That night, dad stayed outside, on the platform, watching the area, making sure nobody came for us during the night. It was around midnight and Mariko and I could sleep. Instead we talked. We were actually talking about dad.
"Aren't you worried something will happen? He needs his sleep just like everyone else."
"No, he's fine. At least, I think he is. He was hurt on the train but he went in the back and I think he cleaned his wounds. He really cares for you, ya know?" I bring that up, letting her know he got those wounds from trying to protecting her.
"He does? Are you ok with that? I mean, he is your father and all and you barely know me. I barely know you..."
"Well how about we tell each other something we didn't know before. Like you probably don't know my whole name. My name is Scout Howlett. My father is Logan James Howlett and my mother is Kayla Silverfox. She died…a very long time ago. It's just been me and dad for practically my whole entire life."
"I am very sorry about your mother. That must've been very hard for both of you. My name is Mariko Yashida but you probably knew that. My mother died when I was a young child so I never knew her. My father was not much of a father, it was always my grandfather who took care of me and taught me everything I know. I know what it's like to grow up without a mother, Scout."
"Yeah. It was pretty hard. Sometimes I still have nightmares about it. But it's in the past, can't change anything now."
"You're right. We can't do anything for the past but we can still do something for the present. So why don't I help you clean your wounds?" I looked at her shocked, not knowing how she knew about them. "I saw you bleed and have trouble moving around. You need help. Do you want me to get Logan?"
"No, no please. Don't bother him. You don't know what would happen if he found out. I just got hit twice. Once in the shoulder and once in the leg."
"Lie down. I will help you." I did as I was told and she gave me some sort of juice that made me sleepy. I was almost asleep when she was finished patching my shoulder. She was getting ready to patch up my leg but I heard her call out, "Logan!"
The last thing I knew was that my father passed out and was almost bleeding to death. I was woken up by being shaken. I opened my eyes to find Mariko looking down at me, looking happy. "Logan is ok. He is awake and wants to see you."
She leads me down all the way to the basement. When we open the door, she enters first and announces, "Logan. You have a visitor."
She moves out of my way and I could see him clearly. He was lying down on a table, dressed and breathing but looking weak. I scared me to see him like this, knowing this has never happened before. I limped over to his side and he reaches his hand out. I grab it with a small smile. "You ok, Daddy?"
"Yeah, I'm ok, sweetheart. Don't worry just a little sore is all. You wanna tell me why you're limpin when you walk?"
"I got shot twice during the fight at the funeral. Mariko patched up my shoulder already but my leg isn't fixed yet."
"You didn't tell me?! That was why you couldn't climb the ladder on the building?"
"You didn't tell me you were feeling weak or why you're not healing."
He sighs, knowing I was right. "That lady back at the house, Dr. Green. She did this to me. I don't know how but I remember Yashida told me something about passing my powers over to someone else. That same night, she did something to me."
Later on that day, we got on a bus. I was sitting in the back and Mariko and dad were sitting by the front. They were the only seats available. I start to doze off but I felt the bus stop and hear dad call out, "Let's go, Kid."
I follow them outside and look around the town. We went to get some food and arrived at the house. I was still limping, all the while dad glaring at me for not telling him and cleaning them sooner but it wasn't as bad as before. Mariko was cooking us dinner. I stayed silent during the whole meal while Mariko and dad got into an argument.
She was explaining why she ran out in the rain that one night and tried to jump off the cliff. It was because her grandfather gave her his whole company so she would be the most powerful person in Japan but she didn't want it. It was all her father ever dreamed of having but instead of him getting it, it was his daughter. Dad kept getting protective over it, especially about when her father hit Mariko.
After they stopped talking, I kept throwing glances towards my dad, knowing he cared for her, that he felt he had to protect her. From his actions, I knew he felt something towards her. I was almost ok with it. Mariko and I talked a bit and connected with each other. She understood what it was like with no mother and what it was like when you really didn't have anyone to talk to except the person who took care of you.
