Volume IV: The Wolverine Part II

This will be the nineteenth chapter of Volume IV and Part II of the two part story, Logan agreed to train Peter in the way of the samurai, but it'll be very challenging for Peter as he's got too much on his mind, he's thinking a lot and has difficulty wielding a sword for so many reason, but he won't give up as he'll go through intense training in order to be ready for his rematch against the Silver Samurai, the only thing motivating Peter is his desire to save Mary Jane. Meanwhile around the same time, Norman is secretly meeting with Tomo Yashida to discuss future plans for their companies, Norman learns about the clan's grudge against Spider-Man and decides to use that to his advantage, he ask Tomo to use Spider-Man's weakness against him to tip the scales, to kill him in exchange for a price. Oscorp board member Vargas travels to Tokyo to investigate these shady dealings Mariko mentioned as he's more determined to get to the bottom of this, but this will spell trouble for Norman as he takes drastic measures to make sure the truth never sees the light of day. Peter stumbles upon Logan's stuff and learns about the mutant's past as the hero called Wolverine, this will cause friction between the two. Peter will receive a new suit for the duel against the Silver Samurai, but he'll learn about Tomo and Harada's attempts to cheat, Peter must lose the match on purpose or MJ dies, he's trapped in a very dangerous situation as he has no way to save Mary Jane or himself. Mariko will attempt to convince Logan to become the hero he once was to help Spider-Man rescue Mary Jane, everything will depend on this.

"Nana Korobi, Ya Oki" -translate- "Fall down seven times, get up eight"

Japanese Proverb

It's March 23rd around 3:30 AM midnight in Tokyo, Japan, at the Yashida Estate just outside the city with Tokyo Tower in plain sight, inside the estate Mariko and Logan are escorting Peter to a room where he'll spend the night as he got a long day ahead of him, Peter is feeling hopeful after Logan agreed to train him in Japanese swordsmanship, there's hope yet for him to rescue Mary Jane from the clutches of the Silver Samurai. Mariko slides the door open and shows Peter to the room he can use while staying here in Japan, Peter enters and looks around to find a futon mattress on the ground with some furniture with a collection of manga books and a action figure of a popular Japanese character.

"This is it, I hope it's to your liking, Peter-San." Mariko asking.

"Hmm, this will do nicely, who lived here?" Peter looks around.

"My cousin Shiro, he used to live with us after his father died, we were like siblings." Mariko said.

Peter picks up the figure of Ultraman as he's seemed interested, he's moving the arm up and down.

"That's Ultraman, he's pretty popular around here." Mariko said.

"He's pretty cool." Peter smile.

"Well, goodnight Peter-San." Mariko bows before leaving the room.

"Get some rest Bub, we got a long day ahead of us." Logan said.

Logan is following Mariko out of the room as Peter is still playing with Ultraman by moving the arm up and down, until the arm got dislodge from it's socket, Peter felt embarrassed with Logan watching as he puts the Ultraman back along with the arm, he giggled nervously as Logan leaves the room with sighs saying "Idiot." Peter sets down his backpack and takes off his jacket. Sometime later he's in his boxer and t shirt as he lays down onto the futon on the floor, he pulls in and covers him in a blanket, he lays his head on the pillow as he's thinking about Mary Jane and what she must be going through.

Peter sighs. "Hang in there MJ, I'll save you."

Peter closes his eyes and rest for the night as the real challenge begins in the morning, he's got a lot of hard training to go through.

Time is 6:45 Am in the morning in Tokyo, Japan, Peter is still asleep in the futon as the door slide opens as quiet footsteps enters the room and Peter doesn't noticed it coming to him, someone is standing with a wooden sword called a bokken in hand, it's aimed at Peter's head and it swings down for quick tap, Peter felt the pain and says "OWWW!" as he wakes up to see Logan all dressed up in a yellow and blue hakama holding a bokken.

Peter rubbing the pain on his forehead. "Ow... What was that for? And what with the dress?"

"It's a hakama, Bub." Logan corrects him.

"Oh, my bad, you look great in that dress." Peter said.

Logan growls. "Just get your ass up, we got training to do."

"Hey, no need to be mean, I just woke up!" Peter rubbing his eyes.

"Get use to it, cause I'm not going to go easy on you, I agreed to train, doesn't mean I have to be friendly with you, now get your ass up and get dress. Trust me Bub, the way I'm gonna work you, you're not gonna like me." Logan said as he waits outside the room and slides the door closed.

Peter sighs quietly. "Who says I like you now?"

Sometime later, Logan is escorting Peter around the premises all dress in a white t shirt and blue jeans with just socks on his feet, Peter yawns as he's still feeling sleepy and rubbing his eyes.

"Hey, this is no time to get tired." Logan walking.

"Can you blame me? I only got a few hours off sleep, can't I get a caffeine boost at least?" Peter said.

Logan growls as he took a detour and went to the kitchen along with Peter where some staff are stunned upon seeing another Gaijin here, Peter could tell his presence is somewhat a surprise for them, Logan is looking through the cabinet to grab a self heating can of coffee.

"Here." Logan tossed the can as Peter catch it easily.

Peter looks at the can in his hand. "What am I suppose to do with this?"

"Press on the bottom." Logan said.

Peter look at the bottom of the can, he press it with both thumbs as something is happening to the can itself, steam is coming out of the bottom.

"Now what?" Peter said.

"Flip it over and stir softy for 5 seconds, then wait 3 minutes to open up." Logan said.

Peter felt the heat in the can in his hand. "I can feel the heat."

"It's a self heating can, let's go." Logan said.

"Wow." Peter is impressed.

Peter is following Logan around the house while waiting for the heating to be finished so he can have his drink of coffee, they walked around the grass till they made it to a private dojo, Logan slides the door open as Peter looks around to see it's a training ground with so much bokkens and katanas on the wall along with a photo of Shingen Yashida, they find Mariko Yashida all dressed up in a business suit waiting for them.

"Good morning, Peter-San, how did you sleep?" Mariko said.

"Wish I could say it went well, had a rude awakening." Peter turning to Logan.

Mariko looks at Logan. "Logan-San?"

Logan smile. "You asked me to train him, so am I. So drink up and let's get started, Bub."

Peter then opens up the can and drinks up the coffee as it's all hot, Peter's eye widen upon the taste of the coffee, a few minutes later after he's all finished he joins up with Logan holding two bokkens in both his hands.

"Okay, let's get started." Peter said.

"Hang on, it's not that simple, before we start training, I'd like to test out your skills, here!" Logan tossed a bokken.

Peter caught the bokken in his hand as Logan puts it in his sash, Peter is wielding the bokken with both hand while Logan isn't wielding it yet.

"First thing first, bow politely, like this." Logan lowers his head, bows in Japanese politeness.

Peter followed his lead and did the same with his, he bows his head too, both raised their head up and face each other.

"Alright Bub, make your move." Logan is waiting.

"Aren't you gonna pull out your sword?" Peter is confused.

"I will, once you make your first move. Now, come at me." Logan is calm and daring.

Peter is preparing to strike, he then rushes towards raising his bokken up about to swing it down, Logan is calm and has his hand on the bokken in his sash waiting for Peter to get close enough, Logan makes his move and draws out the bokken from the sash and strikes at Peter's abdomen, causing him pain, Peter fell down a bit as Logan then strike at the back of the head with the hilt, Peter fell down the mat easily as he underestimated Logan's swordsmanship, he's hurt as he look up at Logan who used Iaido in his sword style.

"Just as I thought, your skill is pitiful Bub." Logan said.

Peter is getting back up and ignoring the pain as he's feeling angry, he's back up on his feet with a bokken in both hands as Logan remains calm and in control, Peter attempts to strike back as Logan moves and dodged as Peter swings down and missed, Logan swing at Peter's back and caught him off guard, Peter's in pain again.

"Big mistake, don't ever leave your back exposed!" Logan said.

Peter still remains standing as he thrust the bokken at Logan, but Logan quickly strike at the hands, making Peter flinch in pain and drops the bokken, Logan swings the bokken at the neck and stops at the last second before it could hit it, Peter froze up upon having a bokken up to his neck.

"You're dead, Bub." Logan said.

Peter realized that he was defeat quickly by Logan who wielded the bokken with such grace and skill, Peter's own skill is nowhere near his level as the match was already over before it began, Logan learned enough to assess Peter's skill with a sword. Peter is still feeling the pain he was inflicted from that match as Mariko is concerned.

"Are you alright, Peter-San?" Mariko all worried.

Peter is breathing. "Yeah, don't worry, no broken bones, besides I heal up quickly."

"Are you a fast healer like Logan-San?" Mariko said.

"Not as fast as him, but it does the job." Peter said.

"You're lucky this is only practice, if you were facing Harada right now with your lack of skill alone, you'd be dead by now and your friend will still be at the Yakuza's mercy." Logan said.

"Okay, you made your point. Where'd you learn this stuff?" Peter said.

"I was trained by the finest swordsman in Japan, his name was Shingen Yashida, he was the former Oyabun of the clan and was Mariko's father." Logan said.

Logan looks up at the picture of the late Shingen Yashida as Peter saw it.

"Sometime later when I first came to Japan, I met Mariko, we feel in love, but her father didn't like that she was with a Gaijin." Logan said.

"A what?" Peter is unfamiliar.

"Not important, anyway, Master Shingen didn't approve of us being together, so in order to stay with Mariko, I had to accept his challenge for the right to be with Mariko, I face him and like you I underestimated his skills as a samurai, if it wasn't for my healing factor he would've killed me easily the first time, but it's thanks to my intuitive skills I was able to best him and won, in time he liked me and agreed to train me in his samurai arts, he was ruthless but he was also honorable, he made me the samurai I am now." Logan told his tale about Shingen.

"Didn't think samurai still exist nowadays." Peter said.

"What do you know about the samurai?" Logan said.

"Just what I seen in movies and video games." Peter said.

"Of course, this is the real deal Bub, being a samurai isn't just about skill, it's about culture, following the seven virtues of the Bushido code." Logan said.

"Bushido?" Peter is unfamiliar.

Logan sighs. "Mariko, explain please."

"The seven virtues of Bushido are Integrity, Respect, Courage, Honor, Compassion, Honesty, and Loyalty, these are the code of the samurai, this is Bushido." Mariko explained about Bushido.

"Well, lucky for you, I got all those in spades." Peter said.

"Except your swordsman skills are very lacking, we need to fix that, the match is on Wednesday, so we got three day to get you ready, three days to turn into a least half a samurai, so we better get started Bub." Logan said.

"Okay, teach me." Peter said.

"As you already know, my training regimen will be very challenge, you still want to work through the pain?" Logan said.

"I won't back down, I'll do anything to save MJ." Peter said.

Logan could see that he's very dedicated to saving this woman no matter what, looks like Mariko might be right about her intuition on love.

"Well, I'll leave you in Logan's care, good luck Peter-San." Mariko said.

"Thanks Mariko." Peter said.

"Hey... be careful out there Mariko." Logan said.

Mariko blows a kiss to Logan as he smiles, she waves to the pair as Peter picks up the bokken as he and Logan are still on the mat, Logan walks up to his side.

"Alright Bub, follow my lead and do as I do, take position." Logan said.

Logan holds the bokken in both hands as Peter follows his lead and does the same, Logan raise his bokken up as did Peter learning the kata stance, Mariko is walking around the home till she made it to the sedans with her personal assistant and bodyguards waiting to take Mariko to her work, she hopped in the back with her assistant as the bodyguards enters the front seat, the sedan drives with an escort sedan with extra bodyguards.

"I need you to make a call to the master armorer in Osaka." Mariko said

"Of course, may I ask why?"

"Tell him I request a new armor and I need it ready in a few days, oh and tell him I want something... red." Mariko smiles as she got something special in mind.

Later it's 7:28 AM in Minato City, Tokyo where it has Tokyo Tower, it's also home to many major businesses including Fujikawa Industries, a car is pulling up at the building that is the global headquarters of the Yashida Corporation, a couple bodyguards came out and opens up the backdoor as Mariko and her assistant came out as her staff all bow in politeness in the presence of their CEO, she enters the building as everything is normal, there hasn't been any attempts on her life yet, but she can't rest easy since she knew that her uncle Tomo was pulling the string, she asking the company's secretary about the company's status.

"Welcome back, Ms. Yashida."

"Thank you, how is the company?" Mariko said.

"Everything is fine, the board members are very pleased to hear that you made it back home, given what happened in America."

"I see... where Tomo? I need to speak with him." Mariko said.

"He's not here."

"Where is he?" Mariko said.

(Yakuza Hangout)

At the same time elsewhere in the city, at a club that is a front for the Yakuza, specifically the Yashida Clan, to the people who are loyal to Tomo Yashida, a lot of gangsters are hanging out for drinks and chatting with woman, meanwhile in a private room Tomo Yashida is pouring in sake into a couple of cups and he's here with a very special guest, an American businessman in a suit.

Tomo is walking over with cups "I must confess, I didn't think you come all this way to Japan, you're usually so discreet... Norman."

Tomo hands the cup as the mysterious businessman is none other than Norman Osborn.

"I still am Tomo-San, but this is a special case, especially with all the trouble your niece has stirred up." Norman said.

"I apologize Norman, I tried convincing her to maintain the partnership we had for years, but she wouldn't accept, she's as foolish and stubborn as her father." Tomo said.

"Her breaking up the partnership is the least of my concerns, she had the gull to spill some suspicions to the board, secrets that should never been told." Norman said.

"She only knows that we've secretly supplied your company with components, but she has no idea what you really use them for." Tomo said.

"We need to keep it that way, I can't afford anyone to learn about my side business, that my company is secretly using the components supplied by your company to make weapons, weapons that brought us great profits, I've done my best and spill a lot of blood to make sure those secrets never seen the light of day." Norman said.

"I was able to convince the Yakuza to take drastic measures, I was so close to being rid of my foolish niece and that savage gaijin for good, until that hero intervened and caused us great shame." Tomo said.

"You mean Spider-Man." Norman said.

"I see you're familiar with him." Tomo said.

"You're not the only one who has been shamed by him, he has shamed me more than once in the past, he was responsible for disrupting my secret projects and businesses, recently he destroyed a prototype device that cost me millions, I would give anything to be rid of him for good." Norman said.

"You might not have to worry about Spider-Man any longer." Tomo said.

"What do you mean?" Norman said.

"Harada has something of Spider-Man's, something very valuable to him, or should I say someone. Harada is using this person to make Spider-Man come and accept his challenge in a more traditional manner, fighting with sword and without powers." Tomo said.

"Interesting, this hostage? Who is it?" Norman is intrigued.

"That is Harada's business." Tomo said.

"Well no matter, what does matter is that you have Spider-Man in your hands, you can use that in your favor in more ways than one." Norman said.

"What do you mean?" Tomo said.

