(a/n: I am back. I beg for forgiveness. I do not expect to receive it; but none-the-less I beg for it anyway. I apologize for the fact that it's been so long: I got a new computer and it doesn't let me upload onto ff.n. This is no excuse: but I had no other computer to use. I am not allowed to use computers at the public library [long story] and my school computer blocks the site. PLEASE forgive me! I will do pretty much anything! It's my birthday in two days! Review as a present! I'm turning old!

(This chapter is dedicated to everyone who put up with the long wait and actually returned to read this. And to everyone who knows my cat's name. Thank you once more!)

Chapter 5.

Makoto Kino and Peter Rasputin headed off together to explore a little more of the Xavier Institute. Marie, or as she introduced herself, "Rogue" had shown them a bit of the estate: the common rooms of the house. The pair still had no idea where they would be rooming or with whom. It was exciting for the both of them. And Makoto couldn't help thinking that Peter was answer to some prayer she didn't know she prayed.

But Peter seemed uncomfortable with her. He was in awe of the house, and with the accompaniment of a girl he'd never met before: the day had become slightly overbearing. It was by no one's fault, but he still couldn't help but feel slightly claustrophobic in the mansion. Part of him longed for the farm back on Russia. And he missed his sister.

A moment later, he came to the realization that he'd voiced the thought aloud. Makoto had stopped and then met his eye. Quietly, unlike her earlier exuberant chatting, she spoke in turn. "I know how you feel. My brother's back in Japan. The closest thing I've ever had to a mother disowned me. She won't let Akemi and I speak to one another. I've yet to be gone a day and I already can't stand the thought of being away from him much longer."

"My sister." Peter answered. "She may yet be one like us. My ma and poppa understand. I am sorry that your mother does not." He towered over even her tall frame, and had to look downwards to meet her eyes. He was not extremely surprised to see tears in her eyes. He opened his arms for her, for a hug that they both knew that she needed.

"You may not believe it, Pete, but I don't cry." Was all she said. The words were muffled in his chest, but he heard them. He laughed with her at that.

!

Minako Aino packed her last valise, snapping it shut audibly. She was surprised at how easy it was to pack up most of her life with her into two suitcases. There were few pictures she wanted and most of her clothes felt wrong on her; distorted if only due to the fact she was the one wearing them. Her volleyball outfit stayed. It was bleached and pressed, in excellent condition. Mina had to stop herself from throwing it out of her second story window and onto the streets below.

She hadn't cried since she was on the bench earlier in the day. The girls on her volleyball team-friends until that day-had discovered her secret. They wanted nothing more to do with her. Including her coach. It had been a mistake, too. A reaction. And it had cost her every mote of happiness that she thought she so securely owned. The team had long played tricks on one another. It was always in good fun. It never was meant to hurt anybody. Before that day, it never had.

She had been alone in the changing room. She'd gotten there late, a habit that she couldn't kick no matter how hard she tried. She was just replacing her bag into her locker when the lights went out. Even then, she stifled a giggle. She'd been on the outside of the door often enough to know that it was her team who'd clicked the power switch that resided in the hall. But when a hand landed roughly on her shoulder, and another over her mouth, she panicked.

She flipped her assailant over her back, and created a ball of light in each hand to try and discern who her attacker was. It had been the co-captain of the volleyball team. The girl's green eyes were filled with horror, and she jumped up and out of the room, nearly screaming her fear.

Eventually, Minako left the bathroom to be met by the rest of her team. Each wielded a volleyball. Hatred and disgust filled each of their gazes. As if on a cue of some kind, each lifted their weapons and pelted the blonde with the balls, screaming insults at her as they did. She was surprised, and was hit many times. She tripped on one of the ones that had missed; scrambling for the exit door. The laughter that had followed seared her heart.

She cried. She found her way to a park bench, and she cried until the pain wasn't so bad. And then Pietro had come along, promising her something better. He had known what she was and had understood. He was a mutant, too. He was willing to try and help her, despite everything that she was. She had come home to inform her parents that she was leaving.

She hadn't seen her mother since.

Picking up her suitcases (after donning a backpack) she shook her head to clear it of unpleasant memories. She headed into the living room, where her father was lounging, watching the television, though the screen was on mute. He had to have heard her entrance, but he didn't turn to face her right away. Minako lowered her face in shame, feeling herself blush.

"Minako…I love you, sweetie." He finally said, standing and opening his arms wide. She flung herself at her father, dropping her bags. He held her tightly, and Minako willed tears away. He rocked her side to side, and gently stroked the hair she'd been growing out since she was extremely young. He loved her hair. She grew it for him.

