(1)Nani is Japanese for "what". Happy reading!

Chapter Three: Nani?(1)

"Hey Keety?" The girl flinched, glancing at Kurt.

"Oh…it's just you…you, like, scared me!" He smiled slightly.

"I just vanted to say that the new mutant is okay now." Kitty nodded.

"Okay, thanks…"

"Are you okay? I mean, because Lance vas being a jerk back at the mall. He's such an idiot." Kitty looked puzzled for a moment, then looked away with a purposely blank face.

"Oh yeah…I'm okay. I'd…forgotten about it." Kurt stepped back and slightly to the left so he could see the screen of her laptop.

"So…vhat are you writing?" She snapped the lid shut firmly.

"None of your business!"

Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, I need you guys upstairs, quickly!

Kitty looked down at Kurt.

"That sounded urgent."

"Yeah, come on Keety, ve better go upstairs." She nodded and hopped down, pulling her hair back into a ponytail then touched his arm as he 'ported.

They arrived upstairs and could hear yelling from the infirmary. Hurrying down the hall, they appeared in the room in time to see the new mutant jump up quickly, looking at Beast, Xavier and Scott with mistrust.

"Why am I here? Who are all you guys?"

"You are at the Xavier Institute for the Gifted." Said the Professor soothingly. "I am Professor Xavier. Who are you?" She frowned, huffing angrily.

"I'm Kichi…not that's it's any of your business! I want out of here!" She glared around and Xavier's eyes widened as her eyes fell on some medical equipment. Kichi's frowned deeper and she started muttering, most of her words consisting of "Nani"

Kurt approached her slowly.

"Uh…are you okay?" She flipped around and glared at him, then stopped.

"Oh...it's you. What are doing here?"

"I live here." She tilted her head.

"Nani?" Kurt blinked.

"Huh?"

"I mean…what? Sorry…" He shrugged.

"Vell, I live here because I like it. I dunno, no vhere else to go. It's nice here though. Vould you like to stay here?" He seemed to have hit a nerve and her eyes darkened, a frown appearing again.

"No! Why would I?" She raised her hands in frustration and some of the machines started to make noise.

"The equipment!" yelped Beast. He started to step closer to her and electricity sparked from the heart monitor to her right. He jumped back as his fur started to stand on end. "Professor!"

"I know, I know. Please calm down Kichi."

"Why the hell would I do that?" Another spark flew in Xavier's directed. He wheeled back quickly as Kurt winced.

"Come on Kichi! Stop that! You're going to hurt somevon!"

"I'm not doing it! You're lying! You're all doing it yourselves! I'm not doing it, I swear!" She glanced around at all the faces, which obviously didn't believe her, and ran out of the room. Beast looked over at Professor Xavier.

"That was close…I think I can fix the heart monitor…" Suddenly it exploded and everyone ducked as pieces flew everywhere. "Uh…I guess not…" He sighed and stood up. Xavier glanced over at Kitty and Kurt as they stood. Rogue got up behind them, brushing herself off.

"You two go after her." Kurt nodded, moving away from Kitty, who he had protected in the blast. Kitty grinned brightly.

"I'm sure we can convince her!" Kurt looked a little more apprehensive, but followed her nevertheless.

Kichi was hurrying down the stairs when a redhead appeared in front of her.

"Hey! Who are you? Are you a new recruit? Welcome!" Kichi glared angrily and the lights exploded above her. Jean jumped back screaming. Kichi slipped past her as Scott appeared, randomly out of nowhere like he does when Jean's "in trouble".

"Are you okay?" He glanced at Kichi and raised his hand, shooting at her. Kichi flipped around and stared back at him. "You hurt Jean!"

"No, Scott, I'm okay! She just scared me! Don't do that! She's the new mutant!" He ignored her and shot at Kichi again. Kichi took a step back and another light fizzled.

"Scott! Stop shooting her!" Jean cried as Scott started to make another beam shoot towards Kichi. Jean lunged at him and he turned slightly just as Kurt and Kitty appeared at the bottom of the stairs. The laser missed Kurt's tail by about an inch. Scott's jaw dropped.

"Oh, sorry you two!" Meanwhile, Kichi had spun around and hurried to the door. Suddenly Bobby ran out of the living room and looked around with confusion.

"What's going on?" Kurt looked from Kichi to Bobby.

"Freeze the door!" He yelled. Bobby quickly raised his hand and the doors were coated with ice. The black haired girl blinked at it and staggered back and then fell on her butt in a sitting position. Kurt and Kitty hurried over and stopped at her feet.

"Are you alright?" Asked Kurt as he waved Bobby away. The boy sneered at him

"Fine, don't thank me for helping you." Kitty smiled sweetly at him.

"Thank you Bobby." He grinned in return, hurrying back to the living room.

"Welcome Kitty. I have to go back to the movie; we're watching Pirates of the Caribbean." He disappeared as Kichi stared up with wide eyes at Kurt.

"I'm okay…" she whispered.

"Come on, Kichi you said your name vas? I'll help you up." He offered his hand and she took it slowly, feeling the texture of his fur as she got to her feet.

"Your fur is really soft." She smiled at him as he blushed slightly.

"Thanks…come on; ve'll take you to the Professor. You'll like it here, I promise." She hesitated.

"I don't know…"

"Just try talking to him. Trust me." Her face beamed at him again.

"Okay." He led her over to the stairs as Kitty watched after them. "Can I touch your tail?"

She…seems to really like Kurt Thought Kitty as she followed, dragging her feet. I didn't exactly warm up to Kurt instantly, like her…although I like him a lot now. He's my best friend. She paused a moment. But do I like him as more?

