AN:  Ever and ever you're wound, forever and ever I've found.  An extra-long chapter…I promised they would meet, but there was too damn much to set up. Thanks to Stormfreak for the research help.  And now, we swing the pendulum the other way…

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"Fight it, girl.  I know you can…ahhh!"  A sudden stray burst of snow knocked Yukio to the ground, causing her cheering to falter.  She stood back up, and yelled into the wind once more.  She knew logically that Ororo was in the center of the whiteout, but she could not see her friend.  Between Ororo's white hair, and white outfit whipping around her, Yukio could only catch flashes of the darker complexion hidden within the snow walls. 

Storm was a very fitting nickname.  But, maybe Blizzard would be more apt at the moment, for Ororo stood in the eye of a snowstorm she had created, the flurry racing around her, biting into her pores.  A scream, coupled with a burst of energy served to merely pacify the squall for a moment. 

"Come on, 'Ro!  You can do it!  You did it before!"

Another scream, another pulse of light, and the winds halted, stopping the snow from a swirl to a gentle fall.  Ororo gasped for air as the remaining snow settled into the bank. 

"Good job, 'Ro.  You're not even faint yet?"

"No, I am not.  I am tired, yes, but who would not be?"

"When are you gonna stop this, 'Ro?"

Storm sat down, looking out over the countryside.  "Stop what?"

"Devoting yourself so hard to stopping your natural reactions that you're missing the point."

For two months now, Ororo had been coming up to the mountain, creating a storm in anger, and then soothing it.  Each day, she had been gaining a bit of ground, each time the challenges less. 

And for two months, Logan had been watching from afar, cheering her on mentally.

"There has been an odd side effect, Wild One.  I find it harder, and today, near impossible to create the storms in my anger.  My anger is not creating them by itself, I have to help it along."

Smiling, Yukio laid her hand on Storm's shoulder.  "Isn't that what you wanted?  To have the anger and all not create the problem in the first place?"

"Yes."

"So, you ready to move on?"

Worry lines betrayed the innocent question.  "What do you mean?"

"That you're still being a coward."

A heated flash of anger shot through Ororo's body like magma before she calmed it with her will.  "I do not understand.  I have faced my emotional and weather connection, and beaten it.  How am I still being a coward?"

"What about all that other stuff you bury?  Just because you don't stare at it in the mirror doesn't mean it isn't there!"

"Back off, Yukio."

Yukio turned away from Ororo and looked out over the sea.  "No.  I'm your friend, and as your friend, I'm gonna call it like I see it.  Your problem with that damned girl; it was buried in there with the rest of the X-Men!  They've royally screwed you over, 'Ro."

Ororo dug her hands into the snow, feeling for the earth underneath.  "How can you say that about my family?  They have given me direction, purpose!"

"All that, but twice now, you've come to me because they haven't done shit for you.  You lose your powers, I drag you out.  You break down so completely you can barely function, you come to me.  Tell me, what were the last words that Scotty-boy said to you?"

A whisper.  "Would you mind taking my class over for a month?  I'm busy."

"Such the caring bunch.  And this is what you follow, what you aspire to?  To not notice others' pain?"

"No!"  Anger exploded outward, and Ororo's muscles involuntarily stiffened, as her breathing sped up. 

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Logan's ears perked up.  Ororo was in a classic "fight or flight" response.  Despite the fact that she could fly, he had a feeling she wasn't inclined to fly the friendly skies anytime soon.

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Rounding the corner, a man happened to see an obviously tall dark-skinned woman with white hair sitting on the mountain.  Curious, he walked up, oblivious to the exchange taking place between the two women. 

"Yukio, do you really want to see how much I can notice pain?"

"Threats do nothing, Wind Rider.  I'm not the one you're even angry at.  You're angry with yourself.  You know, you brag that you're in such control, but everyone else controls your life.  Sure, you can control your powers now, but can you control yourself?"

Ororo's anger grew, but with no real focus to unleash it on, she was quickly becoming highly unstable.  Just then, the visitor tripped, and fell, creating a sudden noise behind both Ororo and Yukio.  The unexpected sound tripped Ororo's last reserves, and she whirled around, and grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt.  Eyes whited over, she prepared to strike this intruder down, when she was grabbed by Yukio. 