She was different from Jean. She actually took the time to try to get to know me and asked how I felt about her and dad. To be honest, I respected her for that. She was kind and gentle and caring. In some way, she reminded me of mom. Mariko is strong and tries to do things for herself but gives in when she knows she cannot win a fight and does everything she can to help other people. Just like my mother.
Early the next day, some woman came to the door asking for help. A tree fell in the middle of the road and said the men could use some extra hands. Dad was splitting the tree with a regular axe, looking like he did when he was at work in the mountains. I was playing with some of the children, chasing them around and climbing trees.
When I looked over, I saw dad smiling at me, looking happy that I'm enjoying myself and having fun. After about a half hour, I saw him and Mariko walk off in the distance. I let them go, letting them have their own time together. I saw some storm clouds rolling in so I headed back to the house. Mariko and dad got back not too long ago and I was taking a shower. When I came out, in the living room, I saw something that shocked me.
I saw Mariko and dad kissing. I stared for one second longer before heading to my room, quickly and quietly. I didn't mind them being together and all but couldn't they have done that while I wasn't in the house? It was going to get a lot of getting used to though, I will admit that.
Everyone was getting ready for bed. But not me, I stayed by the window and the doors. I knew we were most likely safe but you can never be too careful. Dad tried to put up a fight with me about it but in the end, surprisingly, I won. They were both asleep, side by side, his arm wrapped around her waist. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the 'couple'.
Even though it was late at night, I wanted to talk to someone but I didn't want to wake them up. Instead, I looked for phone and dialed the number I've been dialing for two months. They answered not long after the phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"Storm? Is that you?"
"Scout?! Yeah it's me. Hold on, I'll go get Scott and Bobby then I'll put you on speaker." I waited for a moment and in the background, I heard a lot of shuffling and yelling on the other end. "Ok, you're on speaker, Baby Girl."
"Scott? Bobby?! How are you guys?"
"We're fine. You wanna tell me why you were cut off the last time you were on the phone, Angel?! And how's your shoulder and leg?"
"Dad broke it. We were being followed and we needed to get out of that place as fast as we could. I'm fine. Mariko helped me with my shoulder. I cleaned and patched up my leg earlier today, when I woke up. I got a small limp now but other than that, I'm alright."
"Wait a minute! What happened to you? Were you hurt?"
I smiled at the voice of Bobby. "I got shot but nothing to worry about. I'm ok now so don't panic."
"How are you holding up, Kitten?"
"Honestly…I miss you guys and…and I wanna come home!"
I let out a small sob when I said the word 'home' as I felt my eyes turn blue along with my hair. "Listen, Angel. Just tell us where you are now and we'll come and get ya. We'll be there as soon as we can!"
"No, it's fine. I have to stay here with dad a bit longer. Something's not right. He's not healing like he used to. He passed out from blood loss and we had to get him to a doctor. That's never happened before. Yesterday night was the first time I've seen him weak and having trouble with moving."
"Alright, but whenever you need us, you call, ya hear me? We'll be right here, Baby Girl."
"Thanks guys." I felt my hair turn white with only blue streaks in it. "Guys I have to admit something. Something I've never admitted before but you've seen it….I'm scared." I whispered the last part as I let tears flow down my face.
"Angel…listen to me. Everything's gonna be alright. I promise. A lot of things might be hard and difficult right now but you'll make it through. Just like you always do. You're strong; I've never seen you give up on something before. Soon you'll be back home, safe and sound."
"You better keep that promise, Summers."
"I plan on it, Howlett."
We both laugh as do Storm and Bobby. I saw it was getting close to sunrise and knew we had to hang up. We said our goodbye's but very hesitantly. I slowly put the phone down, not wanting to stop talking. I knew I had to so I did and stood by the door. About an hour or two later, Mariko got up.
We both went outside to get a bucket of water and some new groceries. On our way out, we were going to cross the small bridge over the little stream when we stopped. There were many men surrounding us. I tried using my force field but since I never got any rest, I was tired and weak.
They took us, leading us away from the house. My hair stayed white and soon my eyes turned too. We started calling my dad, loudly. After a few times, we heard him call our names, letting us know he was on his way. I could feel him getting closer but the men kept dragging us farther and farther.