I leave the town behind without much to say. I don't want to take away their haven, so I know better than to ever go back. Especially after crossing the woman and leaving her the way I did. I don't even know why I did it. I guess I just want to prove that not every mutant is bad, I guess. I go faster on my bike, cutting between cars easily, as though I can dodge the thoughts of why she was looking for me.

She said she wasn't military, so it rules out M.R.D. They generally take claim anyway when they're looking for any mutant. Besides, the weird little insignia on their armor doesn't match the Mutant Response Division's symbol. I decide to call her Blackie for her hair and shades. Anyway, if it wasn't military who sent guys like that, then who could coordinate an assault like that.

My thoughts are getting me no where, so I decide to take a stop at a motel on the side of the road. I pull my bike into some bushes to hide it. I'd rather not have the M.R.D. on my ass without some way to get out. I go inside the motel, grabbing a room and a water bottle just in case. When I get into the room, I look into the mirror for the first time in a long while.

A woman stares back at me with grey eyes and blonde hair so light only because of how much time she spends running. If she were allowed to stay inside for a month, she would. If she were an X-Man, she'd be inside anyway. But she passed it up, so here she is... I turn on the faucet, washing my face before going to my bag and pulling the Ziploc bag of toiletries so I can take a shower.

The hot shower is heaven on my skin. I haven't felt this good in a while. I kneel down in the shower, being careful not to slip, and wrap my arms around my knees, bringing them to my chest. I close my eyes, just taking it in. Then I stand and wash my hair and body before shaving my legs for the first time in months. It was pretty bad. Hey, I usually wear pants. Don't judge.

I pull a Batman tank top on, then a pair of jeans. I plan on just flat out leaving in the morning around dawn, if I can help it. At this rate, I'll only get two hours of sleep. I guess it isn't so bad. I mean, it could be way worse. I could have no time to sleep-

My thoughts halt, but my movements don't. Since the human body is a good deal of water, I can get a general sense of how many people are in the area. I can't give you an exact number, but around this room, there were about ten people. I'm sorry, but the people on this hallway don't generally just unite in a random person's room. And I'm the only one supposed to be in my own room.

I go into my bag and pull the water bottle out, setting it on the sink. I brush my teeth, then go back into my bag to grab a bag of chips. I slip a small throwing knife into my sleeve so they won't notice before going to sit in the bed and turning on the television. I know one is in the closet, the other under my bed. I wait for one of them to make a move, paying more attention to them and the people next door than to what's actually on television.

I get up and go to the corner of the room where the A/C is to bait them out. I'm kneeling down when one of them puts a hand over my mouth. I scream for effect as he puts a blade to my throat. "Don't say a word." I smirk, biting hard on his hand as the water from my bottle forms a mask around his face, covering his nostrils and mouth so he can't breathe. I slip from under his arms.

The other one comes out. "Don't come closer or he will die." I take both of them in, seeing the insignia branded on the black one's armor. "Arashikage. I have to say that I haven't encountered one in a long, long time." I look at the time. "You know, I'm trying to be real patient with you guys. I can't be an X-Man because I'm more likely to lash out at the people, but I can't just simply let the M.R.D. take me in because they'd take away my powers. So when some bitch from no where claiming not to be military comes after me, I get a little curious. When I get two Arashikage trained boys after me, I get a little pissed off. What have I been missing?"

I wait for the black one to speak before thinking something along the lines of what he most likely did. So I hold the knife to the white one's throat, the water flowing back into the water bottle. "You're going to answer a few questions. Starting with your name."

"Storm Shadow," he sputters slightly. I don't let it stop me. I'm a mutant, they aren't. We were kids. We didn't know better. But it makes me hesitate just a little bit as my door explodes open. I growl low in my throat as I see someone with red on black eyes and brown hair. I stand up straight, kicking Storm Shadow down and holding him there with my foot.

"You better be paying for that, Gambit. I don't have the money to go around knocking down doors." He just smirks at me, patting the black ninja on the shoulder. "I'm being serious, jackass."

"Well, putain, you ain't exactly a ray of sunshine either." I smile at him. "But it is good to see you. Now, do you mind letting him up and giving me a hug?" I press some of my weight for good measure before tackling Gambit to the ground. "I said give me a hug, not play football."

"Shut up." I get up, offering him a hand before turning to the other ninja. "Who's this one?"

"Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, meet Night Rain. Night Rain, meet Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow."