"Drop him, Wind Rider!"

Ororo's anger quickly subsided, and she released the man, who ran off as fast as he could push his legs away from the pair.  "What did I do, Yukio?  I…I just almost killed a man because he made a sound!"

"But you didn't."

"But I didn't."

"Then what's the problem?  Come on, let's go get some ice cream.  All this snow's making me crave it."  

Rolling her eyes, Ororo pointed out, "Yukio, a heat wave makes you crave ice cream.  Snow makes you crave ice cream.  What does not make you crave ice cream?"

A twinkle in her eye, Yukio began to sprint off before tossing her reply over her shoulder.  "Seeing your extra stomach rolls doesn't make me crave ice cream!"

"Yukio!"  With a burst of wind, Ororo was after her in a flash.

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As much as he enjoyed watching Ororo perform, Logan was glad that the snow had stopped.  Even though he was a Canadian, the body had certain tolerance limits, and the freezing temperatures accompanying the snow were wearing a bit thin.  After all, some had managed to slip in his underwear last time, and nothing is quite as cold as a bit of snow against your privates. 

Straightening up from his crouch, he frowned.  He would have to work on 'Ro's awareness skills.  After all, he'd been around for two months now, and she hadn't noticed him?  Of course, he noted, she hadn't noticed much.  Her demeanor had changed, also.  Almost…cold.

Hopping down the mountain, Wolverine became lost in thought.  No, not cold.  That was previously.  The untouchable ice princess routine, as if she was still on that goddess platform, serving her lower subject's whims.  No, it wasn't cold.  What was the word he was searching for?

Extending his claws with a *skint*, Logan dug one set deep into a tree, propped his foot against the trunk, and swung himself up onto the nearest strong branch.  He retracted his claws, and squatted on the sturdy limb.  Maybe distant?  Is that what 'Ro had become?  No, because she was very open to Yukio, it seemed.  There they were, mingling through the crowded streets below. 

Mister?  Do you need help?

Glancing down, Logan spied a young, inquisitive boy looking up in wonder at the beast turned man above him. 

No, kid.  Thank you, though.

Bowing, the little boy ran off, most likely to tell his friends that he had seen a real life werewolf, a gajin one at that.  Growling, Logan leaped to the pavement, and gave one last look at the disappearing backs of Storm and Yukio.  Ororo had conquered her problem in his eyes; it was time to come home.

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"Hey, 'Ro?  Let's go out tonight."

"What do you mean?"

Toweling dry her long white hair, Ororo emerged from the bathroom clad in a long terry cloth robe.  Spying a pair of shoes peering up over the couch back, Storm walked over to the ratty davenport, and leaned over it to talk to the reclining Yukio.

"Well, I mean go to a club, dance hall, spray painting cars…something that does not involve powers, responsibility, or my positive encouragement."  Deftly twirling a knife between her fingers, Yukio stared up at the ceiling, not even paying mind to the flashing metal.  "Well, unless I'm positively encouraging you to use a little more tongue."  Momentarily halting the repetitive motion, Yukio used her free hand to flash a "V for victory sign" at Ororo.

Ororo frowned, and dropped the damp towel over Yukio's face.  "Did we not already have this discussion?  I do not feel like 'guy-hunting.'  That is not why I came over here."

Removing the towel and tossing it to the ground, Yukio sat up and ran a hand through her short hair.  She placed her knife back in its sheath, and rolled her eyes.  "I didn't mention hunting for dicks, now did I?  You need to loosen up.  You've become a bit snappy lately."

"Snappy?  What do you mean?"

"Ever since you've been all control girl, you've been on edge, like you're gonna snap."

Sighing, Ororo retreated into her bedroom to find some clothes.  "I was going to 'snap' when I came over here, Wild One.  I am better now."

Still on the couch, Yukio leaned against the back to project her voice.  "Sure you are.  You're not going to cry now.  You just swapped crying for testiness."

Ororo rifled through the small drawer set.  "Yes, because I am temporarily severing my constant connection with the weather, I may not be as calm, but I am hardly a picture of fury!"

