My Heart My Home - by Darlin

A/N - I've been trying to update much sooner but I have to say I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the Lord of the Ring Trilogy Tuesday although it was out of state and getting there and back ate up a lot of my time so that's why I'm a little slower this time. I know, excuses, excuses but I hope you all go see the Return of the King because it's quite good. The Last Samurai is excellent as well I should add and very worth seeing too.

Thank you everyone again for reading and reviewing. Many thanks to blackpanther2288, bluemist418, Digital Tempest - hmm :D - Isis Aurora Tomoe, lilWolvie, Raven-Phoenix-X, Redhead2, TigerStorm, and Verena Gruen! I hope you all have a wonderful happy Christmas!

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Chapter Twenty - Liar Liar

Keniuchio and Shiro were growing tired of Hank's clumsy Japanese. It had been intriguing, even amusing at first, but after nearly an hour of listening to his clumsy, droning conversation it had quickly grown old. Trying to make sense out of what the good doctor was saying was giving them both a headache. It would not be polite to tell Dr. McCoy that his Japanese was lacking though Keniuchio was tempted. He was even more tempted when his cousin's mobile rang and Shiro quickly excused himself. Off to the side Shiro had a brief and rapid conversation that neither Hank nor Keniuchio could catch.

"Mariko has need of me. I must go," Shiro bowed to both men and started to leave without further ado.

"If she will see you she will see me!" Keniuchio stated flatly.

"You are welcome to come but she is with Logan at this time," Shiro said stopping in his tracks.

"Ah," Hank murmured. "Perhaps you should give them a little more time then."

Keniuchio glared at Hank as he thought over his options. Just then Yukio and Kurt, who was currently using his image inducer, came in.

"The Wild One!" Shiro and Keniuchio spoke as one.

"My reputation precedes me," Yukio laughed as she bowed elaborately. "Hiya, Shiro."

"Yukio-san," Shiro bowed as custom dictated and Yukio laughed again.

"What are you doing here?" Keniuchio asked belligerently.

"Following a certain Silver Samurai," Yukio responded flippantly.

"Yukio . . . !" Kurt gave her a warning look which she ignored though she gave his hand a squeeze.

Keniuchio's grim façade broke for an instant and he squinted his eyes looking thoughtfully at Yukio. It was only a momentary change though abrupt, nevertheless he recovered quickly and no one but Yukio seemed to notice. Shiro took advantage of the interruption and backed out of the room noiselessly.

"Are you two acquainted with each other?" Hank asked Keniuchio and Yukio.

"No," they replied and glanced at each other then looked away.

"Then allow me to make proper introductions," Hank said with delight, glad to continue practicing his Japanese.

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The sudden turn of events suited Mariko perfectly. Although her plan had come to fruition sooner than planed, things just couldn't get too much better she thought. Besides, with Keniuchio now on the scene she couldn't afford to wait. Logan would wake up in her bed and if he still refused to perform his husbandly duties she would tell him, quite sorrowfully mind you, how Ororo had seen them in the act and had left for good. It was almost too easy. With the woman he seemed to care for removed there would be nothing to prevent him from staying with her - at least until he'd served his purpose.

Now she regretted not having brought along the deadly blowfish poison. A single dosage would have probably put Logan out for the night and it most certainly would have killed Ororo. But a simple call to Shiro would ensure that Ororo's body was properly disposed of. Giving a sigh of sheer happiness, Mariko stepped over Logan, kicked a curtain out of her way, peeped under her bed to make sure Ororo, tucked away where Mariko had shoved her, was still out.

It wasn't long before she heard a soft knock at her door and she hurried to answer it. Unfortunately, the sight of Professor Xavier in his wheelchair wasn't what she'd been expecting. Still, she smiled congenially, modestly clutching her robe to her.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I was told Logan needed . . . some help," Charles replied.

"I do not think he needs any help at all, Professor Xavier. He is sleeping."

"May I see him?"

"I . . . he and I - we - well, now he is sleeping."

"I don't understand."

Mariko threw the door wide allowing Charles to see inside. He could just make out Logan's naked body sprawled out on the floor along with the pile of curtains, bedding, and quite a few beer bottles.

"We . . . he fell asleep after we were - ah, how do you say - together . . . intimate."

