My Heart My Home - by Darlin

A/N - You guys are great! Thank you, AnImEfReAk81, blackpanther2288, bluemist418, Brittney, ice mage1014, Isis Aurora Tomoe, lilWolvie, Raeyna, skyz, TigerStorm, Verena, and Voli.

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Chapter Twenty-two - Retribution

Ever since Yukio had seen Keniuchio's subtle change of expression when she'd mentioned the Silver Samurai, something had been bothering her. She felt as if there was something important that she should remember but she couldn't figure out what it was. As she paced back and forth in Kurt's room she kept going over and over the meeting but nothing else seemed to stand out.

She wished Kurt would hurry up. She told herself that she just wanted his opinion on the matter and it had nothing to do with the fact that she felt oddly comforted when he was near. It had only been an hour since Dr. McCoy had requested that Kurt relieve him in the war room but it seemed more like hours to Yukio. She really wasn't a very patience person when she felt there were things that had to be done and feeling that this was one of those times, she finally gave up waiting and decided to take things into her own hands, something that Kurt had specifically told her not to do.

As Yukio prowled the halls Kurt was still reviewing the morning security tapes. Despite going through them repeatedly he'd found nothing unusual. Still, something didn't seem quite right. He'd been distracted earlier with thoughts of helping Yukio but now that he was back at the school he couldn't stop wondering how Keniuchio had been able to get past their security system. He thought the many cameras posted outside would have given away something, even if it was nothing more than a shadow scaling the walls but there was nothing to find.

Feeling defeated, he took a moment to massage his brow and tired to clear his head. He was tired and hungry and he wanted to see Yukio again though it made him feel a little guilty. He missed Amanda, his girlfriend of long ago but he missed Yukio too. But more than missing Yukio he knew she would quickly grow tired of waiting for him and he doubted that she'd heed his warning to stay in his room until he returned. Most likely she would be out and about causing trouble.

Although Yukio wouldn't have thought her attempt to help Kurt and Logan would in anyway cause trouble her idea of trouble and theirs was peculiarly different. Having crept silently up to Mariko's door she was now doing her best to hear what was going on inside. The deep clear voice of Keniuchio boomed so loudly that she didn't need to strain to hear anything that he said.

"So it is over and I do not have to kill your husband," Keniuchio laughed obviously very satisfied with the turn of events. "You will abdicate and I will rule our clan and I will restore our clan's honor as a true samurai should!"

Mariko's soft voice was far too quiet for Yukio to make out the words though she pressed her ear closer to the door.

"If you linger I may change my mind so hurry and pack now! We leave immediately!" Keniuchio bellowed.

Yukio heard heavy footsteps headed towards the door and she quickly took flight. What had Keniuchio meant? Restore the honor to the clan when he was the one who had gotten them involved with the Yakuza in the first place? And where was Shiro, Yukio wondered? And then she knew or at least she thought she knew who Keniuchio was and so she hurried off to find Kurt.

"Hey, what's so urgent?" Hank asked when he saw Yukio rushing down the corridor towards him.

"Nothing much, gotta find Kurt's all," Yukio grinned and she snatched a pack of Twinkies that were in his large hands as she passed him by.

Hank, grumbling slightly, started to take a seat on the floor in front of Mariko's door so he could enjoy the remaining four packages of his favorite delicacy and wait for Keniuchio to emerge when Keniuchio did just that.

"We are leaving," Keniuchio stated as he stepped out of Mariko's room and shut the door hard. Without waiting for a reply he started off.

"Oh my stars and garters! So soon?" Hank mumbled his mouth full as he fell into step beside the taller man.

Keniuchio looked at the stash of junk food in Hank's hands and shook his head in annoyance and continued down the hall without comment. Hank stuffed the Twinkies into the many pockets of his lab coat though he did politely offered a Twinkie to Keniuchio.

"No thank you. I do not eat such things."

"Oh? Well, of course they are not the most nutritious food item but they do taste agreeably delicious and I have somewhat of a small weakness for them. 'Veni, Vedi, Vegi' will never be written on my tombstone," Hank laughed. "But to each his own, perhaps you would like to continue our conversation from earlier?"

"No. I would not," Keniuchio growled.

"Oh."

"I need to make a phone call," Keniuchio said as he pulled out his mobile and waited for Hank to leave but Hank didn't budge.

"I wish to speak in private," Keniuchio said sharply.

"Oh, of course," Hank bobbed his head and scurried down the hallway only stopping once he reached the stairs.

