One Thousand Paper Cranes ---------part 8







"Come on Kurt," Scott called to the small boy. "You don't wanna stay on the merry-go-round all night do you?"

"Just vonce more!" Kurt laughed, hopping on to one of the beautiful wooden horses. Scott shrugged and took his place on another carved horse and they went around again.

"Do you want an apple or some cotton candy? Scott asked as they passed the venders.

"No, I'm not really hungry" Kurt smiled hugging the pink elephant Scott won in the ring toss. He took in the festival grounds , the colours, the music, the laughing of little kids...and his eyes sparkled. "Scott, ve should get a seat the fire vorks are going to start" he said noticing that the sun had set and it was getting dark.

"Ya alright" Scott nodded.

They made their way to a large open field, dotted with hundreds of people. Scott kept an arm around Kurt's waist to steady him as they walked down the small hill.

"Um...sorry I didn't bring a blanket " he apologized, taking off his coat and covering Kurt's shoulders.

"It's ok...."Kurt gave him a tired smile. "I vant to thank you mein frieund "

"Why?"

"For everything you've done....for being my friend..." Kurt leaned against Scott as the fire works began.





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Brilliant colours of red, green, and blue exploded into the night sky as the crowd clapped and hollered their delight.

Kurt watched the show looking up at the sky with wonder as it came alive. "Almost as though they were throwing billions of new stars up into the heavens" he thought as he watched the latest bunch explode then wink out against the dark.

He shook his head slightly, realizing his eyes were getting heavy. It was hard to think clearly as a drowsiness took hold of him. The old ache in his head had returned. And this time he knew.

"Goodbye Jean and Evan...and dear Kitty" He smiled faintly " Goodbye Storm and Logan and Professor thank you for giving me a family" he tilted his head up to the sky " If I must go Lord" he whispered " I want to go with the stars" he shivered a little and Scott held him closer. "You ok Kurt?"

"Scott" Kurt's tone held something in it that made Scott's stomach turn to ice. "You have been my best friend. And for that I thank you. But now like it or not....I must leave this vorld. I vant you to have this ..." Kurt handed him a small journal "there are letters in there of each of you..please..please don't be sad.." Kurt looked into Scott's eyes and despite himself his tears began to fall. " I'm..sorry.. I'm just so tired " he murmured as his eyes closed again. "I can't stay awake"

"Th....then rest Kurt...rest" Scott smiled at him, I'm right beside you".His own tears seeping down past his shades. Time had finally caught up with them.

Kurt lay back down beside Scott . He looked up into Scotts eyes, with his own large frightened ones. "Scott?" he said quietly " I'm never going to wake up again am I ?"

"No" Scott whispered.

Kurt leaned his head on Scotts shoulder watching the final fireworks display explode in a huge display of colour. "So beautiful" he breathed, the ache in his head suddenly vanishing as his eyes focused on the brilliance "look Scott , za light...so beautiful" he watched the light, not knowing only he could see it. "Vow Scott look,!" He reached out and touched it. In that moment he was freed of all his sufferings. And he slowly closed his eyes. Never to open them again.



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The low mournful music played continually in the church. Scott sat with the others as the Preacher read aloud various hymns and prayers. "Kurt" he thought " You always wanted to be a Priest. I remember when you told me...how I laughed at the idea...........forgive me. I bet you're the best heaven has to offer." He hung his head "You dance with the angels now my friend. The world was not meant for one so truly kind and innocent as you."



Scott watched as the ground was covered over and flowers were placed around the grave.

"This is really it..isn't it?" Scott felt tears form in his eyes. "Kurt is really gone.....he's not going to "Bamf" out of nowhere...he..he's not going to steal my car, or stick a cheeseburger on my seat when I'm not looking...or ...or get fur all over the toothpaste. " Scott's chin started to quiver " .....he's not going to hug me anymore,......not going to tell me his problems, or talk with me..or pick apples or beat me at Mario Party...or...or anything!!!!!............anymore."

He looked over at the others. Kitty was crying on Jeans shoulder. Jean was crying softly to herself, hugging Kitty. Storm was by the Professors side both had glistening eyes, and from time to time would raise an arm and wipe their tears away. Even Logan grieved ..in his own way.

