So, it has been way the hell too long since I updated this story. I am SO sorry, but you have to understand the kind of pressure my classes put me under. Being a biochemistry student kicks you in the ass. However, I am back on the horse now and this story will be finished in the next month or so. Thank you to you all who review my story and make me feel like what I am doing is worthwhile. So, without further ado, here is chapter 10 of I am Not a Demon…

Warnings: same

Disclaimer: same… I wish I owned Kurt =^_^=

"A friend is someone who, upon seeing another friend in immense pain, would rather be the one experiencing the pain than to have to watch their friend suffer."

~Unknown

Xavier could not help but stare as Kitty struggled against the demonic being, taking strike after strike. Kitty, said Xavier telepathically to his pupil, stand down. You don't stand a chance against him! Xavier watched in horror as the red demon struck his student with his powerful fists, sending her flying across the room and landing with a loud thud.

Kitty, please listen to me, he said frantically.

No, came the reply, her mental voice full of determination.

Kitty, you know how powerful Azazel is. You have to retreat or he will kill you!

Xavier awaited her reply, sweat on his brow from the demonic flames dripping down his face as he stared through them. After another blow from the red demon, Kitty replied, causing Xavier to be taken aback.

I don't care, she said matter-of-factly. I won't sit by and watch this happen. Only a coward would save his own life over his friend's. I would rather die trying to save him than live knowing I could have done more. Kurt would have done it for any of us.

Kitty…, he said, but he felt her close his mind off to him. Xavier sighed sadly, yet smiled slightly. Kitty had grown so much in the past couple of years, even to the point of giving him advice. She was right; they needed to act, despite the horrible consequences.

"I am sorry, Kitty," Xavier whispered to himself, "I have been a fool." He turned his attention to the group. "Jean, do you think you could get the roof off of this building?"

Jean stared at the Professor in shock of the magnitude of power he was asking for. "I…I think so," she stammered.

Xavier sent her a quick smile. "I know you can. Storm" he said, again averting his attention, "once Jean has removed the roof, I need you to concentrate the rain on the flames. We cannot get through unless they are out. Can you do that?"

"As sure as the winds blow, Charles," she said with a smile, lifting herself into the sky.

"Excellent, in the mean time, Iceman, I need you to work on cooling down the flames; make a break in the line for Logan to get through."

"Sure thing, Professor," said the eager teen as he began to barrage the fire with ice. Though it did little, it was working.

"Chuck, why don't I just run through," said Logan, almost annoyed, "I'll heal."

"I know you will, Logan," said Xavier as he inspected the team's progress, "but only your body will. This is demonic flames; one of the few things that can melt adamantium. Your claws and shielding on your bones with deform."

"I'm willing to take that chance," Logan growled.

"Let us try this first, if it doesn't work soon, then you may try," said Xavier calmly.

Professor! He's got her. He's killing her! Helfen ihr bitte (1)! Kurt's voice weakly screamed in Xavier's mind. Nonetheless, it caused him to visibly wince at its intensity.

Xavier placed his fingers on his temples. Kurt, we're coming. Hold on.

His reaction was not lost to Wolverine as he looked toward the middle of the fire ring. "We gotta hurry, Chuck," he said quickly to the telepath as he took in the sight of Kitty hanging in the air. "Half-pint doesn't have much time."

"I know, Logan," said Xavier as he released a sigh. Jean was having troubles with the building's roof, even with the enlisted help of Rouge. He could hear the steel bending, but he was not sure they could put out the flames in time. He returned his attention to Logan, still waiting for orders. Xavier nodded to the man. "Do what you must to save them," he said simply.

With a nod, Logan began to run at the flames, ready to break through them despite the damage his body would ensue. Just as he was about to enter, a yell filled with anger and fortitude reverberated throughout the building quickly followed by one of pain, causing Logan to cease his advance.

A loud groaning of metal drowned out the two yells as Jean and Rouge finally pried the roof loose from its frame, pushing it off of the building with a exasperated grunt. Immediately the rain began to fly into the building, drowning the hellish flames and drenching the occupants of the building to the bone with its cold shower as they stared at the scene in front of them in shock.

"And Kurt, don't believe him. Everyone knows you're not a demon. You're our fuzzy elf and my best friend. I don't know what I would do if I knew I couldn't go to you for advice, or a laugh, or…" A tear fell from her eye and Kurt awkwardly moved his right arm to wipe it off her cheek. "Just remember that all that matters in the end is who you are, not what you are."

"Kätzchen…," he said softly, he didn't want her to cry.

Suddenly, a red tail shot toward them and wrapped itself around Kitty's neck, lifting her into the air. "Nein," yelled Kurt as he tried to get up to help her, but soon shot back to the floor in agony as the sword continued to cut his flesh. He wrapped his hand around the hilt in an attempt to hold himself still and stop the pain.

