Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of Wolverine and the X-Men. They belong to their rightful creators and distributors.
AN: I'm very sorry I hadn't updated in so long. My friend, S.T. Nickolian had been very busy and we were barely able to finish this while also her helping me with my last update of "In The Dark of The Knight".
Hope the length is suitable for ya and hope you guys enjoy.
Chapter Six
From the rocks next to the waterfall, all of the X-men sat, waiting for Logan and Kagome to come out with the Speedboat so that their new friend can prove Jean wrong.
"So how do you think Kagome will prove Jean wrong, Mr. McCoy?" Evan asked while doing his best not to slip and fall from his seat.
"I'm not entirely sure. But it should prove to be interesting and we can learn a lot to improve our training methods when we decide not to use the Danger Room for certain outside sessions. And her explanations about the tasks she gave Bobby, Jubilee, and Sam was very believable and well thought-out." Hank replied while waiting patiently but was actually looking forward to what Kagome wanted to show them.
Sam, Bobby, and Jubilee had all stopped their exercises to take part in watching the performance, all of them exhausted, but ready to go back to training once this was done. Somehow, Kagome's words and the confidence with which she spoke them convinced them that this wasn't a bunch of insanity, but they were as interested as everyone else in watching her break through Jean's argument. Xavier sat in his wheelchair beside Storm, eager to see how their new recruit would perform.
A roar of an engine alerted them all to the speedboat's approach, and they turned to watch Logan pull around the corner into their view quickly, Kagome in the canoe tied to the end of the boat. The Asian woman looked stunning in a black one-piece swimsuit with diamonds cut to show her stomach and her back. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail as she sat comfortably in the seat.
Logan wheeled the boat around again, straightening out so he could go a ways without turning and still being in the others' sight. Kagome stood up in the canoe, drawing a gasp from Kitty at the perilous action. Kurt narrowed his eyes slightly before they popped open wide. "She's standing on the pole she asked for! It's attached to the inside of the canoe and she's standing on it!"
Before anyone could comment, they became breathless when she jumped into the air. Her back arched gracefully as she spread her legs in what looked like a ballerina pose.
Once she landed on the pole of the canoe again, she leaped in the air again but this time to arch her back and grab her from behind in mid-air before landing on the pole again on her foot while her left leg was lifted behind her and bent at the knee and her right arm was positioned to the front with her left was positioned almost like her lifted leg.
Kagome continued to leap in the air, pulling off maneuvers that almost made her look like she was lighter than air and showing a great amount of balance. With each leap and posse and maneuver, Jean couldn't help but feel angry at being proved wrong and felt that this couldn't be right. What was the chance of this girl using her power of suggestion?
"I assure you, Jean that she's not using any of her powers. This is all with her own ability and strength." She heard the Professor speak, his showing how impressed he was by the display Kagome was giving them. And he became very interested in who taught her everything she knew and was trying to teach the three who were on probation.
'I would very much like to meet whoever taught her these methods'
"I agree. The elements she pointed out for Jubilee's task are resulted specifically; maintaining balance while in harsh conditions. The 'harsh condition' is the speed she's going at while she's balancing on a pole as the canoe is tied to the speedboat. And also there's no doubt that the other tasks she had given Bobby and Sam will bare fruitful results." Hank added, taking in the detail of Kagome's balance that was so similar to a tightrope artist.
With the praise that she could hear in the professor's voice and everyone present, Jean clenched her fists tightly as her face turned into a scowl.
From out on the water, Kagome sat back down in the canoe before yelling out to Logan for them to head to where the others are. Logan heard her before turning the boat and heading toward the others on the rocks.
"That was very impressive, Kagome." Xavier absolutely beamed as she hopped carefully onto the rocks from the canoe, Logan close behind her. "An amazing performance, and without the use of powers, making it that much more wonderful."
Kagome smiled once Logan translated the words and thanked him for the praise, before turning to look Jean in the eyes. "Do you believe me now?"
Wolverine didn't need to translate the question – the tension suddenly rising between the two of them made it obvious enough. His sharp eyes gazed from one to the other, and he readied himself to jump between them if he needed to.
Several static moments passed, no one daring to say a word, before an aggravated sigh finally broke the silence. "Come on, Jean. Give it a break."
Rogue stepped forward, taking Kagome's hand into her gloved on. "Let's go; you can help me with my hand-to-hand, since I don't have much power like some other people." It was clearly a jab at the still-glaring redhead, and Logan made sure Kagome knew it as such when he translated, following behind the girls as Rogue dragged her off.
Kagome watched Rogue carefully, seeing her own lack in confidence of her own power a couple years ago flickering over the gothic girl. "Even if you don't believe you have power… you can still prove to all of them that you're not useless."
Logan watched the girls, seemingly unneeded as Kagome found other ways to communicate with Rogue. 'Ya make it sound as if you've been through that before, Darlin'…'
After the girls left, Storm spoke, "Kagome is really making an impact on the recruits… including Rogue."
"Yes. I can see her becoming a very useful instructor for future generations and any other new recruits that come to us." Charles replied before adding, "And I hope to meet the person who taught her what she knows in the near future. He could be a great help as well."
"From what she told me when we first met, there's a chance that he's no longer alive. She was hopeful but there was also doubt in her meeting him again." Logan answered.
"Then let us hope that she'll be able to meet him again." Hank said with great hope.
xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo
Later that night, after Sam, Jubilee, and Sam went to bed early without supper – too tired to eat anything – and everyone else was about to go to bed themselves, Jean had just pulled up the driveway with Duncan, just getting back from her 'date' with the football jock.
