Through the Years Chapter 12
By Agent Reptile
Ranma 1/2 and all various in sundry characters found within belongs to Viz comics/video and Rumiko Takahashi (not mine). Wolverine, X-Men, and any other Marvel characters which come along belong to (duh) Marvel comics (not mine). Tenchi Muyo and all various characters I pull from them belong to AIC and Pioneer (not mine). Gold Diggers belongs to Antarctic Press and Fred Perry (not mine). G. belongs to Hasbro (also not mine). Darkstalkers belongs to Viz comics and Capcom (you see a pattern here?). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles belong to Mirage Studios (again not mine). Ranokami (my character so ask if you want to use). As said in previous version Logan has been an X-man years before the others. Any other connection between X-Men: Evolution and this fic ends at that line as this is like the comics or the other X-Men cartoon from the 90's.
"English"
"Chinese"
"Sign language"
"Japanese"
Recap:
In our last episode of 'Through the Years' Wild Wolf was freed from the evil clutches of Cobra and the Shredder by the combined forces of our heroes, but not without some serious problems from his experiences. Heavily traumatized from the events, Ranokami is now headed to Muir Island via the Blackbird to be treated by Dr. Moira McTaggart. Now we see our hero making the hard journey toward recovery.
The skyline of the Northern part of the Atlantic Ocean was a black mass of seeming emptiness. As Ranokami glanced out the window, the young mutant wondered just why his life had become so complicated. What had he done to deserve the latest torment that he had to go through...then he thought of what had Uchan done to deserve to loose her father? What had his mother done to have to deal with Genma for a husband for six years? And what had his father done that had deserved to have been tormented so much in his life? The answers to all of the questions was the same: Nothing. Taking a deep sigh, the teenage mutant tried to relax and try to enjoy the trip.
"Enjoying the view, my son?" Nodoka asked as she placed her hand on her son's shoulder. It would be a very tenuous time for all of the Logans to go through with the only son of the family having to spend a long duration healing from what has happened to him, so everyone decided to see that Ranokami made it to Muir Island safely.
"Not really...just gazing, really." The reply to Nodoka's question was empty, just as the sky her son had been looking at. The Blackbird's graceful flight path was like a phantom effortlessly floating through the seemingly endless bleakness towards the Northern Irish coast.
In truth Wild Wolf was depressed, just thinking of his recent turn of events. Being tough meant accepting what had happened and getting on with it, but this was a perfect time for our favorite mutant to do so.
Ukyo was accompanying her brother on the trip as well, though she had found the scenery far more conducive to sleep. The brunette had curled up in the seat right behind Wild Wolf and murmured lightly as she dreamed. She knew that it wouldn't be long before she and the closest one she has ever had for a brother would be staying far from 'home' for an extended period of time and almost couldn't bear to let him go. The fact was this was going to be the first time that the two of them were going to be separated for any length of time since the two friends had been reunited after Logan rescued his son from Genma, and Ukyo didn't want her best buddy to leave her again.
However, the young lady knew in her heart that Ranokami needed to go to Muir island and be helped by someone Professor Xavier trusted. It was just hard for Ukyo to let go of those she loved for any period of time, even if she knew that her Ranchan was going to return to her soon enough.
As far as the patriarch of the Logan clan was doing, well he was busy working the controls of the Blackbird and hoping to High Heaven that his son would be okay. The cub was tough, no question, but Logan wasn't exactly sure what lasting effects the procedure Mindbender had done to his son would be...and because of that Logan was really temped to stay on Muir Island with his son just in case. Logan knew very well that the kid wouldn't deliberately do anything crazy, but Logan remembered well what happened when he first contacted people after he was turned into a living wfeapon.
Logan gripped the controls a little harder as he thought about the bastards at Weapon X who had stripped him of his humanity and forced him to be a monster. And then remembered that his son had been spared the final act of Cobra's vialness. Without the mind-control systems operational then the cub should be in a lot better position than the older Logan had been years ago. Not to mention that Wolverine had responsibilities as a member of the X-Men and it would be best for everyone that Wild Wolf was able to be treated for his experiences in a place where he just would be another guy. And if Chuck thought this Moira gal was good then that was good enough for the Canadian.
Meanwhile, at Muir Island we see that a middle aged woman with short cut brown hair dressed in a typical white lab coat and wearing a pair of reading glasses was now looking thought the protective clear wall lovingly at her son, who had just begun to develop his fantastic mutant powers. Or rather frightening powers.
Proteus was now fast asleep, the very rare occurrences in which he was actually peaceful and it broke his mother's heart that she it would be years before they would ever really be able to make contact with one another again. But that would have to wait for now because the Island was about to get a new guest, at least for a short period of time.
"Ah Moira. how goes the wee lad's progress?" A Irish tenor voice asked as a man with strawberry blond hair stood behind the woman smiled at her.
"Ach Sean, don't sneak up on me like that." Dr. McTaggart said as she punched the man in the shoulder playfully. "To answer yuir question, it doesn't seem like he's going to be making any real progress for many years."
"Sorry, but if ye have the time Xaiver's friends will be landing soon and I thought that ye would want to meet them." Sean Cassidy said as he lead his associate towards the small landing area just outside of the very advanced building that serves as the laboratory and hospital for the island.
The unusual commotion was noticed by yet another guest of the facility, and this one was in her own way just as unique as Moira's son. In the form of a medium sized canid, a very feral looking wolf to be more exact, the teenage mutant had been sleeping curled up on her bed as if she was the pet of the house. Now where she may have had loyalty greater than just about any real canid, Rahne Sinclair was nobody's pet.
The teenage mutant knew that Moira had once again gone to the secret part of the complex as every night, and was once more depressed because of it. But something was different this night. The canid mutant's ear swiveled as she picked up the sound of foot steps heading past her room, which was odd for this hour and caused the wolfgirl to rise from her slumber.
Leaping off of the bed, and morphing into her halfway form, Wolfsbane walked out of her room and towards her adoptive mother.
"Ah Rahne, what are you doing out of bed my dear?" Moira asked as the very feral looking teenager was now looking at her feet sheepishly.
"Well ye were making noise and I wanted to see what it was all about." Rahne said as she held her hands behind her back, and doing everything else to seem as least threatening as possible.
"Well love, an ol' friend of Moira and I has someone who needs some help coping with how shall I say it, new development in their life." Sean smiled as he pet the little girl on the back of the head.
"Oh, so someone just learned that they're a mutant, and humans have been less than kind to him?" Rahne asked as she remembered how her own father had attempted to perform an exorcism to expunge her developing mutant powers.
"Well yes and no, apparently this particular young man has had some recent hard times and one of my oldest friends wanted this particular young man to have some time to deal with what has happened to him before Xavier will allow him to go into the field again." Moira said as the small dot in the sky coming from the West was getting larger and larger.
"Oh, so who is it that's going to be staying with us Moira?" Wolfsbane asked as she thought hard as to what exactly she had been told, and only just getting a rough idea.
"A very nice young man who apparently has traveled around the world being trained by the best martial artists known on Earth, has met extraterrestrial royalty, can speak at least three languages fluently, and knows sign language." Moira listed as she thought back to what Xavier had told her about her new patient.