I smile, shaking my head. "Fate is cruel." I grab my water bottle, pocketing it. "Tell me, how is the Hard Master? Still hard?" I don't get an answer, and recognize it immediately. "That's why I'm not welcome anymore. Figures." A tear slips down my cheek and I wipe it away. "I'll be going now. Feel free to keep the room, Gambit. See you boys later."

"Night, come on. We need your help," Gambit says, following me out of the room and past a group of men that look as though they're waiting for some type of signal. I don't recognize any of them, even as one of them steps up to address me. I glare hard at him, and Gambit grabs my arm. "Look, Night, if you don't come with us, they will keep going after you. Do you want to end up experimented on?"

"I want the government to leave me alone. I want to get to Genosha. C'mon, Gambit. How long until they begin the experiments?" He doesn't answer me, but the answer is plain in his eyes. "We, mutants, are only accepted in Genosha. For once, Magneto did something great for us that didn't involve mass destruction or enslaving the human race. We can go together, Gambit. I'm going to get some cash and get on a boat."

"Where's this money coming from?"

"You." I hold up the bills I just took from his pocket. He gives me a hard look. "C'mon, Gambit. We ain't wanted here."

"They don't know you're her from fifteen years ago, Night. They would protect you, and you know it."

"I'm not staying. So either come with me or make them move. Or I will." I wait on his response and close my eyes. "See ya later, Gambit." The water flows from my water bottle, the molecules separating into smaller balls. I dig deep inside myself, gathering the water vapor and condensing them into clouds. I bow down to one knee, and let the small balls fling at high speeds to distract the soldiers as I leave, going to my bike.

It's raining outside, and I'm tired and sore from the energy it took. I'll have to get into a big city in Louisiana and stay the whole day there. Preferably somewhere mutant friendly. I get on my bike after dragging it from its hiding spot. I see two figures in front of me and rev the engine. They don't budge. I drive forward, going as fast I can in the state I'm in.

I drive past them, but Snake Eyes hops onto the back of my bike, latching onto me. I take my knife and turn it backwards, stabbing it into an uncovered area in his armor. I'm breathing hard as I drive through the pounding rain, disappearing soon enough after in the mist of rain that seems to disappear when I'm five miles away. It should give me enough time, right?

I make a stop at a hotel the next day, sleeping all day. When I wake up, it's late afternoon and I decide that it's time to send a message. I keep two or three water bottles with me, and go to a nearby park, sitting down and watching some kids on the playground. One of them approaches me. "Do you wanna see a magic trick?" he asks.

I nod, smiling, and he makes the grass grown under me. I look around, alarmed. "Don't do that again, kid. Not to openly." I put his hands in mine. "How long have you been able to do this?"

"A long time. My mom and dad don't know though. My brother says it's a really bad thing and I shouldn't show it to people." He's too young to understand, just like I was.

"Don't show this to anyone else, okay? Your brother is right to tell you not to show people. But he is wrong about it being a bad thing." I take my water bottle and open it, plucking a little bit out and holding it on the tip of my finger, expanding it into shapes. I smile as he touches one of the forms, the sculpture rippling but staying in one piece. "It's a wonderful thing what you can do, son, but don't do it openly." I take a card from my sleeve.

A boy around sixteen comes near us, obviously nervous. "Hey, Jack, come over here and see what she can do! She does magic tricks too!" Relief enters his expression, and I smile at him.

"Don't worry. I won't drown you unless you really make me mad." He looks scared and I laugh. "It's a joke. Come sit down." He obeys, and I see they both have the same curly brown hair. "When your parents figure it out, call this number. They'll get themselves down here faster than the M.R.D. can get here. Ask for a man named Charles, and tell him Amaya gave you the number."

Jack nods. "Would it be wrong to call him now?"

"Not yet. Your brother is still growing into it. Besides, he should stay close to his family. Once he goes to Xavier, it'll be hard for you to see him. They moved to a location few can find." I ruffle the kid's hair. "But he'll be great when he grows up. Good, too, as long as you send him to Xavier." I look at Jack. "Don't let anyone else see that number, alright? Xavier is my emergency contact too."

Jack nods, and I smile at him. "Want to see a magic trick?" He pales a little, but nods, and I absently form shapes with the water from my bottle. I let Jack hold it, bouncing it up and down in a ball form. A few kids get curious, so I let them look too. The parents can call the M.R.D. if they want. I'm not harming anyone, and these kids actually like playing with it. Even Jack is playing around.

But the parents only keep a really sharp eye on us, as though the first move of aggression can come at any second. I smile and wave at a particular one, and she looks surprised but smiles back anyway.

It's only a matter of time before I hear the sirens.