"Flight 301 to Tokyo is now boarding at Gate 17."

It's at this time of year I head to Japan. I head to the Yashida compound to visit the graveside of my own true love, the Lady Mariko Yashida.

I remember hitting the floor, calling out her name, her scream seconds to it ringing in my ears. I had been busy in a fight elsewhere and she'd been on her own, allowing Matsu'o Tsurayaba's treachery to take its toll.

"Logan, my beloved! Take me in to the chapel."

I knew if she went in she wouldn't come out again alive. Her next words confirmed it.

"I am poisoned, my beloved..." The words sliced in to me sharper than Creed's claws ever could, adamantium or no. I tried to fight the inevitable, seeking medical help, an antidote.

"There is none! Just take me in to the chapel, it is a horrible enough death. It should not be a public spectacle." I took her in to the chapel. I could never refuse her anything, and she knew that.

I said nothing. I couldn't find the words. So she did.

"Oh, Logan, I must ask of you one final boon. I have fulfilled my vow. I have divested the Clan, even if the Hand delved in treachery, I have upheld my end. I would have been free to marry you."

I could see the pain in her eyes. The agony that her body was going through. I couldn't bear to see her put herself through that pain, and tried to stop her. But she was ready for that.

"But aren't we married in our hearts? Have we not paid a dowry in blood and pain and loneliness? Isn't the most sacred vow the one we carry in the core of our souls?"

My eyes were closed, the sight before me unbearable. It wasn't her in my arms, but someone else. It had to be, but the tears that stung my eyes told me the horrid truth. I suspected what she asked of me, but I asked anyway.

"Spare me the final agonies! Release my soul while it still sings with my love for you! Use your claws, my beloved..."

I tried to object, my eyes open wide in horror, but the sight in front of me was only the start and I never could refuse her anything.

The claws were unsheathed from their housings and, holding her fragile form in my arms, I pierced her heart. Death was instantaneous. She didn't even have time to say anything. No 'I love you', or 'thank you' or anything. The only sound heard was the sound of my claws retracting into my forearm.

The silence was deathly as I carried her out of the chapel, towards the waiting Gambit, Sunfire and Silver Samurai. I could see in Gambit's eyes he understood, perhaps even witnessed something similar. The Samurai had done a lot of bad stuff, but seeing his sister dead was something even he had not anticipated. As for Sunfire, well Shiro said nothing but I could see the pain and revulsion in his heart. He didn't blame me for killing her, but I would forever be the one who had killed her.

First her father, then her. The responsibility weighed heavily on my soul and I knew that one of the best parts of me had died with her.

"This is the final call for flight 301 to Tokyo now boarding at Gate 17."

The voice wakes me from my memory and I make my way to Gate 17. This kind of travel is easier these days, now that I don't have the adamantium in me. No problems with security anymore and I smile in spite of myself.

"Have a good journey, sir," says the attendant. She's a pretty young thing, confident yet shaking a little. Probably her first time.

"Thanks darlin'," I reply and give her a quick wink. She flushes a moment then goes back to work as if nothing had happened. She'll be fine, and we both know it. Besides, the journey's never the problem. It's what happens when I get there.

"Matsu'o Tsurayaba," came the voice as Matsu'o awoke, to find himself tied to a chair, surrounded by the various masters of the Hand. The last he remembered he was in his apartment in Albany, drinking a fine wine and watching the world go by as he worked on a plan to re-establish the Hand in Madripoor.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Matsu'o, unable to move, though his bionic hand was working on cutting the steel cords loose. They had prepared for his coming.

"You are charged with failure and gross incompetence," came another voice, a female one at that. "How do you plead?"

"Not guilty," said Matsu'o, playing along whilst the hidden voices held the upper hand. He tipped his head at the mental pun. "Who are you?"

"Your replacement," said the first voice and the man stepped from the shadows.

"You," said Matsu'o half in horror, half in disbelief. "You think yourself worthy enough to be my replacement, Kuroyama?"

The man stood before him, towering over him, his powerful frame showing not only the strength and power but also giving off a presence, his eyes totally white, his face almost totally covered by his mask and cowl. Matsu'o could not see his mouth but he could sense the man was smiling.

"My worthiness has never been in question. I am the Black Mountain of the Hand, a Master of the Hand, and now Lord of the Hand."

"You also died, remember? So by what right do you make such a vainglorious boast?"

"By right of success, Matsu'o Tsurayaba," said another voice and a woman stepped from the shadows. Kuroyama's presence meant it could only be one person - Nina McCabe. Matsu'o had never met her personally but he knew of her. Gone was the innocent facade of months ago, in its place stood a woman with a Mohican hair style scantily dressed in leather and adorned with various blades and throwing weapons.

"Really?" said Matsu'o. A bead of sweat trickled down past his eye, and he realised for all his bravado he was worried. He wasn't certain of how this would go, and he knew that Kuroyama did have a lot of success under his belt.