"Really? He sounds so cool. Is he cute?" Wolfsbane asked as she reverted to her completely human form so that she could look her best for her potential first boyfriend.
"Well that you'd just have to see for yourself Rahne. Sadly I wasn't given a picture of the young man, but regardless I expect that you will be on your best behavior young lady."
"Yes Moira." Rahne smiled as the jet slowly descended onto the landing platform and the retractable ladder folded out from the side of the long jet.
Meanwhile back inside the Blackbird.
"Alright people we're here." Wolverine stated plainly as he shut down the massive jet engines and turned all the electrical equipment off. "Naptime's over so get up and move."
"Oh geez it's over already?" a very tired Ukyo asked as she stretched like a cat with her limbs splayed out and her mouth stretched out in a wide yawn. "Must have been a quick flight huh Ranchan?" Ukyo smiled as she wrapped her arms around her "brother's" neck.
"Wha? Oh yea Uchan it was sort of a fast trip." Ranokami said as he gently squeezed his adoptive sibling's wrist before flipping the unlatching mechanism for the safety belts he wore. "But don't worry having missed anything, the sky was so black that you couldn't really see anything." Wild Wolf was still mostly lost in his thoughts as he got out of his seat and headed towards the exit ramp, stopping to pick up his luggage along the way.
"Perhaps my son, but you weren't exactly paying attention to what was going on in front of you." Nodoka smiled as she gracefully made her way down the center walkway. The Logan's Matron's pace was slow and weighted as she seemingly just glided in her kimono.
"Well I was thinking a lot and as far up as we were the view wasn't all that much." Ranokami said as he effortlessly lugged Ukyo's and his carry-on luggage.
"You don't need to do that for me Ranchan. I can carry it if you want." Ukyo commented as she tugged slightly on her closest buddy's arm.
"Nah I can do it. Besides my mom would have a few choice words with me if I didn't do it." Ranokami smirked in his usual lighthearted manner. With no seen effort and no interference with his ability to navigate the narrow space between the chairs and down the stairs to the landing platform where his parents had already gotten to.
"Ah Logan it's nice to see you again." Moira said as she approached the man who was now striking a match to light the cigar held in his lips.
"Same here. Take it that the scruffy looking ragamuffin's your kid?" Logan smirked as he inhaled the thick taste of the rolled tobacco. Nodoka, not very amused at her husband's comment, elbowed the Canadian with an indignant look on her face. Logan just took it with a small chuckle.
"Aye, and I guess that the well dressed woman that just elbowed you would be yuir wife?" Moira smiled as she got her first look at the female crazy enough not only to marry Wolverine, but also to bear his son.
"Moira let me introduce my wife Nodoka. Nodoka this is the woman Chuck believes can help our boy."
Logan's wife was a very dignified looking woman who held herself with a great reserve, but obviously she was bordering on breaking down probably due to the problems that her son had gone through that Moira had only a brief idea about.
The Japanese matriarch forced herself to smile as she looked at her counterpart. Moira was about Nodoka's age with deep brown hair and a lovely Scottish accent. Her presence was comforting and she seemed to exude an aura of helpfulness. This comforted Nodoka as she was still contemplating whether or not Charles's suggestion was a wise one.
"Hello McTaggart-san. Thank you for opening your house to us and for accepting to treat my son while he heals from being tormented by villains and traitors." The red-headed housewife bowed to her host.
"Think nothing of it dear. This place is just like Charles's own institute, open to all mutants to be treated for psychological problems." Moira answered as Nodoka rose up from her greeting.
"And as far as this little one goes," Moira said as everyone looked at the skinny redheaded teenager standing behind Moira. "I'd like you to meet a friend of mine named Logan, Logan this is Rahne." Moira said as the older woman placed her hand on Rahne's shoulder and edged her forward.
"Hello, I'm Rahne Sinclare." There was a feral look to this sixteen year old, not too dissimilar to that of the males of the Logan clan. "And I'm please to meet ye, but I was told that it was your son that was supposed to be here?" Wolfsbane asked, looking more towards having someone her age to socialize with than anything else and not knowing that her choice of words would instantly cause the instinctive reaction of...
"Yea my son is so manly!" Nodoka yelled with fan unleashed and feet moving in the strangest dance the three hosts had ever seen.
"Good grief Nochan." Logan groaned as he smacked his forehead with his hand.
Sad to say for our antagonist, he just had to appear at that moment while effortlessly lugging his and Ukyo's luggage to where his parents had been talking with the apparent owners of this isolated location.
"My son's attracting women just by reputation, I'll be a grandmother for sure soon!" Nodoka continued on with her antics as Ranokami and Ukyo finally walked up.
"Ranchan I think that Auntie may need some psychiatric help, no offense." Ukyo sighed as she placed her hand on her best buddy's shoulder.
"None taken Uchan." Ranokami sighed as a sweatdrop developed on the back of his head.
"Look I'm sorry about my mom's dancing about like that. She does it every time a girl makes a comment about me, especially if they happen to be cute, or pretty, or single, or...." Ranokami started to list off on his fingers while looking up into the dark sky, not even really taking notice at the redheaded teenage mutant becoming very embarrassed.
"Ranchan!" Ukyo said as she knocked her brother in the head playfully, more due to her not wanting to damage her hand than anything else. Adamentium skulls are very thick things after all. "Did those Cobra jackasses make your skull more dense than it already was? Jeez." Ukyo shook her head.
"Sorry." Ranokami conceded. "Look I'm not trying to embarrass you or anything...uh what was your name again?" Wild Wolf asked sheepishly.
"Rahne, Rahne Sinclair. And I take it that yuir the one who's going to be here a while?" Rahne was very happy to finally have someone her age to be with, and didn't hurt that he was very cute.
"Yeah, sorry if that's going to inconvenience you or anything. I don't mean to break up anything that you planned on doing."
"Oh dinnae even think about it, we're more than happy to have ye here; or at least I know I am." Rahne smiled and blushed. "I guess ye heard my name, so what's yours?" Rahne asked as she motioned to take some of the bags from her guests.
"Ranokami Logan, and this is my best buddy Ukyo Kounji. I'm the one who's going to be staying for a while." Ranokami said as he shook Rahne's hand.
"Oh, so you're not brother and sister then?" Rahne asked while very put off by the fact that about the only chance at a relationship was about to go up in smoke.
"Not biologically. I was officially adopted after my father died so don't worry I'm not dating my Ranchan here." Ukyo said while thumbing towards the males holding all the bags.
"What difference does that make Uchan?" Ranokami's reply had an instantaneous and predictable reaction. Both Ukyo and Rahne facefaulted.
"What just happened?" Rahne asked as she picked herself up and dusted herself off.
"Nothing much, just Ranchan here made some oblivious bone-headed comment and the logic gap forced us to fall down. Happens a lot in certain parts of Japan." Ukyo explained as the brunette brushed the front of her garments off.
"Alright. Well, how about we continue this conversation inside and Run-o-cami you can drop off yuir stuff in yuir bedroom?" Wolfsbane smiled as she ushered the other two teenagers towards the main complex.
"It's Ranokami actually." the teenage male said as he walked on towards the housing complex, the new female in his life was now walking on the other side of him and doing everything to keep pace with him.
