Hehehe. Tavyn wanted me to include her in my author's note, so here'goes.

Disclaimer: HI. I'm Tavyn! and toad is mine all mine! and then you'll be like, "no he's not. He's MINE!" and then I'll be like, "FINE. but Kenshin's mine!" and then you "FINE. but Inuyasha's MINE!" and then me, "FINE. Have the two-timing dogface!" #scowl# #Toad walks in# "actually, none of those characters belong to them. they just like to bicker. And pretend that they own certain....#sees excited looks# " #gulps# #Kira and Tavyn tackle toad and begin fighting over his clothing.#

Author's Note: Why does no one review I wonder? sigh The last chapter wasn't that great; I'll admit it, but c'mon people... review me, flame me, WHATEVER. I just want to hear from you. #puppy dog eyes# Damn, I'm pathetic.

ANYWAY!! Prepare for lotza Action-Movie...uh...action, and much romantic awkwardness. YAY! #drags Toad off the scene by the ear, said evil mutant looking rather peeved. Anyone noticed I love that word? 'Peeved'? I do. It's just so fun.

AUTHOR'S IMPORTANT NOTE: The rest of this story won't be so happy-cozy. These are the nice chapters where our troubled man fits in for awhile- before it all goes to hell. Well- it's kind of like Dr. Malcolm says (from Jurassic Park: The Lost World). Heh, he spoke the truth. Nothing good lasts long.

AUTHOR'S MORE IMPORTANT NOTE!!: Why is none of you reviewing? My story has gone down the tubes, hasn't it? #Sigh# I'll go sit in a corner and...I dunno... eat a bag of soy chips or something. SOY IS GOOD!

Chapter Eleven

Just in case you missed the author's rambly note: I will not update until I recieve 6 new reviews from six different people. Mrghph.

Toad was uncomfortable returning to the mansion so soon. He felt as soon as he set foot on the property that he would be snatched up, and stuffed in that damn room once more.

He sighed, looking out past the tree cover. Several of the mutants he still didn't know the identities of had gone on, while he was with the squad waiting by the tree line.

Arana, known also as Tsunami, was crouched next to him. "Who were you with before?" she whispered.

"The Brotherhood." He said, wishing to terminate the conversation. Arana seemed oblivious to this fact, and continued on.

"I was a military experiment. Ever heard of Area 51?" she laughed bitterly. "I was there. Born and raised in captivity. You?"

"Londoner." He muttered.

"Wouldn't of guessed," She said in her mild Spanish accent. Her eyes suddenly flicked to the mansion. The porch light flickered on and off three times. That was the signal. "C'mon Mortie, we got a job to do." He sat there a few moments after Arana and her brother Johnny had departed. All this attention was getting to be very odd.

"There are at least a dozen of them active on the grounds and inside the mansion already. Most of them are on the school level." He said. Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Marie, and Cyclops stood there in costume, and nodded, starting the hunt.

"Who's here?" Marie asked Logan in a undertone.

"Jaye and her cronies." He responded gruffly.

"Why are they here?" she asked.

"Well, that's what we're here to find out." He said, heaving a sigh. Suddenly, Logan fell to the ground, and was pummeled by a seemingly invisible force. Rogue whipped her gloves off, and stated flailing around, hoping to catch the assailant.

"Do you know how stupid you look?" came a familiar, spiteful voice. She spun around and was met with a kick in the stomach, and a quick touch at the back of her neck. "G'night, love." He said smugly.

"You got some moves, Mort. I suppose Cat didn't waste her time on you after all."

"And you would be...?" he said, still walking, keeping his eyes straightforward.

"Umbra Molin. But people call me rain."

"Rain?"

"The last two letters of each name. And you know how sometimes, late at night, there are those light showers that seem invisible?" a short, strong frame appeared next to him. "I share a trait with them." She blinked, and went back to her nearly invisible state. If you didn't know where to look; you couldn't see her at all- but if you did, you could see a faint outline of her strengthened form.

He latched himself to the ceiling, and began crawling spider-man style. He was silent as the dead as he crawled; his only disadvantage was his jacket hood flopping around in his face. He felt the familiar feeling of his innards freezing over and melting once again as he saw a bit of white hair and a trailing silver cloak round a corner. It wasn't quite a pleasant feeling in his opinion.

He climbed over the weather witch's head, and dropped mere centimeters in front of her. The smile that crept on his face while fighting resumed it's rightful place. He had always enjoyed a fight; he loved the adventure of it, the risk the fun, and the over-all feeling of accomplishment.

Storm faltered for a moment, but only for a moment. "Haven't you already learned your lesson, Toad?"

"Don't waste any time on the clichés, do we?" he said, his smile widening. He kicked her in the stomach, propelling her backward in to the entrance hall, with her fallen companions. He picked her stunned body up for a moment; for she had the wind knocked out of her; and held her up to a wall. "Let's tie up the loose ends." He said, securing her to the wall with a bit of pond scum. He didn't quite know why he didn't kill her. That was usually what was thought of when they heard the latter line; but something inside had told him not to. 'Heh.' He thought to himself. 'I'm actually beginning to develop a conscience...or something like it.' He saw Arana dragging the unconscious form of Scott Summers down the hall, grinning mischievously.

"He has good aim, but no common sense." She held out a small plate glass mirror. "That's all of them. We are supposed to rendezvous about now. I wonder where everyone is? Goofing off, I presume." The girl sighed. "I guess they knew we were coming. It's going to give them an extra few lumps on the head, and her the need for a vigorous hair washing, no?" she jerked her head towards the secured Ororo Munroe who's snowy hair was thick with the hardened pond scum.

Sabretooth looked at his small companion with annoyance. He was going to rip his arm right out of it's socket if he didn't cut that clicking. Honestly; back and forth, click, click, click, click....he felt his brain melting away before him.

"Can you stop that?"

"Sorry. Nervous habit."

"I can gnaw your arm off for you." He growled.

"Why are we out here again?" asked the younger mutant, shivering in the cold.

"We're checking out Toad's old apartment. Magneto said that maybe we could find some clue about his disappearance here."

"Disappearance? Is that the big word of the day?" John snorted. Sabretooth growled.

"I wouldn't be saying that to someone who's twice as tall and heavy as you." He said, showing his fangs.

"Point taken." He said. Turning away. "So why aren't we inside the building?"

"What? Is it too cold for you? This is the first time I've been outside for weeks." He snorted. "And I plan on staying out for awhile." John groaned inwardly. He made a note to himself. For Christmas, get Sabretooth a year-long pass to a State Park, give Mystique something else to wear but skin tight spandex, and get Magneto something to read.

It appeared to him that all he did all day was knock those metallic balls together all day. Clickity click, clickity, click- it was enough to drive him mad. Maybe he could filch a Lord of the Rings box set from a Barnes and Noble.

Well? I've updated...I've updated a lot... what's the matter? Why is no one reviewing...? #starts picking her nails# I think I'll become a hermit and live on a mountain. OH NO! But then I wouldn't be able to check up on all you people's wonderful stories...I'll be a hermit with internet access. Maybe I'll be a hermit with a blackberry. WHEEE!! If I can afford a blackberry. I can barely afford the newest Invader ZIM DVD for crying out loud...eesh.