"I know Spider-Man, he's very dedicated in what he does, don't ever underestimate him, even if you force him to fight without powers, that won't stop him, but now that you have his weakness, you can use that against him to tip the scales in your favor... get him to lose." Norman said.

"You mean cheat? With due respect Osborn, the Yakuza has a very strict code of honor, they'll never allow it, neither would Harada, it would hurt his pride." Tomo said.

"They don't have to know." Norman suggested.

"You're asking a lot, you want me to go against the Yakuza to make Spider-Man lose on purpose." Tomo said.

"Exactly, think about it, if Spider-Man didn't intervene, your niece would've been dead by now and you would've become Oyabun and taken control of the company, everything you've always wanted, but Spider-Man took that away from you, got in your way, just as he did to me." Norman said.

"He has brought me and my clan great shame." Tomo harbors a grudge.

"I'll make you a deal, kill Spider-Man, once he and your niece are out of the picture, you'll assume control of the company, we can get back to business and I'll even give you 75 percent of the profits from our secret deal." Norman made an offer.

"75 percent is certainly a lot of money, you're willing to pay that much just to get rid of Spider-Man?" Tomo is surprised by this.

"Spider-Man has done nothing but cause me trouble and like I said before, I would give anything to be rid of him, paying a large percentage of money is a small price to pay to destroy my most hated enemy. With Spider-Man out of the way, you can finally kill your niece, soon you'll become Oyabun of the clan and CEO of Yashida Corporation, we can get back to doing some business together, we all win in the end. So tell Tomo-San, who would you rather do business with? The Yakuza or me?" Norman tempting Tomo with the offer.

Tomo smiles sinisterly with temptation. "Very well Norman... we have a deal."

Tomo and Norman raise their glass of sake and cheered as they drink to their renewed partnership and common goal in destroying Spider-Man.

"Now that we've settled the matter, I got a plane to catch." Norman smile.

"Are you sure you don't want to hang around? Tokyo is a great town, the women here are something else." Tomo said.

"I'd love to, but I got a multibillion dollar empire to run, beside I need to put out the fire your niece started at my company, I can't have the board getting suspicious about our side business." Norman said.

"I understand, I look forward to our renewed partnership." Tomo said.

"As do I. I look forward to hearing news of Spider-Man's demise, by the way, my hand cannot be detected in this, I trust you'll be discreet." Norman said.

"You have my word, Norman." Tomo bows in politeness.

Norman bows in politeness as he concluded business with Tomo Yashida, he's about to leave until he bumps into Harada coming into the room.

"Norman Osborn, CEO of Oscorp." Norman makes a friendly introduction.

"Harada, gangster." Harada made his introduction.

Norman leaves the room as Harada came to meet up with Tomo as he's got some questions.

"Who was that Gaijin?" Harada said.

"He is someone very powerful, someone me and Shingen did business with, so show him some respect Harada." Tomo said.

Harada bows his head. "My apologies."

"No matter, we just need to focus on the match, how's the hostage?" Tomo said.

"Unusually calm, like someone who's been kidnapped and held against their will before, but otherwise she's perfectly fine." Harada said.

"I see, with any luck, that Gaijin will bring Spider-Man to us and you shall have your rematch. I need you to refine your skills Harada for the match." Tomo said.

"Not to worry, that Gaijin Spider-Man relies too much on his powers, under the samurai code, he is no match for me." Harada is overconfident.

"There's a lot at stake than just your honor Harada, Spider-Man's death will be a big win for us all, there can be no mistakes, understand?" Tomo said.

Harada bows his head. "Hai, I will not fail."

Harada excuse himself from the office as Tomo went back to the desk and access the camera to the holding room where Mary Jane is held in, she's is walking around uncomfortably with no way out, Tomo has great plans for Mary Jane, she's the key to Spider-Man's downfall as part of his deal with Norman Osborn.

Later around 4:45 PM at the Yashida Estate, Peter is still at the dojo with Logan has spent hours training and learning kenjutsu, Japanese sword techniques, under Logan's tutelage he's starting to get the hang of this swordsmanship but he's still not there yet, Logan is striking at Peter with some slashes as Peter is using his bokken to block each swing as best as he can, but Logan strikes hard that forced Peter to drop his bokken.

"Still sloppy, always keep your grip, you lose a sword, you die." Logan said.

Peter sighs as he picked up the bokken and wields it both hands again.

"Now it's your turn to strike with the kata techinques I've taught you, fight!" Logan holding the bokken.

Peter switched to striking as Logan is on defense, Peter came at Logan using the kata techinques he learned, Logan blocks each swing with such grace as Peter is still sloppy in his swordsmanship, eventually Peter and Logan locked bokkens against each other as Peter focus on his opponent's weapon.

"Hey, look at your opponent, not their weapon!" Logan said.

Logan pushed Peter with force as he staggers him, he took the opportunity to strike at the abdomen as Peter fell down, it was too easily as Peter has too much on his mind as he's getting back up on his feet.

"You're distracted, Bub." Logan said.

"Of course I'm distracted, MJ is somewhere in the city, alone and held against her will, and all I can think about is how to win to save her." Peter said.

"That's the problem, you're thinking too much, don't. Don't ever think when you're in sword fight, that's a quick way to lose." Logan said.

"I'm still new to this sword thing, how am I suppose to learn without thinking?" Peter said.

"You don't, you just need to feel it... don't think, feel." Logan said.

"Is that an old Japanese saying?" Peter said.

"No, Bruce Lee." Logan said.

"Alright... let's go again." Peter holding the bokken in both hands in a stance.

"Nah, we're done for the day Bub, we've spend hours training and besides, I'm feeling pretty hungry, let's go." Logan said.

Logan and Peter bows their heads to each other as they're done training for the day.

"Where are we going?" Peter said.

"Mariko has a reservation at a fancy restaurant in the city, she asked that you'd come since it's your first time in Japan, it might help get your mind off. So get cleaned up and meet me outside." Logan said.

Peter and Logan are exiting the dojo all sweaty after a day of intense training. About 30 minutes later Logan is outside all cleaned up and dressed in a bomber jacket over a white tank top with blue jeans and boots standing beside his Harley Davidson Fatboy, coming out of the estate is Peter all cleaned up and wearing his regular moto racer jacket over a clean white t-shirt with blue jeans and sneakers.

"Okay, I'm ready." Peter said.

"You know how to ride a bike?" Logan said.

"I ride a Sportster back in New York." Peter said.

"Nice." Logan said.

"You're going to let me ride that Fatboy?" Peter said.

"In your dreams, but not to worry, I got something you can borrow." Logan turns his head.

Logan shows Peter the bike parked nearby, a red Honda CB750, which impressed Peter. Later he and Logan are both on motorcycles riding out of the gate and driving through the expressway heading towards the city to meet up with Mariko at the restaurant.

It's 5:40 PM in Tokyo at a local Japanese restaurant where chefs in the kitchen are properly cutting pufferfish called Fugu, Peter and Logan are being escorted by a geisha to a private room where a couple of bodyguards are standing guard outside, the geisha asked the pair to take off their shoes before entering the room as she slides the door open as Mariko is sitting on her knees in a pose called seiza in front of the floor table, the pair finished setting their shoes aside as they enter with socks, the geisha bows as she slides the door closed giving them some privacy to themselves.

"Welcome Peter-San, please have a seat." Mariko said.

Logan walks next to Mariko and sits in seiza pose, Peter took the opposite side of the table and sits in the seiza pose.

"I hope you're both hungry, I took the liberty of order us Fugu." Mariko said.

"Mmm, Fugu." Logan likes the sound of that.

"What's Fugu?" Peter is curious.

"Oh, you're in for a treat, Bub." Logan said.

"If it's not to your liking, Peter-San, you can look up the menu and order something else." Mariko said.

"Is it good?" Peter said.

"It's really good." Mariko said.

"Okay, I'm willing to try something new." Peter said.

"Fugu it is then." Logan said.

Logan picks up a bottle of sake and pours some into two cup, he hands one to Peter.

"What is it?" Peter is curious.

"Sake." Logan said.

"Ah Logan-San, I don't think you should be giving him that." Mariko is against it.

"What's the harm?" Logan insists.

"Why? What's Sake?" Peter said.

"It's an alcoholic drink, it's wine made with rice." Mariko said.

"Here, drink up." Logan holding the cup.

"I'm still below the legal age." Peter said.

"What? You're telling me you've never had any alcohol in your life?" Logan said.

Peter remains quiet and shy upon this subject as Logan can see the signs.

"Wait? You did?" Logan is surprise.

"It was by accident, it was a spring break party, the punch was spiked with Vodka and I didn't even know it til it was too late." Peter is reminded of that certain incident.

"And let me guess, you didn't even feel the effects, did you?" Logan said.

"Yeah, how do you know?" Peter said.

"You forget I got a healing factor too, Bub? I can drink as much as I want and I won't ever get drunk, one of the perks of having that particular gift. Cheers!" Logan drinks up the sake.

"I'll pass." Peter declines.

"Suit yourself." Logan drinks up the second cup of sake.

Mariko pours in tea from the Kyusu into the cup and hands it to Peter.

"Here, it's green tea." Mariko said.

"Thank you." Peter took the cup.

Peter raised the cup and drank up the tea, a couple of geishas slides the door as they came in with a plate of fugu, bowls of japanese rice, a board with nigiri sushi, and cups of dipping sauce as they placed them on the floor table and leaves with the door slide closed.

Logan smile. "Hmm, dinner is serve, dig in."

Peter picked up a set of chopsticks and a bowl of rice, Peter started eating as Logan uses his chopsticks to pick up a slice of Fugu and dip it into the sauce before taking it into his mouth and chews.

Logan is chewing. "Mmm, mmm, mmm!"

"Is it that good?" Peter is curious.

"Bub, they're heaven, try it out." Logan said.

"Go ahead, Peter-San." Mariko encourages.

Peter reached out with his chopsticks and took a piece of Fugu, he followed Logan's example and dipped it into the sauce before taking it into his mouth, his eyes widen upon tasting it.

"Well, how is it?" Mariko said.

Peter chews and shallow with a smile. "Mmm! It's delicious."

"Hmm, and it's deadly." Logan said.

"Ah, what?" Peter is stunned.

"You don't know? Fugu is pufferfish, and pufferfish are poisonous, you just ate it, Bub. Right now, the poison is coursing throughout your systems, your muscles will freeze and you'll be paralyzed, soon you'll be unable to breath, you'll die from asphyxiation and there's no cure. That's right Bub, you're about to die... you're about to die." Logan said.

Peter felt terrified upon learning all this, Logan then just smiles and giggles as Peter frowns upon figuring out that Logan was pulling his chain.

"Very funny." Peter not amused.

Logan chuckles. "Oh you should've seen the look on your face, 'Oh, I'm gonna die!'"

"Ignore him, don't worry Peter-San, if Fugu is slice the right way by a professional chef, it's quite harmless, trust me you'll be fine." Mariko assured.

"I think I'll stick to sushi, thank you very much." Peter said.

Peter picked up a nigiri and puts it in his mouth to chew.

"How's was his training?" Mariko said.

"Still pitiful, but I'll admit he's very driven, we still got a long way to go." Logan said.

Peter sighs as he's still no where near ready to fight Silver Samurai with his skill level alone.

"Hey, don't give up Peter-San." Mariko said.

"I'm not, but... I can't stop thinking about MJ, she's counting on me to save her and I'm still not ready, even with all the training Logan's giving me, I'm still no good with a sword, I just keep on falling down over and over again." Peter feeling down.

"Peter-San... there's a Japanese saying, Nana Korobi Ya Oki." Mariko said.

Peter doesn't understand those words. "What does that mean?"

"Fall down seven times, get up eight... it means no matter how many times you've fallen, you always get back up on your feet and to never lose hope... so don't ever give up and hold onto hope Peter-San." Mariko said.

Peter smiled. "Thank you"

"Not to worry Bub, I'll get you ready in time to save your fiancée." Logan said.

Peter smiled until he stunned upon these words. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Gotta say Bub, you're quite a lucky guy, she's a great catch." Logan smile.

Peter is way confused. "Wait a minute, you think I'm engaged to her?"

"You're not engaged?" Mariko is confused.

"Your ring says otherwise." Logan looks at the ring on Peter's hand.

"Ah yes, I am engaged, just not to MJ, but to another woman." Peter said.

"Oh, I apologies for the confusion Peter-San, I just assume..." Mariko felt embarrassed.

"It's okay, Mariko." Peter said.

"Okay, so who's the lucky lady in your life?" Logan said.

Peter pulls out his smartphone and scrolls through the photos until he came across one and shows them a recent photo of Gwen Stacy, she's a beautiful blonde around Peter's age.

"Whoa!" Logan is impressed.

"She's beautiful." Mariko admired.

"Her name is Gwen Stacy, she's everything to me." Peter said.

Peter was about to put away the phone until he got a text on it and he pull it back to check, it's from his Aunt May back in the states asking "Are you in Japan?" he's texting back "Yes, I made it last night." She replies "And what about MJ? Did you save her?" He text "Still in progress." She replies. "I see... if you got the time, can you bring back one of those Japanese teapots?" Peter sighs as he text. "Sure thing, Aunt May." He then puts away his phone.

"Everything alright?" Mariko said.

"Yeah, it my aunt asking if I made it to Japan, I texted yes, she's also asking me to bring her back a teapot if I get the chance." Peter said.

"Oh, that's sound nice. Tell you what, after you're done eating, you can go and explore around Tokyo. What do you say?" Mariko said.

"Thanks, but I came here on a rescue mission, not for a tour." Peter said.

"Look Bub, there's nothing you can do for your friend for now, Harada still needs her alive in order to challenge you, he's not going to risk hurting her till then, besides you're too distracted, this'll be a good opportunity to get your mind off things. As your teacher, I'm ordering you to relax for the night, we'll continue training tomorrow morning." Logan insists.

"He's right, it'll do you good being out there, it's not everyday you come to Japan, right?" Mariko insists too.

Peter sighs with a smile. "Fine, I guess it couldn't hurt to see Tokyo while I still got the time."

"Okay then, finish up and have some fun Bub." Logan said.

Peter picks up the bowl of rice and continues eating until he's full. Sometime later Peter is exiting the restaurant alone as he hops on the bike he's borrowing, he rode off around Tokyo to see so much.

Around 6:24 PM he's riding through Shibuya District, he spotted a KitKat store here, he stopped and parked the bike, he roam around to find a sorts of KitKats in different flavors, he started collecting most of the different flavors as he can and buys them. Later he walks around Shibuya until he spotted an antique store on the way, he enters it to find a lot of Japanese antiques, including an original playstation console with a pair of wired controllers, but what caught his attention is a teapot as he's very interested in buying it.

