Hey, I'm back. Sorry about the wait. I have two chapters for you guys, and as a disclaimer…

Disclaimer: Don't own the story, characters or songs. But would you guys mind if I borrowed John for a little bit? … Darn. Oh well, on with the chappie!

Time here all but means nothing

Just shadows that move 'cross the walls

~~~

Remy stirred, waking up. He noticed the TV still running and that Rogue was gone. She had put a blanket over him, her scarf was still next to him, and there was a piece of paper next to it. Picking them up, he slipped them into his pocket, about to head for the kitchen for some food, figuring Rogue was either there or in the shower. *Would all senior X-men please come to my office? Remy, John, Piotr, you too.* Remy sighed at the timing and headed for the Professor's office. Once in there, he saw Jean and Scott, as well as Kitty and Kurt sitting on the couch and his two team mates standing by the door. Rogue was conspicuously absent. He joined them, shuffling some cards around. "Good. You're all here." The Professor said, resting his chin on his hands and leaning forward.

"Chere's not here." Remy put in, a little put out that a psychic had missed that little fact.

"I know Remy. Shall we continue?" Remy looked at him stony-faced.

"Thank you Remy." He said, taking that as a sign to continue. "Rogue left early this morning for a school in Japan-"

"What?!" Remy said.

"-that teaches yoga, specifically meditation, which I have witnessed as a factor in gaining control over mutations." He finished.

"When is she coming back?" Remy demanded.

"That all depends on when she gains control over her power." Remy stalked out of the room with a fading string of curses following him. Kitty got up. "I'll go see him." Kurt 'ported her out. John and Piotr followed using a more conventional route. Scott and Jean looked at the Professor.

"How long?" Jean asked. He sighed.

"A year." They nodded and got up to leave. "Oh, Jean? Someone needs to tell the younger students." She nodded. "And Scott? Rogue left your car at the airport parking lot." Scott's tan faded a bit and he hurriedly excused himself.

~~~

They keep me company

But they don't ask of me

They don't say nothing at all

~~~

A twenty or so year old woman walked up to Rogue as she entered the front yard of the school. "Welcome. I am Anna, Okiron's daughter. He asked me to show you to your room before taking you to the dojo." Rogue followed her, picking up her bag. After dropping her bag off and putting her clothes away and putting a few pictures on the dresser, Anna led her to a room blocked by off by a screen. She pushed it over to the side and stepped in, moving aside to let Rogue in. An old man, around sixty, was sitting at the front of the class of three and stood up and bowed to her as she entered. "Namus day."[1] He said to her. "The light in me bows down to the light in you." Awkward, not quite sure what to do, she bowed back. "I am Okiron, and this is my school. The young people in front of me are Katie, Jaqueline and Jeremy. They are going to be in your class, and Jaqui will be your roommate." Katie was a petite girl with blond hair and blue eyes, Jaqui had the most interesting shade of reddish brown hair and piercing violet/blue eyes. Jeremy had black hair and chocolate brown eyes. She said hello and Jaqui took her to their room. She unpacked quickly and settled into the comfortable surroundings quickly.

~~~

I need just a little more silence

I need just a little more time

~~~

Remy stared at the picture in front of him. It was one of the Polaroid's Kitty and Kurt had taken, the one when he'd kissed Rogue on the top of her head- looking at it now he noticed how relaxed she was when she was with him as opposed to when she was around others. It was ironic, really. A week after Rogue had left, and he was still moping around his room. Any other girl and he would have moved on by now, even dated two or three other women. He had taken to staying in the room all day, his food delivered by Storm or Kitty, and only leaving when the others were asleep. Hearing a knock at the door, he heaved himself off the bed and headed to the door, opening it to reveal Storm holding a tray.

"T'anks Stormy." He said grabbing the tray and starting to close the door. Storm stopped him by putting her hand in between the door and the wall. Nothing could have prepared her for the man that she saw open the door. Remy hadn't shaved in a week and he looked like he hadn't slept in that long either. His face was haggard, with lines that someone his age shouldn't have. A ragged beard was growing in place of the goatee he had, and there were circles under his eyes that would put a racoon to shame.

"Remy."

"Yes Stormy?" he said impatiently, waiting to retreat back into his room.

"Are you sleeping at all?" she asked curiously.

"Oui." He said curtly, slamming the door shut. Ororo stared at it for a long minute before sighing and turning away.

Looking at the clock, he saw it was after one and got up, heading out the door on stealthy feet, hoisting himself over the wall and heading for the nearest bar. Making for the counter, he sat at one of the stools.

"Hey hun." The waitress said. "What can I getcha?"

"My good ol' ami, Jack si'l vous plait." Remy told her.

"Be right back."