Unbeknownst to Keniuchio, Hank's hearing was almost as sensitive as Logan's and he was able to hear the entire conversation.

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Logan had taken his time getting back to Mariko. It wasn't his desire to go with her and he certainly didn't want to lie to the woman no matter how crazy she seemed. It just seemed like it was making a bad situation worse. He'd rather go with Scott to get Ororo and forget he'd ever met Mariko but he knew he had no choice. He promised himself that he would get to the bottom of Mariko's madness as quickly as he could then he'd put an end to the whole mess. He just hoped Ororo would understand.

When he reached Mariko's room he stopped for a moment and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was still feeling a little ill from the large amount of drugs Mariko must have given him. He'd been drugged before and was definitely familiar with the side effects but this time he felt as if he'd been given a dosage that would have killed a normal man. If Mariko had been a guy he could have dealt with her just as he wished but then if that were the case he probably wouldn't even be in this situation. He groaned as he thought about that.

He hated the Professor's idea. He hated the whole situation. He especially hated Mariko with Keniuchio running a close second. He wasn't feeling too good about Jean either just then. He still felt her disapproval about him and Ororo or maybe it was just a lingering jealousy. Whatever it was it reminded him too much of Mariko. Thinking about it just made him angrier and without bothering to knock Logan angrily threw the door open ready for whatever Mariko could throw at him including drugs or tears.

"So you come to gloat too," Mariko moaned when she saw who had entered. "I will be disgraced, dishonored because you threw me aside. If we have a child then I will kill it and myself!"

"You and I both know . . ." Logan swallowed his words then said, "I've thought it over, Mariko and I can't desert my kid - if we have one - so if you still want me to go with you I will."

Mariko's eyes grew huge with joy and ran towards Logan to embrace him. Logan however, backed away holding her off with one arm.

"Look, what you did to me - it's gonna take some time for me to trust you. I'll go with you for now but just keep your hands to yourself," Logan grumbled.

"Oh, Logan yes, yes! You are the honorable and fine man I always knew you to be. We will be happy you will see!"

"Yeah, well whatever," Logan muttered.

"You must not tell Keniuchio this is why you go back with us please, for he will not be happy with this."

"You wanna tell me why?"

"He wishes to be head of Clan Yashida but he is not the legitimate heir. He is the bastard son of my father and has no rights."

"So what - he's trying to intimidate me into not going back with you so he can run rough shod over you?"

Mariko nodded, smiling as she watched Logan.

Logan grinned. He was looking forward to taking out some of his frustration and finally cutting loose. Keniuchio would be the perfect punching bag.

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"So they're leaving?" Jean asked, her voice a wisp that was barely audible in the Professor's mind.

"Yes, Jean," the Professor nodded replying to her telepathic question in kind. "It's for the best."

"Yes, of course. Of course."

"Don't you think it's time to let him go, Jean?"

"What?" Jean looked alarmed though still she didn't speak.

"Scott may not be as expressive or wild and carefree as you would like, Jean but he loves you more than you want to see."

"I know how much he loves me, Professor but it scares me."

"I know that you're afraid that you're not good enough for him but, Jean he feels the same way. Why do you think Logan's been able to come between the two of you? You're both afraid and insecure. It's time for you to admit this and let it go."

"You usually don't pry so deeply," Jean looked at him defensively.

"And I don't usually have to stop Logan and Scott from coming to blows either however, there are certain times when a teacher and a friend must step in to help his students and loved ones," Charles spoke now, his voice full of care and concern.

Jean looked at the Professor with teary eyes. "I love him, you know - Scott - very deeply," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Yes, I know you do but still you can not let Logan go. You must accept that Logan has moved on and not only for your own sake, Jean but for everyone else's."

"I . . . I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

"Ororo has forgiven you. Let it go."

"You keep saying that as if it's easy but it's not! I'm so scared and confused, Professor!"

"Love is that way sometimes but you have to trust your instincts. Can you try to do that at least?"

"I-I . . . yes. I think I can."

"But will you?"

"Yes. I love Scott too much to lose him. Yes, I will."

The Professor's hand covered Jean's reassuringly and Jean patted his hand smiling gratefully just as Scott came up to them.

"I'm ready to get Storm now," Scott said.

"She's already here," Charles said as he rolled past them.

"W-what? I thought you said she was somewhere upstate disorientated and needing help?"

"Ororo's a strong woman," Charles murmured.

"So what now?" Scott asked.

"We wait," Charles telepathic voice spoke softly in their minds as he disappeared around a corner.

"So how're you holding up, honey?" Scott asked.