"Oh, sorry."
Getting back to the adults we notice that Moira was now shaking her head at Rahne's actions, not to mention Nodoka going on about how manly her son was. Something now tugging at Moira's mind that she had to protect her daughter from a experienced player, but this was contrary to what she had just seen from Logan's son completely missing the fact that Rahne was flirting with him. What was up with this family?
"Don't worry about it, Moira. Nochan's one who loves big families, but the cub doesn't go around hitting the sheets with every cute girl around." Logan smirked as he lugged his and Nodoka's night bags. "If an entire village of amazon babes wanting you to stud them didn't get him to become a playboy nothing will." Logan thought to himself as Nodoka followed her husband, Sean, and Moira to where the members of the Logan family would be staying for the night before leaving Ranokami to be treated.
The teenagers had by this time gotten to their individual quarters and dropped off their stuff.
"What do ye think?" Rahne asked as she was busy showing the other two teenagers her room.
"Very nice. Not as open as our rooms at Xaiver's mansion, but I think I think that you've done a great job of decorating here."
"Why thank you... Ukyo, right?" Rahne asked as she had Ranokami sit down on her bed next to her.
"Yep, and your name is Rahne?" The Brunette asked as she inspected the few items that decorated the other teenager's room. Book stand, dresser, a couple of toys, and pictures. These pictures were of Rahne, her adoptive mother, a few even had Professor Xavier, and just a couple had...
"Hey Rahne, is the wolf in this picture your pet?" Ukyo asked as she gently picked up the photo and sat on Rahne's other side.
"Well, not really..." Rahne sheepishly replied, not sure as to how exactly answer.
"May I see?" Ranokami asked Rahne who smiled and nodded at the young man's request.
"Well, it's a very beautiful animal whosoever's pet it is. Very graceful looking body, nice color of coat, apparently very friendly." Ranokami smiled, finally now really becoming more aware of the fact that Rahne was actually there. Sadly our hero had been dealing with some serious mind-numbing jet lag. Along with his higher level functions returning were his secondary mutation powers so as he focused his attention on the cute redhead next to him he began to see the aura outline of a very familiar canid.
Rahne was now blushing again as she indulged in her new love interest's complements.
"So you really like wolfs then, Ranoka...." Rahne said while straining to say the male's name.
"Ranokami, and it actually means 'Wild Wolf' in my native tongue." Wild Wolf smiled, figuring out that there was more to this particular girl than she was letting on. "But I like all kinds of animals. In fact in China I met a girl who introduced me to how tigers were awesome." Ranokami smirked.
"Pepar Mint and I had a great time while my family visited relatives in China." the son of Wolverine continued. "She and I both loved to spar for hours on end, race each other through the wilderness. Heck we even had some fun hunting together from time to time." Ukyo was now wondering what Peppar Mint's lycanthropic nature had to do with Rahne's pet.
"So yuir both from China then? That's so cool." Rahne asked as she scutted next to her new friends.
"Actually no, but I can understand your mistake. I'm actually full blooded Japaneses, Ranchan here is half Japaneses since Logan-san is Canadian, and our Cousin Xan Pu is a Chinese Amazon who lives in a village full of female warriors who are not only great martial artists, but known for their great beauty." Ukyo explained in a friendly manner. "And on top of that we mostly live in New York but make a journey every year to Nodoka-san's ancestral samurai manner."
"Uchan you're almost bragging." Ranokami said as he gave an incredulous stare to his best buddy.
"Oops, sorry Rahne." Ukyo said as she scratched the back of her head.
"No it's okay. Uh... why do ye keep saying 'chan' and 'san'? It's kind of confusing me."
"Oh sorry sugar. 'Chan" is used as a term of endearment between us, sort of like how some people use nick-names for friends, while 'san' is a term of honor used to denote respect to someone." Ukyo explained.
"Ah I see, so if ye were my friend then what would ye call me?"
"Well I'd say it would be Rahne-chan then, because lets face it Rahchan sounds more like a guys name. And not really fitting someone as cute as the girl in this picture." Ranokami said as he pointed to the wolf in the photograph before him.
"What... how did ye...?" Rahne shot up off the bed not sure if she would have to defend herself or not, and battling back the embarrassment that she was now going through at having her cover blown.
"Relax please I'm sorry to upset you." Ranokami said as he was shocked with guilt. "Look I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings. It's okay really if you're a werewolf; Ukyo and I don't care right?" Ranokami said as facing his sister.
"Wait, werewolf? Ranchan what are you talking about? Are you saying that the wolf in the pictures is actually Rahne-chan here?" Ukyo asked as the gears in her head slowly worked to figure what was going on.
"Well maybe not a real werewolf. Uh, look Rahne-chan I'm a mutant, just like Uchan here, my father, Xavier-san, the X-Men, and I kind of figured that you and your family were mutants too, right?" Ranokami explained.
"Well my mother isn't, but her friend Sean is, and so am I. My powers are kind of like those werewolves have in movies and books, but I'm not a werewolf. Tell me, please how did ye know?"
"I figured it out when I saw the wolf-aura around you. See not only do I have all of my father's powers such as inhuman senses, retractable claws, and inhuman regeneration, I can tell the true nature of people around me by just looking at them and focusing a little. I detect this as a superimposed transparent aura around the person, and with my friend Peppar Mint I was able to see her hybrid form superimposed over her human one."
"Hybrid form? You mean that she was actually a.."
"Yep sugar she was a real weretigeress just like her mother. With all real werebeings if the mother is a lycan, then you are a lycan, and Pepar Mint loved to show off her new ability to control her transformation into her hybrid form in front of you Ranchan." Ukyo seductively teased her best friend.
"Uchan knock it off." Ranokami response to Ukyo's teasing was not exactly the most polite but it caused Rahne to shift from being defensive and ashamed to being amused by her two guests.
"Well I guess I shouldn't really be ashamed, but I didn't want you to be frightened of me." Rahne said as she relaxed.
"Well how about you show us yours and we show you ours'? What do you say Ranchan?"
"Okay, but I'd suggest standing back a little bit." Ranokami said as he lifted his forearms up and closed his hands into fists. SKINT
Six razor-sharp gleaming blades were now exposed to the air as Rahne stared in awe at the weapons that were actually part of Wild Wolf's body.
"Are those real?" Rahne's voice was hushed as she was still trying to find it.
"As much as the rest of us. Of course a couple of weeks ago they would have been bone, but thanks to a piece of filth named Dr. Mindbender my entire skeleton is now laced with an indestructible metal known as adamentium." In a flash the blades returned once more into the teenage mutant's body.
"I take it that is why you're here?" Rahne asked as she knelled in front of Wild Wolf.
"Part of it at any rate." Wild Wolf sighed as he ran his fingers over his knuckles.
Rahne's response was swift and decisive. She grabbed around Wild Wolf's chest and gave him a huge hug. In the process she had shifted into her hybrid form and whimpering slightly.
"Wow you do look like a werewolf Rahne-chan." Ukyo commented. "Except that you don't have a tail."
"Well I'm a mutant who only acts like a werewolf. So what do you think?" Rahne said as she let the two other mutants get a good look at her.
