MAL86 - Yeah Wolvie can be suprisingly romantic sometimes, and in this case he's feeling very young :) . Glad you liked the Logan and Rose moments, I liked the idea of Logan giving Rose a chance to do something she hadn't been able to do when she was alive, like go dancing :) . Thank you as always for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this next chapter :) .

(Some new developments and reveals, some bits of this I'm a little uncertain with, some of the X-Women might be a little OOC though not to much from some issuse I've remembered. Anyway, that part is mostly a bit of fun, so hopefully it works :) . Anyway on with the story, and we've got a new character into the mix :) ).

Chapter 11

The old Asian man in traditional priestly robes moved quickly past a high tech room of computer terminals and the staff manning them, towards the inner sanctum of the hidden fortress. It was hidden atop the sacred Hiragana-san mountain, located fifty miles north of Kyoto, to the west of the Shinzouka Prefecture in Japan.

As he opened the doors and entered the sanctum, the old man saw his his master stood before him, hands held behind his back, dressed in a long, elaborately embroidered robe, his long white hair flowing down his shoulders, drawn into a traditional top knot at the back of his head. He was gazing at a large portrait of a mansion built upon a hill, framed by large curtains held back, before which burnt a large braizer flanked by stone lions atop the stone stepped platform, the rest of the sanctum illuminated by candlelight. 'Master Kitsunebi,' the old man said, 'we have urgent news relating to the mutant known as Wolverine. The grave of the woman known as Rose O'Hara is empty, and our covert investigations report strong traces of psonic residue present at the site, something powerful happened there, and our informants on the mutant nation of Krakoa have reported sightings of Wolverine seen in the company of an unknown red-headed woman that looks strikingly like one of the mutant leaders Jean Grey, the former X-Woman known variously as Marvel Girl and Phoenix… '

'The one who was the vessel of the cosmic entity known also known as Phoenix,' Kitsunebi replied, looking back at the old man, his strong face, seemingly in his thirties or forties, sporting his customary side-burns, looke both intrigued and troubled, 'who from the few pictures we have looked very like Rose O'Hara. Anything else?'

'Yes sir,' the old man continued, 'our seers report the presence of strong dark, infernal energies at the graveside, and at the site of a cave we determined to be the last known location of one Dog Logan, a former employee at the Howlett estate. Also, the grave of Lord Shingen Yashida has also been disturbed, the body missing, and again infernal energies have been detected. Finally our satellites have detected activity in one of the mutant terrorist known as Persephone's former bases, the few images we have gained and examined show the new residents to be strange. From one or two images they seem to be some sort of vampire, but they are seen in the daylight, and one image showing fire from one of their eyes.'

Kitsunebi's eyes rose, and reached for the tablet in the old man's hands, 'give it to me, I'll read through the details.'

As the old man bowed and took his leave, Kitsunebi turned spent the next few minutes perusing the reports, before sighing and looking back at the portrait, and saying 'I was too entangled when you lost you're healing factor and died, James, and I went through so much trouble to make sure you came to the attention of Persephone to ensure the possibility of your return. And now it looks like all your past is rising to meet you, drawn by powerful forces infernal and otherwise and all are focused on you. It looks like I may have to finally step out of the shadows in my dealings with you at last.'

Looking one more moment at the portrait Kitsunebi lifted his right hand and tapped a device on his wrist, 'keep my satellites focused on the former Persephone base, and prepare my transport for a trip to Canada.'

Logan was busy cleaning the dishes from the early breakfast Rose and he just had at the Grey-Summers house, having stayed over for the night along with Ororo, Kurt and Kitty in one of the many guest rooms, whilst Rose went to say her good-byes. He was looking forward to taking her back to show his cabin in Canada, and the rest of the Howlett Estate, and was enjoying that thought finishing placing the dishes away when he saw Jean, Ororo and Kitty coming towards him with annoyed expressions on their faces, Rose trailing behind looking both apologetic and confused.

Logan had an immediate sense of danger as he greeted them carefully, 'good mornin' ladies'.

'Don't good morning us, are you out of your mind Logan?' Jean fumed, the other two ladies nodding.

