rounded the corner, hand in hand with a guy who looked vaguely familiar for some reason Taryn couldn't quite place.
The boy glanced in their direction, and looked ready to move on before he froze in place, grey-blue eyes locking on Taryn's brown own curiously.
The Nerima escapee blinked. There was something there, a dangerous familiarity that roused the primal need to look over her shoulder and duck for cover. He was Asian, with dreamy eyes, raven black hair that was almost bushy, and wearing a white silk shirt with matching pants. She prodded that feeling of doom thoughtfully, hoping to tease remembrance but failing.
Kitty frowned, coming to a sudden stop as her current victim froze in place. "Like, something wrong?" she turned back and blinked, following his curious stare to Jean and Taryn.
Jean frowned at the boy, throwing curious glances at her best friend.
Suddenly his eyes widened, a grinning, "Taryn!"
"Do I know you?" The girl shot back cautiously. That fight or flee feeling in her gut practically exploding now that he actually spoke.
"It's me, Ranma!" He blinked as the girl suddenly moved faster then she had a right too. He chuckled, looking down at the girl hugging his legs, gasping fearfully.
"NO! I've violated By-stander protocol! I've talked to you out in the open, you have to save me!" The obviously delirious girl wailed, hugging the boys legs as she fearfully glanced around.
Kitty just stared with wide eyes.
"Uh... what's going on here?" Jean asked, dumb founded at the sight of her normally 'In your Face' best girlfriend weeping miserably, hugging Ranma's legs.
Ranma chuckled, patting the girl's head comfortingly, "Hey, it'll be alright." he cooed as if he was talking to a frightened little child, "The Arch-Enemies are in Japan." he peeled the girl off his legs, giving her a hug despite her nervous twitching, before letting her go.
"High Alert Protocol Violation..." Taryn mumbled fearfully, "You've hugged me, in public." she sighed tiredly, "I'm dead."
The red head could practically feel the sudden switch from overwhelming fear to subdued acceptance from her friend, and she didn't even have her powers on! "... I take it you two know each other?"
Ranma chuckled, glancing at Jean, "Yeah! Taryn wrote the F.S.G. back in Nerima, she saved countless girls from the cross fire with the Fiancee Brigade."
Jean and Kitty mouthed, 'Fiancee Brigade'
Taryn jumped as the bell began to ring, wide brown eyes shooting left and right fearfully.
"She's not here either, Taryn." The boy gave the girl a pat on the back, ignorant or ignoring the way she trembled from the touch. "We'll catch up later, Kitty here's giving me a tour."
The Shadow cat's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh my gosh! We're going to be late!" she grabbed Ranma's hand back, "Like, follow me!" she rushed out, dragging the unresisting Saotome male behind her, who waved good bye as they disappeared around the corner.
Jean blinked. Well that was certainly an... educational encounter. She glanced at her pale best friend curiously, "F.S.G.?"
"Furinkan Survival Guide." the shell shocked girl mumbled.
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Ranma wondered about Kitty, he really did. She was a cute girl, nice, and her cheer was contagious to the point of stupidity, but she was doing something only his fiancee's had done much to his chagrin. She was holding his hand, dragging him through halls and blabbering a mile a minute. The fact she has holding his hand didn't really bother him, it's not like she was a fiancee, and he doubted Genma had made it this far in his great 'Get Ranma Engaged to the WORLD' quest. What did bother him, however, were the stares they were getting. They were a mixed of curious wonder, envious disgust, or just plain annoyance. Especially from that guy in the brown trench coat, he was practically glaring solar hell daggers at them, or more to the point, him.
"Like, I'll swing by and pick you up after first period." The bubbly girl smiled brightly, letting his hand go as she took off in a rush down the hall.
The pig-tailed boy shrugged, heading into his first class; Biology. He didn't much like the course, he probably would have fallen asleep if he hadn't been flipping through the book and spotted a descriptive explanation on Resonance. It was an interesting subject, detailing how a string stretched out over a guitar would amplify and create a sympathetic vibration by disturbing air molecules. He wondered about that, Ki tended to pulse and react depending on how you 'plucked' at it, could he some how combine what he was reading with how he drew upon Ki? Instead of dragging it kicking and screaming out of his body, apply it to his fore fingers and spread them apart, creating a 'string' of Ki that he could pluck on to create vibrations? What would the end effect be, and how could he adapt it to combat? He'd need to think about this.
Ranma closed the book as Kitty rounded the corner, smiling cheerfully. "Like, hey Ranma! Ready for second period?"
He cracked a grin. Damn that girl's smile was just so damn contagious, and cute too if he was being honest with himself. Thank god she a friend, and not a fiancee. He didn't think he could beat a girl off him if she had this much pep, skill in the art or no. "Sure am."
[][][]
Evan wasn't angry anymore with their new instructor. In fact, if he had to describe the feeling, he was amused, very much so. The sight of Kitty, the chatter box, dragging the boy by his hand like a demented girlfriend showing her boyfriend the sights was just too hilarious for him.
