My Heart My Home - by Darlin

A/N – Many thanks to all those who reviewed. Blackpanther2288, I'm really trying to update faster now – thanks to your gentle encouragement. I guess it's working! :D Bluemist418, Mariko is definitely out of the way! Wow is nice, Digital Tempest! And I hope you update soon, I really am anxious to read the next installments of all your wonderful stories (I highly recommend them people! :D). Isis Aurora Tomoe, if you're updating often you probably don't have a life or you'd have to be exceptionally well organized and brilliant neither or which I am (sigh) so I guess I kinda don't have much of a life right now – kinda. I guess we could all be better updating quicker, eh? Speaking of which, lilWolvie are you doing anything lately? Oh and yes again, Mariko is dead and Yukio – well, we'll just have to see. Redhead2 you're welcome indeed but I think one or two more chapters and I'll be finished. TheWolf – cliffhangers bad? Now why on Earth would anyone say such a thing? Read on and I think you'll find this one isn't as bad. Verena Gruen, me kill Ororo? Moi? No righteous RoLo shipper would do such a thing although I do have a story that I wrote over the summer where she dies and Viral has a good story where she dies. Guess I have to revoke that statement! Now you have me thinking. Hmm. WOLF8, I have that miniseries and I feel quite complimented that you like this version better. Why can't Marvel see it that way? Why I ask, why? Okay, enough ranting. On with the story. Oh, and welcome to the wonderful world of being a real fanfiction.net member HughXJackman!

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Chapter Twenty-four – Ride the Wild Winds

As night came the sky grew darker and the rain became less intense. The air was chillingly cold but the Wolverine barely noticed. He had discarded his shirt and boots long ago and now was roaming along the grounds clad in only his jeans. It was as if he had never been coherent and had never had a mind that worked anything remotely like other humans. He saw only a red haze. He felt only hate and a deep raw emotional pain that wouldn't let him go. He had no way of knowing that Ororo wasn't dead and therefore no way to keep the beast at bay. There was so much rage and guilt and anguish within his soul that he could barely stand the ache inside him and nothing else matter any more.

Logan was no longer Logan but the Wolverine – no longer a man but an animal. He was acting on instinct only now. His healing factor was pressed hard to combat this but his body was still weak from the gunshot wound he'd received. It would take a very long time for him to come back from this animalistic state now – if he ever did.

The Professor had attempted to locate Logan with hopes of bringing him back but Charles, even aided by Cerebro, had not been successful. There was no mind to connect with just anger that was so thickly mixed with guilt and grief that if the Professor had been able to reach Logan the sheer emotional impact would have overwhelmed Charles' sensitive mind.

With only feral thoughts running around in his head Wolverine had run off trying to track his prey hours ago. So far he hadn't been able to find Keniuchio. The Silver Samurai had disappeared into thin air leaving no trace of his scent. This only fueled the Wolverine's rage and he continued searching the extensive grounds, his mind not able to comprehend more than seeking revenge, and bringing death.

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The Silver Samurai had easily escaped Logan through the means of an extraordinary invention – a teleportation ring. There were only two of these rings in existence, the first owned by a Hydra agent known as Viper. Hydra was a well known organization that's main objective was to rule the world through any means necessary and Viper was a woman who desired power above all else. She worked with many people, including the Silver Samurai in order to achieve her goals, much as the Samurai used her to achieve his own goals.

Now however, the Samurai's number one goal had been achieved – that is if he could get out of the country without being discovered. The Wild One hadn't helped matters any by drugging him. He had been fortunate that he had trained himself to maintain control over himself under any circumstances. A simple touch of the ring had brought him to a motel room several miles from Xavier's School.

Even unconscious Keniuchio was such a disciplined warrior that his mind had shut down entirely making it impossible for anyone to track him, including the Professor. It had taken many years of meditating and practicing all forms of martial arts to enable him to achieve such exceptional command over his mind and body. This was what Keniuchio lived for – the life of a Samurai with the mindset of a righteous and even serene warrior. As such his will was almost indomitable.

