Chapter V:

-March 21st, 1999 Haneda Airport, Japan 3:00pm

Seventeen hours, eight minutes of flight time, an hour explaining to the bloody security guards that she had metal plates, another hour lying to her friends about her reasons for going to Japan, twelve minutes of testing her new equipment with Logan as a test subject and the packing made even Samantha's trunk heavy. If it weren't for Logan asking for a favor in exchange for another favor she would be happily combing through every national database for a likeness of those two mountains. So there she stood going through customs, bored to wits end. Was she worried that the authorities would find her CZN-M22 sub machine gun? Only slightly, goblins were great at creating hidden compartments in trunks and it was under a powerful charm that would leave a person dazed should they focus too strongly on its contents and would pass weapons as shampoo bottles. So when her turn came up to talk to the Official so she could finally end this chapter of her trip [Good afternoon, welcome to Haneda Airport. How long will you be staying in the country? What is the purpose of your visit?] Samantha handed the woman her passport. The officer had a certain likeness to Umbridge, with a mole on her face… or was it a wart.

[At most three weeks]. She'd only miss a week or so of class and spring break if everything went according to plan. Visiting relatives. Which in a way was true, this Yashida woman was going to be her step mother at one point and it was busyness; the fact that her busyness would be protecting one of Japan's most influential women from a cadre of unspecified and rather vague threats on her life and that would result in a number of deaths was not something that the officer needed to know.

The toad of a woman nodded before handing Samantha her passport. [Have a pleasant stay miss Kusanagi.] Oh yes, her alias how could she forget, Mikoto Kusanagi, photographer, poet, and artist. Rather over the top for her taste but Ragnok and Logan disagreed, it would draw less attention they claimed than her idea of going as a student searching for her roots. Come to think about it she had no idea about her roots, Logan was Canadian but that was it. Her mother was a squib of an ancient and noble family, but Elizabeth could be from anywhere. Shaking her head Samantha entered her new persona, which just an extension of her self, Logan had arranged transportation with Lady Yashida, she would meet the clan's representative outside the airport.

Samantha wore a mustard yellow tucked into black pants and fingerless gloves, with boots, the exact description given to Lady Yashida by Logan. Exiting the airport she noted the air was dry and tasteless, the glass widows gave it an open feeling. Outside it was raining, A tall woman was waiting in a black kimono, her red hair flowed with the wind, behind her a line completely unmarked black SUVs.

[Greetings Kusangi-san, I am Yukio, I am to escort you to my lady.] She introduced herself. Samantha did not move. [Oh, I almost forgot. There is nothing in the desert, and no man needs no man needs nothing. Is that to your satisfaction?] Samantha nodded and stepped inside the vehicle. Once inside she noted the two men dressed in fine suits, they sat in the front of the car. "It must be an honor to work alongside the Wolverine, I understand that he recommended you highly. "

"…" She wouldn't know. She had all of Weapon X's movements installed in her brain and had in a sense fought him on two different occasion but she had never worked with him. So she leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes.

"The car ride to Agarashima is five hours long, it will get boring."

"Converse with them, let me sleep…"

[You are rather rude, aren't you?]

"To tired to speak."

-March 21st, 1999 Bayville, New York 2:00am

[Yeah, yeah, whatever ya say Harada. She's the second best at what she does.] Logan spoke. [I'll be there soon, so save yer bitching for later, when I can give you a reason to...]

"I hope your words speak truth, a number of assassins have been spotted entering Japan, some are old friends of yours." The silver samurai warned. "A few of them would give me pause.'

Logan stopped pacing. "Creed?'

"Among others, yes"

"Shit, change of plans, I'm heading there now."

"Logan, I am inclined to war-" He hung up. The beast inside wanted Creed's head on a pike, hell he wanted the monster ripped limb from limb, for Silver Fox and everyone else the bastard had taken away from him. The darkness did little to slow Logan in the search for Chucks office, with a shove the door opened. Chuck was reading beside the fire place. The man barely looked up before Logan was crouching in front of him. "Chuck, gotta take care of something's in Miyago."

