Tenchi the New Mutant
Chapter 2: I, Light-ken!
By claudius
I don't own anything. Characters of 'Tenchi Muyo!' are owned by AIC (created by Masaki Kajishima and Yosuke Kuroda). Characters of 'New Mutants' and 'X-Men' owned by Marvel Comics. All canonical X-Men/New Mutants stories in this story were written by Chris Claremont, with artistry and advice from Frank Miller, Len Wein, Paul Smith, John Romita Jr., John Byrne, Dave Cockrum, Bob McLeod, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jackson Guise, Alan Davis, Art Adams, and Steve Leialoha. Magneto was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
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The chimes of the clock hit at 6:00. The machine's alarm sound awoke the white-haired figure lying on the bed beside it. He arose from the covers of his nightly rest to deal with his morning and day exercises. Practically naked, as was his wish, the newly awakened man walked to the bathroom. A cold shower increased his consciousness, which made him aware enough for shaving. Perceiving on the mirror before him small whiskers upon his cheeks, the man made a smooth concentration. The razor, levitating before him, moved and cut his face; it scraped his hair specks without harm to the skin. The rituals continued with the use of a toothbrush to clean and strengthen his teeth. Magneto performed all these actions in a straightforward behavior that revealed no faults in movement, decision, and verification.
Departing the bathroom, the Headmaster headed to his closet. He concentrated. The closet doors opened up, revealing a wardrobe. A second concentration leaned toward a suit that hung from the closet. This piece of hung clothing began to rip and tear from its spot. Piece by piece, the cloth was stolen, reaching a point that showed only an empty wire hanger in its place.
This thievery proved to be part of a transfusion. In the same quick turn that stripped the wire hanger of its clothes, the man's naked form became fully clothed with this stolen material. The mishmash of pieces turned and formed around the man, materializing into trousers, shirt, and a tie, surrounded by a gray vest and coat. Feeling no alterations or anomalies in this change, the Headmaster was content. He was ready for work.
He walked out of the room, passing hallways and chambers. His course was the kitchen. Now before this entry, the man was alone in his morning ritual. Once he made his way into the room of pantries, cupboards, and cooking and freezing equipment, the man met two new figures, ending this lonely existence. Doug and Warlock were together, cooking breakfast for the rest of the team, seemingly because it was Doug's turn and responsibility this day. The techno-being helped, taking on a more intensive approach in its assistance. Magneto wondered how much an assistance this was.
"Good morning, Doug and Warlock," Magneto greeted his two students. "I trust that you slept well," he addressed only to Doug. Despite his wish to present a mannered voice of open friendliness, Magneto's greeting came out as cold and indifferent. It was such a hard thing to sound warm, considering his previous record of giving words of a cold, alienating characterization.
Luckily, the two students were not really affected by today's lukewarm greeting. This was partly due to the ill-timed conditions in Doug's state of mind. "I'm sleepwalking," he yawned, scratching his unkempt hair.
"SELF- also- HAS- performed- ACTIONS- of- UNCONSCIOUS- animation,- DWELLING- to- SLEEPLAND- dreamscape," Warlock spoke and acted this rather proudly, like a child succeeding in his first bicycle ride. Magneto made a pause at the weird thought about Warlock's new choice of living. Was sleep possible for a being of the technarchy? Still, it definitely was an improvement over the techno-alien's habit of watching television all night.
Magneto sat down on the table. Suspecting something not right, he asked at Doug's direction, "Fixing breakfast this morning?"
The one to respond was not Doug. "AFFIRMATIVE," answered Warlock to this question, which confused Magneto. "SELF- designs- TO- accumulate- BREAKFAST- to- FELLOW- selffriends."
Magneto found his suspicions correct, though the info was still surprising (which in his case, was expressed as a cool, fixed glare of suspicious understanding). Doug saw it to himself to offer some explanation, despite his bedraggled condition. "Locke told me that he was making breakfast this morning. I'm just here giving advice."
Having complied at the meaning of this 'advice,' Magneto surrendered any further unease about this topic. He sat back on his chair, where on a cupboard to his right was situated a coffee machine. As he opened the newspaper, the inert coffee machine switched on. As the dark brown waters of this machine drilled down the vacant cup, the Headmaster read about the news of the day. Headlines still spoke of Larry Bodine's suicide, an incident that moved heavily upon the reader's conscience. He had only met this boy very briefly at the Mixer last Saturday. Any chance of the encounter taking a greater form was squelched by the boy's wish for isolation. Had Charles been here, he would have instantly learned about the boy's problem and saved him from fate, Magneto cruelly predicted to himself. Such predictions (and their outcomes) had become a major habit to the successor. Only a firm resolute acceptance of such failings made him overcome its effects, if not its memory.
As a characteristic of this acceptance, Magneto folded the paper, asking a word from Doug. "As the both of you are up first," he addressed the two, "you should be among the first to know."
Doug made shaky, somewhat clumsy steps to a chair. With haggard eyes and a tired smile, he slurred, "What's up, Teach?"
"Last night, as Kitty's wish, I called Principal Hogarth of Salem Center High School." Magneto explained as if this was a lecture. "She has agreed for Kitty to give a speech this afternoon about Larry Bodine."
Doug leaned back to the chair, showing a display of approval despite his half- awake appearance.
"Although I am not certain of the full details," Magneto continued. "It might be a good guess that she might identify herself as a mutant."
Doug's half-sleepy eyes really opened to this news. Magneto took notice, as he also heard the boy's suddenly cautious line, "Is she really gonna to do it?"
"I'm only guessing, Doug," Magneto corrected. "However, I believe that she has every right to do so. I say this with full knowledge to the possible ramifications."
"Do you think Kitty will talk about us all?" Doug spoke with stemming excitement, his behavior thinly portraying a piece of selfish protection.
"I do not know," Magneto then magnetically grabbed for his coffee, the cup flying peacefully to his hand. "What I do want to know is your choice. Are you content to the possibility that she will reveal our secrets?"
Despite Warlock's constant movements (which were always varied), Magneto concentrated his attention to Doug. A few seconds' pause marked the boy's silence. This was certainly an important choice for the student, the Headmaster remembered. Of all the New Mutants, with the exception of Illyana, Doug Ramsey still kept his mutant powers a secret from his family. If Kitty told the truth about herself, this could mean revealing to the public that the School of Gifted Youngsters is a haven for mutants, compromising Doug's privacy as well.
"I want Kitty to do the right thing," Doug slowly answered.
"Are you certain?" Magneto made much of this suspicious question. "I could speak to Kitty, and tell her not to do such a thing for your benefit."
Doug stared at the table. "No," he admitted, though his eyes showed disagreement. "I don't want to blow what Kitty wants to do. Sure, I'm not happy 'bout it, but I can't let it bother me. I think Kitty has a good idea going; far be it from me to force her from doing something right."
Magneto arose, hearing some loudening voices in the hall. "And that's your final word on it?
"Yes." Doug finalized his word, though the student lingered some conspicuous doubts. At this very moment Sam, Dani, Roberto, and Amara entered the room, all convincingly bedraggled. A stepping disc entered the empty space, presenting Illyana. Their appearances fulfilled Magneto's intention to ask about their wishes on Kitty's plans.
===
With his eyes opening, Tenchi awoke. The room was brighter. It was an obvious clue that the sun was out, shining its bright residue around. A slow realization of his surroundings then incurred, reminding the boy that he was no longer at home. Rising from the bed, Tenchi yawned. Rubbing his weary eyes and scratching his messed up hair, he got out of bed. The feeling of his bare feet on the rug made the realization that he needed some slippers. Tired and possessed of a lazy feeling, Tenchi nevertheless went to his suitcase and found a pair, which he quickly put on. He sneezed. Brushing his nose with his finger, he wondered if anyone was talking about him. Either that, or his rain-drenched trek the other day must have had some after effects.
