Scott and Xavier now made their presence apparent in the entrance room, it wasn't everyday Sabretooth strolled up to the gate and called a truce to return one of the X-Men. Everything about it seemed like a trap, God only knew what Tora had done in her time out, it was a high possibly that she could have become an ally for Magnus… at least as far as Xavier knew.
Creed guided her through the door, holding his hands over her smooth shoulders. He got very unpleasant looks for doing this, but he got a killing glare from Logan, "Alright Creed, you got her in here, you can go now!"
His slight growl said otherwise, and he stayed for a moment more. Moving leisurely, he faced Tora and arched over some so his face was a bit closer to hers. It would be the only time he could do this without getting scratched in the face, "You're back at the institute, alright? Xavier is going to make you feel better, and you have allies here."
She mewed silently and bat her hand at his neck. Her nails stung a bit, though it was ignored knowing she had not done it intentionally.
"I'm not welcomed here… I have to leave."
"Damn right you're not, get out!" Logan growled forcefully, advancing on Creed as a warning to depart.
Disregarding this as nothing more than lack of common sense, Creed held Tora's face by her lower jaw and sympathetically kissed her forehead. That did not go well with Logan, and prompted him to rip Creed off Tora and shove him in the general direction of the large entry doors, "Move your ass, now!"
He wasn't about to leave the premise in this fashion, there was no way he was about to let that idiot shove him out for helping one of his associates. He swung his arm at Logan, who backed off expecting to be pounced on, but simply receiving a growl before the departure.
"Odd… very odd…" Fyer tilted her head, her locks looping around the golden horn sprouting from her skull.
Oasis dashed to Tora and tossed herself on her with welcoming arms. The Tigress grunted and held an expression of discomfort, but as Oasis loosened her hold, she gave the embrace back. Just as quick as she threw herself on Tora, Oasis pulled back, keeping her hands on Tora's shoulders and looking at her from her position, "What the hell happened…?"
The green Dragon suddenly laughed warmly and came forth as well, patting Tora with a bright grin, "I'd say you've got a guardian Cat-Angel."
"Creed is NO angel!" Logan snatched Tora away, as if she was some item he wished to have back in his possession, "He's just using her."
She winced and struggled to free herself, though it was in vain for she had no strength, in body or mind, to fight him. Finally she gave up and just feel to the floor, her arm still held up by Logan… who was highly confused by her actions.
"You're hurting her, let her go Logan!" Oasis lowered her face and brows, putting a foot before the other in indication she was willing to start a battle if he disagreed.
He did exactly that, his face changing quickly, but meaning all one look of bewilderment. Her hand made a slap as it hit the tilted floor, but otherwise, nothing moved, nothing made a sound… she just sat, with her knarred hair covering her face and her body having tremble shock every other second.
From the group rushed her greatest friend, Kurt. He helped her to find her feet, even though he was considerably shorter than she was. His glare was so evil towards Logan, and he would have added to this with beautifully colored insults, but due to his throat, was mute for the time being.
Tora had stopped trembling by the time she had noted it was Kurt who took her from Logan, and she could only stare at him for the longest of time. His face turned from Logan and up at Tora, his chin no longer covering his neck, she could see the stitching where he had been sliced. Tenderly, she traced her fingers over the closed wound… it felt soft, strong, like his was to heal well. Onward to his face, which was in an overjoyed state to be looking back to her.
Her eyes began to sparkle once more, but only with the aid of tears. The muscles of her lips refused to have her smile, but in the depths of her crushed heart, she had never been so happy.
As Oasis had done, she threw herself on him and wept, face buried in his hair and pressed on his neck, she clutched his clothing and sobbing on him, shedding both tears of joy and pain. He was alive, yet in the time he recovered, her soul had been trampled drastically.
"I… am not real!" she shouted between her sobs, each time she would say it transcending into a whisper, "I am just scrap…"
The shower had taken away the dust that still clung to her from that God awful laboratory, hair neatly brushed, face clean, and fresh clothing hung to her body… it was yet another red Chinese dress, but this time, Xavier had bought it for her. Her legs were stretched out over her bedspread, her face to the window beside the bed and eyes watching every little movement that occurred outside. Just as when Kurt was healing, she was confined to a single room by her sadness, the only reason she would leave is if was so important she had no choice. Day in and day out she was stare at the world outside, as like before she would sing.