Unbelievably Evan had an arm slung over Pietro's thin shoulders. The white haired boy had his face covered with his hands. But ,Scott could tell from where he stood that Pietro was full out bawling. "He's lost two people to this disease now" Scott thought sadly.

A little further off he saw Fred and Todd, while neither of them had known Kurt very well they did feel upset at his sudden demise.

"Scott?" A voice called to him.

"Huh?" he turned to see Rouge looking directly at him.

"Ah'm sorry about Kurt" she started to say "He was a very nice guy,..kinda like a little brother really. Ah wish ah had gotten to know him better. And I think I'm not the only one " she gestured towards the crowd that was starting to part.

"Who?" Scott looked on as a figure pushed through the crowd and stopped at the grave site.

Placing a single red rose on the stone, Mystique turned and slowly walked away , her head down to hide her tears.

As Scott watched all this a figure came up behind him. Scott turned before Lance could touch him.

"Hey" Lance said. Scott nodded.

"Shades, he's happy were he is now" Lance started to say " You wouldn't want him to be in pain all the time right? " again Scott nodded.

"I'll bet you gave him the best day of his life!!!"

"....yes....thank you.." Scott mumbled, he smiled remembering all the fun Kurt had had "He wouldn't come off that damned carousel" Scott chuckled a little before the memories brought him back to the here and now. He started to sob.

"L...Lance I got a question for you" he said

"Shoot" The dark haired boy replied.

"Why...did you give me those tickets....why....why did you do anything at all? Scott struggled for the words " I mean we're your enemies...good versus evil..um..that is......"

"Do you really think were evil?" Lance asked mildly amused

"Well...um"

"Scott you'll see in life that paths are not always clear cut, black or white. True we're not on the same side, we don't fight for a common cause. But that doesn't make us soulless monsters.....just different" he started to walk away, then called over his shoulder "remember Scott, evil is only how you look at it"

"Yes" Scott said "Kurt would have understood that. How you look at things". To most people Kurt was a demon..completely evil, something to fear. But to the few who got to know him he was the kindest, gentlest person you could ever meet. Scott pitied the people who had never known Kurt's kindness.



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"Mystique!!!" Magneto bellowed at the woman sitting quietly behind the desk.

"Hmmm?" She replied not looking up from the photograph she held of her son.

"I told you to watch after these recruits , to teach them our ways. And now I find that your allowing them to get friendly with the enemy!!! I'm in no mood for this Mystique . Either you get them back into line or get yourself a new job!!!"

Mystique got up from her desk and walked over to the window. Where she promptly threw a bunch of papers into Magneto's face.

"What is this?!!!" he roared at her.

"That is my resignation. I quit Magneto. It's obvious that your goals and mine don't blend ....not anymore"

"You have on idea what your throwing away Mystique,!"

"Oh yes...yes I do" she looked up at him " I threw away a life of love from my children...to pursue power and wealth. It's you who has no idea!!...No idea of how your own son wants you, needs you, yearns for just a moment of you time!!!!"

Magneto was speechless. He removed his helmet and sat down in one of the chairs " I...I..never knew"

Mystique picked up her purse "Go spend some time with your son Eric. ....You never know when he might be taken away from you " she wiped her eyes and walked out the door leaving Magneto alone in the room.



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Scott sat on the hill over looking the orchard. He could see the very path that he and Kurt had ran down a few weeks before. "I miss you Kurt". He clutched an envelope to his chest .

Everyone in the mansion had received one. It was from the journal Kurt had given him on that final day. Each had taken their letter to a private spot to read the last words Kurt had given them.

Scott gently opened the envelope , and pulled the single sheet of paper out along with ...a small paper crane. Taking a deep breath he began to read the letter.





Dear Scott:



Goodbye to you my trusted friend.

We've know each other since last summer's end.

Together we've climbed hills and trees.

Learned of love and A B C's.

Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees.

Goodbye my friend it's hard to die.

When all the birds are singing in the sky.

Now that the spring is in the air.

Pretty girls are every where .

Think of me and I'll be there.

We had joy we had fun.

We had seasons in the sun.

But the hills that we climbed.

Were just seasons out of time.





Elsewhere in his private study, Professor Charles Xavier grieved for the bright and inquisitive young boy who had been taken from his life as he read.





Dear Professor:



Goodbye Professor please pray for me.

I was the black sheep of the family.

You tried to teach me right from wrong .

To much joking to much song.

