Yea Yang: I'm really happy to hear from you again, I wasn't sure if I ever was. I'm glad it's working out and you got yourself a new boyfriend, hope you're happy and to hear from you again sometime.

Scottfan: You're kidding, you actually got that? Man you must be the most observation person I ever met, you're the only person that did. Yeah I wanted him to be happy (For now) I mean this series is a growing changing thing and there's no telling what the future holds. Plus if I remember you rightly I think you think I'm an anit-Romy guy. Well I'm not, I'm writing a story with Slickboy444 with Romy in it and I got 2 mote planned. So I hope that makes you happy later on since I got the impression you're a die hard Romy fan, I just hated all the substandard ones that came out awhile back. Plus I like to think this fic is more the just couples.

Ldypebsaby: I'm glad you like them as a couple.

Erich: Yeah well he's not all back, but he was raised by thieves not exactly the most moral of people. In the comics there was no super-soldier thing like in the cartoon. She did work for Fisk at one point but not in this fic. I made a star wars reference? I don't remember that. I may have them show up at a much later date but not soon. Dazzler will show up later also, I got a nice little plan for her.

Red Witch: Yeah I like to really surprise people, keeps them guessing and keeps things interesting.

Slickboy444: The costume is a mixture of Ultimate and Marvel her character is based more on the Marvel universe. Yeah I think those two like their little friendly competitions.

Ruby631: Really? That's really cool, man the furthest I ever went from Canada was Florida. But I did go to Disney World and this Gator World place. You know that's not much of a shock about that tower. I mean metal expands or contracts with heat and it is a giant metal tower made from girders.

Episodic: You don't seem to be alone so far everyone likes those two together.

Darkness1: I'm happy you still liked it and of course he'll be in trouble he's with the Black Cat so that means double the trouble. No, the fic your waiting for will be one called Return to Town X and it will be its own fic and not in Adjustments.

Sparky Genocide: Who were you expecting?

ViciousAssassin: Glad you liked that idea and I'm glad I could help.

The Uncanny R-Man: I guess so I figured people would have caught on sooner. Yes she will like that very much with Shadow back.

X00001: Technically Betsy's a ninja not a thief and she won't show up in this story but she will in another.

Thanks to: TheLegendaryManHimself, Doza, Ranndie Mazda

ADJUSTMENTS

CHAPTER 38: RETURN OF SHADOW

-Hidden town in Japan countryside-

A Japanese boy was sitting in a cherry tree, mainly he was just enjoying the quiet and of being back home. He was dressed in ninja garb; all of his clothing was a dark gi with chain mail underneath. He also wore the gauntlets and shin guards. He liked to be in full gear but he had his mask that normally covered the lower half of his face down. He had short hair and brown eyes and had just turned seventeen about six months ago.

It had been over a month since he got home and he was never happier then to be back. It was of course at that moment he got hit on the head. "What the!?" He rubbed to see where it same from and saw a girl that was sixteen with short hair in spikes in a few places in a female version of his clothing which mainly was that it showed off her abdomen. "Ayame! What was that for?" He demanded.

Ayame was one of his oldest of friends and part of a little group made up of Kai, her, Rikimaru and his twin brother Tesshu. Since there were four of them they each took the name of an element that best suited them. Kai was the wind because he was fastest and moved silently the best. Ayame was water for the wave she seemed to 'flow' in combat with her gracefulness.

Rikimaru the silent yet strong one of their circle was the earth because he always stood firm. His twin brother Tesshu was fire, mainly due to his tempter that caused him to lose patience. Since childhood the four of them played, trained and worked together and he couldn't think of a better 'family' to belong to.

He was also glad that when his mutation kicked in two years ago they stood by him, although to be fair everyone in the village was familiar with the tales of warriors of the past with 'magical' abilities and some thought that since his powers only enhanced his ninja abilities that the spirits had chosen him to be the new leader for their clan. He personally didn't care who led, even though his father was the Grand Master and it was he that led, so it was mostly up to either him or Tesshu to lead but he didn't care which of them led, in fact he would prefer it if his brother led but he kept that to himself, he didn't want his father to learn of this and he might be disappointed in him.