He chuckled.
"... You better not be laughing at me." Kurt, beneath his image inducer, idly rubbed his forehead. He could feel the word shaved into his fur, even if no one else could see it currently. He had never been so embarrassed in his life as he had been that morning. He knew he was never going to live this down.
Spyke rolled his eyes, "Give me a break, it's not like I went out of my way to try and humiliate a guy who can kick my ass with out breaking a sweat." he poked the guy in the forehead, "What were you thinking? This guy's an instructor, were you trying to piss him off?"
Kurt sighed, "No... everyone was just so mad at each other last night because of this guy, I thought... y'know, help them laugh."
The Nubian kid sighed, staring at the illusion of the boy beneath it. Kurt always tried to get them to laugh, especially when they were down in the dumps. He shouldn't have been surprised he would try something, especially after last nights Charlie Foxtrot. "I get it." he chuckled, "It would have been funny too, if you managed to do it. Thanks man."
Kurt sighed, glancing across the hall to their new Instructor as he got dragged around a corner, at the same time spotting Rogue and her new friend, Risty, talking amiably across the hall. "I wonder... how much trouble do you think Rogue got in for yelling at him?"
"Eh..." Evan shrugged, glancing at the pair of girls slowly strolling up the hall. "Logan probably tore into her, you know how he can get." He frowned thoughtfully, "Though, really, I didn't even know exactly what you did, and even I knew it was your fault when he admitted to buzzing you like that."
Nightcrawler blinked, "Huh? How'd you figure that out?'
Evan looked at him with a half lidded glare, "Saran wrap on the toilet..."
"Eer, it was a joke!"
"The time you replaced the salt with sugar, JUST as my Aunt was reaching for it..."
"Well her meatloaf tasted better... kind of..."
"Or the time you dyed all of Scott's clothes pink..."
"I get it." Kurt pouted, "So I'm a prankster, it's not like everyone doesn't know it."
"Which brings me back to Rogue." Evan snorted, "Girl should have known better then to snap like that, but she did it anyway. I don't understand her at all, you figure she'd be nice to the only guy she knows she can touch."
Kurt frowned at that. Her reaction to their new instructor, well he had just assumed she was still mad about last night and needed a way to vent, but he hadn't considered the fact she could touch him. He glanced at the girl, smiling slightly at Risty. He'd have to apologize for getting her in trouble, but he made a mental note to keep an eye on her from now on.
[][][]
Ranma didn't much like his second period teacher, Ms. Thornstad. She reminded him way to much of a certain chi vampire, only with out the power to back up her bitchy attitude. She seemed overly critical, almost abusive in the way she looked at him when he admitted he didn't have a firm grasp on the English language. He could already tell that was going to be a class he was going to go out of his way to sleep thru from now on.
Kitty chirruped, dragging him up the stairs to his third period class. "Like, after this you have lunch! I'll meet you on the first floor, introduce you to some of my friends, kay?"
The pig-tailed boy grunted, "Hey Kitty."
The girl didn't even glance back at him, "Hmm?"
"Can I ask ya something?"
The girl paused, looking back curiously, eyes a little wide in apprehension or fear, he couldn't tell. "Uh.. like, sure?" she squeaked out.
Ranma raised an eyebrow at that. The girl was way too nervous all of a sudden. "Eh, just curious about that guy over there." he thumbed towards a duo of boys, one in a brown trench coat and the other with silvery hair pulled back to complete the wind-swept look. "Seen him in-between classes, does he always look pissed of, or am I missing something?"
Kitty frowned, sticking her tongue out at the guy childishly. The boy snorted, thrusting his hands in his pockets and taking off down the hall. "That jerk."
The gender-cursed boy blinked, "Uh..."
"He's a jerk, name is Lance." The California girl shrugged, "Part of the Brotherhood. He can be nice some times..." she flushed a little pink admitting that, "... but he's still a grade A jerk."
"Oh." Ranma shrugged, stepping into his class room, "See you for lunch."
"It's a date!" Kitty chirruped, turning down the hall and practically skipping. Ranma blinked. 'A date? Eh... whatever. She's not a fiancee, ain't crazy like the Kuno's, so she probably didn't mean it like that.' There, rationalization down, he felt the sudden nervous apprehension at the word 'Date' fade away.
[][][]
"You don't have to walk me to every class, Rogue." Risty sighed as began their trek up the stairs, "I mean, don't take it wrong, I appreciate all the help, but isn't your next class on the other side of the school? You'll be late!"
"Ah it ain't a big deal." Rogue shrugged. Truthfully she didn't care if she was late for her next class, Speech. The bane of her existence as far as she was concerned. Ms. Thornstad really irritated her with her dark looks and condescending attitude. So what if she talked different from other people? It felt right to her, so why did it matter? It's not like people had trouble understanding her.
Risty paused, digging out her cellphone as the ringtone 'Beautiful People' by Marilyn Manson began to play. She flipped the sleek device open, frowning at the text that scrolled across her screen. "Damn it, it is him." she mumbled more to herself.