Never the less when he woke up on the faded carpet of the cheap motel room he couldn't help but feel the effects of the tranquilizer in his system. He sat up gingerly then fell to one side immediately bringing both hands to his head. After he took a deep breath to regain his equilibrium he pushed himself up and walked to the open cloths rack that passed as a closet.

"I am going back to take the gaijin's head," Keniuchio said with finality as he bowed before various pieces of a silver suit of samurai amour.

He grinned to himself. No man or woman would ever tell him what he could or could not do any more. He was now the head of his House, Clan Yashida, and he would do as he saw fit. He pulled a large suitcase from the makeshift closet and placed it on the small bed. Opening it he pulled out a long katana – the true sword of a samurai. It glowed white hot when he took it into his hands as his mutant powers energized it. With a gleam of delight in his eye he placed it onto the bed and began to dress.

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Wolverine's sense of smell was not as potent in the pouring rain but he continued his search until finally he picked up the scent he was seeking. Growling with rage he took off and reached the school in record time. There on the front steps standing with arms akimbo was Keniuchio donned in full silver Samurai armor. He had just teleported back from the motel but now he was debating whether to steal inside and seek out Logan's body or to go boldly in and take it.

Now seeing Logan running towards him he stared at him in confusion. The distinctive 'sknit' sound of razor sharp claws being released gave him no time to wonder how or why Logan was up and running as if he had never been shot. The Samurai stalked down the steps, his armor clanging against the bricks as he went. He unsheathed his massive sword and easily, even gracefully, blocked Logan's attack. Then touching the ring on his finger the Samurai disappeared.

Wolverine howled like a rabid animal. After a few seconds his cries stopped abruptly. He'd caught the Samurai's scent near the woods. He turned around and saw the Samurai smiling – smiling and waiting. Wolverine bounded across the lawn and entered the woods at such a fast rate he would have knocked the Samurai over had he been able to make contact. But the Samurai easily dodged the charge.

When Logan tried to get in close for a killing blow the Samurai warded him off with the skill of an expert swordsman. Logan grew even angrier than before and he became careless diving for the Samurai head first with his claws pointed directly at the Samurai's throat. The Samurai laughed, side stepped, spun around in a full circle, then plunged his sword through Logan's back as Logan tried to stop himself from falling. Blood gushed from the wound and Logan hit the ground with a loud thud. The Samurai withdrew the sword and kicked Logan over onto his back.

Wolverine growled savagely as his wounded back made contact with the ground. He made an enormous effort to stand but the Samurai sent a solid front kick square into his chest and Logan hit the ground again. Then, with pure satisfaction and utter enjoyment Keniuchio thrust his sword straight into Logan's heart. Logan's eyes opened wide in shock and then closed, as all life seemed to leave his body. Withdrawing his sword, Keniuchio stepped on Logan's lifeless body with one booted foot and gave Logan's neck a blow that would have beheaded any ordinary man.

"What is this? He bleeds but I can not sever his head!" Keniuchio murmured to himself wondering if Logan had some type of magic that he had never heard about before.

Without hesitating the Samurai again tried to cut Logan's head off only to meet with the same results. Frustrated but also satisfied that his enemy was dead Keniuchio grabbed a handful of Logan's hair and wiped the blade clean with it. He then sheathed his sword and walked out of the woods.

The thrill of victory would have to wait. The Samurai wanted Logan's head but that was proving difficult to manage. He stood in the falling rain and looked around wondering if he dared risk returning to the school. He wanted Logan out of the way completely and if he couldn't have his head he would bury him so deep that even with whatever magic or new technology Logan was using he wouldn't be able to escape. All he needed to do this was a shovel.

He fingered his ring sliding it along his gloved finger and wondered if he dare use it to send Logan back to his motel room. As he pondered his next move it was then that Ororo spotted him. Flying high above the grounds she saw a huge man dressed in silver armor pacing purposefully to and fro in the clearing. She turned in midair and dropped down before him, her robe snapping behind her in the rain and wind.