"We're going to be late Kai-chan." Ayame said to him. "The others are waiting for us."

"Sorry." He leaped down from the tree and joined his friend.

"You thinking about America again?" She teased him.

Kai only laughed. "No I was just glad to be home." After his capture and then being brought to the FOH facility under that man Trask. He was relieved to have been rescued by a group called the X-Men. They seemed like a nice group of people and they did save him and got him a ride home. Of course he had to travel the rest of the way on foot since the village was secret.

They walked down to the village. Even though it was in a small valley surrounded by a forest it was out of the way and no one ever came close. Plus the sentries all over the place made sure of it, nothing lethal unless they were a rival clan or something but their village had remained hidden for centuries for nothing.

It also didn't mean that they were primitive either. They had solar and wind generators and there were a few water falls that the larger was used for power that come out of a mountain cave and the pool where it joined with a smaller on ran into a river. They also had satellite dishes and radios to keep in touch with the outside world. They knew that to be hidden was essential but to remain ignorant of the outside world was just stupid.

They paid with everything from dummy accounts that they filled with earnings form the jobs they were hired to do. After feudal Japan ended everything changed. The Samurai were now just a hand full of those that tried to keep the tradition alive and the few ninja clans that were left now had no lords to serve. So they started to hire themselves out. Sometimes they worked for the Japanese government but mainly it was independent contractors. Times change and the Koga clan had to change with them.

They walked down to the main training area. It was a large clearing where the warriors of the clan came to train. There were instructors there with the younger students but since Kai and his friends were basically one step away from being named as Shinobi they could train at their leisure since they mainly had to sharpen their skills until they were ready for the final trail to face in order to become warriors of the clan.

The training area was large and covered in sand mostly. There were students learning katras and a few in mock combat and more going through the obstacle course. And there waiting for them were Rikimaru and Tesshu. Rikimaru was the oldest by being eighteen. He was well built and trained the most and one of the most skilled with a Katana. Tesshu didn't look a lot like Kai, he was a little shorter and he liked to keep his hair in a topknot.

"So you found him I see." Tesshu said with a smile. "Let me guess my little brother was in that tree again right?"

"I hate it when you refer to me an little, couldn't you just say younger, besides I'm taller then you." Kai said to his 'big' brother. It was true he did have an inch easy on him but that was it.

"Shall we begin?" Rikimaru asked them all.

"Always to the point huh?" Ayame said playfully. For the next two hours the teens trained together, doing katras, sparing and helping each other improve the other's technique. After some time they took a canteen of water that Rikimaru brought for each of them since it was his turn, and they all sat down in the shade of a tree in the warm weather.

"You know I think you improved a bit when you were gone brother." Tesshu said to him.

"Fighting for your life against a relenting opponents can do that." Kai admitted not liking to remember that time. He still was a bit uneasy about leaving the village alone. He still couldn't understand how he had been swarmed like he had, almost like they had been waiting for him.

The others were a bit silent after that. When he had disappeared everyone had been worried sick about him. Ayame and Rikimaru had searched the entire time and when they found him walking back to the village even the calm and collective Rikimaru was overjoyed by his return. Kai had told them everything including meeting other mutants like himself.

They were all a little shocked from his experience and of course since Ayame was the biggest mouth in the village everyone knew by the end of that day. Kai hated being treated like he was some fragile person made of glass, sure he didn't exactly sleep well at times lately but he was basically over that.

He noticed the quiet and decided to change the mood. "Come on guys let's go, I'm sure there's something better to do then just sit here." Kai told them with a smile and got up. The others were all too eager to join in. They walked into the heart of the village Ayame was in the middle of a joke when she noticed both Kai and Tesshu stop dead in their tracks and a got a look in their faces she knew all too well.