'Uh, did I miss somethin', what the hell did I do to piss you all off?' Logan asked incredulously.

'Were you really just going to go drag Rose off to live in your cabin without any change of clothes, underwear, essential cleaning, skin and hair car products?' Kitty added.

'What's the big deal,' Logan replied, nonplussed, 'I'll get some stuff from the nearby town, and she can get anything else from there as well.'

'What exactly are you going to get her Logan?' Jean asked, looking sceptically.

Logan waved vaguely, 'you know, soap and shampoo maybe, I mean what else do you need?'

The three women looked at him pityingly as though he'd just uttered the most idiotic statement ever in their presence.

'Oh Logan,' Kitty said rubbing her head.

'What?' Logan asked defensively, suddenly beginning to wish he was anywhere but here, and hoping that maybe a stray sentinel would pick now to attack the Moon estate.

'Logan she needs not only appropriate shampoo and soap, but conditioner, light dangler, moisturiser, correct deodorant, gel, mouse or leave-in conditioner, brushes, combs… '

Logan's brain began to switch off after that, as more and more words for items he had no idea ever existed came flying at him, and as they were soon followed by various clothing requirements, he felt a splitting headache beginning to build, and once they mentioned undergarments he shouted, 'enough!'

'She managed to do just fine without all those things the first time around,' Logan complained.

'Logan,' Kitty replied, 'you obviously are not the best at what you do when it comes to shopping for women, we're taking Rose out shopping.'

Looking between the three of them, then to Rose behind them, confused, bewildered and nursing a growing headache, he threw up his hands, 'if Rose is fine with it, okay. Get her all the stuff she needs and I'll go hang out at the Green Lagoon for a while.'

Smiling brightly the three X-Women turned with glee and took hold of Rose, still looking a little confused herself by some of the exchange, as Ororo said, 'come Rose dear, lets get you set up for your new life.'

Soon the four women were leaving through a portal as Kurt came down with Scott, 'we're are they going?' Kurt asked Logan, who still wore a somewhat stunned expression and was rubbing his forehead.

'Somethin' about shopping,' Logan responded in a slightly confused tone.

'What for?' Scott asked.

'I'm not entirely sure,' Logan sighed, glad he had a healing factor to take care of the headache.

Rose was still trying to catch up with all the lessons about how to use the array of products and items Jean, Ororo and Kitty had brought her, they promised to write it all down for her, but things were different and in many ways more complicated then what she'd been used to when she was alive, and from what little she remembered of her existence as a spirit it hadn't really been a factor. Now they had finished taking her measurements they were going through various clothing. So many of them seemed so scandalous, they didn't cover the legs, showed off to much décolletage, her face burning red from trying some of them out. She knew this was how women dressed now, but it was difficult not to feel half-naked in them much of the time.

Jean had winked at her with a few of them, suggesting how James might react to seeing her in a few of them, and Rose knew she'd gone beetroot red red at the suggestion, and she tried not to think to much about the fact that she'd gone ahead and accepted one of them. Though she couldn't help thinking that, particularly if it was just them in the cabin, it wouldn't be so bad, she thought. Thankfully she'd managed to find a number of dresses she was more comfortable in, before they lead her to a sections filled with she was astonished to find female jeans and trousers, and the three ladies briefly showed her some flimsy things called leggings, at which Rose firmly drew the line. Rose's eyes went wide, though of course she'd been aware somewhat that women wore trousers nowadays, she was still a little shocked to see them, and even more when they picked out various outfits.

'I can't wear jeans!' Rose said, her shock written on her face.

The other three women just laughed and bundled her off into the dressing room.

Finally later, Rose was finished with the experience, when the group took her to an area selling undergarments Rose stood shocked, she'd never seen anything like them, not even amongst the 'ladies of the night' in her time. And when Jean, Ororo and Kitty began began pulling her towards them Rose was sure she must have had steam coming off her from the embarrassment, sure she would die of the shame of being seen standing in their presence.

When Jean suggested 'Why don't you try these on,' thrusting some of the impossibly skimpy undergarments towards her, Rose's mind went blank.

Logan was back at the Green Lagoon with Kurt, as his friend asked him, 'so you think you're ready for this, Logan. You ready to settle down a little as it were?'