"Well it's not the same as a real werebeing, but still very cool." Ranokami said as he pulled out his wallet and started to shuffle through it. "This is what a real weretiger looks like so you can guess what a werewolf would look like."
Rahne looked at the picture of this "Pepar Mint" and noted that yes real lycanthropes had tails, but everything else was essentially the same between her and this other girl. Then when she looked at the other people in the photo she noticed Ranokami, Ukyo, their parents, and a girl with purple hair who was hugging Ranokami.
"Hey Ranokami, who's this?" Rahne asked.
"Oh her, that's our cousin Xan Pu, and the wrinkled little person next to her is Elder Cologne, Xan's 300 year old great grandmother."
"Okay. So what's your power Ukyo?"
"Let me see if I can get this right. I have the ability to 'absorb, focus, amplify, and redirect energy that is directed at my body in the form in which I absorb it'. Essentially I'm a living Tesla coil." Ukyo said shrugging her shoulders.
"I don't think that my mother would like to have us firing lightning bolts all over the room." Rahne chuckled slightly.
"Or fireballs, or punching through walls, or....." This continued listing of potential disasters unleashed by Ukyo's mutant powers was greeted with a bashing of the back of the head with a giant battle spatula. "Hey!?!"
"Now that I know you felt jackass." Ukyo said as she inspected her now dented weapon. "Geeze Ranchan and I thought that you were hard headed before."
"Very funny Uchan, but yea demonstrating her powers in here wouldn't exactly be conducive to anyone's health." Ranokami groaned as he felt the pain of Ukyo's slap dissipate.
"Changing the subject, so you wouldn't have a problem with me being in this form while your here right." Rahne asked as she did her best to show off how proud she was of her body.
"Course not sugar. Furry may not be my style but it looks great on you." Ukyo smiled as she looked over the now much taller girl.
"Thanks. I didn't know how you'd react so."
"Naw. Considering some of the things we've seen in our travels I'd say that a mutant pseudo-werewolf girl is kind of more or less normal. Sorry but we've had a long trip and I'm kind of tired right now." Ranokami yawned.
"Well see you later today then." Wolfsbane said as she kissed him on the cheek, causing the teenager to blush slightly while leaving the room.
"Wow that's a first. Usually it takes longer for a girl to actually work up the nerve to kiss him, you're a day ahead." Ukyo teased.
"Please don't belittle it Ukyo." Rahne blushed.
"Oh I'm not. The problem is that Ranchan attracts women like a magnet and he can't help it. Now imagine a guy like him in a village mostly populated by women who have the power to make men fall to their knees by their looks and by kicking there asses."
"How did he come out of there still single?" Rahne asked as the idea of her new love interest in such a situation would be.
"Because Logan-san saved Xan Pu and so his family are members of the tribe, thus he was immune to their tribal law of being defeated by an outside male and having to marry them. Unfortunately for them, the art of seduction is a lost one to the tribe." Ukyo commented as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Uh he's not gay is he?" Rahne asked, contemplating that since so many females before her had failed that she would to.
"That may have explained a few things, but no. I think it's that he has so many women throwing themselves at him that he doesn't always trust their motives. Or that we've heard of a few times that less that scrupulous women have used deception to infiltrate and destroy some of our friends'." Ukyo thought back to the likes of Baroness and Zarrana.
"So he doesn't know if he can trust me or not? Well I'll just have to show him that I'm the most trustworthy person around." Rahne cried, right before yawning. "After I get some sleep. Sorry but I was asleep right before you arrived."
"That's okay sugar. I slept all the way here so I'm going to go look for something to eat." The Brunette said said as her new friend continued to yawn and pulled back her covers.
"Sure, kitchen's down the hall. Just please turn off the lights." Rahne commented while sifting under her sheets and started to dream.
"Night sugar." Ukyo said leaving her hostess to sleep.
It was a few hours later that Rahne awoke with a smile on her face and almost wishing that her hybrid form had a tail so that she could have it pointing straight up to show her happiness.
"Ah Rahne you're looking great this morning." Banshee commented as he was sitting down to an early lunch. "You wouldn't have happened to see our new guest have you?"
"Last night. Said he was tired and went to bed right before I did. Are he and Ukyo about?" Rahne asked as she started to go through the fridge looking for something to fill her stomach.
"Aye the little brunette? She's still about I think. The Logan's are going to be here for the rest of the day before they fly off again so she may be looking around the island, but I think her brother's still in bed."
"Thanks Sean." Rahne said as she shut the fridge door and hurried down the hall to where her new buddy was liking sleeping.
Ranokami's room was dark and still as Rahne quietly opened the door and slipped inside. She studied the sleeping body with great interest, and couldn't help but giggle at how cute he looked. She also wondered if this boy wore a shirt or not when he slept. Blushing Wolfsbane decided that her friend had been sleeping long enough and needed to be woken up or he would just sleep the day away, but she didn't know how to...unless.
Shifting completely into her wolf form, Rahne trod up to the bed and placed her paws on the bed and started to lick the sleeping male's face. It took a few good licks to rouse the sleeping male, but she was able to get her new romantic interest to open her eyes. And Rahne had to admit, he had really nice eyes.
"Well hey there Rahne." Ranokami yawed as he woke up and scratched the back of the other teenager's ears. "Guess I need to be up for something right?" Rahne nodded her head as she got off of the bed and sat near the door.
"Well I've probably slept for long enough already, and I'm really hungry, so let me throw a shirt on and we'll get some food." Ranokami said as he shuffled through his luggage for something to cover himself with. Rahne took note that this particular young man seemed to love to work out with how well build his upper body was, and he had this awesome red tattoo on his right forearm. Made of interchanging complete and broken bars it looked very cool, but at the same time it didn't really seem artistic in any way.
"Well this should be good enough just to get some grub." The son of Wolverine commented as he pulled on an undershirt and headed out the door.
"How about it Rahnechan?" Wild Wolf asked, scratching the back of the wolf's ears. "You know, you're wolf form's better looking in real life."
Rahne was on cloud nine as she turned into her hybrid form and took her new friend by the arms.
"And you are just too sweet to a lass you know that?" the Scottish girl smiled as she nearly pulled the male's arm out of it's socket.
"Wow you must be hungrier than I am." Wild Wolf commented as he got pulled towards the kitchen.
On the topic of Ukyo, she was actually walking along the shore of Muir Island with Moira McTaggart seeing what kind of place her Ranchan was going to staying at for the next few months.
"So what do you think of our place?" Moira asked the smaller brunette.
"It's okay I guess." Ukyo said as she kicked on of the many stones lying around on the ground into the water. "Lot bigger than what my father and I lived in before Logan-san and Auntie adopted me."
"Since we are the only one's out here on the island it will also allow your stepbrother to recover far from prying eyes and from any conflict. I promise that Ranokami will be fine after a while, and you can call at anytime you want if you start to miss him." Moira comforted the teenage mutant, who was beginning to show the classic signs of a close brother/sister relationship being separated.
"Thanks McTaggart-san." Ukyo dryly commented. "It's just weird yeah know? Ranchan and I have been together for years. There when we needed each other, through thick and thin; I've even helped Mr. McCoy pull buckshot out of his shoulder..." Ukyo sighed. "We've trained together, fought villains together, broken records in the Danger Room together, met extraterrestrials together, and now after nearly loosing him to terrorist scum...I feel like I'm loosing him again."
