Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 14:03:32 +0800
From: toshioboy@yahoo.com
Subject: X-men-chronicles-Toshio-1

She was sitting in a car. A nice yellow one, rather small, but homey. It
sped through open countryside and lush hills, never stopping, nor
slowing. She stared out the window, and as always, was drawn to, mesmerized
by the flowing scenery, speeding dizzily past her. The driver, she couldn't
tell who, leaned over and seemed to be trying to tell her something, if
only she could hear it. Turning back to the window, she was horrified to
see a vast... furnace... burning. Everything had disappeared.

She woke. For a moment she still held fragments of the dream, held emotions
of raw sadness, loss, so tangible, yet receding. As the fear and shock
passed, she sighed. For the past few months she had been having these
random recurring dreams.  Always, she was moving, going somewhere. And
always, the world turned into the burning hell.

Rubbing her head gingerly, she crawled over the side of her bed, and
noticed him.  Perched silently on his bed, watching her. She paused a
moment, then said archly, "Watching me again, weren't you?"

The boy smiled briefly, without humour, and softly said, "Good night,
Chloe."

"Sweet dreams,"


*	*	*


Life at the Charles' Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters was anything but
ordinary. While it followed set classes and timetables, there was
something... different.  Maybe it was the students. Maybe it was the
teachers. Or maybe it was the gifts they possessed.

Out in the school field, Toshio listened to the droning of the teacher,
half dozing, half dreaming. He was thinking of classes, food and
... boys. Boys? He shook his head bemusedly. Why should he be thinking of
boys?

"Toshio! Are you listening to me?" the teacher's voice interrupted. Ororo
sounded genuinely concerned, not at all like the typical teacher. Shaken
from his pleasant day- dreaming, Toshio smiled vaguely at her. She was a
nice teacher.

Ororo shook her head, not exasperated, yet faintly knowing, and continued
with her class.

"As you know, the weather is very important in our lives. It affects
everything, affecting our everyday lives intensely. The weather may even
affect some of your talents.  For me, weather is my talent. I control it."
With that, she rose effortlessly into the still autumn air, white hair
billowing softly around her. Raising her hand, she cupped it, and formed a
minute vortex of fierce battling winds. Turning to the open field, she
hurled the small ball, and a tornado erupted, tearing grass and trees from
their very roots. As fast as it had come, it subsided, as Ororo turned to
the awestruck class.

"Cool!" some shouted, while Toshio gasped, the whipping tornado still fresh
in his mind. This lady knew her stuff, alright.

"Okay, class. I think I sufficiently demonstrated the potential power and
scope of your talents. Just think, after learning and training, your
talents can develop to my caliber! You new students must know that your
gifts, while others may scorn them, calling them mutations, are exactly
that --- gifts. We must use them wisely... ... That's it for today's
class. Our next class will be held in the dungeons, don't forget!"

The kids, still awed by the demonstration, trudged reluctantly back to the
Academy, while some lingered, eager to ask Ororo questions. Toshio smiled.
This was getting cooler by the minute.


*	*	*


One thing about the School --- there was never a dull day. At lunch, you
never knew when an ice ball might come pelting, or when your friend might
suddenly disappear as students used, and delighted, in their new-found
talents. Toshio liked it this way. There was enough mayhem to distract him,
and the students here were different.  They felt a kinship, a knot of
knowingness, shared it between them. They were never intentionally mean or
rude to you.

Classes were even better. Many were geared to the sensory, experience-type
learning, meaning students spent much more time outside the classroom, and
learning more on their talents. As their abilities flourished and grew, the
classes became more tailored for every pupil. Toshio couldn't wait for
this, for private tutelage to develop his skill. It made him, made the
students, feel special. Each was uniquely gifted.

Besides this, new students could come in any time of the year, and with
each new addition, the students felt more fulfilled, as if one of their
siblings had found home. With the growing numbers, the students felt more
identity, more sure and comfortable with their place in society.

In class one day, a new student arrived at Toshio's class. He was an older
boy named Spike, and Toshio found the name most appropriate. Spike had,
surprise surprise, spiky hair. It was blonde, almost white, and led to a
boyish face, with chiseled features.  He was rather slim, with an innate
grace as he moved, much like a cat, a panther, rather.  And when he stared
at you, his piercing green eyes never leave your face.  Toshio was
mesmerized by his presence. However, he was too shy to approach.

During the lesson, Spike was called up to demonstrate a few principles, and
as he brushed past Toshio's table, he knocked Toshio's open water bottle
off the table. Without thinking, Toshio grasped his talent
instinctively. The water bottle was propelled into the far wall, bursting
upon impact.

The class was stunned for a moment, and a few laughed. Toshio was horrified
at what he had done, but more so with the fact that he had publicly
humiliated himself in front of Spike. "Dammit!" he cursed, depressed, and
saw Spike look at him, surprised.  This made him blush.

Spike smiled, and murmured, "You're cute, boy. Sorry about the water
bottle."  He smirked then, and Toshio put his chin on the table, arms
trying to hide his burning face. An indescribable feeling was coursing
through him. It contained a strange mix of embarrassment and also
... happiness? Toshio was confused, but happily so, as he watched Spike
demonstrate in front of the class.

Yep, things were getting better by the minute.



Hehe, that's the first chapter. How was it? Lousy ending, and kinda
lengthy, I know... =P and I still don't know what to do with the first
part, it just popped in my head (bad bad bad)... well if you got any
comments, criticism (maybe you don't like Ororo =D) (or maybe you want her
to... oh nvm) and feedback please send them to toshioboy@yahoo.com
... thanks! =) The content of this story is still in the making!  Oh yeah,
all characters, ideas, concepts of the X-men except Toshio and Spike are
copyrights of Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. I am merely writing
fiction based on my large (sometimes weird) imagination... so pls don't sue
me! Lol! And thanks to blue_sun who inspired me to write about the x
men... LOL seth rocks!