"Should I alert the team?" The professor asked, knowing well that they were not as alone as Logan believed, a certain blue mutant was hanging from the from the fan. "They have grown quite powerful with Rogue joining the team.'

"They aren't ready for this Agarashima ain't gonna be easy for me and I've got Sam on my side,'

"You involved Samantha in your affairs Logan? Do I have to tell you how much of a danger she could be to herself? Or others?" He scolded. "The child is unstable Logan, we saw what her rage can do to you! Imagine what could happen should she loose control in a public."

"I know. That's why I sent her, she could hold the fort while I got there, but things changed."

"Changed how?"

"Creed." The professor paused and contemplated

"So the Sabretooth has reared its head, once more. Logan, this is more than likely a trap,"

'Yep."

"I suggest you hurry. According to Scott the Blackbird is undergoing repairs. old friend."

"Thanks for the warning, Chuck"

When Charles was certain that Logan far enough away from the institute, he called out to his students:

'To me my X-Men'

-March 21st, 1999 entering Miyago Prefecture 5:00pm

Samantha awoke to the sound of shattering glass and the smell of blood, survival instinct went into hyper drive. The world slowed around her, the two men where dead, the droplets of blood and pieces of brain tissue had covered part of her face and Yukio's. Yukio had grabbed Samantha's arm just as she reached for her trunk, with surprising strength the red head assassin, pulled Samantha with her before the car rolled over and was impacted by a doodled RPG. The duo flew into the surrounding forest, Yukio attempted to take the impact but was flipped over at the very last second. 'Fucking hero Complex.' Samantha cursed. "What didn't you tell Logan?"

"Nothing all information relevant to the job was given, we expected resistance but nothing of this caliber."

"Well, clearly you were missed informed."

"The enemies of Clan Yashida are numerous, we can not be expected to be able to prepare for all of them, especially with thee mercenaries."

"You have no idea who we are dealing with?" She growled.

"I have an idea, but I pray I am mistaken." Samantha tackled Yukio just as bullet was about to enter her skull, she managed to dodge the hail of bullets and gain cover behind thick tree.

"Pineapple surprise!" A voice yelled before a grenade rolled next to them. Samantha apaparated away as it exploded 'That should do it! Come on down Dom. They came out on the other side of the road, Samantha was missing pat of leg but she stood without giving away she was injured, the splinched muscle was already reforming. Yukio produced two sai from her kimono sleeves.

"Kusanagi-san, are you able to fight?"

"Can, will, and itching too." She growled, jumping onto the obvious assassin. He dressed in a red and black body suit, with a great many pockets. He had two katanas on his back.. She quickly removed the head from the body and removed his arms from his body. Blood covered her completely. The head of her attacker rolled away slowly

"Holy crap!" the head cried out before the white eyes locked onto her. "Oh my god! Dom! It's a lady-Bub. Wolvie had a kid! Dibs on being the godfather!"

"Can it, Wade! I'm busy." Samantha turned to watch Yukio's opponent, a woman with black hair and pale skin, a black dot covered her left eye, she wore a black form-fitting cat suit. Her eyes were what caught her attention, those cold ice blue eyes, her eyes. Slowly she reached out her right arm and whispered "Bombarda…" a flash of light emanated from her hand and impacted the ground in at the two fighters feet. Yukio jumped back avoiding, but the assassin was blown away. The woman landed safely on her feet a few feet away from the explosion. She was lucky and the woman knows it. Samantha barely had time to register the two Uzi's that the woman was aiming as her body weaved itself around the lead rounds. Yukio rushed the assassin with hopes of capturing her, however, luck was still on her side. One of the bullets bounced off Samantha's adamatium claws and hit Yukio right leg, dodging the bodies natural momentum was easy enough for the trained assassin, avoiding the claws of a teenager with a grudge… not so much. At her closest Samantha had barely managed to cut Dom's cheek. The flash bang that separated the two went unnoticed until its detonation, Samantha though was particularly effected thanks to her heightened senses, leading her to collapse in near shock.

"Stabby juniors gonna be real mad, Dom! Time for a bathroom break!" Yukio threw her say at the immobile Domino only to be blocked by the relimbed mercenary's katana. He picked her up and teleported away in a purple poof.

