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Chapter 2: An Unwanted Past
"Professor? Professor?" Jean had placed her fingers on either temple and was now calling out to Xavier. She had done this right away after Kurt BAMFed, becoming even more concerned. Kitty and Rogue leaned forward from their back seats, waiting for the news. Scott only glanced over once in a while to see how Jean was doing. They still had a little ways to go before they reached the manor. If Kurt had teleported somewhere close, then he wanted to be able to pick him up quickly.
What made the four teens worry more was that they didn't know what was bothering Kurt. Obviously, it had something to do with the flyer.
"Yes jean, I'm here. Please, calm down."
"I'm sorry. It's just that theirs something wrong with-"
"Kurt is fine. He appeared in his room just a few seconds ago. Then asked me to tell you that he was safe. However, before I could do so you called out to me."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, you were just worried." Jean ended her telepathic conversation with the professor. Placing her hands back at her sides, Jean seemed to have a saddened look. "Is Sometim wrong?" Rogue asked, leaning even further towards Jean. The red head looked up at the younger girl and gave a soft smile as she shook her head. "No, nothing's wrong. Xavier says Kurt appeared in his room just a few moments ago." Everyone seemed to relax at the news. Kitty and Rogue pulled back away from the front and leaned back in their seats. Scott gave a soft sigh and continued to drive.
Jean looked down at her lap. She knew Kurt was safe and took some of the worry away. However, she was concerned for what she had felt just before the blue mutant had teleported. A heavy feeling of sorrow and pain had suddenly hit her as Kurt teleported. She knew that was what he had felt. But what surprised her was how hard it came down on her. How powerful and clear the boy's emotions were. Normally, she wouldn't have been able to feel what he felt.
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Nothing but blue, empty skies lay ahead. The storm had flushed away all clouds, leaving nothing but open air before the ship. The waters that were once a nightmare, now moved gently with tranquility. Rays from the sun beamed down upon the ship, drying the animal's fur and allowing the clean hull to shimmer. Instead of the rain being a terrible thing, it turned out to be something to celebrate.
Swinging her bare feet in the air, the young girl sat just outside the railing on the front of the ship. She wore a striped red/white bikini top a pair of white shorts. Her hair was cut in the back and two long, curly strands of blonde hair dangled in the front. Blue eyes looked out upon the world, as light colored lips stretched into an excited smile. Scranny arms and scranny legs, gave the girl a lanky look. Her shoulders were lax as slender fingers picked pedals off of roses (a small basket of them laying beside her) and tossed them into the sea. She would watch one after another spiral down to the awaiting water.
A soft German voice chanted the ever famous words, "He loves me, he loves me not," with each pedal that she plucked. It was sort of like a tradition she did when ever she thought of him. In a way, it was like her own memorial to the lost loved one.
Plucking the last of the red pedals from the thorny stem in her hand, the girl just stared at it. Its beauty was gone. Taken away to ease the pain of her mourning heart. No longer could it be called a rose. Yet, in a sense, it still was a rose. It fed off the soil of a rose, it grew straight like a rose, it held thorns like a rose. But it did not look like a rose.
Sighing, the girl put down, not wanting to throw it away. Three other stems sat beside her in the small pile. Only glancing at them, the blonde turned back out to the sea. Somewhere, out there, was their destination. It had been so long since she had done her act, and she feared she would not do it as well this time. How many years had passed? Shaking her head, the girl did not wish to dwell on such thoughts, but the painful memories kept coming back.
Tears threatened to come as the girl's eyes slowly grew glassy. Why now? Why not back then? Why not when the guilt and sorrow was fresh? Why wait all these years to cry? She didn't know, and she didn't care. What she had been holding back for so long was finally coming out. She couldn't hold in any more. With a shuddery breath, the girl broke down into sobs and tears. She placed both hands over her face and let it all out.
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Her boots clicked against the hardwood floor as she walked down the hall. Her long white hair bounced gently with each step, as blue jeans hugged her figure down to her ankles. Soft eyes complimented dark skin, which hardly showed any aging. A gentle face stared straight ahead, her mind preparing what to say as she neared the door. However, she was beaten to it when a wise voice spoke to her. "I know, Ororo. It is as we feared."
The mahogony doors opened to the office of Charles Xavier. The bald headed man sat behind an old oak desk, his elbows propped and his fingers intertwined as his eyes stared over them to his assistent. Storm quietly entered the room and stood by the door way, then she gently closed the door and spoke. "Then what are we to do?" the woman asked, stepping closer to the desk.
Xavier merely looked up at her and put his hands down. He thought for a moment, "We are not positive that they will come for him. After all it's been nearly 7 years."
"Yes, but you know there is a reason that they choose Bayville to perform first in. They have to know he is here and we must be prepared for an attack if they come to take him," Charles did not argue anymore. He knew this would be the case from the moment he knew just whom was coming to Bayville. Sighing, the man leaned back in his chair. His mind was going over all the different ways that they could be invaded by him. However, none of them seemed to fit the man. Charles closed his eyes and tried to think of what kind of a man would be attacking.
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A red and white car pulled into the drive of the manor. Four anxious teens sat in it, all wondering and worrying about their friend. However, one was more concerned than the others. She knew Kurt better than anyone and could tell when something more than ruined plans was a reason for his behavior. Impatient, the girl did not wait for Scott to park the car as she fazed through and began to run towards the front door.