"The destruction of the Chaste is prime amongst his accomplishments, my own death and subsequent resurrection to discredit Elektra who has not been heard of in months now that the world is watching for her. Plus there have been other developments." Then she smiled as she walked past Kuroyama, her hand lightly brushing against his. Matsu'o noticed and made a note of it.

"You however," continued Kuroyama, "have repeatedly failed time and time again, most recently against Sabretooth, Shadowcat and our old adversary Wolverine.* It cost us time, resources and a loss of a base in Madripoor. Your endeavours may have scored minor victories but they have led to bigger defeats and the costs are no longer acceptable. Your high days have gone - they ended with the death of Mariko Yashida, something which you failed to capitalise on. You have lost Omega Red to others after the effort it took to obtain him from the Russian authorities** and the whole business with Kwannon is another mark against you.***"

(* Marvel's Wolverine #128--Dino)
(** See early issues of Marvel's X-Men--Dino again)
(*** Kwannon was a ninja assassin whose mind was placed in the body of Psylocke, and Psylocke's mind was placed in Kwannon's body--Dino, one more time)

"There have been many setbacks of late," conceded Matsu'o, "yet I have not been ultimately defeated. Of all my various failures I have always lived to fight another day. Unlike yourself, Kuroyama, or have you so soon forgotten the name of Ogun?"

Kuroyama's eyes narrowed as Matsu'o spoke his words, his breathing grew harsher and Matsu'o could see the muscles tense and quiver as they prepared for action.

"You have been lucky thus far," said Kuroyama, keeping his voice tempered even though the rest of his body language gave him away. "Rest assure, Matsu'o Tsurayaba, that when you die you will not be brought back. Your body will be cut in to scraps and fed to the dogs, if even they will eat you. They did not touch your hand or eye, did they?"

Touché, though Matsu'o but did not give him a response to the insult. "Do I get a chance to defend myself against such accusations?" he demanded.

"But of course," said Nina, coming back in to the light. "The charges can only be proven or disproven in a trial of combat?"

"Against whom?"

"Me," she said, removing her jacket at the same time cutting Matsu'o loose from his bonds, and leaving the katana on the ground in front of him. Matsu'o knew it would be a fight to the death, as well as knowing it was a fight he might not be able to win.

"Accepted," he said, shrugging of his own jacket and removing his tie. He picked the blade up and examined it in the light. Kuroyama withdrew and a ninja came and removed the chair Matsu'o had been sitting on. Nina nodded at Matsu'o, he nodded back and then they began the duel.

Travellin' from the States to Japan takes a while, so I get some sleep on the plane and end up having a very strange dream.

In it I can see two dragons a silver one and a black one, both doing combat over a much smaller red dragon. The red dragon seems to be a female, whilst the other two male dragons seem to be battling for her life as she seems to be entranced by a distorted image of herself in a mirror.

The black dragon bites down hard on the neck of the silver drangon then unleashes a bolt of searing flame at the exposed blood, which ignted on contact. The fire begins to consume the silver dragon, who, though mortally wounded, places himself in the path of the black dragon prevnting him from getting to the red dragon.

The silver dragon has a fierce determination in it's eyes and refuses to yield, horribly wounded and badly burnt though it is. He looks at the black dragon and charges forward, but the balck drgaon is ready and in one swift move strikes, at the silver dragon.

There's a loud crack and the silver dragon falls to the floor, dead. The black dragon then turns to the red dragon who has smashed the mirror. She looks up for a moment as the black dragon looks down. Their eyes meet, and the black dragon opens it's jaws and picks the red dragon up, it's powerful jaws bearing down, crushing bone and tearing flesh.

The red dragon struggles in vain as her body is destroyed and the balck dragon begins to gulp down the red dragon slowly but surely, making sure not to do enough to kill her outright, keeping her alive as she's devoured and increasing the torment.

Just before the red dragon dies it's eyes open wide and cry out in terror and anguish.

"Logan!" Generally I'd wake up at this point but for some reason I cannot and I keep watching as the red dragon becomes one with oblivion.

Then she is gone and the black dragon is alone. It looks down at the mirror and with a blast of fiery breath fuses the shattered mirror whole and from the molten glass appears a new red dragon. It links with the black dragon and both fly off in to the distance, both raining fire and destruction as they go.

Then I awake. I quickly look around me to make sure everything is okay and I relax in to my seat. The in-flight movie's not that good so I look out of the window. There ain't much to see other than blue sky and clouds and I check my watch.

I reckon we got about an hour or so before we get to Japan and my thoughts go back to the dream and I wonder what it meant. Anything that vivid or that I can remember in such detail can't be anything good and I figure I need to go wash my face and see if I can clear my head.

As I walk down the aisle towards the bathroom, I notice a couple of attendants acting funny. I quickly taste the air and notice that the attendant from earlier isn't about. I turn my head and see her at the other end of the plane.

Strange dreams notwithstanding, there's something strange going on here. I don't remember seeing these two when we boarded.

"Can I help you, sir?" asks one.

"No, bub," I answer. "Just heading for the bathroom."

"Oh," he says. "Sorry."