Slamming her fist on the pavement, Yukio pulled her phone from her pocket and pressed the dial tone. Hopefully Lady Yashida would receive her distress signal in time.

-March 21st, 1999 Yashida tower, Agarashima 6:45pm

The years had taken their toll on the lady of house Yashida. At the age of thirty-eight white hairs had become prominent too early… Through the years she had made peace with her mistakes and had come to understand her regrets, though they plagued her. Her most prominent mistake would always be driving Logan away her, Kazuri, her Wolverine, especially after she learned of the life that grew inside her. Now she stood staring at her city with tears she could not shed, the setting sun coloring the sky in color of fire reflected by the crystalline rivers that ran through it. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she took a walk through those beautiful streets without fear, since she married Noburu and his death at Logan's hands for harming. The wind shifted lightly, the door closed with a heavy slam, Keniuchio had been on edge for a number of weeks, since the first attempt on her life by these so called assassins. She turned around and noticed him in his silver armor though without his helmet she could still see the scar Logan had left eighteen years earlier. His face had suffered a nearly continues scowl ever since. As their eyes met he bowed lightly.

[Report.]

[All six vehicles have been attacked, computes show them going offline at the same time. Yukio-san was recovered with something interesting…]

[Interesting, Keniuchio? What about the woman Logan sent over?] She asked, with veiled worry.

[That is what is interesting Mariko-Sama. It would be best if you simply see it for yourself.] With another bow he exited the terrace. Mariko looked back at her once more, a gentle breeze blew as if nudging her inside.

Agarashima had stood for centuries as home for the Yashida clan and had never fallen to enemies from within or without and every generation had brought greater improvements to its fortification. Her grandfather raised the name of Yashida to new heights with his busyness enterprises and great honor. He built the building the clan was currently residing in, an tower of concrete and steel on the mountainside with few entrance that were easily defendable from the inside. It was for, a fact, built for modern day siege, if it ever came to that. The infirmary was constructed deeper into the mountain for to preserve the injured. Marko often visited the infirmary to show her appreciation to those who sacrifice themselves in her name. A nurse guided her first to Yukio's room, where she found her slightly struggling to get on the wheelchair. [How many times are you going to return with a cast, Yukio-Chan?] Yukio glared at her ever so slightly.

[She got lucky.] she said finally plopping herself on the wheelchair. [They had surprise on their side.]

[I would say you were the one with the luck. The bullet missed your artery.]

[But cracked the bone, I know.] Yukio smiled, but it faded quickly. [Have you seen her yet?]

[Kusanagi-san? No, not yet. Ken tells me there was something interesting about her.] Yukio nudged her head to the corner table, a manila envelope with the girl's name sat on it, Mariko pulled out various x-rays.

[Her bone are completely covered in adamantium, she also has a healing factor and lastly she has three bones hiding in her arms. Mariko eyes widened as she stared at the file in her hands.] With a sad smile Yukio rolled closer to her friend. [If its any consolation, she was born nearly a year and half after Logan left.] Tears accumulated at the edges of Mariko's vision,

[Do you know who the mother is?]

[No.]

[What is her current status?]

[Sedated while her body heals.]

Mariko closed her eyes, wiping her tears away with her sleeve. What would she tell Kirika? What would she tell her daughter? For nineteen years she had told her daughter about the Kazuri her grandfather met at the bottom of a well, how he had protected and always would protect the family like her uncle Ken, and how he was the father that went away to protect them from the countless enemies he had amassed throughout his long life; and there lying a few rooms away was her sister of another mother with more stories about her father than Mariko could tell her daughter. Even with the passing sorrow Mariko as head of clan Yashida would tell her daughter the truth, before she learned it from someone who wished to do her harm, but first she would meet Logan's child. [What can you tell me about her?]

Samantha was alone in a world of black trees and red skies. Well, not alone. A woman's voice, hollowed like the trees around her, carried with the wind echoed all around her. 'Once upon a time, beneath the ancient stars of night, a prince found a girl who lived amongst the bones of the dead. A rare and dangerous creature, gathering to her all manner of darkness…' bones sprouted from the ground, the shadows flowed around her happily dancing under the scarlet star light.