Charles turned his eyes to Mariko who was frowning at him.

"Is this your custom when husband and wife are together, you Americans feel it is okay to come in?"

Charles had the good grace to blush. From what he could read in Mariko's mind she was telling the truth. Her thoughts were chaotic but he could clearly see her happiness and the many thoughts of Logan racing through her head, most of them pornographic.

"I beg your pardon. It's just that Ororo thought something was wrong. Have you seen Ororo?"

"Where she is, who can say? She was not happy that Logan was with me. Yes, she too, like you, came in and saw us. I do not understand your ways. In my country this is a private thing," Mariko said.

"Ororo is gone," Charles stated plainly. He had been trying to contact Ororo ever since Peter had informed him that she had need of his help but there had been no response. It was as if she had left the grounds altogether.

"Excuse me, Mariko is all well?" Shiro asked as he came jogging up to them.

"I am better, much so now that Logan is here but his friend, the flying one was not well. Perhaps you can help the Professor to find her?"

"Yes of course."

"No. There's no need. I'm sure she'll be back soon," Charles said. He took one more look into the room, his eyebrows raised in wonder, then with a shake of his head he started to back up. Mariko swiftly leaned over him, her robe falling open exposing her breast. She kissed Charles on the top of his bald pate. Poor Charles gaped at her nudity feeling immensely uncomfortable and guilty.

"You are very kind," Mariko laughed as she unconsciously drew her robe to her again.

"I will be happy to help you if you need assistance," Shiro offered again.

"No! No thank you. I'm sure she'll be fine," Charles mumbled. He was quite rattled as he veered away down the hall.

Mariko drew Shiro into the room shutting the door behind him.

"What is the meaning of this, Mariko?" Shiro asked when he saw Logan laying in the mess on the floor.

Wordlessly, Mariko lifted the bed skirt and waved Shiro over.

The sight beneath the bed darkened Shiro's mood considerably. He had been assisting his cousin ever since her father had died and he would continue until she had no need of him for being family dictated loyalty and honor to the clan leader, but it was not with honor that Mariko was acting now. Her disheveled appearance, unusual lack of modesty, her oddly elated manner, and now Ororo's still body beneath the bed were so disturbing to him that he could barely think. Logan was none of his business and he could care less what Mariko did with him but Ororo was an innocent by stander. To see her lifeless body crammed into the tight space appalled him.

"She threatened our mission now I need you to get rid of her."

"W-what do you purpose?"

Having known Shiro all of her life, Mariko knew she would not be able to have him take care of Ororo as she'd like but she'd had time to think of an alternant method of eliminating her rival and she much preferred this one.

"There is a man whose real name is not known to me. He is called John Foo but he is most certainly not Chinese. He can be found in the country of Madripool I believe. Go to the Princess Bar and they will tell you where he is. Take her to him and he will make sure she does not cause problems for us ever again."

"Foo? But he sells women on the black market!"

"Do as I say, Shiro-chan - if you wish to see our clan restored to its proper honorable position."

"But to stoop so low as our enemies!"

"She will live at least. Here," Mariko pulled a large duffle bag from a trunk at the foot of her bed and held it out to him. "Put her in this."

Mariko watched with rapture as Shiro followed her instructions. Ororo's limp body was easily placed into the bag which Shiro slung over one shoulder.

"I will look to see if anyone is watching," Mariko purred as she opened the window and peered out.

Since the fun filled winter wonderland had steadily melted away when it had begun to rain and then the rain had turned into freezing sleet, there was no one outside. After Mariko gave him the go ahead the air in the room grew quite hot though the bulk of the heat was concentrated beneath Shiro as began to rise into the air. He adjusted his burden a bit then flew out the window, a trail of flame forming behind him as he accelerated. Mariko rubbed her hands together and smiled like a Cheshire cat then went back to Logan whom she had further sedated from an extra supply of drugs in the same trunk as the duffel bag had been in.

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Charles was feeling uncertain. Not only had he intruded upon Logan's privacy but he'd ventured into Mariko's privacy as well when he'd read her thoughts without her knowledge. Because of his strict policy of not violating a person's thoughts, except in extreme circumstances, he was gravely upset with himself. All that Mariko had said was true from what he could read in her mind.