Yukio shrugged her shoulders.  "Deny it if ya want.  But, I'm not giving up on a club!"

"Fine!  Whatever!  Will that get you off my case?"

"For tonight."

"You are hopeless."

"Of course."

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The pounding, blaring music did not thrill Logan in the slightest.  However, this club was one of the few places in town that didn't go out of their way to make an outsider uncomfortable.  And, it was the only place he knew of in town where he could find a Canadian beer.  So, alone he sat, pondering how to tell 'Ro to come home over a pint. 

Her behavior still bothered him, though.  That outburst today sent a chill up his spine.  Animalistic?  Was that the word?  Maybe…like him?  No.  Logan shook his head at the thought.  'Ro wasn't like him.  He fought against his feral side, trying to keep it contained.  It was simply a part of her to possess that animalistic section.  It had always just been there, bubbling along beneath the surface, swelling only in extreme anger. 

The waitress passed by Logan's table, and indicated towards his beer bottle, implicitly asking if he would like another beer.  "Hai, domo," he replied, and returned to musing.  But, now, she had changed.  Rather than the animal being in the background, it now had an "on-off" switch.  Normally, it seemed to rest in "off," and Ororo retained her calm, caring attitude.  But, as he had witnessed, there was no anger progression.  She just flipped to "on."  And while on, she did not hesitate, it seemed. 

She needed to come home.

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Stunning.  Possibly, that word could describe Ororo and Yukio.  Or, most likely not.  Yukio had "gone glitter-happy" as Ororo had called it, and done her eyes up with the shiny flakes.  Wearing a red short skirt and shirt, she aimed to stop the room.  It was fun watching people drool, she mused.  Ororo had originally decided on a tight black suit, but then Yukio found it while Storm was getting together her lotion and other bath accessories.  Scissors had been applied, and now Storm wore a skin-tight black cat suit with an opening that opened on her right just below her bust and ended at her hips.  The opening was both front and back, leaving a thin strip on Ororo's left to hold it together.  When Ororo had protested, Yukio shrugged, and informed Ororo that all her other clothes were hidden.  When faced with the prospects of going to the club naked, Storm had begrudgingly slipped the outfit on. 

As soon as they stepped into the underground club, a number of dancing prospects quickly made themselves known.  Ororo had smiled, and agreed to dance to the pulsing beat, but Yukio wanted to find a table and some alcohol before dancing.  While on her way to the last empty table, Yukio spotted two twin peaks of wiry hair.  It couldn't be. 

Logan's senses told him that someone was watching him.  Turning around, he noticed Yukio boring a hole into him with her eyes, the red of her outfit causing her eyes to spark all the more brightly.  Standing up, he strode over to the self-proclaimed ronin, weaving his way through the swaying crowd.

"Logan."

"Yukio.  How have you been?"

"Leave."  No formalities, no pretense.  "I know why you're here.  It's for 'Ro, isn't it?  I suggest you leave before she spots you."

Logan stepped forward, took Yukio by the elbow, and guided her outside.  "Nah.  I ain't leaving until I tell her it's time to come home."

Yukio's eyes narrowed into knife-blade slits.  "It isn't time.  You'll hurt her."

"You did your job, it's time.  I'm here to reclaim her."

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"Yukio?  Devils take the girl, she must have stepped outside."  Smiling to her last dance partner, she dodged the other males vying for her attention and stepped outside into the crisp night air.

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"One last time, Wolverine.  Leave."

"No."

Blue eyes widened as they spied the pair around the corner.  "Logan?"

AN2:

Hey, I said they'd meet, not that they'd interact this chapter.  Sheesh.  :P

Rhapsody:  Yup, aggressive.  And she's quite good at it, I'd say.  ;)

Rhiannon:  You don't feel most acupuncture needles.  They're not huge regular blood drawing behemoths.  Thanks for the support!

Stormfreak:  Damn, I didn't even realize it was sexual tension.  But, if that's what you want it to be, I won't deny you that.  :P  You could just call it that I'm writing in the tradition…were they more than friends, or not?  We'll see what happens in two chapters.  I know the next chapter, and I know the end.  It's the middle that's got me pondering.  And get back to Full Circle, girl!