She groaned and looked ahead and there she was. Sakura. Ayame didn't care much for her, mainly due to the fact almost every guy in the whole damn village turned into tongue wagging idiots. Well at least not Rikimaru but she saw him take a look from time to time.

Sakura was incredibly graceful and to Ayame's eternal annoyance was the most beautiful girl there too. She kept her hair long and with a bow of red when not training.

Kai looked at her and his heart skipped a beat as she walked over to him. He had had a crush on her for years and lately his feelings had grown. When he had returned to his delightful surprise she actually hugged him. He thought that she didn't even knew he really existed and soon after they actually started to see each other.

He couldn't believe that she actually had a crush on him too but had thought that he didn't feel the same. He watched her now in her dark gi that somehow showed off her impressive figure. She smiled at him and his heart warmed at the sight. "How are you Kai-chan?" She asked him taking a position next to him.

"Well now that you're here." He said smiling. Rikimaru smiled at the two of them, and Ayame rolled her eyes. She noticed Tesshu's dark look and felt bad. She knew that both Kai and him had crushes on Sakura and that when she chose him it really hurt Tesshu, although he tried not to show it.

The five of them spent most of the day together enjoying it all but when the sun was setting they knew they would have to return home. Kai and Tesshu walked to the house. "Say brother what do you say for a race?" Tesshu asked him, the two brothers always liked to challenge each other and neither one rarely declined a challenge from the other.

"You're on brother." Kai said and then Tesshu took off with Kai on his heels. Kai knew that if he used his shadow form he would easily win but that would have been cheating. Luckily he wasn't given the nickname of 'the wind' for nothing and won the race.

Kai smiled at his brother both panting. "When…will you learn…you can't beat me…in a footrace?" Tesshu merely just glared at him and walked past. Kai sighed knowing that his brother really needed to control that anger. Their father was there to meet them. He was in the living room in his robes; he was in his forties with a shaved head.

"I see you boys have raced back home again." He said to them. He always had a way of looking commanding around everyone and he had this aura of authority. But he was also their father and there was a warmness to his voice. "I must speak with you boys, please come with me." He told them. They both exchanged uncertain looks. Their father was never this cryptic or this short.

They both went into the main room that held a full suit of ninja style armor on a manikin in the center of the far wall were hung a flag with the clan symbol on it. It was the suit used by their ancestor and one of the greatest of their clan. In font of it was also the family Katana used by the same man and was over eight hundred years old. Their father motioned them to sit and they both did with their shins on the ground and them sitting on their heels.

"I know that soon one of you will replace me as the Grand Master and leader of our clan, that day is far off but I need to train personally the one that I feel will replace me." They both knew that was how it was done, the one who was to be replaced would train the one that they felt was worthy would train them in ancient arts and a few secrets that only the masters knew about.

"So it's one of us isn't it." Tesshu said grinning. It wasn't a question and he knew it had to be one of them, in fact he was sure it would be him.

Their father nodded. "Yes." He said simply and went to the sword. He gently picked up the blade and walked to the two sons. Tesshu was grinning and with a hungry look in his eye. All his life this was a moment he had been working towards. But to his utter surprise and shock his father actually gave the blade to his 'little' brother.

Kai didn't know what to say to this. He knew that it would most likely have come down to either him or his brother but he didn't think that he would actually be picked. "I-I'm honored Master Fujitaka-sama." He said and bowed with the Katana.

Tesshu kept his tongue in check after that. He didn't want to dishonor himself for speaking out, their Grand Master had chosen. Although his face was impassive his fists clenched so tightly they were white and his fingernails dug into his palms.

After some time Kai went to Tesshu. "Brother I-"

"Don't!" Tesshu snarled at him. "Don't bother to say a damn thing. You got what you wanted."

"I never wanted this brother."