Sometime later after he's carrying bags with KitKats and an antique teapot, he went back to the spot where the motorcycle is parked as he noticed that he's got too much stuff on his hands and nowhere to put it, he sighs in disappointment until he thought of something crazy to do. Later he's on the street riding around in the motorcycle with so much stuff webbed together in the back as he's heading for the Shinjuku, he rode around as he spotted a 3D billboard showing a cat in plain view which impress Peter.

He eventually made it to the Anime District called Akihabara, the place is packed with so many video game and anime stores including Hello Kitty and Pokemon, sometime later he's walking around visiting stores and picking up some souvenirs for his friends, he even picked up some sponge cakes called Tokyo Bananas which is pretty popular around these parts.

It's still March 23rd around 8:01 AM in New York City, at the apartment in Lower East Side, Gwen Stacy is drinking up coffee from the mug and she's all dressed up in her black sleeveless turtleneck top and blue jeans getting ready for school as she's thinking about her fiancé in Tokyo, Ms. Lion barked as he's worried for Mary Jane who isn't here, Gwen lowers down to pet the dog.

"Don't worry boy, Peter will bring MJ home, you'll see... I better give him a call." Gwen said.

Gwen pulls out here phone from her back pocket and decided to FaceTime with Peter.

(Tokyo, Japan)

Back in Tokyo, Japan, it's 13 hours ahead of New York time as it's 9:01 PM as Peter is back at the Yashida Estate in Shiro's bedroom where he's staying, he's got a lot of stuff here he just bought recently, a Hello Kitty and Pikachu plushies, bag full of flavored KitKats, a few anime accessories and toys, a set of antique teapot and cups, and last but not least an open box of Tokyo bananas as Peter is eating one while practicing some Japanese on the laptop he brought with him, he then notice his phone is ringing as he sees that it's his fiancée Gwen, he closes the laptop and he picks up the phone and answers, Gwen is FaceTiming from New York.

Peter smile. "Gwen..."

"Hi Pete, did I interrupt you?" Gwen said.

"No, not at all, it's always great to see your lovely angelic face." Peter smile.

"I heard back from May, she told me you made it to Tokyo. So how's Japan?" Gwen asking.

"It's great, Tokyo is way different that New York, food's good too." Peter eats a Tokyo Banana.

"What's that you're eating?" Gwen is curious.

Peter chewing. "Mmm... Tokyo Banana, they're sponge cakes like Twinkies and they taste great, I'm feeling pretty addicted to them that I can't stop eating."

"At least bring us some back from your trip." Gwen said.

"I will, promise, also got some crazy stuff you can't find in New York, like these KitKats, they comes in different flavors, can you believe it? Also got somethings for Anya, Miles, and Ganke, hope they like them." Peter said.

"I see... what about MJ? Did you rescue here?" Gwen said.

Peter sighs. "Still in progress. That guy in the suit, Harada, he's using MJ to get me to face him in samurai combat, and I'm to use swords only and with no powers."

"No powers, so you're basically fighting with one arm tied on your back." Gwen said.

"Exactly, though on the plus side, I am learning swordsmanship from someone, he's... quite a mystery." Peter said.

"Hey, at least you're learning something new, you might just have a chance." Gwen said.

"I hope so Gwendy, I hope so." Peter looking down on himself.

"What's wrong?" Gwen said.

"Even though I'm learning a new skill, what if it's not enough? What happens if I fail? I can't let MJ down." Peter said.

"You won't." Gwen assures.

"How do you know?" Peter said.

"Cause I know you Pete, there's more to you than just powers and skills alone, you have something inside you, something that always made you so great." Gwen said.

"What?" Peter said.

"You have heart, Pete, that's what make you who you are, a great hero and the man I love, the man I want to spend the rest of my life, as my husband." Gwen smile warmly.

Peter smile warmly. "That's why I want to marry you, Gwen Stacy, you've always made me strong."

"I plan to make you happy for a very long time as your wife, but for now MJ needs you, so don't give up, keep on fighting, bring here home." Gwen said.

"I will Gwen, I promise... I love you." Peter being sincere.

"I love you too Pete." Gwen blows a kiss.

Gwen waves goodbye to Peter before hanging up the video call, Peter felt better having a chat with his fiancée, she's always made him very strong and kept him going through difficult times, he plans to keep on fighting to bring MJ home and to go home to Gwen as he wants to have a future by her side, he went back to practicing Japanese and preparing for tomorrow's training with Logan.

Back in New York City, around 4:03 PM a private plane owned by Oscorp landed in Queens with its CEO on board. About 30 minutes later a sedan came up to Oscorp Tower where Donald Menken is waiting outside, the back door opens up as Norman Osborn is back home in New York after his secret business trip to Tokyo, Japan, Norman is walking towards the entrance with Menken following him.

"Welcome back Mr. Osborn, how was the trip?" Menken said.

"You can skip the pleasantries Menken, I just want to make sure everything is under control." Norman said.

Norman and Menken enters the executive elevator and goes up to the top.

"How are things around here?" Norman said.

"Everything seems normal so far." Menken said.

"Good, let's keep it that way. Are the board members here?" Norman said.

"Yes, except for Vargas, he's currently away." Menken said.

"Where?" Norman said.

"Don't know, he said he's on vacation." Menken said.

(American Airspace)

A commercial airliner is flying over America heading for Tokyo, Japan, inside the airliner at the first class section is Oscorp board member Maximillian "Max" Vargas as he's determined to go over there to look into the claims Mariko Yashida talked about between Oscorp and the Yashida Corporation, he plans to look into this mystery no matter what the risk are.

It's March 24th, time is 6:30 AM in Tokyo, Japan, at the Yashida Estate, Logan is all dressed up in his usual hakama holding a bokken walking around until he reached Shiro's bedroom where Peter awake is still in his t shirt and boxer roaming around looking for something, on the floor tray is breakfast consisting of Japanese egg omelets called tamagoyaki and a bowl of rice along with a self heating can of coffee, Peter is still searching the bedroom including his backpack for some clothes.

"I see you're already awake, Bub." Logan said.

"I'd rather not have that rude awakening again." Peter as he's still looking.

"What's the matter?" Logan said.

Peter sighs. "I can't seem to find my pants."

"Oh, I think the maids who dropped off your breakfast while you were still asleep must've picked them up for cleaning. So relax Bub, they'll get them cleaned up soon. Now since you're awake, have some breakfast and get dressed for training." Logan walking out of the room.

"And what am I suppose to wear?" Peter said.

"It's right there on the floor, Bub." Logan left the room.

Peter looks at the folded up navy blue hakama laying next to the futon he was sleeping in.

Peter sighs. "You can't be serious."

About 3O minutes later, Logan is at the dojo sitting on his knees with two bokkens inside the sheaths next to him waiting for Peter to come, the dojo has training twigs all set up for kenjutsu practice, the door slides open as Peter is coming in fully dressed in a navy blue hakama as he's still adjusting to his new attire.

Logan smiles. "How does it feel to be in a dress, Bub?"

"It's... surprising comfortable, though I'm still adjusting." Peter said.

"You'll get use to it, on the mat Bub." Logan said.

Peter walks up to the mat as Logan gets up and stands on his feet with both bokkens in his hand, Peter looks around to see some bamboos here.

"What's with these?" Peter is curious.

"They're for practice, now for today lesson is on Iaido, the art of drawing swords." Logan said.

"Like you did yesterday, you surprised me with that draw." Peter said.

"It's a surprisingly effective art, to be able to draw out your sword and react to incoming attacks, either to counter or strike at the right moment. If you're going to face off against Harada, you'd have to be able to react to his moves... Now, here!" Logan said.

Logan tossed one of the bokkens at Peter as he caught it in his hand.

"Next, put your bokken into your sash, like this." Logan said.

Logan tucks in the sheath into his sash as Peter did the same with his.

"Alright, now watch carefully." Logan said.

Logan walks up to one of the bamboo twigs as he grips the sheath in his left hand and puts his right hand on the hilt, Peter watches carefully for what he's about to learn, Logan then draws out his sword and strikes at the bamboo with perfect grace, after he's done striking he puts his bokken back into the sheath as this whole experience has impressed Peter, it's quite an effective art.

"Whoa! That's neat!" Peter said.

"Alright Bub, step up in front of a twig." Logan said.

Peter walks up to a twig.

"Now, put your left hand on the sheath and your right hand on the hilt." Logan instructs.

Peter follows Logan's lead as he grips the sheath with his left hand and grips the hilt with right hand, Logan does the same as he then instructs Peter in Iaido, he draws out his bokken and strikes at the bamboo again, Peter does the same and draw out the bokken and strikes the bamboo with some slashes.

Around 12:01 PM at the vice club in Tokyo that is a secret Yakuza front, deep inside in the hallway filled with Yakuza henchmen, walking down the hall is Harada carrying a tray with a fish and bowl of rice as he approached the locked room as a henchmen opens up, he enters to find Mary Jane all awake and being held against her will, she remained calm and fearless in the presence of these criminals, Harada sets the tray on the floor as the meal is meant for her.

"Here... eat up, I still you healthy and alive, at least until I kill that Gaijin Spider-Man-San." Harada said.

Harada is about to walk away until Mary Jane speaks up.

"You won't beat him." Mary Jane said.

Harada turns around. "What did you say?"

"You'll never beat him." Mary Jane said.

"Your friend will soon fight me again, only this time he'll be fighting under the samurai code, if he wants you back, he'll have to use swords and no powers. I've done my homework, I know that Gaijin has never held a blade in his life, me on the other hand am a master swordsman, with my skill he's no match for me." Harada said.

"You underestimated him, that's not going to stop him from beating you." Mary Jane said.

"And why is that?" Harada said.

"Cause you're scared of him." Mary Jane said.

"You think I'm afraid of that Gaijin." Harada said.

"You wouldn't brought me here if you weren't, you're using me as leverage against him, forcing him to fight with just swords, sounds very cowardly of you." Mary Jane said.

Harada growls in anger. "Your friend shamed me in front of the Yakuza's eyes, disgraced me, the one only reason I brought you here was to bring that Gaijin here for a rematch, we will face each other again and I will win, when I do I'll kill him and bring his head to you as proof, after that yours will be joining his as your heads will be buried together in a unmarked grave."

Harada then leaves the room as the door closed shut, Mary Jane can't help but being a bit worried for Peter as he'll be a big disadvantage against this warrior, Peter might end up getting killed in this match, all she can do is pray that Peter will come through like he always has, the only thing that kept her going is the thought of Peter Parker, he means a lot to her.

Time is 2:40 PM at the Yashida Estate, inside the dojo Logan is observing Peter practicing Iaido techniques as he's now switched to using a real katana instead of a bokken, Peter is in front of the bamboo as he's placed his left hand on the sheath and right hand on the hilt, Peter is waiting as he draws out his bokken and strikes with perfect skill and grace, he's impressed how fast Peter is improving in his skills with a sword, Peter kept on practicing on the bamboos and cutting them down with ease.

"Alright, that's enough for now, take a break, sheath your blade." Logan said.

Peter carefully sheaths the sword back in a traditional Japanese manner as he and Logan takes a break from practice, they each grabbed a water bottle and drank up to hydrate themselves.

"So how is my style?" Peter said.

"Not bad, thought you're close, your training is almost done, still I gotta admit Bub, you're improving pretty quickly, for someone who isn't Japanese." Logan said.

Peter smiled as he sighs. "Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot." Logan said.

"What is that word Gaijin? I keep hearing it a lot from the locals and I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with me. What does it mean?" Peter is curious.

Logan sighs. "It's Japanese, it means foreigner, outsider, like you."

"And you... you're an American living in Japan." Peter said.

"I'm Canadian, Bub." Logan said.

"My bad, so what brings a Canadian out here in Japan?" Peter said.

Logan sighs. "Listen Bub, just because I'm training you, doesn't mean I have to share my life story with you, it's none of your business."

"Fine, but I have another question... you're a mutant, aren't you?" Peter said.

"Yes... I'm a mutant." Logan admits.

"I figured as much... that other guy, Harada, he's a mutant too, isn't he?" Peter said.

"He's got this mutant gift, it enables him to generate a type of energy which he channel through his sword, powerful enough to cut through almost anything, he's also well trained in the art of swordsmanship by Master Shingen himself, the very same man who trained me." Logan explained.

"So this training you're teaching me, it's the same as his." Peter said.

"Exactly, his mutant powers combine with his swordsmanship make him a very deadly opponent, so you'll need to be fully trained to match his skill. Any more question?" Logan said.

"Those metal claws of yours, I'm guessing you weren't born with them." Peter said.

"No... they were given to me against my will." Logan felt uneasy.

"How?" Peter said.

Logan sighs uneasy. "All I remember was being inside some kind of lab, I was very exposed and asleep, next thing I knew they were drilling through my skin to my bones, injecting me with something very hot, too hot as it was too pain for me to take, it almost killed me, when I woke up, this happened to me."

Logan raised his fist up and pulls out the adamantium claws from his skin and shows them to Peter, he could tell that this isn't like any metal he's ever seen before.

"What is it exactly? I know for a fact that it isn't vibranium." Peter said.

"No, but it's very strong and very durable, there's only one other strongest metal on Earth that can rival vibranium... adamantium. That very same substance they've heated into my body, has been bonded throughout my entire skeleton."

"My god, how'd you survive something so... painful?" Peter said.

"My mutation, it's gifted me with a very powerful healing factor, that's the only reason was able to survive, since then I've been living with an adamantium skeleton for more than 30 years." Logan said.

"30 years?" Peter is shocked.

"That's right... I've been the same age since 1991." Logan said.

Peter looks at Logan's appearance. "You look great."

"One of the perks of having a powerful healing factor, it doesn't just instantly heal me of any injuries, it also extended my life, slows my age so that I'd hardly age at all, enabling me to live longer than any normal human being. To be honest, I'm not even sure how long I've been on this Earth, fifty, a hundred, maybe more, chances are I could be older than your grandparents, Bub." Logan explains.

"Wow, I'd say you're born lucky." Peter said.

"Am I? The only downfall of living forever is having to watch the people you care about age, growing old while you don't. If anything Bub, I kinda envy you for being almost normal, what I would give to have your short natural years rather than living forever alone." Logan said.

"I see... well, I hope the training you're giving me will be enough." Peter said.

"Not to worry Bub, I'll have you ready in time to rescue your not-fiancée. Can I ask you something since I've already told you some of my story." Logan said.

"Sure." Peter said.

"Exactly what kind of relationship do you have with the redhead? I could've sworn that you had a thing for her, even Mariko sensed something more... or am I wrong?" Logan said.

Peter sighs. "No... there was something between me and MJ."

"Hah, I knew it." Logan said.

"MJ has been my best friend for years since we were kids, we were neighbors living next to one another, so we're pretty close, she was the first person I confided in about my powers, she's been by my side since I became Spider-Man, always helping me, encouraging me to keep on going even when I'm down, she's been my rock." Peter explained.

"Was there anything... romantic between you two?" Logan said.