'Did once or twice in the past elf,' Logan replied, 'and I was ready with Mariko once as well. My life hasn't usually I admit been one where I've let myself think about livin' with someone. My life's often to wild an' dangerous, and I've been to much on the move, most women I've meet have been short-term things one way or another. Didn't want to drag them to much into my life, and often the few I did got too caught up in the bad stuff that happens around me, often costin' em. Even Rose was on that list, though she'd kick my butt now if she knew I was talkin' about it. To be honest the memory of her, even when didn't really remember it, or Silver Fox long made any thought of settlin' down too dangerous, and even with Mariko it ended in tragedy, I often never let myself get that close, but I've changed some with the X-Men. I knew with Melita that I was at least ready to take a risk again, if the right person came along. Truth was though, with her, with all of them, in the deepest part of my heart, I always loved Rose, elf, it's not that I didn't love Fox, or Mariko but Rose was always first, I could never let her go, an' I realise now she was always with me as well. Even everythin' with Jeannie, it was Rose all along. And now, she alive again, an' somehow the fear don't seem so great, it's like with her at my side, like she's always been, I can face it, whatever it brings.'

Kurt smiled at his friend over his beer, 'I'm proud of you Logan, you've come along way.'

'Yeah, I guess,' Logan smiled, 'I suppose we all have one way or another. Hell we've all died an' come back, sometimes more a' once, that's gotta chance our perspectives somewhat. An' Rose is back after everythin' that happened an' I have another shot at things, not gonna let that chance go, gonna do it right this time an' not get caught up in silly anger. I was a stupid, angry an' confused kid back then Kurt, I was angry at everythin', an' it became all messed up. Story of my life for so long, but some things like the X-Men are what helped change some of that, people like you Kurt, 'Ro, Kitty, Petey, Jeannie, Jubilee, even Slim. I've had various families before but nothin' like this, Rose was right when she talked to me once, here I found enduring bonds. An' then there was always her, I never knew it but she was there, through my best an' worst moments, she saved me back then and she's kept doin' it. Don't know what I did to deserve it, but I'm no longer question it, I'm just gonna try grab us both some happiness at last.'

'Anyway,' Logan added, 'you should come visit elf. Rose an' I can show you the ol' family grounds, enough the mansion is finished that there's rooms for you to stay in.'

'Really,' Kurt replied surprised, 'you've always tended to more closed off about areas of your past, I wasn't sure you wanted any of us intruding in that place.'

'Kurt,' Logan said, 'you're my best friend, an' your family. Half the reason I'm doin' up that place is so any of you can stay over if you wanna visit, it had allot bad memories there, but there are some good ones to. An' it was supposed to be a place for family, maybe it can be again. I mean, I'm only gonna be there, when any of you come, otherwise I'm comfortable in my cabin.'

'Well then mein freund,' Kurt smiled, 'I look forward to it.'

Logan smiled when he heard a cough, and turned around to see Jean, Ororo and Kitty and saw Rose standing self-consciously, wearing well-fitted skinny jeans showing off her long, toned legs, simple walking shoes, a figure hugging white sweater, over which she wore a solid green trench coat. Her fiery red hair cascaded down it all in waves. Whilst the other three women held the numerous bags for their day's adventure, Rose looked at him shyly, embarrassed and unsure in what was for her strange and somewhat exhibitionist attire, 'what do you think James,' she said softly.

For a moment Logan said nothing. His breath caught as he was struck speechless at seeing Rose in such a figure hugging outfit, as modest as it was, her beautiful figure on full display, her curves emphasised, her chest heaving, her silky red hair long and shimmering, framing her achingly beautiful face, from which her striking emerald eyes looked at him with uncertainty. She was breathtakingly beautiful Logan thought.

'Stunnin' darlin',' Logan replied, getting up, 'just stunnin' causing Rose to smile brightly as got up and sweep her into an embrace, wrapping her in his arms. With a sigh, Rose rested head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him and leaned into his embrace, and for a moment everything else faded for them, as Logan held Rose's soft body in his arms, feeling like it belonged there.