Jean smiled and took his hand in hers. "Fine now that you're here."

"I feel like getting popcorn and sitting back and watching the show."

"There's a great movie on if you're . . ."

"No, Jean I was just kidding. Sorry, but we have to make sure the Professor's plan works before . . ."

Jean interrupted Scott with a kiss. Taken aback Scott pecked her in return, his lips barely touching hers and then pried her arms from around him. Jean didn't let his usual business like manner disturb her this time. She wrapped her arms snuggly around his neck and kissed him deeply not allowing him to pull away. He tried to break away but Jean was persistent and smiling slightly she kept kissing him. It took a moment before Scott closed his eyes behind his ruby quartz glasses and pulled her to him, all else forgotten or at least for a little while.

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While Scott forgot his duties for the moment Ororo was soaring over the mansion. She felt ill. Flying back to Westchester had drained her more than she cared to admit. It also hadn't helped that she had felt out of sorts when she'd awaken trapped in a sack. She was sure Mariko had drugged her and could only guess that was the reason for the lethargy. Remembering how her claustrophobia induced panic had caused her to kill without thought and having to leave Shiro behind made her feel even worse.

She had no idea where Shiro had been taking her and she wasn't sure of what his intentions were, nevertheless the look of pain mixed with sincerity in Shiro's eyes still haunted her. Whether he had been evil or good or just confused and trying to do the right thing she would never know.

That thought gave her no comfort. She had long ago vowed not to kill and not even her position with the X-Men had gotten in the way of that vow. She hadn't meant to kill him. She hadn't even been aware of what she was doing so terrified had she been when she'd awakened to find herself in such a small dark closed space. She hated that her fear had made her lose all sense of reasoning and it was a pitiful excuse to her. She'd saved her life at the expense of another. There was no peace in that and it was one more reason she had for finding Mariko. What she would do when she found her though she had no idea.

A cold rain was falling when Ororo settled down onto the rooftop. The sky had turned slate gray and dark threatening clouds were formed above the mansion. In the distant a groan of thunder could be heard. She paused a moment to gather her strength and collect herself. Her only thought now was to find Mariko. She gave a short harsh laugh as she envisioned herself wrestling on the ground with her, pulling her long black hair out by the roots. A genuine smile, albeit tinged with evil, touched her lips when she thought of the pleasure she would feel when her fist struck Mariko and though she felt a twinge of guilt she quickly shrugged it aside.

With more concentration than was usually required Ororo slowed the rain as much as she could in her depleted state. Still a slight drizzle fell. Undaunted she flexed her hands several times as if preparing for battle then dropped down to the ground below, the winds buffeting her descent. No one was outside. No one saw her as she entered or rather only those who were monitoring the cameras saw her - Kurt and beside him Yukio who gave a little cheer.

"She's back! Way to go Wind-Rider! Way go to Wind Rider! I told you she'd be all right!"

"Sssh! I am already in enough trouble having you here vith me, Yukio," Kurt warned.

"Oh bother! It was that voice in my head's fault! He shouldn't have told me where you were when I asked him if I wasn't supposed to be here. Besides the voice thinks I can help!"

"Possibly but vhy do you persist in such antics? The voice as you vell know is the Professor!"

Yukio frowned. Sometimes Kurt was just too uptight for her taste but then again that was one of the things that had attracted her to him. It gave her the chance to loosen him up. Or at least it had in Japan. So far since she'd arrived in New York nothing she had tried had worked.

"Well I'm off to do my part," Yukio said brusquely then paused and kissed Kurt hastily on the cheek.

"Please just be careful."

"Me? When am I not?" Yukio laughed as she let herself out of the room.

Ororo wasn't aware that Yukio was searching for her nor was she aware that Mariko had just finished packing and was now waiting for Logan to return with his own luggage. She hoped to find the foyer empty but was relieved to see only Hank and Keniuchio standing a little apart in silence as if waiting for something or someone.

"Ororo! Are you - how are you?" Hank asked, casting a glance at Keniuchio.

Ororo stopped in front of a long mirror and raked her hands through her tangled locks before turning to address Hank.

"I'm fine and you?"

Hank stared. Keniuchio stared. Ororo started up the stairs unconcerned. She realized she didn't look her best and probably looked wilder than anyone there had seen her before that is except perhaps Logan. She smiled a little as she remembered the times she hadn't quite looked her best and Logan hadn't notice. The flight to Japan, waking up to find she'd fallen asleep using him as a pillow - waking up in his hotel room after spending the night with him. He'd said she looked like a goddess sleeping.

