Steel Shadows
By Janime Lee and Star Lin
Chapter Seven
"All set?" Ryo asked.
"I think so," Cale responded as he zipped the suitcase," I'll admit that I'm still uncertain about the airplane."
"There's nothing to it," the Ronin leader assured. "I've been on a couple flights. Trust me, you'll be okay."
The past two weeks had gone by too fast for the Warlord. Most of it was spent with Logan, Storm, and Jubilee (a lot with Jubilee). Logan and Cale also started on strengthening their father/son bond. Logan never pressed the subject of Cale going to America -- the X-MAN would wait for his son to bring it up. When Cale said that he would go with them, Logan was happy and relieved.
Jubilee was beyond ecstatic.
And courtesy of Mia's and Rowen's computer (and hacking) skills, Sasaki Kujuuro had a birth certificate, a place of residence, passport, and all required paperwork for Cale to enter the USA on a temporary visa.
"Cale, relax," said Ryo.
"Says the human volcano." Cale picked the suitcase off the bed and slung the backpack over his shoulder. The went downstairs and outside to Kento's van. Ryo took the suitcase from Cale and went to put the luggage in the back.
"No offense, Kento," Cale reached for the side door handle, "but wouldn't it have been more logical to take the jeep?" He slid the door open and was greeted by six smiling faces.
"And not have us give a teary farewell?" Cye asked jokingly. "Perish the thought."
Cale just rolled his eyes and climbed into the van.
At Tokyo International Airport, Logan, Storm, and Jubilee sat at the terminal. The youngest mutant shifted in her seat every so often, tried to focus on the book in her hands and prevented the smile taking root at the thought of Cale going to American with (her) them.
"Miko's on her way," said Logan.
The feline mutant was also going back with the X-Men. After a long talk with Miko and her parents, the Kazamei adults agreed to let their daughter go to the Xavier Institute.
Miko jogged over to the trio and flopped in the chair next to Jubilee. "All checked in," Miko sighed, "I got a little worried that security would make me take this off," she tapped the image inducer on her left wrist. "I'd have a lot of explaining to do if my ears appeared on top of my head."
"Better than getting a new stereo every six weeks," said Jubilee, "and that was during my first year at the school."
"So how is it?" Miko asked. "Is everyone there… you know."
Jubilee gave as much information as she could without giving anyone sitting nearby confirmation they were mutants. It kept her distracted until she saw Logan turn around and look into the moving mass of people.
"Your boyfriend is coming," Miko smirked. Jubilee ignored her as she searched for Cale in the crowd.
A few moments later, the Warlord emerged, looking a little nervous until he saw the group. "I thought the subways were bad," Cale said as he dropped in the vacant seat next to Logan.
"Wait till you see New York," his father told him.
"Logan," Storm gave him a look.
There was still quite a bit of time before passengers could start boarding. The three teens kept themselves occupied playing cards, and browsing in the souvenir shops and food stands. When the announcement was made for the people to start boarding, Cale could feel the uneasiness in his stomach.
I'm not afraid, he thought, I'm a great warrior, a powerful Warlord, I have command over darkness… Why am I acting like a-
He felt someone take hold of his hand. Turning his head, Cale saw Jubilee smiling at him.
Cale smiled back. Ryo was right; nothing to worry about.
"So what do you think of these two pups are gonna be like?" Gambit asked.
"Don't know, sugah," Rogue looked at the clock. The plane would be landing in less than ten minutes, then happy greetings, and off to the hassle of claiming luggage.
As for the two pups Gambit was referring to, Storm had given information about Miko, and kept Cale's down to practically nothing. All she said was that they would understand when they arrived.
Rogue jumped a little when Gambit's arms encircled her waist. "Still having those dreams, sweet?"
"On and off," Rogue answered. Ever since she and Xavier went to see what memories she had absorbed from Wolverine, Rogue had been dreaming quite a bit about Logan in sixteenth century Japan with his family. What hurt Rogue the most was seeing Logan and the little boy fall over the cliff, and then nothing.
"Doors have opened," said Gambit, and Rogue chided herself for zoning out.
They watched the people enter the airport -- some happy to be home again, others amazed to be in America for the first time, and a few heading to another terminal to catch another plane.
"They're smart," Rogue grinned, "they're waiting till the end."
"Don't blame them," Gambit agreed.
As the arrivals started to thin out, Storm and Wolverine entered the airport.
"Welcome home," Rogue greeted and then both a quick hug.
"How was the flight?" asked Gambit.
"Long," said Wolverine then muttered, "too bad we couldn't use the Black Bird."
"I won't argue on that," Storm said. She looked back at the gate entrance. "Now where are- oh, here they come."