"There was, we kissed a couple times in the past, back then neither of us knew that we had feelings for one another until that first kiss happened, but later around Christmas she confessed that she loved me." Peter said.

"Who initiated that first kiss?" Logan said.

"I did." Peter confessed.

"So in all that time you've spent with her as friends, you must've found her pretty attractive." Logan said.

"A lot of boys in my school found her attractive." Peter said.

"And what about that second kiss?" Logan said.

"It happened many months later after Gwen moved away to London after he dad died, I was still dealing with not having Gwen around, one day MJ invited me on a date to Coney Island, we had so much fun together, later that night when I returned her home, she kissed me right there on the doorstep." Peter said.

"Hmm... so... do you still have feelings for her?" Logan said.

Peter sighs. "Yes."

"But you already have someone you're going to marry? This Gwen... you love her too?" Logan said.

"I do." Peter said.

"You're engaged to one woman and the other one you're willing to risk your life over." Logan said.

"They both mean everything to me, Gwen was the reason I became Spider-Man, I risked everything to save her from death. Later she and MJ were kidnapped by a mobster and I was in a tough spot as Peter Parker, but it didn't matter, I still risked my life for them, to save them both. Just last year, I traveled halfway across the world to rescue MJ along with my Aunt May, even though I was outnumbered and all the odds were against me, I still went over and risked death to save them no matter what with the same resolve." Peter said.

Logan is somewhat impressed. "Gotta say Bub, you're definitely not everything I've heard about you."

"And what is it you've heard about me?" Peter said.

"Most people think you're just a hero who goes around making jokes, who's doesn't take anything seriously and just in it for the fame, but... clearly there's more to you than meets the eye, you're very driven, not afraid to risk your life doing the right thing." Logan said.

"It's who am I, whether I use my powers or not, can't stop doing what's right, it's my responsibility." Peter said.

"And you're not going to give up on rescuing your friend, are you?" Logan said.

Peter swings his head sideways. "I can't leave MJ to die... I won't."

Logan nodded his head. "You're gonna save her Bub, you still got time completely your training."

"Okay... let's get back to training then." Peter said as he gets back up.

"Later Bub, first things first, we gotta eat and replenish our strength, can't practice on an empty stomach." Logan said.

"Fine, I'm actually itching to got out and see what's available to eat, Japanese or American." Peter said.

"Well, there are some American franchise restaurants in towns, but I'd recommend check out the vending machines, they're all over Tokyo and they cook up all kinds of food." Logan suggested.

"Really? Had no idea... alright, I'll check it out." Peter said.

"Your clothes should be all dried up, so get cleaned up and go." Logan said.

Peter walks out of the dojo after hours of intense training, Logan is impressed in Peter's improvements in his training and how well driven he is, Peter definitely has the heart of a warrior.

Later around 3:06 PM, Peter is riding around Minato City, Tokyo in a motorcycle finding a place to have some food, he spotted Tokyo Tower in plain view, he passed by a taxi as it's heading in the opposite direction as inside the cab is Oscorp board member Vargas as he could see Tokyo Tower, the cab is driving around the district until it reached the Yashida Corporation headquarters, Vargas got out of the cab and paid the cabbie, he looks up at the building owned by their former business partner as he's determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, he walks up into the building as one of the secretaries came up to meet this Gaijin in a suit.

"Can I help you?"

"Ah yes, my name is Maximillian Vargas, I'm a member of a board of directors from Oscorp, the company in New York that used to have a partnership with yours until it was dissolved recently." Vargas introduced himself.

The secretary bows in politeness. "Oh, of course, welcome to Japan, Vargas-San."

"Thank you, is your CEO around? I'd like to talk with her about something." Vargas said.

"Oh, I'm very sorry Vargas-San, Ms. Yashida is away attending to a personal matter in Osaka, she won't be back until later tonight. I could give her a message on your behalf if you like?"

"That won't be necessary, but there is something you could help me with... Ms. Yashida made a remarks about something shady going on between our companies during the partnership." Vargas said.

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing."

"Listen, I need your help, I need to look over your company's records, to find out what she says is true." Vargas said.

"I'm sorry, but that's against company policy, I can't do that."

"I know I'm asking a lot, I'm sure Ms. Yashida means well by breaking up the partnership, but I can't ignore this, not if something shady and illegal is going on in my company, I need to know, I can't leave Tokyo just yet, not without finding out the truth... please, help me." Vargas pleaded.

The secretary sighs. "Follow me please."

The secretary leads Vargas around the building as unknown to either of them a businessman here is eyeballing the pair, particularly the Gaijin as he's more curious as to why he's here and what's his purpose. Minutes later on another floor, the secretary types in the codes to access the records room where everything is digitally stored on the servers and can only be accessed by these computers here, she and Vargas walks up to the computers as the secretary puts in her passwords to unlock the computer.

"Okay, here we store all the records, all the transactions and shipments between the two companies, you'll find them here."

"Thank you so much." Vargas said.

"Please be quick, I don't want to get into any trouble."

"I understand." Vargas said.

Vargas then looks up transactions and shippings involving number of components and chips sold and shipped to Oscorp within the past year, he found one from last month where thousands of Yashida chips and components were shipped over to America straight to Oscorp, but he noticed that the numbers of chips and components don't match up the amount Oscorp received, half of them were taken in by the company, but the other half seems missing. Vargas is curious as to what happened with the other half, where did they go. He scrolls down to check the shipment in the month before that, it's the same as last months, he scrolls down the next one and it all shows the same results, before he knew it all this transactions occurred within the past five years, numbers of components aren't registered on Oscorp's books.

"What the hell is going on? Where did all those components go?" Vargas is stunned.

Vargas found the evidence that proves that some shady is going on at Oscorp, Mariko's accusations are starting to come true, Vargas prints up the transactions and shipments between the companies as proof to show to the board, he gets up and walks over to the printer where copies are being print out, he got everything he needed to continues his investigation.

"Did you get everything you need?"

"Yes, it's enough, thank you so much." Vargas really appreciates it.

"Okay, you need to go now before someone finds you here."

"Right, let's go." Vargas said.

Vargas picked up the copies and took them with him as he smuggled them into his coat, he and the secretary left the records room quietly. A few minutes later, an elevator opens up as the secretary leads Vargas off the premises after gathering the evidence he needed, Vargas has left the building as this shady businessman inside Yashida headquarters got more suspicious about this Gaijin, he decides to make a call to someone he's loyal to. Vargas hopes into the cab and left the Yashida Corporation, he pulls out the copies he got from the records room, this confirms Mariko's suspicions, something strange is going on at Oscorp, but Vargas doesn't know what those missing components are used for, he intends to look deeper to get to the truth.

Later is 8:30 AM back in New York City at Oscorp Tower as Norman Osborn is with his right hand Donald Menken to discuss the secret business deal in Tokyo involving a plan to kill off Spider-Man at the hands of Silver Samurai by using his loved one against him, as well as having Tomo take control of the family business to get back to the way it was.

"Are you sure Tomo will deliver on his word?" Donald Menken said.

"Tomo is just a power hungry as I am, besides he's got someone who is very important to Spider-Man." Norman said.

"Who?" Menken said.

"He didn't say, but it doesn't matter, soon will finally be rid of that Insect once and for all, Tomo will have the chance to kill Mariko, take control of the clan and company, we can get back to business, we all win." Norman said.

Norman is very anxious to have Spider-Man dead above all, he then suddenly got a call from his burner phone to see it's from Japan.

"I gotta take this." Norman answered the call. "Tomo-San, konnichiwa, we were just talking about you..." Norman is listening over the phone until he got some disturbing news. "Excuse me, can you say again who came to Japan?"

Norman's reaction caught Menken's attention as it sounds very serious.

"I see... thank you for the tip... Arigato Tomo-San." Norman hangs up the call.

"Something wrong, sir?" Menken is curious.

"Tomo informed me that our friend Vargas is in Tokyo, he recently paid a visit to the Yashida Corporation earlier." Norman said.

"That can't be, Vargas is suppose to be one vacation. What's he doing in Tokyo?" Menken said.

"One of Tomo's spy informed him that Vargas just came in and about 30 minutes later he came out leaving looking all suspicious." Norman said.

"Do you think Vargas suspects something through Mariko's accusations?" Menken said.

Norman sighs uneasy. "I don't like this, Menken, we've done everything we can to keep our operations a secret for years, til Ms. Yashida started spilling her suspicions to the whole board, no doubt it caught Vargas's interest."

"She can't prove anything, if she did, she would've shown them to the board, she has no hard evidence." Menken said.

"Still, we can't rest easy with Vargas over there, if he starts connecting the dots, then we're all in serious trouble." Norman said.

"I'd doubt he's figured out what those missing components are really for, he's just fishing for now." Menken said.

"And if he happens to catch that fish and present it to the board, then things could get a whole lot worse." Norman said.

"So what do we do?" Menken said.

"Nothing, let's just see how far his investigation goes, if he gets too close, then we'll make the next move." Norman said.

Norman and Menken are both uneasy as Vargas might be getting too close to discovering their secret business they're conducting using company resources without the board's knowledge.

Back in Tokyo, Japan it's 9:30 PM as a black sedan has drove past the gate and around the driveway as Mariko Yashida steps out of the back as she's back home, another vehicle pulls up behind the sedan, an black SUV as a couple of Mariko's bodyguards came out and walks towards the back to fetch something, Mariko speaks Japanese as she told her bodyguards to take it inside the home and put it in the sitting room. Mariko makes her way around til she reached the dojo, she found both Peter and Logan wearing hakamas and wielding bokken as they're still in the middle of a practice spar, Peter is doing everything he can with the technique he learned, he strikes and blocks while still distracted as Logan can see through and strikes back hard, making Peter flinched and fall down.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Bub? Don't think, don't ever think in a middle of a sword fight or you're dead." Logan instructing.

Peter feeling tired. "Okay... let's go again."

Peter got back up on his feet and holds the bokken in both hands ready for another match, Logan holds up his bokken in both hands.

"Alright Bub, remember... don't think... feel." Logan holding the bokken.

Peter is trying to calm himself through the frustrations and all the thoughts in his his head, Logan is holding the bokken up ready to make his move, Peter takes a deep breath and tries to relax, clearing his mind of everything as he opens up his eyes and holds the bokken while being calm, Mariko watches as both Logan and Peter are holding the bokkens up waiting for one of them to make the move, Logan then took a step and makes the first strike, Peter still calm as he moves to block and counters with his own strike, Logan blocks and strikes again, Peter blocks the strike as he strikes at the hands using the hilt, disarming Logan of his bokken and Peter strikes at the legs, tripping Logan off his feet and he fell down, Peter holds the bokken against Logan's neck, Mariko is impressed that Peter finally managed to best Logan, a master swordsman in combat, Logan breathes as Peter remove the bokken away and offered Logan his hand, Logan took it and Peter helps him up on his feet.

"So... how'd I do?" Peter asking for an option.

"You're ready Bub." Logan is impressed.

"Was there any doubt?" Peter said.

"I confess, I had serious doubts you'd get the hang of wielding a sword at all." Logan said.

Peter chuckles. "Thanks of the strange compliment, I think."

Logan then spotted Mariko here as he puts away the bokken and walks up to her for a kiss.

"Hmm, how's Osaka?" Logan said.

"It went well Logan-San, I see his skills has improved." Mariko said.

"Gotta say, even with all the hard work I put into him, he still won't give up. I'd say he's already reached that level, he's ready to face Harada tomorrow night." Logan said.

"Good, can't wait to defeat him and see MJ again." Peter said.

"You will, but don't get too overconfident, that's a sure way to lose quickly, just fight with everything I taught you and with honor, you'll be fine." Logan gave some wisdom.

"I will... thank you for all the training." Peter said.

Peter bows his head in Japanese politeness as Logan did the same.

"By the way, if you're going to face Harada, I have a gift for you." Mariko said.

"A gift?" Peter is confused.

"Follow me." Mariko said.

Mariko walks away as Peter and Logan follows her, they walk around until they've reached the sitting room, Mariko slides the door open to unveil a new samurai armor all red which surprised Peter's eyes.

"Whoa!" Peter said.

"Do you like it?" Mariko said.

"It's beautiful." Peter said.

"It's for you." Mariko said.

Peter looks surprised. "For me?"

Mariko nods her heads. "I figured red was your color, will this do?"

"It's perfect, though it could some improvements if I may?" Peter said.

"Of course, what do you suggest Peter-San?" Mariko said.

Peter smile as he looks upon the samurai armor with some idea.

Later around 10:30 PM as Peter is in Shiro's bedroom making some alterations to the red mask that came with the armor, he's adding the white eye lens to it to match his Spider-Man persona, later he gotten some white paint and a brush as he carefully applies it to the chest plate.

It March 25th in Tokyo, Japan, time is 6:30 AM as Oscorp board member Vargas is staying at a fancy hotel in Shinjuku, he's already awake and having some coffee while looking over the copies of the shipments and transactions he got from Yashida Corporation, he's been looking them over and over again and everything indicates that something shady is going on at Oscorp, a number of components were order but a separate order of components aren't registered with the company, Vargas has no idea where those components went and what they're really used for, he's starting to fear the worst.

"What do you need so much parts for, Norman? What are you into?" Vargas said to himself.

Vargas is still investigating until he's getting a call, it's from a New York number as he accepted the call.

"Hello, Vargas here." Vargas said.

"Vargas, nice to hear your voice..." Norman said.

Vargas sighs. "Norman..."

(New York City)

It's still March 24th, time is 5:30 PM in New York time, at Oscorp Tower, Norman is with Menken as he's on the phone talking with Vargas.

"I heard you're on vacation, didn't think that it would be in Tokyo." Norman said.

"Just wanted to check out the sites." Vargas said.

"Yeah, is Yashida Corporation one of them?" Norman said.

"So you know." Vargas said.

"What exactly are you doing?" Norman said.

"That's funny, I was ask you the same thing, Norman." Vargas said.

"I don't understand what you're talking about?" Norman seemed somewhat confused.

"Then let me be specific, I was at Yashida the other day and I took a closer look at their books, I've noticed some irregularites. For instance, huge shipment of parts are shipped to Oscorp, but a separate orders of parts were shipped around the same time and not registered through the company's books." Vargas said.

"Really? Must be a computer error, that can happened every now and then." Norman tries deny it.

"Except there's been more errors in the past months, even years, same orders of parts are shipped out and none of them were ever registered or received by the company, every month of every year, I'm shocked you don't know anything happening within your company, you being the CEO." Vargas said.

"What are you trying to say, Vargas? Out with it!" Norman said.

"What the hell are you mixed up in, Norman? What are you doing with those missing parts?" Vargas said.

"Are you accusing of something, Vargas? You can't make accusations against me without any proof!" Norman said.