Ukyo finally had enough and sat down indignantly.
"Dear you're not loosing your brother." Moira said as she rubbed Ukyo's shoulders. "He needs help to deal with what he's gone through recently, and not just the experimentation. He killed people Ukyo, and..."
"Only because they were trying to kill him, he's not a murderer McTaggart-san." Ukyo cried.
"I know he's not Ukyo. He is, however a trained fighting machine who has had to face some very life changing situations. This changes a person deeply, and it would be best if he deals with them in a place were he can come to grips with what has happened without danger of locking up at the worse possible time."
"But Logan-san has had to kill before and from what I've seen he deals with it." Ukyo asked, not certain of the difference.
"Kid I had years to deal with the fact the world's a hard and violent place, and I don't want you or my son to have to handle it the way that I did." Logan said as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "I had my mind turned into swiss cheese, betrayed by those that I thought were friends, and on top of that I've forgotten how many lives I've had to end by these."
In a flash Wolverine's blades were exposed as he looked at them as if to see them covered in blood, yet they were the same metallic silver they always were.
"And I have your word Moira that you will make sure that my boy's going to be back in fighting form, right?" Logan clenched his fists as he retracted his claws.
"I'll do what I can, but I'm more concerned with the young man being able to recover and have a normal life ahead of him." Moira said, knowing that Logan's anger was not really meant for her, but still not wishing to push Wolverine's buttons.
"That is all that we can ask from you McTaggart-san. I hope that you will understand that any help for insuring my son's humanity is why we are here, but please don't be disuaded if he will maintain a combative edge." Nodoka mentioned.
"He'll likely be spending a lot of time in your gym, track, or other training area practicing. Please don't think that this means he is violent or that he is acting out against imaginary foes. He holds practicing his art as a responsibility to not only himself but to his teachers as well."
"I think that could be arranged. I also concede that he will have to deal with the additional weight of the metal added to his skeleton." Moira replied, having remembered Xavier commented on how adapt all the members of the Logan family were in hand to hand combat.
"Well lets go see if the cub's up already." Logan said as he draped his arm over Nodoka's shoulder and gently led her to the dinning area of the complex. "It's okay Nochan the kid's going to be okay."
"I know Logan-kun, but this is the first time in which I will be parted from him in a very long time and I already miss him terribly." Nodoka nearly cried.
"Babe Chuck wouldn't suggest the kid coming here unless he thought that it would be the best place for him to be at this time." Logan said hugging his wife.
"True, but that doesn't mean that being away from him doesn't hurt." Nodoka commented as she leaned into her husband and allowed him to be her strength.
Some may have thought that allowing such actions was akin to being married and carry about others had made Logan weaker and more civilized, and how wrong they would be. Logan would kick anyone's ass who needed a whopping, and that was because he was a man not because he was some overaggressive warmonger. As a man Logan knew how to take care of business as needed if it was how to fix a busted flat to bust a jackasses head along with making sure his wife was comforted and protected whenever needed. Logan couldn't imagine how much leaving their son on Muir Island hurt, but he knew that he would support her no matter what.
Nodoka hated to leave her son here, but knew she had to. The perpetual mother lioness, Nodoka was very protective of her children natural born or adopted, and it hurt her most that she couldn't do anything to help her beloved son. Moira seemed as if she was genuinely concerned with Ranokami's well being, and as another parent could sympathize with Nodoka's situation.
As the four people walked into the dinning area, they were surprised to see Ranokami enjoying a pleasant conversation with Rahne over lunch.
"And you're saying this princess of an alien empire was throwing herself at this Atari guy, but all that he wanted to do was hit on every other woman he was around?" Wolfsbane laughed.
"Yep, and let me tell you Lum was a very attactive girl who usually worn only a tigerskin bikini and matching boots, so something was wrong with Ataru...including the fact he is a pervert." Ranokami smiled as he enjoyed the large amount of food in front of him.
"True, so you were in downtown Tokyo with your cousin Tenchi, his girlfriends, Ataru, Lum and her friends when..." Wolfsbane continued as she intently listened to her new friends fascinating stories of far off lands that she had never seen.
"Oh son you're finally up." Nodoka unintentionally interrupted. "And excuse me but who are you my dear?"
"Mom this is Rahne, she's kind of a werewolf like mutant." Ranokami answered as the girl now coated in fur greeted the Matriarch of the Logan clan with a very friendly, yet toothy, smile.
"Sorry that I didn't show you earlier ma'am, but many people don't look fondly on beings who can turn into wolves. I didn't want to scare anyone or look threatening." The teenage pseudo-lycan stood much taller than Nodoka, and could easily frighten people without meaning to, so Nodoka couldn't fault her for not wanting to share this secret with anyone.
"I understand Rahne-san, but you don't have to be afraid of any my family mistaking you for a monster from a B-rated horror film."
"I understand. Ranchan here was telling me all about your adventures with alien royalty."
"Ranchan?" Nodoka looked at Ukyo wondering if she knew where Rahne learned that particular nickname.
"We talked last night Auntie." Ukyo answered her adopted mother. "Figured it was Rahne-chan's choice to tell or not."
"That was very considerate of you Ukyo." Moira said, wondering how on Earth Logan's children were so well behaved....minus the enormous pile of food now on his plate that looked like enough for a week. "Now since you seem busy Ranokami, how about you join us for a tour of the facility after you eat, and Rahne dear don't pester the poor lad."
"Oh she's not pestering me McTaggart-san, Rahne's just been listen to me go on about some of our more memorable experiences."
"And I would definitely remember meeting extraterrestrials. Especially with all the interesting characters that tagged along with them."
"Well I see that the two of you are doing fine, so once you are done eating how about you join us for a tour of the facilities?" Moira asked.
"Oh sure, thanks McTaggart-san." Ranokami said as he once again turned his attention to the grub in front of him.
It wasn't too long before Rahne was once more dragging Ranokami around by the arm, much to the confusion of the teenage male. In a rushed pace, the teenage Logan was shown all the interesting parts of the complex that he would be spending at least the foreseeable future. The complex had an Olympic sized swimming pool, a complete gym, and several rooms filled with strange equipment that looked straight out of some sort of Star Trek medical bay.
"Wow, and all this stuff is for only three people?" Ranokami said as he took in all that was around him.
"Usually, but from time to time we have several people staying here at a time." Rahne answered. "Though for the foreseeable future it's going to be only you, me, my mom, and Sean. I hope that you won't have a problem with only having me around your age to talk to?"
"Oh no not at all Rahne." Wild Wolf smiled. "I think I'll have my hands full already with re-training my body and getting treatment from McTaggart-san anyway, so I won't be going bored here for a long time."
"And any free time you have I'll be more than happy to spend it with you." Rahne said as she hugged her new friend once more.
It was sooner than Ranokami want to admit when his family said their goodbye's to him, at least for a little while.
"Son, I hope that you will be on your best behavior as a guest of McTaggart-san's home." Nodoka said as she hugged her only son goodbye.
"I will mom, don't worry."
