My Heart My Home - by Darlin

A/N – Chris-warren876 I was really surprised with the assumption about Mariko and Kenny but rest assured that they did not have sex! Shivers indeed! But thanks for the review and thank you bluemist418, dorothy, Isis Aurora Tomoe, lilWolvie, TigerStorm, Verena Gruen, and Voli. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got what they wanted!

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Chapter Twenty-One – Death and Honor

Sometimes when you sleep you never dream and other times your dreams overtake you sending you into a nightmarish realm, but more often there's a quiet peace just before you wake where you're aware of all around you, neither sleeping nor dreaming. Ororo Munroe was experiencing this peaceful state now. She felt snug and secure as if she were wrapped in warm comforting arms. And too, she felt the familiar sensation of flying with humid winds washing over her. She smiled. Visions filled her mind – first her mother then both parents together, holding her and laughing as someone took their picture. Finally there was Logan, standing beside her, his arms wrapped around her as if he would never let her go.

So content is this time between dreaming and waking sometimes you dread the thought of waking up. But other times you feel a sudden lurch – the alarm goes off or you wake in fear that you've overslept. For Ororo a literal sudden lurch startled her awake as Shiro, whose arms were weary from carrying her, still trapped within her prison, struggled to readjust his hold on her. Fully awake her eyes opened wide to a dark horrifying void.

Reaching out her hands touched the rough material around her and she realized she was trapped. Strong, independent, sensible Storm panicked, her claustrophobia overwhelming her, and a chilling scream rent the air as she fought to escape. Shiro, startled, nearly dropped her but he quickly recovered clutching her to him even closer. The sound of her anguish matched the pain he felt within his own soul. Nothing within him agreed with his cousin's plan and if it had been possible he would have refused her the instant she'd ordered him to take Ororo away.

From the moment he had silently agreed to do her bidding he regretted that he hadn't stood up to Mariko and refused, for honor was too precious a thing to lose misguidedly. There was no honor in obeying the head of his clan if she were mad, honor but a false charade. Even now as he flew miles past the airport where Mariko's private jet awaited he knew he could not take Ororo to this John Foo to be sold on the black market. He wasn't sure what he would do but let her suffer for Mariko's madness he would not. He would die before he let that happen. He was determined to save Ororo for if he succeeded he could save himself by regaining the honor that he had forfeited when he had succumbed to Mariko's will.

If Ororo had been privy to Shiro's thoughts perhaps she would have sought another means of escape but she was no mind reader. All she knew was that she was trapped – caught, like a small frightened child trapped within the remains of a bombed building, and she screamed in savage rage. No thought but one raced through her mind as lightning seemed to leap from her fingertips and fire raged in her eyes. Freedom her only thought – she had to be free!

Where her fingernails clawed at the confining cloth walls lightning blazed a hole straight through the material and she leapt out into freedom even as Shiro fell to his. Through the noise and confusion a voice inside her head called to her repeatedly but she was still too panicked to comprehend what was happening. Her body tumbled downwards like a boulder thrown from the sky, her screams mingling with the crashing of the thunder and lightning that bombarded the air.

"She won't listen," Charles told Scott. "She's terrified."

She continued to fall lost but free.

"Where is she? Can we find her?" Scott demanded.

Visions flashed before her once again – her mother smiling; her father laughing; Logan holding her, his lips seeking hers.

"It's . . . too late," Charles groaned, his voice full of despair.

"No!" Ororo cried out as her mind fought now to regain control.

Then arms reached out to her, grasping and drawing her close. She would have attacked her assailant, her angel, her savior had she not smelled the burnt flesh, seen the charred face with dark eyes that showed no malice. She was shocked and horrified, confused and relieved too. She was not alone. She knew him but how and why she didn't comprehend. Still falling, Shiro began to manipulate the air currents slowing their descent as much as his spent body could manage.

"Forgive me," Shiro whispered his breath ragged and hot.

Ororo came to her senses then and taking him in her arms she took control of the faltering winds and brought them safely down, landing more smoothly than she could have hoped for. She laid Shiro onto the ground and cradled his burnt body in her arms. Shiro's eyes closed for a moment then slowly opened though his sight was now dimmed. The last thing he saw were the bright eyes of Ororo, brimming with unshed tears. He smiled. She would live. He had not failed. His honor was restored. A silent sigh of contentment left his throat but never reached his lips and his soul went to join his ancestors.

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"Has anyone seen Ororo?" Logan yelled as he ran into the war room followed by Bobby and Peter.

"No, but we're endeavoring to locate her even as you speak. Currently, the Professor is using Cerebro to that end," Hank informed him.

"What's going on?" Bobby asked when Logan spun around nearly knocking him over and dashed out of the room.

"Weren't you and the other students requested to meet in study hall before lunch?" Hank queried.

