*trumpets blare, the curtain draws back. KS steps out timidly, waving,
stepping over various piles of knives, rotten tomatoes, shotgun casings,
shuriken, mutilated plushies, poisoned cyber-cookies, etc.*
Er, hi. I'm back, and I'm really glad that you haven't killed me for my long hiatus . . . *glances around nervously* . . . yet.
I am SO sorry that this took so long. Writing this chapter was like pulling teeth. It was one of those lovely 'mountain' chapters that you have to get over before you can get writing on the other chapters that you already have planned out and so will be very easy and fun to write. ^_^;
Look on the bright side; I'll be updating more now, and there'll be more action, too!
GOOD NEWS: I have my first piece of FANART up! It's on mediaminer.org, and it's a picture of Kurama in his fox-form. I think it's uber, and I'd really like it if you could go see it and review! It's at:
http : // www . mediaminer . org / fanart / view . php ? id = 155060 & submit = View
You know the drill: copy, paste, remove the spaces, and hit enter.
Thanks in advance! ^_^
And also, if anyone wants to draw fanart of this, let me know where it's posted. I'll put a special mention in my story, and moreover, I'd love you forever!
Also, be certain to read the survey at the bottom of the page. Thanks again!
- : - : - : - : - : -
BIG TIP: If you know for a fact that I've posted a new chapter but the site continually tells you that it doesn't exist, make certain that you are at the URL of where the chapter SHOULD be and type ONE PERIOD at the end of the address and hit enter. It should take you to the page. This trick also works well on those 'site experiencing overload' pages, but sometimes it won't go through.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Disclaimer: I own neither X-men nor Yu Yu Hakusho. I don't know WHO owns them, but it certainly isn't ME.
- : - : - : - : - : -
IMPORTANT NOTE:
"blah." means that the words are in English (unless the section is told from a Japanese-speaker's point of view with only Japanese people talking -- I.e. Kurama, Yuusuke, Hiei, Logan, Genkai, etc.)
~"blah."~ means that the words are in Japanese.
="blah."= indicates words spoken in a Makai dialect.
~:blah.:~ telepathic speech.
- : - : - : - : - : -
A/N: This will not be a blatantly yaoi or shounen-ai story. In fact, there will be NO romance WHATSOEVER. There will be brother-brother relationships between Yuusuke, Kurama and Hiei, but I suppose that some of you out there could interpret their actions as 'love' if you wanted. It's your call, however you want to view it.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Grade levels go something like this:
Scott: senior
Jean: senior (See? See? I changed it. Happy?)
Lance: junior
Fred: junior
Rogue: sophomore
Kurt: sophomore
Pietro: sophomore
Kitty: freshman
Evan: freshman
Todd: freshman
(Wanda doesn't technically go to school.)
Kurama: junior
Yuusuke: junior
Hiei: junior
- : - : - Chapter Thirteen: Who Says That School's Boring? - : - : -
Hank McCoy stared at the video screen with a mixture of confusion and astonishment upon his blue-furred face. "What in the world is THAT?"
He and Charles had endured one devil of a time attempting to track down footage of Kitty's 'dog-thing'; they had started around seven forty-five in the morning and now it was nearing ten. Luckily, their search was not fruitless. They HAD managed to find something of interest.
The footage that now occupied the screen was a twenty-two-point-four second clip taken from one of the forest cameras, playing on a continuous loop.
It began with a view of one of the larger clearings that resided in the thick woods on the mansion grounds. Moonlight filtered through a gap in the leafy canopy overhead, highlighting the tall grass within the clearing. The view was framed by tree trunks and leafy branches, giving the feeling that one was actually crouched amidst the greenery.
An invisible breeze passed through the tangled web of plants, stirring leaves into a silent dance, and one branch dipped down over the lens of the camera, obscuring the clearing from sight.
Less than a second later, the branch lifted, and a shining creature stood alone at the heart of the glade, practically glowing beneath the touch of the moonlight.
At first glance, it could have been mistaken as a slender dog, but when one took into account the unnaturally slim muzzle and legs and the triangular ears, it was obvious that the creature was a fox.
A white fox.
With five tails.
It stood poised for a short moment, the fur along its back highlighted and that along its underbelly gray with shadows, the multiple tails swaying behind it as though each was possessed of its own mind.
The creature turned suddenly, gracefully, and a pair of disconcerting, golden eyes --slanted like those of a cat and outlined by a thin band of dark, almost black fur-- fixed themselves firmly upon the watching camera.
The fox's lips pulled away from its teeth in what might have been called a smirk, its canines glimmering ominously, and it appeared as though the odd beast was mocking whomever dared to spy upon it.
Once more, wind swept through the clearing, and the branch dipped down over the lens.
When it lifted once more, the creature was gone.
The video began to repeat itself once more, and Charles turned toward the blue-furred man beside him. "Have you ever seen such a thing before?"
"Never in my life." Hank's eyes narrowed as the footage showed the creature's mysterious entrance once more. "The main body is most assuredly that of a fox, even though it is bigger than a normal fox's body; this thing's shoulders could probably reach chest-height on some of the students . . . but FIVE tails? I've never heard of such a thing!"
Charles rubbed his forehead, feeling a slight twinge that heralded an oncoming headache. "Neither have I. A mutation, perhaps?"
