Everything that's BOLD will be someone saying something in Japanese
Everything that's NORMAL FONT will be someone saying something in English
Everything in Italics will be either Kotoha talking with Tetomu, Tetomu speaking, a flashback/vision, or telepathy
kanna-chan does not own Super Sentai, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, X-Men, or X-Men: First Class. The only things kanna does own are any original things that she decides to throw in.
ON WITH THE SHOW!
Well, it definitely took a while for Kotoha, but she was beginning to warm up to the others in the Xavier mansion. Alex was always there for her whenever she needed him, and Hank had to be one of the smartest people she knew. Apparently, he graduated from Harvard at the age of fifteen! Sean and his antics were interesting; although there was that one time about a week or so later, when he screamed so loud in his training, that when Kotoha was trying to write something in her room, it shattered the window. Sean had to go and pay for a new one. Raven, on the other hand, was a different story. Although she didn't like Kotoha at first, when Chiaki left Kotoha with the other Shinkengers, Raven quickly became one of Kotoha's close friends.
It was a lazy kind of Saturday (a couple weeks after the other Shinkengers left), and Kotoha smiled to herself as she practiced her calligraphy on some paper with a small bottle of ink and a paint brush. It wasn't her Shodophone, but it would have to do. As she wrote character after character, she sighed, because none of her Mojikara was being used for any of the symbols she wrote. She wasn't really focusing on anything in particular, but she never thought she'd be unable to use her Mojikara. That's when she felt it in the earth. Someone was walking into her room. Suddenly, the bottle of ink spilled over on its own, covering the paper. "Whoever is doing this, this isn't funny," Kotoha called, not looking up from the ground.
"Sorry," Erik apologized, as he walked into the room, in a gray sweatshirt with gray sweatpants to match. "I just wanted to get your attention."
Kotoha sighed. "Well, you've got my attention now. What do you want?"
"I wanted to...erm...apologize. My reaction...that was uncalled for. Raven and I...we said some things that we probably shouldn't have. The thing is...well, perhaps it's better if I show you." Erik rolled up one of the sleeves of his sweatshirt to reveal a series of numbers that looked as if they had been branded or tattooed there: 214782. "Do you know what these are," he asked Kotoha, as he looked right at her.
Kotoha gasped, as she quickly realized, "Those are...identification numbers from the concentration camps of World War II. Then that means...you're a Holocaust survivor."
"Precisely. I'm touchy about it; it's not something I like to talk about. That's why I lost it with you earlier. I'm just getting used to Charles poking around in my head every now and then; another person was the last thing I needed. There's a man who we're after; named Sebastian Shaw. Of course, back then he was known as Herr Doktor Klaus Schmidt."
"Herr Doktor?"
"It's German. It means Doctor. Doctor Klaus Schmidt."
"Oh."
There was a moment of silence, before Erik added, "He killed my mother. Right in front of me." Erik seemed to be projecting at that point, because Kotoha suddenly saw the image of a little boy standing in front of a desk. A man sat behind the desk, and was speaking in German. There was a woman standing a few feet behind the boy, and she was being held by soldiers who had swastika bands on their arms. Kotoha guessed that the man behind the desk was counting to three, before the man picked up the gun and shot the woman. Another guess made by Kotoha was that the little boy was Erik as a little kid, and the woman was his mom. The man had to be Herr Doktor Klaus Schmidt. The boy suddenly shouted out in anguish, and every bit of metal in the room started flying around being destroyed.
Kotoha struggled to pull out of the horrifying memory, as Erik looked at her. She was speechless. "So...Doctor Klaus Schmidt is Sebastian Shaw, who killed your mom all those years ago? And you want to avenge her," Kotoha asked. Erik nodded. "I know how you feel. My sister died not too long ago. Even though I killed the monster that did it, she still died. That thing...it was a beast in human form. However, even though I've already killed it, I still haven't come to terms with it."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you should listen to me very, very carefully. Killing will not bring you peace."
"Peace was never an option." And with that, Kotoha and Erik both stood up and walked out the door in different directions. Kotoha had taken off toward the library in the hopes to do some more studying on mutation. She still didn't entirely understand the definition. However, as she walked, she couldn't help but wonder if Erik was right. Was peace really not an option?
"He might have a point you know," Tetomu spoke up in Kotoha's head.
"Shut it, Tetomu. I don't have time for this," Kotoha scolded.
"All I'm saying is that he believes something different about mutants. He believes they're all like this Shaw person, but Charles believes that mutants and humans can coexist. Who knows who's right?"
"It doesn't matter, and it's not my business. Now shut it." Finally getting some peace and quiet, Kotoha had finally arrived at the library. It looked just the way it had the first time she had arrived. She took a deep breath and smiled to herself, before going to look for a dictionary and some books on genetic mutation.
