My Heart My Home - by Darlin

A/N – Let me give a hearty thank you to those who're still hanging in there and reading and a very special thank you to all who reviewed:  blackpanther2288, bluemist418, Digital Tempest, Isis Aurora Tomoe, Mackenzie, Raeyna Redhead2, SHALBREN4EVER, skyz, TheWolf, TigerStorm, Verena Gruen, wOLF8.  Thanks so much for your patience too, I know it took me forever to get this typed, proofed and up but I am working on chapter eighteen now and hoping to bring this story to its climax shortly.

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Chapter Seventeen - Hail, Hail the Gang's All Here!

After being with the X-Men for some time now Kurt Wagner had come to feel that the X-Men were more than friends and it was largely due to a certain weather mutant, Ororo Munroe. She had accepted him from the first day she'd met him in an abandoned church, showing no fear, no repulsion, and never shying away from him as most did. What's more she had trusted him from the start even showing a fascination with him that had touched his heart.

So used to being scorned and feared for his unusual appearance he was flattered and grateful to Ororo for her genuine acceptance. In time he grew to care for her very much though he had never once admitted this to himself - that is until Japan. Just as he was awakening to his deeper feelings for her so he believed Logan too was becoming more aware of Ororo. As he'd witnessed the attraction between her and Logan evolve into something more than friendship he realized he would never speak of his own feelings. Logan and Ororo were his closest friends and he valued their friendship dearly. If they could find happiness together he would gladly forsake his own needs for theirs and so he had said nothing.

Remarkably during that time he'd met another woman whom he found to be as fascinating as Ororo and his first love Amanda - now lost to him. This woman was unlike any other woman he'd ever met. Full of fire and spirit she took his mind off of his loneliness, and made him forget any romantic feelings that still lingered towards Ororo. She of course was Yukio, the Wild One. Some would call her crazy but Kurt saw that she was big hearted, sincere, and honest, all things he admired and treasured in a person. It constantly amazed him that she, who wasn't a mutant, had never once been horrified by his appearance and that she simply accepted him as if his blue body, tail and all were not only natural but something spectacular even.

Her enthusiasm for his natural appearance had been almost like a drug to him and he had easily let her into his heart before he even realized it. Still, he'd hesitated to ask her out during that time although he had cherished every day he was able to spend with her in their search for Logan's pursuer. Their time in Japan had been full of fun and excitement. So much so that it had been with a heavy heart that he had parted from her.

Yukio had been all smiles and winks and kisses which had consoled him to some extent but when he'd returned to the States he had missed her more than he would have thought possible. This time he regretted not taking steps to ensure some happiness in his life. But now that Yukio had called him he was so nervous he could barely compose himself much less work up the nerve to tell her how he felt. He tired ignoring the loud beating of his heart that seemed to drone out all else and he tried to steady his voice in an attempt to speak as calmly as possible.

"Yukio?"

"Kurt! Hiya sexy," Yukio's rich voice burst out.

"I can not believe it is really you! How have you been?"

"Lonely. Miss me?"

"Ja. Much indeed."

"Good, 'cause I have some news I think you'll like - I'm in New York."

"New York? Vhere in New York?"

"At the airport. I found out something I think Logan needs to know - oh man, I thought I lost those creeps! Kurt, I gotta go security's on my tail."

"Vhat? Vhy?"

"Stupid metal detectors went off and now they think I'm some kinda terrorist but I can't talk, sorry. See ya soon!"

"Yukio! Vait!"

The line went dead. Kurt dropped the phone and immediately teleported out of his room into the staff dining room. Finding it deserted he wondered what to do then teleported again.

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"If I find out Bobby's the cause of all this snow I'm going to kill him!" Scott yelled as he pushed his way out of the snow that had almost buried him.

Looking out the door all he could see was white. White trees, white grounds, white walls. Snow about 3 feet deep was everywhere and even higher where it had drifted into piles. Mumbling under his breath he tried to shut the door but failed quite miserably. There was simply too much snow to get the door closed. Scott gave a growl worthy of Logan and kicked, angrily at the white powder.

"Oh my stars and garters! Scott, is . . . everything al1 right?" Hank asked when he came into the foyer.