Gambit and Rogue followed her line of sight as Jubilee and two other teens came into view. Judging from their actions, the new girl was obviously teasing the boy and Jubilee was defending him. Rogue smiled at the scene, and then she focused on the boy. Her smile faded and her eyes widened.
"Oto-san!"
Logan set down the bundle of wood as his son raced from the house and into his father's open arms. "Kuj-chan, did you behave today?"
"Hai."
"You did everything your mother said?"
"Hai, oto-san."
"That's my boy," Logan smiled and raised his son up so he could sit on his shoulders.
Oh my God… Rogue looked at Wolverine; her eyes begging him to answer what she was afraid to ask out loud.
Wolverine grinned and gave a quick nod.
Rogue felt the relief sweep through her like a tidal wave.
"They're late."
"Probably stuck in traffic," Scott said and sat next to Jean. "Anxious, are we?"
"I'm curious about the two coming with them," answered his wife and then she thought, Especially if that boy is Logan's son. "Scott!"
"What?"
"Logan would have been a very good father if he knew. That was rude."
"What's rude is the telepath sneaking around in her husband's mind without his permission."
"You projected that rather loud, Scott," Xavier said as he entered the living room. He stopped his wheelchair in front of the couple. "And I am in agreement with Jean."
The Professor had no doubt in his mind that if Wolverine was given the chance, he would have been an excellent father. Granted Xavier couldn't see Logan changing diapers or bottle-feed an infant but he knew plenty of men in the world -- human and mutant -- who had sucked it up and dealt with it.
And from the memories Rogue had absorbed, for that brief time over four hundred years ago, Logan was the best father and husband in the world.
"See," Jean looked at Scott.
The sound of a car engine echoed into the room. "There they are," said Xavier.
"So we drive on the opposite side of the road," Jubilee said as the group entered the mansion.
"It's weird for me," a young male voice spoke in perfect English with a Japanese accent.
"Not me," said a female voice with the same accent.
"We're home," Rogue sang.
"May I introduce Miko and Cale," Storm smiled.
"Welcome home," Xavier greeted his students then turned to the two teens, "and welcome to America."
"Thank you," Miko smiled as she and Cale bowed. Miko then pressed a button on the image inducer, revealing her true appearance.
"Jubilee, why don't help them settle in," Xavier suggested. "And this way you three can get a little rest before we start anything."
"Right," Jubilee smiled and took Cale's hand, leading him upstairs. Miko just shook her head as she followed.
"Well," Jean couldn't help smiling, "they seem close."
"Attached at the hip is more like it," Gambit smirked.
"So Logan," Scott faced the wild-man, "do we even have to ask?"
Wolverine had a proud look in his eyes as he spoke, "Cale is my son."
Cale woke sometime later; he sat up and stretched. The clock read quarter to five. He rose from the bed -- it was a little firmer than the one he had been sleeping on in Ryo's room, and a change to wake up without Rowen yelling for someone to get White Blaze away from him.
Refreshed from his nap, the Warlord picked up his suitcase and set it on the bed to start unpacking when a knock reverberated from the bedroom door. "Come in."
Rogue peeked into the room. "Glad you're up," she said, "I was hoping you and I could have a little chit-chat."
Cale waved for her to enter, and she shut the door. "This place is big," Cale admitted.
"It gets bigger," Rogue sat on the chair next to the TV stand, "you'll be getting a tour after supper. Some things you won't be able to see without the Professor's consent, though."
"I understand. Forgive me for bringing this up but you and Logan seem a little close. Why is that?"
Rogue gave a little smile. "I had a feeling that was gonna pop up eventually. Well, I wasn't always with the X-Men. My mutant powers are very dangerous. When I touch someone, even with the tip of my finger, I drain a person's life energy and I copy every memory they have. First time I found out was when my best friend, Cody kissed me… and he fell into a coma. He's gone now."
Cale stopped unpacking.
"After that, I ran away and did my best to keep from getting close to people. Then a woman found me. Her name is Mystique; she's also a mutant and can shape-shift into whoever she wants on a whim. She showed me how to use my powers. My birth mother had died when I was real little so Mystique became my mother. I ran with her and her group. On one of our 'missions' we were interrupted by Ms. Marvel -- real name Carol Denvers. I grabbed her… and held on for too long."
Rogue floated up from the chair. "I absorbed her powers -- flight and super strength. But I also absorbed Carol herself. It was like having a split personality. Mystique couldn't do anything so I left, and that's why I'm here."
Cale sat on his bed. "So how did you and Logan become good friends?"
Rogue floated down to the other side of the bed. "I took a hit from a very powerful and very long laser blast that was intended for your father's lady friend a few years ago. He let me absorb his healing powers. Ever since then, we've been like family to each other."
Cale smiled, and then asked, "What happened to his lady friend?"
"She died sometime later. I won't go into all of it -- that's up to your father to tell you, not me."
"Understood."