Now, conversely, she said nothing, she was mute to everyone outside of Kurt and Xavier, who would visit often and ask about what she saw. She willingly gave out small parts that they could piece together, but she could never bring herself to spill the entire thing at once.
Kurt sat behind her at the moment, keeping an eyes on her while skimming through T.V. channels… hoping he'd fine some anime she'd always watch or a comical show to cheer her up.
Outside the sun gave it's rays to the Earth below, the younger students cheerfully playing sports and practiced their mutation skills on one another. Animals scurried about them, as some students had the ability to speak with them… like Tora.
At least she kept her beauty, which showed wonderfully on her as she looked through the window to what seemed like another world.
"Tora…?" Xavier knocked his knuckles lightly on her doorway. Kurt's attention was quickly taken, but it took a moment for Tora to tear away from the outside, "I have a proposition…"
As he wheeled in, she fixed her position on the bed so as to see him, and Kurt, better. She nodded, not feeling the need to use her voice in this case.
Although he knew what he was to offer her, he didn't quite grasp how to say this without sending the fear of pain back into her.
"What is it Professor…?" Tora spoke, as if she didn't realize he was thinking.
In the silence of the room, besides Xavier's twisting thoughts that vigorously clawed at his mind, the other two had their thoughts wandering as well, but not for the same reason. Kurt could not utter a word without fear of becoming permanently mute, but once the time came where his vocal cords were once more strong, he was ready to shoot a number of questions and conversations at everyone.
Tora, on the other hand, set her ideals a bit deeper, and actually had to look within her from outside to get any clue to an answer. She wondered if she'd ever accept what she was… sure could handle being told her only purpose for creation was to act like a whore and die afterwards… she had been ever since she discovered it and set the laboratory in flames.
If she handled it so well… why did she go ballistic and destroy that small part of her homeland? Why had she secretly seeked out Kurt to cry upon his shoulder? Why did her heart feel heavy every time someone would mention it around her?
She covered it within the confounds of her head, keeping it locked inside, not wanting to face the fact she hated every last inch of herself and all she has, and was to, become.
"This idea… I spoke of it with Oasis…" he again pulled her from her diminutive soul-search by speaking, "…and with Fyer. Being ladies, I figured their maternal nature might prove to see your future with less stress."
Tora scooted herself to the bed's edge, lightly pushing her legs from the sheets and flinging them over the side. Her tail flopped over Kurt's casually, who sat next to her.
"I won't take you to your place of creation… but perhaps it would be best for you to be at home in China."
Tora grunted at the idea, but not in a bad way. It indeed sounded promising, and she had never known Xavier for trickery, so this was a genuine offer. Damned if she'd ever go back to that lab…
She though of the time after her escape, the trees so lovely, animals not afraid of her… to be with her own kind-in a sense- and live as a wild tigress. Many a night she'd wake in the early hours of morning and watch nature specials on the animal she shared genetics with. Her memory of the freedom was the clearest she had from that area of her life… it was so pleasant, she could be in tune with the animals, and still function as a human.
"Koneko would come… right?"
Kurt jerked his head at her after the mutter of this query, shocked and finding it hard to understand why she wished to leave the institute where allies could protect her. Charles could only smiled sweetly, patting the top of her hand with his palm, "Of course he would come."
"When…?" it was short and to the point, Tora was a jumble of emotion at this time and didn't quite have the space in her mind to think, what with all the other things running around and new inquiries and suggestions coming forth.
"Whenever you wish, Tora."
No smile had become present on his face, perhaps it was to soon, but she lunged herself at Kurt, her arms curling tightly around his fuzzy blue body. He, though, didn't have the same happiness. Surely he took delight in the knowledge that this made the weight of depression lift from her shoulders some, but another part of him wondered if she should leave the protection of the school at the moment. Either way, it wasn't his call, and he'd have to live with whatever choice she willed to make… and by her squeeze around him, it was evident she was to depart for China.
To be concluded.