"Keety? You coming?"

"Huh…oh yeah!" She jogged over to the stairs. "Sorry, got distracted…" Kurt smirked at her.

"Thinking about me, right?" Kitty blinked and giggled half-heartedly.

"Of course not! I was thinking about…Lance." He glowered at her before looking at Kichi

"You make sure you stay avay from Lance, he's no good." Kitty rolled her eyes.

"He's fine!" They made their way to Xavier's office and waved to Rogue before going in. Inside, Remy was talking to the Professor.

"Remy just wants ta join de X-men. It seems dat not many trust him though." He threw a glare at Scott, who was in the corner of the room. Xavier smiled

"Well, I believe you are fine, and trustworthy. You may join us and see Beast for where you'll be staying and any other arrangements. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another new mutant to take care of." Scott and Remy left, going two different ways. Remy gave Kitty a smile as Kichi glared at Scott who pointedly ignored her. They both entered the room along with Kurt. "I'm glad you have calmed down Kichi. I called your aunt and she is on her way here." Kichi smiled

"Really? Okay." Xavier's eyes shifted to Kitty.

"I need to speak with you, Kitty." Kurt looked at them suspiciously before leaving with Kichi. "I have not had a chance to inquire what book you are reading."

"Modern Judaism." Kitty replied quickly, scuffing her toes.

"Alright, I will not say anything else, except that you'd better read it, along with any other selections you may be reading." Kitty nodded with a slightly read face before hurrying out. She phased into her room and it wasn't long before there was a quiet knock. The girl stood and walked to the door, opening it quickly. Kurt stood there, looking at her sheepishly.

"Kichi's aunt is here and I'm not velcomed, it's a 'family thing' as the Professor said. Vant to go…somewhere…like the park or something?" Kitty hesitated before nodding

"Okay, but let me grab a sweater, it's still kinda chilly. I'll be out in a minute." Kitty went over to her drawer and pulled out a dark green sweater, slipping it on. She paused at the mirror above the dresser and smoothed her hair. Suddenly she stepped back, dropping her hand to her sides.

"What am I doing? I don't care what I look like in front of Kurt…do I?" She shook her head and rushed back to the door, opening it and stepping out into the hall with Kurt. "Okay, ready!" Kurt smiled at her.

"You vant to valk there, or should ve just teleport?"

"Bamf all the way!" giggled Kitty. Kurt grinned and Kitty grabbed his arm, as there was a loud bamf sound, then they were in the park. It wasn't very full at this time of night, as Kurt and Kitty discovered upon walking around a bit. "So…are we allowed to be out this late?"

"I got permission from the Professor."

"Great…I just don't want to get in more trouble…" Kurt glanced at her

"More trouble?"

"Uh…" Kitty frowned, looking away "Well…I'm not technically in trouble, but it could be held against me. Just a book the Professor found out about."

"Oh?" Kurt smirked "Is it a naughty book Keety?" She turned beet red, shoving Kurt.

"No! It's just I'm reading two books at once that I got for that thing the Professor's making us do." Kurt nodded.

"Okay Keety, sure."

"Shut up." She suddenly started running "Race you!" Kurt hurried to catch up, but Kitty still beat him to the large fountain that was the centerpiece.

"No fair Keety, you got a head start." She smiled.

"I still would have won."

"Yeah right!" She sat down and he sat next to her. She leaned back on her hands, looking up at the stars.

"I don't think I've been outside this late in awhile…"

"It is pretty…" Kurt said, looking up too. Kitty nodded, sighing quietly. Kurt glanced over at her profile and smiled to himself, then glanced around. "Oh no…" Kitty looked down with worried eyes.

"What is it Kurt?" She followed his eyes and saw Lance, Pietro, and Toad walking/hopping around, destroying the park. They were spray painting things (Lance), scaring what few people were left (Pietro), and leaving garbage all over the place (Toad). Kurt groaned as Kitty stood, hands on hips.

"Lance Alvers! What do you think you're doing!" Lance spun around from the wall he was painting and stared wide-eyed at Kitty. Pietro smirked at her as Toad watched calmly, frowning at Kurt occasionally.

"Kitty! Why are you here?" His gaze hovered on Kurt for a minute, turning icy.

"Yeah, Kitty-cat, isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Why are you spray-painting the wall of the bathrooms?" asked Kitty, glaring at all three of them "And littering is wrong!" Toad shrugged as Pietro snickered. Kurt sighed unhappily and stood up behind Kitty.

"Keety? You…just vant to go back to the Mansion?" Kitty glanced back at him, and then looked at Lance. There seemed to be some sort of question in her eyes. Kurt didn't understand it, but Lance did.

"I'll call you, okay?" He said and she nodded, turning around and giving Kurt a smile

"Okay! Let's go!" She took his hand and they teleported back to the Mansion, in her room. Kurt immediately tilted his head, asking Kitty

"Vhy is Lance going to call you?" Kitty sighed heavily before responding.

"Well, I saw him this afternoon, after we got Kichi and…some stuff was said that I shouldn't have…mostly about Lance's personal preference of women…and he…" She glanced at Kurt, her eyes turning teary "He still showed he cared…I was a jerk and he was nice. It's quite the change, don't you think?" She sat down on her bed and wiped her face of tears. Kurt sat next to her, frowning.

"Lance vill never be nicer than you. Vhich of you are on the good side?" Kitty smiled slightly

"Kurt, you can always cheer me up." He grinned and stood.

"That's good, because now, I think I have to go get a midnight snack. Good thing tomorrow's Sunday." He disappeared and Kitty curled up on her bed, drifting off.