In her fit of anger, she had agreed to go on a date with Duncan, if only to get away from the institute for a while and to get her mind off of Kagome getting to her.
Being shown up like that, Jean never felt so humiliated and in front of everyone, including the new recruits and Scott.
After bidding Duncan goodnight, she went inside before setting the alarm system. As she was making her way to her room, she heard footsteps down the hall and saw Kagome heading toward the instructors' hall. With a slight frown, Jean quietly followed her, wondering where she could possibly going and why.
Stopping from around the corner and noticed that Kagome stopped in front Logan's door before she knocked softly. Jean narrowed her eyes in confusion when the door opened, and Wolverine didn't even look surprised to see her there. He mumbled something in Japanese before letting the Asian girl enter his room – a privilege he didn't even allow her, and she been there the longest!
Jean seethed with indignation for a moment before she crept closer to the closed door, hoping to hear whatever it was that was so important that Kagome got to be in Logan's room. For a couple minutes, there was nothing but silence, and Jean wondered if they were even still in the room.
Just as she was about to crack open the door, a low, undeniably male moan reached her ears from through the door. The psychic froze. 'Was that… Logan?' Another moan sounded, followed by an almost indecipherable feminine whimper. 'No… way…'
"Jean?" The redhead snapped her attention up to Scott as he walked down the hallway. "What are you doing here? I've been looking for you since you came back."
"We need to talk to the professor, now." Jean stalked by him, grabbing his hand in the process and ignoring his questions. That was how that girl got away with everything – becoming close to Logan, getting the professor to agree with everything she wanted, and even getting Mr. McCoy to work on some no doubt insignificant project that took up all his time – she was sleeping with them. 'That slut!'
"Oh, hey, Jean! Can you, like, help me with this—" Kitty blinked in dazed confusion as the redhead completely blew her off while dragging Scott away with her. "Hey!" Cyclops made a shrugging gesture when he tried to turn around, signifying he had no idea what was going on, and Shadowcat frowned. "Like, wait up!"
Rogue and Kurt's eyes snapped up to the door to Xavier's office when it slammed open, revealing a furious Jean dragging Scott and tag-along Kitty into the room. "Ah don' think it's your turn for a session, Jean." Rogue spoke carefully, not sure what would set off the turbulent redhead, and looked to the professor questioningly.
Xavier frowned, agreeing with the Southern mutant. "Jean, I'm in the middle of a psychologist session with Rogue and Kurt, if you need something, I'm sure you can ask Storm—"
"Are you sleeping with her, too?"
At this question, all eyes turned to Jean shocked and confused as that Jean would ask such a question before Scott spoke, "Whoa. Jean. What the heck are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about Kagome! I saw her go to Logan's room and he invited her in… after that, I started to hear moans coming from the room. And I have no doubt that she's also sleeping with the professor and Mr. McCoy as well! Scott, don't you find it strange that she somehow gets her way and through Logan no less?"
Xavier reached up to massage his temples lightly and opened his mouth to say something, but Rogue stood up quickly, knocking the chair she had been sitting in to the floor. "What the hell, Jean? You can't seriously believe that bunch of bull, can ya?" At this point, Xavier sighed heavily and called out to the rest of the house, knowing there was no way to hide this from them any longer.
"What else am I supposed to believe?" Jean crossed her arms, sticking one hip out cockily, her scowl still in place. "Ever since she came here, she's gotten everything she wanted, no matter how ridiculous it is! Logan isn't someone that indulges anyone – he prefers to watch them suffer – but since she's sleeping with him, she gets everything she wants!"
Rogue took a menacing step toward the psychic, her hand reaching to take off her other glove. "That has got to be the biggest load of bullshit Ah have ever heard, and if you think I'm going to—"
"Easy, Stripes." Jean whirled around to face the door, where Logan stood, a little pale, but fully-clothed and with no sign of the exhaustion that one would normally expect from intercourse. "No need to get all upset, we'll explain everything."
Behind him, Kagome glanced around the room before focusing on Jean warily, and Storm and Beast herded the rest of the students, even Bobby, Sam, and Jubilee, into the room. "She made what accusation, again?"
"That you were sleeping with me, Chuck, and Hank." If Logan was irritated about answering that question for the fourth time, he didn't show it – he was only grateful that Kagome hadn't lost her temper or something about it.
"That's what I thought…" Kagome didn't take her eyes off Jean as she went to Rogue's side, calming the girl down enough to take a seat.
After Kagome rested a hand on her shoulder, Rogue did calm down a bit but she was still pissed that Jean would make an accusation about her friend sleeping with the older males of the institute. With a peeved sigh, Rogue sat back down in the chair she previously sat in while still glaring at Jean, just daring the older girl to say more.
Once everyone was in the room and settled to sit somewhere, Charles started to explain, "As all of you, I'm certain are aware, Kagome's a very unique individual. And Jean, there is a perfectly good reason why Kagome went to Logan's room and it was not to sleep with him. And there is no truth about her sleeping with anyone in this mansion."
Before Jean could start demanding an answer, Scott rested a hand on her shoulder to stop her before he asked calmly, "And what reason is that Professor?"
Turning to Hank, Xavier asked, "Hank, if you would do the honors in explaining?"