"Um, yes. Of course. Everything's fine. I was just going to get a shovel."

"A logical move," Hank said with a hint of a smile.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Scott asked when Hank didn't leave.

"I merely thought you'd like to know who our visitor is. Apparently he's . . ."

Before Hank could finish his sentence a puff of brimstone smelling smoke appeared out of thin air and Kurt, looking as if he were in extreme distress, stood in front of the pair.

"Scott! I've got to get to the airport immediately! They are after Yukio!"

"What?" Scott frowned.

"Yukio from Japan?" Hank asked.

"Ja! Ve need to leave now!"

"Okay, Kurt slow down and tell me who's after her and why," Scott said.

"They think she is a terrorist!"

"Who does?" Scott asked patiently.

"Ve do not have time for this!"

"Scott," Hank spoke very patiently. "I believe she is in the process of being detained by airport security. Most probably because she was carrying a weapon of some type or possibly due to what you have described as her . . . um, somewhat . . . erratic behavior."

"Well, she's definitely crazy but what does that have to do with us?" Scott asked.

"She is in trouble and needs our help!" Kurt shouted angrily.

"That much I gathered but what's she doing here in New York?" Scott shot back.

"She could not talk long but she said she has news for Logan. Now can ve leave?"

Scott sighed. All he needed was more trouble and having met Yukio he knew her to be just that. Not only had she shot Kurt, Logan, and Ororo with tranquillizer darts and given them no explanation why but she'd taken Logan, Kurt, the Professor, and himself around the city in a dilapidated little cab driving wildly as if it was some madcap adventure not to be taken seriously or as if she were on a serious suicide run. He hadn't appreciated that in the least but his complaints had largely been ignored mind you. And he still couldn't forget the time he saw her leap right off of Logan's balcony like some demented psycho circus clown sans trapeze. Oddly no one but him had thought it peculiar.

The situation had been bad enough trusting a mad woman like Yukio but it had only gotten worse. Kurt had grown infatuated with her and thought she was wonderful and could do no wrong. Delightful, he'd called her - but frankly Scott was pretty sure she was on drugs or either she wasn't playing with a full deck and needed to be locked up in an asylum for the mentally insane. To top things off she had acted as if she were attached to Kurt at the hip. It was beyond mystifying to Scott. He couldn't understand Kurt's attraction towards the woman or the tolerance that the Professor and Logan had shown for the nutcase that he knew her to be.

When Scott had left Japan it was with a certain sense of satisfaction knowing he'd never have to see the woman again and now here she was in America no less, dragging them all into her lunacy just as she had in Japan. He gave an even deeper sigh full of heart felt exasperation when he felt something jerking at his sleeve. Looking up he was surprised to see Kurt scowling at him even more upset than before. And upset over what? Some crazy woman's latest inane antics which probably were just as asinine as they had been in Japan and probably duly deserving of whatever punishment the airport felt like dealing out? Could his day get any worse, he wondered abysmally?

"Did you hear anything I said, Scott?" Kurt yelled.

Scott looked around guiltily. Truthfully he hadn't been listening to Kurt; in fact he was actually appalled by the German's actions. He wasn't used to seeing Kurt flustered and he'd never once seen him angry. Kurt was usually so professional and mild mannered that you almost forgot he was around.

"If you vill not help then I vill ask Ororo to get the jet ready!" Kurt said with finality.

"Look, Kurt I think Mariko has a guest out front and we're really kind of snowed in right now so let's just make a few phone calls first and see what she's gotten into this time," Scott suggested.

"That is not acceptable! Yukio helped us vhile ve vere in Japan how can ve not help her?"

Although Scott considered Yukio's 'help' more like interference than anything else he did have to admit that Kurt had a small point.

"I'll have the Professor call the airport and see if . . ."

"That vill not do either!" Kurt barked and in a puff of smoke he was gone.

"I think you may want to reconsider your options, fearless leader," Hank said with a twinkle in his eye.

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The same thought was on Ororo's mind when she pulled the covers over her head, having retreated to her bed feeling queasy and ill. She felt the day could only get worse and her options were down to either hiding in her room or going on with her life as if nothing untoward had happened. Usually strong willed, today she was inclined to give in to the former option and thus she was curled up in a tight ball attempting to clear her mind, convince herself that she wasn't going to throw up, and doing her best to will sleep to come.