"You live! How is this possible? More magic . . .? What manner of people are you?" Keniuchio asked with alarm as he stared at the exposed bandage around Ororo's chest.

Ororo recognized Keniuchio's voice. She took in the armor and sword that he wore sizing him up as she did so.

"So you're the Silver Samurai," she stated without expecting a reply.

"Where is Mariko?" Keniuchio asked for if Ororo was alive might Mariko also be alive?

"I don't know," Ororo said in all honestly. She paused to catch her breath.

The Samurai pulled his sword free from its scabbard and started towards Ororo. With a short harsh laugh Ororo lifted herself up into the air safely out of reach.

"Where's Logan?" she demanded.

Keniuchio bowed without replying then moved to touch his ring preparing to teleport. Ororo wasn't aware of the ring's power but she sent Keniuchio tumbling backwards with a forceful blast of air. She stifled a groan and crossed both arms over her chest and her stomach to still the increasing pain.

For a split second Keniuchio was panic-stricken. He'd actually removed his ring when he'd been considering whether or not to send Logan back to his motel room and now the ring was gone! He looked around searching the grass with wild eyes.

"Tell me where Logan is!" Ororo hissed; her eyes no longer blue and weary but white burning orbs of energy.

"Your friend is dead and I am the one who killed him!" Keniuchio shouted triumphantly as he recovered his senses, and raised his sword to the sky in a sign of victory.

"If . . . he's dead . . . you're going to share his fate!" Ororo gasped. "Tell me . . . where is Logan!"

Only an inhuman howl answered her. Logan was entering the clearing running so low and at such a fast clip he was nearly unrecognizable. Half clothed and growling incessantly he was closing the distance quickly. Keniuchio turned to face his enemy holding his sword in front of him with both hands.

"Logan no!" Ororo cried out.

Logan looked as if he were going to kill Keniuchio or die trying. He snarled in frustration as Ororo came down to the ground and sent a powerful wind between the two men. Logan kept fighting against the wind trying to reach the Samurai who also fought to get to Logan. It was then that Ororo realized Logan had lost himself to a berserker rage.

She knew she had to stop him – stop them both from killing each other. She took several deep breaths or at least as deep as she could manage and slowly increased the strength of the wind until it knocked both of the men flat onto their backs. It took a tremendous effort to keep the intensity of the wind going while she fought with her pain.

Unfortunately her efforts did little to deter them. They continued trying to fight against her assault desiring nothing else but to annihilate each other. Ororo knew there was only one thing she could do to end this. She closed her eyes and prayed for strength then, gritting her teeth together, she summoned a bolt of lightning that crashed into the Samurai.

The scream that rent the air was full of shock and agony. It sent shivers down Ororo's spine as the memory of Shiro's fate overcame her. She would never forget either of their cries of anguish no matter how prepared she was to deal with her decision this time. She had tried to talk to Keniuchio, she had even warned him but he had refused to listen. She had no other choice but to put him out of commission.

It was impossible for her to stand by and let Logan be hurt – not in his current condition. It had come down to either Logan or Keniuchio. She loved Logan and so she chose to save him. It wasn't an easy decision but it was made and now she would live with it. Either Keniuchio was dead or severely hurt but at this point she had no time to contend with him. Her only thought was to help Logan though she had no idea how at this point.

The sight of Logan now on his knees still trying to crawl towards Keniuchio's unmoving body, made her realize that once again there was only one choice she could make. She remembered a challenge that she'd made to Logan when he had come back right before their trip to Japan. She knew now was the time to show this man what she was made of and too, show him what he was made of.

"Logan . . . come . . . ride the wild winds with me!" Ororo challenged him.

She held her hand out to Logan as she moved towards him slowly and very carefully. Logan watched her every move. He looked almost like a dog that had been beaten too often and now trusted no one. Ignoring this Ororo took to the sky pulling him up with her in a wind that was so wild and so strong that it was fast becoming a tornado.