Someone knocked on the door and then opened it. "Oh, hey, Rogue," Jubilee said, "I wanted to see if Cale was up."
"He was up when I got here," the older woman grinned. "We just had a little chat about Logan."
"Gotta love him," Jubilee smiled. "Anyways, supper won't be ready for another hour. I just wanted to see if you would like to go for a walk on the outside grounds."
Cale nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"Miko going with you?" Rogue asked.
"She's still asleep. She even sleeps curled up like a cat."
"Maybe she's related to White Blaze," Cale grinned as he pulled on his boots.
Rogue looked curious. "Who's White Blaze?"
"My friend Ryo's pet tiger."
"Pet tiger?"
"We have pictures," Jubilee said as the three walked out of Cale's room, "he may be big, but his personality is almost like a kitten's."
"Now that's something to see," said Rogue. "I'll see you two at supper." She watched the teens walk down the hallway to the staircase holding hands. Rogue couldn't help the pleased smile.
"So what do you think?" Jubilee asked.
"It's very nice," Cale said, "and big. It's almost double the size of Mia's home."
A flash of dark smoke appeared before the teens. "Wait to you see what's underneath," a dark-blue skinned man with yellow eyes, a tail, and a thick German accent said with a large smile.
Cale jumped and almost started to call his sub-armor when Jubilee grabbed his arm.
"It's okay; he lives here, too. Kurt, could you give a little warning?"
"My apologies, sweet Jubilee," he bowed, "but I was curious to see the son of Logan."
Jubilee shook her head. "Cale, this is Kurt Wagner, also know as Nightcrawler."
"Welcome," Kurt held out his hand.
Cale was mildly shocked that he only had two fingers and a thumb but he shook the older mutant's hand. "Thank you."
"Forgive me but I am afraid that I must cut this short. I promised my sister that I'd help prepare for tonight's dining."
"No one can set the table as fast as you," Jubilee smirked.
Kurt tapped her nose. "Cute. Auf Wiederhoren, meine Freundin." He vanished in a puff of smoke.
Cale looked at Jubilee. "Is his sister anything like him?"
She couldn't help laughing as they continued to walk. "Rogue is his sister."
"…How?"
"Did she tell you about Mystique?"
"Yeah, and Ms. Marvel."
"Okay. Well, I only know a little bit since they found out, but Mystique is Kurt's birth-mother. He says she gave him up because he was born looking the way he does and his father was a wealthy aristocrat in Germany. Kurt was taken in by a traveling circus, and he's a pretty good acrobat. So he and Rogue are adopted siblings. Better her than his half-brother."
"Half-brother?"
"Graydon Creed," Jubilee sounded like the name had left a bitter taste in her mouth. "Even though Mystique is his mother and his father is also a mutant -- Sabertooth, you'll find out soon enough -- Graydon is human. But he hates mutants. He founded an organization called Friends of Humanity."
Cale nodded. "Cye told me about them around the time Miko had disappeared."
"I had a run-in with them once; it was pretty bad."
They walked to the gazebo and sat down on the bench.
"But enough about that," Jubilee smiled, "what do you think so far?"
"I like it here," Cale admitted. "It's different and there's a slight sense of belonging and the decision to go your own way as well. There wasn't that option back then…"
"Back then…?"
"Four hundred years ago," he clarified. "After father and I escaped the soldiers, he left me in a small cave and went off but he said he would come back. He was gone for quite some time. I heard someone outside the cave and thought it was him, but it was a group of slave traders. They caught me, and I was sold to a wealthy family. They eldest son didn't treat me like a servant; he acted more like an older brother and taught me how to fight."
Jubilee saw the look in his eyes. "What happened to him?"
"Another clan destroyed him and his family. I managed to escape. A few months after that during the winter the other Warlords found me, and that's how I ended up in the Dynasty."
He paused for a bit, turning his gaze away from Jubilee to the sunset. "Talpa sealed away my memories -- the other Warlords and Kayura's also, so that we would be loyal servants without any doubt in his methods or actions. Even though everything was revealed to us, I still didn't want to let it go. I was actually afraid to remember my life before the Dynasty, and dishonoring that knowing what I'd become."
Jubilee took hold of his hand. "You didn't, Cale, you came back. And there's more honor in that than any battle fought."
Cale looked at her, and slowly leaned toward each other till their lips met.
"Supper will be ready soon, won't it?" Cale said between kisses.
"In a while," Jubilee answered.
They both wanted to finish their appetizer.
January 6, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Yes, long overdue, and I apologize if it's short. I could give you details but I don't want to bore you. Forgive the typos. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't take over a year for another post.
Wikipedia was a very good friend for X-Men info.
To EverWatchful, this chapter is dedicated to you.
Auf Wiederhoren, meine Freundin See you later, my friends.