Tears of pain, frustration, and most of all, anger welled in his eyes as he helplessly watched Azazel hold Kitty by her neck so her feel could not reach the floor. He could feel his strength leaving from him as his hands slipped from the sword and the darkness of unconsciousness began to creep into his vision.

Nein, I have to stay awake! he thought. His mind raced as to how he could help his friend. He caught a blurry glimpse of Xavier through the flames and decided to try and call for help.

Professor! He's got her. He's killing her! Helfen ihr bitte (1)! he weakly screamed, desperately hoping they could find a way through the wall of flames.

Kurt, we're coming. Hold on, Xavier quickly replied to the young mutant, but Kurt could sense the worry in his mental voice.

Kurt's mind continued to reel at the possibilities he had to save Kitty, but was devastated when he could think of none. His attention was caught when his sensitive ears caught the conversation between his friend and his father.

"Why do you protect this boy, girl?" asked Azazel, his voice menacing. "He is not like you and is needed to free the neyaphem."

"Like…I don't know…what the…neyaphem are," said Kitty, worrying Kurt with the harsh gasps she was needing to get breathe into her lungs, "but Kurt's…my friend. He is the…kindest and…most caring person…I know and I…won't let…anything…happen to him."

Kurt's heart dropped at the realization that Kitty was about to die to protect him. He was a demon; she shouldn't protect him. He deserved to die; to be thrown into hell like the monster he was. Why would she do this?

" Just remember that all that matters in the end is who you are, not what you are."

Who I am, not what I am, thought Kurt. I am not a demon; not the spawn of the devil or a sacrifice for the neyaphem. I am Kurt Wagner. I am the friend of Kitty Pride. I am a mutant, but most importantly, I am an X-man and my friends are here to help me. I am NOT a demon and I will not let Kitty die!!!

Kurt used this new realization to find new strength, pushing away the darkness that was slowly creeping into his vision and lifting his arms back to the sword. Placing one hand on the handle and one at the base of the hilt, Kurt called on all the strength he had left to push the sword from the floor and his body. His muscles and bones screamed with pain, the blade dug into his hand and into his shoulder, but he did not stop. With a muffled cry so as not to alert his father of his actions, Kurt willed the blade free.

He took a quick look at the sword, realizing he knew a little something about it. Being Azazel's sword, it must have been forged in the Brimstone dimension, meaning the metal was special. Not just any metal could hurt a demon, but this metal could. He could use it against his father; he could even kill him with it.

"My dear," cooed the evil demon, catching Kurt's attention, "you are in his position."

"I know…that's…why I…know it…will…be…ok." His eyes widened at Kitty's appearance. He face was starting to turn blue from lack of oxygen. He couldn't wait for the Professor and the others. He had to act now!

With an angry yell, Kurt used the little strength he had gathered to lunge forward and plunged the weapon into Azazel's stomach, slicing through his bone armor with unbelievable ease. Azazel released a painful yell as the weapon invaded his body, dropping the young woman to the floor in shock.

Kurt saw Kitty fall, but could not let go of the weapon for fear that Azazel would regain control of it and harm Kitty farther. He heard the strange sound of groaning metal before being doused by the cold rain that now readily fell through the open roof. He sensed the temperature change as the flames were extinguished, inducing a sense of release in his mind. It meant Xavier and Logan were on their way.

"You…you would kill your own father…for that," stuttered Azazel weakly as he pointed at Kitty in disgust.

"No," said Kurt as his father's dark, almost black blood seeped from his stomach, mixing with the falling rain, "but you are not my father. My father is in Germany. Besides, we both know this will not kill you, so quit pretending."

A sadistic smile spread across the red mutant's face. "How did you know?"

"You're over two thousand years old and there is no scar on your tail from when I bit you," said Kurt, his voice strong and determined. "That means regenerative powers."

"Fool," growled Azazel as he sung his tail around to strike Kurt, but the blue boy was too fast. He ducked and harshly pulled the sword from his father's gut before standing between his father and Kitty, dropping to his knee in exhaustion.

With a fearsome holler, the demon-man lifted his hand to strike. Kurt closed his eyes and lifted his arms to block the blow, but it never came. Instead, there was a feral yell that pierced the air as Logan attacked Kurt's assaulter.

Kurt watched as Evan, Bobby, Rogue, Storm and Jean passed by him, advancing toward Azazel. "Kurt, are you alright?" asked the Professor as he approached the elf.

"I will be fine," said Kurt painfully as he watched his friends fight the giant red man. "Just take care of Kitty."