"No problem," I answer and quickly make my way to the cubicle. I splash water on my face and quickly dry off with a towel. Then I hear the voices outside. Just whispers and mumblings that I didn't catch with the water on, but now my enhanced senses can't pick up the words.

It's trouble, and I don't want any trouble. They'll try something, I'll get involved stopping them, people will get hurt, there'll be questions asked and I really don't have time. I pop my claws then I open the door and walk towards the two attendants.

"Bub, I don't care what yer reasons are, but you picked the wrong plane to try a hijacking."

"Huh?" he asks and I briefly show him the claws. His eyes go wide.

"I know what you've got, you know what I've got. I'm more toruble than you could have planned on, and it ain't worth it. You get me?"

They both nod, and I retract the claws. Then they see the wounds the claws make as they return to my forearms close up when the healing factor kicks in. They both get the message real good now and I nod and take my seat.

These two are gonna be watching me the rest of the flight, but that's not a problem. I pull my hat down over my eyes when I get back and try and go to sleep. Course, they'll think I'm watching them, but that's not my problem. Having the dream again might be.

Not long after we arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo. My two new friends watch me leave. They didn't create any trouble when I was on board and they've probably had their plans ruined to boot. No point in creating more hassles than I can afford right now. Some one else can deal with them later, I have to be somewhere.

Then I catch a couple of familiar scents. One is more or less in front of me, the other is some way off. Both of them are friends.

I make my way through the crowds to meet the man before me.

"Shiro."

"Logan-san," answers Sunfire. "It has been a while."

"Yeah. How are things? I spoke with Mac and Heather at Department H recently."*

(* See last issue for details--Dino)

"I am fine. We have a car waiting to take you to the Yashida Mansion Compound."

"She's with you?" I ask, in surprise.

"There are very few places left for me to go, my friend," comes a voice I recongise. A voice from a woman I owe a great deal. She's not dressed in her usual attire, just an ordinary skirt and blouse. It's good to see her again.

"Elektra," I greet her, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "I heard about what happened, with Mac, with Nina and everything else. It's just been busy of late and..."

"I know," she says. "Come, the car's this way." The Clan Yashida still have a great deal of power and respect in the country and there aren't that many doors that are closed to them. We get away from the airport with next to no trouble and we're soon on our way and catching up on old times.

Sunfire's a former X-Man and long time ally, while Elektra brought me back from a dark place a long time ago. She's one of the few who holds a secial place in my heart, but I haven't told her how much she means. I think she knows.

We arrive at the Mansion to be greeted by Kenuichio Harada himself - the Silver Samurai, ex-partner of my wife Viper,* fomer criminal now member of the Japanese Government's Big Hero 6, which is their answer to the Avengers.

(* Wolverine and Viper married in Wolverine #126--Dino)

"Kenuichio," I say as I get out.

"Logan." We've not always been friends, we're not really that now, but we are allies. We are working on the same side and as of late his recent turnaround means he's worked towards and gained the respectability that Mariko was wanting when she was Clan Leader. Now that honour belongs to Harada, and he's making a better job of it than I'd have imagined he would.

Sometimes the world surpirses you in the most unexpected ways.

"Come, my friends," he says. "We will dine and talk, for tomorrow is a day of remembrance. And Logan, Yukio and Amiko are waiting." I nod and we make our way inside. It's going to be a long night.

"HURRK!" said Matsu'o as Nina finally made the stroke she had been closing on. The sword pierced his lower abdomen, driving through tissue and out the other side. He looked at her, she looked at him and then he collapsed, the battle over.

"He was unworthy," said Kuroyama to the general agreement of the other Hand masters, as Nina withdrew her blade. "I am now Lord of the Hand, and we have unfinished business with various enemies."

Nina looked at them and then continued for her lover. "Our spies have reported that there is a gathering at the Yashida Compound. Yukio and Amiko are guests of the Silver Samurai, who we all know are classed as family byone of our greatest enemies - the mutant known as Wolverine. Also the Clan have hired Elektra for they are the only people who would take her in, with the power to stand against the Kingpin and his Fujikawa corporation, as well as having the connections to keep the Hand at bay."

"Whilst Matsu'o was in charge at least," said Kuroyama. "It is time that the Hand finished what was begun with the death of Mariko Yashida by destroying the Clan Yashida once and for all. Repayment for her betrayal of the Hand and her father."

"My Lord," spoke a ninja from the shadows. "We also have reports that the man known as Logan and the mutant Sunfire are to be at the gathering tonight."

"Excellent," said Kuroyama. "Then tomorrow we will destroy the Clan Yashida and it's leaders so that it will never return, as well as riding ourselves of two other problems." Then he turned to the ninja who were waiting in the wings. "Now get the corpse of Matsu'o Tsurayaba from the building."

"But my Lord," spoke one of them. "It is gone."

"WHAT?!" cried Kuroyama, snapping the man's neck. A trail of blood led from the room. "He won't get far, not with his injuries. Unleash the dogs, let them tear him piece from bloody piece. We have a war to plan."

NEXT ISSUE: The Hand attack the Clan Yashida!