Hank's confusion showed openly in his gaze as he faced the telepath. "Charles, simply put, I don't know. I've never encountered the likes of this before. The best I can say is to up security and see if it shows up again. I'll research it, of course, but---"
They were interrupted by a loud knock upon the door and a muffled call. "Hey, Chuck, you in there?"
Charles turned away from the monitor, leaving Hank to ponder the footage in silence. "Come in, Logan."
The door swung aside, admitting the dark-haired mutant, a scowl firmly set upon his face. "I told you they'd be trouble, Chuck."
"Who?" Charles frowned, puzzled. He refrained from reaching into the other man's mind for answers, as Logan greatly valued his mental privacy.
"The newcomers," growled Logan in response. "They're causing trouble already. Got a call from the school. Seems like Chibi's already managed to threaten one of the teachers, and none of the them've been seen in any classes since first period."
Charles glanced at the clock mounted upon one of the walls. "That's quite a while. What do you mean he --I can only assume that you mean Hiei-- 'threatened' a teacher? What did he do, exactly?"
Logan shrugged, still looking irritated. "Apparently, the lady tried to get him to take off that headband of his, and he didn't want none of it. Something about him grabbing her arm. Yuusuke and Shuichi took him out of the room before anything else could happen, and then they disappeared."
"I'll contact Scott and have him and the others keep an eye out." Charles sighed heavily. "I was worried that they would have problems adjusting, but I thought they would at least wait until the third or fourth day before they started . . . rebelling."
Logan's scowl deepened. "Frankly, Chuck, I don't think that Chibi OR the other two give a flying f---" He caught sight of Charle's disapproving look and revised what he had been about to say. "---flip . . . about who's supposed to be in charge."
Charles sighed softly. "You heard Hiei say that he's an orphan. And from what you've told me, Yuusuke's home life is far from ideal. They most likely aren't accustomed to someone giving them orders. We'll just have to do our best to help them adjust. Shuichi will probably be a good, steadying influence on the pair of them; he seems to be a nice enough young man."
Logan snorted. "Chuck, I know what you think about following my instincts without solid proof to back 'em up, but out of all three of 'em, THAT one smells the most . . . off . . . and the other two don't exactly reek of daisies, you know."
"How so?"
"I---" Logan broke off, frowning. "Chuck, just trust me on this. They're gonna' be trouble."
Charles smiled wryly. "From what you've told me, they're ALREADY 'trouble.' . . . Don't let it worry you so much, Logan. I'll be certain that something is done. For the moment, come tell me what you think of this." He turned back toward the video screen, hearing the other mutant follow close behind.
Logan peered over the professor's shoulder, and a sharp, startled intake of air hissed between his teeth.
"kitsune . . . !"
"What?" Charles tilted his head slightly to see the intense look upon Logan's face. "You know what it is?"
Logan ignored the question. "Where did you get this from?"
"The outside cameras, out in the forest."
"You're telling' me that you actually saw a kitsune ON INSTITUTE GROUNDS?"
Hank frowned. "Logan, please, we don't even know what this 'keet-soo-nay' thing IS. Would you care to explain?"
Logan's eyes narrowed in thought as he considered his words. "A kitsune . . . It's from Japanese mythology. In English, I guess you'd say . . . 'spirit fox.' "
Hank had snatched up a nearby sheet of paper and pen and now was scribbling notes furiously.
Logan ignored him and went on. "I don't know much. In the stories I've heard, they're cunning and mischievous, and renowned for their skills as thieves. They can have up to nine tails; the more powerful or the older they are, the more tails they grow."
"And this . . . kitsune . . . has five." Charles looked thoughtful.
Logan scowled at the professor. "Chuck, they're myths. There's no such thing."
"Logan, we have this on video tape. Even if it ISN'T a 'kitsune,' you're knowledge is the first lead we have. We might as well follow it."
The burly mutant growled, but then his eyes narrowed dangerously.
Charles noticed the change. "Logan?"
"Chuck, don't you think it's odd . . . We bring in three new students from JAPAN, and suddenly you find footage of something from JAPANESE mythology . . . Bit big for a coincidence, don't y'think?"
Charles Xavier allowed a small smile to cross his features. "I don't believe in coincidence at all, Logan. I thought you knew that."
- : - : - : - : - : -
~:Scott?:~
Scott sat up straighter in his desk, pulled out of the half-doze he had fallen into during his literature teacher's lecture.
~:Professor?:~
~:I want you to keep an eye out on Hiei, Yuusuke, and Shuichi, if you would. It seems that they had a bit of a disagreement with a teacher earlier.:~
Scott frowned. ~:'Disagreement'?:~
~:Don't worry yourself about the details. Just be certain that they don't get too out of line. You share some classes with them, don't you?:~
The frown deepened. ~:Yes, sir. Jean told me their schedules. We have the same lunch, and Kurt, Jean and I have gym with them. Kurt and Kitty probably have more classes with them than I do, though.:~
~:I'll speak with the two of them next, then. Thank you for your help.:~
~:Anytime.:~
~:And pay attention more. Your teacher has been calling on you for quite some time, and she sounds annoyed.:~
~:What!?:~
"---Mr. Summers, since you have been paying SUCH close attention, please look in your book and tell us the various examples of metaphorical speech in line eighty of the selection, if you would be SO kind."
- : - : - : - : - : -
Kurama wasn't certain whether he was amused or annoyed.
At the moment, he was walking at the head of a rather odd cavalcade. Hiei strode silently beside the kitsune-turned-human, his customary glower firmly in place, and Yuusuke ambled along somewhere behind and to the left.
