I screamed as men ran into the house, men with guns. They shouted things in a language I didn't understand, but I could tell they weren't happy. Moy mother stood up from the breakfast table, shouting things in the same language they were speaking. I should have been suspicious, I had never heard my mother speak any language other than Japanese, or a little Chinese when arguing with a foreign merchant.

They ignored her, and one of the men, the one standing in front, shoved her to the side, as if she were an animal he didn't have time for.

"Haha!" Mother! I screamed, jumping up, and backing away from the men.

Two other men grabbed my mother's arms, pulling her a few feet towards the far wall.

The first man turned to me, and I slowly backed up, shaking slightly, not understanding this. What was going on? Who were these men?

The man looked down at me, and said something in the strange language. "Ostanovite plakatʹ!"

I winced at his angry tone, "Nandesuka? Watashi wa rikai shite inai?" What? I don't understand.

They rushed at me, grabbing my arms, trying to drag me out the door. My mother screamed at them, begging them to leave me alone, to take her instead. They paid her no heed.

"Mama! Watashi o tasukete! Te kudasai!" Mama! Help me! Please! I screamed, thrashing around and trying to get free. A ten year old's struggles don't amount much to two fully grown, very strong men.

A woman stepped foreword, smiling, and said something in the same language as the man.

"Nanda?" what? I asked weakly.

She smirked down at me, and asked, "Dekinai no wa anata ga eigo o hanasu?" Can't you speak English?I glared daggers at her, "Watashi o baka ni yame nasai! Aku no josei dake de o makase kudasai!" Stop taunting me! Leave us alone evil woman!

She smirked more, and turned to the men who were trying to hold down my mother as she struggled to reach me. She snorted, and said "Anata ga jissai ni wa korera subete no hito o tatakau koto ga dekiru to omoimasu ka? Awarena, anata dake de futsū no ningen. Anata no musume-san wa betsu no mondai no entirleydesu." You think you an fight all those men? Pathetic, your just a regular human, your daughter is a different matter entirely.

I struggled against the men as they tried to pull me into a big truck they had come out of.

"Mama!" Mother!

"Watashi wa mio o oshieta oboete iru! Zugatakai hōrudo!" Remember what I taught you Mio! Hold your head high! She cried out to me.

The woman said something to the men holding my mother in the strange language, and then one of them let go of her, and took out his gun.

"Nai!" No! I yelled, trying to break free of the men.

Mother just smiled at me, "Subete ga buji ni naru, watashi wa anata o aishite!" Everything will be alright. I love you!

The one with his gun pointed it at my mother, and then shot her. I heard that shot better than I had heard anything in my entire life. It wasn't like in the books I had read, where everything goes in slow motion as the hero of the story is thrust into the saddest part of his life. One second I saw him aim the gun, and as fast as lightning, the gun went off. The next second, my mother's head was covered with blood.

"Nai!" I screamed, jumping up in bed, screaming and thrashing out at the air in front of me.

I panted, gasping for breath, and looked around. No men, no guns, no blood. I felt stinging pain in my arms, and looked don to see all my claws sticking out. One from each middle finger knuckle, and two on the bottom of each wrist. I shivered, pulling them back into my skin.

I fell back down on the bed, I felt wet, so I ran a hand over my arm. I had broken into a cold sweat somewhere in the middle of that dream.

I shivered again, curling into a ball. I hated that dream, not just because I had it nearly every night, but because it wasn't a dream. It was a memory.

I looked at the clock, two in the morning. I groaned again, and got out of bed, knowing I couldn't go back to sleep. I got dressed in my X-men uniform, but left the mask off for awhile, just until I was ready to go. I remembered the day Storm had given that mask to me.

Storm handed me the box, "And along with the traditional leather outfit, I thought this would be appropriate."

I had put on the leather outfit already, I wasn't sure what could be in the small box, but when I pulled out the tight leather mask, I looked up at her, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled, "Try it on."

I shrugged, pulling on the tight leather mask. I fiddled with the front of it until I could see clearly and breath well. I wiggled my face muscled a little, trying to get used to the feeling of the leather hugging my face.

Storm smiles, "It looks a lot better than I thought."

I turned towards the mirror, to see what the mask really looked like. Spitting image of Logan's, but all black, and the ears not as big. I was about to turn around and tell her, Not even if you paid me! but Logan walked in, and saw the mask. The minute he smiled, I knew I would be entering a losing battle.

And nearly five years later, I wear it every day. I used to hate it, one more reason for people to think I'm just like Logan. Nothing ticked me off more than that. I was not like Logan, I was different, and no one has the right to judge me by Logan's reputation.