It was no easy task to ignore the ache that her chest and stomach caused her and control the raging storm that she summoned but Ororo managed it. They twirled up into the air together, the wind battering them unmercifully and finally when Ororo felt she couldn't stand the strain on her body anymore she threw back her head and screamed.

The pain that she felt was unbearable but she refused to succumb to her physical limitations. She would rather die than leave Logan lost to his feral nature. Logan made small guttural noises of confusion but he was no more himself than he had been a moment ago. He may have quieted to some extent but his claws were still thrust out ready to attack at any moment.

This pained Ororo more than the effort it took to ignore her injuries and conjure the storm. Her heart was breaking every time she looked at the wild man before her but it also strengthened her need to bring him back. And she would bring him back despite her pain and in spite of Logan himself. She directed all of her concentration onto Logan now rather than herself or the tempest that held them within its grip.

A high-pitched whine left Logan's throat as if he were trying to communicate. She took that as a good sign and increased the wind, all the while keeping her eyes locked on his. The wind blew their hair about so sharply that each strand felt like small whips slashing at their faces. Still higher she took them, neither paying any attention to anything now but each other.

"Ride the Wild Winds with me! Show me what you're made of!" she shouted over the loud rushing winds, her voice now strong and vibrant.

The wind and rain pounded him so furiously, and roared so volubly all around him that it was as if his own rage had been turned against him. Gradually the unintelligible noises he was making subsided as he looked with awe at first Ororo and then around him. His mouth fell open as if he were going to speak but his mind hadn't quite reached that point yet and nothing came out. He stared opened mouthed at nothing but space beneath his feet and nothing but empty darkness all around him. Finally he gazed at this goddess before him who was so obviously causing all this and his claws sunk back into his hands.

Ororo breathed easier now and let the wind draw him closer to her. He looked at her uncertainly and for the first time he noticeably and curiously sniffed at the air between them. Ororo let her wet robe fall off her shoulders. It was the most natural thing for her to do for it was what she always did when she rode her wild winds. She felt rejuvenated and free and she wanted Logan to share this experience with her. She watched the robe whip off into the sky as she took them even higher and further from the school and then her deep laughter filled the air.

Logan looked at her as she laughed in the face of this tempest as if defying him, her pain, and the elements, and something within him was roused and he began to recognize her. Whether it was her laughter or something else she didn't know but seeing the change in his expression filled her heart with joy and she slowly reached out to touch him.

Logan jerked away from her and tried to back away from her. There was no where for him to go and panic engulfed him but it was only for a moment. Without fear Ororo placed her hand on his arm as gently as she could. He looked down at the sudden touch feeling her warmth spread through his cold flesh. He saw her brown hand and instinctively wanted to cover it with his own hand. He struggled with his emotions as lucid thought came back to him.

When he didn't pull away Ororo smiled and maneuvered around him all the while keeping her hand on his arm. She then laid both hands on his bare back. He felt peculiarly warm and safe with her hands on his body. Despite the fact that they were miles above the ground he began to visibly relax. He breathed in deeply letting Ororo's odor fill his nostrils. The freshness and sweetness of her scent was beginning to soothe him. Even though the foul smell of blood still confused him something about her smell was hauntingly familiar.

He felt her lips brush the back of his neck and his eyes closed as peace settled over him. Next her lips brushed against the top of his shoulder and her hands traced the length of his arms, her touch as light as a feather causing goose bumps to form on his sensitive skin. She pushed her body up against him and he welcomed the contact. He could feel hot tears fall onto his skin and he could almost feel her suffering as if it were something solid and touchable. He could smell her anguish too – it was as familiar as his own.

Her arms snaked around his waist and without thinking he leaned back into her wanting to feel every part of her against his body. Ororo complied and rested her head against his back. She slowly let her hands wander over his taunt stomach and skillfully undid his belt and pants. His eyes opened wide when she let him go. He wanted to pull her back to him but she dived downward taking his pants with her and let them fly away into the dark horizon.