And behind Yuusuke, the odd, silver-haired young man and his two companions --all of them mutants; he could tell by their scents and by what little aura he could pick up from them-- could be seen following.
Yuusuke and the fair-haired boy --Pietro-- hadn't ceased their exchanges of insults since they had first seen one another.
" . . . how do you get your bangs to do that, anyway, Pete? Industrial strength super-glue?"
"It's 'Pietro,' thanks. And who are you to talk about hairstyles? I'll bet there's enough gel on YOUR head to qualify as a Nascar crash helmet. Is that how you win fights? Head butting people?"
Kurama heard Hiei snicker faintly . . . too faintly to be heard by human ears.
"And I'll bet that you win your fights by talking people to death. Yak yak. Aren't you worried that your tongue's gonna' just fall off one day?"
"I can hear your brain cells screaming in agony. All those chemicals on your head are killing 'em off. There's got to be a law or something about walking environmental hazards."
"Hey, if I'm so horrible to be around, why are you following me like a little lost puppy?"
"Please. I was bored. Three oddballs like you ought to be able to provide a LITTLE entertainment."
Kurama sighed and glanced over his shoulder. Yuusuke was grinning, and Pietro was smirking.
Wonderful. This was their version of entertainment.
For a moment, Kurama's eyes met with those of the broad-shouldered boy with the long hair. A second of mutual annoyance at their comrades' shenanigans passed between them, and the boy shrugged his shoulders as though to say 'It could be worse.'
Kurama nodded once in understanding before turning his gaze back toward the hallway they were traversing.
"Oy, Shuichi."
Another small sigh. "Yes, Yuusuke?"
"Where're you leading us to? Not back to class, I hope."
"As if you would go back without me dragging you there." Kurama sent another glance back over his shoulder. "I'm going to find a locker to use. I don't see any point in the three of us carrying all these---" He hefted the sheaf of papers --made up of schedules, worksheets from their first classes, makeup work, and other documents-- which he held pinned beneath his arm. "---around all day."
Yuusuke grimaced. "You want to buy a locker? The old lady in the office said they cost three bucks to rent or something."
"Three-fifty, actually," interjected the broad-shouldered boy walking beside Pietro.
Kurama allowed himself a deep-throated chuckle. "Who said anything about paying?"
- : - : - : - : - : -
Pietro was intrigued.
One of the advantages of living as 'fast' as he did was being able to ponder new developments at length.
These latest three 'developments' were requiring quite a bit of pondering.
The first of the three could easily be mistaken for a female unless one paid close attention to his mannerisms: how he walked, the way that he watched things around him, the way he spoke --his voice was a very big giveaway as to his sex. Seriously, though, he had to be pretty confident in his masculinity to walk around with hair THAT red and THAT long.
Lance had long hair and managed to look 'guy-ish.' Pietro couldn't see why this new kid couldn't do the same.
The next boy in line looked like he couldn't be any older than twelve. His hair was spiky enough to pass for a black firecracker in mid-explosion. His eyes were red --something which had startled Pietro-- and it didn't look as though the color was caused by contacts.
Also, when the short boy spoke, it was with a voice far too deep to belong to a mere kid.
Another mystery.
Last of all . . .
Despite the apparent strangeness of the other two, Pietro had found himself liking the third boy shortly after their so-called conversation had begun. Even though the raven-haired young man appeared to be nothing more than another tough that had found his way into the school, he was possessed of a sense of humor to match the quirkiness of Pietro's own, quick wits, and an even quicker mouth.
So . . . a pretty-boy, a kid-who-wasn't-a-kid, and a punk.
The day was getting more interesting by the second.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Kurama rapped lightly upon the door of his chosen target, listening closely for any muffled sound that would indicate that the locker in question had been claimed by another student. He had allowed his nose to lead him here; this locker was the only one nearby without the scent of human hands upon it . . . in other words, no one had touched it in a long while.
It was quite a credit to his youko senses that he could pick something so minute out of the myriad of other scents that filled the school.
Not that he was gloating or anything.
He tapped again at the metal surface, first near the top of the door, then the bottom, and at each side.
Empty.
He smiled.
He was aware of the gazes of Yuusuke, Hiei, and the three other boys resting heavily upon his back, but he didn't care one way or another.
He leaned down, placing his ear near the lock, and he slowly twirled the handle the three necessary turns to the right, waiting for it . . .
*click*
Back to the left . . . carefully . . .
Within twenty seconds of his discovery of the locker of his choice, the door was hanging open, and Kurama was stowing his stack of paperwork within. He took Yuusuke's and Hiei's papers from them and placed them inside as well, reflecting that he could always 'acquire' two more lockers should they need more room.
On the pretext of brushing one hand through his hair, Kurama extracted a small seed from near the base of his neck and turned back to the locker. Making certain that his body blocked the three other boys' view of what he was doing, he tucked the seed into the metal casing around the lock itself.
He shut the door and twirled the lock closed, surreptitiously sending a small flare of youki into the seed and prodding it into sending small tendrils throughout the mechanism, effectively jamming it.
He turned back toward the unlikely group of teenagers, tilting his head to one side. "Shall we go then?" he asked politely.
Pietro scoffed openly. "Big whoop. So you can break into a locker. So can every other guy in this place."