I have no reputation other than: She's with Logan.

I've been with the X-men for more than four years, and that is my reputation, it isn't even a real reputation!

I sighed, grabbing a protein bar and a glass of water and sat down, slowly eating my early breakfast.

Lovette woke up about half an hour later, she always got up early. I sighed, "Lovette, you have to go visit Logan for awhile."

She looked u at me, smiling, "OK, how long are we gonna be there?"

I took a deep breath, "Not us, just you."

She paused, her smile falling, "But, Mio… I wanna stay with you."

"Lovette." I said firmly, "It's only going to be a little while."

"No!" She protested, "I wanna stay with you!"

"Lovette," I began, "Daken is watching you no, and I've warned you what would happen if he showed up here."

"You never said you'd get rid of me!" She yelled.

"I'm not getting rid of you." I explained, "I'm protecting you."

"No you're not!" She yelled. "You're sending me away! I don't wanna go!"

"Lovette." I growled, "Enough. When you're ready to talk to me like an adult-"

"I'm not an adult!" She shrieked. "I'm a kid! And I want to stay with my big sister!"

I froze, for a long time I just sat there, thinking about what she said.

I stood up, "OK." I grabbed my mask and walked to the front door. "You're right. You are just a child."

I pulled the mask on, "Stay here for the day, I'll be back later tonight."

I left the apartment, and headed to the cave. I walked in, finding no one was awake. Around three in the morning, remember?

I walked down the hall to Conner's room, and then quietly slipped in. He was sleeping soundly, making slight noises that varied from moans, or just quiet mumbles that even I couldn't understand. They gave the impression he was having a restless sleep.

"Conner." I said in an average tone.

He didn't respond, just kept sleeping. I stepped closer to the bed, "Conner, wake up."

Wolverine used to do this to me, wake me up at random hours of the night and dragging me into the danger room for a two hour session.

One in the morning + danger room session + two hours = me trying to murder Logan when he lets me out.

I put a hand on his shoulder, "Conner, wake up." I said a bit more forcefully.

He groaned again, arm flapping out lazily and bumping my stomach gently. Aggravated, I shoved his shoulder forcefully.

His arm immediately wrapped around my waist, tugging me down onto the bed on top of him.

My eyes bulged, and I went stiff. He rolled over in the bed, so now he was laying sideways, holding me like Lovette held her teddy bear. He mumbled again, but this time, it didn't sound like he was restless, he sounded content now.

My face went red, and I finally snapped out of the shock. I planted my hands on his shoulders, and my feet against his knees, and then shoved him for all I was worth.

He fell off the bed, onto the floor. I jumped up on the bed, standing straight, and really not caring if I got dirt on his mattress. The little closet pervert!

He sat bolt right up, "What- where… Mio?"

"Mask." I reminded.

"Hell Hound." He said dryly. "What… what are you doing here?"

"Early morning training session." I said, smirking, "We're doing survival training, outside. And you're real lucky, it rained last night."

He pauses, still not sure exactly what was going on. "How is that-"

"Move!" I snap, and he jumps up, running out the door with me hot on his heels.

I chase him out of the base and into the woods, stalking him for awhile as he tried to figure out where I am, then attacking him. This goes on for around twenty minutes, I think that we'll be doing this until morning.

I jump in for the tenth attack, and he grabs my leg, slams me down on the ground hard, and then does it again, and again, and again.

He stops, letting me go, and I don't move, the pain was just to much.

Pain coursed throughout my body, from broken bones, mostly ribs, and bruises. I gasped in pain, rolling over, and holding my ribs as they snapped back into place.

I heard a slight rustle, and next thing I know, he's kneeling next to me, watching and listening as the bones heal and bruises fade.

As soon as the last rib snaps back into place, I throw my fist at his face, and he rolls out of the way. I run at him, trying to kick him in the face, but he dodges. He throws his leg up to kick me, but the ground is wet, and he slips, falling on his butt.

He jumps up, but before he can do anything, I'm flying at his face, knee first.

He screams as he falls down, holding onto his nose as blood squirts out. My eyes widen, he isn't used to this pain.

I walk over to him, kneeling down next to him, and I carefully put my hands over his, "It's OK, I didn't break it."

He paused as I pull his hands away, and carefully feel along his nose. He winces, but doesn't turn away.

I nod, and then stand up, "We're done fighting for today. For now, push ups."

He paused, not used to this kind of training from me, but does it anyway, getting into position. He does them effortlessly, not even hesitating, his strength allowing him to do it without fail.

I barked orders in his ear, shouting things like 'faster!' 'Is that the most you can do?' 'Its only been half an hour, you can't be tired yet!'