Though Peter had made it clear that Ororo felt Mariko was endangering Logan and he felt he had no choice but to pry it was still disconcerting to find that there had been nothing to be alarmed about. He couldn't for the life of him think what had upset Ororo so badly that she had sent Peter to him for help. He would have to speak to Peter again but more importantly he needed to find Ororo. He thought it best to seek out Kitty whom Peter had said was guarding the west end of the hall.

It took only a few minutes to traverse the halls. He found Peter waiting at the top of the stairs with Kitty. They looked at him anxiously and he tried to smile reassuringly at them.

"Do you know where Ororo is, Kitty?"

"The last time I saw her she was going into that lady's room. Is everything okay?"

"I don't know, Kitty but I promise you that I will find out. Can you tell me how Ororo was feeling? Was she upset?"

"Well, yeah a little I guess."

"Did she say what she was going to do?"

"Go in and talk to her, I guess that's what she was planning to do," Kitty said.

The Professor sat back in his wheelchair; his shoulders slumped, his head hanging down. Where could she have gone, he wondered?

"Professor, do you wish for us to remain here?" Peter asked.

"What? Oh, no, everything's fine," Charles assured him.

There was still no sign of Ororo in the school or on the grounds and Charles decided that he'd best inform Scott of her absence before turning to Cerebro, a machine that he and Magneto had built long ago. This Cerebro enhanced his own strong telepathic skills a hundredfold enabling him to find mutants around the world and he hoped he would be able to locate Ororo with it. He was filled with relief when he found Scott along with Jean and without preamble he spoke.

"Scott, Jean we must find Ororo immediately," Charles said.

"I'll call her on the PA system," Jean offered.

"I'm afraid she will not answer but go ahead," Charles said, wearily.

They waited for five minutes all the while monitoring the security cameras. Scott was wishing he'd been able to convince the Professor to put in cameras in every passageway but Charles had felt that would be an invasion of the student's privacy and had vetoed the idea.

"Wait, we've got an alarm. Look there's someone on the roof," Scott pointed to the monitor.

"Can you find out who it is?" Charles asked.

"No. They're gone now."

"Where to? And who was it?" Jean asked.

"It's possible it was one of the children and they came back in," Charles said. "We need to get them under control; they've had free rein long enough."

"Agreed. If it was one of the kids they're starting to abuse the rules. I'll round them up," Scott said with enthusiasm.

"In a moment, Scott. We have to find Ororo first," the Professor said.

"Well, most of the snows melted with all this rain and the weather's been pretty weird," Scott said. "That wouldn't be Ororo's handiwork would it?"

"I don't know, Scott. Mariko thinks Ororo left the premises and I can't pick up any sign of her. . ."

"When? I mean we haven't seen anyone leave the grounds since the Blackbird got back and we've been here all morning."

"But, Scott someone just disappeared off the roof and Ororo does that all the time. That must have been her," Jean stated.

"I don't know, she usually leaves through her skylight or a window," he disagreed.

"Not always, and besides that how many students do we have that can fly?" Jean asked.

"Kitty can wall through walls," Scott argued.

"Kitty would never be on the roof, Scott," Jean sighed.

"Kitty is not on the roof, Scott. Now we need to focus here," Charles said. "If it was Ororo who left then she has her mind blocked to me."

"Well why would Ororo leave? Where would she go?" Scott asked.

"It's been a difficult time for her," Charles admitted.

"What do you mean?" Scott asked.

"It's complicated," Jean said.

"So you keep telling me. Look, I need to know what's going on if we're going to find her."

Jean really didn't know how to speak the words that she'd refused to say for so long. Even now when she had resolved to leave Logan alone for her friend's sake the thought of Ororo and Logan together still bothered her. She wondered if she would ever feel any differently.

"Honey, are you going to tell me or not?" Scott asked.

"Logan and Ororo are in love," Jean managed to get out.

"What? Ororo and Logan?" Scott was incredulous.

Neither the Professor nor Jean spoke though Charles nodded in affirmation.

"Well that explains a lot of things. Man how could I be so blind? All this time I thought he was after you, Jean but it was Ororo he wanted. Now I'm beginning to understand."

"There's not much to understand," Jean said none too pleasantly.

