Note: This is an alternate universe, incase you haven't guessed.

Points of interest: - The world knows about mutants, but not the X-men.

- Kurt and Amanda are just close friends, I really don't see them as a couple.

- And finally Kitty will probably end up with Lance.

For individuals who have trouble with Kurt's accent here: - 'ee' replaces short 'i' sounds

- 'z' replaces 's' sounds

-'nk' replaces 'ng' at the end of a word

-at the beginning of a word, if 'v' doesn't make sense, think 'w'

Chapter 3

To Awaken

Two weeks later, Friday.

Kurt was sitting in first class, math. Normally he would be talking to Amanda but the last two weeks had been different. Kurt was lost in his thoughts, as he had been since he'd found the girl on the roof.

Amanda was worried, it wasn't like Kurt to be quiet and he had been one of her best friends ever since the dance, he always talked to her. But lately he just stared of into space, every so often sighing, like he was lovesick or something. Amanda decided she would just have to 'convince' Kurt to talk. Maybe if I make him think that I think he doesn't want to be friends anymore. What if he doesn't want to be friends anymore? No, he wants to be friends. He likes that he doesn't have to hide from me. I know… Struck with genius Amanda scribbled a few words onto a piece of paper and passed it up to Kurt.

Kurt took the paper and read:

Kurt,

Why haven't you been talking to me?

Don't you want to be friends anymore?

Amanda

Kurt's heart sank, he didn't mean to ignore Amanda. Feeling that he had to make it up to her, Kurt wrote back.

Amanda read the reply:

Amanda,

I am so sorry, I never meant to ignore you,

but I've had a lot on my mind lately.

Meet me at my locker at lunch and I will

explain.

Sincerely,

Kurt

Amanda breathed a sigh of relief for effect and smiled inwardly, her plan had worked.

*****

Amanda met Kurt as asked. They chose a table outside where they could talk privately.

"So, what's up, Kurt?"

"There's a new girl at the mansion. She's in a coma." Kurt's response was barely above a whisper. Amanda blinked, she knew the mansion was for mutants, Kurt told her all about that; at least everything not classified. But why is the new girl in a coma, there was obviously more to this.

"Keep talking elfy, why is the girl in a coma? And why is she at the mansion instead of a hospital?" Amanda softly prompted.

"There are two main rezonez vhy she eez at the mansion, vone I found her starveenk on the roof; und two, mentally cross a cat veeth a person und you get an idea of vhat she looks like. Az for the coma, she vas like that vhen I found her." Kurt stared at his food as he spoke, not even looking up once.

"You found her?" Amanda was surprised.

"Ja, I 'ported up to retrieve a basket ball und found her een a gap near a drain. At first I thought she vas zome kind of aneemal; I feel razer gueelty about that." Kurt slouched forward more than usual.

Amanda placed a comforting hand on Kurt's shoulder. "If she looks as much like a cat as you say, than any one could have made that mistake. The important thing is that you realized she wasn't a cat, or any other kind of animal."

Kurt looked at Amanda and smiled. The smile was fake, but the fact that he could fake a smile showed he was feeling a little better. "Danke Amanda, you are such a gut (good) friend."

"Anytime blue and fuzzy." Amanda gave a reassuring ear to ear smile.

*****

At the same time, back in the mansion's med. wing…

She felt the fog that had enveloped her for what seemed like an eternity lift. Slowly becoming aware of sensations, she shifted to become more comfortable. Eyes fluttering open, she took her first glimpse of her surroundings and was overcome with fear. Her heart rate and breathing sky rocketed and her mind raced, A hospital! No! I've got to get out of here! Calm, calm! Must stay calm! Can't lose control! Remember last time! Calm! Can't lose control!…

Slowly, ever so slowly, she brought herself under some semblance of control. Then quickly sitting, as only she and cats can, she properly assessed her situation. So, I'm still wearing my clothes, such as they are. There is a tube going into my arm and one going into my nose. What have they got me hooked up to? Better leave them alone, I don't want to hurt myself.

Hearing footsteps outside she curled up in the corner of the bed farthest from the door. She watched the knob turn and the door open. What she saw surprised her, a gorilla that has been dyed blue? No he speaks a human language, but I don't know this language and he's coming closer…

Reacting out of instinct she released her retractable claws and lunged at the 'blue gorilla', who jumped back in surprise. The 'gorilla' tried to grab her arms but she was too quick, she shredded toe tubes that she was hooded up to and hid under the bed.

*****

What just happened from Hank's P.O.V. then I'm just gonna continue.

The Professor has alerted me to the fact that our guest has awoken. I should hurry… Hank thought as he rushed to the girl's room, he mentioned that she seems frightened.

When Hank opened the door he found the girl cursed up in a ball at the far corner of the bed. As she stared quietly at him, Hank found himself drawn to her eyes, wondrous, just beautiful. The pureness of the greens and the range of iridescent hues her eyes display, they are like gems. I have never before seen anything like them, even Kurt's amber eyes pail in comparison.

Even with his thoughts on her jewel like eyes, Hank moved quickly to try and console the frightened girl.

"It's alright, calm down I won't hurt you. There, there, now lets get these tubes out of you." Hank's voice was gentle and parental in tone.