Kurama motioned the boy toward the locker, knowing that he was acting more like a youko and less like a human --most likely aftereffects of the previous night's transformation-- . . . and he didn't really care. "Feel free to try."
The pale boy scowled, but he strode up to the locker and placed his hand upon the knob, a determined look upon his face.
However, when a multitude of small, writhing, green vines launched themselves through the locker door's vent --encouraged into action by a little youki on the part of a certain kitsune-- and wrapped themselves tightly around his wrist, he yelped and . . . disappeared.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Pietro scraped the last of the clinging tendrils --torn away from their fellows by the speed of his 'departure'-- from his arm as he slowed to a stop beside Lance and Fred, both of whom now watched the other three boys with suspicion.
It was surprising that all three of the new students already had their eyes locked firmly upon Pietro before he even came to a halt.
"What the hell was THAT?" Pietro snapped, shaken more than he'd like to admit.
The redheaded boy looked toward the locker which still sported an interesting array of vines and leaves upon its front, and all of the greenery silently withdrew, disappearing back into the vent.
His heart still pounding, Pietro glared blackly at the longhaired young man . . . and also at the spiky haired kid, who was smirking openly at him.
"You're a mutant," he growled, narrowing his eyes at the redhead.
"Yes," agreed the other amicably, green eyes glinting. "As are my friends . . . and you and your friends as well."
- : - : - To Be Continued . . . - : - : -
: Mistress of Dragons : No, sorry. I won't bring Kuwabara in. I know for a fact that I WILL bash him, no matter how much I try not to, and I don't want to do that. Sorry. You WILL see him a little toward the end, though. I like your empathy idea, though. Maybe if I do a sequel . . . hmmm. Awesome! Two reviews from you, too! I'll think about your mutant name suggestions. I'm holding kind of a contest for suggestions (see bottom of page).
: Reikson : Whoo! Long one! Okay, here goes . . . I won't be bringing in Kuwabara during the main story (read the above response); I don't like mooching off of villains from the series to fill in my plot line; The Pheonix Force --interesting idea by the way-- would make things WAY too complicated (good idea for a sequel, though); yes, this IS set after the series; I will have Yuusuke use a technique that's sort of a pseudo Spirit- Bomb/Wave that you'll probably like; you can imagine Hiei as being taller if you want to but I'm not going to touch that one right now; no, Hiei hasn't told Yukina yet; and I probably won't bring in the Acolytes since I don't know their characters well. *wipes sweat off her forehead* I think I got it all. Any more questions?
: O Demented ONe : Seriously, hon, get LOTS of sleep. Want some Paxil?
: Gemini Star 1 : Remember, Kurama is a kitsune/youko at heart. What does he care about school? Personally, I think he only goes to keep his mom happy . . . but, hey, that's just me. About the bus ride . . . *shudders* Okay, dude, you win the Worst Trip Possible Award. *hands over gold trophy with a small bus mounted on top* Have fun. And, yeah, the X-men'll probably lambaste the Tantei into going to class sooner or later.
: Freak Moister : Let me know when you write that crossover; I want to read it, 'kay?
: Dark Dreaming : The translator takes care of speaking, reading, writing, etc., but I'm open to suggestions explaining why a certain Japanese student doesn't know Japanese. Help?
: takahashi shuurin : I can't believe it took me THIS LONG to get this chapter out! I feel awful! *sobs* I'm a horrible person, I really am! . . . Yay, two reviews from you! I'm happy! Yeah, school sucks. And I suppose that I should just say Domo arigatou? Thanks for the explanation about Genkai's resurrection and also the whole 'I love you' thing. Domo arigatou! (See? I CAN learn!) Anywho, I WILL put in a game of mutant ball, and I'll dedicate it to you! *bows* You definitely get the Favorite Reviewer award. Also, If you need help with names and powers, visit the very first chapter (er, the preface, you know?). There's a list of all the X-men and Brotherhood members, their names, their mutant names, and their powers there for your reading pleasure. Hope it helps!
: Jax : *clutches her heart* He . . . he can SPEAK! Gah! *gurgle* *collapses from stroke/heart attack*
: Rurouni Saiyan : Well, if Lance DID get them kicked out, they're back now! So there! *sticks out tongue at The Council of Canon Fanfiction Enforcement*
: Agent Dark Moose : Great minds think alike! Yeah, I'm sitting watching the show, I see Kurama pull out his usual rose, and I'm thinking "Hmmm . . . it's gotta' be roots or something . . ." -_-; Have I mentioned that I have no life? Anywho . . . seriously, write a crossover like this one if you want to. But you have to tell me where to find it so I can read it, okay?
: asdf (??? o.O; ) : Actually, if you're going around a right-angle curve at forty-five, it IS fast. Trust me on this. Either trust me or come ride in the car when my brother's driving some time. You'll see what I mean.
: Raynin : *grins* LOVED the review. And anyway, I think I've answered your question.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Here's a little survey to help me out with the story! Feel free to answer the questions in your review. I'd REALLY appreciate it!
1) Should I or should I not bring Jin into this? It'll work either way, but some people have been rooting for him to show up. I can work it in (in a FEASIBLE fashion) if people really want me to.
2) I need suggestions for nicknames that Logan would give Yuusuke and Kurama (and maybe Jin). (Hiei, as you already know, has been dubbed 'Chibi.')
3) I need suggestions for mutant names for Yuusuke, Hiei and Kurama (and Jin, since it's very possible that I'm going to add him). I was tempted to just make them Toushin, Jagan, and Youko, but that would have been too simple.