Wonder how I got along.

Goodbye Professor it's hard to die.

When all the birds are singing in the sky.

Now that the spring is in the air .

Little children everywhere.

When you see them I'll be there.

We had joy we had fun.

We had seasons in the sun.

But the wine and the song.

Like the seasons have all gone.



He studied the small crane that had come with the letter with some fancy.



Storm, sat in her quarters. Surrounded by her many plants as she read through teary eyes

her letter and held close the small crane she had received.

Evan stood near the basketball court, accompanied by Pietro as he read what his little blue friend had left as a final farewell."Hey..a crane?" He said as the little paper bird fell into his hand.

"Hmmm?"Pietro looked closely at the crane "Come on Daniels let's go see the others, maybe they got cranes too!"

Jean sat in the lounge gazing at the little crane and remembering the night so long ago when it all began. She smiled sadly at the little crane in her hand , feeling as though she had lost a part of herself. Kurt had been like a little brother to her. And she missed him dearly.

For his part Logan had been ....well.....Logan. He kept a strong face about things. He was glad Kurt had made the best of the time he had. Though even when the time came it was still a blow. It was something Logan had never gotten used to....

Kitty lay on her back in a field of wild flowers, gazing up at the stars. Tears rimmed her eyes as she watched the night sky. "You lied to me Kurt...." She sobbed " you said we would go picking wild flowers together and reach the stars..and now your gone!.......I guess heaven musta needed you up there huh?..Well whatever your doing up there....you like don't forget me ok?"

She read over her letter again holding a pink crane tightly.





Dear Kitty:



Goodbye Kitty my little one.

You gave me love and helped me find the sun.

And every time that I was down.

You would always come around .

And get my feet back on the ground.

Goodbye Kitty it's hard to die.

When all the birds are singing in the sky.

Now that the spring is in the air.

With the flowers every where ..

.I wish that we could both be there.

We had joy we had fun.

We had seasons in the sun.

But the stars we could reach.

Were just starfish on the beach .



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Scott walked through the front door and was surprised to find the others waiting for him.

"Scott!" Pietro called "Did you get as crane?"

"Um...ya" he held up his little crane. Pietro took it along with all the others.

"I ..I don't believe it he gasped.

What?" Jean said.

"What is it man?" Evan looked over his shoulder.

"He did it.......he made one thousand paper cranes " Pietro gaped.

"It doesn't matter now " Scott hung his head sadly " he's gone, that stupid wish idea didn't work!!!"

"Ahhh...but what was his wish?" Pietro said. "That's what we need to know"

"How?" Kitty asked.

"Observe " Pietro took Evans crane and unfolded it. There for all to see was a message in Kurt's handwriting. The others opened their cranes as well to find messages in them. They discovered that each crane had a number beside the message. By putting the cranes in the proper order the message read:



Vell I did it, I have made one thousand paper cranes. Now I get my vish, and I vish for all of you to be happy. I see now zat I can not vish myself more life than that vhich I have been granted. It is not my decision to make. God has chosen this to be my time and I have strong faith in his judgment. And so I go to join my brothers and sisters in the heavens. But I vill not forget you. I vill always be thinking of my brothers and sisters here on earth.

So please be happy , have fun, remember me and all za good times ve had. Life is a very precious gift and you only get one time around . So please make za most of it! Zat is my vish to all of you





Love Kurt







The others honored Kurt's wish year after year. They remembered the good times and the many happy memories they all shared.

As time went on the institutes numbers began to grow. Sometimes, in autumn , new members would walk by the hill near the orchard and see a sandy haired man with red shades standing at the top.

If they had ever asked him why he stood there he would have replied "It's my favorite time of the year..and I intend to make the most of it!!!"





We had joy we had fun.

We had seasons in the sun.

But the stars we could reach.

Were just star fish on the beach.



We had joy we had fun

We had seasons in the sun

But the wine and the song

Like the seasons have all gone.



All our lives we had fun

We had seasons in the sun.

But the hills that we climbed

Were just seasons out of time.





END







Authors notes:



Sadako and the One Thousand Paper cranes is a true story written by: Eleanor Coerr.



Seasons in the Sun : was written and sung By: Terry Jacks



This story is dedicated to my Grandmother who died of cancer November 19 1993.



"Your are dearly missed"



Viceroy/ Ben