Nodding, Beast turned to everyone in the room and spoke, "After what happened on the night Kagome had made dinner for us, I went and did some tests and found out that it had a lot to do with Kagome's mutation. It was a physical change to her digestive system that didn't allow her to consume solid foods."
"Meaning that she can't eat?" Kitty asked, slightly worried but also in disbelief of what Jean was trying to accuse Kagome of.
"Yes, in a way. And if she eats too much of any solid substance, like the Ramen Bobby shoved in her mouth, her body absorbs the moisture and what's left of the food just comes back up as sand or dust. But what she gets for her nutrition and her source of energy is very much like a Vampire Bat's diet."
"Whoa! Time Out, teach! You're saying that Kagome has to drink blood?" Evan asked, making the others in the room surprised and/or slightly uneasy.
Beast smiled slightly. "Yes, actually. I'm surprised you figured it out, especially with your poor grades in science." Evan had the decency to look sheepish for a moment before Hank continued, his face grave again. "Evan is exactly right. Kagome must drink blood to survive, and since Logan's healing power can regenerate all the blood she would take, he has been the one to, for the lack of a better word, feed her. The first time was an accident – she went to wake him up while those three were having a joyride, and the contact was too close, leading to the 'hunger' for blood. Logan was kind enough to allow it."
Beast looked down at the notepad he'd brought with him and adjusted hid glasses. "I'm working on a blood supplement that will provide Kagome with the energy she needs without having to bite someone's neck. Added to that, it is as of yet uncertain if she can gain knowledge from the people she's bitten as well. It's something we're still looking into."
"So she's a parasite?" Jean shook off Scott's hand and ignored his admonishment. "She's a parasite that's just out for our blood? Professor, I really don't think—"
"If she's a parasite…" Rogue's voice, much softer than before, somehow broke through what Jean said and drew everyone's attention. Her head was tilted forward, her hair covering her face, and she trembled visibly, despite Kagome's attempts to calm her. "If she's a parasite, wha' do ya call meh?"
Now Jean was feeling guilty. She didn't mean to indirectly call Rogue a parasite because of how similar her own power was to Kagome's tendency to drain blood. Now that her anger and such ebbed away, she was now thinking clearly and can see how similar Kagome and Rogue's powers were.
The only differences were that Rogue couldn't touch anyone and Kagome consumed in order to survive and nourish herself… but the big difference was that Rogue absorbed memories, energy, and one's abilities and talents… Kagome drained blood.
"Rogue… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean–" Jean was soon cut off by Logan when he spoke, "I think you said enough Red. Just drop it."
Wanting to break the uneasy silence as Kagome tried her best to calm Rogue down with Kitty and Kurt helping out, Scott decided to break the silence and asked with calm curiosity, "Why was this kept from us?"
"Because, Scott, none of us knew how all of you would react to the fact that Kagome, in a sense is a human Vampire Bat. We were hoping to keep it under wraps so we could find a better way to tell you all and maybe find out more about her mutation to get a better understanding. But also figure out how to ask you all a certain favor…" Charles answered, not sensing any kind of negative emotion from the boy, just curiosity for the most part.
"Vat kind of favor?" Kurt asked before Rogue lifted her head to hear what the Professor had to say.
Once he was sure he had everyone's attention, Charles spoke in askance, "So that we can avoid the chance of Logan going through a sort of relapse from giving Kagome blood, we were going to ask for one or two more volunteers to be willing donors for Kagome. But only one or two at the most, it doesn't have to be mandatory."
Utter silence encompassed the room the room once Xavier finished speaking, and he looked from one incredulous face to another. Some of the newer students fidgeted nervously, and Kagome felt all of their stares, making her look up at them. "Nani?"
Logan sighed, scratching his head. "Charles just asked for them to volunteer to feed you."
The vampire tensed, immediately averting her eyes to the floor. "Oh…" She felt the anxiety rolling from all of them, and she tried to make herself as small as she could under their scrutiny. This was the moment she had tried to prepare herself for, but she wasn't ready. If they turned on her now… Aokigahara was only halfway around the world from her, though she hoped it didn't come to that.
"She doesn't like to drink too much, an' it don't hurt." Logan looked around at all the students, gauging their expressions. Kitty was caught between awe and tremors of fear, while Rogue had reached over to clamp down on Kagome's hand, keeping her from bolting. He couldn't think of anything to say to break the awkward tension filling the air, short of anyone volunteering.
Jean looked at Rogue and Kagome, biting her lip at the two sullen girls. She really didn't mean to hurt Rogue – the poor Southern mutant was tortured enough with the lack of true physical contact – but she just couldn't bring herself to like Kagome. Because of that, she may have ruined a good if not perfect friendship with a powerful teammate. 'I'm… a terrible person…'
"I'll do it."
The sudden announcement startled everyone, and all eyes snapped up to Scott, whose face was set with determination. "I'll do it."
"Scott, you—" The firm shake of his head cut Jean off, and she pulled back from him slightly. "Scott…" That girl couldn't take anymore from her… the comfort of home, her authority among the others, and now Scott.
"No matter what you think, Jean… and even though you can't bring yourself to try getting along with Kagome… she's still one of us. She's without what most of us have; her family… and even her friends before we found her. She left everything behind to try and start over." Scott pointed out before adding, "I made the mistake of not letting someone start over with the X-men when it came to Alvers… and I'm not making the same mistake again and turning Kagome away when it's obvious that she needs us. And Mr. McCoy said that being a donor for her is only temporary until he can make something to substitute her intake. And I also trust Logan when he says it doesn't hurt. Not to mention it'd be like donating blood to the local clinic."
