Chapter Four: Beer and Seduction, like Drugs and Dancing

Kitty woke up to sunlight streaming into her and on her face.

"Grr…" She groaned, sitting up "What time is it?" She glanced at her alarm clock. The red numbers read 9:02. "Crap! I meant to get up earlier." She jumped out of bed and grabbed some clothes, dashing into the shower. About a half hour later, she was in the hallway on her way downstairs for breakfast, perky as usual. She almost bumped into someone in the hallway. The girl turned angrily, black hair flying.

"Watch it! Oh…hey, it's you. What's your name again?" Kitty smiled

"Good Morning, Kichi. I don't think I ever said my name. It's Kitty though. On your way down for breakfast?" Kichi nodded and they headed down together, talking cheerfully. Once they reached the kitchen, Kichi glanced around.

"So what sort of food you guys have here?" Kitty shrugged in return

"Pretty much anything and you can pretty much eat anything on the weekends."

"Where is everyone?"

"Well, the early birds are probably at church, or something. And everyone else hasn't gotten up yet." Kichi tilted her head.

"Are you an early bird?"

"If you're implying I go to church, no. But I like to beat the rush."

"When is the rush?" For the first time, Kitty realized that Kichi spoke with an accent. It was very faint, but there.

"At ten…where are you from?"

"I've lived in Bayville with my aunt for awhile…" Kichi's eyes showed that she knew what Kitty meant. "But I came here from Japan when I was about nine or ten."

"Cool! Why?" Kitty realized her mistake when Kichi started to look very sad.

"My parents died…my aunt was my only other relative. She took me in. We are very close." Kitty nodded and ate her apple in silence. She didn't want to pry.

"So have long have you lived here?"

"In Bayville? Probably about…a year. I moved here from Illinois. I moved here because…of my..." Kitty paused, taking another bite of her apple. "My parents thought it would be best. The Professor invited me."

"Your parents…want you to be here?"

"Oh yeah, they think it's good. And I like it here."

"What about…your power?" Well, Kichi seemed to be very blunt.

"I…can basically walk through walls. I can phase myself through anything. My codename's Shadowcat."

"Really? My aunt explained that I don't have memory lapses…like she used as an excuse for me getting things done quickly on the computer and stuff. She used to be a nurse, so she had her 'connections' get me an excuse for school and stuff. Professor Xavier said that it seems that my power is to tap into any sort of electrical machine and pretty much make it do what I want. I've been doing it subconsciously lately, but he said I can harness it and make the machines and stuff do what I want."

"That's cool! We'll have to think of a codename for you…hmmm…maybe…Tappy!" They both laughed as Kurt walked in groggily.

"Vhat are you two doing?" He said, very sleepily.

"Talking about what my codename should be. What's yours Kurt?" asked Kichi.

"Nightcrawler." He muttered, before sticking his head into the fridge.

"It's really hard to talk to Kurt before he's eaten anything." Kitty elaborated.

"Ah."

"So…Tappy, what do you want to do today?" They giggled a bit before Kichi replied.

"Just call me Ki, I prefer it to Tappy. No offense. Well, I don't have to work on Sundays…so…whatever you want to do." Kurt sat down with cereal, fruit, toast, and a tall glass of milk.

"Vell, I think that ve should…go bother the Brotherhood, you know, something productive."

"Kurt!"

"The Brotherhood? Who are they?" Suddenly the phone rang and Kurt dived for it.

"I'll get it!" He picked it up, sticking his tongue out at Kitty "Hello?" There was a pause as Kurt frowned. "It's kind of early, don't you think?" Another pause. "I suppose she does get up early. Vhat if I say she's…not here?" Pause. "Oh, is that a threat Lancey-boy?" Kitty jumped up and dashed over to Kurt.

"Gimme, gimme, gimme!" She yelled as Kurt sighed.

"Vell, here she is…" Kitty took the phone as Kurt started to explain the Brotherhood to Kichi, no doubt starting with Lance. Kitty hurried out of the room with the cordless phone, looking for a more private area. The living room was deserted so she settled down on one of the chairs.

"Hi Lance…" she said quietly.

"Hey Kitty. How's it going?"