~~~

You send your thieves to me

Silently stalking me

Dragging me into your war

Would you give me no choice in this

~~~

Logan woke up at around three, having heard someone moving around the halls. Getting up, he busted Ray and Bobby trying to go for an after midnight snack run. Escorting them to their rooms, he checked the others as well. Nearing the Cajun's room, he noticed it was slightly ajar and peeked in. The room was empty and the scent led out the window. He growled under his breath. *Chuck, we got a problem. Gumbo's gone.*

Logan wrinkled his nose after Kurt teleported them to the bar where Xavier had found Gambit. The two of them walked in and found Remy at the bar about to fall over. Logan grabbed him, hoisting him over his shoulder and leaving the bar. Once outside, Kurt 'ported them home.

Logan put Remy down on the couch. "How many you had to drink Gumbo?"

He scrunched up his nose trying to think. "Five Jacks, three Sams, and a couple of shots."

"Shit." Logan swore. "Elf, take him to his room. Make sure the curtains are pulled and there's a lot of aspirin and water next to the bed. No way is he going to be walking around tomorrow." There was a puff of smoke and the boys were gone. Logan sighed and sat down. "This job is making me old."

~~~

I know you can't resist

Trying to re-open a sore

So leave me be

~~~

Rogue came out of meditation slowly and looked at her watch. An hour and a half had passed, and she was late for dinner. She hurried changed into a kimono that Jaqui had leant her and rushed to the dining room. Sliding the panel back, she bowed to those seated in the room. "Ah'm sorry Ah'm late. Ah was meditating and lost track of tha time." In the month that she had been there, her accent had become stronger, almost in defiance, but she had picked up most of the formal mannerisms.

"Come, sit and eat." Okiron said, gesturing to the seat between Katie and Jaqui, across from Jeremy.

"So how's the meditation?" Katie asked.

"Alraght." She pulled one of her gloves off and lightly tapped Katie's hand, leaving it there for a few seconds. "Ah can only touch for about twenty seconds, jus' being careful, but Anna and Okiron say the more I practice meditation the longer I'll be able to touch."

~~~

I don't want to argue

I just get confused

And I come all undone

If I agree

~~~

Remy sat in the old oak tree out front over the parking lot, shuffling his cards without noticing and watching the other inhabitants of the mansion relax outside. He had managed to get Logan and Kurt not to tell anyone what had happened- he still wasn't sure how. Of course, he hadn't got off without any consequences. Now, if he wanted to go to a bar, he had a chaperone, mostly Pyro or Kurt and occasionally their girlfriends too. They had the decency to sit a couple of tables away and get there a few minutes after. He always knew exactly where they were- once a thief, always a thief. Luckily, there was never another incident.

~~~

Well it's just to appease you

'Cause I don't remember what we're fighting for

You see love a tight thorny thread

That you spin in a circle of gold

~~~

Rogue sat in the lesson room, crossed legged with her hands on her knees. Breathing in, she closed her eyes, breathing in for seven beats, holding it for another seven, and slowly releasing it in another seven. Jaqui, Jeremy and Katie, sitting next to her, repeated the series. Anna sat at the front of the room, watching as their powers were brought under their skin and controlled. Half an hour later, they were done and he watched in satisfaction as the powers spread out again, but far less than they had before the lesson. The girls stretched and got up, heading behind the screens to change. When they were dressed in their normal clothes, they headed off for the main part of the house for food.

~~~

To have me

To hold me

A token for all to see

Captured to be yours alone

~~~

Later that night Rogue came out of meditation, having noticed that a few hours had passed. She could tell that she was up to twenty-four hours now, meaning she could touch indefinitely. She wasn't sure how she knew how much time she had amassed- it was probably the little bit of Anna she had absorbed earlier that year when they made a miscalculation and she held on a little too long. Either way, it was time for her to go home and she had to pack her bags.

~~~

I need just a little more silence

Yeah I need just a little more time

~~~

Remy stomped out of the Institute, royally pissed off at all the New Recruits for a few stupid stunts they had pulled. Needing to vent, he pulled his motorcycle out and sped off to the nearest bar/gambling hall. John and Kurt looked at each other over their girlfriend's heads.

"Your turn mate." John said.

"Kitty? Do you want to come?" Kurt asked her.

"Hm? Oh, sure. Let me grab my coat." She hurried into the front hall and returned a few seconds later. "Ready." Kurt snaked his tail around her waist and they were off, Kurt remembering just in time to put his inducer back on.

~

Remy was brooding at the bar when Kurt and Kitty 'ported into the back. They grabbed a table and ordered a drink, keeping watch on their charge.

~~~

For courage to pull away

There will be hell to pay

Deeper you cut to the bone

~~~

Rogue had her hair pulled up so the white bits were hidden and was about to pull into the Institute when she saw Remy take off and decided to follow him. Ending up in a bar, she had to shake her head. Remy would be Remy until the day he died, no changes. She followed him and grabbed the barstool next to him, but not before spotting her brother in the corner. She made eye contact and held it for a minute, bringing her index finger to her lips. He nodded slightly.

"Sleeman's Honey Brown." She told the bartender in a lilting voice.

"Here you are." He said, handing to her.

"Thank ya sugah."

At the sound of the voice Remy looked over at the woman who had sat down beside him. Seeing her, thoughts of the New Recruits were far from his mind. "Rogue?" he asked incredulously.

~~~

Time here all but means nothing

Just shadows that move 'cross the walls

They keep me company

But they don't ask of me

They don't say nothing at all

~~~

[1] Not quite sure how to spell it, but it is the traditional greeting/parting in yoga. It means "the light in me bows down to the light in you" or "the higher being in me bows down to the higher being in you" – it really depends on who you talk to.