"Stand back, your Excellency, we'll handle this." Ogun and Logan drew their katana swords and faced this new warrior, who drew upon two of his own. Logan had been training with Ogun for over ten years now and he was Ogun's first adept, having worked all these years to get to the level, surpassing all the competition. However the training had been long and hard, and he had faced opposition from the rest of the trainees, as he was not of Japanese origin, but Ogun had taken to him.

Yes, it had been hard work, but now he was proficient in several styles of the martial arts - armed and unarmed. In fairness he knew his sword work was not as good as it could be, and that Ogun was a master, but that was because he had learned to us his claws, but only when the situation demanded. He wondered if they'd need them now as they went to work to defend the Japanese delegation, who were travelling to Portsmouth to sign the Treaty that would end the war between Japan and Russia. The Russians had been overconfident and paid the price, and they had no choice but to capitulate.

It had been over a decade since he had been in America and less than a week in to his homecoming, he was already in a fight. He smiled thinking of the old days in the tribe and working with the lumber workers, but that was a different man. Now he was much more deadly and he and his sensei attacked the giant in front of them, both of them going with the swords, which he easily deflected. As the blades clashed and clanged, Logan thought back to the training he had been given, and the key moments that had defined him on the road to become a samurai warrior.

"Inner peace," Ogun said, "is the key to the fight. You must be calm and focused. Each of us has within two sides - yin and yang." He looked at Logan when he said this, knowing that there had been a side to Logan that was pure animalistic savagery, for there were moments when it came through in their one on one training sessions.

"A light and a dark side, that coexist and determine who we are" Ogun continued. "It could even be described as man and animal. The dark side of our nature is the violent chaotic side, upon which we draw when we go in to combat. It is this nature that allows us to act and react with little more than a second thought, however the power of this can be overwhelming. The light side of our being is the rational side, the cautious and cunning side of our nature that will strive to avoid conflict to keep us safe from harm. It is this side of ourselves from which we can plan, and formulate strategy in the midst of battle, changing tactics as and when needed." Ogun paused, allowing his students to absorb this as he walked amongst them.

"The man cannot exist without the animal nor can the animal exist without the man. Both sides of our nature must be united if we are to be truly whole, and there can be no inner peace without unity. Inner peace allows both sides to work without the natural conflict both ensue. Accepting who we are, what we are and working with it can achieve the balance, instead of fighting against it. Fighting to control yourself means that you are focused on another battle before you begin. You cannot fight yourself and another enemy at the same time. However the path to a state of enlightenment is a long one, but once achieved can be summoned at a moment's notice in times of stress and conflict. Believe me, my students, I know how the lure of battle and the lust for blood can bring the animal within to dominance, and on that account the battle is half lost." He stood before them all. "We will learn a new series of meditation techniques, based on those I have already shown you to relax after the fight, and how to stimulate the body to provide a healing technique to hasten the body's natural recovery processes." He sat down on the floor in front of them, resting upon his crossed legs, his upper body losing all tension as he simply let go off the need to keep his muscles working as they would normally do. "Now, clear your minds of other thoughts, and then repeat the mantra I speak."

Logan and the others in a group of about twenty did as their sensei commanded and started on the road to inner peace.

That was eight years ago and Logan could achieve the correct mental state for the battle without the need for mantras and sitting positions. Training had developed his mind so that all he had to do was focus and the state was achieved and he set in to the mindset, both halves of his being joining in total unity. Ogun had chastised him during training for smiling and he had developed an expression that was half-smile, half-passive expression so it looked as if he might be smiling but you could never be quite sure. Ogun accepted this as it worked as a tactic against an opponent and put them slightly off guard.

"This way, your Excellency," said a voice behind them, and Logan knew that their charges were being escorted to a safe location, leaving them clear to fight and end this. They did not know where this man had come from, and in honesty they didn't care. They had a duty to undertake and that meant dispatching the assassin. Logan struck high as Ogun struck low, the two men working in perfect synchronisation as their training had dictated, but their opponent was canny and leapt Ogun's attack, while parrying Logan's strike with the first blade and making a thrust with the second. Only Logan's animal like reflexes saved him from being run through the heart, and even then he twisted to have the blade stab in to him and pierce a lung, taking the breath from him. He winced but brushed aside the pain, thinking of another of Ogun's lessons, one that taught him something just as useful as balance but would be used almost as often.

"You summoned me, sensei?" asked Logan as he bowed at his master, who stood waiting for him.

"Yes," said Ogun. "It has been brought to my attention that you have a weapon that you have not disclosed to me, a weapon which you have been observed practising with, adapting techniques that I have shown you."

"Sensei?" asked Logan, wondering if he knew the secret he had kept hidden for the four years he had been here.

