Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or X-Men Evolution. So sue me. No wait…don't.

The X Evolution

Chapter 4: Darkness

"Dammit." Lance growled, throwing himself down on the couch. He folded his hands behind his head and blew his bangs up, scowling. "Damn those stupid X-jerks…"

Toad hopped through the front door…which was barely hanging on as it was…and leapt up to rest on the steps as Blob sunk into the huge arm chair on the other side of their 'living room'. "Yeah." Groaned the green-skinned mutant. "I can't believe they whooped us again."

"So what?" Pietro whipped in, causing papers and everything not nailed down to go flying. "Sulking's not going to do nothin'. We gotta figure out a way to beat 'em."

"Espessially those new freaks." Blob mumbled, pulling out a huge bag of potato chips and gobbling them by humongous handfuls.

"Yeah. Those identical creeps." Lance growled, sitting up. "One way or another, we've gotta think of some way to…"

Something sharp and hot suddenly flashed past him, slicing off some of his long hair and leaving a deep gash in the tattered couch behind him. The Brotherhood was instantly on alert. "What the hell…?"

There was a soft flutter of wings from somewhere in the kitchen. "If that's the way you feel about the X-men, why don't do something?" A female voice echoed from the same direction, low, deep and haunting.

The boys spun around as a blue-skinned female mutant, several years older than any of them, stepped out of the kitchen. She wore a simple-but-elegant white outfit, her straight red hair a stark contrast to blue scaled skin and glowing yellow eyes. Long, manicured, red nails spread out from her finger tips, more like claws than anything else.

"Mystique!" Toad shrieked, and tumbled head-over-heels down the stairs.

"Indeed." The blue-skinned mutant came forward, glancing around her with a sniff. "I see you've serious neglected on your housekeeping, boys."

Lance growled softly, but didn't say anything. After all, Mystique was the one paying their rent, after all. The house was technically hers. But the strings that went with the deal were often nothing more than a pain in the neck…

"So what do you want?" Pietro asked, bristling all over. "You got another job for us?"

"Auw, do we hafta?" Blob groaned, licking his fingers to get the salt off the ends.

"If you want to keep trashing my home, you do." Mystique growled harshly, and Blob recoiled a bit. The female mutant made her way between each boy in a very coy manner. "And yes, I do have an…assignment, for you. But don't worry. I'm sure you'll find it…enjoyable."

( - ) ( - ) ( - )

Kouichi sat, his legs folded underneath him, on a pillow in the Institute's glass covered roof-porch. The sun was setting to his left, but his eyes were focused on the dark-skinned woman sitting cross-legged in front of him.

Storm smiled softly. "There's no reason to be tense." Her gentle voice slid around him warmly. "I just want to give you a little time alone…to work on your own abilities, without any distractions."

Kouichi nodded softly in understanding. Storm smiled a bit wider and continued. "All right, then…Close your eyes and focus on your energy."

Navy blue eyes slid closed, and his breathing soon softened to the slow, steady rhythm of mediation. Storm had to allow herself a grin…he must have been used to this, no doubt from one of the martial arts classes that were so popular in Japan.

"Good…" She let out her own breath, falling into a paced rhythm as well. She was used to meditation as well, having been taught by the leaders of the African village she'd lived in as a child. "Now…concentrate on the energy around you, surrounding you. The energy that corresponds with what you're feeling inside of you now. Try to pull it in."

Her sky blue eyes remained open to watch. The shadows, cast by the sunset, were starting to get larger…no…some of them were moving, snaking their way ever closer to the boy in front of her.

"That's it…" she smiled. "Now…I need you to hold your hands out, palms inward…keep you eyes closed. That's it. Now, focus your energy to the point between your palms…"

The shadows inched forward evermore as a small speck of black appeared in the air between his hands. Bit by tiny bit, some small 'sparks' drifted off the shadows to join it, until the ball of anti-light was roughly the size of a golf ball.

Storm's smile widened. "Very good, Kouichi!" she applauded softly. "Very, very good! Go ahead, open your eyes."

Kouichi's eyes fluttered open with the embarrassed smile of one flattered by the praise of a teacher. But the moment he got sight of the pulsating darkness within his grasp, his joyful expression changed instantly to one of…Ororo couldn't believe it, but it was true…pure terror. A strangled gasp fell from his lips as he snapped his hands to his chest and jumped back, the ball of darkness vanishing as though someone had flipped a switch.

Storm's senses, sharpened by several life-threatening battles and rigorous training during her many years as an X-man, suddenly flew into high alert, but she sedated them with the realization that there was no actual danger. However, the boy was no comforted, backed away and staring in horror at the spot the darkness had been, as though expecting something to appear and attack.

Ororo sighed, calming herself, and stood, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right." she sighed. "…Go on down for dinner. I'll clean up in here."

( - ) ( - ) ( - )

"Kouichi, one moment please."

The twins turned back, slightly surprised at being addressed. It was the Professor who had spoken, being pushed towards them by Scott, with Jean hovering just nearby.

"Yes, Professor?" Kouichi responded softly, giving a slight bow to the older man.

"I'd like to speak with you a moment…" The man glanced at Kouji's tense expression and chuckled slightly. "Yes, Kouji, you can come as well. It might be…for the best."

The two teachers lead them to the Professor's office, just down the hall. It was a nice large room with a wide window shining bright sunlight throughout, illuminating a desk and several chairs, which the twins were directed to sit in. The Professor then took over his own controls, maneuvering his wheelchair to face the older of the boys.

"Kouichi." he sighed. "We've been rather concerned with your…development here. It's true that your power is unique and you have great potential with it, yet you continue to hold yourself back."

Kouichi shifted, staring at the floor. "I'm…sorry."

