After making arrangents for Dr. Helen Cho, Kurogai didn't linger at the spacecraft base for long. Earlier, he had only inford Dean Mary and Skye that he had sothing urgent to handle—now, far more ti had passed than he'd expected. Between dealing with Magneto's sches and establishing a secure experintal base, weeks had slipped away in the blink of an eye.
Now, with a rare mont of calm, Kurogai decided it was finally ti to return to the orphanage.
But that wasn't his only reason.
A few days earlier, a certain girl from Xavier's School had quietly thrown herself into his arms, her silent expression full of emotion. He still needed to visit Rogue.
It was strange—his list of responsibilities had grown considerably. And yet, these were all things he valued deeply. He wasn't willing to abandon any of them. If anything, he could only tackle them one at a ti.
With a soft hum of energy, a golden portal opened behind him. Kurogai stepped through and erged at the orphanage.
But what greeted him wasn't the sound of children laughing or feet scampering across the courtyard. The place was silent. Withered leaves rustled along the ground. It was completely deserted.
Clearly, the relocation he'd arranged through S.H.I.E.L.D. had already taken place.
"...They didn't leave an address?"
Kurogai rubbed his temples, realizing that he hadn't left his own contact information behind for Dean Mary or Skye. It wasn't their fault—he had simply been too busy to think ahead.
"Looks like I'll need to go straight to S.H.I.E.L.D."
With a flick of his fingers, another golden portal shimred into existence. Monts later, he stepped directly into the Director's office at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
"Damn it, Kurogai!" Nick Fury nearly spilled his coffee. "You ever heard of knocking?"
"I need the address of the orphanage. Where did you move them?"
"They didn't tell you?" Fury raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised. They should've reached out by now. Well, I relocated them to San Francisco. It's stable, secure, and has decent infrastructure for their needs. You'll like it."
He rummaged through the papers on his desk and handed over an unfiled docunt. "This is the address. It hasn't been logged officially yet, so keep it discreet."
"I appreciate it," Kurogai replied, taking the folder and stepping through a new portal without another word.
The suburban area he arrived in was peaceful, nestled far from the bustle of the city. The air was fresh, and birds chirped faintly in the trees. The mont Kurogai saw the familiar layout of the new courtyard—replicating the old orphanage's charm—he knew he'd found it.
"Brother Kurogai! You're back!"
Before he could even knock, Skye ca sprinting toward him, her eyes shining. She had clearly sensed his arrival through her unique abilities.
"Asta, you're finally here! We've all been waiting so long!"
"That's right! We were supposed to throw a party when we moved in, but you vanished!"
More children poured out into the courtyard, surrounding Kurogai with laughter and cheer. For a mont, all the stress and weight on his shoulders faded.
He didn't break the mood. Instead, he celebrated with them—hosting a true welco party. Food was shared, music played, and the air was filled with laughter.
Dean Mary seed especially content. The new ho was larger, safer, and capable of housing more children. Her joy was evident in her warm smile and misty eyes.
As night fell and the moon bathed the courtyard in silver, the noise gradually faded. Dean Mary gently ushered the younger children to bed, and the celebration drew to a close.
Only Skye remained awake, hovering near the veranda, as if waiting for sothing.
"Where have you been, Brother Kurogai?" she asked, approaching with a pout. "Why didn't you take with you this ti?"
Her voice was soft, but the disappointnt was clear.
Skye had trained hard these past few years. She'd worked tirelessly to stay by Kurogai's side, wanting to prove she could be useful. And yet, when the ti ca, he had gone alone—leaving her behind.
Kurogai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Skye... So situations are too dangerous, even for you. But that doesn't an you're not strong. One day, when you're ready, I'll need you. That ti will co—and it'll be your mont to shine."
"But I am strong now!" she insisted, eyes blazing with determination. "If you don't believe , fight ! I'll show you what I can do!"
He looked at her, surprised by her intensity.
She had changed. The girl who once clung to his side now stood tall and confident. He could see it—she truly had grown stronger. Maybe it was ti to test her resolve.
"Alright then," he said, nodding. "Let's find you a proper opponent."
Her face lit up, though she tried to maintain her serious expression.
"We'll go sowhere quiet. Sowhere safe for a spar."
He began forming a new portal with a swirl of his hand.
But then—
"Wait," Skye said, stepping forward.
"I don't need you to take ."
She pulled a sling ring from her jacket pocket and slid it onto her finger.
Kurogai raised an eyebrow as she slowly rotated her wrist, forming a glowing portal of her own. It was smaller, less stable, but it held firm.
"…You've been learning magic?" he asked, mildly impressed.
Skye stood a little taller. "I've been practicing. Every day."
Kurogai folded his arms, watching the portal shimr in the moonlight.
She was serious.
Maybe she was ready to fight her own battles.
---
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