Shiro & Professor Xavier

[x-sanfuaiyaa.livejournal.com]

Following his conversations with Haroun, Alison, and Scott, Shiro sits down for tea with Xavier to discuss his desires. Shiro makes his intentions clearer, and is invited to train for the X-Men.


Shiro had spent the better part of the afternoon meditating, an effort to keep himself calm and to strengthen his pathetic psychic shields. He was not afraid of Xavier intentionally reading his mind, but he knew that presentation would count for a lot. If he came to the meeting with his thoughts leaking, Xavier would see him as ill-prepared and unequipped to train for the team.

Finally satisfied that he was as close to Nirvana as he would attain for the day, Shiro went to Xavier's office to have the talk. He knocked on the door, and waited patiently for an invitation to come in.

"Come in, Shiro," Charles said, finishing a letter to one of his colleagues in Bonn. Shutting down his laptop, he wheeled out from behind his desk to sit by his chessboard. His latest game with Scott seemed to be three moves away from checkmate, although for which side, it was not immediately certain.

"Good afternoon, Professor," Shiro greeted as he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. For a moment he feared that they would be talking over a game of chess; while Shiro was no amateur, he certainly was not an expert, either. But seeing that a game was already in progress, he exhaled in relief. He took a seat across from Xavier, and thought about what to say next. Preferably something more intelligent than "iwanttojointhexmenpleasekthnxbye." "Anoo, thank you for your time."

"It is no trouble," Xavier answered with a smile, indicating the tea pot on the small table between them. "Would you care for tea? I am afraid that I do not have the proper equipment for a traditional ceremony, but I do enjoy this particular blend." As he began pouring two small cups of the steaming tea with precise care, the Professor continued. "It is my understanding that you have a matter of some importance to discuss."

"If you had the facilities for cha no yu, I would be very impressed," Shiro said, smiling softly and accepting a cup. His lips puckered a bit at the bitterness of the black tea, but he politely sipped it anyway. It was, he had to admit, some of the best black tea he had ever had. "Yes. I have spoken with Jetstream, Dazzler, and Cyclops, and now I come to you with the request to train for the X-Men."

Charles took the news with a brief nod, savoring his tea, then setting his cup to the side. "I had expected as much, to be perfectly honest with you," he replied. "You are a young man of remarkable discipline, courage, and no small amount of zanshin, as you are well aware. Yet due to certain situations with your family, you consider yourself ronin, rather than samurai. Tell me, Shiro, does this factor into your motivations?"

"Thank you," he said. It was nice to hear someone actually compliment him for a change. "You are asking if I think that belonging to the X-Men will negate the ronin's loneliness and lack of direction. If participating in something bigger, in something that makes a difference in the world, will offer me a purpose to life." Shiro grinned ruefully and took another sip. "Yes, it is a factor. I do not know how important a factor it is, though."

"It is human nature to desire purpose, to seek direction," Xavier explained. "I founded this school, and later the X-Men, to further the purpose that I have built my life's work around: that of harmony between humans and mutants. Many of my students and colleagues who have chosen to join the X-Men have the same goals, although many have their own motivations. Logan joined out of gratitude and a desire to belong. Haroun sees his service with the X-Men as a vocation of sorts, a calling. Yet the commonality is that all who have chosen to serve have said that they believe it is 'the right thing to do'. And my question in return always is 'why?'."

Taking another sip of his tea, Xavier arched an eyebrow slightly and inclined his head to Shiro. "Why then, do you believe that training for the X-Men is the right step to take at this point in your life?"

Shiro had been practicing for this question. He'd offered various responses to Haroun, Alison, and Scott already. He could have explained that he wanted to make his sister proud of him, or that he wanted to use his powers for good, or that he believed in the Dream and wanted to make it a reality.

But instead the words that came out of his mouth were: "I want to be a hero." Shiro tried to cover up his embarrassment at blurting that out by raising his teacup to his mouth. After drinking some, he put the cup down and sighed. "There are villains - actual super-powered villains like in anime and manga - and no common law enforcement agency can deal with them. But . . ." Shiro held his right hand out, palm up, golden fire burst into existence. He stared into the flames licking his fingers. "And I know that this is not a game. I know that death is a real possibility with every mission. But who else can maintain safety and peace but someone like me?"

"While the X-Men do deal with such threats," Xavier explained with a sobering look on his face, "we must never forget that we are not, nor can we be, a law unto ourselves. Magneto chose that path, and it has led him into a dark and lonely place filled with little but anger and contempt. We must not seek to stand above those we help protect, Shiro, but to walk alongside them. I encourage you to think on this, and if you feel that it is the path you want to walk, then I can envision no greater pride than to see you follow the Dream, whether as part of the X-Men or in whatever way your destiny takes you."

The flames extinguished, and Shiro lowered his hand. "I do not see the X-Men as above the law, and I have never believed that mutants are better than baseline humans. Rather, I suppose that I see the X-Men as being the select group trained to contend with those mutants who do. Look at what Magneto did to Alison and Miles in November, for example. There is no way the police could have managed to subdue him. But Dazzler could fight back. Granted, with extreme harm to her self, but she is still alive and has made a complete recovery. Am I making sense?"

The Professor nodded, his calm smile once more appearing on his face. "The X-Men are not only a retaliatory force, but also a proactive one," Xavier explained. "Many mutants are out there in the world, alone and lost. We offer them the chance for sanctuary and guidance. This school and through it, the X-Men, are primarily an instrument to that end. As an X-Man, you would not only have to be the protective fist of strength, but the open hand of compassion and understanding. Do you believe that you are capable of this dual nature, Shiro? Think carefully on it."

"Have you never seen me with Leyu-chan, sir?" Shiro asked, raising an eyebrow and grinning. "I may appear to only accept the 'fist of strength,' but compassion is not alien to me. I am more complex than I appear." His hand once again burst into flames, and that it was not spreading over his entire body was a testament to his control. "I am no stranger to loss and directionlessness."

"Then perhaps we shall see if this choice will change that," Charles agreed, reaching out a hand to Shiro. "I believe that I will speak with Cyclops tonight, and give him my recommendation that you begin training. I trust that he has made you aware of what it shall entail. Should you decide that a future as an X-Man is not where your destiny lies, you should know that whatever your decision, you are always welcome to continue your studies here."

The flames dissipated as Shiro reached out his hand to grasp Xavier's. "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, sensei. I will not leave you or anyone dissatisfied. You have my word on that."