A/N: Special thanks to everyone for your reviews-
Star-of-Chaos- Yeah, I don't see the rest of the team going along with that whole 'X-Person's' name either. Anyways, Logan and Rogue were just being silly with each other, after getting over all of the drama between them.
Moon Comix- Hey, what can I say, I'm just evil that way. But, at least I don't make you wait three years between installments (like the movies have done so far).
enchantedlight- Glad you liked it.
Lady Zymurgy- Glad you liked it too.
Episodic- Well, then get ready to (hopefully) have the suspense released. As far as the Hellfire Club/Phoenix Saga, I think they're going to include them, but it'll probably be somewhat different than the comics. In fact, I remember going to see X2 in the theatres and the part where they show Dr. Henry McCoy talking on the TV, actually had him debating a character named Dr. Sebastian Shaw. But in the DVD version, Shaw's part is missing. The only thing I can assume is that they are going to introduce the character, and possibly the rest of the Hellfire Club, in a different way.
ishandahalf- We all know that Rogue isn't going to let someone beat up on her Remy, unless he deserves it. And in that case, she'll be the one to knock him around a little. Glad you liked him downplaying his honor and showing off his rippling physique, but what if he decides to downplay his rippling physique? That's one to think about…
heyheymandarae- I understand where you're coming from. I had actually lost interest in the X-Men for a few years, but the first movie instantly drew me back in. Glad you liked the ROMY too.
Angel of The Fallen Stars- Glad you liked it, and who knows, you might just get your wish…
Lucas'sgirl- Gambit seems to have that effect on people, I'm glad you liked it. Yeah, I intentionally try to stay away from that whole Logan/Rogue situation you're talking about whenever possible, most of the time it just kinda creeps me out. Plus, the last thing I ever want to see is Logan and Gambit fighting over her, it'd just seem really wrong.
Jean1- Yeah, when I read that old comic issue where Mariko accepted Rogue, no questions asked, it cemented her in my mind as one of my favorite characters. And that's the main reason I included the same kind of scenario in this story. Mariko had every reason to agree with Logan, but her heart always seemed to be bigger than that and she reached out to Remy at a moment where he really needed a little kindness.
strawberrieswillruletheworld- In X2, if you look at the list of names on Deathstrike's computer, two of the names are Remy Lebeau and Keniuchio Harada. These two individuals are Gambit and the Silver Samurai, respectively, two of the main characters in this story. I'm assuming that you haven't read any X-Men comics or related stories, but the movies are heavily based on them, and a lot of the characters that I'm using were either introduced in the X-Men comics, or became prominent figures in them. Sunfire was at one time an X-Man himself, Wolverine had a run-in with Mariko Yashida's father, Shingen Yashida, and also her half-brother the Silver Samurai. In addition, Logan and Mariko had a romance that lasted for many years afterwards. This story is a spinoff of another fanfic I've been writing, which includes many of the X-Men, but this story was intentionally supposed to be a Logan/Rogue solo-type story away from the rest of the X-Men.
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Logan, Mariko, Remy, and Rogue all watched in awe, as the super-powered mutant called Sunfire put on a spectacular display of his abilities outside of Mariko's penthouse residence. As he flew from rooftop to rooftop hitting various targets, bright flashes of plasma radiation lit up the night sky in the upper class Meguro district of Tokyo.
His demonstration was, however, over within a matter of a few minutes.
The men that had been sent there by the crime-lord Jakuchu either lay defeated on the rooftops of the various buildings, or had dropped their weapons and made good on a hasty escape. And soon, Sunfire himself had disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.
"Looks like your cousin likes to fight 'n run." Logan said, as the group saw that Sunfire was no longer in view and that a quickly fading trail of fire now marked his exit.
"I am certain that he will be along shortly." Mariko replied.
"You got any idea who he was fighting with?" Rogue asked her.
"Prob'bly Yakuza, if ya ask me." Remy stated.
"Really?" Logan skeptically asked, as he looked over at Remy.
"He is most likely correct." Mariko confirmed.
"Told ya so." Remy smirked.
"In my brother's desire to expand his criminal interests in Japan, he has forged an alliance with other members of the Japanese mafia." Mariko continued, "While Tokyo serves as the nexus for their activities, they desire to move beyond the local area, and eventually beyond our nation's borders. That is why my brother is so eager to remove me as the head of the Clan Yashida."
"What would your family have to do with that?" Rogue asked, as the group went back into the main part of the living room.
Mariko sat back down on the sofa, while Logan knelt down on the side of it next to her, still keeping an ear out for any new signs of trouble. Rogue went back to the chair that she had been in previously, sitting in it Indian-style. And Remy stayed over by the window, still keeping watch outside as he listened to Mariko.