"Take care Ranchan, and I want to hear all about what goes on while you're away...and I know that everyone else wants to hear all about your adventures when you get back." Ukyo said as she hugged her best friend in the world goodbye.
"Don't worry Uchan I will."
"Take care kid, we'll be back before you know it." Logan said as he slapped his son on the back.
"Always do pops." Ranokami said as his father followed the females of the family up the ladder of the Blackbird. In a few moments the jet's engines ignited, the ladder was retracted, and the vessel was streaming across the sky headed West. Thus leaving Ranokami in the care of Moira McTaggart and her family.
"Well the day is still young so what would you like to do?" Rahne asked her new play buddy.
"Not sure, but I thought that I'd hit the gym for a while before taking a swim." Wild Wolf commented as he watched the Blackbird disappear in the distance as a speck of black. "How about you?"
"Well I figured that I'd just hang around you for a while, if you don't mind?" Rahne smiled trying to be as demure as possible.
"Sure, just as long as you don't smell like a wet dog in hybrid form." the teenage Logan joked.
"Oh like your one to talk 'Wild Wolf'." Rahne slapped the other mutant teen playfully. "You're the one who only threw a shirt on before you filled your gut."
"So?" Ranokami said as he joked with the taller female.
"So? You smell like stale chips." Rahne joked as she started running away at high speed.
"Why you." Ranokami started after the teenage female with all of his strength, but since he was now several pounds heavier with the additional metal plating he had, was never able to actually catch his new playmate.
"What's the matter, can't keep up with little old me? I thought that you were the best?" Rahne prodded as she made her way around the complex, Wild Wolf close behind.
Rahne was joyous in her victory, but after a few moments of self-congratulatory indulgence she noticed that her guest was in horrible shape.
Gasping and wheezing, Ranokami's face was red as a beet and dripping with sweat. "Rat Cobra bastards....bones too heavy...Rahne-chan I'm going to hit the showers and tomorrow I'm going to start serious muscle training." As he uttered these last words, the Logan teen fell to the ground.
"Ranchan? Oh darn it. Mom Ranokami just collapsed." Rahne said as she gently carried her new love interest to the clinic, under much strain.
"Good gah Ranchan what did those monsters fill your bones with? Concrete?" Rahne huffed and puffed, and nearly fell down several times.
After a few hours rest, and some serious disciplining from Mora about how he shouldn't push himself as hard as he was, Ranokami started back to training himself to compensate for the addition weight in his body.
Day after day the Wild Wolf would be up before the crack of dawn hitting a gym for hours before taking a shower and getting a good breakfast. After digestion, during which the mutant teen would be hitting the books to make up for any time lost from the classroom, the Logan teen would swim for half an hour doing laps. After laps, our favorite mutant would take another break to hit the books, and then he would jog around the entire island four times.
Rahne had to admit that the newest teenager on the island had some serious dedication, and trying to keep up with his constant pace was pushing her to her limit. And she still hadn't gotten anywhere relationship wise with Wild Wolf since he arrived. Though she had to admit that helping him with whatever plan he had was able to get her a few hugs and the occasional kiss on the cheek as a thank you.
Moira had been watching the young mutant as well, and the near obsession at which Ranokami worked with was giving her great concern. Several times the good doctor had to nearly bribe Logan's son to sit down and talk about his taking of a life, his torture at the hands of Cobra, and the betrayal he was dealt.
Weeks passed by as Ranokami was now able to out run, jog, and lift Wolfsbane, much to their mutual gratification. But basic physical training was now only the start of the daily regime for Wild Wolf. Back to fighting form, the real training began.
It was in one of these types of training exercises that Rahne decided to join our favored mutant, in any way needed.
"Hey Ranchan, I've been wondering...since all the stuff we've already done together...if you would be kind enough to let me learn what your doing?" Rahne smiled as Logan's son was in the middle of a Foot Style kata.
Ranokami stopped for a second. Questioning whether or not he should or could actually teach Rahne anything. On one hand these were supposed to be the secret moves of the Foot and Ranokami wished to honor Hamato Yoshi and his legacy, but on the other hand the actions of Oroku Saki had compromised the style and if it was to have any honor left....
"Well I guess I could teach you some of what I've learned...but you must promise me that you'll never do anything to disgrace what I am about to teach you."
"Sure why would I?" Rahne asked, wondering what the heck her play buddy was talking about.
"Well, look this is difficult for me, but what I am about to teach you is more than just how to throw a fist, a kick, or even any other individual move. What I am about to show you is the culmination of several centuries of training, conditioning, and with it the honor and tradition of what was once a noble clan of ninja."
"Okay, so this is what that Sock guy and you trained in? Okay I promise I won't do what that monster did with it."
"It's Saki, and I'll take you at your word then." Ranokami said. "Now the first lesson one must learn about ninjitsu is that unlike all other forms of martial arts it is passive in nature. To demonstrate that we shall begin with learning how to tumble."
"To roll on the ground?" Rahne asked while scratching her head.
"To avoid an foes attack and to learn how to minimize the damage of an impact." Ranokami said as he began to move behind Rahne and began to move the wolfgirl's limbs through the proper motions. Rahne went along with this movement for a few moments, but after a while she seemed to relax a bit as she let Ranokami just manipulate her body. It was less intament that it sounded really since Rahne was the one slipping into dreamland imagining herself with her new love in a romantic setting, and Wild Wolf was only trying to get Rahne to instinctively know how to move herself in combat situations.
Moira was watching all the while, and couldn't help but notice how her daughter was reacting to the supposed "patient's" actions. While it was very sweet, and reminded her of when she was younger with a certain bald telepath, she was concerned about the two forming a connection merely because they happened to be the only two teenagers of opposite sex on the entire island.
"On the island, now that is an idea." Moira thought for a second, as a rather devious idea came to light. "Rahne, Ranokami, could you stop for a minute." The Irish brunette said as admired how beautiful and graceful the moves that the two teenagers were doing together actually were...forgetting of course that they were deadly arts of coldblooded killers.
"Ah mom, Ranchan was just..." Rahne commented, blushing at having been caught.
"I was showing Rahne-chan here how to..." Ranokami tried to counter.
"I know exactly what the two of you were doing, and I don't mind. I just wanted to know if you would be interested in going to the mainland tomorrow with me?" Moira suggested. "Since your treatment has gone much better than suspected Ranokami, I thought that you would be ready to deal with society again. So do you feel up for it?"
"Sure McTaggart-san, I'd love to get a look around your country with you." Ranokami said as he let go of Rahne and bowed to his host.
"You really mean that I'll get to show Ranchan around all of my favorite places? Oh thank you mom." Rahne said as she hugged her mom like crazy.
"But the two of you are to be on your best behavior right?" Moira asked while petting Rahne.
"Sure mom." Rahne smiled while letting her mother go. "It's just that I've not been to the mainland in so long and I just can't wait to show you all the neat sites Ranchan."
"Okay I guess, but in all honesty I hope that the trip will be more boring than those to Japan." Ranokami said as he sat down for a moment.
"So do I young man, since you are trying to relax are regain some sense of normalcy." Moira said as she sighed, knowing that she probably just played part in motion a cosmic comic setup.