Rogue looked over the girl's shoulder. She only caught a glimpse of a picture before her friend closed the message, but she doubted she could ever forget just who was in the picture. The recent source of her irritation, Ranma Saotome. "Huh?"
Risty shook her head, "It's nothing. My dad's a bit of a martial arts fanatic, he talks a lot about some fighters in Japan he saw on one of his business trips. I thought I recognized the name, just wanted to be sure." she shrugged, "Dad's going to throw a fit, I know it."
Rogue blinked, "He's famous?"
"Kinda." Risty sighed, "In certain circles, I guess. Mainly martial arts, but don't take my word as gospel, I don't follow that kind of stuff myself." she explained as they restarted their trek up the stairs, "Lot's of rumors go around about him specifically, some weird stuff."
"Ah..." The Southern Belle frowned, "... like what?"
"Crazy stuff." the other girl shrugged, "Like he can 'glow' or something, that he has an army of girls after his cute little butt, or..." she chuckled, "... that he can 'transform' into a girl when he gets wet. I tell ya, some people need to get their heads examined if they're going to believe that kind of rubbish. It's ridiculous."
"Oh." Rogue really couldn't think of anything to say to that. An army of girls? Turns into a girl? What the hell...
She bumped into someone as she cleared the top of the stairs, she tried to steady herself but the unexpected bump held way to much strength. Eyes wide, she began falling backwards down the stairs.
[][][]
Ranma couldn't resist bringing out his Biology book from stuff space. The idea that resonance could some how be adapted into a martial arts move wouldn't leave him. He didn't really care for math, the teacher Mr. Therrian just went on and on in a monotone voice about formula and the various applications, he was amazed he even stayed awake in that class.
Heading out the room once the bell rang, he ignored Lance leaning up against the wall beside the door, passing him with out even so much as a glance until the Avalanche put his hand on his shoulder, growling, "Wait a minute punk."
Ranma blinked, lowering his book, "Huh?"
"I don't know or care what your deal is with Kitty, but whatever it is, it stops now, understand?" Lance glared at him, clenching his fist to make a point.
...
Ranma just laughed, "Oh this is rich!" he ignored the stunned look on Lance's face, turning around with a snort. "Go away little boy, before you get hurt."
Ranma tilted to the side as a fist flew by, ducking when the boy growled and swung wide, then hopping up and over the boy when he lunged forward to tackle him, crashing to the ground when he missed. Sighing, the pig-tailed boy pressed down on his back with one foot. He didn't bother looking up from his book as the kid struggled to get up. "You're out of your league here, idiot. Just stop before this get's out of hand." He stepped over him, continuing on his way. When the boy didn't attack him again, he let out a tired sigh. Well at least he wouldn't have to beat down on him.
Rounding the corner to the stairs, he was too distracted by his reading to notice a duo of girls coming up. He bumped into one as she reached the top, unintentionally applying his strength to keep himself from falling back, but that same strength proved too much for the girl to push through. He looked up in time to see a pair of green eyes widen in shock as the owner of those eyes teetered back and began falling down the stairs.
Instinctively he reached out to grab her, managing to get a hold on her purple scarf that slipped off with out slowing her downward fall an iota. Ranma cursed, dropping his book as he lunged forward, grabbing the falling girl before twisting in midair just in time as he slammed down. Cradling the girl protectively as they began rolling down the stairs, he timed their turns so they were in air long enough to complete the arc so she didn't actually come into contact with the pointed, unforgiving steps. They continued to fall, twirling as gravity increased the speed slightly, until finally he slammed into the cold tiled floors at the bottom of the stairs, sliding across the sleek surface and banging his head against the pliable metal of the lockers lining the hall.
"Ow..." Ranma sighed tiredly. The girl in his grip shuddered violently, not that he could blame her. Falling down the stairs hadn't been fun for him either, and he had been the one to actually absorb the multiple impacts. The girl put her hands on either side, pushing up and staring at him with wide eyes.
"Rogue?"
[][][]
Kitty sighed, staring up the stairs tiredly. Where was he? He should have been here by now! He better not be trying to skip out on their 'date'. She blushed as she thought about that, going out on a 'date', even if it really was just having lunch together, with her new instructor? Ooooh it was so scandalous, so exciting! That he was very easy on the eyes was a bonus, and the way he acted some times was just too cute. She didn't need to be told she was developing a small crush on the boy, she was very well aware of it.
"Well lookie here, the Kitty cat of the X-geeks." Pietro whispered from behind, causing the girl to shiver.
'Oh great.' The Valley girl sighed, glancing back, "Like, get lost creep."
"Ah, don't be like that. I'm doing you a favor, being here, y'know." He wrapped his arm over the girls shoulders, "Yep, good ole Pietro, here to pick up the pieces when Lance gets done making you cry."
Kitty grimaced, pushing his arm away, "Like, don't touch me. And how is Lance going to 'make me cry'?"
Quicksilver chuckled, "How else? He's going to teach your boy toy a lesson."