"Ororo! Please, can you help me?" Kurt asked, desperately as soon as he teleported into her loft.

"Kurt? What's wrong?" She sat up, alarmed.

"Yukio is at the airport and they think she is a terrorist or something but she is only here to help Logan!" Kurt cried.

"If she's here then it has to be important," Ororo noted.

"Ja, can you take me to the airport in the Blackbird?"

"Of course," Ororo nodded her assent. "We'll need to tell Logan too."

"Oh, Logan should know Mariko has a guest at the main gate."

"A guest?" Ororo asked. When Kurt nodded she shook her head and said decisively, "Alright, Kurt give me a moment to get dressed then we'll get Logan."

"Danke! I vould teleport but the distance is too far. Danke!" Kurt said gratefully and he turned his back to her tapping his foot while he waited.

Still clad in her essentials, it took only a moment for Ororo to slip into a pair of leather pants, a t-shirt and pull on a pair of boots over a pair of socks. After she was dressed she came up behind Kurt and put her hand on his shoulder. Kurt turned around embraced her then with a loud 'bamf' they were gone. In an instant they appeared in Logan's room but looking around they found only an unmade bed in the Spartan quarters.

Unbeknownst to them not too long ago Logan had been standing outside Mariko's room debating whether or not to go in. However he hadn't gotten the chance to debate long as Mariko's door opened and Shiro, stopped in the doorway surprised to see Logan standing there. Logan was equally surprised to see Shiro holding the remains of Mariko's breakfast on a tray.

"Good morning, Logan-San. Please enter," Shiro said bowing his head briefly before stepping past him and making his way down the hall.

"Thanks bub," Logan replied gruffly.

His mood didn't lighten any when he saw Mariko sitting up in bed wearing a small nightgown and sliding her robe off her shoulders rather suggestively. The look in her eyes was unreadable but the half smile on her face was obviously an attempt at being seductive. He took a moment to gather himself trying hard to keep his temper in check. If he wanted answers he knew he had to try not to alarm her as he had the night before.

"Good morning!" Mariko greeted him with a cheerful smile.

"Ain't nothing good about it," Logan snapped despite his plan to stay calm.

Mariko's smile faded for a second but returned as she laughed at him. Logan hadn't been convinced that it was a good morning earlier and now looking at his wife laughing at him he knew it wasn't going to get much better.

"You feel like answering my questions now?" He bellowed, once again more loudly than he'd intended.

"Oh, Logan-chan. You still wake grumpy," Mariko laughed.

Logan was fast losing patience but Mariko seemed unruffled. She merely smiled and removed her robe completely while he watched her with no pleasure. Mariko was still smiling when she motioned for him to come near. He didn't move. She laughed yet again and patted the bed but Logan didn't feel like being her puppet and he stood his ground. Mariko simply flung her small legs over the bedside got up and went to him. Before Logan could do anything her arms were around his neck and she was kissing him.

His first instinct was to push her away but instead he let her kiss him, and in fact he even responded though he doubted it would spark a memory any more than it had when Yukio had kissed him in Japan. Still, he closed his eyes and pressed her small frame close to him letting the softness and taste of her meld into his senses. She smelled good. Jasmine he guessed and she tasted fruity but artificial too, something in her lip stick. After a minute he let her go and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"What do you want?" he asked as affably as he could manage.

"Only you," Mariko replied with a small frown. She reached for him again but Logan took a step back.

"I need answers, Mariko. Are you going to give them to me?"

"Yes, as you wish but please sit with me," she said without hesitation.

Against his better judgment Logan took a seat on her bed. Mariko sat beside him, her hands quickly grasping his in hers.

"I have missed you," she murmured as she kissed his hands.

Logan pulled his hands away without replying. Mariko moved closer to him but refrained from touching him this time.

"I learned that you yet lived so I went to Canada to find you and my search led here," she offered.

"Who told you where to find me?"

"A man you do not know."

"What's his name?"

"Matsu'o Tsurayaba, a man of no consequence."

"How'd he know about me?"

"Who knows these things?" She asked and shrugged her shoulders carelessly.

"So you came to find me as soon as you heard, eh?"