"I will," said Xavier. "Azazel should be running out of time before he is brought back into the Brimstone dimension, but I think you should…" Xavier was cut off as Evan, Jean, and Logan flew by them, each landing on the cement floor with a hard thud. Xavier turned his attention to the battle only to see Azazel throw Storm and Bobby to the floor.

Fear flowed through Professor Xavier as Azazel approached Rogue, rage glistening in his black orbs. Xavier moved his hands to his head, preparing himself for a battle he was almost sure he would not win. He readied himself to enter the ancient mutants mind when a quick movement directly in front of him caught his attention, breaking his concentration. He opened his eyes to see Kurt once more barreling toward his father.

"Kurt!" he yelled, but it was too late. The boy had already made it most of the way to his target and was crouching for an assault, blade ready in his hand. Xavier cringed at the feeling coming from his young pupil: pain, immense pain from rubbing broken bones and ripped muscles, but there was also a determination that would not allow this to stop him.

With a pained yell, a drenched Kurt launched himself at his birth father, throwing his shoulder into the great demon's chest. The surprise attack caused Azazel to lose his balance and fall to the ground. Immediately, Kurt jumped onto his chest and readied the sword for the final blow.

"That's it, Diablo," said Azazel, a small smile of victory playing on his lips, "kill me. I may not have been able to kill you, but you could kill me. Do it and succeed me as general of Hell's Army, of the neyaphem. Take my head, Diablo. Kill me. It is in your nature!"

With one last yell of anger, Kurt thrust his sword at his father. The X-men let out a gasp as the sword struck its target. Storm and Jean covered their mouths, Rogue and Evan just let theirs hang open, and Logan stood solemn as Kurt stood up from his position on his father's chest.

A small smile played across Xavier's lips as Kurt stood growling at Azazel's stunned face, shocked into silence, a demon-metal sword imbedded in the stone not an inch from his face.

"No," growled Kurt, his chest heaving and his arms hanging loosely at his sides, "I won't, because I am not like you. I am not a demon."

Azazel reached his arm out to grab his son's leg, but was suddenly overtaken by convulsions. Kurt stepped back as he watched the great demon struggle to keep in control of his body. Kurt heard a small chuckle sound from behind him as his professor rolled up beside him. "Looks like you're out of time and out of energy, Azazel."

"I will not leave without his blood," growled the red monster as he fought to get to his feet. He pulled a second sword, identical to the first, from out of nowhere and advanced on his son, body shaking like an earthquake. Kurt stepped in front of Xavier, his body screaming at him to stop moving.

"I will have it," growled the demon as he raised his sword. Kurt stood firm, no longer having the energy to move or defend himself.

There was the sound of a blade being unsheathed as Kurt watched Logan imbed his claws into the red mutant with an uppercut to the gut, the tips protruding from his back. "Go to hell, bub," growled Logan, his voice dark.

Azazel dropped his sword at Kurt's feet as the last of his strength left him. He looked at his son, the fear gone from his yellow orbs as he stared back, the rain dripping from his fur. Kurt stared at the man, no longer afraid. "Goodbye, Vater, und kann Gott, Gnade auf Ihrer Seele haben (2)."

"No!" yelled Azazel angrily as the convulsions took over his body. With a violent shake, the red demon disappeared in a puff of black smoke, the smell of sulfur and brimstone following in its wake. When the smoke finally cleared, the only indication that Azazel had been there was the destroyed building and two abandoned swords.

The group stood in silence as their haphazard victory sunk in. They had stood together and defeated one of the most powerful mutants of all time. "Yes!" yelled Evan, throwing his fist into the air and causing the others to jump. "We did it! We won!!"

"Nice work, you guys," said Scott as Jean went over to help him and Beast to their feet, the paralysis disappearing along with the red abomination.

"I thought I was done for, for a minute," said Rogue, not able to hide her elation, "but thanks to you Kurt…"

"Logan!" yelled the Professor, the urgency in his voice drawing the attention of the others. They spotting the blue elf lying facedown on the cold cement in front of Xavier, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. "I need you to grab Kitty and get the others on the plane. Jean, can you levitate Kurt?"

"I got him, Professor," said Jean.

"Storm, ready the jet," said the Professor, his usually calm voice now filled to the brim with worry. "We need to get them to the mansion, now!"

You have NO idea how tempted I was to leave it with Kurt sitting on Azazel's chest after attacking with the sword! My cliffhanger muse begged me to leave it there, make everyone think Kurt killed Azazel, but I just couldn't do it. It would have thrown off the flow of the story and it was just too evil to do that to all of you after months of absence. I hope this chapter didn't disappoint! One more to go…

Translations

1- Please help her!

2- Goodbye, Father, and may God have mercy on your soul.