The other students looked to each other. In many ways, Scott did have a point. Their newest friend gave up her homeland to be with them.
Charles smiled proudly at Scott, glancing over to Logan for his reaction, since he was so defensive about it when they first spoke of it. Luckily, the Wolverine didn't seem to mind as he whispered the translation of what was happening to Kagome, though the telepath couldn't be sure how he truly felt unless he were to go into his mind, and he didn't want to betray Logan's trust.
Kagome heaved a sigh of relief once she heard that not everyone was against her, even if it was just Scott and, judging from the way she was almost clinging to her, Rogue. "Arigatou…"
"Ah will, too." Rogue's voice was quiet but still attracted all attention to her. "Ah don't care if Ah can only provahde her with blood from a tube since I can't touch anyone, Ah want to help, too." Her grey-green eyes lifted to stare down anyone that dared meet her gaze. "Ah know what it feels lahke to drain somethin' from the people around ya that ya care about. Ah'm goin' ta help."
Xavier smiled again, proud of his X-Men. "Very well. Scott, Rogue, the two of you will alternate with Logan to provide for Kagome. Is that acceptable?" All three of them nodded, and the professor leaned back into his chair. "Now that we have that settled, why doesn't everyone get to bed? It's late, and you only have a month of school left before Christmas break."
"Speaking of which…" Logan grinned to the three joyriders, making them tense in slight fear. "You three might want to finish your tasks before the first snow hits." The others laughed when Bobby gaped and the other two groaned. To their benefit though, none of them complained, meaning they would get breakfast in the morning.
Xavier shook his head in amusement as they began to file out of the room.
xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo
A few weeks later into November, the air started to get a little cooler to the point where you needed a sweater to keep warm. Kagome was now sitting outside with Logan, doing her English lessons while keeping an eye on Bobby as he continued to punch the frying pans.
About five days after he understood the purpose behind his task, he was able to achieve his task. But now that he understood it, Kagome had him continue doing it without moving the first pan and going back to square one.
Kagome looked up to see that he was still going strong before Logan told her to pay attention. Right now, Logan was helping her read an English book to help with her pronunciations since she already knew how to write it.
The timer for break then went off so that the Vampire could check on Jubilee and Sam at the waterfall. When coming to the waterfall, Kagome could see Jubilee and Sam start to shiver a bit from being wet and exposed to the cold… even though Jubilee was doing her best not to come out of her pose to just bolt out of the cascade of water, same with Sam as he tried his best not to wrap his arms around himself.
"Ne, Sam-kun, Lee-chan!" Both heads looked up to her, Sam snapping out of his meditation as she waved to them. "Ikku yo!" Her broken English had them scrambling up the rocks. After several occurrences where she called them in for the night, they learned that her command meant that they could get out of the water.
Logan walked up behind her, looking at the two shivering teens. "Alright, go on inside before ya both get sick."
"Finally!"
"Thanks, Logan, Kagome!"
The miko watched them sprint toward the house in amusement before looking up at the mutant beside her. "Ne, Logan-kun…" Once his eyes met hers, she smiled and continued. "When Christmas comes, everyone will go with their families?"
"Most of 'em will." He looked back up at some of the others, training with Storm off to the side. "Rogue an' Scott will stick around the mansion because they don't have family to go visit, an' Hank will stay because he can't go anywhere." He reached down to pick up Yoshi, who found his way over to them from Ororo, and let him burrow into his chest, trying to gain more warmth. "Why? Thinkin' of plans of your own?"
Kagome smirked sardonically. "Where would I go?"
Logan fell silent, not wanting to push that subject. Hank had dug up information about her so they could forge documents for her, and he'd found the article in the paper about her family's death. It was a horrible accident, and there was only a small reference to her 'suicide', for which he was thankful. He didn't really want to know the details of how she staged her own death.
Setting a hand on her head, Wolverine broke her from wherever thoughts had taken her. "We'll see how things go, kid. Now, back to English."
Kagome smiled softly before getting back in her seat and picking up where they left off, reading out loud to Logan. A part of her wanted to go back to Japan so that she could visit her family grave for Christmas but how would she ask Logan or the other adults to take her back to Tokyo for a short visit? She decided to let it go for now and just focus on learning English as fast as possible.
Even after Logan finished giving Kagome his lesson, he couldn't get over the fact that Kagome couldn't really go anywhere for Christmas. And even as the holidays were coming, not many people were going to be around. 'This may as well be her first Christmas alone…' Logan thought as he let Yoshi try climbing into his jacket for more warmth before he stood and Kagome went to Bobby to let him go inside.
As everyone was heading back inside, Logan let Yoshi down before hanging his jacket and making his way to where Charles was in the living area.
Seeing Logan walking up to him, Charles spoke, "Logan, what's on your mind?"
"Not much… just about Kagome and any plans she wants to do during the holidays."
Xavier raised his eyebrows at that statement and motioned for Logan to sit across form him. "What exactly do you mean?"
Wolverine collapsed on the couch across from the wheelchair, propping his feet up on the low table between them. "I was thinkin' of takin' her back to Japan for that week or so, since just about everyone in the mansion is gonna be gone already."
The professor folded his hands in front of his face as he regarded his old friend closely. "Oh? What brought this on?"