Er, hi. I'm back, and I'm really glad that you haven't killed me for my long hiatus . . . *glances around nervously* . . . yet.
I am SO sorry that this took so long. Writing this chapter was like pulling teeth. It was one of those lovely 'mountain' chapters that you have to get over before you can get writing on the other chapters that you already have planned out and so will be very easy and fun to write. ^_^;
Look on the bright side; I'll be updating more now, and there'll be more action, too!
GOOD NEWS: I have my first piece of FANART up! It's on mediaminer.org, and it's a picture of Kurama in his fox-form. I think it's uber, and I'd really like it if you could go see it and review! It's at:
http : // www . mediaminer . org / fanart / view . php ? id = 155060 & submit = View
You know the drill: copy, paste, remove the spaces, and hit enter.
Thanks in advance! ^_^
And also, if anyone wants to draw fanart of this, let me know where it's posted. I'll put a special mention in my story, and moreover, I'd love you forever!
Also, be certain to read the survey at the bottom of the page. Thanks again!
- : - : - : - : - : -
BIG TIP: If you know for a fact that I've posted a new chapter but the site continually tells you that it doesn't exist, make certain that you are at the URL of where the chapter SHOULD be and type ONE PERIOD at the end of the address and hit enter. It should take you to the page. This trick also works well on those 'site experiencing overload' pages, but sometimes it won't go through.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Disclaimer: I own neither X-men nor Yu Yu Hakusho. I don't know WHO owns them, but it certainly isn't ME.
- : - : - : - : - : -
IMPORTANT NOTE:
"blah." means that the words are in English (unless the section is told from a Japanese-speaker's point of view with only Japanese people talking -- I.e. Kurama, Yuusuke, Hiei, Logan, Genkai, etc.)
~"blah."~ means that the words are in Japanese.
="blah."= indicates words spoken in a Makai dialect.
~:blah.:~ telepathic speech.
- : - : - : - : - : -
A/N: This will not be a blatantly yaoi or shounen-ai story. In fact, there will be NO romance WHATSOEVER. There will be brother-brother relationships between Yuusuke, Kurama and Hiei, but I suppose that some of you out there could interpret their actions as 'love' if you wanted. It's your call, however you want to view it.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Grade levels go something like this:
Scott: senior
Jean: senior (See? See? I changed it. Happy?)
Lance: junior
Fred: junior
Rogue: sophomore
Kurt: sophomore
Pietro: sophomore
Kitty: freshman
Evan: freshman
Todd: freshman
(Wanda doesn't technically go to school.)
Kurama: junior
Yuusuke: junior
Hiei: junior
- : - : - Chapter Thirteen: Who Says That School's Boring? - : - : -
Hank McCoy stared at the video screen with a mixture of confusion and astonishment upon his blue-furred face. "What in the world is THAT?"
He and Charles had endured one devil of a time attempting to track down footage of Kitty's 'dog-thing'; they had started around seven forty-five in the morning and now it was nearing ten. Luckily, their search was not fruitless. They HAD managed to find something of interest.
The footage that now occupied the screen was a twenty-two-point-four second clip taken from one of the forest cameras, playing on a continuous loop.
It began with a view of one of the larger clearings that resided in the thick woods on the mansion grounds. Moonlight filtered through a gap in the leafy canopy overhead, highlighting the tall grass within the clearing. The view was framed by tree trunks and leafy branches, giving the feeling that one was actually crouched amidst the greenery.
An invisible breeze passed through the tangled web of plants, stirring leaves into a silent dance, and one branch dipped down over the lens of the camera, obscuring the clearing from sight.
Less than a second later, the branch lifted, and a shining creature stood alone at the heart of the glade, practically glowing beneath the touch of the moonlight.
At first glance, it could have been mistaken as a slender dog, but when one took into account the unnaturally slim muzzle and legs and the triangular ears, it was obvious that the creature was a fox.
A white fox.
With five tails.
It stood poised for a short moment, the fur along its back highlighted and that along its underbelly gray with shadows, the multiple tails swaying behind it as though each was possessed of its own mind.
The creature turned suddenly, gracefully, and a pair of disconcerting, golden eyes --slanted like those of a cat and outlined by a thin band of dark, almost black fur-- fixed themselves firmly upon the watching camera.
The fox's lips pulled away from its teeth in what might have been called a smirk, its canines glimmering ominously, and it appeared as though the odd beast was mocking whomever dared to spy upon it.
Once more, wind swept through the clearing, and the branch dipped down over the lens.
When it lifted once more, the creature was gone.
The video began to repeat itself once more, and Charles turned toward the blue-furred man beside him. "Have you ever seen such a thing before?"
"Never in my life." Hank's eyes narrowed as the footage showed the creature's mysterious entrance once more. "The main body is most assuredly that of a fox, even though it is bigger than a normal fox's body; this thing's shoulders could probably reach chest-height on some of the students . . . but FIVE tails? I've never heard of such a thing!"
Charles rubbed his forehead, feeling a slight twinge that heralded an oncoming headache. "Neither have I. A mutation, perhaps?"
Hank's confusion showed openly in his gaze as he faced the telepath. "Charles, simply put, I don't know. I've never encountered the likes of this before. The best I can say is to up security and see if it shows up again. I'll research it, of course, but---"
They were interrupted by a loud knock upon the door and a muffled call. "Hey, Chuck, you in there?"