As she walked, her eyes came upon something made of wood. It was brown and white, and had several brown and white differently shaped and sized pieces on it. A chess board. There was a big arm chair on either side. Kotoha looked around, and began to walk toward it. She wasn't really that good at chess; Takeru had suggested that everyone learn how to play to learn more about battle strategy, but she never beat anyone. Takeru, Genta, and Ryuunosuke were amazing at it. Chiaki eventually got so bored of it that he threw the chess board on the ground. The memory made Kotoha sigh, as she sat down in the chair by the white pieces. She moved the white pawn at D2 to D4, before sighing again, and just staring at the board.
"You know, chess actually requires two players. It's boring to play against yourself. Believe me, I know. I've tried," Charles spoke, walking into the library and seeing Kotoha at the chess board. "Mind if I join you?" Kotoha shook her head, not looking up. Charles took a seat across from her, on the black side, and moved the pawn at D7 to D5. The two sat in silence, until Charles spoke. "I don't have to be a telepath to know something's on your mind." Kotoha shrugged her shoulders. "Would you care to tell me what's the matter?" Again, no answer. Kotoha shrugged her shoulders again, and moved the pawn at C2 to C4.
Just as Charles was about to reach for a piece to move, his vision suddenly changed. He assumed Kotoha was projecting, when he suddenly saw images of the past of her and her teammates fighting off the Gedoushuu, before more recent images, such as the conversations she had with Chiaki, Takeru, and Genta. The one of her teammates leaving seemed to stand out most of all. Although Charles couldn't understand what Chiaki, Takeru, and Genta were saying, Charles finally pulled himself out of her head. It was still hard, because Kotoha hadn't done any training. She'd have to at some point. Charles shook his head, before moving pawn at D5 to C4. Kotoha moved the pawn that was at E2 to E3, before shrugging her shoulders. "You're right. It's just...I'm a bit upset. And angry," Kotoha sighed. "It's just...I'm a little homesick. I miss Japan. I miss my Shinkenger duties. And I'm angry, because I'm never going to gain control of my powers. It's hopeless. I just can't seem to do anything."
Charles stared at the board in contemplation of his next move and what Kotoha had just told him. Did she really think it was hopeless? He looked up from the board at her, and saw what looked like a sad past in her eyes. Charles didn't pry, and Kotoha wasn't projecting (thankfully), so Charles looked back at the board. He had the feeling that her past was kind of touchy, like Erik's. He picked up the knight at . He answered, "You-"
"Don't bother. It's pretty much true. I'm never going to get control of this," Kotoha muttered.
Charles moved his pawn at B7 to B5, and looked at her. "Kotoha, you're strong. You just have to learn how to control you abilities. Don't let them control you." As he said this, however, he couldn't help but wonder: how did she get to be so good at chess? He wasn't even reading her mind, but Charles knew that the play she was attempting was one of the most common, but also hard to do.
Kotoha moved her pawn at A2 to A4, before saying, "It's not that easy."
Charles moved his pawn at C7 to C6, replying, "Whoever said it would be?"
"It's just...this is just so much. Between Tetomu driving me insane, and trying not to poke around in everyone's heads, it's just...hard." Kotoha moved her pawn at A4 to B5, capturing Charles' pawn. Charles raised an eyebrow. For someone who said she couldn't do anything, she certainly was good at chess. The Queen's Gambit was a hard strategy, and he although he had heard about it, he'd never experimented with it.
Charles moved his pawn at C6 to B5, capturing the pawn that just took the one that was at B5. Kotoha moved her queen from D1 to F3. Charles could easily see that he was in a trap. He couldn't read Kotoha's mind, so she had no idea what she was thinking as she made these moves. Charles took a deep breath, and sighed. He moved his knight at B8 to C6, which was quickly taken by Kotoha's queen. She smiled to herself, seeing that the game would be over soon.
"Charles," Sean called, walking into the room. Hank, Erik, Alex, and Raven weren't far behind him. They quickly saw Charles engaged in a game of chess against Kotoha, and Charles rubbed the bridge of his nose in concentration. He didn't answer them. "It's so intense...you can practically see the sparks flying."
Everyone else laughed quietly to themselves as they stared at the chess board. Charles looked at Kotoha's queen, seeing that there wasn't much that he could do. He decided to move his bishop at C8 to D7, and looked back at Kotoha. "We have guests, apparently. Shall we continue our chat later," Charles asked Kotoha telepathically.
"Yes. But for now, let's finish this," Kotoha answered in the same way.
"Agreed." Kotoha moved her queen at C6 to A6, and a few moves later, Kotoha had finally put Charles in checkmate. He tipped his king over, indicating that he conceded the game to her. The two of them stood up and shook hands, before turning to Erik and everyone else.
"You're late," Alex teased.
"Sorry, got caught up in an intense game of chess," Charles replied, before turning to Kotoha. "How did you get to be so good at chess?"
"Tono-sama taught us how to play. He said that it would help is with battle strategies when fighting the Gedoushuu," Kotoha answered, looking at her feet again. She began to walk away. Charles called out to her, telling her to get changed so that she could start training soon. Kotoha didn't respond, as she continued to walk out. Charles exchanged a look with Alex, who then looked at Erik. Erik shrugged his shoulders, as he went back to his room.