Logan frowned. "It ain't easy on those kids to watch everyone else leave happily with their families and be left behind. Scott's alright 'cause he's used to it by now, and Rogue doesn't want to consider the people who raised her family, but Kagome… She lost all her family, friends, and home. The least we can do is let her go back to someplace a little familiar for the holiday an' visit the grave…"
Charles smiled behind his hands, easily seeing how much Kagome had wormed her way underneath the hard man's exterior. "Very well." The look on Logan's face told him that he didn't think he'd give in that easily. "I believe a trip back to Japan would be good for both of you."
Logan nodded absently, looking out the window to watch Kagome argue with Bobby in what little English she could speak before both of them stopped and looked up at the snow that began to fall around them. "Yeah… I think you're right, Chuck."
xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo
"Yoshi!" Kagome's voice rang down the hall softly, and she huffed, crossing her arms over her pajama-covered chest, when she didn't get a response from the tanuki. "Mou… where did he go?"
"Somethin' the matter?" Kagome whirled around to face Logan, surprised that he was able to sneak up on her, but she didn't mind… at the moment, anyway.
"Yoshi's gone missing… You wouldn't happen to know where he is, do you?" She was ready to go to bed, but the tanuki was nowhere to be found, and she didn't want him waking Logan up for the fourth time in the middle of the night.
Logan appeared thoughtful for a moment before heading down the hall in the other direction. "Dunno. The others are all watching a movie. We can go ask them."
Nodding her head, Kagome made her way to where the others were watching their movie with Logan following behind her, asking, "Why are you lookin' for him?"
"Because I'm ready to head to bed and I don't want him waking you up in the middle of the night again. And… I know how grumpier you seem to be when you don't have enough sleep." Kagome mumbled the last part, her face flushing with Scott's blood.
The older teen was nervous about giving blood to her after Logan told him about how she fed. But she assured him, through Logan, that she wouldn't hurt him or take too much. And true to her word, she only took less than what blood clinics took for donations. Scott had only flinched a little when her fangs pierced his neck and into his jugular. But so he wouldn't feel uncomfortable, Kagome gave him a mental persuasion that it didn't feel any different that donating blood at a hospital or clinic; it was just taken at the neck, instead of his arm.
The taste of his blood was thick but sweet with no impurities like liquor or drugs. She could also feel the raw power that was his; the energy that gave him his laser eyes. Not to mention… there was another pureness she tasted that she rarely detected from anyone.
'He's a virgin…' she thought, finding the notion refreshing. Since there weren't many Scott's age that hadn't already had sex.
After she was done, Kagome healed the puncture marks to so that the bleeding could stop and she thanked Scott for helping her.
Feeding from Scott wasn't too long ago and he was most likely with the others watching a movie before he went to bed himself so that he could recover from the blood he had given to her.
Logan smirked slightly, knowing that when he was 'grumpy' he pushed the training a lot harder than when he wasn't. "Sure. He could just go to Kitty or Ororo, ya know."
"But he doesn't." Kagome pouted, causing Logan to pause for a moment, looking her over.
'Damn… once she learns English and gets to school, Scott's gonna have a hell of a time keepin' guys off'a her…' He looked over her curved form from her feet to her pouty lips, and he had to keep his mind away from the memory of those lips gently massaging his neck. "Right… The room's this way, Darlin'."
xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo
"I'm going to get some snacks!" Jamie ignored the calls for other snacks from everyone lounging on the couch facing the television. He was lucky that no one was willing to break their attention away from the movie to kick him out, though he was certain Professor X would be upset when he learned that they had let him watch an R-rated movie like Blade: Trilogy.
While one Jamie left the living room, five Jamies entered the kitchen, scattering around to the fridge and cabinets. At the fridge, he found some soda while one of his copies found some pre-packaged popcorn that was caramel flavored. Once his copies came to him and melded into his body, Jamie shut was about to shut the fridge door when he heard some pitter-patter just outside the kitchen door.
Pausing for a moment, he looked over the fridge door to the kitchen door only to see nothing there. Thinking that it may have been Rahne while she was in her canine form, Jamie just shrugged before closing the fridge.
Walking out the kitchen and down the hall, Jamie started to feel like someone… or something was watching him.
Stopping at the end of the hall, Jamie slowly turned to look behind him… and saw… the same fluffy dog that was on the movie – staring at him with eyes that seemed to glow!
It just stood there, staring at him before it started to waddle to him.
With his imagination running wild, Jamie dropped his drink and snack and bolted to where the others were, his scream echoing through the manor.
xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo
While walking to the last step of the staircase to the entryway, Kagome and Logan paused and looked around before looking at each other curiously.
"What was that?" Kagome asked before the two continued down the steps as Logan gave a shrug, only for the vampire miko to be nearly run over. The force of someone bumping into her made Kagome release an 'oomph' before she almost fell to the floor. Picking herself up a bit, Kagome looked down to see Jamie lying on her.
"Jamie, why in the heck are you running like you're in a haunted house?" Logan said as he went to lift the boy off of Kagome and help the girl onto her feet.
"Logan! Go kill it! Scary! Vampire dog! Trying to eat me!"
Logan stared down at him with incredulous eyes before turning to help Kagome off the floor. "He's saying there's a vampire running around trying eat him."
Kagome stiffened, her muscles refusing to work anymore so he had to pull her up entirely, which, while not hard, was confusing. Looking into her eyes, he saw fear and a small bit of pain sparking in the deep blue depths, and it took him a minute to understand. "Oi, don't go paranoid on me now. He ain't talkin' about you. He said vampire dog, an' as far as I can see, ye ain't a mutt."