"I'm alright…I'm sorry." She murmured as she waited silently for the reply

"I know Kitty. I'm sorry too. I'm not interested in the new mutant, she's yours. Hell, I didn't even know she was a girl until you said so."

"I know that now."

"You want to go somewhere today?"

"Are you asking me out on a date, Lance Alvers?" She smiled, hoping he could tell.

"Yeah. Can we…try again?" She paused a moment before replying "Please Kitten?"

"Okay, yes. Where are we going?"

"Uh well, the date was kinda spur of the moment so…I dunno."

"How about you pick me up in a half hour and we can decide on the way."

"Yeah, that works. See ya in a bit." She clicked off the phone feeling happy again and went back into the kitchen to hang it up.

"So, vell, that's pretty much the 'bad guys' and stuff."

"Thanks Kurt." She smiled at Kitty as she entered "Hey, Kurt was just telling me about your guy's enemies. Isn't Lance one of them?" She questioned mischievously. Kitty glared at Kurt before replying.

"Not all who are good seem good. Some are wearing bad boy masks."

"And Keety just goes for the bad boys." Not the fuzzy ones

"Yes, well, speaking of which, you two are going to have to make your own plans for today. I am going out."

"Vith Lance?"

"Yes with Lance, if you must know. He asked me out." Kurt groaned and shook his head.

"You know this isn't going to turn out vell, Kätzchen."

"We'll have to see about that, won't we?" She said huffing, and turned on her heel, stalking out. Kichi smiled.

"Something tells me this is a routine she goes through."

"Yeah, usually vith Scott though, not me. But…Lance is bad…I don't trust him."

"So…you and Kitty…aren't together?" Kichi asked, surprising Kurt.

"Vhat? No, she's only interested in Lance, I'm sure."

"Hm. But you're very good friends?"

"Yes. Vhy?"

"Just wondering." She replied, grinning. "See ya!" She jumped up and dashed off after putting her cereal bowl in the sink. Kurt pondered over his toast.

"That girl is very strange…"

Kitty got into Lance's jeep gingerly and smiled brightly at him.

"Hi!"

"Hey…so where to?"

"Dunno, surprise me." He shrugged and started driving towards a suburban area.

"Well, this guy I know is having a party."

"On a Sunday?"

"Yeah, I know, but I figured we could just swing by and see if you like it. There's music if you want to dance." She shrugged.

"Okay, we can try it." He pulled up behind a small black convertible and turned off the jeep, hopping out.

"Come on, we're here." Kitty looked up at the house, it was quite large. Not as large as the Mansion, but the people who lived here were very well off. She entered the house slowly and hesitantly behind Lance. He saw some guy he knew and immediately disappeared, saying he'd be right back. Kitty stood near the dance area, looking very uncomfortable and out of place. A guy she vaguely recognized from school wandered over to her, holding a plastic cup.

"Hey, I don't think I've seen you around before. Who are you here with?"

"Lance…" she mumbled, avoiding eye contact. The guy smiled.

"Hey cool, my name's Eric. You want a drink?" He offered her the cup and she took it slowly, as she was thirsty. All she had this morning was an apple. She took a sip and found the flavor strange, but not all that bad. "See, isn't that good?" She nodded slightly, smiling. He glanced towards the people dancing, and then back at Kitty "You want to dance?" She paused before nodding.

"Sure, that sounds great!" They moved onto the floor after Kitty took a gulp of her drink and set it down. They were dancing for awhile before Lance noticed. He frowned and headed towards the two, growling.

"Eric…" He grabbed Eric by the shoulder, pulling him away from Kitty and hissing in his ear "Get away, she's mine." Eric frowned before moving away. Kitty looked at Lance from under her eyelashes.

"What's wrong?" He glared at her.

"I leave you alone for two seconds and you hook yourself up with the druggie of the school."

"Hm?" she said, tilting her head. "Wanna dance?" It was so innocent and cute the way she said it and the look on her face that Lance just couldn't stay mad. And he couldn't resist.

"Yeah, sure." They danced for a little while; all fast songs and Kitty didn't get very close, though Lance was sure that she was taunting him with her eyes. Eventually though she moved off the floor, Lance following.

