A/N: I don't own X-men, but I do own Kichi. Happy reading!

Chapter One: The New Mutant

Kitty had finished the first three chapters of her book, reading at night with a flashlight under the covers. She felt like she was eight years old again, but it was the only way that no one would see it. Of course, her southern roommate was starting to get suspicious, but so far hadn't asked anything. Kitty suspected the Professor knew what she was reading, but he didn't say anything either.

It was almost 10pm and all of the students in the institute were required to get ready for bed. Of course, Kitty was already in bed, reading her book under the covers. Rogue walked in and stopped, raising an eyebrow.

"Ya know Kitty, Ah been wonderin' what ya're doin' under them covers. Wanna tell me?" Kitty flinched, twisting ungracefully and falling off the bed, covers wrapped around her. She stood quickly and tossed the sheets back on the bed, book wrapped in them.

"Hey Rogue. I'm just reading my book. You know, about Judaism."

"Ah didn't think it was that interestin'…and aren't ya Jewish? Shouldn't ya already know stuff about that?"

"Yes I'm Jewish." Kitty huffed "But it's always good to, like, learn more about your family history and religion." Rogue should her head

That's a load of crap "Oh really, well…Ah suppose so. Well, Ah'm goin' to bed. G'night"

"Night." The light was turned off and the glow of Kitty's flashlight softly lit the room.

"That's gonna keep me up all night. Come on Kitty, turn it off!" The younger girl sighed and flipped off the flashlight.

"Alright, sorry Rogue. Night." There was a grunt from the goth before she drifted off to sleep. Kitty sighed, leaning back. She was on chapter five, and was pretty sure she could do something. She just didn't want to try with Lance until she was sure it worked. Otherwise she'd look like an idiot. She needed an easier victim to test her "skills". A smiling furry face popped into her head. She smiled slightly, nodding to herself. He was always hitting on her anyway. She fell asleep quickly, a grin on her face.

Kurt went to the bookstore the next day. He had been too busy to go during the week. He wandered in and glanced around, not exactly sure what he was looking for. He meandered over to the Fiction section and looked at the titles slowly.

"Lets see…The Sword of Power, a sword with the power to save or destroy the vorld…no…too magic oriented. Fighting For Freedom…hmm…the U.S as a dictatorship…two people try to save it…a girl and a boy? No…too much romance. Vishes (Wishes) of the Damned…a vampire and shifter's immortal life through different eras of time…. hmmm…no, they are both girls (1). Oo, James Bond. That works." He grabbed Goldfinger off the shelf and headed over to the counter. There was a girl about his age working there. She gave him a small smile as she looked at his book.

"James Bond is cool, Ian Fleming is a great writer." Kurt nodded as her strangely violet eyes sparkled and she brushed back deep, straight black hair that was to her shoulders. Suddenly there was a strange sound and Kurt glanced down at his wrist.

"Oh no…" His watch was broken again and he was flickering. People were starting to mutter. Kurt looked pleadingly at the girl, who seemed only mildly surprised. "Can you please hurry up?" The girl smiled and nodded, and the book was rung up in no time. In fact…at almost super-human speed. But Kurt just paid and hurried out with his purchase, bamfing away around a corner. When he returned to the Institute, he hurried inside to find Henry McCoy. The large blue beast looked at his watch and frowned.

"Kurt, this isn't just an ordinary watch, you can't treat it badly. You have to take better care of it."

"Sorry Herr McCoy…I didn't mean to, it vas an accident…"

"I know, I know." Suddenly he blinked and jerked up, glancing around "I have to go, the Professor's calling." He hesitated "You better come too, Kurt." Kurt nodded unsurely and followed into the Professor's study. The old man looked critically at both of them.

"Cerebo has just picked up a mutant signature. Some new mutant used their power. At the mall." He looked pointedly at Kurt who just stared back, having no clue.

"O…kay…vhat does that mean?"

"It means that you, Rogue, and Kitty are going to be sent to retrieve the mutant."

"But…ve've never gone vithout Jean or Scott, or some other older mutant."

"I know, this will be new experience for you and the girls. I've already told them to meet you downstairs, explaining everything. Take the X-Van." Kurt started to leave when the Professor said "And you probably shouldn't let Kitty drive."

Kitty didn't seem very disappointed; she let Rogue drive, but made Kurt sit in back with her. He was very confused. She pretended to pout at his uncertainty

"You don't want to be near me, Kurt?" He blinked. She really looked cute when she pouted. He shook his head quickly, clearing his thoughts.

"No, it's okay Keety, I'll sit vith you." He got in next to her and she grinned as Rogue started the car. She drove towards the mall at a good pace, slightly faster than most, but definitely not as wildly fast as Kitty. Speaking of which, she was looking at him with a quiet gaze that seemed to be soft and burning at the same time. Kurt swallowed and looked away. Kitty gave a whispered sigh of exasperation and turned to look out the window. When they arrived, Rogue said as they got out of the van,

"Okay guys, we're looking for someone whose having trouble controlling their mutant powers. And be on the lookout for Brotherhood….they might be trying to pick up our person." They walked in, Kitty sticking close to Kurt as they looked around carefully, trying to see something out of the ordinary. But everything seemed fine. As they walked past the bookstore, Kitty turned to him and said sweetly

"So what did you, like, pick for your book?"

"A James Bond novel, Goldfinger. You?"

"Uh…religion book on Judaism."

"You? A religious book? It seems like you vould be reading some cheesy paperback novel. Like a romance or something." Kitty looked at him closely. Did he know? No, he was just guessing. But he knew her too well.