"LAIR!" Tesshu said getting in his face. "You always got things the easy way. When mother was alive she liked you the best, you got Sakura, you got the powers and now you get to take over fathers place! Why couldn't you have stayed gone!" He left Kai there in utter shock. Kai never heard his own twin talk to him like that before.

-A few days later-

Kai was in his room, it was early in the morning and the sun was up yet. Even though for the past few days Kai had been a bit miserable. He knew that as soon as he was a full warrior he would begin his training with the masters.

But mainly it was the strain on his relationship with his brother. He lay there on his cot staring up at his ceiling. It was late and he knew he would need his rest, it took some time but he finally did get some rest.

When he woke up he wasn't sure what it was. Then he heard the warning bells and suddenly other sounds came. It was the sounds of combat; he couldn't understand what was going on, he looked out a window and saw the village was under attack. He couldn't believe it, the village hadn't been attack in over a century and how did they get past the sentries?

Then he heard sounds from inside the house, it was of his father that he was sure and ran to the door, picking up his personal sword on the way there. He ran into the halls and followed the noises to the main hall. There he saw his father with the family sword fighting off other dark clad figures. He saw a symbol on them and recognized it as the mark of The Hand. He said no words and joined in the fight. The two of them had to face off against several fighters.

Although he wondered where his brother was at this moment. Kai was good but these warriors were better. He was holding his own but they were tough. And he didn't see the one coming behind him until it was too late. "Kai!" He spun around and saw a warrior coming down on him. His sword was out of position and he couldn't get it up in time. He thought this was it but then his father was just suddenly there.

And to his horror saw the tip of the blade stick out of his father's back. He wanted to scream out to yell to do something but time just seemed to slow down. He felt the other one coming at him again and he left his training take over and let his body just react, he deflected the attack with an upward arc of his sword then brought it down across the chest of this attacker, there were two left he knew.

One came out at the side with a lung. He held his sword pointing down to deflect the blow and kicked him in the ribs. The last one took a swipe at him and he used his shadow powers so the blade went through him. Kai with his sword struck behind him and felt the blade hit the one behind him and quickly slashed out in an ark gashing open the one that took down his father.

He looked around and saw that that was the last of them. He dropped his sword and looked over his father. He was still alive, the blade went through his shoulder. The door crashed open and Kai took up his sword but relaxed seeing it was Rikimaru and Ayame. "By the gods." Ayame whispered at thee scene.

No words were wasted as Ayame tried to patch Kai's father's wounds. Rikimaru stood guard and Kai checked on his brother's room but it was empty. He got dressed quickly and took as many supplies as possible. Then he heard the evacuation bells. The Village was lost.

If the village was ever overrun all members of the clan were to scatter to the four winds and hide in the shadows. They would all come back after one year to try to rebuild else ware so he knew he had to get his father and friends out of the village. But there was still his brother and Sakura unaccounted for.

Rikimaru and Ayame helped to carry the Grand Master who with a little natural sedative Ayame had given him was a little light headed. "I'm going to find my brother and Sakura, if I do I'll met you all at our secret place, if I'm not there by dawn then go."

"We're not leaving you behind!" Ayame said angrily. "They both may have gotten out."

"I have to be sure. Ayame please do this. Get my father and yourselves to safety. If I don't make it I'll be sure to be here a year from now." Kai said sternly to her.

"Kai…" His father said weakly and with his good arm slowly brought up the sword.

Kai looked at it and gently pushed it back to him. "Keep is safe, that way you know I will come for it and for you all." His father gave a rare smiled and nodded.

"Kai." Rikimaru said to him and extended his hand. Kai gripped the wrist in a warrior's shake. "Be safe Ani-deshi." (1)

Kai nodded and ran off into the night. The village was on fire and the heat he felt on the skin of his face. He ran on in his shadow form, which enhanced his speed and it helped him to blend into the darkness. He helped out others to get away, and he saw bodies of both enemy and of his clan. There were men, women and even children dead in some places.

