--Poe Note--

1. I don't own the X-Men, but I do hold hostage over everyone else! Muhahahaha!... Okay, that was weird.

2. I go to art camp in a week. Hopefully I'll get some sit-down time to hand write a few chapters while I'm away. maybe I'll even take the writing course... nah, think I'd rather do video and welding (yes, can you picture Shlomet the half blind girl with a blowtorch? The world is mine!!!!) or maybe costume design- ooh, that was a rhyme and I'm feeling fine. Er, alrighty then.

3. On to other things- I hope everybody enjoys their summer, and just because I may have one or two more chapters then I'm not typing until September means that this story is canceled. It's just on hiatus- but if I get the chance, I may even have a chapter snail-mailed home to be typed and put on by a friend or family member- no e-mail, this place is out in the middle of nowhere, on a farm! No cell phones, either- not that I care, my mom makes me carry the darn thing around. And no cooking for other people, no laundry... hmm, this is sounding pretty good right now. But, also, no Bob and Rikku- the two most adorable guinea pigs (my adorable guinea pigs, of course)- waah, I'll miss those fuzzballs. But my brother has cage- cleaning duty while I'm gone! Yay!

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Being able to fake sleep can really come in handy. Had I not, I might have missed out on the most important conversation of my life.

It was the next morning, and I was drenched in three feet of sweat. The pains from the night before had subsided considerably, but I could still feel a prickling in my ears and a dull throb down the entire of my spine.

I realized quite immediately that I could actually now rotate my ears, much like a cat, and I heard the hushed whispers outside my bedroom.

You aren't serious- are you, Marlene?



I went into the routine, ducking my head slightly angled, but in addition to all the other things I do to look as I'm sleeping, I also relaxed my ears into my pillow. It felt a little strange, but the prickling had completely diminished. All that was left was to find out why my back was being such a pain in the, well, back!

But- it's not possible! Neither of us are like that, and you said our son isn't either! It runs only in your family!

It runs a tiny bit in every family, Janet. Some things, like change, can never be stopped unless one wishes to die.

And with the creak of an opening door I saw five enter the room. Under heavily squinted eyes, I made out the images of my mom, dad, and Miss Maycomb. Two others were in the room as well and if I didn't have any sense of self-restraint, I would have shot out of my bed immediately, screaming Todd Tolenski and Professor McCoy!' at the top of my lungs. For if I wasn't mistaken (and my sense of judgment was superhumanly right) I was looking at one squatting kid in a Toad costume like the one from Evolution, but, what's more is that the face and the physique of the person matched Todd's to a T. The older man standing next to him was even more telling; he wore ordinary clothes but was covered in a thick layer of blue fur and bore the the body shape (and even haircut, for crying out loud) of the ever famous Beast.

My sheets were lumped pretty tightly around nearly all of my body except for my eyes- just like the way I preferred to sleep, so Miss Maycomb tugged them out of my firm grip.

Does Ensei always sleep like this, Janet? she questioned, motioning to my mom, as she continued to try and pull off my comforter. My mom laughed a little and nodded. Fine then, Miss Maycomb continued, David, some help, please?

The man who I swore was Beast (that is, until I found his name to be David and not Hank) lumbered over to my bed, and with his thumb and forefinger pulled and lifter the blanket clean from my gripping hands and nearly sent me flying off the bed in the process.

And for the first time, Toad spoke and I knew that my other idea had been crushed. Toad had a very recognizable mezzo-soprano voice. A very feminine, recognizable mezzo-soprano. He was actually a she- the current valedictorian of the grade above mine. Dad, that wasn't very nice! You could have... oh, my! The girl, Sarah Balin, had caught sight of me.

She's still your daughter, David (I'm assuming Balin, as Sarah called him Dad') said, quite calmly. This does, however, explain her weight and metabolism problems. Her body was storing fat to use as energy for the reactions that took place last night. She lost a lot of water, and the energy bonds ave broken- nearly every ounce of fat is gone. But it's quite understandable. She grew nearly thirty new bones last night!

My own parents, I saw, were clearly shaking quite a bit. whatever had happened last night to me made me look scary to then, I assumed. Suddenly, a cill went down my spine, a sharp one and it extended off of my back and I felt as if something was poking out, just above my rear- and whatever it was, I had a little control over its movement.

Her tail's muscles and nerve system are starting to activate. I'd say that by the end of the day she could use that thing like a third hand, Mr. Balin said, turning back to my parents. I told you that this would happen. The mutant gene takes on something that defies even the teachings of Darwin- it takes the form one most desires. I was a wimp in high school- a comic book addict- that's why my mutation went the way it did. Your daughter liked X-Men, too, so she became a creature that was created by the comic book world. She has become what she loved, and envied- but a female version of course. The mutant gene does not alter gender.

I'd suggest you let her have five more minutes of serenity before we break the news. Andrew, Janet, we should talk downstairs? Miss Maycomb said, quietly. Everyone except Sarah left my room, and when she saw the coast was clear, she hopped over.

Well, Ensei, I'm sorry I never told you, she said.

How did you know I was-

Awake? Cat's eyes glow in low light when they are open, even if only a bit. Yours did the same.

You know a lot about animals, I said, trying to find out what she was like. Of course I knew Sarah, everyone did; she was a genius. But I didn't know her- and well, if we were in the same boat, I might as well learn to get along with her, if we weren't entirely on friendly terms.

Frogs were always my favorite. Well, my mutation shows it, huh? I never knew about the X-Men until my dad told me.

Yeah, speaking about that- how did you miss that then? How does he go out?

The same way that you'll still be able to. Hokage always has its ways.

Hokage? Fire shadow? I was a bit confued by this. Was it the name of something?

Seems like you know your Japanese. Yeah, Fire shadow. I think the adults would probably do a better job explaining that me, though. Why don't you get dressed and come down, I think that would be best.

You're starting to sound like my mom.

Sheish, thanks for the compliment.