Twenty minutes later, he came out of his bedroom fully dressed. He was clothed in jeans, a blue shirt, and white sweater. Today he was not going to work the fields, nor come to a breakfast greeted by the warm and friendly voice of Sasami.
Tenchi walked down the large stairway and into the hall. Memories flashed back to his mind of his last visit. Like before, he heard voices coming from a door. Memories told him that it was the kitchen. However, he decided not to replicate his actions of last time, which had demanded stealth and discretion. He opened the door wide, and indiscreetly entered.
The mutants were at the table, having morning's breakfast. Tenchi paused in finding out that he had made a culture clash; he came to breakfast well dressed, while his hosts were all in different varieties of sleepwear. Sam was in pajama pants and a small shirt inscribed "Lila" (didn't even take a second for Tenchi to realize where that came from). Beside him, Dani was in jean shorts and a checkered shirt, Roberto was in a robe, and Amara wore a long sleeveless white gown. Illyana wore a seductively revealing negligee under a small robe (making Tenchi blush at this sight), and Doug had a regular pair of pajamas. Warlock was naked. Then again, he/it was always naked.
Despite their eating, it was clear everybody had gotten up a little too early. Receiving some greetings, Tenchi pulled up a seat. The urge to sneeze making an attack, the boy moved away from his friends, covered his mouth, and relieved himself.
"Mornin' sniffles?" a dim-eyed Sam noted.
"Guess so," Tenchi responded with a nasal yawn. "Hope it's not long-lasting."
"Did you sleep well?" said Roberto, barely looking up from his breakfast.
"I…little short." yawned Tenchi.
"That's no surprise," remarked Illyana, her eyes closed, but her face suddenly bright.
Tenchi looked around, studying the contents for breakfast. No rice bowls, no rice crackers, but bread, pancakes, and bowls of wheat pieces.
"You use the fork and spoon," remarked a smug Roberto like a teacher.
"I think he knows what they are, Bobby." corrected Illyana. Proving her hunch correct, Tenchi knowingly picked up the tools.
"Although I normally use chopsticks, Bobby," Tenchi remarked, "I'm not so internationally challenged that I don't know what a fork is." As he used the utensils, Tenchi received the elongated head of Warlock pop up before him. He/it then dropped a piece of pancake on his plate. "Self- MADE- it- BY- self!" the alien explained in a face that glowed and charged with enthusiastic and positive influence. His/its teeth grew large in a smile that was as happy as it was humanly impossible.
"You did?" Tenchi's face mixed with bizarre understanding. He eyed the food, which looked normal, despite supposedly being the work of its creator. Tenchi than swung his mood from wariness to forwardness. He would not hurt Warlock's feeling. With a fork and knife, he cut, caught, and ate the pancake. His optimism proved correct. With great attention, Warlock asked if the elements were to his satisfaction. Tenchi nodded and smiled, which made the alien retract back with a celebratory face. That moment over, Tenchi looked around, seeing that all but one of the mutants was present. "Where's Rahne?"
"She's still upstairs," Dani gave her knowledge of her friend's whereabouts.
"We cannot let her despair at this," Amara advised, making Tenchi realize that there had already been talk on this subject before he arrived.
"Looking for solutions," asked Dani, at which she mouthed a bread roll. "The best I can say is that we stand by her."
"Speaking of which," Doug interceded, "Any idea on what Kitty's gonna talk about?" he asked with a concerned face.
"No clue," Illyana frankly claimed. "She's been up all night, though."
Tenchi wondered about this. "What is this all about?"
"Kitty's gonna write a eulogy for Larry Bodine an' read it at his school t'day," Sam explained with invitation.
Tenchi, remembering the grim talk about Larry, acted cordial "That's nice of her."
"Ya can go with us if ya like," offered Sam with no doubt.
Tenchi thought about it for a moment, and nodded. "If I can."
Dani looked at everybody, speaking loudly among the munching, gulping, and utensil scraping. "So are we in agreement that if Kitty decides to say bye-bye to her secret identity, as well as saying bye to our own as well, we'll have no problems 'bout it?" Mouths crunched and swallowed as most of the group shook their heads. Doug followed in suit. Being the unaware one, Tenchi realized the complications. From what he knew, only a few knew about the real nature of the School. It was a discretion made for the purpose of protection against people who hated mutants. Tenchi and his friends kept this secret as well, even hiding it from his own father.
Tenchi saw Dani direct an exception to him. "Because you're a guest, Tenchi, we'll keep your secrets private."
"I'll stand by you all if you wish," Tenchi presented his loyalties. It was one of those noble action that made everyone take notice with reverence…until Tenchi turned around again to sneeze. Sam handed him a Kleenex.
"No matter what, we X-Babies will be at Kitty's side;" Illyana assured. "No sweat."
That title did not escape Tenchi with understanding. Knowing this, Sam gave Tenchi some clear info. "That's what Kitty calls us." Tenchi nodded in understanding.
"Even though Kitty is about my age," said Roberto with a sneer.
"Not all of us are jealous," corrected Dani.
From these remarks, Tenchi realized that 'X-Baby' was some prejudiced name on the New Mutants. He took this as unfair. From what he has seen, he found nothing to regard this team with any low quality. "If that's true, then I guess I should be called an X-baby as well. As long as I'm here, you can consider me a member."
Illyana spoke abruptly with "You got my vote," before she silenced herself.
"SELF- approval- TO- Tenchifriend." Said Warlock, sticking his/its head on Tenchi's shoulder.
"What about a name for our newest arrival?" asked Amara.
"How about Prince?" mentioned Roberto with a smile.
"Uh...No!" Tenchi sarcastically remarked.
"It has t' be part of your power, right? Said Sam. "All our names are based on our powers."
"I'm Cypher," Doug added, "because I read languages."
"An' I'm Magik," Illyana responded coldly, "for obvious reasons."
"An' ya can make a light sword." said Sam to Tenchi.
"I got it!" Roberto snapped his fingers. "How about Sword boy?"
Ignoring this, Doug asked Tenchi for the Japanese term of Lightsword. "Hikaru-no-ken," Tenchi answered.
"Well, we can't call ya that," Doug snickered. "On the other hand, how about we change Hikaru back to light and mebbe call you Light-Ken?"
"What is Ken?" asked Amara, finishing her breadroll.
"Ken is the Japanese translation of sword." Said Doug. "We can use Light while keeping ken to make it sound more impressive."
Tenchi glared at empty space, pondering thoughts on this name, concluding it with a nod. "That sounds okay."
"So its settled then." said Dani. Getting up, she raised a glass. "Everybody?" she commanded, causing the whole group to stand and raise a glass. Warlock had no glass, so he/it morphed one from his/its hand.
"As I'm Mirage, leader of the New Mutants," said Dani in a half-serious/ half-mocking voice, "I hereby give Tenchi Masaki the code name of Light-Ken in membership to the New Mutants."
"Here's to Light-Ken!" all cried in formation. Tenchi raised his glass higher, speaking out his new code-name with acceptance. Everybody drank their glasses (Warlock seemed to engulf everything from his/its drink, including the 'glass'), and sat back down. Tenchi sneezed again.