"The Clan Yashida can trace its roots back to the days of feudal Japan, when Samurai's and Warlord's controlled our land." Mariko started, "As a means of survival, vulnerable families would ally themselves together in clans, as a way to ensure their protection and also increase the prosperity of all of its members. In time our Clan's power increased to the point where it made us the most dominant in Japan, with the exception being the Imperial Family of course. Later, as Japan moved into a more modern era, those ties within our Clan remained strong and ingratiated themselves into the business and political realms. We still possess a huge amount of financial wealth, as well as vast political influence within and outside of our nation. It is something which Harada would like to have access to once again."
"Once again?" Logan asked her, as Mariko paused before she continued.
"At one time, my half-brother was himself the head of the Clan Yashida." Mariko revealed, "When our father died, Shingen Yashida had willed all of our family's assets, including the title of Daimyo, to me. But I was no more than fourteen, and I was clearly not ready to assume such a huge responsibility. Up until that point, I had only heard vague references about Keniuchio Harada's existence. When he showed up and offered to take care of everything, I put faith in him to be a man of honor, just as I had believed our father to be. I named Harada as my trustee, letting him act on my behalf until I was old enough to manage things on my own. What I did not know was that he, and now apparently my father, were deeply involved in the Jigoku criminal underworld. Once I learned of what was going on many years later, I had the binding agreement that named my brother as my trustee broken, and told him that I wanted nothing more to do with him. I have spent the years since trying to rid my family of all of the criminal entanglements that he involved the Clan Yashida in. It is the main reason that I took a failing shipping business that my father had left to me and started Yashida International. It was a means to raise enough capital to buy out those criminal enterprises, and then shut them down."
Mariko let out a sigh, and then continued.
"What I also did not know was that there was a clause in those papers that I had signed as a young girl. It stated that if I, for any reason and at any point, were unable to carry out my duties as Daimyo of the Clan, that those powers would automatically revert back to my half-brother. I am left to assume that death would qualify as a reason why I would no longer be able to fulfill my obligations."
"Makes sense to me, darlin'." Logan commented.
"Harada has always been jealous of the fact that our father named me as his sole heir, and not him. He must have learned of my recent meeting with Nabatone Yokuse, one of the top crime bosses within the Yakuza. If Yokuse and I can come to terms of settlement, then I can break the Clan from many of its ties with the Jigoku underworld, and this has apparently incensed Harada. He and the other members of the Yakuza have become so desperate to get control of the Clan Yashida that they will stop at nothing, even if it means my death." Mariko said, as she finished
"Sounds like de same kinda t'ing dat goes on back home in New Orleans." Remy said, as he continued looking out of the large pane window, with his staff in hand.
As soon as Remy said that, the door to the front entrance of the suite flew open. There stood a man who appeared to be in his late twenties, with jet-black hair that was tied back into a ponytail. His outfit consisted of a pair of dark tan pants, a pair of black gloves, and a red long-sleeve leather top with numerous buckles that ran down the chest and had a small Japanese flag on the right shoulder.
"Mariko, would you care to inform me as to what is going on?" Shiro Yoshida asked, as he stood near the entrance.
Before Mariko could answer his question, Shiro then pointed to an object that he had in his grasp.
"One of the gangsters that I was fighting with dropped this outside. It appears that they were preparing to demolish this entire complex, when I happened upon them."
In his hand, he held a top-of-the-line rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, which had been bought on the Asian black market.
"The answer should be obvious. My half-brother has declared war against his own family." Mariko finally responded, as she got up and walked towards her cousin, "And as Rogue, Gambit, and Logan can attest to, anyone else that stands in his way."
Shiro then looked at the other individuals in the room, not recognizing any of their faces.
"Who are all of these…strangers?" Shiro asked Mariko, in an indignant tone.
"They are guests' in my home, whom I expect you to treat accordingly." Mariko quickly replied, annoyed at how Shiro had referred to Logan, Rogue and Remy.
"Very well," Shiro said, as that was the closest to an apology that they were likely to hear from him, "But what I really want to know is why did I have to learn of what has been going on from the police. You should have contacted me at the first sign of trouble. I serve the Lord of the Clan Yashida, and that means my services are always at your disposal, Cousin."
"I had hoped to settle matters with my brother, before our feud escalated into open warfare. But that has become inevitable, and the time has come to decide who will control the future of our family." Mariko responded.
"Then I will fight by your side, to ensure that the honor and dignity of the Clan is maintained against my criminal half-cousin." Shiro pledged to her.
"What are we waitin' for? Let's go start bustin' some heads." Logan, who had been fairly silent for a while, asserted.