"Your claws, Logan, the three spikes of bone that appear from around the back of both your hands, making six weapons in total. Show me them. Now."

"Yes, sensei," said Logan accepting that the secret was out and that there was no point keeping it hidden any longer and flexed his arm so that the claws shot out from their resting place in his forearm. Intense pain shot through him as they came out, tearing thorough the internal tissues and ripping through the skin, but he had got used to it over time, even though he had to clench his fists very tightly when they emerged. Ogun gasped at the wonder of seeing this happen for the first time and came to examine the claws, tracing the thin beads of blood that were upon them with his own fingers.

"Incredible," he murmured. "You recuperative abilities have always impressed me, but by rights your blood should be streaming from your hands. I have seen your hands up close, and there is no sign of scaring, or of holes. They pierce your skin when they are extended, correct?"

"Yes, sensei."

"The pain..." said Ogun and examined the palms of his hands where there were indentations from where Logan had closed his hands to bear the pain. He'd have expected bruises from a normal man, but Logan was far from normal, he was vastly superior. "You live with it every time you do this?" Logan nodded. "I see. Meditation techniques help to ease that, but you need a more direct focus, a way of pushing the pain aside. I generally leave this for students in advance of you, however the need is here for you to learn now. However, I must know why you felt the need to hide them from me, and from us all. You have been here a long time, surely there is no need for secrets."

"I...," Logan took a breath. "I was afraid. I can get away with tracking through my Indian heritage. I can get away with healing because some heal faster than others. This marks me out as a freak, something less than human. People fear what is different, and this makes me different, as well as my enhanced senses and healing powers they'll know that this is who I am, and not see me for the person inside."

"I understand," said Ogun. "Listen to me now - you are not a freak. You are a strong, powerful being who has been gifted with extraordinary attributes. I know that such gifts are not without a price, and yours is the heightened animalistic nature that you have struggled to contain. We have worked on that, and we will work on this - there cannot be secrets between us. I have to be able to trust the people I train, otherwise we cannot fight effectively, as doubt will eat away at us as if it were a plague of locusts feeding on the crops."

"I understand," said Logan. "I apologise if I have offended you. I submit to the punishment you deem necessary."

"I thought you would," said Ogun. "You have a fine sense of honour and duty, far in excess of any gaijin I have ever met. As much as I regret this, it must be done. Hold out you hands and make fists." Logan did so, his claws exposed and pointing towards his master.

Before Logan could realise what was happening, Ogun had taken his katana from its sheath, lifted it high and brought it down. Logan felt nothing, then a jolt of pain as the majority of each of the exposed claws fell to the floor, having been sliced off at the knuckles of his hands. His hands themselves were untouched, but there was almost nothing between where the blade had come down and his skin. He had possibly lost a few hairs from his fingers, but that was the extent of the skill used. Logan retracted the claws and the wounds began to heal.

"Your claws will grow back, I have no doubt," said Ogun. "The inability to use them until that point is punishment enough."

"Yes, sensei," said Logan, still marvelling at the skill and speed of the katana.

"Now, I will show you a technique of pain repression. It will dull the pain, not remove it, but it will allow you to cope with the emergence of your claws without more discomfort than should be necessary." Logan nodded and his master began to teach him yet further skills to become the consummate warrior.

He was not yet that warrior, but he was close and slowly the two men were battling back their opponent. He was very good, better than Logan, and Logan would have said he was better than Ogun as well, but against the two of them he was no match. All three of them were cut and wounded after the battle that had raged for several moments now, the clashing of steel on steel ringing around the small area.

Neither of them had said a word since the battle had begun, and their opponent had not spoken at all, but his intent had been clear - to disrupt the signing of the treaty, which would create more war, embarrass the Americans and cost the lives of many more. Logan disliked what that meant, that someone had hired this warrior in order to kill thousands. There was no honour in needlessly prolonging a conflict, just for the sake of fighting. Fighting was only one option and if possible to be avoided. Just because you had the skills it didn't mean you needed to use them. The threat and possible intent would be enough, and if it were not, then a demonstration of the skills would work. If that failed, then it would be a fight, and to be the best did not mean that you were the fastest, strongest or smartest, you had to be the last one left standing, as that meant you had used all your skills to the best of your ability. He remembered back to his final test as an apprentice before becoming an adept.

Naked apart from a ragged loincloth, Logan was blindfolded and left in the mountain forests outside of the temple where Ogun's dojo was located. Logan had always liked the area in which he trained, for it reminded him of Canada, though he also had a liking for the various cites of Japan, which he visited whenever he could.

However this part of the area had recently been burned, so he could not tell much with his enhanced senses, the burnt stench filling his nostrils and blocking out the other subtleties of which he was accustomed. He knew this would be his final test - to survive the battle that was coming. He quickly looked about scavenging for something that he could fashion as a weapon if he had the time. His attackers would be on him soon, and since Ogun knew his capabilities he would have arranged for some of the best warriors to come for him. This was a test, for Ogun needed to know if he could handle the best that were out there in his estimation.