"And now for the paddling." joked Doug. As if this was a sign, the breakfast group then started to break up. Mention was made on whose turn it was to clean up. The previously talkative Doug turned silent. This inconspicuous profile brought everyone on the realization that today's chore was Doug's responsibility. Like most kids cornered with this problem, Doug tried to find a way out. He defended himself, saying that he helped Warlock with today's breakfast. Dani then politely said that that was non-existent. After all, Dani reminded, Doug said he 'only gave advice.'
Making a hard breath of acceptance, Doug started stacking the dishes and utensils. Warlock wished to help, even though Sam said he/it was not supposed to do such a thing. By Sam's advice, the techno-organic alien portrayed a non-involved role in the cleaning, which to him meant transforming into a dish rack for his/its selffriend to place the china upon. Such a scene almost made Tenchi laugh. Warlock was such a good soul, he thought. Loyal, helpful, and nice, the techno-being was a lot better than some aliens.
"Can I help?" Tenchi offered to Doug.
"Sure," Doug nodded. Warlock appeared to invite the support, sticking out its head from the 'dish rack.'
A type of order was made. Doug washed while Tenchi dried and stored. "What a morning," Doug remarked to his assistance.
"I guess," Tenchi spoke while wiping the wet silverware. As he was about to continue, his voice was wheezed by the oncoming sneeze. He lunged away from Doug to make his release.
"Maybe you should be the one to wash them," Doug advised, grasping a paper towel to give for the boy's use. Tenchi graciously thanked him, wiped his nose, and switched places. "I'm sorry about your friend Larry."
"Well, I didn't know him that much." Doug corrected. "But I still feel bad about it. Can understand what he went through."
"Me too," Tenchi supported, "My country believes that suicide is a noble act to honor oneself."
"Amara gave me that speech before." Doug coldly remarked. "She believed it."
Tenchi saw his mistake. "However," he made a contrast, "that doesn't mean I like it."
"Took the words right outta my mouth," Doug replied. "Anyway, I can't help picturing that Larry was just like me. He was afraid to tell anyone about his powers."
"You're parents don't know you're a mutant?" asked Tenchi.
"Yep." Doug spoke in a voice that was one part acceptance, and one part frustration. "It's weird. My dad's the school's attorney, but he has no clue about the school's real intentions in teaching mutants...like his only son."
Tenchi's eyebrow moved high as he considered this unusual action. His own dad knew about him having alien blood.
"Not only my parents, but my old friends outside the school don't know about my gift." Doug explained. "I don't want to tell them because I'm afraid they'll hate me."
Tenchi remembered what that cabdriver thought about mutants. Doug's silence was not entirely without good reason.
Doug paused while holding a dish. "Larry was in the same pickle I'm in. However, because he never knew better, he must've thought he was some kind of a monster. He had no one to tell him otherwise." He pressed this present dish to the sink. "So he died," he fell silent after this action.
This made Tenchi consider that death really bugged him. He probed a little further. "Do you think of yourself as a monster, Doug?"
"No way," Doug smiled. "It's funny. The thing I really hate most about being a mutant is not the fear of being labeled Public Enemy No. 1. It's that my powers aren't that cool."
"Reading languages sounds cool," Tenchi critiqued while scrubbing a dish.
"As a linguist, I guess it is," Doug spoke sharply. "But compared to everyone else's powers, it's pretty lame- especially in battle. What am I suppose to do if I fought Kagato or somebody? Say 'Don't hurt me!' in Japanese?"
Tenchi didn't say anything, which made Doug only continue. "I like having these adventures with the team, but everyone treats me like a baby because I can't defend myself."
"Dani doesn't have that much defensive powers either." Tenchi pointed out.
"That's different; Dani's the leader of the group."
"Then wait until you become leader," Tenchi joked. "Then your powers won't be lame anymore."
"Hardy-har," Doug frowned.
"SELF- acknowledgement- FINDS- contrast- WITH- dougfriend's- DETRACTION." Spoke the 'dish rack.' "DOES- not- SELFFRIEND- remember- OWN- ACHIEVEMENTS- as- TEAM- supreme?"
"No I haven't buddy," Doug peered at Warlock's new appearance. "It's with you that I don't feel like such a fifth wheel." He then returned his focus to his other, sneezing partner. "Anyway, Tenchi, my point is that I don't really hate being a mutant. However, I can't help thinking that if I wasn't lucky, Larry's choice could'a been mine. When I found out who I was, I had the luck to talk about it with people I knew were just like me, but Larry didn't know. For all I know, if things were switched around, Larry could have been the member while I go off myself."
Tenchi considered that point well made. True, he had people to talk to about his powers, but they were aliens themselves. In fact, except for his earthling father and this school, no one normal knew about his abilities.
Doug spoke more. "When one looks at it, Larry and me shared some similarities. Like me, he was an only child, and we first met the team by knowing Kitty. It was through her that they knew about me as a mutant. Larry didn't have that advantage. How's that for a coincidence?"
"Kitty seems to be mentioned a lot by the team," Tenchi remarked, hoping to change the subject.
"Well, she's my friend, Illyana's roommate and best friend, and a member of the X-Men."
"DOUGFRIEND- was- CLOSELY- acquainted- TO- kittyfriend." Squeaked the 'dish rack.'
"We're just friends, Locke," Doug snapped. "That's as far as I want it to be."
Warlock went on with "NEW- focus- ON…" before Doug slapped him/it with a plate with such force that it cracked.
Understandably, Tenchi had some fun with this new knowledge. With sincere eyes, he slipped with a smile, "Kitty does look cute."
It was Doug's turn to retaliate. "Y'know Tenchi," the boy smugly spoke. "Kitty and Peter once had a thing."
This assault repulsed Tenchi. Doug threw further ammunition. "It's pretty much written on stone that the big guy has some sort of vendetta on you."
"I wouldn't call it that!" Tenchi defended. "I know why he feels so aggressive on me. But I told him back then that there was nothing between her sister and me. Nevertheless, he thinks I'm some lecher or something."
"Maybe he has a reason," Doug made a wicked gleam in his eye. Tenchi felt a little sweat drop fall on his temple. It did not help matters when Doug added that the boy was pretty nervous last night when Illyana was around.
Tenchi made no comeback. Instead, he provided talking about yet another different subject. "Eh, do you want to learn more about my own adventures?"
===
Despite the ribbings, the conversation between the two went on well, practically surpassing their chores. This was perhaps the first time the two had a serious talk. Although Tenchi knew Doug from his last visit, he wasn't as close to him that time. The boy was either hanging around with Warlock (which Tenchi had originally shunned) or helping the gang fight Kagato in a separate dimension. This morning, Tenchi found that he liked talking to Doug. The blond kid was never boring and it appeared like he didn't find Tenchi boring either. The two of them found out a lot about the other. Tenchi had not many male friends in his life. Even when he looked forward to meeting the New Mutants, he thought that the only ones he could really talk to were Locke, Sam and Illyana (although in the present case with her, that was doubtful). He was glad to get to know Doug more. It gave him some optimism about this week.
===
Rahne Sinclair buried herself under the blanket and pillows. She wished for stability and isolation, and performed hard to gain its fulfillment. It was better if she was a wolf, free from all this stupid and cruel humanity, a reality where her mother died, where her guardian led a murderous mob against her, where she had powers that most people considered to be the synonym of original sin. A place where a god killed her and her friends, then resurrected them to a life of mess. Most of all, this evil place presented a sweet and innocent boy who killed himself under the misapprehension that he was some evil devil. In this hour, in this place, she wanted to escape this world so much.
Thus it was not unexpected that she would act so uninviting to the friends at her bed. "Let me be!" she roared to Sam and Dani.