"Well at least that's one mystery solved. No wonder Ororo's been acting so strangely. Well we should be able to solve this easily enough. We can just get Logan to track her. He's good at that kind of stuff," Scott said.

"That's going to be a problem," Charles told him. "Logan is with Mariko and they are somewhat occupied."

"What do you mean, occupied?" Jean asked.

"Occupied as man and wife and unfortunately Ororo saw them," Charles said somewhat sheepishly.

"Oh," Jean and Scott breathed in surprise.

"I'm afraid she's upset and may not be thinking clearly," Charles said.

"That could be but I wouldn't worry about Ororo, Professor. She's a strong woman," Scott said with certainty.

"I'm apt to agree with you, Scott but I'd still like to try to reach her through Cerebro."

"Good enough. I'll round up the kids and Jean see if you can get Kurt to relieve Hank and have Hank take over here."

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It had proved impossible to get rid of Hank though Keniuchio had tried valiantly. As it was Hank's duty to keep tabs on Keniuchio, Hank had followed him wherever he ventured. This had done nothing to lighten Keniuchio's already dour disposition. Finally he had gone to Mariko's room, demanded admittance once again and continued beating on the door till Hank had forcibly stopped him.

Biding his time, Keniuchio was now pacing back and forth in front of Mariko's room ignoring Hank as best he could. Hank too had attempted to draw Mariko and Logan out but neither had bothered to respond and the noises that Mariko made left them with no desire to intrude further. It was obvious to them that she and Logan were having a reunion that was satisfying her immeasurably.

Mariko, however, was simply an excellent actress. So great were her acting talents that whenever she sobbed in misery or torment and cried out in pleasure or anguish her mind totally engulfed those feelings and for that moment she believed with all her heart of what she was attempting to portray. If not for these extraordinary skills the Professor would have easily seen the truth although it certainly helped that Mariko had knowingly exposed her nakedness to shame and disorientate him.

He had no idea that he was not dealing with an ordinary woman. Soft and pliable, weak and vulnerable she had been as the head of Clan Yashida but after Logan's alleged death she had begun to change. Logan loved her for being soft, delicate, kind, and honorable but she'd found all that he loved in her had made her weak and susceptible to those who were ruthless and honor less. Since that time she'd studied under the best, treacherous Matsu'o and the Machiavellian Mandarin, and she had vowed never to be weak or used again no matter what it might cost her, including her honor.

Everything was moving along perfectly despite her brother's arrival and all Mariko needed now was to convince Logan that his place was beside her. From all she knew of Logan, a man who lived for honor as much as she had once lived, she was convinced that he would go with her and do his duty, especially now that Ororo was gone. With this in mind she retrieved an unopened beer bottle, removed the cap with a knife, and poured the contents over Logan's face and chest.

The liquid poured over his hairy, muscular chest making it gleam appealingly and Logan awoke, choking and sputtering. Instinctively, Mariko leaned down and licked at the beer then, lifting her head, she kissed him. She was surprised to find that he responded if only for a second.

"Ro . . . ?" Logan turned his head away when he smelled not the soothing clean scent of the woman he loved but the yeasty odor of beer and a familiar sweet odor.

When he saw Mariko smiling at him he sat up shaking his head to clear it and wiping his face with both hands. He reeked of alcohol and worse, he smelled of Mariko. Her scent was all over him. It was overwhelming and almost made him gag. What had she done to him?

"Logan-san, you are ready to make love to me again," Mariko giggled.

"Huh? What're you talking about?"

Then Logan saw he was just as naked as Mariko was and he struggled to stand up. His head was pounding and he felt stiff, not anything like he would feel after a drunken spree or making love. With his healing factor he'd always found it difficult to get as drunk as he'd like to and when he did manage to get a good buzz it never lasted long.

"What is wrong?" Mariko asked as she too stood.

"Where're my clothes?"

"Over there," Mariko pointed to the bed.

"What's going on?" Logan demanded as he started to dress.

"I do not know. You wanted to celebrate and so you drank and made love to me many times."

"Huh?" Logan stopped short.

"You said we would be together that you would go with me," Mariko said with downcast eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about. There's no way I'd tell you that. Put some clothes on," Logan mumbled. He looked around the room as he finished dressing, taking in everything. Whatever he'd done he didn't remember it but something within him told him Mariko wasn't telling the truth.