Despite his reassurance and how she knew it was supposed to calm her, Kagome felt herself tense up even more, and she gently pulled her hand away from Logan to step back, giving Jamie space to clamp onto Logan's legs. 'Dog… Mutt… Inuyasha… Sesshomaru…' Kami she missed them.
When Logan was going to try finding out what was wrong with his charge, he was stopped when Jamie had latched onto him, muttering about a vampire dog being in the mansion, "Damn it, Jamie. Get a hold of yourself. What do you mean by that vampire dog is after you?"
"I was just coming back to the TV area from the kitchen when I saw it in the hallway. It may have been small and fluffy but it looked EXACTLY like that dog on the movie we were watching!" Jamie said frantically, almost hyperventilating.
Logan raised a brow at this as Kagome was brought out of her thoughts at hearing about what Jamie saw being 'small and fluffy'. "Ne, Logan-kun… you don't think…"
The Wolverine sighed, running a hand through his hair irritably. "Yeah, I do think. Come on, Multiple, let's see this vampire dog you're going on about. More than likely, it's nothing serious."
Kagome almost felt bad when she saw how Jamie flinched in absolute fear. Of course, if this 'small and fluffy' thing turned out to be exactly what she was searching for in the mansion in the first place, then the poor boy was terrified for no good reason. "How does he cause so much trouble in such a short amount of time?"
Logan shrugged. "Dunno. Let's just hope that he hasn't freaked out everyone else watching the movie."
Kagome giggled, but internally, she fretted about the reaction everyone would have to her presence if they were in the middle of watching a vampire movie, especially now that they all knew that she was "like" a vampire. 'Kami don't let them freak out too badly.'
She pause before raising a brow and asked, "What movie were they watching? From all the vampire movies I've seen, I don't remember seeing a fluffy vampire dog."
"I'll bet they were watching the third movie of that Blade trilogy. Hey, Jamie. In the movie you were seeing, did you see a really fluffy and small dog?" Logan asked Jamie who was fisting the back of his shirt in a death grip.
"Yeah, it was small, yappy, fluffy, and it's bottom jaw splits into two almost looking like those weird huge worms from Tremors or something." The younger boy's voice almost quivered at remembering the dog from the movie. Sure he thought it was cool at first but after seeing the one in the hallway…
Logan sighed as they began to hear the sounds of the movie playing in the living room. "Yep, it's the last Blade movie. I thought I told them to be more careful of who they let watch it!" Kagome blinked at his dark muttering, and Jamie flinched. "Alright, stay behind Kagome just in case." The boy flinched again at the sarcasm drenching Wolverine's voice. "Whoever ain't supposed to be here better get, 'cause I'm comin' in!" Logan slammed the door open, glaring at all the occupants as they jumped in surprise and some in fear. Everyone underage for the violent movie scrambled to their feet, but froze at the older mutant's heavy glare. "Now where's the fur ball?"
"Ah," Kagome's voice sounded behind him, and he half-turned to see her lips turning upward in a smile as she bent down to pick up the puffball that trotted towards her. "Yo—"
"VAMPIRE!"
Even though the word was English, Kagome knew what it meant. "Vampire" was always used when its Japanese term seemed like a mouthful to say… but it didn't help prevent the sinking of her un-beating heart when the fear-filled accusation sounded like it was directed at her.
She looked up hesitantly to the group of teens and preteens and clutched Yoshi to her chest. They hadn't figured her out—it was just a reaction to the movie… right? Her reasoning was sound, but the panic still settled in her heart. If they discovered her through the movie—certain similarities, aspects, anything that could remind them of her—what would she do? How could she try to fit in with them after they found out she was lying to them? What—
"Ah, shut up, all of ya." Logan glared at them, arms crossed over his chest. When one of the younger mutants had yelled the word in fear, he had noticed how his charge had tensed after she had found Yoshi coming up to her before she picked him up. He guessed that in the past, she was often called a vampire, aside from monster as well. But what he didn't expect was for a couple of the older teens to get scared, despite knowing Kagome's habits because of her mutation. "All of you know that vampires are myth and nothing more and that Kagome's eating habits, physical traits, and such are just her mutation. Now all of those who weren't suppose to be here are still here… I suggest you get out and get to bed. And the rest of you, find something better than this before going to bed yourselves."
Groans erupted from the ones being sent to bed, and Logan enforced his commands with a glare. As all the younger teens filed passed them, Kagome stepped closer to Logan, her head down and away from the students. Logan may have defused the situation, but still… "Don't worry about it so much, Darlin'." A rough hand fell on her head, ruffling her hair. "Nobody here thinks of you like that."
When she didn't respond, Logan sighed and turned to the still-scared Jamie. "See? It was just Yoshi. You were scared for nothin'."
Jamie though just blinked at the animal Kagome held in her arms before feeling slightly embarrassed. The tanuki was more full in build than the Pomeranian in the movie… he guessed the way its eyes seemed to have glowed in the dark and its fur looked similar to the creepy fur ball from the movie. Despite his embarrassment, thought it was best to go to bed and bid everyone goodnight. Before leaving, he noticed how Kagome was acting and thought it had to do with one of the others calling her a vampire… so he wrapped an arm around her waist in a comforting hug while bidding her goodnight and making his way to his room.