Kitty blinked, descending into a look of horror, "No! He doesn't stand a chance against him!"
"Should have thought about that before strutting him around the place like a prized cow." Pietro snorted. "Holding hands, gah, Lance was pissed seeing that."
"I DON'T mean Ranma, Lance is the one who's going to get hurt!" She turned to the stairs, but Pietro grabbed her arm and yanked her back just as Ranma came tumbling down the stairs in a tight roll, slamming into the ground and sliding across it's surface, hitting his head and leaving a dent in the lockers opposite the stairs. A single, solitary book came skidding down the stairs, hitting the ground with a dull thump.
"RANMA!" Kitty phased through Pietro's grip, running over downed boy with the girl on top of him.
[][][]
'So this is what it's like ta see yer life flash before yer eyes.' Rogue felt a bit detached as she began falling. That overwhelming fear of death was still there, causing her heart the pump rapidly, but in a strange melancoly way she couldn't bring herself to truly care.
That was when she felt it, a pair of arms wrapped around her neck and waist, pulling her against a warm body as the world began to twist. She scrunched her eyes shut, pressing her head against the boys neck and shoulder, feeling sudden jerks as they slammed into the stairs before bouncing up in another twirl in their downward descent. Faster then she could think the world spun, coming to an abrupt end with one final slam on the ground. Rogue took in deep breaths, tasting her saviors scent, a mix of spices and peaches. Dimly she began to realize whoever her hero was, she could feel the warmth of his flesh pressed against her cheek. A gripping dread clamped around her heart at the thought of draining him, whoever he was. Yet nothing came..
Hesitantly, she pulled away from the warmth of the embrace she unwittingly found herself in, staring with wide green eyes into a curious grey-blue. For her, the world seemed to become unhinged, drifting endlessly with no focus as she stared into the clear depths of his eyes. Enraptured she almost didn't hear her name being called, but it served it's purpose, breaking the illusion.
"ROGUE!" Risty shouted, rapidly coming down the stairs. She dropped to her knees and slid the rest of the way, touching the girls shoulder curiously. She paused, only for a fraction of a second, as she saw the boy's hand slide off the back of the girl's exposed neck. "Uh... are you okay?"
Rogue nodded, not trusting her own voice as she got up to her feet. Ranma kicked up and cracked his neck, sighing tiredly. He glanced at the shocked Rogue and guarded Risty, grunting, "Sorry about that."
Kitty sighed in relief, "Like, are you two alright?"
"Yeah." The pig-tailed boy nodded, "Here, your scarf."
Rogue startled, practically snatching the article of clothing, wrapping it around her exposed neck.
Lance came walking down the stairs, half frowning, half glaring. Kitty whipped around, pointing one finger angrily, "You! Like, how could you! Some one could have been hurt!"
Avalanche blinked, "Wait, you're blaming me for this?"
"Trying to 'make me cry' again, weren't you!" The Cheerful girl glared at the boy darkly.
Ranma picked up his book, "Chill Kitty, it was my fault, not his." He grabbed the girls hand when she looked ready to continue despite what he said, "Come on, you promised me a lunch 'date'." He ignored the looks he was getting from them all, from Rogue's thoughtful look, Risty's frown, Lance's pointed glare, and Pietro's dangerous stare.
[][][]
He had never been so embarrassed in his life... No, scratch that. He's been transformed back into a guy in public while wearing a filly dress, in comparison this was tame, but he still felt like a total idiot for what he had done. Honestly, a Martial Artist of his caliber bumping into some one and sending them rolling down the stairs? Pops would laugh his ass off if he could see him now, or call him an idiot, but the two tended to go hand in hand.
"Like, are you sure you're okay?" Kitty asked worriedly. Honestly he thought her concern was sweet, if a bit annoying.
Ranma grunted, "Yeah, I'm fine. It'll take more then a little fall down the stairs to hurt me." He waved her off. "Gotta get to Gym, I'll see you after class."
Kitty pouted. Lunch had been fine, he guessed. Her friends were about as girly as he imagined they could be, and they all seem to exude pep like Kitty did, even if not to her near overpowering way. They also stared at the two of them accusingly in a way he did not particularly enjoy, almost as if they were insinuating something he couldn't quite grasp.
Eh... whatever. He shrugged that thought off, ducking into the locker room to change.
[][][]
Todd Tolansky gripped the pathetic stall door closed tightly, sweating nervously at the dark chuckling coming from the other side. Ah good ole Toad, another day another series of brutes out to beat your hide. Truthfully the majority of the bullying had gone down since Fred had showed up, developing a sort of Big brother relationship with him, but he couldn't be there every second of the day.
"You trying to hide?" the voice of one of his tormentors reached his ears, sinister and mocking at the same time. "Just making this harder on yourself, Tolansky."
"Yo yo, can't we all just, y'know, get along?" Toad grumbled tiredly, holding the door close even as it lurched forward some, "Please?"
"Just give it up you little worm." Duncan, that holier then thou bastard from the Football team, snorted. With a combined push they overwhelmed the Toad's meager strength, forcing the door open. Toad backed up, chuckling nervously, "Like, parley?"