The Native American refused to surrender, as was her code. "C'mon furtop," she demanded with a fearful, but still resolute voice. "You can't stay in bed forever. In contrast to Dani's aggressiveness, Sam was gentle in his approach. "Kitty's gone to all the trouble t' make this speech for Larry."
"Then she'll understand m' refusal," she growled under the covers.
Dani pulled at the covers. "Is this what you want, Rahne!" she shouted. "It was you who wanted some meaning to come from Larry's suicide. You wanted some victory over the jerks who pushed him! I'd say-"
The blanket opened to reveal the girl in her wolf-form, stretched and furry, with claws and fangs. Her eyes opened with a cruel fury, her body reacted with quick anger, triggering a reshape to a lupine. With a fast arm, she swiped the blanket from Dani's hands. Lunging back into the bed, she pulled the covers back over to its previous, unaffected position.
Dani continued her unfinished sentence with a more quiet tone. "I'd say going there and listening to Kitty is the best way for victory." Like Sam, Dani felt put off. As much as she hated it, sometimes Rahne scared her. The girl had been getting so riled up lately, and not without good reason. It seemed everyone's lives have been upset a lot. Dani and Sam both really wanted to help; as friends it was their job and vocation. Unfortunately, as much as they were willing, a solution was absent. With a sigh, Dani walked out of the room. Sam made a few steps in following, than stopped for one last remark.
"Ya don't hafta come if ya don't want t', Rahne," he spoke to her like a brother, "When ya wanna come out, we'll be here for ya."
As Sam closed the door, Wolfsbane sensitively heard the slow, soft squeal of the hinges as if they had been loudly scraped directly in her ear. They were gone, the wolf-girl realized. Was she satisfied, then? Wanting to be so alone to the point of alienating her best friends?
The wolf-girl felt sorry for her reactions. She had no reason why she was acting so cruel and nasty. It made no sense why she had to be merciful to people she hated while being awful to people she loved. Dani and the others were doing her best to please her. Kitty was doing her best to help Larry. And what did she have to prove for it? By laying around in bed, being so miserable in the utmost self-pity?
Remorse folded upon her thoughts. As much as hard it would be, she could not abandon Larry again. With a grim nerve that called for her to return back to bed, Rahne disobeyed her reservations, opening the blanket with her own human-skinned hands.
===
In a small apartment, a young woman was carrying groceries to her refrigerator. She was of a slender figure, which was her preference. Her long black hair slid down her back, forming a straight-layered style whose ends curved on both her Asian-skinned cheeks.
It was the end of a weekend of fun with Leong and Nga. Almost two days of no fighting or training. After Mojo messed with the lives of her family and friends, Shan Coy Manh was deserving of some time off. Unfortunately, her responsibility demanded only a short time of break. She had to return to the school, working as secretary to Magneto. It was not a bad job, but she was also dividing that time as a student. Not that was all bad either. Her best friends were there.
What bothered Shan was that as a New Mutant, there was always going to be the chance of a fight with some menace. Shan did not like to risk her life in a role that she took on only to learn her powers more. It was not as if she cared little about her friends in the team. If they needed her help, she would possess no reluctance to do so. However, she was not planning to make a living of it, especially since she was also raising her brother and sister.
Opening the refrigerator, the Vietnamese carted food inside of it. It was a very brisk transportation. The memory of what food had done to her body and size was still vibrant, a horrible remembering. Quickly, she shoved the food into the icebox.
That job done, Shan sat down on a sofa that had worn its beauty but not its comfort. She sat in meditation over what she had to do this day. First among these was her trip to the School.
As if she commanded fate with a thought, a stepping disc appeared out of the open space of her room.
"Hi Shan!" cried the New Mutants. Shan gratefully smiled at this presence, crying Bonjour and offering her abode to them. Everyone was there, dressed rather nicely. No one was missing. In fact, there was one addition, which Shan at first considered to be one of Warlock's human disguises.
It was Sam who gave the introduction. "Meet Tenchi Masaki."
Shan made a toothy smile in recognition. "So, this is the space prince?"
Tenchi turned a color at that weird title. Roberto admitted the wording as his own. Luckily, the remark did not deter Tenchi from greeting the apartment's owner. "I've heard much about you as well." He certainly did. The gang had informed him this morning before they left. Shan Coy Manh was with Rahne the first New Mutants. A Vietnamese girl, she had the ability to possess people's minds. Tenchi also learned that, a year ago, Shan vanished in battle, than was possessed by the spirit of some evil telepath. He evidently made her into a fat monstrosity (according to that image Tenchi saw from Locke last night). Thankfully the New Mutants rescued her from this possession and existence, reuniting Shan with her brother and sister. Hearing this story made Tenchi practice some observations on this woman he had heard much of but had never seen. She looked older than Sam, with a firm sense of responsibility, as seen in her eyes, which although were not as revealing as Illyana's, were nevertheless similar in strength. She also spoke with a French accent.
Everyone decided to settle down for some conversations. Tenchi, Rahne, and Amara sat on a couch. This was at the discomfort of the only male sitter; Tenchi felt sad about Rahne's sorry disposition. Sam had earlier wished everybody to look out for Rahne, treating her with the best compassion that friends wished to be treated. Like everyone else, Tenchi was willing, but he wondered if any kind word from him would be any help at all (he doubted that the same advice he once gave to Ayeka would cut it here). Warlock formed a chair for Doug. Roberto and Sam sat on the floor, while Dani and Illyana stood. Shan offered to make some tea, boiling the kettle. The woman hardly took their abrupt appearance with any complaint, whole-heartedly serving them as a host. The group decided to talk about their experiences in the last few days. Shan was touched by the death of Larry (she noticed her team's concern by the way Rahne shrank forward).
"Being no stranger to tragedy m'sieu," the Vietnamese sincerely toned with French words, "I am greatly sorry about Bodine." Shan accepted the team's invitation to come with them to the high school.
Tenchi decided to get more acquainted. "So Shan, where's your brother and sister?"
"At school." Shan said it short.
Silence followed. Tenchi did not expect to answer back to so short a reply. "Er…that's nice."
More silence continued, sparking some laughter. "The talk of the party here!" Doug defined Tenchi with sarcasm.
"Knock it off!" responded Tenchi, covering himself in a sneeze.
"Le ladies man," Shan joked with a mocking rendition to her French accent. "So Tenchi, I hear that you live with several femme fatales?"
"Well, I wouldn't call…most of them that," Tenchi's hand rubbed the back of his head. "But yes, I live with them."
"Must be...interesting," Shan wickedly smiled. Tenchi's head made a startled shake at the complications (in his mind). "It's not like that at all!" Tenchi defended. "They're my family and friends. We live together, fight together, and look out for one another. I've never taken advantage."
Tenchi said this with a straight, sincere face. More silence followed, with some stares.
"Are you dead?" shouted Roberto. "If I lived with those exotic beauties..."
"Roberto!" shouted Rahne, "Don' speak such impropriety!" Roberto backed off with a silly sigh.
"Anyway, Tenchi," Shan spoke with curiosity, "You must have gone to space a lot."
"I have," Tenchi agreed. "From what I've heard, you have as well."
Dani cringed her head. Rahne elbowed Tenchi in the shoulder. At first, the boy did not know the reason for this. The New Mutants did go to space before, if that encounter with Lila Cheney had-
"Oh!" Tenchi screamed in realization, ramming his forehead with a hand. "I'm very sorry! I didn't realize that you weren't with the team when that happened."
