Here Comes the Sun

[Sunfire]

Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters was suitably impressive. The huge, ivy-festooned building had swung into view a few minutes ago and Shiro found himself wondering how they managed to maintain such a large and expensive campus without any obvious source of income. If what he had read was true the school did not take payment from parents enrolling their 'gifted' children.

The large iron gates stood open revealing the wide gravel drive beyond and he supposed the high wall surrounding the premises was as much for the protection of the public as it was for keeping intruders out.

Mutant children experimenting with their powers could be highly volatile.

Shiro was well acquainted with volatile.

The gravel crunched under the wheels of the car as he rolled slowly up to the wide turning circle in front of the building.

Hopefully Miss Taylor hadn't forgotten their appointment.

He twisted the key in the ignition and killed the engine before stepping out into the cool, fresh air.

This was a good place, a place of learning.

He smiled.

[candice]

Candice was ready for this next appointment, unlike the unfortunate tardiness with Domino. She stepped out the door, a few minutes prior to the appointment date, and caught Shiro driving up.

Her first impression was that he was a happy man, at peace with himself and the world around him. As he walked up to the steps, and she walked over to him, she could feel her spirits lifting. It felt good to have the darkness of the night before washed away...

"Mr. Shiro?" She asked, offering him a small bow. She'd read up on her international business negotiatings before taking on the job of administrator.

[Sunfire]

"Miss Taylor," Shiro replied with a trace of accent. He returned her bow with one of his own, a purposeful gesture of respect from the waist, head slightly bowed.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he glanced around once more at the imposing building, "you are well I trust?" Manners cost nothing and respect and courtesy had been a big part of his up-bringing.

"I had never imagined the school to be so grand, truly the youngsters are gifted in more ways than one."

[candice]

She smiled at his courtesy. "It does," she replied to his greeting. "You also."

Then she looked back at the school, giving him a toothy smile. "Yes, the students are quite gifted in many ways. The school was built by Charles Xavier, and he had quite a vision. He also had significant funds and donations, as few of the students here actually pay."

She walked up the steps with him, and opened the door for him. "I hope the news this morning doesn't deter your interest in teaching here, Mr. Shiro. It was something of an exciting night last night."

[Sunfire]

He stepped into the spacious hall beyond the door with a quiet thank you for her courtesy. The building was a magnificent on the inside as it was on the outside. Thick carpets, wood paneling, painted portraits and hardwood floors lent the school an air of scholarly antiquity that was only slightly marred by the crater shaped like a pair of feet.

Shiro's gaze lingered on the imperfection only a moment before completing its tour of the room.

"Not at all Miss Taylor," he replied genially to her comment, "I have found that the New York journalists have a way of, hmmm, how would you say? Blowing things out of proportion?"

In fact anybody who believed half of what was printed in the New York tabloids would never, ever leave their home and spend the rest of their lives shut in the kitchen, living on tinned food and cradling a shotgun in their arms.

"Though I have lost none of my interest, I am unsure whether any of my skills will be of use to the school. I have no teaching qualifications that would be recognised in the United States."

[candice]

She frowned at the double foot prints herself, then brought her attention back to Shiro. It brought the smile back to her face. Wow, that was a neat affect... she wondered if that was part of his power.

"I'm sure we can find a place for you. Most of our students are younger, the oldest about twenty."

She took a few steps across the lobby, thinking. Finally she turned to him. "I suppose I have to be extremely forward in this case, then. Mr. Shiro... what sort of mutation do you have?"

[Sunfire]

Shiro was momentarily taken aback by the directness of the question, it was not something he was used to discussing. In fact his father would have frowned very deeply indeed at the idea of him talking freely about his mutation. Here, in a school that helped young people to realise their potential it seemed somehow rude not to talk about it.

He looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.

"I can armour myself in the fire of the sun," it was the simplest and prettiest way to put it. He had never had his ability scientifically studied but he had experimented with it at great length during his younger years.

"I can also use the fire as a weapon or like a rocket, to fly."

He nodded solemnly.

"It is an ability poorly suited for indoor use."

[candice]

Candice blinked.

“That’s… that’s a fairly impressive power, Sir.” She said, already thinking the X-Men would want to meet this man. “Which is good… because I can only imagine you must have a great measure of control. Would you say this is true? One of the most important things we teach our students is how to control their powers – particularly ones with dangerous abilities. It’s not as if you can be registered to teach such a thing.”

She looked up at him again, not wanting to stereotype him… but still, it was an important question to ask:

“You wouldn’t have any other skills that could teach discipline? Yoga, martial arts? Those don’t require the same kinds of teaching degrees.”

[Sunfire]

Shiro nodded, "indeed, it has taken a great many years to understand my abilities, but then to be master of ones-self is the journey of a lifetime is it not?" He smiled again.

"I have some knowledge in the arts of Karate and Kendo though I do not claim to be the master my sensei was," he could almost hear the spirit of Uncle Tomo snort at being called a master.

"I would lend these skills to the school if you feel they would be of use," so many young people these days seemed to lack any sort of discipline, it would be good to pass on a small part of his uncles teachings if it would serve a new generation.

"Are there many staff here?"

[candice]

Her smile widened. It was good that she hadn't just stereotyped the guy and had been wrong... besides, it wasn't his ethnic background that made her think he was a martial arts guy, it was his personality. He just struck her as an incredibly disciplined person.

"Discipline is primarily what we teach here. If you can teach that, you're an incredible asset to the school, Mr. Shiro."

She was showing him the classrooms, and walking him down the hall when he asked about the other staff.

"Eight full time staff. We all take on shares of helping the students and teaching them. We also have the teachers that are more than that... those that are part of the X-Men."