"Yeah, well me and Peter, we were just trying to help Logan out. Man, that tall guy's crazy. He attacked Logan for no reason."

"Is there something we can do to help, Dr. McCoy?" Peter asked.

"I think not or at least not at this time. Perhaps you should report to study hall as instructed."

"Is something the matter with Ms. Munroe?" Peter asked.

"Unfortunately I cannot say at this time, Piotr," Hank admitted "But should we discover anything I will keep you informed. Now you'd best report to study hall."

The two boys left despite their many questions while Logan ran on to find the Professor. Jean was opening the door when Logan ran up to the secured room that Cerebro was housed in. She was shocked to see him looking so awful.

"Where is she? Did he find her?" Logan yelled.

"She's . . . safe for now," Charles said as he wheeled out into the corridor.

"Where is she?" Logan asked again, trying to keep his temper in check.

"She's in upstate New York but she's all right."

"Upstate? What's she doing there?"

"All I can tell you is that Ororo's all right and she's on her way back."

"You talked to her?"

"Ororo was incoherent to some extent. We'll have to wait for her to make contact with us or till she arrives in order to know what happened."

"Who went after her and when did they leave?"

"Scott's going to leave in 20," Jean said.

"Twenty minutes? What . . . ?"

"He's with the students right now," Jean explained.

"I'm going with him then," Logan said.

"Logan, may I ask a rather delicate question?" Charles asked.

Logan stared at Charles then looked at Jean, his expression grim. "Yeah, what is it?"

"Are you and Mariko together now?"

"No," Logan answered instantly. "She's – we've got a problem here, Chuck. I don't know what's going on but something's not right. She's acting crazy and her cousin's just as nuts. Every time I see Harada he trys to start a fight. I don't know what their problem is but I told them to pack up and get out."

"Do you think she's dangerous?" Jean asked.

"Yeah I do. I think she drugged me and tried to make me think we'd worked everything out – that I was planning on leaving with her."

"Jean, can we have a moment alone?" Charles asked.

"Of course," Jean said giving Logan one last look.

"Logan, apparently Ororo saw something that disturbed her a great deal, I don't know how badly she was affected but she left without informing any of us and it wasn't until now that I was able to contact her."

"But you said she was alright."

"I believe she is."

Logan stared at the Professor not sure of his meaning.

"When I was using Cerebro I was able to determine that Mr. Harada is a mutant though I'm not sure what his capabilities are. He has a very disciplined mind that is actually quite hard to read but what I can see at this time is that he wants his sister's position as head of their family and he expects to take her back to Japan. If he can get her there I believe he is no threat. Can you tell me, what is it that Mariko wants of you, do you know?"

"Something about me going back to Japan with her and ruling her clan with her."

"I think I know how to solve this little mystery."

"And that is?"

"Go with her."

"What the . . . ?"

"No, hear me out, Logan. If you humor her and act as if you want to do what she says – even act as if you love her, I think we'll find out what's going on and we'll be able to put an end to this in a relatively safe manner."

"So you want me to just go back to Japan?"

"I think it's our only option right now, Logan. If she is dangerous, and from what I have seen her mind is in a state of psychosis which is quite troubling thought I didn't see it before, and if her brother is prone to violence we have to think of the student's welfare. We should get them on their way as soon as possible."

Logan was silent as he considered the Professor's words. As much as he'd like to deny it they made sense. Still he felt torn. He needed to know that Ororo was okay more than he felt the need to protect students that, for the most part, were fully capable of protecting themselves. Nevertheless, he remembered how poorly they'd fared when Stryker had attacked. He had come to care very much for feisty Jubilee who had been taken captive then and he cared a great deal for Kitty as well.

His instincts told him that more than anything it was imperative for him to protect Ororo, Rogue and the children. They were his family whether he'd wished for it or not. He knew he would die before he let anything happen to any of them ever again and suddenly with that realization his decision was made and he nodded his assent.

"Okay, Chuck. I'll fix it with Mariko but I need to talk to Ororo as soon as she gets back."

"I can get a message to her if you like but it's best that you don't wait." the Professor said firmly.

Logan said nothing for a moment.

"You have to make her believe you, Logan," the Professor stressed.

"Look Chuck, I have to talk to Ororo. It's real important so as soon as you hear from her I need you to contact me. It doesn't matter where I am you got that?"

Charles nodded.

"Okay, I think I can do what you want. She's just crazy enough to fall for it," Logan grunted and he reluctantly left to find Mariko.

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Standing with his arms crossed over his massive chest, Keniuchio was smiling for the first time since he'd arrived at Xavier's School. Things just couldn't be coming along any better. He had come to kill Logan but now that the gaijin had stated his intention to divorce Mariko there really was no need to. Of course Keniuchio would have relished being the one that took out the crazy gaijin once and for all but he could admit to himself, if to no one else, that Logan was a difficult adversary and it would have been a long and hard battle.