Kagome, even from feeling the way she was, couldn't help the soft smile that came from her lips thinking, 'only a child… would accept something like me… even though I'm lying about being a mutant…'
With a bit of a depressed sigh and feeling more tired than before, Kagome adjusted her hold of Yoshi and bid everyone goodnight.
Logan watched her walk away, his eyes furrowed in concern. She hadn't seemed to out of it, other than sticking close to him, but he was still worried. After all, she was apparently still sensitive to any comments about monsters and now vampires. 'God I cannot wait to get her out of her for a week or two.'
Once Kagome turned a corner, out of sight from everyone, she placed a hand over her silent heart. Safe for now, but how long will that last?
xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo
A week or two had passed since that night. Jubilee, Sam, and Bobby didn't have to go through their punishment training since it was getting too cold to do so. After that night when one of the younger X-men called Kagome a 'vampire' everyone, they started to feel guilty before apologizing to her and the others reassured her that everything was okay.
Xavier noticed that Jean was still keeping clear of Kagome and didn't trust their latest family member. Especially when it came to Scott being a willing donor for the young girl. He could only shake his head, seeing why she didn't trust Kagome. Jean couldn't trust what she couldn't read. And with Kagome's mind being like an endless void, with no way to read her thoughts, it unnerved Jean and with everyone's safety. He still had a lot to teach the redhead with, instead of reading one's thoughts; he'll have to teach her how to read ones emotions.
Rogue's voice brought him out of his thoughts as he brought his attention back to where she and Kagome were. Both girls were exchanging fists and kicks, with Rogue on the offensive and Kagome blocking and dodging the Southern Belle's blows while in almost a foot of snow.
Winter was already on them and with almost a week before most of the student leave to spend Christmas with their families. Right now, most of the students were out trying to do some light Christmas shopping before their two weeks of vacation came up.
The professor then sensed Logan, Ororo, and Hank coming out of the house, decking on their winter coats to ward off the cold. Coming to stand beside him, Hank asked, "So how's the training coming?"
"It's going very well. Kagome's very patient with Rogue while giving a break here and there to just play in the snow. But other than that, Kagome's helping Rogue make great progress." Charles answered as Kagome soon caught Rogue's fist and threw the other girl over her shoulder, forcing her to land in the cold snow. "They've been doing this since Rogue came home from school."
Ororo smiled, noticing the slight improvement in Rogue's movements, "It does seem that Rogue's improved quite a bit."
Logan raised a brow, noticing that the young Asian girl's attire. While Rogue had on a warm turtleneck, jeans, boots, and a warm coat; practically bundled to stay warm, Kagome was only dressed in a pair of jeans, winter boots, and a black sleeveless turtleneck that had a white skull with red bat wings knitted into it, and last, on her arms were just flimsy pieces of cloth that were excuses of arm warmers. . "How long had Kagome been training Rogue without a coat?"
"I'm not sure… I came out here almost an hour after they start." Charles then looked pushed his thick sleeve back to look at his wrist watch, "With the time now… she hadn't been wearing one for almost three hours."
The Wolverine let out an irritated growl before making his way onto the snow-covered ground, off the patio he and the other adults were standing, and to where the two girls were sparring while yelling out, "Alright, you two, Time out! Time to head in!" It seemed the girls were too absorbed into their sparring match to hear him so he tried again, but this time in Japanese.
It caught Kagome's attention, momentarily dropping her guard and allowing Rogue that one moment to strike at her with a high kick. But Kagome caught onto what Rogue was planning and managed to catch the Southern girl's leg and throw her into a nearby soft snow mound.
After coming out of it with snow, slightly covered in the somewhat powered frozen water, Rogue darted back her at her friend and sparring partner and managed to finally tackle the vampiric 'mutant'. Kagome gave a soft "oomph" as they both fell into the snow. Logan immediately cursed, ranting to Kagome that she needed to get inside and take a warm shower because of that stunt. Ororo, Hank, and Charles laughed softly, at the overprotective rant, but they all sobered quickly when Rogue shot out of the snow, pale and staring at Kagome fearfully.
"Kagome, I'm—ya okay?" She reached down slowly, and Logan rushed to her side.
"Oh dear…" Charles could easily interpret the look on Rogue's face. She'd touched Kagome. Who knew what kind of memories she would pull from the poor girl.
Logan's eyes darted over Kagome's shocked form, lying in the snow and staring at Rogue. "Oi… Talk to me kid. Are you all right? Light-headed, weak?"
The Wolverine didn't expect her to stare at him oddly then. "Iie. Is something wrong with Rogue? She just suddenly freaked."
Logan looked at her before looking over to Charles and Ororo and Hank. Looking back to her, Logan told her, "I told you that Rogue can absorb anyone's powers, energy, memories?"
Kagome's brows furrowed slightly before remembering that she did feel Rogue's skin on hers… when the Southern girl tackled her and her cheek touched her bare shoulder.
Seeing the realization on the Asian girl's face, Logan continued, "You're not feeling drained or anything?"
'That's why she got scared… she thought that she accidentally drained me of my powers and memories…'
Kagome shook her head, "I feel fine… nothing missing or anything."
Logan turned to Rogue, "What about you? See any memories that aren't yours or feel any powers that aren't?"
Coming back to herself, Rogue spoke, "Ah don't think so…" looking through her memories, she didn't see anything foreign. "Then again… Ah didn't feel that overwhelming feeling from whenever Ah touch someone…"
It was by now that Hank came up to them and heard what Rogue said before suggesting, "Why don't we head inside? We'll discuss more of this as we warm up and get comfortable."