Finally Rose whispered smiling a little, 'I'm glad, these clothes are so strange, and I feel so exposed in them. Still, although I still think I prefer my long dresses I think I'll try and risk trying a few of these more modern outfits a little bit more afterall.'

'Whatever your comfortable with Rose,' Logan replied, drawing back to look her in the eye 'you're always been the most beautiful woman I ever knew, an' look amazin' whatever you wear darlin'. You look gorgeous in the more classic dresses an' you look gorgeous now, you'll always look beautiful to me no matter what you wear.'

Rose smiled up at him, her eyes glistening, 'that you James, I love you,' and kissed him lovingly for a moment, forgetting she was in public before drawing back to look at him again, 'shall we go home then, my love?'

Behind Ogun a figure in old samurai armour walked, out of the deep shadows of the mask red eyes glowed, as they walked through a modern looking but abandoned auditorium, which upon the stage large round pool was set up, surrounded by a stone structure, resembling an ancient stone circle, withsteps leading up a walkway overhanging the pool. On both the pool, the stones and the stage floor were carved symbols that glowed fire-red, along with similar symbols through of the building. Above the pool were set a series of chains, whilst pipes from above filled the pool with a flow of thick, deep red liquid, the sickening, sweet scent of blood overwhelming as the two figures approached the stage, the smell of the channel house growing thick around them.

'This is where you intend to trap him,' the figure in the armour asked, it's voice cold as is from a far and cold distance.

'This is where we will forge the spell that will break Logan-san,' Ogun said, 'his spirit will shatter and his soul and body will be ours. Right now our allies,' he gestured to the many figures of the demon-possessed vampire figures walking around them, 'are bringing into this place the many lives that are feeding that spell. A great sacrifice is going on above us, and once ready, whatever his strengths, or new abilities, we will break his soul down, and I shall possess it and his form, and our purchase here in this realm will be secure. And finally we shall all have our vengeance. But with that purpose in mind I have a tool to help you and us in that endeavour, Shingen-san' and he motioned with his hand and a demonic vampire came forward with a long thin object wrapped in black silk cloth and handed it to Ogun.

Slowly unwrapping the silk covering revealed a katana with a midnight dark hilt, a palpable presence of dark power could be felt from the blade by both demonic entities looking at it. 'Sadly,' Ogun continued, 'we cannot possess the recent muramasa blades forget by the great demonic sword-smith in hell, nor the one Logan-san once forged that would cancel his healing factor. However this is the Black Sword, possessed by the madness and power of Muramasa himself, it once possessed Logan-san for a short time, until it passed to your mutant son, without possessing him with it's madness it seemed. But he was only able to wield it for a short time unharmed, and so it lay within the deepest vaults of the Yashida mansion. I liberated it when I raised you, and now it's strength and power are yours. As both one of the greatest swordsmen, and backed by a demonic strength equal to this sword you can wield it and the power and strength it grants securely. The blade is able to stand up even against Logan-san's adamantium claws.'

'Indeed,' Shingen said speculatively, 'my son was always a disappointment, from the moment I discovered he was a mistake of nature, I am not surprised he could not hold the sword for long. My blood ran weakly in him,' and Shingen's armoured hand closed around the sword, drawing forth the midnight black blade, gleaming in the auditorium light. The blade shimmered with power, and then a black flame surged forth from the blade and through Shingen's form, the red eyes from within the armour glowing powerfully.

Ogun laughed darkly, 'and in your hands, united with the power awakened in you it will be able to hurt him more than almost any blade besides the muramasa blades themselves. It cannot stop his healing factor, but it will draw life from him in each strike, so the wounds will take longer to heal, each hit weakening him more.'

Shingen laughed, his voice much stronger, 'the sword itself wishes his fall, for his rejection of it. Together we shall bring his end, when last we crossed blades I was just a man, now we shall see if the gaijin can still claim to be worthy. When do we strike Ogun-san?'

'Soon,' Ogun replied, 'soon he will leave the island, he and his female ally have impressive abilities, including some unexpected ones, but we shall draw the trap closed and whatever his strengths there shall be no escape we when are ready, only everlasting darkness and torment,' and both figures laughed.