Charles turned away from the monitor, leaving Hank to ponder the footage in silence. "Come in, Logan."
The door swung aside, admitting the dark-haired mutant, a scowl firmly set upon his face. "I told you they'd be trouble, Chuck."
"Who?" Charles frowned, puzzled. He refrained from reaching into the other man's mind for answers, as Logan greatly valued his mental privacy.
"The newcomers," growled Logan in response. "They're causing trouble already. Got a call from the school. Seems like Chibi's already managed to threaten one of the teachers, and none of the them've been seen in any classes since first period."
Charles glanced at the clock mounted upon one of the walls. "That's quite a while. What do you mean he --I can only assume that you mean Hiei-- 'threatened' a teacher? What did he do, exactly?"
Logan shrugged, still looking irritated. "Apparently, the lady tried to get him to take off that headband of his, and he didn't want none of it. Something about him grabbing her arm. Yuusuke and Shuichi took him out of the room before anything else could happen, and then they disappeared."
"I'll contact Scott and have him and the others keep an eye out." Charles sighed heavily. "I was worried that they would have problems adjusting, but I thought they would at least wait until the third or fourth day before they started . . . rebelling."
Logan's scowl deepened. "Frankly, Chuck, I don't think that Chibi OR the other two give a flying f---" He caught sight of Charle's disapproving look and revised what he had been about to say. "---flip . . . about who's supposed to be in charge."
Charles sighed softly. "You heard Hiei say that he's an orphan. And from what you've told me, Yuusuke's home life is far from ideal. They most likely aren't accustomed to someone giving them orders. We'll just have to do our best to help them adjust. Shuichi will probably be a good, steadying influence on the pair of them; he seems to be a nice enough young man."
Logan snorted. "Chuck, I know what you think about following my instincts without solid proof to back 'em up, but out of all three of 'em, THAT one smells the most . . . off . . . and the other two don't exactly reek of daisies, you know."
"How so?"
"I---" Logan broke off, frowning. "Chuck, just trust me on this. They're gonna' be trouble."
Charles smiled wryly. "From what you've told me, they're ALREADY 'trouble.' . . . Don't let it worry you so much, Logan. I'll be certain that something is done. For the moment, come tell me what you think of this." He turned back toward the video screen, hearing the other mutant follow close behind.
Logan peered over the professor's shoulder, and a sharp, startled intake of air hissed between his teeth.
"kitsune . . . !"
"What?" Charles tilted his head slightly to see the intense look upon Logan's face. "You know what it is?"
Logan ignored the question. "Where did you get this from?"
"The outside cameras, out in the forest."
"You're telling' me that you actually saw a kitsune ON INSTITUTE GROUNDS?"
Hank frowned. "Logan, please, we don't even know what this 'keet-soo-nay' thing IS. Would you care to explain?"
Logan's eyes narrowed in thought as he considered his words. "A kitsune . . . It's from Japanese mythology. In English, I guess you'd say . . . 'spirit fox.' "
Hank had snatched up a nearby sheet of paper and pen and now was scribbling notes furiously.
Logan ignored him and went on. "I don't know much. In the stories I've heard, they're cunning and mischievous, and renowned for their skills as thieves. They can have up to nine tails; the more powerful or the older they are, the more tails they grow."
"And this . . . kitsune . . . has five." Charles looked thoughtful.
Logan scowled at the professor. "Chuck, they're myths. There's no such thing."
"Logan, we have this on video tape. Even if it ISN'T a 'kitsune,' you're knowledge is the first lead we have. We might as well follow it."
The burly mutant growled, but then his eyes narrowed dangerously.
Charles noticed the change. "Logan?"
"Chuck, don't you think it's odd . . . We bring in three new students from JAPAN, and suddenly you find footage of something from JAPANESE mythology . . . Bit big for a coincidence, don't y'think?"
Charles Xavier allowed a small smile to cross his features. "I don't believe in coincidence at all, Logan. I thought you knew that."
- : - : - : - : - : -
~:Scott?:~
Scott sat up straighter in his desk, pulled out of the half-doze he had fallen into during his literature teacher's lecture.
~:Professor?:~
~:I want you to keep an eye out on Hiei, Yuusuke, and Shuichi, if you would. It seems that they had a bit of a disagreement with a teacher earlier.:~
Scott frowned. ~:'Disagreement'?:~
~:Don't worry yourself about the details. Just be certain that they don't get too out of line. You share some classes with them, don't you?:~
The frown deepened. ~:Yes, sir. Jean told me their schedules. We have the same lunch, and Kurt, Jean and I have gym with them. Kurt and Kitty probably have more classes with them than I do, though.:~
~:I'll speak with the two of them next, then. Thank you for your help.:~
~:Anytime.:~
~:And pay attention more. Your teacher has been calling on you for quite some time, and she sounds annoyed.:~
~:What!?:~
"---Mr. Summers, since you have been paying SUCH close attention, please look in your book and tell us the various examples of metaphorical speech in line eighty of the selection, if you would be SO kind."
- : - : - : - : - : -
Kurama wasn't certain whether he was amused or annoyed.
At the moment, he was walking at the head of a rather odd cavalcade. Hiei strode silently beside the kitsune-turned-human, his customary glower firmly in place, and Yuusuke ambled along somewhere behind and to the left.