'A wicked girl. ' They tightened around her.

'A lovely girl.' Caressed her skin.

'Born with murder in her blood. She should never have been found.' Light sorrow filled its tone. 'The prince, you see, was not a good man, he was not good because he was lonely.' The shadows retreated pooling like blood in front till they became the shape of a man. 'Driven to do desperate things in the name of his heart. So for his heart his heart he decided to play a game,' The creature's shadowed hands gripped Samantha's shoulders drawing her in. Her claws cut the infinite number of tendrils that dragged her into the shadowed body. '… and take her…' the pull became stronger '… and take her…' until the darkness pulled her in, drowning out the world of scarlet starlight. 'Until she was his… or so he thought. ' Two pairs of hand gripped by the arms pulling back. A cry she had only heard once before devastated her capture, the cry of a phoenix… but it was different like the memory of an echo long since dead. One pair of hands pulled her close and the other released her as they ignited into green flames. 'You see, the girl's very being belonged to another, to… a mother of sorts…' The voice was coming from behind her. 'My child, my gift, never fear, for I am forever with you…' With that the arms released her and the cry of the phoenix purged the world of shadows.

Samantha's eyes open as the final rays of sunlight trickle away, her surroundings remind her of her room at the facility, bare white walls with a mirror and a metal door. She stared at her reflection, at her chalk white skin, at the tattoos that marked her as an animal, at the ice blue eyes she shared with that woman. Anger surged through her veins, but wasn't like the anger she had used as a weapon for such a long time, no, this was the anger that led her to torture Bellatrix, to face her godfather murderer alone; the anger that clouded thoughts and drove impulsiveness. She was certain that she was emotionally compromised, but those were thoughts for another time for when she was certain she was safe. She moved to stand but found herself restrained to the bed, metal cuffs held both her wrists. The door opened and in came Yukio with an unreadable expression, but her heart was beating at an accelerated rate… her wounded leg was in a cast; and behind her came a woman in her late thirties, with graying black hair, and chocolate brown eyes. She stood at one point five meters tall and dressed in a black kimono traditionally worn for funerals. Samantha knew who the woman was but waited for her to speak, she had no control here and even if she couldn't die she knew that there were fates worse than death. [As you know, my name is Yashida Mariko, but you, have me at a disadvantage Kusanagi-san… you see I find it strange how no record of you existed prior to my conversation with Logan-san, and I believe it to be rather rude how you know who I am but Logan-san has decided to lie to me about your true identity, don't you?] The news was not really surprising considering how paranoid Logan was about protecting her… maybe he felt responsible for her suffering… she didn't know and she didn't really care either.

[My name is Samantha Wu. She said plainly, Logan sent me as the vanguard while he dealt with things I'm not at liberty to talk about, Yashida-Sama.]

[What is your relation to Logan-san?]

[He is my biological father.]

Moments passed in complete silence passed. Mariko stared at her and Samantha stared right back waiting for her employer to continue to question her. Truths and half-truths would always protect anything if said in a certain way. Mariko's face flashed through a number of emotions before settling for a neutral look, her eyes however told Samantha enough, the woman saw her as a betrayal on Logan's part, this would mean that she was right and Logan had been hiding something, Mariko still loved him, and her existence was just a reminder of what could have been. Out the corner of her eye she could see Yukio ever so slightly fidgeting as if fighting herself to move closer to Mariko and somehow produce some type of comfort. [Who is your mother?]

[Never had the pleasure of meeting her. She placed me in an orphanage soon after I was born.]

[And where was Logan?]

[As far as I can tell he had no knowledge of my existence until this past October.]

She seemed to visibly relax after hearing her. [You should rest. Tomorrow you will meet your ward and my chief of security at dawn.] Mariko grabbed something from Yukio's hand and moved towards Samantha, two small clicks and the restraints fell away. Mariko quickly left the room and was closely followed by Yukio. Knowing she was safe as she could be Samantha closed her eyes and slowly drifted into memory. Her hand slowly crept to the silver pendant only to notice it wasn't there but by then it was too late.

