(That's right; chapter 10 was actually chapter 9 before, but moved as I added a prologue to this story. – JoBO)

10. The Kiss of Death

The car disappeared from his sight and he began to walk back to the school, but stopped and cast a last glance back. Could it really be true that he was Philippe? He looked down on the folder. Could this really give him what he wanted or was it just a mistake? He closed his eyes, as his thoughts got lost in what there could have been.

"Gambit!"

He opened his eyes and saw that Jubilee came running down the garden path.

"It's Neria. She is awake and asks after you!"

It only took him a second to realize what was going on and he began to run back to the school. He didn't stop before he was just outside her room, but then he suddenly hesitated. Could this really end like this? He took a deep breath and stepped in through the opened door.

The sight, which met him inside the room, confirmed his misgivings. The others were stood around the bed, where an almost white Neria laid. He quickly walked over to the bed without take his eyes away from her. Their eyes met and he could see the pain in hers, so he quickly went over to her and took her hand.

"Remy…"

Her voice was so weak, that he almost couldn't hear her.

"I'm here, chere, don't be afraid."

She tried to smile.

"I'm never afraid anymore… when you are here."

He could see how the life was slipping out her, but still she managed to hold on.

"It's alright. Just let go. You have done all that you can do here."

She tried to say something, but her voice was so weak that he couldn't hear her. He therefore leaned forward, so he better could hear her.

"I can't leave you…"

With an unbelievable strength she pulled herself up and kissed him. The kiss only lasted for a second, but he instantly felt a shooting pain inside his head, which then quickly vanished. He looked back on Neria and saw that she had died.

He closed his eyes and sighted deeply. Happy that it finally was over and that she now had got peace, but still he couldn't just leave the things like this. So much injustice had been done to her, that he just couldn't look away. He squeezed her lifeless hand as he silently swore to revenge her, then he stood up and turned around. He saw that they all were staring at him with surprise in their eyes. Only Rogue's eyes told another story. He recognized the pain in them as she turned around and ran away. He was just about to run after her, when he caught Xavier's eyes. He stopped and turned towards him.

"She called herself Silverline and I was bringing her here, so you could have helped her…"

He cast a glance back on Neria's lifeless body.

"…But now it is too late."

He turned around and left the room.

o-

Suddenly she couldn't breath as it felt like the room began to contract around her, then she saw his eyes and it was just too much for her. She turned around and began to run. Not knowing where she was going, but she just wanted to get out off there.

She reached the front door, which she opened, and ran out into the garden, where the sun began to dry the tears on her cheeks. All of a sudden her foot got caught in something, which made her felt over. She didn't have the strength to pull herself up so she just curled up and gave in to the tears.

It felt like ages had past, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Rogue."

She jumped up and pulled away from him as she recognized his voice. He saw the tears on her cheeks and walked closer to her, but she pulled away.

"Go away!"

She hided her face in her hands, as she knew that just one look would kill her heart. Therefore she didn't saw the pain in his eyes, which proved his love to her.

"I… I can't… I won't leave you like this, Rogue."

He walked over to her, but she pulled away from him yet again and turned her back to him.

"Why? You don't care!"

"I do."

He walked over to her and was just about to put a hand on her shoulder, when she suddenly turned around. Their eyes met and the look in Rogue's eyes made him take a step back.

"It was never enough for you! Never to been able to touch me. Never to been able to kiss me. Never to been able to…"

She looked down for a second, but quickly regained the eye contract.

"… Therefore you had to run away to Paris and fool around with a fifteen-year-old girl. And I was just a fool to believe that we had something together and that you just needed time, but newsflash I just played you too! I don't love you, but it was fun while it lasted."

She turned around in an attempt to hide the tears, but felt that he could see straight through her lies. A part of her wanted him to take her into his arms and tell her, that every thing was going to be all right, but the rest of her knew that it just would be a lie. He had never been hers. It had all just been a game for him.

"Rogue, I didn't…"

She turned around and her eyes flashed with anger.

"Leave! I don't love you! I don't want to see you again!"

For a second he just stood there, but then he turned around and walked away.