"It will not be that easy of a task. The combined efforts of the Hand and Yakuza will prove quite formidable." Shiro told Logan.
"So, what's your point, bub?" Logan replied, as he folded his arms in front of him, "We went up against those ninjas last night, and it looks those mobsters outside got all of you they could handle."
"You faced the Hand?" Shiro said, unbelievingly, "You and what army?"
"With the young lady over to your right and the guy by the window, and with these..." Logan said, as he pointed at Rogue and Gambit, before popping his claws out of his left hand.
"So, you are the one that Detective Takimoto was speaking of," Shiro said, as he recalled the detective mentioning that the ninjas found in the alleyway were cut apart by some sort of triple-edged blade, "The one who is responsible for that swath of destruction left in the Ginza district."
"That seems to be my callin' card." Logan smirked, as he turned from Shiro back to Mariko, "Just tell us what hole your brother is hidin' in, and we'll put him down for the count."
"I will do better than that, I will take you there." Mariko replied, "It is time that I faced Harada, and settled this in person."
"Wait a minute," Logan said, surprised by Mariko's response, "It's way too dangerous for you to be out there."
"I realize that, but I cannot sit idly by and watch others risk their lives, while I do nothing." Mariko resolved, "This fight is to defend my family, and as it's leader it is a responsibility that I must uphold, regardless of the peril."
Logan wanted to continue arguing the point with Mariko. But, after the talk that he had with Rogue earlier, he realized that it would have been just as wrong to try and keep Mariko from participating.
"All right, but I ain't lettin' you out of my sight." Logan said, as he conceded, "Let's start gettin' a battle plan together."
"It's 'bout time we quit runnin' around here with a bulls-eye on our backs." Remy stated, as he came over from the window, and stood behind the chair that Rogue was sitting in.
"I know the most about Harada's estate, and I can show you where the weaknesses in his defenses will be." Mariko said, as she began to sketch a simple diagram for the others on a small note pad.
While Mariko began to draw out their strategy, Logan turned towards Rogue.
"We're gonna need our gear, but it's back at the hotel. Why don't you get it and bring it back here?" Logan asked her.
"You mean, all by myself?" Rogue sarcastically asked, waiting to see what Logan was going to say.
"You're an X-Man, you know how to handle yourself." Logan smiled as he looked back down at Mariko's sketch, showing Rogue that he intended to live up to the promise that he had made to her earlier, "Besides, I figured you'd be takin' the Cajun with you."
While Logan, Shiro, and Mariko discussed a plan to now turn the prey into the hunter, Remy and Rogue got dressed and left Mariko's penthouse suite, heading for the Royal Prince Hotel.
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After a half-hour jaunt, Gambit and Rogue found themselves in an alley outside of the Royal Prince Hotel, which was located in the main tourist section of the Ginza district. As Rogue was about to head towards the hotel's front entrance, Gambit immediately stopped her.
"What's the matter?" Rogue asked, as Gambit stood next to her in the alley and grabbed her by the arm.
"It's a good t'ing your friend sent me wit' you." Gambit told her, "We been goin' out of our way walkin' through back alleys and down side-streets for a reason. What if someone in there is waitin' on us?"
"Don't you think you're bein' a little paranoid?" Rogue asked him.
"Maybe. But after what we been through in de last twenty-four hours, I t'ink my paranoia might be justified." Gambit replied.
"Ah see your point." Rogue acknowledged, "Ah guess Ah still got a lot to learn, huh?" Rogue apologized to him.
"I guess I still got a lot t'teach you, non?" Gambit flirted with Rogue, as he gently caressed her arm.
Rogue and Gambit stood in that position for a moment, looking into each other's eyes. Rogue started to feel a strange, yet happy, sensation come over her once again. But, this time was different than the way that she felt back at the warehouse. Rogue knew that she wasn't being hypnotized or brainwashed, the feeling this time felt…different.
"Um, maybe we should go get our stuff, so we can get back?" Rogue said, as she finally snapped out of her blissful state and remembered the reason why she and Gambit had come to the hotel.
"I s'ppose dat we should." Gambit responded, as he let her arm go and ran over to a ladder that hung from the fire escape of the hotel. He took a running leap and grabbed the ladder that was a few feet above them, and then brought it down to ground level.
"Ladies first." Gambit smirked, as he held the ladder in place for her.
"Why thank you!" Rogue told him mockingly, as she replied in a southern accent that was intentionally strong, even for her.
Rogue and Gambit made their way up the fire escape, first going to the window outside of her hotel room. Gambit examined the window, taking precaution to make sure that it hadn't been tampered with or booby-trapped. When it checked out clean, he used a lifetime's worth of Thieves Guild education to make their way in.