They didn't laugh. Well it hadn't been that funny anyway. They dragged him out of the stall, throwing him bodily against the lockers. Duncan, the blond haired quarterback clenched one fist, reared back and slammed the Toad across the face hard enough to draw blood.
Toad winced as Duncan grabbed him by his shirt, pushing up against the lockers before decking him again. "You aren't so tough with the big fatty here to back you up, are ya you little shit?" He reared back to punch to whimpering boy again, pausing as the door pushed open, an Asian boy walking in before pausing as he caught sight of them.
"Just turn around and walk away, gook." Duncan sneered.
The boy blinked, eying the battered Toad curiously before glancing back at the hot headed Duncan, "How about ya drop the little guy, and come pick on some one more yer size instead."
One of the football players laughed, "HAH! You're volunteering? Man, this has to be one for the record books."
Duncan dropped Toad, the little guy scampering away and cursing whatever God would listen. He knew once Duncan and his crew got done with the new guy, they were going to turn their attention back to him. The blond quarterback chuckled, lunging forward in a sloppy haymaker as his two buddies rushed in on either sides.
The Asian boy grabbed the punch, twisted to the side and pulled, throwing Duncan off balance as he ran head first into the unforgiving door. Letting go he ducked under a punch from one of the other football players, kicking sideways into his chest that sent the boy tumbling across the tiled floor like a rag doll, then falling to the ground in a sweep that dropped the other football player on his ass. He reached down and grabbed the tripped up football player by his shirt, lifting him up and throwing him bodily against the lockers.
Toad's eyes widened in surprise as the Asian boy systematically dropped his tormentors on their ass. Duncan tried to stand back up only to have the Asian boy put one foot on his back casually, sneering, "Y'know what I hate most?"
"Get off me you rat bastard! I'll kill you for this!" Duncan snarled.
"Yeah, how bout no?" Toad's Savior rolled his eyes, idly back handing one of the Football players that had recovered, sending him tumbling back to the ground. He reached down and grabbed Duncan by his shirt, picking him up and pushing him against the wall, "Bullies like you piss me off, but you deserve fair warning. If I ever see, or hear you beating on some one in this school again, I'll be the first one to track you down and beat the fear of the Kami's into you. Get me?"
Duncan grunted, nodding. The Asian boy dropped him, snorting as the boy glared back before rushing out the door, his two friends limping behind him.
"Idiots." Toad eyed his Savior cautiously as he turned and glanced in his direction. He felt fear course through his veins at the thought of what this guy would do next.
The boy blinked, "Huh..." suddenly staring with such an intensity Toad couldn't help but wince. He felt a surge of surprise rock through him as the boys eyes began to glow blue as he stared.
"Another mutant?" The Asian boy blinked, striding over to the boy huddled in the corner, staring intently.
Toad cringed at the accusation, even more so as his savior examined him intently, "Yo, yo, peace man! I ain't got beef with you!"
"Mah, I'm not going to hurt you." the boy snorted, the glow in his eyes fading "Names Ranma, you?"
"Todd..."
[][][]
Rogue was confused. Greatly so. The event had left her more then a little off kilter. She supposed she should have been furious, especially when he admitted it being his fault, but she just couldn't do it. There was a moment there, where her world became unhinged and all that mattered was the boy who had rescued her. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, and if she was being honest with herself she'd rather never feel something like that again. It left her vulnerable and questioning things she was perfectly content just ignoring.
"You haven't felt any pain, have you?" Risty poked her side gently, "No time to be tough! If you feel even the slightest bit of pain, you're going to the nurses office!"
"Ah'm fine." The Southern Belle frowned, "Ah don't even remember touchin the stairs when I fell."
"Huh..." The Wilde child frowned, "That's weird. I mean, one of you should have gotten hurt. You don't just fall down the stairs and walk away as if nothing happened."
Rogue sighed. Damn it, she was right. Something like that wasn't normal, she could already imagine the Professor and Logan throwing a fit. "Ah dunno. Ah just don't know."
"Rogue?"
Risty and Rogue both startled, turning round to meet the owner of that voice.
"Scott?"
"Hey." The leader of the X-men waved, "Heard about the stairs, just wanted to make sure you weren't hurt."
Rogue grimaced, "Ya heard ahbout that?"
"The whole school practically heard about it." Scott continued seriously. "Not everyday some one falls down the stairs, after all."
"Ah..." Rogue winced. She didn't need to be psychic to see what Scott was getting at, "... sorry."
"Don't apologize for that!" Risty snapped, "You're lucky you got out of that with out a scratch! I bet that Ranma guy was just acting tough, he's probably already at the nurses office."
Scott frowned., "Huh? Ranma was involved in that?"
"Ya didn't know?" Rogue blinked.
"No." Cyclops shrugged, "Just that you and some new kid went for a tumble down the stairs. I guess I should have known." he glanced down the hall, "Alright. So long as you're fine I'll get out of your hair."