"Daddy…what am I supposed to do?" She asked finally, burying her face deeper into his chest. Mr. Aino had always smelled something of leather and soap. She would miss the smell of him. He had been a smiling constant in her life. Something that she could always count on to be there when she needed him. She was scared to be without him nearby.

"Be happy, baby." He answered, kissing her forehead.

"Do…do you hate the mutants?" She returned, unable to meet his eyes. "Not me…but the other ones? Do you hate them because they're not normal?"

"What's not normal about them?" Came the response. "Because they can do things that I can't do? Regular people can do things that I can't do. Should I hate them, too?" He chuckled. "Of course I don't hate mutants. I don't hate you, and I never will."

"Thanks, Daddy." She smiled in response and hugged him again. "I'm going to go and meet Pietro now. I'll call you when I get there."

"Okay, babe." He winked at her and picked up her bags, escorting her to the door. Minako opened it, hugged her father again, and picked up her bags. She turned to head outside and stopped dead.

Her mother stood in the doorway.

!nar!

Usagi sat up straighter in her seat. She was a junior member of the Hellfire Club, just as Ami was to become. She was in school at the moment, chewing nervously on the end of her pen. She never tested well, no matter how hard she'd studied. Before she accepted the Hellfire Club's offer to house her as both a mutant and a student, she didn't care much at all about school. Her grades were poor, and she didn't care.

Emma Frost was a kind woman to those she helped, but she wouldn't settle for shoddy work: in school or otherwise. She'd straightened Usagi out, and because of her efforts, Usagi had begun to think. Not necessarily with her schoolwork alone, but in every situation she began thinking about consequences. She weighed all options carefully before making a decision. Usagi was intelligent.

Still, though, her testing abilities would never show any of this information. She failed more tests than she passed, whether or not she knew the information. She just panicked at the sight of a test paper. Her mind went blank. And if there was any lack of proof for it, Empath would be glad to share his opinion to anyone who would listen.

Empath and Catseye were both extremely close to the silver-haired Usagi. After Usagi had helped Empath gain control over his powers, they couldn't help but be friends. He knew that she honestly cared for him. It just caused him problems that occasionally, he made other people think what he wanted them to think.

His first girlfriend had dumped him. They were both mutants; it wasn't that he had a power that split them up. She doubted the way she felt for him, accused him of using his power on her, and she left him. The worst for Empath, though, was that he was not entirely sure that he wasn't forcing her to care about him. Usagi had gotten him to a point that he could sense his own power.

Empath had always been a popular person. His ability to always know the right thing to say had earned him friends in every aspect of his life. But he could also tell that a lot of people didn't like him, despite his popularity. Catseye had been his best friend since he'd met her. Usagi, though, had cared so deeply about everyone that Empath was slightly in awe of her caring disposition.

Catseye sat behind Usagi in their classroom. Unlike public high school-where teachers remained in their classrooms with students buzzing about, loitering in hallways and lingering out of range of their classrooms until just as the bell rang-the Hellfire School students didn't move. Their teachers changed rooms, giving the students a ten minute break from classes. They were permitted to stand, but weren't allowed to leave the room. They were expected to be back in their seats before the bell.

Catseye and Usagi shared a class. Empath did not, but the group did discuss their schooling at meals and after their school let out, at five in the evening. They were allowed to go wherever the wanted to after school. They had a ten o'clock curfew weeknights. It was extended to one in the morning on Friday and Saturdays. The Hellfire Club trusted their students.

Usagi jumped nearly a foot out of her seat when an eraser bounced off one temple. She turned to glare at Figment, who shrugged innocently in return. The blonde was a troublemaker. She had expressive dark brown eyes which were often twinkling with the mischievous thoughts that seemed to rule her mind. At her most innocent smile, it was obvious to Usagi that that was one of those times.

Figment was always smiling and seemed to be hyper more often than not. She loved being one of the Hellfire kids. Her best friends included Helen Rogers (Blaze), Dakota Kelly (Fangs), Jasmine Winters (Wind Rider), and Sandra Parks (Live Wire). All of them also members or potential members of the Hellfire Club. Of the four, only Dakota and Sandra shared class with her. Sandra sat in the front of the class, obliviously unaware of the entertainment that sitting in the back offered.

Dakota sat in the far back row, usually doodling more than paying attention to her class. She never went far without a sketchbook and a pencil tucked behind her ear. She was a talented artist, but found little use in some school subjects. She and Emma shared several disagreements over her priorities, but Dakota's stubbornness rarely failed her. Even against Emma. Dakota had the ability to become a wolf at will. She was unable, though, to reach any hybrid form between the two. In her human state she was gifted with agility unknown to most humans.