"I'm thirsty." She said, grabbing her drink of the table and taking a sip. The flavor had changed ever so slightly and the brown liquid seemed to be tinted sort of bluish. Lance frowned slightly.

"Where did you get that?" She grinned at him

"From a little fairy. Where do you want to go now?"

"I dunno…you wanna leave?" His tone was slightly prodding, he wanted to leave. He prided himself in his ability to sense that something was wrong and at the moment, he was sensing that something was seriously wrong. Probably that Eric ass did something and Lance wanted to get Kitty out of here before something worse happened.

"No. Lets stay, I like it here." He sighed. He really didn't want to force her but… "Come on Lance, dance with me, please?" Her eyes were half open in that sexy way that Lance couldn't refuse.

"Okay, last time." They went back out onto the dance floor and Kitty started really dancing. She was just letting the music pound through her as she moved closer and closer to Lance. He was starting to get uncomfortable as she danced pretty much right against him. Suddenly purple eyes spotted the couple and made their way over.

"Kitty?" The girl known as Shadowcat looked up to see Kichi looking at her. "I didn't know that you'd be here." Lance thought the girl looked sort of familiar, he'd seen her in the hallways of school.

"Who are you?"

"Are you Lance?" Kichi asked, smiling at him.

"Yes…and you are?"

"My name's Kichi Yumagu."

"I think you're in one of my classes…"

"Yeah, English. What's with Kitty?" Kitty was still dancing, but gazing into space with that zoned out look, she obviously wasn't all there.

"I don't know. I caught her with Eric earlier."

"Vith Eric? As in Eric Hawser? Druggie?" said a voice as Kurt appeared. "I knew Keety being vith you vouldn't be good."

"You brought fuzzy here?" Lance looked at Kurt, then at Kitty. She had stopped dancing and was smiling stupidly at Lance.

"I think she's on drugs!" cried Kurt, moving closer to Kitty. "Keety, did Eric give you anything?" Kitty hesitated before responding.

"He gave me a drink…I think it was coke…or something. It's on the table over there." Kichi and Kurt went over to investigate while Lance gazed down at Kitty.

"I'm sorry Kitten…" She stared back up at him confusedly.

"Sorry for what?" She grinned and deliberately licked her lips, slowly. Lance gulped slightly. "Lance? Can we go now?" He sighed.

"Sure Kitty. Come on." He headed towards the door when Kurt and Kichi cut him off.

"There's definitely something like ecstasy in this drink." (Anyone know or remember Stacy from the comics?)

"Vhich, by the vay, has got to be beer!" Lance shrugged.

"I thought Kitty would know better." He blinked "And how would you know what the drug was Yumagu?" Kichi looked down.

"I've…had some experience…trust me." She turned and starting walking away "I'll be right back; I'm going to pour this out." She disappeared into the kitchen.

"Eric can be very conniving…you better give Keety to me."

"No way, come on, it wasn't my fault. You have fun with Yumagu over there; she seems to really like you." And with that, Lance went out the door, Kitty in tow. Kurt glanced back at Kichi who had emerged from the kitchen and was smiling at him. He shrugged and walked over Vhat could go vorse vith Lance?

When they got in the jeep, Kitty leaned on Lance's shoulder, snuggling against him slightly.

"I really like you Lance." She muttered into his shoulder. He looked at her.

"That's just the beer talking."

"Can we go back to your place?"

"And that would be the drugs talking. I guess I have to take you back to the Mansion."

"I don't want to go back." She whispered, starting to fall asleep. "I don't feel good…"

"I'm sure…" said Lance as he drove towards Xavier's Institute.

After Kitty had been put to bed, Lance prepared himself for the yelling. Scott looked about ready to kill him. But the Professor just looked coolly at Lance, and then smiled.

"You handled yourself very well today Lance." He blinked in surprised, as did Scott.

"I did?"

"He did?"

"Yes, it wasn't your fault about Kitty. Although…you shouldn't have taken her to a party, from which Kurt and Kichi should be returning from shortly. But you acted responsibly, and for that I am grateful. Thank you." Lance nodded awkwardly before leaving. Remy was waiting for him at the gate.