"I hang out with you too much…" she mumbled as Kurt glanced at her

"Vhat are you talking about? Is something vrong with me?"

"Oh no, you're just fine, it's just I, like, feel like you know me too well." He smiled at her

"Of course I do Keety, ve are very good friends, right?" He looked concerned and Kitty beamed brightly, nodding.

"Yes we are, and I'm, like, totally glad I met you!" She was starting to do that staring thing that made Kurt happy and uncomfortable at the same time. Suddenly Kurt glanced in the store and saw the girl from earlier. She was flying through customers, getting through the purchases quickly. He raised an eyebrow slowly, but Kitty dragged him away.

Rogue was walking around, trying to find something that was remotely amiss. But everything seemed fine. She peeked into the food court when someone called her name.

"Rogue!" She turned to see Remy LeBeau grinning at her.

"Wha' are ya doin' here, Swamp rat?"

"Actually, helping out de Brotherhood. Apparently dere is some mutant dey're lookin' for."

"Oh really…"

"Remy is assuming your lookin' for de same mutant?"

"Yes…"

"Interestin'."

"Haven't found anythin' yet though. You?"

"Well…Remy don't dink he's supposed to tell you…but truthfully, we haven't found anythin' either."

"Thanks Swamp rat. See ya." She turned, starting to walk off, when Remy caught up to her.

"Now wait just a moment, cherie. Remy hasn't seen you in awhile. How are you doin'?" Rogue sighed and shook her head as he followed her down the hallway.

"Keety…I think ve're going the vrong vay…ve haven't found any sort of mutant."

"Oh well. What do you, like, want to do instead?" She smiled at him, her eyes in a soft questioningly expression.

"I think ve should keep looking for the mutant. The Professor is counting on us." Kitty sighed, nodding.

"You're totally right. Sorry." She suddenly seemed cold and distant and Kurt wondered what he did wrong.

"Hey Pryde!" They both turned to see Pietro Maximoff smirking at them "What are you two doing here?" Kitty blinked at him as Kurt glared.

"Ve could ask you the same question!"

"It's a free country Fuzzy." Kurt frowned and turned away.

"Come on, Keety, let's go." But she tilted her head slightly at Pietro.

"Have you seen Lance?" The silver haired guy shrugged

"He's around here somewhere. Probably doing some sort of crime. Why Pryde? I thought you were over him?"

"Of course I am." Kitty stammered.

"Sure you are." Sneered Pietro. Kurt tugged on her arm and she walked forward, following Kurt over to the bookstore. As they got closer, they suddenly heard a scream.

"What was that?" muttered Kitty. Kurt hurried in and saw people running back from the cashier counter. The girl Kurt had met earlier had her eyes closed and her hair was flying around her face like a halo. A computer was in front of her, the screen facing her "audience" and words kept flying across the screen, but the girl was touching anything. Electricity was sparking all over, from the computer. Kurt's eyes widened

"I think ve have our mutant." Kitty nodded as he bamfed over. "Ve're never going to get close vith that computer there." Kitty smiled.

"Leave it to me." She phased through a few people and up to the counter, sticking her hand through the machine. It made a fizzling sound and then was silent. The girl's eyes opened, bright purple and she glared at Kitty.

"What are you doing?"

"I…we have to, like, take you back to the Professor!"

"What are you talking about?" Kurt appeared near her.

"Remember me? Ve're here to help you. But you have to come vith us. Okay?" She nodded slowly and suddenly collapsed. Kurt caught her and bamfed away, Kitty turning and phasing through everyone, running out of the store. She phased through a familiar goth who yelled after her.

"Kitty! Wha' is goin' on?" Kitty stopped and turned, seeing Remy standing not too far away.

"Kurt's got the mutant. We, like, should go. The Brotherhood's here, and I think they're looking for the mutant too!" Rogue nodded.

"Ah know, Swamp rat here told me. Okay, Ah'm coming. See ya later, Swamp rat."

"Bye cherie." They ran to the entrance of the mall where they suddenly met Lance. Kitty waved

"Hey Lance. We, like, have to go." He shook his head.

"Nope. Sorry Kitty, but I can't let you go. We have to have that mutant." Rogue pulled off her glove and stepped closer to him.

"Oh, and who's goin' to stop us if we want ta leave?" Lance glared.

"Stay away." The ground rumbled slightly. Kitty looked at Rogue.

"We can't let him hurt anyone." She nodded and put her glove back on, although grudgingly. "Lance! I thought you said that you were, like, good?"

"Oh come on Kitty, I tried being good, remember? It didn't work out. Now we have to improve the Brotherhood ranks. Hand over the new mutant!"

"Kurt has her!"

"Well then you better hope he comes back for you two." Kitty sighed heavily, turning to Rogue, who nodded. Kitty grabbed the southerner's hand and phased them through Lance and the doors. He yelled after them, but they didn't turn back until they reached the van. Kitty jumped in the back and Rogue took the wheel, revving the vehicle and driving off. Kitty saw a bunch of people get in a jeep and start to follow them. She looked over at Kurt who was watching the new mutant with concern.

"I, like, can't believe Lance!" Kurt glanced at her.

"Vhat happened?"

"He tried to, like, stop us from leaving!" Kurt shrugged

"He is in the Brotherhood."

"But I thought he was different…" whispered Kitty. Kurt didn't answer, though he had heard her. He looked back down at the girl. Her eyes were still closed; she had made no move since she collapsed. Kurt was slightly worried. She couldn't be more than sixteen or seventeen. And she had been so nice to him.

1- The first three stories that Kurt mentions are actually original stories I've written! They aren't on any sort of website, otherwise I would ask you to read them, but oh well.