Mariko shimmied up against him, ignoring his command to cover herself. Her hands began massaging him and her lips teased along his neck. Logan shivered. His hand flew up to his neck which felt stiff and then he pushed Mariko off him.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Mariko cried.

"This doesn't make any sense."

"What do you mean? Remembering your love for me and showing me how much?"

Logan stepped into his boots, leaving his socks on the bed making no reply.

"You had much to drink, Logan as you always do."

"I ain't never drunk so much that I can't remember what I did!" Logan growled.

"But many nights when we were together you did and we would make passionate love just like tonight."

"No! I don't know what happened but we didn't - we weren't together!"

"No, you are wrong. We will have many children now," Mariko smiled. "You said you wanted to be with me again and have the children you always wanted. Five children you wished for."

Logan stared at her. He vaguely remembered wishing for five kids but it hadn't been with her. Or had it been? He couldn't remember his head was so clouded.

"You will not use me and then discard me. It is not honorable or right."

"I have to go," Logan stammered.

"Why? Where will you go? Will you turn your back on me after all I have gone through to find you?"

He shook his head, turned and stumbled towards the door.

"Is it that you are worried about your friend?"

"What friend?" Logan asked without turning.

"The one called Ororo."

The name on Mariko's lips made him stop. Mariko came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his middle.

"Do not worry about her. Though she saw us together, as did the Professor, she knows you are my husband."

"What do you mean, saw us together?" Logan shouted, spinning around in a fury.

"Together, making love. Why Americans do this I do not know."

"What do you mean?" Logan yelled again, his hands gripping Mariko by the shoulders.

"She was upset and she left. They do not know where she is but she will be all right. You are honor bound to me and she must accept that even as you must."

"What're you talking about? Where is she? None of this makes sense!"

"I do not understand American customs. When two people are together they are usually together by themselves but we were interrupted two times. But I spoke to her and she understands now."

"Are you trying to tell me that Ororo saw you and me making love?"

Mariko nodded. Logan pushed her aside and ran to the door.

"Where are you going?" Mariko shrieked.

"I've got to find her," Logan replied.

"No it is all right! She understands! It is a natural thing that a man and a woman are together. You are my husband!"

Logan ignored her, slamming the door behind him. Mariko whipped the door open but quickly closed it when she saw Keniuchio grab Logan by the neck and lift him off the floor. She opened it again just a crack and called for help. Bobby and Peter came running down the hall as their room wasn't far. Logan's claws popped out but Keniuchio threw him to the floor. Peter stepped between the men, his flesh turning to armor even as Keniuchio let lose a kick. Peter grunted, caught the foot and thrust the stunned Keniuchio away.

"I'll get the Professor and Mr. Summers!" Bobby shouted.

Logan jumped up; his claws retracted, and said, "Whatever beef you got with me's gotta wait. I got something more important than playing with an oversized idiot like you."

"You will eat those words, gaijin!"

"No! Keniuchio, no!" Mariko stepped out into the hall, her robe now tied securely about her waist. "He is coming with me back to Japan. We are going to have a child!"

"A child?" Keniuchio repeated.

"You got no proof of that," Logan grunted.

"It is easy to prove should it be necessary."

"Then prove it somewhere else. I want you and your people out of here by the time I get back do you understand?"

"But I can not leave without you. I will not!"

"You need to pack and you need to go!"

"No. I will not! You are my husband. We made love and if I have a child that will bind you to me. You will be responsible!"

"I think you're lying," Logan stated calmly. "I've never made love to someone and not remembered it."

"You are the liar! You may ask your friends who saw."

"You know you're crazy lady! I don't care who saw what or what you think, all I care about is getting a divorce. I had to be a lunatic to marry you and I guess if I had to drink till I got drunk that ought to prove it."

"You can not mean that, Logan-san!"

"I am a man of my word," Logan said before he started down the hall.

"There will be no divorce! I will fight a divorce!" Mariko yelled and started to run after him but Keniuchio caught her up in his arms.

"It is over, Mariko," he whispered.

"No!" Mariko screamed and she beat her fist against her brother's chest.

Keniuchio carried her thrashing body into her room and shut the door behind them.

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Gaijin - Foreigner