"It'll just take me a minute." Rogue said, as she hurriedly went through the room to grab the bag that contained her uniform, and also grab a few other essential items.
"Dis place ain't the palace Mariko's suite looks like, but it's none too shabby." Gambit said, as he inspected the interior of the hotel room, "It's definitely nicer than some of de places I done found myself in."
"Uh-huh." Rogue replied simply, as she continued to gather her things.
Within a matter of minutes, Gambit and Rogue exited her hotel room. Then they went in and out of the window to Logan's room in the same amount of time. The pair went back down the fire escape and started back towards the penthouse, where Gambit's curiosity got the better of him.
"Y'all got a leather fetish or somethin'?" Gambit asked her. While Rogue was carrying her own bag, Gambit carried the duffle bag containing Logan's belongings. He peeked inside the open top of the bag to see what appeared to be a black leather outfit of some sort.
"No, they're just our uniforms." Rogue replied as they continued on.
"School uniforms made outta leather? What do the other teachers wear, chains and corsets or somethin'?" Gambit asked.
"They're our X-Men uniforms, actually." Rogue clarified for him.
"De 'Wild man' called you dat earlier, what's it s'pposed to mean?" Gambit continued asking.
Rogue then realized that she had neglected to tell Gambit about the other things what went on behind the scenes at Xavier's School for the Gifted. So, she gave him a brief explanation of the X-Men and what they did, while the two of them walked along the side-streets of Tokyo. After hearing what Rogue had told him, the truth to Gambit actually seemed a lot less exciting than his original assumptions about Logan's uniform.
"Let's stop here for a sec, I need t'get somethin'." Gambit said, as they stopped in front of a small grocery store.
As they walked inside, Rogue saw Gambit make a straight line for one aisle.
"What're you doin'?" Rogue asked, as she followed him.
"We're about to have a grand ole time wit' de Samurai, so I'm just gettin' a few extra party favors, dat's all." Gambit replied, as he picked up about eight decks of brand new cards and then took them up to the cash register.
"You have big game?" The clerk asked him, with one eyebrow raised.
"You got dat right." Gambit replied, "We're 'bout t'play de biggest game of high-stakes poker you ever seen."
After paying for the cards, Rogue and Gambit left and continued on their trek back to the penthouse.
"Dat cashier sure was lookin' at me funny." Gambit commented, as they walked together side by side.
"Ah'd look at you funny too. Ah mean c'mon, what normal person buys eight decks of cards at a time?" Rogue asked him.
"I guess someone in 'Gambler's Anonymous' dat just fell off de wagon." Gambit smirked. Rogue stopped walking for a moment, surprised that he had actually found a response to her rhetorical question.
"You're unbelievable." Rogue smiled as she looked at him, and then started moving again.
"Ain't I, Chere." Gambit cheerfully responded.
After walking a few more blocks, Gambit told Rogue that he had to make just one last pause in their journey.
"Dis'll be de last one, I promise." Gambit told her.
"You better not be going to buy more playing cards." Rogue said, with a half-smile.
"Nah, dis is somethin' else I t'ink we'll need just as much though." Gambit said, as he left Rogue in an alley that was on one side of the street that he was quickly running across. He made his way over to a store on the other side, which he now realized was closed. Rogue then saw Gambit disappear from sight, as he went behind the building.
After waiting for a few minutes, Rogue saw Gambit come back around the building and walk across the street towards her.
"What was so important over there?" Rogue asked him.
"Dis." Gambit said, as he opened his coat to reveal a beautifully crafted Katana sword underneath, "I got it for you."
"Ah cain't believe you went and stole that!" Rogue loudly shouted at him. Her accent became unintentionally strong this time, as it seemed to do whenever she was perturbed or upset.
"Say dat a little louder, I don't t'ink they heard you back home yet." Gambit responded, "'Sides, I didn't steal it. I left de cash and a note in de register for de store owner, explainin' dat it was an emergency."
"Remy…" Rogue said, not quite believing his story.
"Dis t'ing put me back a pretty penny, but you're definitely worth it." Gambit continued, as he smiled and tried to convince her that he was telling her the truth.
But, Rogue just looked at him sternly.
"C'mon Rogue, I'm tellin' you de truth, I swear it. Scout's honor." Gambit finally told her, as he raised his right hand.
"What do you know about Scout's honor anyways?" Rogue asked in a sarcastic tone. She couldn't help but smile at the thoughtfulness of his gesture, and Rogue finally took Gambit's word on the subject.
"Some people seem to t'ink I got all kinds o' honor, just lyin' around." Gambit replied, as they started back towards Mariko's Tokyo residence…
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Next Chapter: Showdown with the Silver Samurai!!!