Shan looked at Tenchi with a straight face. In an unpredictable moment, she smiled. "It is all right. I lived through a hard time under that gross bloat Farouk's influence. But I am thankful to be now free of that evil, thanks to the help of my friends. By the way, I was in space before those events."
Tenchi nervously grinned, his hand back to his head. He had to think before he spoke! He sneezed again, his sound blending with the whistle of the kettle.
Shan removed the pot, pouring tea into several cups. She handed these to some who wished tea, like Rahne and Tenchi. The talk then quickly turned back to Tenchi, most especially the extent of his powers.
"Well, it's not that big." Tenchi admitted. "Sure, I can supposedly power up this immense ability called the Light Hawk Wings, but I don't have much control of that power unless I really need it. The best I can control is igniting the Tenchi-ken. That's pretty much my powers."
"You left out the ability to attract beautiful ladies," Roberto remarked.
Tenchi glared at Roberto, who grinned very wickedly.
"Well ya can handle that sword, Tenchi," Sam offered his views. "That's good 'nough for me."
"An' at least you can fight nonmagickal creeps with it," a subtle Illyana mentioned about her own weaknesses.
"At any case, prince," Roberto grinned, "that ability might have to be placed into good use, considering what we have in store for you."
"What?" Tenchi asked with concern. Except for Rahne, Warlock, and Illyana, everyone gave a smile that pointed out that they had an idea concerning him; an idea not to Tenchi's liking.
"Every member of the New Mutants has to use the Danger Room at least once." answered Sam.
Tenchi remembered with unease the definition of this place. From what he had heard, the Danger Room was a very dangerous place for training. Sam did not mention using the place with fond remembrance. As a result, he feared what this could pertain, probably worse than playing guinea pig to Washu. "I don't know."
"No way you're talking yourself outta this," Dani smiled.
"You said that we should consider you a member," Amara reminded the boy, who appeared protested.
"But I didn't know I was going to do that!"
"Well, you should've thought of that before accepting our membership." Sam explained.
Tenchi groaned. Amara placed her hand on his arm. "Do not worry my friend.
You can pass this test."
Doug added to the optimism. "We all did it with no sweat!"
"What do you mean we?" replied Illyana with accusing eyes.
"I've used it before!" Doug counter-attacked.
"Yeah," laughed Roberto. "With Warlock as your babysitter."
"VERIFICATION: bobbyfriend – CREATES- offensive- LABELING." Warlock asked. DOUGFRIEND- and- SELF- are- TEAM- supreme!"
"With you doing most of the work," Roberto joked to Warlock.
"Shut up!" Doug blurted out.
Checking the time, Sam announced that Kitty was awaiting them. The group started to stand and walk out of the apartment, just as Doug's reminded them about his role in saving them from Mojo.
"And you freed Warlock from being a staff by Kagato," Tenchi lauded with a smile.
"Thanks, Tenchi," Doug smugly received the boy's evidence. He was starting to like this guy some more.
===
The mutants walked to the Salem Center High School, its foundation being only a walking distance from Shan's apartment. In the auditorium the gang sat with the mandatory-assigned students. This was a stressful moment. The gang felt some guilt for not being there for the poor boy. Tenchi did not know Larry, but he definitely understood what the kid might have gone through. Like Larry he felt wary about other people knowing about his powers, afraid they might think he was some weirdo. However, like Doug and the Mutants, Tenchi had the good luck of having friends and family he could share his concerns without fear of alienation. Poor Larry did not. Although Tenchi understood that suicide could be noble, he knew that it was also tragic. Death, especially forced, is never noble.
Tenchi heard whispers from the comrades directed at both his sides. He noted that one by one, the mutants with him (Sam and Dani were up at the auditorium with Magneto) kept moving their eyes toward the back. Such noticeable movements proved persuasive, as Tenchi aimed his own gaze to this direction. There he saw the X-Men.
This was the boy's final conclusion. If he had not seen Peter, he could have mistaken them for anyone. Luckily, old memories refreshed his recognition on seeing those standing near Illyana's big brother. There was the sexy-looking girl in green, who was remembered as Rogue. She had changed some, a new piece being the sporting of a very-punk haircut. There was also the redhead with the crew cut. If he could remember clearly, her name was Rachel. In the middle of these recognized figures was a short man, dressed in leather and a cowboy hat. Shadows covered his face, though this intention of registering some mystery was somewhat negated by the fact that he was coughing.
Peter was the most recognizable (how could he not be?). Fortunately for Tenchi, the big lug seemed not to be continuing his vigil on him. His eyes were on someone else- Kitty. The connection between the speaker, the strongman, and the Sorceress was not lost to his thoughts.
These were the X-Men, Tenchi considered with some knowledge of respect. This was a group that was staying in the same house with Tenchi! This sounded exciting, but the fact of sharing lodgings with a team of super-heroes proved somewhat stale, considering where Tenchi had just come from in Okayama (Both places had a common resident in punk-haired women, if that look of Rogue's hairstyle gave any clues).
On a lone stage, Kitty Pryde walked onto the podium. Tenchi saw that she was dressed up rather nicely, a contrast to the blue coat and tights she wore last night. At this point, he observed her to be full of spunk. In his letters, Sam said that she was a genius in computers. A more impressive feat was that Kitty had trained to be a samurai. By coincidence to Tenchi, she was learning this in Japan while he was meeting the New Mutants for the first time! Tenchi was puzzled why the girl was not a New Mutant as she was closer to Illyana's age.
Putting on some spectacles, Kitty spoke about Larry. She acknowledged the victim's mutant power, but said it in such a way that it was not negative. She called them a gift. The speech continued as Kitty denounced how people could inflict cruel and nasty labels on others who wished to fit in. People should learn to be careful with what they say. In a final word, Kitty said that her name was Katherine Pryde, and the rest is just labels.
Tenchi listened well, despite some detractors. His health had gotten worse; his head felt so different from his body in ways of being that severing it off felt like a cure. His nose was stuffed and soupy, which in very inopportune times would start running, an irritation. He thought it was bad manners to keep his Kleenex to his nose all the time, but the ailment forced his decision. Nevertheless, he absorbed every word.
===
Despite his empathy, Tenchi did not know what the other mutants thought of the speech. He had little to assume their different ideas about it. Amara admired Kitty's tribute, but thought the affixing of a stone bust of Larry would make the scene all the more culturally satisfying. Warlock had no understanding of why such a grim death was being made so wonderfully memorable in Kittyfriend's words. Roberto thought that maybe some more should be done, like smacking the pranksters around (though he definitely did not desire to kill them). Doug also thought the speech was good. He felt relieved that Kitty did not disclose any secrets, a feeling which was also dismaying.
Fortunately, the most effected of the incident, Rahne, was most moved by what she had heard. What Kitty said was a meaningful display to what Larry, in behest to those who felt like him. Although her heart still bled, she honestly loved the speech. Magneto usually had his apprehensions about the power of words, feeling that action was the most effective tactic, but he was pleased at Kitty's attempts. Dani and Sam were too.
===
Well, you're right: You are a four-eyed, flat-chested, brat, brain, hebe, stuck-up snob freak!/ Ms. Foureyes/ Mutie lover!/ Hey, Goodlookin/ I'm bored/ Beats Math class…/ Mutie Lover!/ mebbe she's one of em…
Different words from different minds, all noticed by one.
Rachel stood at the back of the auditorium. As much as she did not wish to, her psi-probes were picking up these miscellaneous ideas from the audience. Some were nice, some were ignorant, others just plain cruel. How easily did Rachel want to give them all a piece of her mind. It seemed poetic justice, but she probably shouldn't, the telepath decided. Bad enough one mutant died in this school. Don't want to make things worse and shoot Kitty's speech.