Kagome blinked, letting Logan haul her out of the snow. "Eh? We need to warm up?"
Logan stared at her for a moment, processing the statement. "You just fell in a foot of snow with no coat or anything of the sort, and you're asking if you need to warm up? You should be an ice cube by now!"
Wincing as his shout came too close to her ear, Kagome waved off his concern. "I feel perfectly fine." Inside, she was heaving a sigh of relief. 'That… could have turned out deadly. If Rogue's powers had worked on me, I don't know what would have happened—the lies, the truth… everything would be exposed and I would definitely be kicked out.'
She watched Logan's back as he led her into the mansion, grumbling harshly under his breath. A brick settled into her stomach as she went over her last thought again. The idea of getting kicked out, of never see these people again—never seeing Logan again—hurt. Far more than she thought she was capable of anymore, it hurt. "Gomen."
Logan looked back at her, sighed, and accepted her apology, though she knew it wasn't for what he thought. He thought she was sorry for making him worry, but she was really sorry for lying. Hopefully, if the day ever came where it was revealed—and with how her life had gone so far, that day would come eventually—he would understand and truly forgive her.
A quick shower, a change of clothes, and a mug of hot chocolate with Rogue later, everyone sat comfortably in Xavier's office.
Everything that the two girls experienced from right after Rogue had tackled Kagome was explained and it left Charles and Hank very confused as to what happened. Charles knew that Rogue had touched Kagome with skin-to-skin contact yet Kagome wasn't feeling any of the side-affects from after Rogue touches anyone. And Rogue herself didn't feel any different and didn't gain anything from the skin contact.
"This is most curious, indeed…" Charles muttered before he turned to Logan, "Logan, could you ask Kagome touch Rogue? Just her cheek or her hand."
"What?" Rogue and Logan exclaimed.
Charles raised his hands in a placating manner. "Just to be sure that Rogue truly has no effect on Kagome. To ensure that she knows the possibility of what could happen, you may touch her first. If, of course, this is all acceptable to you, Rogue." He looked in her eyes and saw the indecision hidden there. "Normally, your powers activate at even the slightest brush of skin. Given that they did not when such a thing occurred with Kagome, it could be that you would be able to touch her freely without the fear of harm."
Kagome glanced between them all, paying apt attention to the staring contest between the Professor and Rogue. Uncertainty and a hint of fear showed through in Rogue's stiff shoulders and clenched fists, and Kagome did not like to see that on her—it didn't fit with the strong persona she showed to everyone.
And Logan was the same, though his uncertainty dwarfed his fear, and anger swamped them both. She made a small, questioning noise that would appeal to his more instinctive half and calm him, a trait she picked up for being with Sesshomaru too long, and she felt his aura relax slightly. He gritted his teeth and locked eyes with her. "He wants you to touch Rogue again, to make sure her powers don't jump at ya like everyone else."
Her body didn't stiffen at all, since she knew that would only unnerve Rogue more, but her mind was less accepting. What if what happened before was a fluke? What if she could really see what was in her head? 'Secrets, blood, and death.'
But that wasn't all there was. A small part of her protested. The beautiful part of her she once thought dead. There was love in that part, love that she could have sworn vanished with her family, but it was there, and it wrapped around her, linking her to everyone in the room in some way.
She didn't have to show Rogue that dark side of her, if she could show her anything at all. It hadn't happened before, why should it start again now?
The optimism she hadn't felt in a long time spurred Kagome into a smile as she set a hand on her shoulder. Without any more hesitation, she let the back of that hand press gently against her friend's stunned face.
Seconds turned to minutes and the few minutes turned to five or more and nothing happened. Kagome was still standing unaffected while the fact that she could touch Rogue started to sink into the southern belle's mind.
Tears started to swell in Rogue's eyes, happy and relieved beyond belief that there was finally somebody she could touch without the fear of putting them in a coma or even killing them.
Kagome smiled before she gently rested both hands on the girl's cheeks. The action was what caused Rogue's tears to fall and touch Kagome's skin before the vampiric girl brought her into her arms, accepting the comfort Kagome gave.
Rogue's reaction to Kagome was all Charles needed for an answer. It was very clear that somehow Kagome was not at all effected by Rogue's power. He smiled, watching the two girls take comfort in one another. Around him, he could feel the relief of the other teachers. After years of no true physical contact with anyone, Rogue was finally able to feel skin against her own without fear. It was a blessing, really.
Logan heaved a sigh, his eyes closing in relief. When Kagome had touched Rogue, he forced himself back—forced himself not to rip the two of them apart. That would have hurt Rogue more than any of Kagome's memories could have. That he didn't trust her either. He did, more than a lot of the other kids, but his protectiveness over the latest recruit was…
Logan let himself smile at the girls. 'I need to get a hold of myself. If I'm like this just because of a minor threat like Rogue, what am I gonna do when we get her onto the battlefield?' The thought was painful, but hopefully, he would sort himself out while in Japan with Kagome over Christmas.
After the girls had parted, Charles suggested that they get ready for a somewhat late dinner. When Logan translated to Kagome, the vampire miko offered to cook since she wanted to try a new recipe out first.
While Kagome and everyone would get ready for supper, Logan left to make some last preparations for the trip he planned for Kagome.
TEN pages! Hope that's long enough for everyone and hope you guys enjoy it. The next chapter will be the start for an early Christmas special of sorts. Keep sending the good feedback and until next time I update.