I stood on his back as he entered forty minutes of nonstop push ups, growling at him and barking orders like a drill sergeant.

After push ups, we did something I had wanted to do since I saw all those Star Wars movies.

He panted, running through the muddy terrain with me clinging to his back. "How does this help?"

"It doesn't, it makes it a lot harder." I explained.

He was sweating heavily, clearly not used to twenty laps around the mountain. "How did you hurt my nose that easily?"

"Adamantium." I answered.

"I thought only your claws were made out of that." he said, speeding up a little.

"Wolverine had all his bones replaced with Adamantium, Daken only has his claws, and the people who fixed me up with the family tradition put it on a my knee caps, elbows, and the front and back of my skull. Other than that, it is only my claws." I explained. "Ten more laps and you can call it a day.

"How much can your healing factor do?" He asked, running as fast as he could, just wanting to be done with it.

"Any wound it can heal." I said, "If you were to cut off my arm, I could just stick it back on, and it would heal. There's only a few ways to kill people like us. One way, we think it would work, is to cut off our head, and then burn either our body, or head."

He ran faster, only nine laps left. "Have you ever tried it?"

"I want to do it to Daken really bad, but he's a better fighter than me. I was never able to do it." I explained, "Training with you has helped though, I've gotten better at dealing with pain, and even though you're supposed to be the one benefiting from this, I think I am too."

He smiled, "Good to know."

He finished up the rest of the laps, and then we headed inside. Three hours had past, and Megan was up now, she had made breakfast, which Conner quickly wolfed down.

"What on Mars did you have him doing out there?' Megan asked.

"You don't want to know." I said, cutting out the chance of her getting mad at me again for hurting Conner. I know she liked him, every one did except for Wally because he's an idiot. She was a good kid, he was a good kid beneath all that rage. They were good for each other.

"Is Lovette here?" She asked.

I frowned, staring at the floor, "No, she's staying a the apartment today."

Conner looked up from his food, "Why?"

I sighed, "OK, you guys deserve the truth." I took a deep breath, "Yesterday, Daken went to Lovette's school while she was at recess. He didn't attack her or anything, he just let her know he was watching. So, I'm keeping her home today, and tonight, she's going back to the mansion."

Megan, looking sad, nodded, "I guess that's what needs to happen, when is she coming back?"

"The minute Logan man's up and kills Daken." I said.

She looked shocked, "Kill him?"

"It's the only way to stop him." I said, "Can't just put in him jail, he'll get out."

"But, we're hero's, we're not allowed to kill people." She debated.

"One, there are exceptions to every rule. Two, I don't consider myself a hero, and I know Logan doesn't." I said.

"She'll come visit, right?" Conner asked.

"I can't risk it." I shot down, "Daken will stop at nothing to make my life hell, even going after those closest to me. Lovette's staying at the X-mansion, until Daken's dead."

Conner nodded, "Are you going too?"

"No, he'll follow me." I said, "I have to stay here, keep him interested in me, so Lovette isn't in danger."

Conner smiled, "Good."

I raised an eyebrow at that, and he dropped the smile. "Good that Lovette will be safe, that's what I meant."

I nodded, "OK."

The day past slow, eventually the other's showed up, but I wasn't really paying attention to training them, and they noticed. Conner explained to them what was going on, and they pretty much left me alone about it.

Eventually, it got dark out, so I headed back to my apartment, and they all wanted to come with me to say goodbye to Lovette.

So, we took the Bio ship.

Logan was already there, standing outside the apartment door. "She won't let me in." He explained.

"Of course not." I mumbled, taking out my key and unlocking the door. "Lovette?"

"Go away!" She protested.

I walked in sighing, "Lovette, come out. Everyone's waiting to say goodbye."

"No!" She yelled, "I don't wanna leave!"

"And what do you plan to do when Daken kidnaps you?" I asked.

"Wait until you rescue me." She said.

I walked into the room she was yelling from, my bedroom. "Lovette, it doesn't work like that." I growled.

She glared defiantly at me, "I'm not leaving!"

I growled, "Look, if you want to make this difficult and scream and holler, then fine! That's how you can end your last day with me. I wanted you to have a nice day, say good bye to your friends and play some kind of stupid exit song while Logan drove you away. But if you want to spend it fight, so be it!"

I grabbed her off of the bed, dragging her out into the living room. Logan picked her up, "You ready to go?"

"No." She said miserably.

"Jubilee's waitin' in the car." he said.

I perked up, "Really?"

"Yeah." He said, smiling. "Go say hi before we leave."

"Who's Jubilee?" Conner asked.

"A friend."