"Ah... ya could have lunch with us, y'know, if you want too." The Southern Belle had to fight to keep a light blush off her cheeks at that.
Scott waved the notion down with out turning around, "Thanks, but I have to find Jean. She's been... upset since yesterday."
"I can't guess why." The Rogue snapped, darkly, turning and walking away before Scott could see how upset she was becoming. Damn Jean, damn Scott, damn it all.
[][][]
"No, turn your foot a half inch outward." Ranma took up a stance, "Like this. It'll help keep ya balanced."
Todd didn't know how he had gotten himself into this, but he had to admit the attention was kind of cool. He and this Ranma had spent the entire period in the locker room, skipping Gym and just shooting the shit. It was... cool, Toad guessed. Just to hang around with some one you barely knew and have a little fun. After class had ended, he endured the dirty look from their teacher nervously, even though his new friend didn't even so much as bat an eye.
"Alright, now I want you to slowly punch the locker. Not hard or anything, just go through the motions."
Todd nodded. With exaggerating slowness he punched the locker, keeping as much of his body in the stance as he could.
Ranma sighed, "No no. Punching isn't just the arm, you want to use your entire body in the swing. Shoulder, hip, back, legs, everything." he grunted, "Try again."
"Uh... Ranma?" Kitty slowly came up on the duo, "What's going on?"
"Sec Kitty." Ranma didn't even turn around, focused on Toad as the boy reared back and practically lunged at the locker. His fist crashed against the pliable metal, leaving a generous sized dent.
Todd winced, rubbing his hand protectively, "Yo man, that hurt."
"That was you holding back?" Ranma asked, admiring the fist shape impression in the locker curiously. "I'd hate to see what you'd do if you were serious there."
Kitty boggled. Toad had managed to almost cave in a locker from one punch? "Huh, whu, how? Like, it's Toad!"
"I'm right here ya know." The Toad grumbled.
"Nice job Todd." Ranma grinned, patting the little guy on the back, "Next time those jerks try to start something with ya, use what I taught ya and give them a rude surprise."
Todd grinned. The thought of creaming Duncan and his goons was certainly a nice thought, "Will do! Thanks Ranma!" he cackled, running down the hall. He couldn't wait till he told the guys about this!
Kitty still couldn't get over the fact Toad of all people had managed to punch a significant dent into the lockers. He was arguably the weakest of the Brotherhood, but if he was capable of something like that... She shivered, she didn't want to see what his full strength hit from him would be like.
She blinked then, as Ranma pulled her in close. She blushed, looking up at his concerned gaze, "Uh..."
"You sick or something?" the boy frowned, "You were shivering back there, but you don't feel cold."
"No no... it's nothing." the Shadow cat chuckled nervously, "Like... let's get you to your next class."
[][][]
Jean glanced up and down the hall tiredly. Seeing no one, she knocked on the locker twice. "It's clear Taryn."
"You sure? You don't see a kitten anywhere? Or a little black piglet with a bandana? Or a wrinkly old monkey on a pogo stick?" the terrified voice echoed from the closed Locker.
'Where does she get these crazy ideas?' Jean couldn't understand it. She could feel the genuine fear radiating off the girl, but it just didn't make any sense to her. A kitten? Piglet? What kind of crack was her best friend smoking? "No Taryn, I don't see anything of the sort. Now will you please come out of the locker?"
"If you're absolutely certain..." The locker began to open...
"Jean?"
The red head startled, slamming the locker closed, ignoring the indignant cry from the girl inside, "Scott! Hehe... what a... pleasant surprise."
Cyclops stared curiously, "You okay? You look nervous."
"I'm fine." Jean sighed, banging the locker with her elbow warningly, "What's up?"
"Well..." Scott sighed, "Just wanted to talk to you, about yesterday."
Jean suddenly remembered she was suppose to be upset at the boy. She shrugged indifferently, responding coldly, "Nothing to talk about, as far as I'm concerned."
"That's not fair." Cyclops growled, "You can't seriously be mad at me for siding with the others, especially after finding out exactly what we were facing."
"Now isn't the time or place to talk about this." The redhead warned dangerously, "Good bye Scott." she finished curtly.
Scott frowned, fists clenched tightly, "Fine." he turned and stalked down the hall angrily.
Jean watched him go tiredly. Well that could have gone better, she almost wished she could take back her words, but it really wasn't the time or the place to talk about this. She opened the locker, half glaring at the girl scrunched up inside fearfully, "Now, are you going to get out of there or am I going to have to drag you out kicking and screaming?"
[][][]
Fred idly pushed the hunk of meat curiously, the almost pure fat hunk of crap jiggling with the action. Damn it, another day, another meat loaf from the school's craptastic idea of a cafeteria. He considered actually shoving it down his throat, but even as hungry as he was, he wasn't that hungry. Pushing his plate away, he glanced at his table mates, blinking at Toad's excited yammering.
"Yo yo, he kung-fu chopped dem fools." Toad grinned, rubbing his hands together in a real bad impersonation of Mr. Burns, "Even taught me a trick for next time they try their crap."