Kitty's cause did not make her feel better. Rachel had just heard this late morning about Larry Bodine. Correct that, she just heard about Larry being a mutant this late morning. The kid was scared about who he was and killed himself. Despite the morbid details, Rachel wondered if it was such a bad thing. This spared Larry from the grim harvest of things to come.
Standing with several of the X-Men, Rachel attempted a scan to search for the tormentors. It was like a needle in the haystack, as most of the kids here didn't like mutants that much. Eventually, she caught the right thoughts. In this check, the guilt was mixed among the pranksters. One was very sorry, one was confused, one was nasty, and the other cared little. Some consolation for Mr. Bodine. Rachel wanted to pass a punishment to Larry's tormentors, finishing what Rahne almost began. However, she knew the X-Men would certainly protest, and she did not want to ruin their trust in her.
So far, Rachel noted that very little of the audience were going to seriously applaud Kitty's effort. There was probably going to be some boos and screams of insult. At least no one had yet booed or screamed while her friend spoke. There was some coughing, however. To her surprise, the culprit was a fellow X-Man. Logan was keeping a furry hand to his mouth, trying to quiet down his gasps. Rachel noted the reason from the guy's smoking habit. He had already griped about the 'flamin' rules.' She could tell that it was only for Kitty's sake that he decided to obey the school laws. Emphasizing his kindness further, he went outside.
This caught the notice of the X-Men present. Rachel agreed in their verdict. It was known that Logan's smoking was never dangerous due to his healing factor. But the fact that he was coughing a lot suggested that something was wrong. Rachel had seen little of Wolverine because he had left San Francisco in a much earlier date than they had. Rogue had said that he was involved with some warrior named Lady Deathstrike. Unfortunately, even if that battle was a grisly one, a final judgment on his health was not made so far. A Psi-scan was useless, and Wolverine had always been very secretive and stubborn about the extent of his injuries. The team had to do something, before things got worse.
Both these concerns made Rachel's decision to look for her family all the more important. Sleeping late into the morning, she decided to postpone her use of Cerebro to go see Kitty's eulogy. She liked it very much, though she had doubts on how successful it was to others, judging from the audience's thoughts. Times had gotten a little less hopeful since she arrived. Chances were it was going to get worse.
===
It was with none of these people's thoughts did Tenchi share any intimacy with, nor did he wish to take their advice to form his own opinion. He personally thought what Kitty wrote was beautiful, worth a great applause.
Only the mutants, the faculty, and a handful of students gave applause.
===
Among the scattering of students and faculty, Tenchi followed the gang up the stage. On their trail were Peter, Rogue, and Rachel. Approaching the stage, where in which Kitty stood with Sam, Dani, and Magneto. Positive reviews and applauds were given to Kitty for her presentation- from Ms. Hogarth and her friends. Illyana led the friends procession, slowly clapping her hands. "You showed them, Kitty." She smiled to her best friend.
For the sake of inconspicuousness, Warlock was in a human form. Tenchi noticed that this time it was a man's form- tall with brown hair. That brought back memories of the being's previous transformation shapes. Most memorable was Warlock's performance of the girl 'Pam,' who won the heart of Tenchi's father. Nobuyuki never found out the 'girl's' true identity, a secret Tenchi held from him. So far, Warlock gave a great performance; except for some twitching, he/it gave little suspicion to anybody near by.
Tenchi walked over to Kitty. "It was a very good speech." Those were his words, made in the truest conviction. However, he realized that due to his noninvolvement with the tragedy, this well-meaning critique sounded like he was trying to exploit the moment.
Kitty's bespectacled eyes were moist, giving all the notice that she was crying during the speech. Nevertheless, the girl responded favorably to Tenchi's critique.
Illyana then moved between the two, with an arm on Kitty and none on Tenchi. "What say we drown our sorrows at Harry's Hideout?"
"Pass." shouted Kitty with a smile. "I'm going to see Bodine's parents. You guys go without me."
"We're drivin' back t' the School," Rogue offered her team's decline to this invitation.
"That is my direction as well, though my transportation will differ," Magneto added to his own polite refusal.
"And I want to see my dad," Tenchi finalized his declination, which brought Peter some relief.
===
Unfortunately, on arriving at the hotel, Tenchi found out that his father had left for a business meeting. His plans cancelled, Tenchi decided to look for the restaurant where the New Mutants went. With some advice, the teenager was able to meet up with the gang.
Harry's Hideout was a nice secluded place where students from varying colleges and schools could release some heat from their nerve-wracking study schedules and just have fun. Tenchi had been in cafes like this in high school. Bringing his own lunch, he would eat and converse with his fellow classmates. Of course, the relations would last until the school chimes. Being a shy person, Tenchi was usually isolated. He had been given notoriety for being the hard-working nerd or the strange kid from that kooky shrine. These claims, of course, happened before Tenchi broke into that cave. He wondered what they would think of him now.
In the present, he was belonging to a table circle of nine kids. One of whom, an alien creature, was playing with his/its food in a strange way. With conspicuous discretion, Warlock would hide the burger or French fry in his/its hand. The alien triggered a web of circuitry on the food- his/its transmode virus, where he/it could drain the energies from the object while leaving it a lump of his/its own matter. The technique brought a shudder on Tenchi, despite himself; he wondered what would happen if Warlock had successfully tried this virus on someone rather than something.
The rest of the team dined on their food the natural way. The major discussion was on their thoughts about Kitty's speech. Tenchi said it was beautiful, but he had nothing more to say, which got him a few friendly jeers of his articulate abilities. Most important in this discussion was the question on Kitty's apparent decision of not revealing her identity. Some of the mutants respected such discretion, while others disagreed.
Roberto was among the latter. "I don't know; sure, people hate us and it would have brought some pressure, but might it not be a little relieving to stop living a lie?"
"But think of the pressure it brought; not just on us, but on our family and friends." Doug resisted. "Is it okay that we hurt their lives?"
"Better than making our family and friends believe we're something we're not!" Roberto strongly opposed, making a point that Doug knew too well.
"Look, Bobby!" the boy pointed out, "What I tell my parents is my business, and not yours!"
"Stop it you too!" Sam responded as authority figure, acting as an older sibling to his quarrelsome brothers. The argument continued as Tenchi listened with some uneasiness. To his displeasure, Roberto included him in the argument with the question to which idea had a better point: keeping a secret and living a lie, or telling the truth, at the risk of being reviled?
"I can't say I agree with either one," Tenchi made a slow delivery. "On one hand, I think keeping secrets might have some bad sides, but the same goes for telling the truth. Besides, I don't think any of us are in the position that Bodine had. As long as one had somebody to trust, then being secretive is not all bad."
"Well, you can speak that," Roberto disapproved with a flamboyant voice. "Since you are so revealing."
"I didn't mean that," Tenchi tightly explained. "If one wishes privacy, then it's his right to keep private. In some ways it's a good thing. Suppose somebody has a secret to protect someone else. Would you want to have it revealed at that person's cost?"
"But not telling any truth at all is not right either," Amara propositioned.
"Precisely. I think one has to carefully understand all the different layers of a situation before making the decision."
"Tenchi's right," Illyana supported. "Some secrets are good and others are bad. Like mutants, it's a gray line, neither just black or white."
===
Once lunch was over, the team decided on walking back to the school. Roberto and the others confessed reluctance to using Illyana's powers. That hesitance was based on the destination they had to go through in order to get back. Luckily the School was a short distance from Harry's. A long road through a forest was central to this route.
