"Oh, look who's finally awake!"

I glanced down to the first floor of the mansion. Logan and Charles Xavier were lounging about downstairs. No one appeared hostile, in fact they seemed almost welcoming, if a little wary. I felt tense in dealing with these strangers on my own- after so many years under William's control, my social skills were lacking. In the prison of my mind I had held long, drawn out conversations with myself and other characters I'd invented just to keep myself sane- but it had been well over a decade since I'd spoken for myself.

I stepped down the stairs, moving slowly so as not to seem hostile. I had to remind myself that the last time Logan saw me we had been locked in the most vicious fight of my entire life. I didn't want violence, I just wanted freedom. I had reached the bottom of the stairs and was moving forward slowly, and I'd even raised my hands in a show of peaceful intention.

Logan had raised an eyebrow at me and seemed like he couldn't understand what I was doing. I stood before Xavier and lowered my hands. The man was as understated as he was impressive. He didn't seem the least bit worried that I would attack, but then again I had to remind myself that if he sensed even for a second that I would attack, he could enter my mind to stop me in my tracks.

"Good afternoon, miss. How are you feeling?"

I blinked and fumbled for the words; it felt like I was speaking for the very first time. "I feel…I am feeling better now…"

Xavier took my halting words in stride. "Ah, I'm glad to hear it. If you're hungry, there's a full kitchen on this floor. I'd be more than happy to- I'm sorry, but what's the matter?"

I hadn't realized it, but tears were coursing down my cheeks. This was my moment, I had finally been freed of William, I was Yuriko again…

"I'm Yuriko…"

"I'm sorry miss, I didn't quite catch that, what did you say?"

Glancing up, Xavier had rolled forward slightly to better hear me, and Logan seemed to be closer as well. "I'm Yuriko!" I exclaimed. "I'm Yuriko, my name is Yuriko!"

I was smiling through the tears. I felt like singing! I wanted to dance! I felt my knees buckle and then Logan's hands were gripping my arms, and he'd hoisted me up. He brought me over to a chair and helped me sit down. "I'm Yuriko, I'm Yuriko…"

"Jesus, what the hell's wrong with her?" I heard Logan ask.

"I think she might be in shock, Logan. You saw Stryker's files for yourself- there's no telling what he put her through over the years, and depending on the dosage of serum he'd used, she may be experiencing memory loss or even some brain damage. I won't know for sure until she allows me to have a closer look."

"Is she-? I mean, she's not, you know, crazy or anything, right?"

I wiped the tears from my cheeks and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. It was humiliating that Logan had seen me as Stryker's puppet killer, Lady Deathstryke. I didn't want him to see me as Yuriko, and think that I was a lunatic.

"Logan, no. I'm not crazy…there is no memory loss, Mr. Xavier. I'm just…it's been so long since I've been free. The bird is out of the cage, do you understand?" I fumbled for the right words, desperate to make myself understood.

Xavier wheeled in close. "Please tell me what happened, but not here. Classes will be ending soon and something tells me that this won't be a discussion for prying ears. Would you like to talk now? There is no rush. This is a safe haven for mutants and you're welcome to stay for as long as you like- my home is your home, as the saying goes."

I liked Xavier, he was being kind and I appreciated that he wasn't rushing into the painful events of my past. I'd been moving and speaking of my own free will for just under 20 minutes, and I was in no hurry to dive right back into how it felt to be under someone else's control.

The questions could come later- I would wait, because Xavier was right, there was no rush just yet. I wanted to get my bearings, explore, readjust to just being me. Logan had backed off once he saw the proof that I was sane and no danger to Xavier, and he sauntered off down a hidden hallway.

I watched him leave, and wondered if he even remembered me as the shy, gawky teenager he'd flirted with all those years ago before he became Wolverine and I became Lady Deathstryke.

Xavier offered to give me a tour of the mansion school grounds and I felt agreeable to anything he suggested. I was free, I could fly and dance and sing…I was free to be peaceful and I made a vow to myself as Xavier and I crossed through an expansive garden that I would never fight again unless it was to defend my freedom.

I hated being forced to kill, and I had killed many people. From what I understood, all of my victims were fighting for mutants, rather than against them. I wanted to atone for the damage to my race that William had forced me to inflict by fighting for mutants…but not just yet. Give me time, please. Give me time to remember what grass and flowers and trees smelled like, what fresh air felt like on my skin, what it was to feel safe.

Give me time to be Yuriko again, to see with my own eyes and to speak my native language again. Let me be Yuriko again for a time- time enough to talk to Xavier about what William had done to me and to thank whoever it was that saved me from a destined eternity under the icy waters of Alkali Lake.

When I've had my time to live, Lady Deathstryke will take her place in this, the great fight for mutants.