"Oof," a little girl complained, walking out of the heater of a submarine about three thousand feet underwater. "I am NEVER doing that again." The little girl had short black hair, big purple eyes, wore a black kimono with yellow flowers on it, and a red sash tied around. She looked as though she was about seven years old.
"About time you got here," Dayu spoke. The little girl turned her head with a start, before sighing in relief.
"Dayu-sama, you scared me," the little girl exclaimed.
"You're late," Dayu commented. "Still, better late than never. Follow me." Dayu turned to walk away, and the little girl eagerly followed. Dayu walked in silence back to Shaw's office, the little girl running after her eagerly.
"Dayu-sama, where are we going," the little girl asked.
"Remember how I told you that you were here for a mission," Dayu replied. The little girl nodded, as Dayu continued with, "You're about to meet one of the people who wants your help. I'm one of them, obviously, but the other person is a little...well, you'll meet him momentarily. Oh, look, here we are." Dayu opened the door that they had arrived at, and let the little girl in first, before she walked in. In the room were Shaw and Emma Frost.
"Hi," the little girl chirped, jumping up and down excitedly.
Shaw and Emma looked at the little girl, before looking at each other, and then back at the girl. Shaw sighed, as he ran a hand through his hair. "Dayu, really," he asked. "This is your so-called 'help?'"
The little girl's smile faded, and she slowly walked up to Shaw. Her purple eyes narrowed, and she spoke in a low voice, "I'd watch what you say if I were you. I don't do well when being spoken to like that." She turned around from Shaw, and could see that Emma Frost was positively glaring at her. Her blue eyes looked like ice.
"Why don't you introduce yourself to them," Dayu asked.
The little girl sighed. "Do I have to? After the way they spoke to me? They might as well go fu-" She saw the look that Dayu was giving her, and sighed again. "Fine." She turned back to Shaw and Frost, before giving a small smile and introducing herself. "I'm Hone-Onna. Pleased to meet you."
"Hone-Onna," Frost asked, "Doesn't that mean 'Bone Woman?'"
"Indeed it does. I am the Gedoushuu that Mistress Dayu told you about. And, more importantly, I know what you're up against. And, who you're up against." Hone-Onna turned to Shaw. "I understand that you want to cause World War III, and have mutants rise up to rule. Chimatsuri Doukoku would be pleased at this, so Dayu fetched me to come and help. I have a plan, but here's what we need to do."
"Hold on," Emma cut in, before turning to Shaw. "This girl is seven-"
"Correction. I was seven. I'm actually four hundred and seventy-three. When I died...well, that's a story for another time. You learn to see the world differently over the years, as well as when you become a Gedoushuu. Trust me, I have experience."
"Interesting," Shaw muttered, a plan coming together in his head.
"Now, down to business. I have a plan..." Hone-Onna began, as she began to tell them of her brilliant scheme.
Takeru sighed as he ate some of Genta's sushi. He couldn't really focus on much of anything nowadays. Kotoha had been gone for over a week, and the entire team seemed to be down. Mako wasn't her usual self, Chiaki kept changing the subject, and Ryuunosuke and Genta were...well...Ryuunosuke and Genta. Takeru just stared at Mako as he ate his sushi. Mako appeared to be deep in thought, until she turned around to face Takeru and ask, "Why are you staring?"
Takeru had been caught. He blushed a little, and snickers from the others were heard from behind him. "Um...no reason. Actually, could I talk to you? Alone?"
Mako gave Takeru a strange look, before saying, "Sure."
The two of them walked a little ways off from the stand, and far enough so that they were out of earshot by the others. "You're worried about her, aren't you," Takeru asked, his eyes looking straight into Mako's brown ones.
Mako nodded. "Yeah. I am. It felt wrong leaving her there. I mean, I trust my cousin, but..." she trailed off, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's for the best. You and I both know that."
"I know, but...Takeru, she's like the little sister I never had. I just miss her so much."
"We'll get through this. For now, though, we have to focus on the task at hand: fighting the Gedoushuu. Other than that, there's not much else we can do. Something tells me that's not all that's worrying you, though, is it?"
Mako sighed. "No. Takeru, I-"
"Takeru," a voice asked, cutting Mako off. When they turned around, they saw a woman with white skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, walking up to them. She wore a yellow jacket that said 'Soaring Eagle.'
"Taylor," Takeru and Mako exclaimed, shock evident on their faces.
A/N: Uh-oh! Taylor is back! Will she go back for Takeru harder than before, or will Mako do everything in her power to fight her off. The new villain, a childlike version of Hone Onna, has joined forces with Shaw and Dayu, but even they don't know what powers she has. Kotoha continues to try to get comfortable in the Xavier mansion. How will everything play out? R&R! Also, PLEASE SUBMIT ENTRIES FOR MY MUTANT DESIGN CONTEST! THE FORMAT IS IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER! TTFN! R&R! ~kanna
Chapter Title: Someone Like You
Artist: Adele