"I have proof Norman, I have the shipment and transactions records to prove it! So I'll ask again, what the hell are you into, Norman?!" Vargas being brazen.

"I don't have anything to say to you, Vargas!" Norman refuses to comment.

"Listen to me Norman, if I find out you're using the company to commit something very illegal..." Vargas said.

"You'll do what, Vargas? Say it!" Norman getting ticked.

"Not only will I report you to the board and have you voted out of the company, I'll have you reported to the U.S. attorney, the FBI, you'll be arrested and locked up for treason." Vargas making threats.

"Are you threatening me, Vargas? Tell me to me straight! You dare threaten me?!" Norman is more ticked off.

"Yes, yes I'm threatening you, if you're using the company doing something immoral, I won't hesitate to bring you down! Consider this your warning!" Vargas then hangs up the call.

"Vargas? Vargas?!" Norman realized he got hanged up.

Norman slams the phone down in anger and calms himself, staying in control, but Menken could tell by Norman's reaction that it's bad.

Norman sighs. "This is much worst than I thought, Vargas says he has proof about what's going on at Oscorp, he's threatening to show to the board as well as the authorities."

"So what's the next move?" Menken asking.

Norman remains calm as he can and thinks, he knows that Vargas presents as a very big threat to Norman and his secret business, he's a ticking time bomb about to blow everything up, Norman won't let that happen as he grabs a phone and makes a call to solve this problem by any means necessary.

(Tokyo, Japan)

Vargas is using the laptop to look over any crimes related to technology that happened in New York within the past three years hoping to find any connection, he found one on the Spider-Slayers that attacked and hurt many innocent people in order to kill Spider-Man, he looks over photos of the crime scenes as none of them are related to his investigation, he then switched to the Molten Man incident, he looks at crime scene photos of the place where illegal human experimentation occurred under everyone's noses, the building was destroyed but a number of wrecked components were photographed as this caught Vargas's attention. He zooms in on the components to see that it's logo and serial numbers are all scratched off but they look like they came from Yashida. He types in "Yashida product" on the search engine and pulls up images of Yahida components, they look identical as Vargas finally made the connection.

"Oh my god..." Vargas is stunned upon this terrible revelation.

Later it's 7:02 AM at the Yashida Estate as Peter is dressed up in his regular clothes eating breakfast in the dining room sitting on his knees in front of the floor table as Mariko came up all dressed in her normal attire for her breakfast as she sits on her knees carefully pouring in some tea.

"Morning." Peter said.

"Good Morning, Peter-San... how are you feeling?"

Peter sighs. "Too be honest Mariko, I'm nervous, tonight's the night I face Harada again, only this time it'll be with swords, MJ is counting on me to save her."

"You will save her, Logan molded you into a samurai in a very short time, you're ready." Mariko said.

"It's not my skills I'm worried about, what guarantees are the Yakuza will even return MJ to me even if I do win?" Peter said.

"I understand your concern, I do but the Yakuza, they're bound by a code, they keep their word... just like my father." Mariko said.

"You know, in all my time being here, I never asked you about your father, only little from what Logan has told me." Peter said.

Mariko sighs. "My father, the late Shingen Yashida, was once the Oyabun of our clan, at the beginning he didn't have much until he joined the Yakuza and made something of himself, with all the wealth he acquired he started his own company."

"Yashida Corporation." Peter said.

"At first he wanted to use the company as a front, but it became a major suppliers of chips and components that can be found in almost anything, from submarines to satellites, it's a very profitable business, technology is on everyone's minds these days." Mariko explained.

"So basically the company is thriving on its own selling parts for cash." Peter said.

"Only if they're used responsibly." Mariko said.

"What do you mean?" Peter said.

"These components can be used to do good for all mankind, but in the wrong hands, they can be used to make weapons such as armed drones, missiles, or even bombs. Over a month ago, there a bombing outside of Osaka, a number of civilians were killed, including children, Osaka police photographed evidence of the incident, my father had some suspicions as he uses his contacts to exam those bomb components, he figured out that the components used to build it came from his company, this affected him greatly." Mariko explains.

"So he blamed himself." Peter said.

"My father... he... he had a lot of regrets about the kind of life he was living, all the things he had done, and this incident was the biggest one, he wanted to steer the company in a more legitimate direction, but before he ever could... he..." Mariko said.

"He... what?" Peter said.

"Committed Sepukku." Mariko felt uneasy.

"Sep-what?" Peter said.

"He... took his own life... I came home one day and found him, it still haunts me." Mariko is saddened by this revelation.

"I'm sorry." Peter said.

"The day before he died, he told me to find a better path in life, for me and for the clan, since then I've been aiming to cut our clan's ties with the Yakuza, severing certain partnerships." Mariko said.

"Is that why they sent this Harada guy after you?" Peter said.

"Yes, the Yakuza don't let anyone go that easily, but my Uncle Tomo was the one who pulled the strings behind the assassination." Mariko said.

"Your uncle?" Peter said.

"Tomo, his name is Tomo, but unlike my father who's motivated by honor, Tomo is motived by greed and power, he's always been ambitious, no doubt he asked the Oyabuns for their blessing for my hit, he wants control of the clan and my company, he wants it all." Mariko explained.

"And he's willing to have his own niece killed, that's... ice cold." Peter said.

"I wouldn't put it past him to go against his own blood to be Oyabun, he'll do anything to get what he wants... but enough of that for now, why don't you go find Logan-San and let him know breakfast is ready." Mariko said.

"Sure, I'll check the dojo." Peter said.

Peter gets up and walks out of the dining room to find Logan, he starts at the dojo where he usually is, Peter slides the door open to see that it's empty and Logan isn't here, he walks around the house looking for Logan, he came across Mariko's bedroom whom she shares with, he slides the door open.

"Logan! Are you here?!" Peter said.

Peter didn't see Logan anywhere as he was about to slide the door closed until he spotted something in the room, it looked like a old footlocker as it caught his attention, Peter enters the room and walks over to the footlocker, he quietly opens up the footlocker to see some items inside, one of them is a book as he opens up to see a couples name "Silverfox?" "Maverick?", these names must mean something to him if he wrote them down, he removes an old bomber jacket inside to unveil a yellow and brown suit hidden underneath which surprised Peter, from the looks of it, it looks like a superhero costume, he found a photo next to it and holds it up to see a group of other costumed individuals including one that resembles the costume inside the footlocker, he figured out this is Logan in the costume, he must've been a superhero at one time. Peter is too distracted to noticed that Logan is at the door as he fake coughs to get Peter's attention, Peter looks back to see Logan not looking happy.

"I think you wondered into the wrong room, Bub?" Logan said.

"Oh, sorry, I was just..." Peter said.

"Put it back into the locker and get out... now!" Logan not happy.

Peter puts the photo back into the footlocker and closed it as he walks out of the room, Logan slides the door closed and walks away feeling grumpy as Peter who has so many questions to ask.

"Listen, I'm sorry about..." Peter said.

"Just drop it Bub." Logan still walking away.

"Were you a superhero?" Peter said.

Logan stopped walking and sighs. "Was, not anymore."

"And that photo I saw? That team, they're all superheroes, aren't they?" Peter said.

"They're called Alpha Flight, now drop it." Logan said.

"Alpha Flight, of course, when I was still working with the Avengers, I heard rumors about another team of heroes operating out of Canada, you were one of them, weren't you?" Peter said.

"Not anymore, I'll say again one last time, drop it Bub!" Logan is getting uncomfortable.

"Why don't want to talk about?" Peter said.

"Do you have a hearing problem?! I said I don't want to talk about it!" Logan raised his voice.

Peter sighs. "Fine."

Logan noticed Peter walking away as he then sighs as he can't keep it in. "More than a year ago, me and Alpha Flight were sent to on a secret rescue mission in Nova Scotia, a group of terrorists seized a small town and held it hostage, they demanded the release of their leader, but our government wouldn't negotiate with them, so instead they sent us to deal with the problem, but... we'd underestimated them, we fought and save as many lives as we could, but those guys had a powerful bomb and they didn't hesitate to use it, it destroyed most of the town, one of our teammates was killed, so many people died, a lot of lives were lost cause we failed."

Peter sighs. "I'm sorry."

"That day broke us, all of us, we'd lost someone we cared about."

"I lost people too... but I haven't quit." Peter said.

"Haven't quit? You haven't even started Bub, do you even understand what it's like losing someone very deeply." Logan protest.

"Yeah, I do, when I was a kid, I lost both my parents, many years later, my own uncle was murdered in our home, and later after that someone who was like a father sacrificed his life to save us and the city, I even lost a teammate who gave his life to save the world... so yeah, I know loss very well cause I've been there many times and I'm still here." Peter said.

Logan sighs. "Maybe you just haven't got the worst of it yet, Bub, this life you live by, full of so much violence and sacrifices, you can keep on fighting it as much as you want, but eventually it'll all take a toll on your soul until you lose someone you care about or loved very deeply, that's when you finally reached a point that you want to give it all up and quit... trust me Bub, this whole hero thing, it's all pointless, no matter how much good you do, it'll never be enough, there will always be losses no matter what... it just a bunch of BS."

Peter felt offended. "So that's it? All it takes is one loss, one failure for you to quit? To be all bitter?"

"Don't act all bravado, you don't know a damn thing about me, you're nothing but a college punk." Logan insults.

"And you're a coward who prefers to runaway from everything!" Peter insults back.

Logan got ticked off as he walks up and grabs Peter, shoved him against a wall in anger, Peter got his hands on Logan's wrists and pushed back as the two are locked in an heated argument, they both are mad until they calm themselves down a bit and stayed in control.

"Just get your woman and get the hell out of Japan, stay out of my life!" Logan very mad.

Logan let's go as he's done talking Peter as he's very upset for being pushed to this point on a personal matter, Peter stays in control and keeps himself calm as he could tell by Logan's reaction that this whole hero thing still gets to him. Right now, Peter's got his own personal matter to attend to, he needs to get himself ready for tonight's rematch against Harada, Mary Jane is counting on him to win.

Time is 2:04 PM in Shinjuku City, Tokyo as Vargas has left the hotel walking down the sidewalk with his suitcase containing the evidence he obtained from Yashida Corporation, he's looking around trying to get a cab as he's very anxious to catch a flight back to New York, he pulls out a phone as he's about to make a call, he scrolls down his contact till he reached H. Balkan, he dials to a fellow board member.

Balkan yawns over the phone. "Hello?"

"Balkan, it's me, Vargas." Vargas said.

"Jesus Vargas, it's 3 AM in the morning." Balkan said.

"I'm sorry to wake you up, I'm here in Tokyo, I just a paid a visit to the Yashida Corporation yesterday." Vargas said.

"I don't understand Vargas, didn't we just lose our partnership? Why did you visit?" Balkan said.

"I had to, but it was worth it, cause I discovered something, something big." Vargas said.

"How big?" Balkan said.

"This is very serious Balkan, I can't discuss it over the phone, it's something I have to show to the board, can you assemble a board meeting when I get back?" Vargas said.

"I'm not sure, everyone's got plans, we're not scheduled to meet until next week." Balkan said.

"Please Balkan, it's very important I show the board my discovery... can you do it?" Vargas said.

Balkan sighs. "Very well, I'll start making calls, telling them to cancel their plans, we'll all be at Oscorp Tower waiting for you."

"Thank you so much, old friend." Vargas said.

"We'll see you soon, take care Vargas." Balkan said.

"Will do." Vargas hangs up the call.

Vargas puts away the phone as he continues walking down the sidewalk until he spotted a homeless person in a coat and beanie approaching and walking his way, Vargas can't help but being concerned for the homeless here as he's about to pull out some money to give.

Vargas offering money. "Here.."

This homeless person walks up to Vargas as she took the money, she got close enough and pulls out a knife, she stabbed Vargas right there in the sidewalk in front of everyone's eyes, this homeless person turns out to be Yukio in disguise as Vargas was stabbed in the heart and he collapsed on the sidewalk dead, Yukio quickly works fast by looking through Vargas's coat and pockets, she took his phone, his wallet, and suitcase as she makes her escaped through the crowd before Tokyo PD arrives soon, the people are all stunned upon an American citizen murdered in their city, Vargas is now dead. Yukio is still escaping as she texted that the target has been assassinated.

Later around 3:45 PM at an alleyway, Yukio is tossing everything into the barrel on fire, copies of Yashida Corporation transactions, Vargas's phone and laptop, everything being burned up and destroyed, she even tossed away the clothes she was wearing as to destroy any evidence of the crime. Afterwards she's walks out of the alley and heads towards the club where the place is still packed with many people including Yakuza. Yukio gotten past security to the private hall as she's approaching Tomo's office, she was about to knock until she heard voices in the other room, before she decides to enter, she leaned her head against the door to listen, Tomo is on the phone having a conversation with Norman Osborn.

"Is it done?" Norman said.

"Yes, it's been confirmed, Vargas has been killed, any evidence he had on him has been destroyed, there's nothing can be tied back to you." Tomo assured.

"Excellent, and what about the other matter, Spider-Man?" Norman said.

"The match has been set for tonight, if my suspicions are correct, he's already joined forces with my foolish niece and her Gaijin lover, no doubt they're helping him, I plan to use the hostage to force Spider-Man to lose the match, soon he'll be out of our lives forever." Tomo said.

"No one can know about our involvement Tomo-San, not even the Yakuza." Norman said.

"That won't be a problem, the Oyabuns have no clue about my plans, I've managed to do everything behind their backs, especially since none of them had any idea that I had a hand in Shingen's death." Tomo said.

Yukio is shocked to hear that Shingen didn't commit Sepukku, it was murder by his own brother Tomo.

"My brother would've undo everything we've worked so hard to build all because he felt ashamed, I couldn't let that happened, I caught Shingen off guard, he didn't know that I was coming until I've put that tanto into his gut, I stage everything to make it look like he took his own life." Tomo said.

"I really admire you, Tomo-San, you're just like me, we do anything to get what we want and kill any who stood in our way." Norman said.

"Kill my brother was a pleasure, I would've had his daughter killed too if that Gaijin Spider-Man hadn't interfered, but not to worry, everything will soon go according to plan, Spider-Man will lose and he will die, his precious love one will die too, I'll see to it." Tomo said.

"I'll hold you to that, Tomo-San. I'll await the news." Norman said.

Tomo hangs up the call as he plans to use Mary Jane to force Spider-Man to lose the match, unknown to him Yukio was listening as she walked away after she learned everything had done and what he's planning to do. Tomo gets up and walks out of his office as he's about to make preparations for Spider-Man's downfall, Tomo reached the locked room where Mary Jane is held hostage, Mary Jane sees a Japanese man in a suit, she figured he's the boss of this bunch.

"Hello Gaijin." Tomo said.

"What do you want?" Mary Jane said.

"To send a message." Tomo has a sinister plan in mind.