"Uh huh." Pietro rolled his eyes, "Don't care about your new boyfriend." he chuckled, "Kitty's new boyfriend on the other hand..."
Lance grunted, glaring angrily at a certain couple walking hand and hand past the cafeteria.
Fred blinked, eying the Shadowcat and her boy-toy. "Is... he wearing pajama's?"
Toad glanced over, chuckling nervously, "Yo, man that's the guy! Beat off Duncan and his goons!"
"Really." The Avalance frowned. Fred glanced at the guy curiously. If he knew the guy, and he liked to think he did, he'd be asking any second too... "... leave him alone."
Fred, Toad, and Pietro blink blinked at that. "Huh?" That hadn't been something any of them had been expecting. Beat him up, oh sure, but do nothing while he paraded around with Kitty?
"Leave him alone." Lance grimaced, like he had a bad taste in his mouth he couldn't quite get rid of. "I don't want to make her cry like someone here told her I did." he glared at the Quicksilver with a half-lidded glare, "Get me?"
"Whatever Romeo." Quicksilver snorted, "See what I get for trying to help a friend? No gratitude."
"I can deal with out your version of gratitude, dick head." Lance snarled, standing up. He glanced one last time as Kitty and Ranma past out of sight, turning with a snort and walking away.
Toad just frowned, glancing at Fred curiously.
[][][]
Ranma let out a tired sigh as the final bell of the day rang. Honestly, while today hadn't been too bad, it was still tiring. Between the stairs, finding that mutant in the locker room, and how... friendly Kitty had been after he checked to make sure she wasn't catching something, he couldn't help but feel there was something very wrong going on behind the scenes. There was just this palpable sense of wrongness, like he was participating in something that would blow up in his face and would unleash untold horrors in it's wake.
'Whatever.' He shrugged that uncomfortable thought off. It's not like he was doing anything to piss off his fiancee's right?
"Yo yo, Ranma!" Todd grinned, walking up to the pig-tailed martial artist with a rather... hulking brute behind him. Ranma eyed the big guy curiously. Obesity aside, he looked tough, and some one you just didn't want to mess with.
"Sup Todd." He grunted, glancing down the hall in search of his peppy tour guide. "Who's your friend?'
"Freddy." The lumbering behemoth grunted in return, "Toad here told me how you helped him out earlier."
Todd chuckled nervously when Ranma glanced at him.
"Eh, he didn't need my help at all." the boy shrugged, "He just doesn't fight back. He'd probably have been able to take them all by himself, just needs to develop a spine."
"Man, stop lying." The Toad grimaced, "I mean, thankful an all for yer help, but I know I'm weak, don't need to lie to make me feel better."
Blob grimaced, glaring at the little guy.
Ranma sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Okay, screw this." he grabbed Toad by his shirt, dragging him down the halls.
"Yo! Let me go! No need to manhandle the Toad, y'know!" Toad struggled in vain.
Fred frowned, "Let him go."
Ranma glanced around, looking for his target of choice. There, next to that girl from the Institute, Jean. He picked up the Toad and threw him at the blond haired quarterback.
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'Thank god this day is over.' Risty sighed, maneuvering down the crowded halls filled with children happily chatting. It had been a rather surprising, shocking day for her, especially with the revelation Ranma Saotome had just entered the playing field. That was going to be a huge crink in her plans, it just rankled her to know Xavier got his grubby paws on him before she did. Just how he had managed it was a question she would have to investigate, but she didn't doubt for a second the old geezer hadn't tricked him with delusions of peace.
"So... ah, wanna come check out the Institute today?" Rogue offered hesitantly.
Risty smiled. The girl was just so desperate for a friend, it was rather pathetic, and heart warming at the same time. At least on this front things were going well, "I'd love too."
"Cool." The Southern Belle tried to play it off as unimportant, but Risty knew better.
"INCOMING!" Toad screamed, flying just above the crowd, slamming into Duncan and knocking the quarterback into the lockers with a resounding bang. There was a moment of silence as time seemed to freeze, and then all hell broke loose.
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Taryn couldn't help but feel paranoid all day long. She hadn't seen Ranma since earlier in the day, which was a good thing. Anywhere he was disaster was sure to follow, but she knew from a long time suffering that just because he wasn't around, didn't mean the shit wouldn't hit the fan. In fact it was a foregone conclusion something would go down in his absence.
"You're so jittery!" Jean shook her head tiredly, "Honestly Taryn, nothing bad is going to happen. You need to calm down."
"So says the girl who's never had to fight for her life!" Taryn snorted, ignoring the red head rolling her eyes at that, "I'm telling you, Jean, where ever He walks, disaster follows!"
"Uh huh."
"Oh sure, be flippant now." The Nerima escapee snorted, "But mark my words, you're going to wake up one day and realize your enemies are your friends, cats are evil, evil creatures, and even the weakest of losers are suddenly super powered bad asses out to make your life hell!"