Sandra was smart. She was, as Dakota was oft to taunt her, a goody-two-shoes. She tried to like everyone and generally be a fair person. She had a mean streak in her, though, and even Dakota had to eventually agree that Sandra could hold her own. She could control and generate electricity. Helen had jokingly called her the Recharger once for her ability to do such to batteries. Her hair was on end for days, and she experienced static electricity whenever she touched anything metal or another person. Dakota, Jasmine, and Figment just laughed a lot. Sandra had naturally raven-black hair, but had streaked it red on an impulse one day. She was neither short nor tall, and had amazingly green eyes.

Figment had the ability to shape reality with her mind. With a power similar to the Scarlet Witch but a lot more sanity, Figment had fought hard for control over her power. When she'd first arrived at the Hellfire Club she'd lose control over her imagination. She could make her holograms tangible, but it took a lot out of her, considering she was creating something out of nothing. Small things were easy, like the dolphin-shaped eraser that she'd just chucked at Usagi. She created it out of air. She felt it imperative to pull Usagi out of her thoughts and back to her test.

Usagi would fail otherwise.

Ami was trying to pay attention in Physics. She simply couldn't keep her mind still. She was, first of all, worried about Emira and Bryan. They had barely known each other for a few days, but were already close. Ami wasn't used to being near so many people. And she had a crush on Kurt that she couldn't explain. She knew that he and Amanda were dating: she'd seen them around, but part of her didn't care.

And her mind was still reeling at the contact between herself and Usagi. She knew that she was supposed to protect her, but there were still gaps in her memories. Usagi was some kind of Princess, but from where and when she did not know. It could've just been a very vivid flash of imagination, but she didn't want to believe that was so. She felt so connected to Usagi, and it felt good, like a sisterhood that she had previously been unable to comprehend existing.

Thinking, still, Ami rested her chin on her hand and winced when her fingertips met her bruises. Why, Ami questioned to herself, did that mutant attack she and Emira and Bryan? And how was it so convenient that Ms. Frost was so nearby and ready to help? Was it all coincidence? Or was some underlying plot threatening their happy existence? Something dark?

Ami didn't want to think badly of Emma Frost, because the woman really was their savior. She helped them when no one else would. She protected their secrets and did her best to keep all of the mutants under her care unrecognized for what they were. Usagi looked up to the woman like another mother, and Ami wanted to think that Ms. Frost was that trustworthy. But still, nagging in the back of her mind, something stopped her from trusting the older woman completely.

Ami was hurt that Empath and Catseye so obviously disliked her. She couldn't remember a time before that no one liked her because of something that was not her fault. She knew Usagi. She couldn't help wanting to be around the girl. She didn't know why she wanted to protect the girl. But she also couldn't stop wanting to. Empath obviously didn't like her for that.

Even Ami could see that some part of him was in love with Usagi. Usagi did that to people, though. She brought out the best in them and she trusted almost everyone wholeheartedly. She knew that there was goodness in even the darkest heart, and she did everything in her power to bring out that goodness. It was just ingrained into her. Even as Ami realized this, she respected it. Usagi was a good leader to her and the others. The protectors…

Ami jumped from her thoughts when the teacher lay his hand on her shoulder. Blushing darkly, she couldn't look up and meet his eyes. At his further insistence, though, she had no choice. He didn't seem angry at her, only slightly amused. She straightened up and nonchalantly wiped her notebook clear of eraser dust that didn't exist before holding her pen at the ready.

It took almost a minute before she realized that she was the only one in the classroom. The period had ended. With a face that closely resembled a tomato in colour, she packed her things and rushed from the room as quickly as her legs could carry her, zipping up her bag as she went. She was surprised to run bodily into another student outside of the door, unaware of just how long she'd been in some kind of dreamland.

To her annoyance, Duncan Matthews was the one she'd hit. It was almost as if he'd been waiting outside for her, he was-after all-standing outside alone, hands thrust deeply into his pockets. He glared at her when she hit him, and she rolled her eyes. Walking very purposely around him, she sprinted off before he had the chance to say a word.

Ami didn't need to hear him speak. It was all in his eyes. He was going to make her pay for the embarrassment she'd put him through. He would get even with the Japanese girl who nearly sang out that she was smarter and better than he.

Even as she ran off, another thought came to mind: what others did her mind think of? Who were these protectors of Usagi that her mind had created? Were they even real?

(a/n: 'Sall for today. Hope you like it. I like it. Don't kill me. Now that I'm back writing it, I'm much more likely to continue. Don't kill me. I'm fragile. Ooh, gimme birthday wishes! giggles)