Through Hellfire and Back,

Part 4

Disclaimer: X-men Evolution is the property of Marvel and Kids WB. All the characters in this story are the property of Marvel and Kids WB. Et ect......

Enjoy!

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"Like, why do I have to own so much stuff anyway?" Kitty muttered, unzipping another suitcase and pulling out the contents, placing them neatly into her new drawers. Class was over, the tour finished, dinner had come and gone. Now all that remained was for Kitty to unpack the rest of her things into her new dorm room. Small enough to be cozy, yet with furnishings that cost more then dinner with the Blob; Kitty had been thankful she'd managed a single. No telling what sort of heck she'd be in for if assigned a new roommate. Rogue had been enough.

Although, she mused, Rogue had also turned into her best friend, and if she had a roommate, she'd have someone else to talk to. Nothing like being alone in a new place with a new schedule, new rules, and whole new way of doing things. Someone to cling to would be worth a whole lot of money right now.

Kitty reached out into her bags, and frowned. Puff, the stuffed dragon she had kept since childhood, was no longer there. It had been one of the many casualties with the destruction of the mansion, including her Alannis Morisette CD and her favorite cardigan sweater.

That her dragon was gone placed a deeper hole in Kitty's emotion. Her mother had given her that cherished toy on her sixth birthday, and it had followed her everywhere. A comfort item, something to help her settle no matter where she went. Only now it wasn't here. Nor where her friends, her parents, her loved ones. No one; here at the Academy, Kitty was effectively alone. A single tear brushed down her cheek, but she wiped it off. It wasn't all bad, her mind chided. ~Tomorrow you'll have a phone hookup, and then you can, like, talk to anyone you want every day of the week.~

It still wasn't the same as having them there.

The cold night air blew through Kitty's hair. Odd, she hadn't recalled opening the window.....

*WHUMP*

"Gaaaaaaa!" Kitty jumped back at the crashing sound behind her. Startled, she looked back to see who, or what, had come in out of the night air.

"Meow?"

Well, if it was an assailant, that was a new one. To her surprise, there was a cat. A small, smoke gray cat. A small, smoke gray cat with the most adorable green eyes Kitty had ever seen. Almost immediately, she reached out to pet it.

The cat hissed slightly, eyes searching the room for an escape. However, Kitty was unhindered, talking in a gentle tone as she slowly edged her way to the bed the feline landed on.

"Here kitty kitty. Nice kitty. I won't hurt you. I mean, come on, I'm a kitty myself." The cat's eyes remained on her but it did not move as Kitty placed a delicate finger under the chin. For a moment it seemed as if it would bolt. Kitty started scratching lightly, first near the ears, the towards the well known feline sweet-spot under the chin. Resistance was futile.

"PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Kitty giggled. "Like that, huh?" She sat on the bed and moved the cat onto her lap, which made no sound of protest. "Well, you're not much, but it's nice to know I've got one friend around here."

The cat closed it's eyes, purring in absolute contentment.

"So where are you from? What's your name?"

The cat gave no answer, but continued to purr. For a few minutes, Kitty remained where she was, simply scratching the cat's chin with one hand, stroking it's soft fur with the other.

"Bet you're surprised to see me huh?" The cat closed it's eyes, as Kitty peered down at it's contented form. Her new feline friend might not have been much, but it was a start. It wasn't long until Kitty went on, spilling her heart out.

"Yeah, I'm new here myself; just moved in y'know. Wish I didn't have to be here though." The cat looked up, and Kitty took it as a sign of concern. "Oh, don't worry, I like you enough. It's just that, like, I well, I....." She choked on her words. "I miss them. I'm not three days gone and I miss them. Scott, Jean, Evan, Kurt, Rogue, Logan, Ororo, Mr. Mc Coy, Professor Xavier... Lance. My friends, probably the best friends I've ever had." The feline's innocent green eyes urged her to continue.

"So why aren't I with them you ask?" She sighed deeply, biting her bottom lip. There was no one here to judge her..... was it so hard to admit the truth to herself? Just this once? "Because.... because I'm afraid. Yessss seeerie kitty cat, I Kitty Pryde, Shadowcat, mutant x-man and super heroine extraordinare am afraid. Of who you ask?" Her eyes trailed over to one of the photos tacked up on her wall. "My parents. They're mine and I love them; to be honest I can't see myself going against them. I'm no rebel like Lance or Rogue; I'm Mom and Dad's little Kitty, I do what I'm told." Her voice dripped of sarcasm. "Oh sure, I won't give a bully the time of day. I'm tough as nails and I'll be damned if anyone says otherwise but...." Her hand stopped scratching. "It's like, I've like, got this weak spot when it comes to Mom and Dad." She paused. "I went against them once, when I got my powers, and look what happened then. Even if Lance did make up for it later."

A small smile graced her features as she resumed stroking. "But what I'm I talking about, right? I mean, you're just a little lost kitty, right?" The cat flipped over, and Kitty found herself offering up a tummy rub. "Simple life you've got, am I right? No evil bad guys or anti-mutant conspiracies? Just the life of a cat." She paused.

"Wish it was mine." The cat stopped purring, and set itself upright again, peering into Kitty's ocean deep eyes. It licked it's lips.

A reminder sparked in Kitty's memory, and she snapped her free fingers. "Hey, I bet you're hungry! Want something to eat?"

"Mmmmmroowr!"

Kitty took that as a 'yes'. Searching around, she recalled the crackers she had in her top drawer, a midnight snack for emergencies. Not really premium-A cat food, but it was all she had for the moment. She reached over towards the cabinet.

And the feline watched in amazement as she phased her hand right through, returning with the few precious pieces of food.

Offering one up to the feline, she was pleased to see it snap it up. Kitty's hand snaked around it's right ear as she munched on her own. "Y'know something cat? You're pretty sweet; I appreciate the company. Feel free to, like, pop by anytime. Maybe next time I'll have some treats.

As her scratching slowed the cat's ears suddenly perked up. The feline raised it's head towards the window, as if following a sound Kitty couldn't hear.

"Hmmm? Hey, is something wrong? Hear a mouse?"

In response, the cat jumped off Kitty's bed, leaping towards the window and disappearing into the shadows of the night. Kitty attempted to follow it's path from her room before giving it up; her fellow kitty was gone.

"Yeah." she sighed. "You'd, like, think I was use to loosing friends by now."