Approaching slowly, Hank made his way over to the girl. Without warning the girl suddenly attacked and missed Hank. Knowing she wouldn't miss again, Hank grabbed for the girl's arms but she was a split second quicker than he was. Hank could only watch in horror as she slashed through the tubes and dashed under the bed.

"Professor we have a problem. I don't think the girl understands English and she's just sliced through the I.V. If she doesn't bleed to death, she will get an air bubble in her blood stream."

"I will telepathically teach her English then, just be ready to take over her medical needs when I am finished."

"Not a problem."

Hank waited for the Professor's o.k. to approach the girl again. Hank could hear angry grunts from under the bed; she doesn't like the Professor's tutoring. I hope he can successfully teach the girl English.

"Try now Hank, I think you should be able to get through to her."

"Come on now, no one is going to hurt you, but you will be in trouble if I don't tend to the I.V. you severed." Hank watched as curious eyes peered out from under the bed. "If I don't take the I.V. out and bandage the wound you will either bleed to death, or an air bubble will get into your blood stream and that could stop your heart."

Tentatively the girl emerged from under the bed and presented the arm with the remnants of the I.V. still in her flesh. Hank grabbed a couple of cotton balls and placed them over the spot at which the I.V. entered her arm. Holding the cotton balls in place with his thumb and his fingers firmly curled around her very slender arm, Hank gently pulled out the I.V.

"There, now hold the cotton balls in place firmly to help clot the blood and I will get a bandage alright." The girl did as asked of her. Noticing that she still hadn't said a word, Hank decided to try to get her to open up and hopefully relax a little. After removing the nasal gastric tube he said, "I am Mr. McCoy, what is your name?" No answer came. Undaunted Hank tried again, " would you like to tell me where you come from?" But the girl just stood and stared. Not entirely sure what to make of her silence, Hank was about to ask her age when the door opened causing the girl to scuttle under the bed again. Professor Xavier and Ororo entered the room only to see watching a black tail disappear under the bed.

"Oh dear, I'm afraid we've frightened her Professor." Ororo's voice revealed her disappointment. The wheelchair bound man turned his head and spoke, "not to worry Ororo." Turning back to the bed, Prof. X. spoke again, " come on out, we wont hurt you. We would just like to talk." Slowly green eyes peered out from under the bed. Prof. X. and Ororo were struck by their beauty just as Hank had been.

"It is all right sweet child, come on out and speak with us." Ororo chose her most motherly tone to coax the girl out of her hiding spot. It worked, with a questioning expression she emerged from under the bed.

"There now, why not tell us your name?" Ororo continued in her motherly tone. With a very frustrated expression the girl gave a feline chirp. (A.N.: certain high pitched mews that cats make are called chirps. When one of my cats chirps, it can be hard to distinguish from a bird's chirp.)

O.k., so Mr. McCoy and the other two seem nice, though the lady seems a little too nice. I wonder if they will figure it out?

"You can't speak human language, can you?"

Give the bald gimp a gold star. The girl shook her head 'no'.

"I am Professor Charles Xavier and you are at my institute for the gifted. Every one here is a mutant, including myself. I am a telepath, that means if…"

"I'm not stupid, I know what telepathy is. Call me Kurohyou. You taught me English, didn't you? Why am I at your institute?" Mutant? Is that what I am?

"I am sorry Kurohyou, I didn't mean to imply any lack of intellect. Yes, I taught you English, and you are at my institute because one of my students found you on the roof. There are several teenagers here. Would you like to tell me how old you are and where you come from?"

"I'm 16 and I'm from everywhere and nowhere." Kurohyou smirked and defiantly folded her arms across her chest.

"Would you like to elaborate on being 'from everywhere and nowhere'?" Prof. X. asked, bringing his hands up and together with only his fingertips touching.

"Nein, not really, but I will. I was most everywhere else in the world before I came here, so I've come from everywhere to here. I don't call anywhere in particular home, so I'm from nowhere." Kurohyou wore a rather smug expression as she explained.

"I see…" "said the blind man…" ignoring her comment Prof. X. continued "Do you speak fluent German or know just a few words and phrases?" Prof. X. was genuinely curious.

"Fluent; I'm fluent in over 27 languages, well at least I understand over 27 languages to hear them. I can only read and write in about 18 of them."

"Fabulous, we will talk more later. For now, Ororo will show you to one of the guest rooms so you can settle in." Prof. X. gestured and Ororo led Kurohyou out.

"Hank," Prof. X. spoke when Ororo and Kurohyou where out of hearing range. "Kurohyou is 16 years old and claims to know over 27 languages. I sensed that she was being truthful but that still seems a rather outrageous claim."

"It is easy enough to test her with German, but what of the other languages, Professor?"

"I am not sure Hank, I am not sure." Prof. X. turned and wheeled himself out as Hank started to clean up.

*****

A.N.: - her name 'kurohyou', according to the Japanese/English dictionary I found on the net, means 'black panther'.

- no, she won't be 'mute' for the whole story.

- sorry I took so long, a couple things came up; first I lost my story notes, I've found them though. Then fanfic. decided it didn't like me, so I decided I didn't like fanfic. for a while. But I'm back now, more reviews equals more chappies. ^__^