"There's no reason to be sorry." the Professor moved closer. "We are simply concerned as to why you are holding yourself back so very much. We…that is to say, some of your teachers…had a hunch that it might have something to do with something in your past…"

Kouichi frowned a little and bit his lip. Kouji glared slightly, but Professor X didn't notice.

"With your…permission." He sighed, placing his fingertips against the sides of Kouichi's head. "I'd like to see for myself."

Kouichi blinked, but nodded. The Professor smiled at him warmly. "Just relax." He soothed, closing his eyes. "I'm not going to hurt you…"

He was sitting in his brother's bedroom, the busy nighttime lights of Tokyo blazing outside the window. He watched in amazement as the other boy tossed a ball of light skillfully from one hand to the other. "Wow, Kouji!" he gasped. "That's amazing!"

"Just gotta keep practicing." Kouji grinned in a way he only would when they were alone together, making the ball vanish. "Whenever Dad and Satome-san go out, I try it, and it gets bigger every time."

A low ringing noise floated up from the hall. His brother sighed, pushing to his feet. "Phone. I'll be right back."

He disappeared out the door, leaving his brother to his thoughts. He lifted his hand into the light of the lamp, creating a shadow, and curved that shadow up to run along the wall.

A thought suddenly struck him…Maybe he could try.

He smiled secretly to himself, bringing his hands in front of him the way he'd seen Kouji do. He focused intently, sharpening his eyes to the point directly between his hands as the small 'blob' of darkness appeared, grew and shaped itself, forming a tiny ball about the size of a marble.

His smiled broadened, heart thumping in excitement…wait until Kouji saw this!…as the ball grew slowly larger, and larger, even bigger than Kouji's had been.

It was now the size of a softball…and it WASN'T STOPPING!

He gasped and tried to retract his power, but it wouldn't listen, growing still bigger. His hands shook, but he was afraid to drop it, not knowing what a ball of solid darkness would do. Terrified, it grew to the size of a soccer ball before he even thought of calling for help…The pressure increased, higher and higher, tentacles of darkness spiraling around him…He screamed…

The Professor was suddenly yanked forcibly from the memory with a physical shock. Kouji, seeing his brother's face contorted with fear, had raced forward and yanked the man's hands away, glaring poison daggers.

"Professor!" Jean exclaimed, racing over.

"Are you all right?" Scott gasped, on her heels, before glaring at Kouji. "What do you think you were doing?"

Kouji met his glare without even blinking, gripping his rather confused brother's hand protectively.

"It's all right." Xavier sighed, rubbing his temples to relieve his headache. "No one has been hurt…today."

He turned his wheelchair back slightly to look at the boys tiredly. "I…apologize. You may go."

Kouji stood first, pulling Kouichi up by the arm and leading the slightly older twin out the door. Scott continued to glare at him behind his shades as they left the room.

Jean, on the other hand, turned her attention back to Xavier. "Professor, what is it?" she asked gently. "What happened?"

Xavier sighed again, closing his eyes. For a moment there was silence, then he finally spoke. "The boys have had their powers for…almost three months, before we found them." He whispered. "However, what our records did not show was that, about one month into that time…Kouichi lost control…"

Scott frowned slightly. "Lost control?"

The Professor shook his head as though trying to get water out of his ears. "They were…practicing." He sighed. "And somehow, his powers got terribly….terribly out of hand."

"What happened?" Jean asked breathlessly.

"I…I don't know." Xavier sighed. "But it's something that…terrifies him, even now…"

( - ) ( - ) ( - )

"Nii-san?" Kouji whispered, sitting on his brother's bed. Kouichi had curled himself up against the headboard, pulling his knees in close and burying his eyes in them. "Nii-san? Are all right?"

Shyly, cautiously, his brother's eyes turned towards him with a small, fake smile. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"No you're not." Kouji said bluntly, frowning as he pulled himself closer to his brother so that they were touching. Kouichi winced slightly and pulled away just a bit… his average reaction when he was feeling guilty. "It's that thing Xavier did to you, isn't it? That's what's wrong. He caused it."

"No…Kouji, it's not the Professor's fault." Kouichi turned his head slightly to look at him sadly. "It's…mine."

Kouji's frown deepened. "What're you talking about now?"

His brother looked at him guiltily a moment, then uncurled one of his hands and traced his fingers along a thin, pale, recently-healed scar that ran under Kouji's right eye. Almost instantly, Kouji's hand snapped up to grab his brother by the wrist, locking eyes with a serious glare.

"That. Wasn't. Your fault." He spelled out, slowly and seriously, gripping his brother's arm tightly. "You didn't to anything. It wasn't you. It's not your fault, and it never was."

Kouichi winced, and for a moment Kouji felt guilty about his harsh tone. But before either of them could react or apologize further, the light suddenly started flashing red, accompanied by incessant, repetitive alarms. The Professor's voice sudden echoed through the minds of every person on the grounds at once.

"X-Men! Report to the Danger Room Immediately! This is not a drill!"

"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice shouted, pounding the door just before Takuya burst in. "You heard the Professor! Let's get going!"

"Okay, okay!" Kouji growled, jumping off the bed and helping Kouichi up by the hand. Takuya and Bobby raced down the hall ahead of them, Kurt BAMPH' ing along the moment he was outside his door, while Kitty phased through walls along the way.

Kouichi gave his brother's hand a worried squeeze. Kouji glanced back at him and paused a moment, putting a hand on his shoulder. There was a moment of wordless conversation between them, then they hurried off to find out what the Professor wanted.

TBC…

Heh heh. Sorry that it's a bit shorter than the others, but I needed to set it up like that to make the next chapter run smoother. And for all you people guessing that this story may be longer…well, you're half right. I'll tell you next chapter. Laterz.

Gemini Star