"Normal is a relative term McTaggart-san." Ranokami groaned, knowing that there was noway for him to be able to escape the chaos heading his way.
As we fast forward a few hours, we see that Rahne was showing her play buddy some of the best places the teenage pseudolycan could think of. Ranokami went along as best he could, but shop after shop was beginning to get repetitive, and he was getting hungry.
"Hey Rahne-chan could we take a break from all these stores and get a bite to eat?" Ranokami's stomach punctuated this by growling like a bear.
"Sure. Sorry I get so excited about being able to stretch my legs that I loose track of time." Rahne sheepishly giggled as she led the young man into one of the local pubs to get a bite.
It seemed like Ranokami was walking into a bad tourist commercial with all the wood furniture, "colorful" locals dressed in drab woolen garments, and the traditional dishes that were steaming on the counters...okay also the copious amount of beer that the young Logan was wondering if he had somehow walked into a stage production.
"Well now Moira how about yea let Rahne and Logan's boy have their own table to themselves?" Sean said as he placed a hand on Moira's shoulder. "Besides I don't think that those two are going to do anything over a meal."
Ranokami let Rahne pick their table and let the girl sit before him. Rahne was totally focused on her new love interest, who was now scanning the room making sure to take in all the people surrounding them. Just because he was supposed to be relaxing was no reason for him to be sloppy.
"Well Ranchan what do you think of Ireland so far?"
"It's alright I guess, but I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop." The Wild Wolf replied to his female companion. "So is this where you were born, or is this just the nearest city to McTaggart-san's island?"
"No this isn't where I was born, just the nearest big city to visit from the island were I can get a glimpse of the outside world. I'm Scottish by birth so it's kind of like when you go to China but you're Japanese." Rahne said, giving Wild Wolf something to think about.
Before the waiter had time to come to the two's table and get their orders, a commotion started towards at the counter involving a woman dressed in a simple brown robe and the cashier.
"I told yea before las we don't accept this fake money here." the cashier said as he tossed the bills in the woman's face.
"Please sir it's good money, and I haven't had anything to eat in the longest time. Please I beg you.." The soft voice from under the robe pleaded.
"Away with you." The burly man said as he was about to push the woman outside.
"Hey bub that's no way to treat a lady." Wild Wolf said as he got up from his table and got between the cashier and the young woman. "Now what is your problem?"
"Nothing yea need be getting into boyo, this one just trying to pay for a meal with some fake bills and I don't accept cheats here." Wild Wolf looked over the bills for a second and sighed as he pulled out several green pieces of paper.
"You accept American here?" Ranokami said as he pulled out a twenty.
"Of course boyo, everyone does." The man eyed the bill, but before he could snatch it from the teenage male, the Federal Note was once more in the mutant's wallet and the wallet back in Ranokami's jacket.
"Good she'll be sitting with me and the cute redhead over there." Ranokami said as he led the girl to the table where Rahne was sitting.
"Thank you very much; I know I don't have much but if there is anything I can offer you." the woman said.
"Forget it. And for the record your bills are Sudan Pounds, worthless here." Ranokami said. "I know that they have the same name but they aren't worth the same amount."
"Thank you, but how did you know?" The unknown woman asked.
"Trained by US Special Forces for years. Stuff like that's important to know if you have to be deployed around the world. Name's Ranokami, what's your's?" Wild Wolf's smile was one of the first friendly things the young lady had seen in a very long time, and as she pulled her hood back the teenage mutant saw that her skin was paler than normal, but her features were non-caucasion. The medium blond hair on her head was covered in dark brown spots, and her eyes were the most reflective green orbs that Wild Wolf had ever seen.
"My name is Cyan, and I am eternally grateful for your kindness." Cyan couldn't help but notice the very different features that her benefactor possessed. His face was much different from that of the locals but his eyes were the same large circular orbs. His hair was jet black and tied in a little tail at the end.
"It's not a problem really, besides you look like you could use a good meal." Ranokami chuckled as he pulled the chair next to him out and let the girl sit down.
"So Cyan, what exactly brings ye to to this restaurant? After all tourists usually make sure that their money is accepted." Rahne asked, not sure as to why she was beginning to become suspicious of this "Cyan" woman.
"I'm sorry but I'm really from a far off land and I wouldn't be here if my land hadn't suffered serious drought causing mass starvation of my people. I'm a refugee and I only came to town because I had heard that they accepted what this paper was called for food...I didn't know it was different from your money." The words Cyan spoke were honest, and sad.
"It's alright. How about you two order anything you want from the menu and I'll just pay for it?" Ranokami smiled. "It's okay right Rahne?"
Rahne decided to just go along with Ranokami's idea...and the female mutant had to admit this Cyan didn't seem like a bad person, unfortunate but not bad. It was something else that made the teenage Sinclair uneasy, but it couldn't be that she was jealous of the attention Wild Wolf was giving her right? I mean that was just due to the same giving nature that Rahne fell for after all. Besides it wasn't as if the guy she had tried to get to know for the past weeks was making passes at this new girl?
"Sure, no problem with me." Rahne said. "So Cyan you said that you were from far away, how far was it away from here, and why did you decide to come to Ireland?"
"Rahne, please..."
"Oh no I don't mind Ranokami. My people were invited to this land by ones who had been a long time enemy of ours made peace with us and we moved here to their homeland. It's a very complicated story and I don't have the right to tell all of it." Cyan said, trying hard not to seem rude or evasive. "It's a problem that has been going on for far too many centuries to count."
"As far as from where my people came from, have you ever heard of the Savannah region of Africa?" Cyan asked while she went over the menu.
"Only in National Geographic magazines." Ranokami said as he scratched the back of his head. "But I've got a general idea where it is."
"For most of my life it was my family's home, and had been for countless generations. It was a harsh land but we were well suited to it. We had more than enough food and water, even in the hardest times, but this was different. You can't know how thankful I am that you were willing to pay for my meal."
"My pleasure Cyan, I know exactly what it's like to have everything you've known change for the worse in a blink of an eye. If Rahne's mother is kind enough to welcome me to her home to recover from being used as a guinea pig for some made scientist, the least I can do is pay for lunch for a cute girl who needs a good meal." Ranokami smiled.
"Thank you so much. You are a very uncommonly generous and kind human...man I mean, generous man Ranokami." Cyan slipped, blushing furiously.
"Well thanks, and my friends call me Ranchan." the Wild Wolf smiled as he too blushed at the new female's complement.
And what of Rahne you ask? She was clutching her fists while trying to keep a level of civility. Oh yea she was jealous as crazy about this new girl who just popped out of nowhere.
"Why thank you both very much. If there is anything I can do for either one of you, please don't hesitate to ask." Cyan said, shortly before the server got their order and drinks.
The meal itself progressed with Rahne doing the best that she could to refrain from yelling at Cyan to back the Hell off of her intended boyfriend...which the other two sitting at the table took as a sign of constipation.
Sadly the melodrama of teenage romance was a paltry matter compared to what was about to happen. From down the street an unmarked generic black sedan came roaring at top speed, the driver seemingly uncaring as to his own fate. As the vehicle approached the restaurant, the three teenage mutants' inhuman sense of hearing caused them roused from their conversation and all three turned their heads to see the car about to crash through the window.