When the girl burst through the door, she was met by a surprised Ororo whom was heading into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Not waiting for the older woman to greet her, the petite brunette bursted out, "Where's kurt?" Storm simply stated that he was in his room. Kitty nodded and thanked the woman before running towards and up the stairs, her ponytail flying in all directions from the movement.
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It seemed so small to him now. It's delicate frame ready to fall if it ever should slip from his hands. Thinking this, he kept a tight hold onto it, while being soft so as not to cause damage. As one hand held onto it, the boy ran one of three fingers along the intricate carvings in the wood. Sheep, angels, and clouds had been sketched onto the box. Their colors were fading with age, but Kurt could still tell what color they were made to have.
Hissing from pain, the blue demon brought his finger away from the broken latch. Parts of it were still sharp. Not bothering with his finger, which had only a drop of blood on it, Kurt kept staring at the box. He hadn't opened it for nearly four years. Hoping it still worked, the boy gently put pressure on the front of the lid and slowly lifted it up. Strings pulled like that of a harps and a tune began to play. It was slow and peaceful, that of a lullaby. Knowing the words from he was a child, Kurt began to sing one of the three verses gently.
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf.
Der Vater hüt't die Schaf.
Die Mutter schüttelt's Bäumelein,
Da fällt herab ein Träumelein.
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf!
The lid to the music box suddenly closed and Kurt turned around on the railing. His ears had suddenly caught the sound of someone stepping onto the balcony. Kurt stopped himself from teleporting when he saw whom the intruder was. Calming down a bit, he stepped down from his post and stood before his friend.
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Kitty hadn't bothered to knock, being too concerned for the teen. She had fazed her head through and had seen the boy on the railing. As she drew near to him, the brunette noticed that he was holding something. Not wanting to disturb Kurt's thoughts, she snuck up on the blue demon. That's when she had heard the music. Listening carefully, Kitty was shocked to hear a voice accompany the music. It was a calming voice. One that accompianied the music perfectly. The combination of the two seemed to ease her worry and she just stood there, hoping to hear more.
However, the girl's luck ran out when her foot didn't faze through the glass door all the way and caused it to make a bump. She gave a small gasp then looked as Kurt's ears pricked and he suddenly turned round towards her. At first, there was a look of one whom had just been snuck up on, which in truth what had happened. Then it eased away to one of annoyance and almost anger.
Straightening herself from almost tripping, Kitty tried to put an innocent face on. This didn't seem to work on the blue demon as he just walked past her and opened up the glass sliding door. As he stepped into the room, expecting her to follow, he said, "Vhat do you vant Kitty?" His voice didn't have the annoyance or anger that she had seen on his face. Instead it was rather emotionless as if he was afraid to give something away.
Walking into the room after him, the girl watched as he put the music box away in one of his dresser drawers. "Where did you like get that music box?" The boy stopped closing the drawer half way. He thought of something quick to say, that was still believable, then looked up at her. Kurt knew she would detect the lie, but he thought that she wasn't too interested in the music box at the moment. "My mutter."
"Oh, well it's like a beautiful song. Ya know?" Kurt nodded his head. He knew why Kitty had come to him, and he did want to talk, just not at the moment or at least not directly. The small talk wouldn't hurt and it was Kitty's way of getting him more comforatble for the more serious conversation they were about to have. So, the girl continued, "I hope you don't mind, but I like overheard you singing. Your voice, it was like totally different from I had imagined."
"Ja, so I've been told." Kurt turned around and plopped down on the bed. His shoulders were a bit hunched as his fawn like feet slowly crisscrossed in front of him. His hands then fell into his lap and he kept his gaze on them. Kitty's face softened as she sat down next to her freind, pulling her legs up much the same way he had. The movement made Kurt look up at the girl. A saddened expression covered his soft features.
Kitty tilted her head to the side a bit and gave him a sympathetic look. She was trying to understand, but she had little to go on. However, there was still one question she could ask that may lead to answers, and maybe cheer the boy up. "You like still haven't answered my question," Kurt tilted his head as well, much like a puppy would. This simply movement made Kitty want to go "Awww" and just give him a big squeeze. But she knew that it would be inapporapriate for the current situation. The realization brought a bit of disappointment to the brunette.
Continuing with her sentence, "Are you like coming to the circus, like with us or not?" Kitty watched as the blue demon looked away and seemed to be caught up in deep thought. His finger went subconciously to his chin. After a quick silent moment, the teenage boy looked back up at her. "No."
"Why not?" Kitty leaned in a bit closer to get his complete attention. Kurt seemed to easily be distracted lately. "Everyone'll like want cha there. And like who else is gonna like laugh at the clowns, but like our master prankster?" Kitty pulled back and shrugged her shoulders at the last part. A smile had grown on her face, feeling as if she might have cheered Kurt up a bit. However, when she looked at his face, it seemed even more solemn than before. Kitty couldn't figure it out until he barely whispered, "I use to be one of zose clowns.
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A/N: Thanks to help of some Pink Pandas, I have completed the second chapter. However, these Pandas can't threaten me forever! points victoriously into the air Therefore you must REVIEW! If ya don't, then I won't write.