Time is 4:30 PM at the Yashida Estate as a number of cars are on the driveway awaiting to leave for the match, at the private Shinto shrine Mariko is sitting on her knee making a prayer to the Kami as Peter is watching and waiting, after she's done she got back up on her feet and Peter follows her around the house, Peter noticed an open slide door where Logan is drinking sake and avoiding him after the heated fight they had earlier today, Mariko noticed Peter being all quiet and focused.

"Are you still nervous?" Mariko said.

"A little, but I can't let that stop me, MJ is waiting for me, I can't let her down. So when is the match?" Peter said.

"7 o'clock, the match is far away from the city, out at an open meadow just outside near Mt. Fuji, it's very secluded." Mariko said.

"Guessing the Yakuza don't want any witnesses and anything could happened out in the open, I don't like this." Peter said.

"Just relax, the Oyabuns won't do anything to go against their code, just as long as you fight and defeat Harada with honor, you'll be fine." Mariko assured.

"I only care what happens to MJ, if I have get hurt saving her life, I'm good with that." Peter said.

"Okay, the car is ready, it's about a two hour drive to Mt Fuji, it's time to put on the armor." Mariko said.

"Right, better suit up." Peter said.

Peter walks away from Mariko and heads toward the room where the armor is waiting as he's about to change. Mariko noticed that Logan is alone back in the room drinking sake, she could tell by the hostility between him and Peter that it's causing some emotional problems that could complicate everything, Mariko walks over to the room and sits on her knees in front of Logan.

"We're about to leave, the challenge is about to start very soon." Mariko said.

Logan drinks up. "Good, the sooner he win, sooner he's gone."

"Peter-San is worried that something could go wrong, maybe it would help if you come along." Mariko suggested.

"I'm not going Mariko, I've did my job, I trained him to fight, so I don't owe him a damn thing." Logan said.

"This isn't about owing someone anything, it's about doing what's right, Peter-San knows the risk he's taking, but he's still going through with it, risking his life to save an innocent life cause he's got heart... or have you forgotten?" Mariko said.

"That's over Mariko, the past in the past... I'm not that man anymore." Logan said.

Mariko sighs. "Do you know why I fell in love with you? It wasn't because you were a hero, it's because you're an honorable man, a man with heart. Where is that man now?"

Logan sighs. "I'm sorry... but I can't... I won't."

Mariko sighs in disappointment. "I understand."

Mariko gets up and leaves the room as Logan got back to drinking sake in peace, the man is still haunted by his demons of the past, as much as he tries to put it behind him, he can't escape it, the past manages to come back to the present, he's still fighting against his fate as he doesn't want any part in heroes.

Meanwhile at the driveway, Mariko is waiting by the car for Peter to come out of the house, she then sees someone all dressed in samurai armor, it's Spider-Man but in samurai style, the red armor has a white spider on the chest plate, a white lens mask over a helmet, a katana in a red sheath tucked in the belt.

"So... how do I look?" Spider-Man said.

Mariko smile. "Like a samurai."

Spider-Man giggles. "So I guess this make me Spider-Samurai now."

Spider-Man walks up to the limo and climbs in the back as Mariko took one last look at Logan standing by the porch, she waves to him as he waved back before enter the limo, the cars all drove away from the compound and are heading southwest, leaving Tokyo, Spider-Man is heading into battle.

More than an hour later, it's 6:15 PM back at the Yashida Estate as Logan is all alone and has drank through most sakes he could find here, he's still trying to cleanse his mind but his healing factor burns away the alcohol and he can't get drunk not matter what, meanwhile footsteps are approaching him as Logan hear it and he sniffed the air, he immediately recognize that scent, he got up and turns around drawing out his left claws, he sees Yukio here in her black catsuit as she raised her hands up upon having his claws aimed at her face.

"You got a lot of nervous coming here, Yukio." Logan still threatening.

"If you're going to kill me, get it over it, I've already been shamed in the eyes of the Yakuza." Yukio still has her hands up.

Logan pulls his claws back. "If you're looking for Mariko, she's not here."

Yukio puts her hands down. "I didn't come for Mariko and I'm not here on behalf of the Yakuza, I came to see you."

"Why me?" Logan said.

"I came to warn you about Tomo, he's planning something against the Gaijin, Spider-Man." Yukio said.

"Planning what? What do you know?" Logan said.

"Tomo is going to use the woman as leverage, to force Spider-Man to lose the match on purpose, he wants him to die." Yukio said.

"How do you know?" Logan said.

"I was listening to Tomo talking on a phone with a Gaijin, some American businessman, I don't know his name, but he seems very determined to want Spider-Man dead, Tomo agreed to make it happened by any means necessary." Yukio said.

"Why am I not surprised? Tome has always been treacherous, doing things behind the Yakuza's back." Logan said.

"There's more... Shingen didn't take his own life, it was Tomo, he killed Shingen, I heard it straight from his mouth." Yukio said.

Logan looks stunned. "That bastard."

Yukio hands out a piece of paper. "Here, this is where Tomo is keeping the woman, you'll find her there."

Logan took it. "Why Yukio? Why are you telling me this?"

"Despite what you think, I do have some honor, and cause of what we had one time, I still have some respect for you, I'd figure you could do something... you have the information, do what you want." Yukio is about to leave.

"Where will you go?" Logan said.

"Madripoor, is the only place an assassin like me can go, plenty of opportunities in a lawless island... Goodbye Logan-San." Yukio said.

Yukio is leaving the Yashida Estate and plans to leave Japan, Logan learned that Spider-Man is heading into a losing battle, he's already more than half way out of the city heading to his doom, he won't be able to come back in time. As much as he's upset with the hero, a part of him doesn't want him to die, but he also doesn't want to go back to that hero life, he picks up the sake as he wants to go back to drinking, but before he could drink it down, he stopped at the last second and puts it back down as he gets up and walks over to his and Mariko's room, he slides the door open and walks over to the footlocker, he opens up to see his old suit from his Alpha Flight days, he's thinking and feeling conflicted whether to embrace the hero he once was again or let Spider-Man die.

Later around 6:55 PM as the cars are parked in a lot just outside of the meadow outside near Mt Fuji, Peter is still dressed in his armor holding his helmet waiting to come out for the challenge, all of a sudden Mariko's phone got a video message as she pulls it out and checks the contents which disturbed her.

"Okay, it's time." Peter said.

"Peter-San, wait... you need to see this." Mariko said.

Peter has no idea what's going on as Mariko shows him the video, she plays it as Tomo is in it along with his henchmen and Mary Jane as his hostage that spooked Peter.

"Mariko, I know you're working that Gaijin, if you see him, send him this message... Spider-Man-San, I know that you've accepted Harada's challenge under the samurai code in exchange for the promise you'll have your woman back if you win, but that's not going to happen... here's what you're going to do, you're to lose the challenge and let Harada kill you, cause if you don't, if you win and if you attempt to warn the Oyabuns..." Tomo holds a tanto to MJ's neck. "Your woman dies... now care to say anything?"

Peter is shocked MJ's life will be taken unless he losses the challenge, he watches a Tomo removes the gag from her mouth.

"Listen to me Tiger! Don't do what he's says! My life isn't worth yours, just win that fight!" Mary Jane protests.

"Just know Spider-Man-San, we'll be watching, so don't try anything stupid or else... lose the match or lose your woman." Tomo said.

The video message ended as Peter is more conflicted than ever that Mary Jane will die if he wins, but if he lose he won't be able to bring her home and he'll die before keeping a promise to Gwen, he's in a lose-lose situation he can't get himself out of.

"DAMNIT!" Peter is upset.

"Calm down Peter-San." Mariko said.

"Can't believe it... all that hard work for nothing!" Peter said.

"Peter, there's still time to forfeit the match without risking your life." Mariko said.

"I can't do that, you heard Tomo, I have to lose the match or she dies." Peter said.

"Uncle Tomo cannot be trusted, if I know him, he'll still kill her anyway." Mariko said.

"Then we have to go back to Tokyo, find out where he's hiding, save MJ." Peter said.

"We can't, we're two hours away from the city, you'll never get to her in time." Mariko said.

Peter is feeling conflicted as he tossed down the helmet in anger and breaks down in tears feeling all hopeless as he failed Mary Jane.

Peter is tearing. "MJ... I'm so sorry..."

Mariko can't help but feel sorry for Peter as he's lost hope, but all a sudden her phone is ringing, it's Logan calling her.

Mariko answered. "Logan-San..."

"Mariko, are you still with him?" Logan said.

"Yes, but..." Mariko said.

"Let me talk with him." Logan said.

Mariko hands out the phone. "It's Logan-San."

Peter wipes the tears and took the phone. "Logan, I can't talk right now, Tomo is using MJ to force me to lose the fight.

"I know... but don't give up Bub, I know where your girl is." Logan said.

"What? How?" Peter is surprised.

"Doesn't matter, are you still at the site?" Logan said.

"We're just waiting to head out to the meadow for the challenge." Peter said.

"Good, listen carefully Bub, just play along, use the defensive techniques I've taught you, survive and buy some time." Logan said.

"Time for what? What are you going to do?" Peter said.

"I'm gonna rescue your girl and I won't stop fighting until she's saved, so whatever happens out there, just survive til I save her, understand?" Logan said.

"I... understand... thank you." Peter said.

"You can thank me after I've saved your girl, I'll call Mariko the minute I saved her, she'll let you know... after that, don't hold back and you take down that son of a bitch Harada." Logan said.

"Alright... promise me you won't let her die." Peter said.

"Bub..." Logan said.

"Promise me! I need your word, Logan." Peter said.

Logan sighs. "You have it... good luck Bub."

Logan hangs up the calls as Peter's hope has been restored, Mary Jane may yet be saved, but until then he's got a samurai to fight, he picks up the helmet and puts it back on his head along with the mask, he's now Spider-Man as he opens up the door and got out of the limo, he and Mariko are walking away from the lot and through the trees without any bodyguards, they continue making their way until they've reached the meadow where a number of Yakuza dressed as ninjas are assembled including the Oyabuns who wants to observe the match, Silver Samurai is already here all armored up as he spotted Spider-Man dressed like a samurai.

"Spider-Man-San, finally you came, you owe me a rematch, you shamed me and I want my honor back." Silver Samurai said.

"Please, the only that got hurt was you ego, get over it." Spider-Man said.

"Enough! Warriors, step onto the field."

Spider-Man and Silver Samurai walk onto the meadow, each on opposite sides as one of the Oyabuns steps in the middle between two warriors.

"Back in Feudal times, samurais would often fight in meadows like these, it's very fitting to pick such a place for battle, just like the samurais of the old... Harada-San, Spider-Man-San, this will be a battle of skill and honor, you both possess unnatural powers, I remind you, these must not be used, you will fight by the code of the samurai, or you will pay the consequences. Is this understood?"

"Of course." Silver Samurai said.

"I accept." Spider-Man said.

"To the death then... Fight!"

The Oyabun went back as Spider-Man and Silver Samurai are preparing for battle, Silver Samurai draws out his katana as Spider-Man still has his in the sheath with his right hand over the hilt.

"I am Harada, the Silver Samurai, I belong to the Yashida Clan. Who do you belong to, Spider-Man-San? Who is your master?" Silver Samurai said.

"I have no master." Spider-Man said.

"Just as I thought, not only a Gaijin, but a Ronin." Silver Samurai said.

"Just shut up and fight." Spider-Man said.

"As you wish." Silver Samarai.

Silver Samurai has both hands on his katana as he makes the first move, he rushed over to Spider-Man staying perfectly still waiting for his opponent to get close enough, Silver Samurai is close and swings his katana down, Spider-Man quickly drew out his katana and blocks his opponent's attack.

"Impressive, but still not good enough." Silver Samurai said.

Silver Samurai pushed back as he kept on swinging his katana and Spider-Man is on defense, trying to stay alive without using his powers, all he can do is buy enough time for Logan to deliver on his promise, he just hope he can survive long enough til MJ is rescued.

It's 7:05 PM back in Tokyo, Japan as the club is at capacity with so many people, inside the private hall the place is guarded by Tomo's trusted men, Tomo is in his office watching the live match between Spider-Man and Silver Samurai as the hero is holding back on attacking, he's just defending as Tomo smiled as everything is going according to plan, here in the office is Mary Jane tied up to a chair thinking about the danger Peter is in, she's watching him on the screen, he's out there risking death for her knowing he might die. Meanwhile outside the club a motorcycle stops from down the street as Logan is getting off all dressed in his yellow and brown suit without any mask on, he spotted the club ahead, he looks upon his old mask.

Logan sighs. "Well Logan... time to be the Wolverine."

Logan puts on the mask and re-embraced being the hero Wolverine, he walks up to the entrance as many people in line are stunned upon seeing someone in a costume, Logan steps up to the entrance as a bouncer stops him from entering.

"Hold on, what business you have here, Gaijin?!"

Wolverine sighs with a smile, meanwhile inside the club everyone is partying until the bouncer got tossed through the glass and spooked everyone, Wolverine is walking around trying to find where Tomo might be, he spotted an area guarded by a couple of bouncers as he's walking that way, a couple of bouncers are coming to stop him, one tries to punch him but Wolverine ducked down and strikes with an uppercut, another one came from behind and put his hand on his shoulder, Wolverine strikes a rear elbow and knocked him out cold as everyone here watches the chaos erupting here, Wolverine ignored everyone and just went into the private hall only to find more Yakuza henchmen here, they all drew out tantos and nunchucks as they're about to fight this intruder, Logan spotted an office up ahead but there's a lot of Yakuza men between him and his objective.

(Meadows, Mt Fuji)

At the same time back at Mt Fuji, Spider-Man is doing everything he can to stay alive as long as he can, he continues being on defense using the sword techniques he learned from Logan, but Harada's experience as a swordsman would give him an edge as he swings his katana down hard, Spider-Man uses his katana to defend but his opponent's katana blade managed to cut Spider-Man's left collarbone as he can feel the pain.

"All too easy." Silver Samurai smile.

Silver Samurai pulls the blade back as it made a cut on Spider-Man's left collarbone, making the hero scream in pain, he got a sword cut on his left collarbone and he's bleeding, Silver Samurai quickly wipes the blood from his katana and it's all clean now. Spider-Man is still hurt but ignores the pain as he still grips his katana with both hands determined to stay alive no matter what, he and Silver Samurai are walking around facing each other with swords in hand.

"You had to restore using defenseless women to get me to lose." Spider-Man said.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but once I'm done with you, your woman will be joining you soon." Silver Samurai said.

Silver Samurai rushed with his katana as Spider-Man counters with his, both katanas are locked against one another.

"Logan was right about you, you are a coward, you have no honor!" Spider-Man said.

Silver Samurai clinches his teeth in anger as Spider-Man dares to insult his honor, he kept on attacking Spider-Man who is defending himself as much as he could, he prays that Logan will deliver on his promise.