"Remy heard you got praised by the Professor. Good job."

"Yeah well…I was hoping to spend more time with Kitty, and I didn't want her to get drugged or anything. Hey, what are you doing here Remy?"

"Remy joined the X-men."

"Let me guess. Rogue." Remy made a slight face before allowing himself to smile.

"You're probably right. Remy would do anything for mon cherie." Lance chuckled slightly.

"We're all controlled by girls, huh?" Then he left as Remy nodded.

"True, very true."

Kurt and Kichi had returned and Kurt went upstairs to see how Kitty was doing while Kichi got something to eat. He opened the door slowly and crept in. Kitty watched him with her blue eyes shinning.

"So you're avake…how are you doing?" She sat up and tossed the covers off.

"I'm better…thanks for…you know..."

"Sure thing, vhat are friends for?" She patted the spot next to her and he sat.

"Kurt, I…should listen to you more often." He gave her a bright grin.

"Finally! You should start vith staying avay from Lance." She shook her head and suddenly scooted closer, leaning her head on his shoulder. He glanced at her "Keety?" She gazed up at him with bright eyes.

"Yes?"

"I…"

"Shhh…" She sat up and leaned closer, gently kissing him. Kurt's eyes shot open as the door opened too. Kichi stood in the doorway, seeing them and her eyes widened as she dropped the tray of fruit she had. Kurt's eyes had been starting to close when they opened again at the sound of the tray. He pulled back and turned in time to see Kichi run off, lights flickering after her.

"Oh no…" Kitty stared at him through half lidded eyes.

"Hm?" He jumped up and ran after her. Kitty watched him go as she sighed. "Things just never work out for me…" Then she stood and followed after him. The book under her pillow pulsed red, brighter this time.

Kichi was running down the street, leaving a trail of broken lights and a couple faulty cars. She couldn't believe what happened. Kurt had said him and Kitty were just friends. She had said she liked him at the party, and they had started to dance, at least until the Professor interrupted. She really liked Kurt and didn't want Kitty Pryde to ruin her chances. She stopped when a jeep swerved to a stop beside her.

"Hey!" said the person, jumping out "What's wrong?" She recognized Lance from before and cheered up slightly. Here was someone else who would care.

"I was just at the Institute when-"

"You were at the Institute? Why?"

"I'm a mutant there."

"You're the new mutant?"

"Yes. Now listen, I was going up to see how Kitty was doing and guess what I saw?"

"Is she okay?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure she's fine. I saw her kissing Kurt." Lance's face turned white.

"What?" He whispered as Kichi secretly smiled. Here was someone who would definitely care.

"You heard me. They were kissing!" He took a step back.

"I don't believe you." Her eyes darkened as something exploded in his jeep "Ah! What the hell?" he rushed over, popping the hood. She moved over next to him.

"You better believe me or I'll break something else. It's my power." She stared at him levelly as he frowned.

"Your power is to break cars?"

"No! My power has to do with electrics."

"If you really broke it, then fix it." She concentrated and suddenly, the funny noises stopped.

"There. Now what should I do?"

"About what?"

"Kurt!" His eyes turned fiery.

"I don't know. It's not my problem." She frowned and turned sharply.

"Fine!" She yelled as something made a loud noise in Lance's jeep. She took off as Lance groaned loudly. While she was running, Kurt suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Kichi! Stop! Listen to me! I can explain." She stopped and glared.

"I will give you exactly one minute before I destroy that stupid watch on your wrist." Kurt glanced at his holographic watch and paled slightly, before saying in a rush,

"Keety is on alcohol and drugs. That's all I need to say." Kichi looked down in realization

"Oh yeah…" She sighed, "I think I broke Lance's car." Kurt grinned.

"Don't vorry about it; let's go back to the Mansion." She nodded and they bamfed back. They were in the main entrance hall when Kitty appeared.

"Kurt…I need to talk to you…about…earlier." She gave Kichi a pained look "I'm sorry." Kichi nodded.

"I understand, go ahead." Kurt glanced at Kichi one last time before going off with Kitty. Kichi started walking upstairs when she bumped into someone. She glanced up to see red eyes sparkling at her.