"Thanks for the support," Doug applauded Tenchi as they walked.
"I also took Roberto's side," Tenchi corrected, causing Roberto to notice. "You don't have to tell everybody about your powers. Just those closest to you."
Doug just looked away. "You don't think I haven't thought about that?" Tenchi breathed back, knowing how this conversation was heading toward. Doug knew it too, so he headed for another reason. "Besides, if my parents find out, what if they want to take me out of the school, or sue it? I'm not ready to sacrifice that. Lame powers or not, I'm a New Mutant." He said this with an arm around Warlock.
Suddenly, a sound increased over the road. Sounded like something pressing against the wind. From the sky, a winged horse came galloping through its atmosphere. Descending further with a cry, the creature looked fierce, raging to its targets. It softly landed to the ground, tripping a few steps before the New Mutants, who smiled and turned aside to let the horse through (Tenchi was of a different matter). The stallion then stopped before Dani. A turn of its head brought a smile from the Native American's lips.
"Tenchi," Dani called out to the upset friend while keeping her eyes focused on the horse, "I'd like you to meet Brightwind."
Tenchi walked over to the horse, filled with both dread and wonder. He never got along with horses, a reluctance due to a childhood incident (Tenchi rode a horse once, who instantly threw him off). Brightwind made the connection more precarious, moving a step forward before the boy, presenting either hostility or curiosity. Dani gave some uplifting advice of safety, adding that the animal just wanted to know him better. Not being a coward, Tenchi slowly placed his hand to touch the horse's furry skin. This slow motion then turned itself to security as Tenchi saw no harm.
"Is he really yours?" Tenchi asked.
"Yep, Dani lovingly embraced the animal. She then affectionately caressed her stallion's body. "If you guys don't mind." She addressed, "Brightwind and I are taking a shortcut to the School." She swiftly leaped aboard the horse. Rahne quickly ran to her side. "Can ye take me wit' you?"
"Like to, furtop," Dani apologized, "But I'm not taking any passengers today." The rider than pressed her stallion to make a few walking steps. The momentum then increased, going faster and faster as the girl and her wings-spreading horse left the team. They leapt into the air, Brightwind waving her wings with the wind and gliding away.
Rahne stood alone…for only a second. Sam walked over with a pat on her shoulder. "Wanna walk wit' us?"
"Thank ye, but no," Rahne walked away. Before everyone's eyes (including Tenchi, who with unease had barely forgotten a previous extension of this part of Rahne), the Scottish girl transformed into a wolf, rushing into the forests with the utmost speed.
"Darn it," Sam proposed.
Roberto offered advice. "The girl wishes to be alone. Let us respect that." Tenchi understood as well.
"Rahne will get through this," Illyana spoke near Tenchi's ear.
"You think so?"
"If I recall, you had to."
Tenchi remembered. He saw his family murdered in a future time. He was terribly broken back then, his only consolation coming from the blond girl that stood with him now. Today, he looked at this girl with eyes of affection. For a moment, Illyana was responding to this in kind. It was a second, followed by a second change to recoil. She now looked suddenly flustered, as if the remark she had made was something embarrassing.
"Illyana, are you okay?" Tenchi looked on with concern.
"It's…nothing, kiddo," Illyana acted in defense, regained her composure. "If you don't mind, I have to get going," she rushed her words. She summoned a stepping disc and vanished.
Tenchi looked at this with sad contemplation. Illyana had seemed to be keeping a barrier before him, as if everything she said or did in front of him was some great sin in her view. It made him a little hurt; whereas he still liked her, her thoughts of him were probably less.
Roberto smacked Tenchi's arm, breaking him from his trance. "Hey, Prince! I'll race you back!"
Tenchi looked around, seeing everyone making a dash for the school grounds. "Okay!" he hurried in agreement. With quick feet, he dashed beside his competitors. Roberto seemed the most skilled in running, as his distance from the rest appeared to increase. Doug took some unfair advantage; he slipped upon the road in blackish gold-colored skates sequined with gold-colored pants. On how the kid got this equipment out of nowhere, it took very little to deduce, especially since Warlock was nowhere to be seen.
"Two can play at this game," Roberto breathed hard. He transformed into his sun-powered, energy spot crackling, black-shaded form. The new muscle tone increased his already impressive speed. Tenchi cried out "No fair," though in the excitement, he wished his powers allowed him that speed. He had to accept being in the back of the line with Amara, Shan, and Sam.
"Berto!" cried a concerned Amara. "Desist your power for the moment!"
"No use, 'Mara," Sam breathlessly joked. "Bobby and Doug are too far away!"
"But…" Amara panted, "I feel...seismic vibrations increasing to the direction behind us!"
Tenchi realized from this unusual detection that someone was coming from the road behind. He thought with concern, remembering the time when Ryo-ohki levitated him along a road, almost exposing him to a passing car.
Sure enough, Sam had the same idea on the ramifications. Sam yelled out. "Everybody off the road!" He, Tenchi, Shan, and Amara followed this order, leaving Doug, Locke, and Sunspot the remaining members on the road.
Sure enough, with loudening sounds, a car was rising from the hilly road in a distance.
"Doug!" cried Sam. "Roberto!" he cried again. "Lay off your powers!"
Unfortunately, the two runners still persisted in indulgence. "Shoot," Sam softly cursed as he took heavy breaths. "If anyone sees those two…"
"Do not fear, Sam!" Shan made a cool glare, which Tenchi noticed was headed toward Doug and Roberto. Looking at their direction, he saw a lupine figure appear from the trees. This animal- whom everyone realized was Rahne- grabbed both boys, pulling them off the road.
The car herded up the road, passing the mutants as they walked to reunite with Doug and the now-normal Roberto (Rahne, however, accentuated her wolfen appearance even more). As everyone got together, Sam thanked Wolfsbane.
Once the car had passed, Rahne regained her human form. "I heard 'bout yuir distress an' came." She frankly answered. "I do not abandon m' friends."
As Roberto stood right back up, Shan made an apology. "I am sorry for my actions." The boy frowned, much to Tenchi's confusion. Wasn't it Rahne who grabbed Roberto?
Shan continued with her sorry. "You could not hear us, Mon ami Robert. Please understand that I would not use my power on you except to your own advantage." These words opened Tenchi's mind to what had just occurred. "Wow, Shan. Did you really possess Roberto just now?"
Doug's "pants" decided to speak. "Self- RECOLLECTS- Karma- POSSESSION- on- SELFFRIENDS- before."
"With great reluctance," the Vietnamese girl proved her serious point. Tenchi's brow lifted in amazement to this confirmation.
Roberto frowned with a tense glare. Tenchi understood that some lashing out was in order. The boy could be an arrogant jerk sometimes. The frowner looked straight at Shan, ready to say something.
With those angry eyes, Roberto…made them run circles. He darted away from the group, screaming away with, "Apology accepted!"
"Why that-" Doug smirked. He also accepted Shan's wish before racing after the departed, with Warlock's help. The others followed as well. Rahne's abilities were triggered once again, as she ran after the group.
"Want a lift, buddy?" Sam whispered behind Tenchi, who suddenly felt the boy's gangly arms grapple him. Suddenly, a loud noise roared, and Tenchi felt a large push that thrust him into the air. The wind ran upon his face, but nothing else was given any great discomfort on his flight. In this height, the forests and environment of Salem Center moved before him as it would a bird in flight.
"I thought you didn't want anybody to see!" Tenchi shouted.
"An' who'll recognize us in this distance!" Sam answered.