This way was much easier – less mess too. All he needed to do now was collect Mariko and Shiro if possible, and take them back to his boss. Or rather he should say his partner for after he returned Mariko to Japan he would not only be the head of Clan Yashida but he would be the second in command of the elite assassination organization known as the Hand. This would make him more powerful than any of the clan's enemies, including the feared Yakuza. More importantly it would allow him to make a clean break from the Yakuza and remove the clan from their mafia dealings. Once he was rid of that connection he could also begin to restore his own honor. It had long been a dream of his to try to live by the code of bushido, becoming an honorable Samurai once he became the head of Clan Yashida and now it all seemed within his grasp.

While Keniuchio stood guarding the door dreaming and gloating, Mariko was packing. She had no choice. She had lost. Shiro was gone and though she had tried calling him he hadn't responded. She had no one else to turn to now. Because her cousin Shiro had mutant abilities she had thought bringing more men would be suspicious and unnecessary.

Now she regretted that decision as much as she regretted not bringing the deadly tetrodotoxin poison that would have speedily killed Ororo allowing Shiro to drop her body in the woods nearby and enabling him to return much quicker than now. Mariko was furious with herself for not having thought everything out much better. How could she have not known that there would be a rival for Logan's affections and that she wood indeed need backup. She cursed herself for not having planned better. Now, through her own foolishness, she was at Keniuchio's mercy and she knew her half brother had none.

When honor was forsaken so were mercy and forgiveness too. She was the first to admit this for she had wandered down the path of dishonor ever since she had let Matsu'o Tsurayaba influence her. She had thought that she loved him and he her but he had only wanted to control her clan, to enhance his status as a crime lord. She had been fortunate that the second man she'd sought help from was one more influential than Tsurayaba – the Mandarin who was a man to be reckoned with especially now that he controlled the Hand. It had been her hope to marry the Mandarin but Tsurayaba had denied her even that.

Feeling betrayed Tsurayaba had bided his time for months until one day when he followed Mariko to a shop. He had overpowered her guards at the rear of the shop, slit the throats of the attendants inside and when he found Mariko alone with her seamstress he had killed the old woman and raped Mariko. There was no other word for it. Because the Mandarin could not have children she knew as soon as she was late a month ago that she was pregnant with Tsurayaba's child. He had dishonored her completely for he knew she would not seek an abortion and she could not remain with the Mandarin for he would think she had betrayed him.

Her only hope had been Logan for it was because of Tsurayaba that Mariko had come to know that Logan was still alive. It had been Tsurayaba's plan to kill Logan so he could marry Mariko legally though she had not known this at first. She had never told the Mandarin that Logan was still alive and she had been glad she hadn't because she planned on using Logan in order to remain with the Mandarin for with the Mandarin was power something that she had come to realize she needed if she were to remain in control of her clan.

She had thought it would be easy to tell the Mandarin that her husband had returned from the dead and she had been forced to perform her wifely duties for she knew that the Mandarin would believe her, so skilled was she in lying and he would kill Logan as a matter of necessity. It should have been so easy! Once Logan was dead she could keep her child, remain with the Mandarin, and together rule her clan and the Hand.

Now everything had changed. She would be showing in several more months and all would know that her husband had rejected her. She would be a dishonored divorcee found unfit to rule the clan. They would not listen to her pleas or care about her excuses. She was holding onto her leadership of the clan with barely a thread as it was.

With Keniuchio making his play for her position she knew there was no help. Because she had trusted her brother she had allowed him to disgrace their family's name. Because she had tried to overturn his influence she too had disgraced their family's name and now she no longer cared that Clan Yashida was a criminal empire to be reckoned with. All she cared about was that she had lost.

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The ground was cold and hard but Ororo sat, oblivious to her surroundings. The stench of burnt flesh nauseated her and yet she would not leave. She could not move, could not think. Here lied Shiro, Mariko's servant and cousin. Where he had been taking her she had no idea yet the look in his eyes she would never forget. She wanted to cry, to scream but instead she rolled to the side and threw up.

She felt exhausted, drained of all emotion but she was able to think more clearly now. She remembered kneeling beside Logan hoping he was okay then a sharp sting in her neck had caused her to pass out. She knew she had been drugged, knew it could have only been Mariko. Standing, she took in a deep breath. Shiro was dead though she had not meant to kill him. There was nothing she could do for him. Why he would take her from the mansion and then try to save her she didn't know. What she did know was that he had tried to save her in the end despite his life threatening injuries. The why and how no longer mattered.

Taking one last look at the lifeless body on the ground, her lips moving in a silent prayer, Ororo rose up into the sky. She was going to find Mariko. She had a score to settle.