He pushed all the emotions aside he would need to keep a clear head then he heard her. He heard Sakura. He ran to the area and saw her fighting a warrior in a red oni mask. It had two long horns, a dark mane and looked like a devil. Sakura was struggling with the oni-warrior and she attacked him but she didn't notice the knife he held and saw her get impaled in the gut.

"NOOO!" He shouted out and ran toward her. He saw her fall to the ground limp and he went out of his shadow form in order to make his shadow weapons. He made several throwing daggers and threw them at the oni-warrior, one struck the side of his face, cutting through the mask. The warrior ran but he didn't give chase.

He knelt down next to her pressing on her wound. "Sakura please stay with me."

"K-Kai?" She said weakly. "I…I feel cold…"

"Please fight it." He urged her, he felt tears on his face. He saw her smile and reached up to touch his face. He gently took her hand and pressed it against his cheek. Then he felt the hand go limp and when he looked into her eyes the light in them was gone and she started into nothingness. Kai closed his eyes shut and bent down over her hugging her close. He could smell her scent and knew it would be the last time. He chocked back on the tears as his heart was breaking in his chest.

It just wasn't fair. After all this time to get her and then to lose her.

He closed her eyes shut and kissed her one last time gently on the lips, her body still warm. He took the ribbon from her hair gently and wrapped it tightly around his fist. He could smell her fragrance still on it.

"Aw isn't that sweet. The little ninja lost his girlfriend." Came a cold and female voice. He looked over his shoulder at a female Hand warrior with long dark hair. Kai glared at her with a cold look. She held a sword and was in a relaxed position, which wasn't good…for her.

He lashed out with his arm and created a shadow chain with harpoon head. She didn't really see it well in the dark and it hit her in the head. The female warrior fell to the ground. "Kwannon!" Kai saw a male warrior running towards them with others. Kai wanted to take them all out, he wanted to avenge the deaths of his clan…of Sakura, but he knew he had to flee. There was no way to win and he needed to be sure the others were alright.

He found a large shadow and ran to it, he jumped into the shadow with his powers but before he did he felt a few jolts of pain. Then he was in the shadow world. It was filled with darkness except for where the shadows were in the real world, only they were white and everything he saw in them looked like a photonegative.

He found a shadow outside the village and came out in the woods. He looked at the pain in his side and found a dagger there. He pulled it out but stopped, as he smelt something. He placed the dagger to this nose and smelt something on it. He knew there was a toxin on the blade, and he would need to take care of it.

He sat down and opened up a small pouch. He pulled out a cloth and with a few herbal ingredients that he placed on it placed it on the wound and took a strip of cloth that he cut from his shirt and tided in on tightly. He looked around and saw that he needed to get to the others on the other side of the valley. He used the shadows to move but when he got to the area it was swarming with Hand warriors.

He knew that they were either dead, which he prayed that they weren't, or had to flee. In either case he was alone, wounded and poisoned. The herbs would slow down the poison but not stop it, he would need a healer, but they were gone, and he needed a place to be a safe place, but to where?

He had nowhere to go. Well…except…but that was too far away he might not last that long. But what other choice did he have.

It took him hours to travel by the shadows, he could only go so far in them and it took a toll on him. He needed to get to them, and there was only one way. The only place where he could be safe and find shelter from the Hand. He managed to get to the closest city and to the airport.

He knew this was a risk and that he should get treatment but where would he go? He was no doctor and he had no idea, plus dressed like a ninja with blood and a sword on him was going to attract attention. So he only had one option. He found an airport and for the first time that night had some luck, he found an outbound flight that he needed.

Getting into the cargo hold of the jet that was easy. But he was also feeling weak from the loss of blood, the strain on him and the poison. He knew he had to give himself more time. So he got into a relaxed position on the floor and concentrated. He put himself into a deep state of meditation. This was an old ninja trick that would slow down his body, putting him into a state of near death. His body would get the rest it needed and the poison would be slowed down.