- December 8th, 1996 The Facility

Month of programing paid off her body had adapted to the stress of combat faster than any of them had anticipated, every beast was killed with the same speed and raw brutality Weapon X had demonstrated all those decades ago. They had bonded adamantium to her claws and were discussing the possibility of adding it to the entirety of her skeletal structure. Today would be the day she would meet her handler, her name was Kimura. She couldn't remember what had been ordered of her but she clearly remembered what she did to her handler after seeing Laura in such a state, Kimura was on her knees her mouth being pried open and her middle claw entering her mouth… Zander was not happy… but Kimura would fear her and by extension fear Laura.

-March 22nd, 1999 Xavier institute for Gifted Youngsters 10:00am

Jean hadn't slept, and it was showing. The professor had called them in the middle of the night with some very exiting news they were going to visit the Institutes, sister school run by a woman named Yui Sasaki in northern japan, but that wasn't the reason why she hadn't slept, no things hadn't been going well for the few weeks, and things with Rogue were bothering her, well the problem was really with Samantha… they hadn't really talked since Halloween had made it clear that she would continue to be hostile until things were resolved, though she was glad Sam hadn't told Rogue what happened.

Everyone was exited to visit Japan and meet new mutants, except for Kurt who seemed anxious to get on the Blackbird and get the trip over with. She briefly wondered I if he knew something, but just wrote it off as Kurt being nervous meeting new people. "Now X-Men it will be a considerably long flight but I must implore you to be on your best behavior Miss Sasaki is a dear old friend of mine and an expert in the mutant genome." He sighed knowing that all of them, except Jean, would in some way or another would find a way to commence an international incident. Jean was certain Scott would be the first one to actually start something especially if he felt his authority being challenge, which was bound to happen; next would be Evan or Kurt when they found something 'rad'. Rogue would probably hang out in the most isolated area she could find… and probably call Sam just to chat. Kitty would find whoever was the hottest guy and hover around him most of the time. Jean herself would have to see what the institute had to offer before making any decisions. As they boarded the jet she frowned at the sudden surge of emotion that just hit her, every time they happened it when Sam was in some kind of danger or in pain but this was different it was as if there was a hurricane inside her tearing her apart, and as soon as it came it banished replaced with confusion and then anger, if she concentrated hard enough Jean swore she could images but it almost immediately zapped her energy. She stumbled but scot was there to catch her.

"Whoa, Jean, are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, just a bit tired."

Scott scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well get some sleep on the black bird. Can't have you nodding off when we meet professor Sasaki."

She thanked him and made her way to the back of the Blackbird, were there were four bunks to choose from.

-March 22nd, 1999 Outskirts of Tokyo 11;00pm

Domino wasn't one to regret much, but she had list of things that would forever haunt her, among them would be the death of her husband and partnering up with Deadpool, but above all else she always regretted abandoning her daughter. So there she was tuning out whatever nonsense Wade kept on babbling about and stared at the silver pendant in her hand. The woman she had fought the day earlier was not what she had expected when she left her baby at the orphanage, she dreaded to imagine what life was given to her after she left her. It had seemed so right back then but… she knew the price Logan had to pay to get those claws… and her kid had gone through the same thing… she wanted to cry, but she couldn't not when Black Mamba, Lady Deathstike,, Sabertooth, and the newcomer Daken were awaiting their employer. So she just stared at the silver pendant and hoped she got a chance to talk with her again. She was broken from her thought thanks to Wade a chicken at her, the feathery menace glided onto her lap and she froze. Its beady eyes stared at as if looking at her very soul… another regret was admitting her phobia to the biggest asshole on the fucking planet. She gulped slightly and stared at Wade. "You ass." She whispered .

" You know what they say: You cant spell assassin without sin, and twice the ass."

A/N: So that's the end of chapter five, comment, review, suggest things, feel free pm if you want. Ideas are welcome

And to the guy that asked me asked me about claws on her feet the answer is no, that's X-23 thing.

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