(Tokyo)

Back at the club, Wolverine seeing a lot of thugs here armed with melee weapons waiting for him to make his move, Tomo is in his office watching on the surveillance camera of this mysterious intruder causing trouble at his club, Mary Jane could see someone dressed like a hero. Wolverine then draws out his adamantium claws in both wrists as he's prepared to used them.

"It's been so long since I got blood on these, time to get bloody again." Wolverine said.

Wolverine then rushed down the hallway as the Yakuza henchmen responds, a couple are swing their tantos as Wolverine uses his claws to block the swings, he kick the right one and thrust his claw into him, the other one is still standing a he's swing his tanto down, Wolverine uses his claws to cut through the blade into pieces, he thrusts his claw into the other one, several more henchmen came at him with nunchucks and hit him hard as they're hardly effective against his adamantium bones, Wolverine can feel all the abuse these men are throwing at him as he's growling in anger, he unleashed his rage and cut through the chains of the nunchucks, Wolverine is unleashing his fury and cutting down a lot of henchmen with his claws.

Tomo is in his office stunned upon seeing this Gaijin cutting down his men with ease, this situation doesn't bold well for him as he look upon the hostage to take drastic measure for his self preservation, back outside of the office Wolverine has cut down most of the henchmen as only a couple more are still standing, they pull out their guns and started shooting, Wolverine is using his claws to deflect the bullets fired at him, none of them made any dents in his claws as they're indestructible, Wolverine rushed up to the armed thugs and got close enough to slice off their guns, then he thrust his claws into both of them, instantly killing them, he pushed them both hard against the office door as Tomo see both his men are dead, Wolverine enters to see Tomo holding a gun to Mary Jane's head, using her as a human shield to protect himself from Wolverine.

"Logan-San." Tomo holding the hostage.

"Tomo, let her go." Wolverine said.

"No... this is what's going to happen, you're gonna let me pass with my hostage, if you try anything, I'll kill her." Tomo making threats.

"You're pathetic Tomo, using a woman to shield yourself is very cowardly of you, you even had the nerve to kill your own brother." Wolverine said.

"How did you know? Who told you about this place? Who betrayed me?" Tomo demands.

"Doesn't matter, you won't live long enough, once the Oyabuns learned of your treachery, they'll come for you, this is the end for you Tomo." Wolverine said.

"I think not, I'll simply disappear to somewhere not even the Yakuza will find me... now, back away or she dies." Tomo said.

"All I need is one opening... and you're dead." Wolverine trying to signal Mary Jane without Tomo knowing it.

"I think not. So don't come any closer or she's dead." Tomo holding the gun.

Tomo still holds a gun to Mary Jane's head as she look at Wolverine trying to tell her to give him that opening, he's waiting with his claws still out, Mary Jane calms herself and headbutt backwards and hit Tomo, making him lose his focus as she took the opportunity to steer his arm away with the gun as she then quickly rushed away, Tomo is angry a Gaijin hits him as he attempts to aim back at Mary Jane for the kill, but Wolverine quickly rushed and thrust his claws through his gut, Tomo stopped as he feel the claws and pain within his stomach, Wolverine managed to get him as Tomo is still alive all shocked.

"What... are you?" Tomo is dying.

"The Wolverine." Wolverine said.

Wolverine uses his left claw to slice through Tomo's neck, beheading him as his head fell down from his body, he pulls out his right claws and lets the rest of Tomo fall down to the floor as Tomo Yashida is now dead.

"That was for you, Sensei." Wolverine said.

Wolverine avenged Shingen as he looks at Mary Jane all alive and well as she's curious who this guy is who saved her life.

"Relax Red, I came to rescue you, I work with Web-Head." Wolverine said.

"Yeah, I kinda figured, costume and all." Mary Jane said.

"Right, let's get going, I'm sure the Web-Head is very eager to see you." Wolverine said.

"Please take to him, don't let him die!" Mary Jane is all worried.

Wolverine smile. "That dumbass... he's one lucky guy and he doesn't even know it."

Mary Jane is confused as to what he's talking about, Wolverine could tell by her voice and concern how much she loves him, Wolverine first took the hard drive away from the computer recording everything here as he doesn't want to leave behind any evidence, he escorts Mary Jane away from the office with Tomo's corpse all headless, they walk through the hallway where a lot of henchmen are dead courtesy of Wolverine.

"Did you do all this?" Mary Jane said.

"Didn't have time to ask nicely." Wolverine said.

They made to the club where the place has been emptied and everyone already left, eventually the pair made it outside and walks towards the bike as Wolverine is texting Mariko to inform her about the success in Mary Jane's rescue, he puts away the phone and hopes on the bike, he turns on the engine.

"Hop on Red, I'll take you straight to him." Wolverine said.

Wolverine hands Mary Jane his helmet as she puts it on and hops onto the backseat, she holds on as he drives away from the scene before any police or Yakuza show up, he's driving around until they're leaving the city heading southwest to Mt Fuji.

Later around 7:35 PM at the meadow outside of Mt Fuji, Mariko is here watching the match between Spider-Man and Silver Samurai continue on, Spider-Man is still holding back using defense techniques but even that's started to tire him out as Silver Samurai strikes down hard and force the katana off Spider-Man's hand.

"How disappointing, all you've done is play defense, that could only keep you alive for so long, but you're just delaying the inevitable, it's time to die now Gaijin!" Silver Samurai said.

Silver Samurai swings his katana but Spider-Man quickly rolled down and picked up his sword, he's still tired out from all the blocks he could endure, Mariko then received a text from Logan, saying "Tell the Web-Head his girl is safe! We're coming to him!" Mariko smiled as Logan delivered on his promise, Spider-Man is tired as he's about to reach his limit from holding back without powers.

"Spider-Man-San!" Mariko calling out.

Spider-Man looks to Mariko as she smile with a thumbs up, he knew that meant Mary Jane was saved, Logan delivered on his promise as now he has no reason to hold back, but he's not out of trouble just yet as he still needs to deal with Silver Samurai before he leaves, he's still bound by the samurai code as he can't use his powers in this match, the only way out is to win, he closes his eyes under the mask and remembers everything he learn from Logan.

"Don't think, feel." Logan's words.

"Nana Korobi, Ya Oki... fall down seven times, get up eight." Mariko's words.

"You have heart, Pete, that's what makes you who you are..." Gwen's words.

Spider-Man remembers these words as he cleanse him mind of all distractions and frustrations, he's all calm and in control as he grips the katana in both hands, waiting for Silver Samurai to make his move, the opponent then moves ahead for a strike as Spider-Man blocks and counters with his own strike, both are trading blows against one another, Spider-Man still remains calm and feel the rhythm of swordsmanship, Silver Samurai tries to finish Spider-Man off as much as he could but Spidey slightly moves away from the vertical cut and took the opportunity to strike the hand with the hilt of his own katana, forcing the katana off Silver Samurai's hand, Spidey then elbows Silver Samurai in the head, knocking the helmet off and the villain falls down onto the grass, Spider-Man points the tip of the katana to Harada's head as the Oyabuns are impressed this warrior finally bested Harada as he's been shamed again.

Spider-Man holding the katana. "It's over Harada, now yield!"

Silver Samurai looks at the Oyabuns seeing shame in him as this is all getting to him, feeling disgraced and humiliated, he refuses to give up to a Gaijin, he quietly grips the katana laying next to him on the grass.

"The Silver Samurai yields to no man!" Silver Samurai's eyes glow.

Silver Samurai's katana is supercharged with silver energy as he strikes and cuts through Spider-Man's katana, breaking it off, he kicked Spider-Man back as he's got no weapons now, Silver Samurai is using his powers against the samurai code.

"Harada! Stand down! This match is over!"

"No, I won't stand down, ever!" Silver Samurai refused.

"Don't do this, it's over, my friend is already saved, you've lost already! Give it up!" Spider-Man said.

"Never! You've dishonored me once more, this cannot go on any longer! I will destroy you, Gaijin! Either you die or I do!" Silver Samurai won't back down.

Silver Samurai charges in with his supercharged katana as he's more determined to kill Spider-Man despite feeling dishonored and going against the samurai code, Spider-Man waits for him to get close enough as he dodged the supercharge blade swings as much as he can, the enemy is blinded by his rage as he swings down the katana as Spider-Man moved away and got a hold of his opponent's wrist, he pulls it over his shoulder and breaks it as Harada felt the pain and was forced to let go of the katana, Spider-Man tossed him over hard and Harada fell down onto the grass, he attempts to get back up as Spider-Man strikes with a lower kick, knocking him back on the grass again, Harada is down as Spider-Man picked up his opponent's katana and walks over to a defeated Silver Samurai, he points the katana at him.

"Do it... I've been dishonored, free me of this shame... what are you waiting for?! Finish me, DO IT!" Silver Samurai yells.

Spider-Man then thrust the katana down onto the grass next to Harada's head as his opponent flinched, but he's still alive as Spider-Man refuses to take a life.

"No... I win... you've lost... live with that." Spider-Man said.

Spider-Man walks away as Silver Samurai has finally been defeated and disgraced before the Yakuza.

"Harada! You've violated the samurai code! You've been shamed greatly! As of this moment, you are banished now and forever! You are no longer Yakuza! Take him away!"

A couple of Yakuza ninjas came in and took Harada as they pulled him off his feet as he looks upon Spider-Man looking back saying "Sayonara" in a calm profound voice, Spider-Man has no idea what's about to happen next.

"As for you, Spider-Man-San, you have fought with honor, we shall not interfere in your life again... farewell."

The Oyubans and the ninjas all have their flash bombs out and tossed them down as a flash of light occurred along with smoke that engulfed them, as the smoke disappears only Spider-Man and Mariko are left standing in the meadows alone as the Yakuza are long gone.

"Okay, that ended much peacefully than expected, what's going to happen to Harada now?" Spider-Man said.

"He's been marked with great shame, the Yakuza will never accept him again, he'll either chose death or exile. What matters is that you've defeated him with honor, your friend is now safe." Mariko said.

"Where is MJ anyway?" Spider-Man said.

"She's on her way here with Logan-San, all we can do is wait." Mariko said.

Spider-Man and Mariko remained on the meadow waiting for Logan to come with Mary Jane.

(Two hours later)

Spider-Man is still waiting here in the meadow with Mariko until they hear a motorcycle from a distance, it came up to the lot where the cars are parked, Wolverine parked the bike as Mary Jane quickly got off and heads out to the meadows through the trees, Wolverine follows slowly as Mary Jane finally made it out of the trees to spot what appears to be Spider-Man dressed like a samurai, he takes off his helmet to show his face as Peter spotted Mary Jane here in the flesh, he walks over to her side as she rushed to him, they finally got in front of one another.

"MJ..." Peter said.

Mary Jane just hugs Peter in relief as he hugs her back tight.

"Oh thank god, I was worried I would't see you again." Spider-Man still hugging.

"Same here, Tiger." Mary Jane hugging.

Coming onto the meadows is Wolverine as he spotted the Web-Head still alive and hugging the redhead, Peter is happy that MJ is saved as he looks upon the guy in the costume he's saw earlier today, he knew it was Logan, Peter gave a warm smile as Wolverine smiled back with a thumbs up, he breaks apart the hug and walks over to his friend's savior.

"I see you're still alive, Bub." Wolverine said.

"Guess all that training you gave me paid off... thanks for saving MJ, I owe you one." Spider-Man said.

"Nah, you saved me and my girl, the least I can do is repay that favor by saving you and yours, I'd say we're even." Wolverine said.

"So... who are you suppose to be? The Badger?" Spider-Man is curious.

"Wrong Web-Head, I'm the Wolverine, remember that." Wolverine said.

"Whatever, and by the way, it's Spider-Man, Snikt." Spider-Man said.

"Snikt?" Wolverine said.

"Yeah, cause you make that snikt noise with your claws, I'd figured I call you that." Spider-Man said.

"Fine... but I'm still calling you Web-Head, Web-Head." Wolverine teases.

"Okay Snikt." Spider-Man teases.

Mariko came up to the group. "Logan-San, thank you for helping saving this woman's life."

"Still the man you fell in love with." Wolverine smiled.

"Okay, now that we're all done, can we head back to the city?" Spider-Man said.

"It'll be a two hour drive in the middle of the night, why don't we go rest up at a resort for the night? I know a good place around here, they have a nice hot spring where we can relax." Mariko suggested.

"Sound great... well Web-Head, what do you say?" Wolverine said.

"Why not?" Spider-Man agrees.

"I could use a great bath." Mary Jane said.

"Great, let's go." Mariko said.

Time is 9:02 PM at a hot spring hotel in Mt. Fuji, Logan is completely naked and his body is submerged into the hot water as he's relaxing with his lover Mariko having what's called mixed bathing together, they're having sake and letting the hot water relax their skin and bones.

Logan smiles with his eyes closed. "AH! Nothing beats having a hot bath after a hard day of fighting."

Mariko smile. "Agreed. By the way Logan-San, are you sure it's okay to put those two in the same room?"

"Of course, what could go wrong?" Logan smiled.

Meanwhile in another part of the hot spring, Peter is standing over the water completely naked as he took some of the hot water and applied it to cut over his left collarbone he got from Silver Samurai's katana, meanwhile in the dressing room Mary Jane has her hair all tied up as she put all her clothes into the basket and wrapped a towel around herself and she's walking over to the room reserved for her use, she enters and undo the towel as it drops down, Peter heard a noise as he turns around to find Mary Jane walking in completely naked as she too was surprised seeing Peter all naked too, they're both saw each other all totally exposed. They felt embarrassed as they tried to hide themselves, Peter duck down into the water as Mary Jane uses her hand and arm to cover parts of herself.

"Oh god! MJ, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Peter apologizes.

"No Tiger, I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was here!" Mary Jane apologizes.

"I was told to come here." Peter said.

"Yeah, me too." Mary Jane said.

"Yeah, well... I should... probably go, enjoy the bath." Peter is about to grab a towel.

"Wait... don't go..." Mary Jane said.

Peter stopped upon those words.

"We... could share... if you're... comfortable." Mary Jane blushing.

Peter blushed. "Ahh... yeah, sure, I mean... if you want."

"Okay." Mary Jane feeling shy.

"Tell you what, I'll turn around facing the other way, I'll wait until your body is submerged in the water, okay?" Peter said.

"Okay, sure." Mary Jane still covering herself.

Peter turns around and faced the other away as Mary Jane takes a deep breath and uncovers herself as she carefully enters the hot spring water and fully submerge her body into the water that is hardly visible for anyone to see.

"Okay Tiger, you can turn around." Mary Jane said.

Peter turns to see Mary Jane smiling with her eyes closed as she felt the hot spring water against her skin and muscle as she's relaxing and sitting beside Peter in the water.

Mary Jane feels relaxed. "Ah! I've been dying for a decent bath like this, being coped up in that room for days really stressed me out."