"Uh huh." Jean opened her locker, shoving her books inside. "What's the color of the sky in your world, again?"
"Blue, last I checked." Duncan grinned as the two girls startled. "Hey babe." he leaned in to give the red head a kiss, frowning when she pushed him back. "Aw come on Jean, it's just a kiss."
"You know how I don't like public displays of affection, Duncan." The girl sighed, "Besides, shouldn't you be suiting up? Coach Klien is going to be upset with you."
"Eh..." The blond jock shrugged, "... He'll get over it. Besides, nothing wrong with spending a little time with my girl, right?"
"INCOMING!" Jean heard the scream before she could react, looking up just in time to see Toad flying, waving his arms manically in his uncontrolled flight. Taryn, faster then Jean had ever seen the girl react, grabbed her and pulled her out of harms way. Duncan on the other hand...
Duncan winced as the Toad collided, slamming him face first into the lockers. Dizzy, and not a little angry, he turned around and glared at the pipsqueak who, after hitting him, rolled back waving his hands wildly, "Like, it wasn't my fault!"
There was an eerie silence in the hall for a split second, that ended with a jubilant cry of "FIGHT!"
The crowd parted, forming a semi-circle around Toad and Duncan, kids hollering, shouting in a chorus of voices that made it all unrecognizable.
Duncan snarled, "Wrong move punk."
"Duncan! Stop this!" Jean reached out to grab him, only to have Taryn pull her back roughly.
"Stay out of this Jean, this little shit needs to be taught a lesson." The blond quarterback snarled.
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"Stay out of it." Ranma glanced at the lumbering Blob, "He'll be fine."
Fred ignored him, pushing past the crowd, ready to stop this fight before Toad got hurt. He didn't make it, suddenly feeling an ungodly amount of pain as Ranma grabbed him by his wrist and squeezed. "Wha... wha." he tried to push free of the hold, but for all his strength, couldn't even make the Asian boy relinquish his hold.
"I said, stay out of it." The pig-tailed boy glared, turning his attention back to Toad as Duncan started running towards him. "Toad, stance now!"
Toad eeped, following into the stance Ranma had showed him. He shook nervously, sweat glistening off his brow as his teeth chattered.
"Wait for it."
Seven feet...
Three feet...
"NOW!"
In slow motion, Duncan barreled down on the little guy, fist pulled back in preparation for a wicked hay maker. Nervously Toad closed his eyes, lunging forward in a leap, arm extending and connecting unerring with the jocks chest.
Duncan literally flew back from the strike, slamming into the lockers with a resounding clang, sliding to the ground gasping desperately for breath.
Toad stared at the downed football player, glancing at his first in wide eyed wonder. He had done that? In one punch?
Ranma grinned, releasing Fred and stepping through the silent, stunned crowd. "Hell yes! I told ya you could do it Todd!" he gave the little guy a pat on the back. "Just needed some confidence, y'know."
Todd nodded dumbly, glancing at the pig-tailed boy thoughtfully. "... What now?"
"Now?" Ranma grinned, glancing around at the stunned looks of the gathered students, "Saotome Secret Technique: Run like hell!" he picked up the Toad in a fireman carry, leaping up and over the crowd as a contingent of Security guards managed to push their way through the crowd.
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Jean couldn't make sense of it. Toad, one of the weakest, lamest member of the Brotherhood had just one shotted her boyfriend like it was nothing, and her instructor Ranma apparently had a hand in it. Just why he was helping a member of the Brotherhood she had no idea, especially the weakest of the weak...
Taryn chuckled weakly as the Security guards broke up the stunned crowd, glancing at the redheads dumb founded look. "See? I told you so."
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TBC
AN: Yeah, heh. Felt like a good stopping point. Anyway, hope you guys like it. Not action packed, but you can't expect fighting of any kind with out some kind of build up, the fights are rarely as important as the build up.
A note about this Aura Reading thing; It's an idea I shamelessly ripped off the TFF, by CatOnFire. He's a good guy, and doesn't care if I use it, but I figured he deserved the credit regardless. I'd also like to thank all the people who helped flesh out the idea on the TFF forums, of who there are too many to list.
The idea basically is "Mutations are run through Ki, when an X-gene activates it massively alters the persons body and aura, allowing them to use this power." This will help Ranma with his own Ki control, but primarily it's meant to help him help others with their mutations. No, you won't see Rogue being able to control her power enough to touch people, nor will Scott ever be able to take off his shades, but you will see some control in both of them if and when I get to that part of the fic.
And no, Ranma won't be learning any other mutant powers, it's just a fresh idea in his mind, hasn't really had time to explore it.
A note about how Ranma calls people. You'll notice he's used their last names, like Pryde, Wagner, ect. Well he's quite aware these kids probably hate his guts, so he decided not to presume they'd care for him to call them by their first names at all. Not that he cares, much anyway, but respect is a two way street in his eyes and he figures that if he at least makes an attempt at respecting the kids, they won't make his life hell.
Special thanks to everyone at the TFF, CatonFire, and Foesjoe.