Incredibly, Ororo was more powerful now than she had ever been before. She rose up to face Logan, her hands reaching for him. He made no move to ward her off and she chuckled and took hold of his briefs sending them the way of his pants.


An inhuman wail left his lips as if he were battling unseen demons. The twister like winds threatened to pull him apart and he covered himself with both hands. It wasn't modesty but terror of being ripped apart by the vicious wind. He had to fight back the anger that was still so near the surface as the cold thrashing winds assaulted him.

Neither Logan nor Ororo would have thought it possible but the winds grew even stronger beating them unmercifully. Ororo saw his struggle and she pressed herself close against his naked body. His alarm died when her soft warm body was molded into his. He felt her hot breath on his chest, felt her arms embracing him, and her legs entwining through his.

The sudden warmth that her body radiated into his body was searing and calming. Her unique smell with the cleansing wind and rain, even mixed with the blood from her wounds, made him feel safe and protected. And then he laughed. He laughed at the thought of him ever needing to feel protected and yet that's just what Ororo made him feel – protected from his own madness.

"Ro." His voice was harsh and deep but there was more than recognition in it.

"Y-you're . . . back," Ororo murmured, her strength ebbing so suddenly she could barely muster the strength to speak.

Then the rumbling winds calmed though he could still see the gale blowing wildly around them and he knew they were in the very heart of the storm. He wondered at the power and the pure majesty of this woman.

"You're alive," he whispered and pulled back to look at her.

He saw she was covered in blood and he felt his stomach lurch. When he looked down he saw he was also covered in blood. Had he lost his mind and gone mad he wondered? The last thing he remembered was seeing Ororo lying dead beside Mariko who had looked as if she was breathing her last. Or had the Samurai truly killed him and he'd died and this was heaven? But the sight and smell of her blood told him otherwise.

Suddenly without warning the furious din that surrounded them died completely and he felt the winds releasing them and they began to plummet fast toward the ground. He pulled Ororo to him, one hand around her waist and resting the other gently on the back of her head.

"Ro?"

"L-lo . . . Logan . . ." She couldn't muster the strength to talk but clung to him.

"Ororo, are you going to be okay?" he asked.

"N-no!"

His hold on her tightened as they tumbled through the night sky. He felt no fear as he breathed in the sweet fragrance of all that made up Ororo. He felt himself regaining a part of himself that he'd thought was lost and in that moment he felt whole for the first time that he could remember.

"You have to be okay!"

"I . . . I . . ." Ororo faltered, unable to say anything else and then her eyes, now shockingly blue, closed and her body went limp in his arms.

"Ororo! No! Don't let go! Fight! I'm not going to lose you again!" Logan shouted.

He heard her moan and felt her arms tug at him feebly but her eyes remained closed. Cold hard fear gripped his heart then. He couldn't lose her now! In desperation he cupped her face in both hands and kissed her. He kissed her more tenderly than anyone could have ever imagined – softly at first and slow then deeply, almost desperately.

After a moment he felt her lips move against his responding greedily and their descent stopped altogether as air buffeted them from under them. When he looked at her she was smiling and her eyes were blazing white, crackling with energy once more. She took control of the wind with the last of her strength.

It wasn't a gentle landing but Logan grabbed her as they fell twisting over so that he took the blunt of the fall. He hugged her to him. He felt like laughing. Despite the enormity of their situation he had never felt better.

"Wild Winds, huh? You weren't kidding were you?" he teased her. "Darlin', I don't know what I woulda done if you hadn't made it," he murmured into her windblown hair. "Guess you really did get to me, huh?"

Ororo didn't answer. Very gently Logan lifted her off him and placed her on the ground. She had bled through her bandage so badly that there was no longer any indication that the bandage had ever been white. He looked down at his own nakedness and wondered how he was going to get them out of this mess.

But Logan was a man who never gave up. He had come back from his feral state because of Ororo and he would walk one hundred miles or more if necessary to get help for the woman he loved. He looked up at the night sky taking note of the position of the stars and then he took Ororo into his arms as carefully as he could and he started walking.