Peter is still a bit shy having Mary Jane close to him without any clothing of any kind, but he's not that surprised since it's not the first time he's seen all of her, Mary Jane turns to see a cut on Peter's collarbone from the fight he had with Silver Samurai.

"Tiger, you're..." Mary Jane looking.

Peter noticed. "Oh, don't worry about it MJ, it's nothing serious."

"Still, you got hurt because of me." Mary Jane said.

"Hey, don't be sorry, I knew the risk I was taking, getting hurt was a small price to pay, I traveled halfway across the world to save you. I make that choice again in a heartbeat." Peter said.

"I'm glad you still think of me as your girl." Mary Jane smile til she said those words and she felt embarrassed. "I don't mean your girl, I mean your girl-girl, it... means something else to me."

"Hey." Peter said.

Mary Jane is looking away as Peter leans in closer and got his hand underneath her chin, gently turns her head to face him.

Peter smiles warmly. "You'll always be my girl, MJ."

Mary Jane smile back as she looks upon Peter's eyes as he look upon hers as something very warm and intense is building up between them and not from the hot water they're in, they eventually came to their senses before they went further.

"I.. ah... probably should..." Peter being nervous.

"Yeah... me too." Mary Jane also nervous.

Peter moved away to give MJ some space as they both still have chemistry between them, an attraction for one another, Mary Jane felt this feeling once last winter when she and Peter were intimate with their skin, she's bathing alone as she smiled, she still has a special place in Peter's heart, as much as she wants to return those feelings, she knew that he's very committed to her best friend Gwen, especially since they're about to get married very soon. But no matter what, Peter will always be the love of Mary Jane's life, she still loves him and it's the same for him, but they can only be in each other's lives as friends.

It's 12:03 PM in New York City at Oscorp Tower, Norman is standing in his office looking out the window at the city as Menken is on the phone getting details about the events in Japan concerning Spider-Man, but instead he's getting bad news that doesn't bold well in their favor, Menken hangs up the call as Norman noticed that it's isn't good.

"Let me guess, Spider-Man didn't die?" Norman said.

"Unfortunately now, I only called our own contact in Tokyo, he just informed me our friend Tomo Yashida is dead, Tokyo PD has found his body in the club he operates, he was decapitated and most of his trusted people are dead, Spider-Man defeated Harada and still alive." Menken explained.

"Of course he is, no matter what obstacles are put in his way, he just won't die." Norman isn't pleased.

"What are we going to do sir? Without Tomo in charge of Yashida Corp, we can't get the major components we need to continue our side business, we can't make any weapons." Menken has concerns.

"I'm very aware of our situation, we'll find another source, this is only a temporary setback, we'll have our business back no matter what it takes. In the meantime, take this burner phone, have it destroyed, we mustn't leave any evidence." Norman said.

"Yes sir." Menken said.

Menken took the burner phone used to communicate with Tomo Yashida, he walks out of the office with the phone needed to be destroyed as soon as possible, meanwhile Norman's landline phone is ringing as Norman walks over and answers it, puts it on speaker.

"Mr. Osborn, I got a call from the U.S. embassy in Tokyo, they've informed us that Mr. Vargas was... killed in a mugging in Shinjuku, I'm regret to inform you that Mr. Vargas is dead."

"I see... it's very sad, I'll let the board know about this tragedy, call the embassy and have them make preparations to ship Vargas's body back to New York for the funeral." Norman said.

"Yes Mr. Osborn."

Norman hangs up the call as he remains calm and smiles upon not looking surprised Vargas is dead, he had a hand in his death through his connection with Tomo, he sits on his seat and holds up his mug.

"I shall miss you Vargas, it's too bad any secrets you had died with you... As for you Spider-Man, you've taken once again from me, but that's okay, one day I will find out who you are, when I do, I won't destroy you, I'll take away everything and everyone you love and make you suffer as you've made me suffer, once you do then I'll kill you... I promise you that." Norman said.

Norman made a vow to destroy Spider-Man by taking away what he loves before he kills him, this will spell out trouble for Spider-Man in the near future once they face each other to the death.

It's March 26th, time is 7:04 AM at the hot spring hotel in Mt. Fuji as a limo along with a motorcycle are parked outside waiting to go back to Tokyo, Peter and Logan are coming out all dressed in their regular attires as they're still waiting for the women to come out.

Peter stretch out his arms and yawns. "Morning."

"Morning Bub... so... how was last night?" Logan said.

"What?" Peter is confused.

"Come on Bub, I know you and the redhead shared a bath together." Logan said.

"So you're the one who arraigned that. Should've figured." Peter said.

"Don't look so down, woman that hot, you can tell me... you're tapping that, right?" Logan teases with a smile.

"What?! No!" Peter blushed.

"No? What's the hell is wrong with you, Bub?" Logan is disappointed.

"Nothing is wrong, MJ is my friend, that's all." Peter said.

"Bub... you're a dumbass." Logan said.

"Excuse me?" Peter said.

"Seriously Bub, a woman that smoking hot, with a body like that, you either walk through the fire or die trying... but hey, I don't blame you, you're probably haven't done it yet, still don't have any moves." Logan teasing about consummation.

"Hey! Just so you know, I already done it, I got a lot of moves and I actually do them very well." Peter admitted.

"Really?" Logan is surprised.

"Yeah, having powers like mines works well in... other certain situations." Peter talks about his sex life.

Coming out of the hotel are Mariko and Mary Jane as they're both walking towards the limo, Peter looks upon Mary Jane looking all stunning and beautiful in her black tank top and beige skinny pants showing off her exquisite figure as always, deep down he's always felt attracted to her like everyone else, Logan can see the redhead as he turns his head to Peter with a smile.

"What?" Peter looking confused.

Logan smirks with a smile. "Dumbass."

Peter sighs. "Whatever."

He and Logan are leaving the hotel with the woman heading back to Tokyo.

It's 10:30 AM at the Yashida Estate, Peter and Mary Jane are packing everything up including the souvenirs Peter bought recently and puts them all into a new duffel bag he bought here, Peter zips up the bag as he then goes through the backpack he came to Tokyo with, he pulls out MJ's passport and hands it to her.

"Here, it's been stamped, courtesy of S.H.I.E.L.D., they also falsify your travel itinerary, so no one will know you've been kidnapped." Peter said.

"Thanks Tiger, you probably save Aunt Anna from having a heart attack." Mary Jane said.

"You can thank Janet for providing a cover story, she Anna that you're away on a photoshoot." Peter said

Mariko slides the door open. "Peter-San, are you all set to go?"

"We are, sorry about the armor." Peter said.

"Don't worry, you can keep it, it's yours." Mariko said.

"Thanks, just have it shipped to Avengers Tower in New York." Peter said.

"Will do." Mariko excused herself.

Peter puts on his backpack and took the duffel bag. "Ready?"

"Sure, let's go." Mary Jane said.

The pair are leaving until they've spotted Logan heading towards the Shinto shrine.

"I'll meet you up front, something I gotta do first." Peter said

"Sure Tiger, I'll be waiting for you." Mary Jane said.

Peter hands Mary Jane the duffel bag as she walks away, Peter went up to the shrine where Logan is sitting on his knees, he quietly approaches as Logan can sense him.

"I thought you'd be gone by now." Logan said.

"Not without saying goodbye, and... I know that things between us were tense, but I just wanted to say thank you for saving MJ." Peter said.

Logan gets up from his knees. "I'm not going to lie, when I heard about where your woman is, I thought about sitting back and doing nothing but stay here drinking sake."

"Why didn't you?" Peter said.

Logan sighs. "I just didn't have it in me to let a woman die, so I went back to wearing the suit and became Wolverine again, even though I didn't want to. When I saved her life, it was a great feeling, something I hadn't felt in a long time, it felt good doing something honorable." Logan said.

Peter smiles. "I guess there's still a hero inside you after all."

"Maybe, but this will be the last time... listen Bub, we can continue being a hero as long as we can, but at some point you're going to want more in life than this, to find your place in the world where you belong, my heart is telling me that my place is with Mariko, and that is worth more than being a hero." Logan said.

"I understand, I hope to get that one day." Peter said.

"I'm sure you will Bub, whether it's with that redhead or the blonde, you need to follow your heart and you'll know where you belong." Logan said.

"I'm very eager to my future with Gwen Stacy, she's where I belong." Peter said.

"Good luck Bub." Logan raise his hand.

Peter looks at the hand as he raised his and shakes hands with Logan.

"You know, for someone who's dorky and makes terrible joke, you're alright." Logan said.

"Thanks, for someone who's grumpy and stinks a lot, you're alright too." Peter said.

They stopped shaking hands as they're about to part ways, Peter is about to head to join Mary Jane as Logan walks the other way until he forgot something.

"Bub, wait! There's something you need to know." Logan said.

Peter stopped and looks back. "What is it?"

"When I learned Tomo wanted to cheat to destroy you, someone else was pulling those string, probably one of your enemies, someone who's very determined to destroy you, thought you should know... watch your back... have a safe trip home." Logan said.

Logan walks away after giving Peter a warning about a mysterious enemy, Peter suspects that it could that same person he's looking for, the very same man who was responsible for so many crimes, he's going to put some thought into this mystery. Peter then leaves the house where Mary Jane is waiting by the gate with Mariko wanting to say goodbye.

"Well, guess this is where we part ways." Peter said.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a little while longer?" Mariko said.

"Appreciate it, but I'm needed back home, thank you so much for your help and your hospitality." Peter then bows in politeness. "Arigato."

Mariko bows with a smile. "I see you know some Japanese."

Peter smile. "Guess I'm not all Gaijin after all... Goodbye."

"Goodbye Peter-San." Mariko said goodbye.

Peter and Mary Jane are leaving the Yashida Estate and are walking away heading towards the city while Mariko watched, Logan is watching from a distance as Spider-Man is heading back home with Mary Jane.

It's 12:34 PM in Shibuya District of Tokyo as Peter and Mary Jane are still around in the city, they're passing by a newsstand as they didn't noticed today's paper on the murder of an American named Maximillian "Max" Vargas, Mary Jane is looking around the city as this is actually her first time seeing Tokyo with her own eyes, she spotted a 3d billboard with a big puppy above, Peter is speaking on the phone with the pilot who flew him here.

"Okay, got it." Peter hangs up. "He said that the plane is still undergoing maintenance, won't be ready to fly til two days."

"In other words, we still have time to explore Tokyo while we're still here." Mary Jane said.

"Yeah, I should stop by and pick up more Tokyo Bananas to bring back home." Peter said

"What's a Tokyo Banana?" Mary Jane said.

Peter smiles. "You're in for a surprise, MJ. Oh, I do have something."

Peter opens up the duffel and pulls out a flavored KitKat he bought around here few days ago, it's cherry flavor as he broke it in two.

"Here, it's one of those flavored KitKats, try it." Peter holding a piece.

Mary Jane took a piece and bits it in her mouth.

"Mmm, it's good!" Mary Jane likes the taste.

"I know, though I'm actually in the mood for some good food." Peter said.

"Come to think of it, I could use a decent meal myself, what do you suggest?" Mary Jane said.

All of a sudden they spotted someone moving around a ramen cart called a yatai, he made a stop on the street and started setting it up as this gives them an idea.

"Honestly MJ, I'm dying for a bowl of ramen. What do you say?" Peter smile.

"Sounds great." Mary Jane smiles.

Peter and Mary Jane walks over to the cart to have some ramen, they're seated down as the guy is making the noodles, dipping it into hot water, he's also brewing the broth, sometime later he's all finished and hands two bowls of egg, fishcakes, slices of pork, and pieces of green onions, Peter thank him as he and Mary Jane are starting to chow down on their bowls of ramen, they're sticking around Tokyo for a while before heading back home as their vacation is still on.

It's March 27th around 9:02 PM as Kenuichio Harada is wondering around an alleyway in tattered clothes holding a sheath with a katana inside it, he drinks up a bottle of sake drowning in sorrow as he's been shamed greatly courtesy of his defeat at the hands of Spider-Man, he's not only dishonored, but he's lost his place in the Yakuza, he's been excommunicated and now is homeless, he has nothing anymore as he drinks down another bottle of sake but he heard something as he quickly draws out his katana only to find a Gaijin, woman in red with a pair of sais in her sash, her name is Elektra.

"Who are you, Gaijin?" Harada holding the katana.

"Someone who's been sent to seek you out." Elektra said.

Harada lowers his katana. "Did the Yakuza send you to finish me off? Go ahead, get it over with."

"The Yakuza didn't send me." Elektra said.

"Then who are you?" Harada is curious.

"Merely a messenger, I was sent by my organization who is need of someone of your... particular talent." Elektra said.

Harada got more curious. "Who do you belong to?"

Elektra stays to explain everything to Harada about her organization, the Hand, what they are and what they can offer Harada.

Next day it's March 28th, time is 4:30 PM back at the Yashida Estate as Logan is in the dojo training in kenjutsu as Mariko came by all dressed up in her suit for work as she's had a very busy day at the company.

"Just got a text from our friends, they're on a flight back home to New York." Logan said.

"That's good to know." Mariko said.

"I see you've been busy." Logan said.

"Just working tirelessly to cleanse out anyone loyal to Tomo and the Yakuza, taking a big step forward to legitimize my family's name as well as the company, the Yashida Clan will be well respected." Mariko said.

"That's wonderful, now that Tomo is gone, the future of the clan and the company now depends on you." Logan said.

"I couldn't done this without you, Logan-San." Mariko said.

Mariko and Logan leaned in and kiss each other.

"You know that I'm sweaty." Logan flirts.

"Mmm, I know... you could use a bath, I'll tell 'em to get the water warmed up." Mariko flirts.

Mariko walks away from Logan seductively and out of the dojo looking back Logan.

"I'll be there in a second, keep the water warm for me." Logan smiles.

Mariko blows a kiss and leaves, Logan likes where this is going, he was about to get ready for a hot bath but his phone suddenly rings as he walks over to check who's calling, someone with the initials W.W. as he got a pretty good idea who that could be, he doesn't like it, but he accepts the call nevertheless.

Logan sighs. "Wade..."

"Logan, you remember your bestie! I'm touched, so lovely to hear your voice again..."

Logan sighs. "What the hell do you want, Wade?"

"That's the thing, I'm here in Tokyo on a job..."

(Yakuza Headquarters)

This caller is none other than Wade Wilson, the Merc with the Mouth in a red suit called Deadpool as he's on the phone surrounded by so many Yakuza henchmen all armed with guns and swords as they mean business to kill him.

"And I'm in deep trouble, care to help your bestie out?" Deadpool talking on the phone.

(Yashida Estate)

Logan is stunned that his old ally Deadpool has gotten himself into some serious trouble with the Yakuza and now is asking for help, this will spell out trouble for Logan as he's going to have to bails Wade out of serious trouble.

... Deadpool will return.

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