And behind Yuusuke, the odd, silver-haired young man and his two companions --all of them mutants; he could tell by their scents and by what little aura he could pick up from them-- could be seen following.
Yuusuke and the fair-haired boy --Pietro-- hadn't ceased their exchanges of insults since they had first seen one another.
" . . . how do you get your bangs to do that, anyway, Pete? Industrial strength super-glue?"
"It's 'Pietro,' thanks. And who are you to talk about hairstyles? I'll bet there's enough gel on YOUR head to qualify as a Nascar crash helmet. Is that how you win fights? Head butting people?"
Kurama heard Hiei snicker faintly . . . too faintly to be heard by human ears.
"And I'll bet that you win your fights by talking people to death. Yak yak. Aren't you worried that your tongue's gonna' just fall off one day?"
"I can hear your brain cells screaming in agony. All those chemicals on your head are killing 'em off. There's got to be a law or something about walking environmental hazards."
"Hey, if I'm so horrible to be around, why are you following me like a little lost puppy?"
"Please. I was bored. Three oddballs like you ought to be able to provide a LITTLE entertainment."
Kurama sighed and glanced over his shoulder. Yuusuke was grinning, and Pietro was smirking.
Wonderful. This was their version of entertainment.
For a moment, Kurama's eyes met with those of the broad-shouldered boy with the long hair. A second of mutual annoyance at their comrades' shenanigans passed between them, and the boy shrugged his shoulders as though to say 'It could be worse.'
Kurama nodded once in understanding before turning his gaze back toward the hallway they were traversing.
"Oy, Shuichi."
Another small sigh. "Yes, Yuusuke?"
"Where're you leading us to? Not back to class, I hope."
"As if you would go back without me dragging you there." Kurama sent another glance back over his shoulder. "I'm going to find a locker to use. I don't see any point in the three of us carrying all these---" He hefted the sheaf of papers --made up of schedules, worksheets from their first classes, makeup work, and other documents-- which he held pinned beneath his arm. "---around all day."
Yuusuke grimaced. "You want to buy a locker? The old lady in the office said they cost three bucks to rent or something."
"Three-fifty, actually," interjected the broad-shouldered boy walking beside Pietro.
Kurama allowed himself a deep-throated chuckle. "Who said anything about paying?"
- : - : - : - : - : -
Pietro was intrigued.
One of the advantages of living as 'fast' as he did was being able to ponder new developments at length.
These latest three 'developments' were requiring quite a bit of pondering.
The first of the three could easily be mistaken for a female unless one paid close attention to his mannerisms: how he walked, the way that he watched things around him, the way he spoke --his voice was a very big giveaway as to his sex. Seriously, though, he had to be pretty confident in his masculinity to walk around with hair THAT red and THAT long.
Lance had long hair and managed to look 'guy-ish.' Pietro couldn't see why this new kid couldn't do the same.
The next boy in line looked like he couldn't be any older than twelve. His hair was spiky enough to pass for a black firecracker in mid-explosion. His eyes were red --something which had startled Pietro-- and it didn't look as though the color was caused by contacts.
Also, when the short boy spoke, it was with a voice far too deep to belong to a mere kid.
Another mystery.
Last of all . . .
Despite the apparent strangeness of the other two, Pietro had found himself liking the third boy shortly after their so-called conversation had begun. Even though the raven-haired young man appeared to be nothing more than another tough that had found his way into the school, he was possessed of a sense of humor to match the quirkiness of Pietro's own, quick wits, and an even quicker mouth.
So . . . a pretty-boy, a kid-who-wasn't-a-kid, and a punk.
The day was getting more interesting by the second.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Kurama rapped lightly upon the door of his chosen target, listening closely for any muffled sound that would indicate that the locker in question had been claimed by another student. He had allowed his nose to lead him here; this locker was the only one nearby without the scent of human hands upon it . . . in other words, no one had touched it in a long while.
It was quite a credit to his youko senses that he could pick something so minute out of the myriad of other scents that filled the school.
Not that he was gloating or anything.
He tapped again at the metal surface, first near the top of the door, then the bottom, and at each side.
Empty.
He smiled.
He was aware of the gazes of Yuusuke, Hiei, and the three other boys resting heavily upon his back, but he didn't care one way or another.
He leaned down, placing his ear near the lock, and he slowly twirled the handle the three necessary turns to the right, waiting for it . . .
*click*
Back to the left . . . carefully . . .
Within twenty seconds of his discovery of the locker of his choice, the door was hanging open, and Kurama was stowing his stack of paperwork within. He took Yuusuke's and Hiei's papers from them and placed them inside as well, reflecting that he could always 'acquire' two more lockers should they need more room.
On the pretext of brushing one hand through his hair, Kurama extracted a small seed from near the base of his neck and turned back to the locker. Making certain that his body blocked the three other boys' view of what he was doing, he tucked the seed into the metal casing around the lock itself.
He shut the door and twirled the lock closed, surreptitiously sending a small flare of youki into the seed and prodding it into sending small tendrils throughout the mechanism, effectively jamming it.
He turned back toward the unlikely group of teenagers, tilting his head to one side. "Shall we go then?" he asked politely.
Pietro scoffed openly. "Big whoop. So you can break into a locker. So can every other guy in this place."
Kurama motioned the boy toward the locker, knowing that he was acting more like a youko and less like a human --most likely aftereffects of the previous night's transformation-- . . . and he didn't really care. "Feel free to try."