Faster than most people could think, Ranokami tossed the table towards the window, grabbed Cyan and Rahne, and used the upturned table as a springboard to launch himself and his friends several feet from the impact zone.
"What the Bloody Hell is your problem?" Rahne yelled at the driver.
"Look jackass you want to kill yourself that's your business, but you don't have the right to take others with you." Ranokami yelled at the attacker, who he was now approaching with the intent of kicking the man's ass.
"There's only one who's going to die today boy, and that is the werecheetah with you." The man said as several other men rushed out of the car with assault rifles ready.
Cyan didn't know what to do, so she immediately shifted into her hybrid form and was about to run, but both Rahne and Wild Wolf stood between her and her attackers. Rahne may have been jealous of Wild Wolf's attention directed towards the new female, but she wasn't spiteful enough to even think of letting someone die because of it. It wasn't how God taught his people to act, and would be an insult to the way Moira raised her.
"You want to seriously rethink you're last statement." Logan's heir said as six metal blades shot out from his forearm. "Before you wind up regretting it later."
"Punk wants to play hero, fine yea freak." Bullets started to fly through the air as Wild Wolf suddenly and inexplicably disappeared from sight. Rahne shifted form as she and Cyan ducked behind the bar counter and tried to make it to a back door exit.
"Are you a werewolf?" Cyan asked, hoping that her kind's new friendship with them would allow her safety.
"Naw, I'm a mutant like Ranchan. But right now lets just get you and my mom to safety." Rahne said as she lead her associate to where the adults were sitting.
"Rahne what is going on? and who is that cheetah girl with you?" Moira said as she grabbed her daughter in her arms.
"Mom Cyan, Cyan my mom. Look we've got to go now before any of us get injured." Rahne said looking around for another doorway. Finding none, the teenage psuedowere decided on tossing a chair through one of the windows.
"Wait cailin where's Ranokami?" Sean asked as he looked around and finding no sign of him.
"He's back with the bad guys, I have to..." Rahne was stopped cold as Sean placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Get your mom and your friend out of here little lass, I'll get the boy." Sean turned towards the attackers and launched himself into the air towards the site of violence.
Wild Wolf was still nowhere to be seen, but at least two of the attackers were now unconscious with their body armor reduced to shreds, while those that were still fighting were reduced to using handguns as their main weapons were in pieces.
"What the Bloody Hell is this wanker?" One of the remaining foes said as his wrist was suddenly grabbed, twisted till it broke, and felt something slam into his face and brake his nose. Before he could recover from his unseen attacker's assault, the man found his face slammed into the armor siding of the attack car, and fell to the ground in a heap.
As fewer men now were left to fight, they were getting more and more desperate. Sean used this and unleashed a powerful sonic cry stopping the group cold as they clutched their ears. Sadly this also caused our hero to wrench in pain from the acute wavelength's even greater effect on him.
"Damn it Cassidy-san what was that for?" Ranokami cried as he clutched his ears.
"Sorry me boyo, but yea can't expect me to stand by and let you have all the fun can I?" Sean smiled as he unleashed a more focused blast of his voice towards one of the stunned attackers causing him to be knocked into a wall. "Watch out boyo!" Sean yelled as the last conscious opponent was getting to his feet and pulled out a knife in an attempt to stab our favorite mutant in the back.
This is where years of training and skill meant all the difference as Wild Wolf was able to pivot on one foot, and in one easy motion brought his blades across his body and sliced through not only the knife, but also took his attackers hand with it. Then using his opponents own momentum against him, swung the villain over his back and slammed the now crippled attacker to his back.
"Idiots." Wild Wolf said as he straighted his cloths and retracted his claws.
"They usually are boyo, but that doesn't mean that the job be any easier." Sean observed as he landed next to the younger mutant. "Now lets get the police to deal with these dirt bags while we see why they wanted to kill your new friend?" the two mutants conversed as they left, but they did so prematurely.
One of the assailants wasn't quite as knocked out as they would have hoped. And in a blind rage of revenge, this madman pulled out a thermal grenade and tossed it at our leaving heroes. Superhuman hearing has it's advantages though, as Ranokami heard the pin of the grenade pull away from the spoon with a signature metallic ping. Instantly recognizing the sound, the teenage mutant pushed Sean out of the restaurant, followed by a massive fireball.
"Ranchan!" Rahne and Cyan cried as two male bodies came flying through the air. The larger one, Sean, landed safely away from the blast zone thanks to the additional thrurst from Ranokami's push. The smaller of the two wasn't so lucky. As Ranokami slammed into the ground his back was smoking and his clothing was covered in burning embers.
After the few moments of shock wore off, Sean got to his feet and tried to clear his head but his ringing ears were making that well nigh impossible.
"Boyo, you alright?" Sean asked as he looked around for the one who pushed him to safety, but the stumbling hero was only able to make a few steps before he nearly crashed to the ground. Nearly since Moira grabbed onto her friend who was able to help him stumble to a bench out of the blast zone.
"Sean just sit down and let the medics look at you." Moira insured her friend as she started doing preliminary first aid on him.
Rahne and Cyan didn't wait to be told what to do as the sound of Sirens blared from the arriving EMTs. The teenage females made it to our hero at the same time, flanking him on either side.
True to form, the son of Wolverine was more than tough enough to deal with the force of the blast, and it was good fortune that none of the glass shrapnel had lacerated his back. Ranokami was a little weak in the knees as he stood up and tried to get his bearings with his ears ringing like the bells of Notre Dame and his back feeling like it just came out of a barbecue pit, but those problems would be healed soon enough.
"Can't I ever get a brake?" The young man sighed looking up to the heavens, receiving no response.
"Ranchan you alright?" Rahne asked as she stretched on of Ranokami's arms across her back. "Don't scare me like that ever again." the redhead was nearly in tears as she and Cyan helped their mutual love interest to the ambulance.
"Ranokami...Ranchan. You saved my life today." Cyan smiled as she wrapped her arm around Wild Wolf's back and squeezed gently. "I just wanted you to know how thankful I am that you were willing to help me, and that you are my hero." The werecheetah in human form was crying tears of joy as she helped the male to medical assistance.
Acting on impulse, and not knowing what was going to happen to her knight in shining armor, Cyan threw herself at Ranokami and kissed him passionately before the medical staff could interferer. When the werecat finally let off of the male's face, Ranokami had a thousand yard stare going and was only just barely able to whisper his reply.
"It was my pleasure." Safe to say that our hero had at that point lost all conscious thought processes and was the perfect patient for the Emergency Medical Services now looking him over.
To be continued....
Next time in Through the Years
Ranokami's first love gets to stay with him on Muir Island and Rahne doesn't like that at all. Can Rahne's friendship with Wild Wolf survive her romantic competition with this new comer? What else lies in store for Wild Wolf and what is Shredder up to now? All will be revealed in my next update, whenever that is.
Authors notes: sorry that this took forever to be typed, but I hit a creative blackhole and was really busy lately. I hope that you enjoy this chapter and will be kind enough to leave a review behind for me. Also I would like to thank the Uncanny R-man for his help in editing this for me since I know next to nothing of how Wolfsbane is supposed to talk being unfamiliar with the character. Till next time readers.