These memories softened her heart but then there was the memory of last night and her heart hardened. She'd resorted to letting lose her Wild Winds as she called it, and Logan had come to her rescue, catching her before she'd collapsed to the ground looking wild and covered in ice. She would never have needed that release if it hadn't been for Mariko. Mariko - the cause of all her pain and anguish. Mariko whose time had come she thought and her smile twisted into an unnatural smirk.

"Wind-Rider! Wind Rider!" Yukio called as she rushed up the stairs waving her arms.

Ororo was surprised by the hug that Yukio gave her and touched as well.

"So we have a plan," Yukio whispered.

"Not now," Ororo said and she gently pulled away from Yukio, only one thing on her mind.

"Oh man, this don't look good. Nope definitely doesn't look good," Yukio said with a shake of her head, and trusting her instincts she raced downstairs hoping to find Logan as quickly as possible.

"Hello, Mariko," Ororo said when she opened the door and saw Mariko sitting y on the bed with her suitcases stacked at the foot of it.

Mariko gawked, her mouth falling open in shock.

"You look surprised."

Mariko shook her head in disbelief.

"Very surprised in fact."

"G-g-get out!"

"I guess that means you are surprised to see me then?"

Mariko scrambled across the bed trying to get as far away from Ororo as she could.

"Packed and leaving I see." Ororo observed as she took note of the chaotic mess around the room.

Mariko could not speak.

"Going anywhere in particular?"

Mariko scooted off the bed and looked around wildly.

"Hmm," Ororo smiled briefly, as she stepped further into the room. "Its times like this that it's hard to find good help isn't it?"

Mariko had no where to go. She could only cower in a corner of the room.

"Cat got your tongue?" Ororo's smile brightened despite herself.

Blatant fear was on Mariko's face; her body shook visibly as her eyes searched the room for a means of escape.

"Well don't let me keep you."

Hope and joy flashed over Mariko's face and she bowed clumsily several times as she scurried around the bed and tried to flee yet never taking her eyes off of Ororo. She didn't make it. Ororo's eyes clouded over and grew completely white. Horrified, Mariko gasped and stopped dead in her tracks.

A strong gust of wind sent the door rocking on its hinges, the resulting slam resounding like deafening thunder to the frightened Mariko.

"Your cousin was a mutant too," Ororo said, matter-of-factly, as she approached Mariko.

Water tinkled down Mariko's short legs pooling around her feet as she lost control of her bodily functions.

"He died saving my life," Ororo said.

"No, not Shiro!"

"Would you like to tell me where he was taking me?"

"I - there was - I mean . . ."

"What's wrong? Speak up, Mariko-Chan."

"No, please!" Mariko ran back to the furthest corner of the room snatching her purse off her pile of luggage as she went.

Slowly, carefully Ororo closed the distance between them.

"Is that what you wanted me to do? Beg?" Ororo asked with a bitter smile and thunder rumbled fiercely outside.

"Get - get away from me!" Mariko screamed as she fumbled at the latch to her purse.

"I think he tried to be an honorable man your cousin, what do you think?"

When Mariko refused to answer a powerful wind rushed through the room causing the window panes to shatter and fall to the floor in tiny pieces.

"No! Please!" Mariko wailed when the wind lifted her up. "No! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!"

"Beg if you like but there's no help for you now," Ororo said as she used the winds at her command to thrust Mariko out the nearest gaping window.

Mariko's screams were drowned out by the thunder and lightning that consumed the sky. Ororo floated out of the room and hovered above Mariko whom she kept aloft with a strong air stream around her.

"You didn't answer me. I said Shiro died saving me. For that I think he was an honorable man. What do you think?" Ororo yelled over the noise of the wind and thunder and Mariko's screams.

There was no smile or smirk on her face now. She felt no joy in this retribution and suddenly she felt very tired.

Mariko remained speechless still fumbling to unclasp her purse. Ororo felt that Mariko had been scared enough. It was time to end the games and so Ororo thought to set her down below.

"Shiro failed but I will not!" Mariko shrieked and suddenly as if her hatred for Ororo had given her courage where fear had failed, she opened her purse, pulled a gun from within it and aimed it directly at Ororo.

Lightning struck blindingly hot and then the wind sent Mariko somersaulting through the air even as the bullet was released. The late report of the gun rang through the air as the sky burst forth like a massive balloon filled to bursting with water, the downpour like none that any in Westchester could recall.

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Veni, Vedi, Vegi - Latin for 'I came, I saw, I had a salad'