The pale boy scowled, but he strode up to the locker and placed his hand upon the knob, a determined look upon his face.
However, when a multitude of small, writhing, green vines launched themselves through the locker door's vent --encouraged into action by a little youki on the part of a certain kitsune-- and wrapped themselves tightly around his wrist, he yelped and . . . disappeared.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Pietro scraped the last of the clinging tendrils --torn away from their fellows by the speed of his 'departure'-- from his arm as he slowed to a stop beside Lance and Fred, both of whom now watched the other three boys with suspicion.
It was surprising that all three of the new students already had their eyes locked firmly upon Pietro before he even came to a halt.
"What the hell was THAT?" Pietro snapped, shaken more than he'd like to admit.
The redheaded boy looked toward the locker which still sported an interesting array of vines and leaves upon its front, and all of the greenery silently withdrew, disappearing back into the vent.
His heart still pounding, Pietro glared blackly at the longhaired young man . . . and also at the spiky haired kid, who was smirking openly at him.
"You're a mutant," he growled, narrowing his eyes at the redhead.
"Yes," agreed the other amicably, green eyes glinting. "As are my friends . . . and you and your friends as well."
- : - : - To Be Continued . . . - : - : -
: Mistress of Dragons : No, sorry. I won't bring Kuwabara in. I know for a fact that I WILL bash him, no matter how much I try not to, and I don't want to do that. Sorry. You WILL see him a little toward the end, though. I like your empathy idea, though. Maybe if I do a sequel . . . hmmm. Awesome! Two reviews from you, too! I'll think about your mutant name suggestions. I'm holding kind of a contest for suggestions (see bottom of page).
: Reikson : Whoo! Long one! Okay, here goes . . . I won't be bringing in Kuwabara during the main story (read the above response); I don't like mooching off of villains from the series to fill in my plot line; The Pheonix Force --interesting idea by the way-- would make things WAY too complicated (good idea for a sequel, though); yes, this IS set after the series; I will have Yuusuke use a technique that's sort of a pseudo Spirit- Bomb/Wave that you'll probably like; you can imagine Hiei as being taller if you want to but I'm not going to touch that one right now; no, Hiei hasn't told Yukina yet; and I probably won't bring in the Acolytes since I don't know their characters well. *wipes sweat off her forehead* I think I got it all. Any more questions?
: O Demented ONe : Seriously, hon, get LOTS of sleep. Want some Paxil?
: Gemini Star 1 : Remember, Kurama is a kitsune/youko at heart. What does he care about school? Personally, I think he only goes to keep his mom happy . . . but, hey, that's just me. About the bus ride . . . *shudders* Okay, dude, you win the Worst Trip Possible Award. *hands over gold trophy with a small bus mounted on top* Have fun. And, yeah, the X-men'll probably lambaste the Tantei into going to class sooner or later.
: Freak Moister : Let me know when you write that crossover; I want to read it, 'kay?
: Dark Dreaming : The translator takes care of speaking, reading, writing, etc., but I'm open to suggestions explaining why a certain Japanese student doesn't know Japanese. Help?
: takahashi shuurin : I can't believe it took me THIS LONG to get this chapter out! I feel awful! *sobs* I'm a horrible person, I really am! . . . Yay, two reviews from you! I'm happy! Yeah, school sucks. And I suppose that I should just say Domo arigatou? Thanks for the explanation about Genkai's resurrection and also the whole 'I love you' thing. Domo arigatou! (See? I CAN learn!) Anywho, I WILL put in a game of mutant ball, and I'll dedicate it to you! *bows* You definitely get the Favorite Reviewer award. Also, If you need help with names and powers, visit the very first chapter (er, the preface, you know?). There's a list of all the X-men and Brotherhood members, their names, their mutant names, and their powers there for your reading pleasure. Hope it helps!
: Jax : *clutches her heart* He . . . he can SPEAK! Gah! *gurgle* *collapses from stroke/heart attack*
: Rurouni Saiyan : Well, if Lance DID get them kicked out, they're back now! So there! *sticks out tongue at The Council of Canon Fanfiction Enforcement*
: Agent Dark Moose : Great minds think alike! Yeah, I'm sitting watching the show, I see Kurama pull out his usual rose, and I'm thinking "Hmmm . . . it's gotta' be roots or something . . ." -_-; Have I mentioned that I have no life? Anywho . . . seriously, write a crossover like this one if you want to. But you have to tell me where to find it so I can read it, okay?
: asdf (??? o.O; ) : Actually, if you're going around a right-angle curve at forty-five, it IS fast. Trust me on this. Either trust me or come ride in the car when my brother's driving some time. You'll see what I mean.
: Raynin : *grins* LOVED the review. And anyway, I think I've answered your question.
- : - : - : - : - : -
Here's a little survey to help me out with the story! Feel free to answer the questions in your review. I'd REALLY appreciate it!
1) Should I or should I not bring Jin into this? It'll work either way, but some people have been rooting for him to show up. I can work it in (in a FEASIBLE fashion) if people really want me to.
2) I need suggestions for nicknames that Logan would give Yuusuke and Kurama (and maybe Jin). (Hiei, as you already know, has been dubbed 'Chibi.')
3) I need suggestions for mutant names for Yuusuke, Hiei and Kurama (and Jin, since it's very possible that I'm going to add him). I was tempted to just make them Toushin, Jagan, and Youko, but that would have been too simple.