"Of course, Logan. Yes, my cousin and I left as soon as we heard. You are my husband and you belong at my side."

"Why?" Logan balked, not sure he'd heard her right.

Mariko looked surprised but gave a small laugh and said, "I need you for without you I am nothing."

Logan was annoyed further when she scooted even closer to him, one arm winding through his but he took in a deep breath and tired to relax.

"I need you. I have missed you. I am not complete without you," Mariko whispered before she kissed his face gently.

Logan stood up and Mariko clambered off the bed after him.

"I have been alone for many years. Can you not try to remember the love you felt for me?"

"I don't remember you at all, least of all loving you," Logan said quietly.

"Then you must let me refresh your mind," Mariko said and her arms slipped around his body holding onto him tightly.

"Kiss me, Logan."

Logan started to push her away but once again Mariko determinedly pressed her lips to his. For a moment he started to give in, after all maybe a second kiss would spark memories but his heart wouldn't let him. He gripped Mariko's shoulders firmly and stared hard into her puzzled brown eyes.

"Even if I remembered you this wouldn't be the first thing I'd want from you. And if you know me at all then you should know that."

"You have changed much. The Logan I knew would be making love to me by now."

"Well, lady I ain't the Logan you knew. Now you want to tell me why you're really here?"

"I have told you."

Logan's hold on her tightened and Mariko winced in pain.

"You've told me nothing."

"I was told you were here and so I came. What more is there to tell?"

Logan let her go and she pulled her away massaging her shoulders, her arms crisscrossed over her chest. They stared at each other like two contestants, neither willing to back down. Normally it was the easiest thing for him to sense another's mood simply by their movements and the smell they gave off but with Mariko he couldn't quite figure her out. He could sense her sincerity but there was something more there and he couldn't quite place it. He was distracted when he heard someone banging loudly on the door.

"You better put some clothes on," Logan muttered but she made no move to do so.

The door opened suddenly and Mariko screamed.

"I am sorry to intrude, Logan but ve need you," Kurt said.

Looking past Kurt Logan saw Ororo standing in the hallway and he immediately moved towards them.

"What is that thing?" Mariko gasped. She had paled considerably when she'd seen Kurt who wasn't using his image inducer and now she grabbed hold of Logan's arm to prevent him from leaving.

With a growl Logan removed her hands and said, "His name is Kurt. He's a human being not a thing an' he's family."

"B-but . . . but, Logan we have not yet . . ." Mariko's words died on her lips when Logan slammed the door hard in her face.

"What's so urgent, Elf?" Logan asked.

"Yukio's at the airport and she's in trouble. She came to give you information and ve have to help her. Ororo is going to fly us there are you coming?"

Logan nodded slowly though his eyes were on Ororo.

"Wait. Logan, there's something else you need to know," Ororo said with a grim look as she reached in her pocket and pulled out a tissue.

When she wiped at his mouth and face Logan closed his eyes feeling like he'd just been condemned to hell. He'd been so angry with Mariko he'd completely forgotten she was wearing lipstick leaving marks for all to see. He opened his eyes, ran a hand through his hair and sighed. The day couldn't get any worse he thought when he saw Ororo was looking at him with an expression as equally unreadable as Mariko's had been.

"Ororo it's . . ."

"Mariko has a visitor," Ororo interrupted him. "You probably should let her know."

"A visitor? She's got a visitor? I can't believe this! She's got her servant servin' her breakfast in bed and now she's receiving visitors like she's flamin' royalty or something?" Logan muttered angrily.

Kurt glanced at Ororo who seemed unfazed and he followed her example and remained silent.

"Kurt, I need you to teleport to the garage and see if you can get one of the snow mobiles out. If you can't . . ."

"I can," Kurt said.

"Good. Then get out to the main gate as soon as you can. In the meantime I'll see if anyone ran a background check on him or her."

"Vhy?" Kurt asked.

Ororo shook her head. Something about this just didn't seem right to her but she hesitated to say so. Instead she said, "Let's just play it safe this time and don't forget to use your image inducer. And Logan you may want to let Mariko know what's going on."

"She'll find out soon enough," Logan commented.