It would have been easier for Ogun to fight himself, but he was needed to train the others and a fight could result in him being wounded so that it did not happen, and that was not acceptable to any of them, so this way was employed instead. Logan grabbed a piece of wood and he knew it wouldn't make much more than a club that would work for one shot, but it would have to suffice. He wasn't going to use his claws unless the need was there. Then there was a faint rustle behind him and he turned towards the sound, his attention now fully focused and then they came.

Ten warriors, garbed in black robes, their faces hidden and swords gleaming in the light, all attacking at once. Logan's first instinct was to unleash the animal within himself and fight back, but that was not what the test was about. He needed skill and control to defeated these and he used the techniques to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand.

As the first one came towards him, he pitched the piece of wood throwing it as if it were a knife. It hurtled towards the ninja, who dodged it, but that hadn't been Logan's target, but the man behind. As the first ninja dodged, Logan was already intercepting the area he would dodge to with a sweeping kick, that met the ninja in the throat and took his head almost clean off his shoulders and took him down. In seconds Logan had stopped two of them and now gained a weapon, and he knew he was starting to enjoy himself.

He fought against that and he met two swords with one, as a couple of the ninja came at him at once, but as the blades met, Logan dropped the sword and the resistance they had met was negated and both fell forward, one meting Logan's knee the other his fist. Four down six to go, and the battle went in much the same, way, as Logan used his training to dispatch his enemies and at the end of it, there were six dead ninja and four seriously injured ones. Logan for his trouble had a few cuts and scratches, but nothing that wouldn't heal by the time he got back to the dojo. He had learnt his lessons well and he had been in control the whole time.

He smiled as he walked home, thinking that he had conquered his demons after all this time, and that they would never plague him again.

The memory made Logan think - he'd met two swords against him and turned it around, in effect their opponent was doing the same and he changed tactic, which surprised both Ogun and their foe. Ogun expected Logan to assist him in the strike and Logan had held back, allowing Ogun to meet the enemy blade alone. The strength behind the blade had expected to take on two swords, but bore down on one instead, shattering Ogun's blade, and knocking the elder warrior back but the warrior went with him, overextending himself. As they fell back, Ogun prepared to leap back up the moment he hit the ground and attack the man above him, but it was not necessary. Logan timed it right, and inserted his sword between the two and as he felt the weight press down on it, he pulled back, disembowelling the warrior who went limp, just as Ogun connected with him and managed to throw the man back some distance, where he lay dead on the floor.

"Excellent work, Adept," said Ogun, bowing to his student. "A masterful stratagem."

"Thank you, sensei," replied Logan, returning the bow, and wiped the sword clean of the blood on it, then returned it to its resting place. "With luck, we can put this war behind us."

"Yes," said Ogun. "However, I feel that this a precursor to larger events. Call it a... feeling, I have." Logan nodded and went to check the body of the fallen warrior, where he was met by one of President's agents.

"Who was he?" said Logan, removing the mask and placing it on the floor.

"I believe they called him the Weaponsmith. My Russian is not that good, so I believe that is the translation. My thanks to you and your master."

"Not a problem," replied Logan, who noticed Ogun was holding the mask and admiring it.

"You're American?"

"Canadian."

"With a mastery in Japanese fighting skills? Unusual, yet all the more comendable. My name is Grayson. Valentine Grayson." He extended his hand.

"Secret Service?" said Logan, accepting the offer.

"Not quite," chuckled Grayson. "I work for a group called Landau, Luckman, Lake and Lequare. We assist in crisis management, and gave a hand here."

"Trouble-shooters, eh?" said Logan. "Guess there are worse things to be."

"Indeed," said Grayson. "In fact, if you ever need employment for whatever reason, then look me up. I can be contacted through the any of the embassies world wide, or any of the government buildings should you return to the States."

"Really?" said Logan, trying to the scepticism he felt.

"Really," said Grayson. "Think it over." Grayson nodded to some of his colleagues who began to clear away the body, and Logan turned to Ogun.

"You like the mask?"

"Oh, yes," said Ogun, a starnge lilt in his voice as if he had found something he had long been searching for. "Very much so." Then he turned to his Adept. "Logan, I overheard you talking with Mr Grayson. I have heard of this called Landau, Luckman, Lake and Lequare. Be very wary of your dealings with them, for if a fraction of what I have heard is true, then they are not to be trusted."

"I understand," said Logan, grateful for the elder man's advice and guidance. "It's good to know you still watch my back."

"Indeed," said Ogun, thinking that Logan would one day make a perfect host for his essence. His preparation was almost complete.