-Hours later-

He woke to the jolt of the craft landing. He guessed he was here. He looked through the suitcase for something to hide his clothing in and found a long trench coat. His body was tired and aching so getting out of the airport without being noticed was a lot more difficult, in fact he had to knock out a couple of security guards.

He looked around the place. He was in New York City and he was so close, but he felt a headache and knew the poison was gaining strength. The trench coat hid his ninja uniform and his sword. He walked the street looking for what he needed. He was tired as he was losing strength and his vision blurred now and then.

After asking for directions (which he had to pull a shadow knight on someone to get a damn answer) he found his way to the nearest bus station. He looked at the schedules, although he had to squint to see them. He found the bus he needed. He snuck on board when the bus driver was taking a smoke and sat in the back. He felt himself starting to sweat and tried to slow down his body again. While on the road he had to use the bathroom. He later splashed water on his face and looked in the mirror. He was pale now and tired looking.

He checked his wound and saw it was infected now. He cleaned the cloth and pressed it back on. The rest of the trip was a blur since he was slipping in and out of consciousness. He knew if he fell asleep he wouldn't wake up again. He was running out of time.

By the time they pulled into the station Kai was on his last leg and he knew it. He looked around but was unfamiliar with the town. He should have thought of this before but he wasn't thinking straight. He walked in a daze, not sure where he was or where he was going. His skin felt hot but his insides felt cold.

"Hey man are you okay?" He heard a voice, He thought it was familiar but everything was blurred.

"What's wrong?" Another voice called out.

"This guy doesn't look so hot…does he look familiar to anyone?" Kai only had a sensation of falling and the world going black. "Crap! He needs help!"

"Hey I know this guy! Don't you remember him?"

"Oh man I think your right!"

That was the last thing Kai could make out before the shadows swallowed him.

-Later-

He wasn't sure what was happening, he felt he was on some type of bed. He could hear noises and then voices. He wasn't sure what they were until his mind cleared up enough to realize that they were in English.

"I think he's coming around Mr. McCoy." He heard a female voice.

"Thank you Gale." The other voice sounded familiar and then a bright light suddenly blinded him. McCoy was using a penlight to judge his eyes reactions to stimuli. "How are you Kai?"

At first it came out in Japanese but he remembered to switch to English. "I feel tired."

"Well your body has been through a lot, you're lucky one of the students found you, that toxin in your system was doing a number on you and to be honest a few more hours and it would have killed you, but whatever you did slowed the poison down and that treatment you had on the wound was fighting it off too but wouldn't have cured it."

Kai nodded weakly. "How long?" He asked weakly not sure how long he had been here.

"Three days, it will be a few more before you're well enough to walk but luckily Gale here was able to get the poison out of your system." Hank gestured over to a girl with blue hair and matching eyes that Kai didn't remember seeing the last time he had been here. He nodded his thanks since talking took a lot more effort in his state.

"Now get some sleep and when your stronger maybe you could tell us what happened to you?" Beast asked him.

Kai nodded and closed his eyes. Yes he would sleep, but after seeing his beloved home in flames, his father slain, his brother and friends missing and maybe even killed. Not to mention all the others in his clan dead or missing. Plus…Sakura, the lovely Sakura…the image of her death would haunt him forever he knew just as the images of his village in flames would too.

He would sleep, but he knew that it wouldn't be a peaceful one. It would be a long time before he would sleep well again, but at least here he knew with the only friends he had in the world, that he was safe.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 39: WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN UP TO

(1) Brother Ninja

Next we take a last look at the Hellions, Azazel, and the Brotherhood

Also I would like to say I'm disappointed that no one seemed to read the work of a friend of mine when I asked. You Can't Run On Ice by little miss tiny shoes It's a great fic and I'm ashamed only a few people looked it over and even though they liked it forgot about it. It's a great fic and I urge everyone to at least try it and to review for it. Its in the R section of Evolution.