Ororo frowned but let it go. "Fine, I'll get Charles. We're probably going to need him to use a little . . . persuasion just like he did to get you through security, Logan. Oh and Kurt, radio Hank before you let this person into the school and be careful. I'll go get someone to prep the jet so we can leave after you bring them to the Professor's office all right?"

"Ja, ja. Thank you," Kurt grinned and vanished.

"Darlin' - Ro, wait a minute," Logan caught her hand before she left. He could feel her hand trembling again and he felt miserable wanting to explain what had happened and yet not quite sure how.

"We don't have time," she said curtly, pulling her hand from his.

He shook his head. "I . . . she's a mystery. I can't figure her out. It's like she's hiding something."

"Well, if that's true then we better be on our guard, especially with this visitor of hers," Ororo said before she turned and went downstairs.

Taking charge and seeing that things got done efficiently was second nature to Ororo but today Kurt's request served another purpose. It kept her busy, it made her feel more in control, and more importantly it kept her mind off of Mariko and Logan. When she'd seen Mariko dressed in a flimsy nightgown and Logan standing there with lipstick on his face the ache inside her that had dulled considerably since yesterday had hit her so hard that she'd thought she was going to be ill. She knew she had no right to be shocked or angry or hurt but she was and what's more she didn't want anything to do with Logan for the moment. She didn't want to hear his excuses or even look at him.

She tried to keep her anger in check as she rounded up Peter and Bobby, who had just challenged the girls to a snowball fight in the midst of their shoveling duties, and sent them to prep the Blackbird. She then went to fill in the Professor and see if anyone had discovered anything about their latest guest. Finding the Professor's door ajar she knocked once then let herself in. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Scott sitting in a chair with a sour look on his face.

"It's like we always drop whatever we're doing to help the man," Scott was grumbling.

She thought to herself that Scott looked just like she felt.

"What's so funny?" Scott asked.

"Me. You. Men. Ego's. Testosterone. Love. Take your pick."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"Scott, Ororo meant nothing," Charles said calmly.

"Charles, we have a problem . . ." Ororo began.

"I've already told the Professor what's going on," Scott said. "Mariko's brother's here. His name's Keniuchio Harada. Hank's already ran a check on him and given him visitor clearance and I've got some of the boys clearing a path to the front gate so we can get to him."

"If you like, Ororo I'll go with you and Kurt to see if we can clear up this business with Yukio," Charles said.

"Ororo, this snow is your doing?" Scott asked.

"I . . . yes, I'm afraid it is."

Scott looked at her thoughtfully. "Is everything okay? I mean I'm not trying to be nosey or anything but you and Jean - for a while there you two didn't seem like you were talking and well this morning you looked kind of ill."

"We had a little . . . disagreement but we're fine now and I'm fine," Ororo said and meant it.

"Good. Well, if you two insist on going to the airport I guess I'll see how the boy's are coming along. I had Hank tell the guy it'll be awhile before we get to him."

"Greetings!" Kurt called out as he suddenly appeared in the office startling them all. "Mariko's guest is outside. He is very big too."

"You got him?" Scott asked.

"Ja. Ororo told me too," Kurt said.

"Scott said. "I don't think you should've teleported with him but how'd he feel about it?"

"I did not teleport him. Ororo asked me to take the ski mobile. I teleported that only. But vhen I got there the car vas gone and I saw footprints headed tovards the school. These I followed and there he vas valking along as if nothing vas unusual. I brought him the rest of the vay and now he is in the foyer as ve speak," Kurt said with a shrug.

"That's odd. How'd he get past our security parameters?" Scott muttered.

Ororo glanced at Scott. She was wondering the same thing.

"Does Logan know about this?" Charles asked.

"He should be meeting us here shortly along with Mariko I presume," Ororo said.

"Well then, Kurt why don't you show our guest in?" Charles suggested.

Kurt disappeared in a wave of smoke. After five minutes they heard heavy footsteps coming down the hallway. When the door opened they were all surprised to see a very large man enter. Keniuchio Harada's large frame barely seemed to squeeze into the small doorway. He was a tall six foot six inches weighing in at about 250 pounds. Not unhandsome he looked rugged and confident as his eyes scanned over the small group.

"Where is Mariko?" he asked with no preamble. "Take me to her now."