As this coupling flew, the woods pushed and ran before Tenchi's view, finally revealing an upward view of the School. Tenchi had been up here before, once when he was aboard Warlock, and another while aboard Ryo-ohki. His experiences, however, did little to mundane the breathtaking view of the whole property. He saw the mansion, its shape looking like three houses connected together. Before the house was a large circular road, separating it from the gates. And then there was the back of the school. Here, the pieces included a large swimming pool, and a field. Tenchi did not notice that last part before. On his last two flights he could have taken attention to this, but other matters had demanded his attention.
"Goin down!" Sam spoke in Tenchi's ear, causing the passenger to react.
"Is this landing going to be a safe one!" Tenchi asked with some fear. Sam's response was a sharp turn downward, making Tenchi's stomach quell. It was like a roller coaster- very scary, very upsetting, but somehow, very exhilarating. Fortunately, despite the heavy descent, when Tenchi's feet hit the ground, they touched with gentle steps instead of crashing into impact. The roaring sound also stopped, signaling Sam's cessation of his powers.
"Ya had nuthin' t' worry about," Sam advised. "Ah'm very invulnerable when ah'm blastin'. The same goes to whoever ah carry."
"I'm glad about that," Tenchi made a tired smile. Except when using the Light Hawk Wings (which was few and indeterminate), the boy did not possess any flying ability. Because of this, Tenchi had to rely on using the flying powers of Ayeka and Ryoko. Although he trusted their responsibility, he thought applied flying as rather precarious, especially in battle. It seemed flying was only good either in a ship or under one's own ability.
Tenchi then remembered what he saw. "What's that field behind the school?"
"That's Peter's garden," Sam answered. The name made Tenchi pause in learning, but he was interested anyway. "What does he grow?"
"Turnips, cabbages, tomatoes," Sam sincerely answered. "The guy's loves farming."
"So I've heard," Tenchi looked at the School, wondering about this. He remembered from Illyana that her brother had a green thumb in such matters. Maybe this similarity with his own skills could be a way for Tenchi to become friends with the guy? "I'd like to see…." He sneezed again, prompting Sam to say, "God, bless you!" which Tenchi greeted favorably.
"Ya sure ya alright?" Sam asked with concern. "Ya sound terrible."
Tenchi was beginning to agree. His head felt so stuffed and miserable. Maybe he should take a rest.
At that moment, increasing footsteps were heard coming from the gates. First Wolfsbane scampered from the gateway, than it was Roberto's turn to pop out of the gate, grinning excitedly, with Doug swerving his appearance in a pursuit. Their appearance forcibly restored Tenchi's memory of the race.
He dashed toward the front door of the mansion. Sam caught on to this action right away, so he was able to be in Tenchi's pace as their feet hit the steps. In a synchronized move, their hands patted the pillar.
In disappointment, the speeding Sunspot forcibly slowed his run into a leaping walk. He completely stopped once he touched the steps, further symbolized by his transformation back into human form. "Cheaters!" he gleefully shouted. "Et tu brute, Sam!"
"That's actually Et tu Sam!" Doug added as he joined Roberto, laughing about his sarcasm. "Anyway, you have some right to complain, oh paragon of honor!" he joked while running a few circles around the figure. This caused Roberto to respond; as Doug passed around him again, the Brazillian stuck out a foot before the oncoming skater. Amazingly, this was averted, as Warlock flowed out a curved bridge over Roberto's foot, causing the skate nearest to this appendage to swerve upward and downward with no upset. This caused more laughter to occur, just as a breathless Shan and Amara entered the scene. Rahne had by now transformed.
They approached the entry into the house. Sam, his turn at being doorman, found the door to be locked. Knocking the surface, the door responded with an opening slightly ajar. A sullen, blue-furred, iris eyed, face peaked out. This surprised everyone, especially Tenchi.
"We don't want any!" the demon shouted, slamming the door. As Tenchi looked, he saw everyone give a smug smile at this rejection. Suddenly, a puff of stinking smoke sparked in front of the door, revealing the greeter's dark and demonic appearance. Like a gentleman, this person bowed with an energetic and happy face. "Welcome home, liebchens!"
Being courteous, Kurt opened the door for everyone to enter. At this moment, Tenchi recognized the opener. He was Kurt Wagner, another member of the X-Men. Like Peter, Tenchi had met this person briefly.
Doug instantly charged through the line, acting rather excited. "Kurt! Is Betsy here?"
"We have just returned."
Doug's face stilled. Before Tenchi, the team supreme skated through the hall with an excited effort.
Tenchi's attention than returned to Kurt, as he popped up beside him, hanging upside down from the chandelier!
"Back with us again, Herr Tenchi?" he whispered with a devilish smile that almost looked satanic.
"I- eh, yes." Tenchi answered. "For the week."
Kurt swung closer to Tenchi. "Heard that you are a swordsman." The demon flamboyantly spoke out with histrionic body movements. "Wish to duel?" he gritted his teeth in a fiendish smile.
Tenchi nodded slightly.
Kurt leaped back to the ground, landing to his feet, taking a bow as if the whole thing was some romantic moment. "Then let us make the engagement sometime soon." He exploded into a burst of smoke, the smell of which gave Tenchi the reflex to plug his nose. So far things had taken its usual turn to weird, he reflected with a few coughs. A lot of stuff had happened, and it was still in the Monday afternoon.
And then he sneezed again.
====================================================================================================
TO BE CONTINUED
TIMELINE:
NM= NEW MUTANTS
UXM= UNCANNY X-MEN
FF= FANFICTION
Week beforeUXM 206 - X-Men (except for absent Logan/Wolverine) leave San Francisco.
FF: X-Men go to Anchorage, find an empty Summers residence. Rachel persuades team to leave her behind to search for Cyclops/Scott Summers (she fails in locating him).
NM ANNUAL 2 – Mojo kidnaps Betsy Braddock/Psylocke and the New Mutants. Betsy joins the School. Rahne/Wolfsbane (after a hiatus in Scotland) returns to the New Mutants.
UXM ANNUAL 10 - Longshot joins the School. Mojo captures X-Men (except for absent Rachel). The New Mutants rescue them.
SaturdayFF: Ororo/Storm and Kurt/Nightcrawler fly Longshot to Muir Island and Betsy to Great Britain.
NM 45 - Spring Mixer that night. New Mutants and Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat meet Larry Bodine. Larry commits suicide later in the evening. Karma/Shan is with her family.
FF: Tenchi and Nobuyuki on plane to America.
SundayNM 45 - That morning, New Mutants learn about Larry's death.
FF: That afternoon, Tenchi and Nobuyuki land in New York. Arrive at Morgan Hotel in Salem Center. Tenchi takes the bus to the School.
NM 45 - Kitty, Sam/Cannonball, Dani/Mirage, and Illyana/Magik stop Rahne's revenge on pranksters.
FF: Tenchi reaches the school that night, reuniting with the New Mutants. Illyana teleports Kitty, Sam, Dani, and Rahne to school. With permission from Magneto, Tenchi stays at the School. Meanwhile, Peter/Colossus and Rogue pick up Rachel at the airport.
MondayFF: Magneto meets Doug/Cypher and Warlock that morning. Tenchi has breakfast. Cleans dishes with Doug and Warlock. Tenchi meets Shan/Karma at her apartment.
NM 45- Kitty Pryde presents her memorial speech for Larry Bodine to the students of Salem Center High School, as Magneto, Sam, and Dani look on.
FF: Tenchi, the New Mutants and the X-Men are also present in the audience. The New Mutants go to Harry's Hideout, than walk and race back to the School.
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Next time: As Tenchi fights the common cold, disaster befalls the X-Men!