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[sub]"The Demon of Japan" | [color=fff000]Issue #1 | [/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O52jAYa4Pm8][color=fff000]♬ Tunes ♬[/color][/url][/sub][/center]
[color=fff000][b]Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters[/b][/color]
[color=1C86EE]Salem's Center, New York
[i]January 1st, 1968[/i][/color]


[indent]Logan popped open his ninth bottle of [i]Rheingold[/i] and let the eighth break against the floor. That first pack was almost empty, but a second awaited. He didn't expect to sleep tonight- not with that constant [i]thoom, thoom thoom[/i] going off over head. Every firework resonated in his chest like it'd gone off right next to him. Charles had told him that wasn't normal; most people couldn't hear or feel so acutely. Part of his mutation, supposedly, but he didn't understand that. Lotta things he didn't understand.

Like why Slim had gotten snappy at him for drinking around the students. Him, 'Ro and the Tin-Man were sharing champagne in the parlor, but big, bad Wolverine had to go out to the gazebo. [color=Khaki]"Psh,"[/color] he blew air between his teeth before downing another bottle in a single swig. Best to grab the last three and set 'em on the handrail so he didn't have to keep leaning down to grab a new one. [color=Khaki]"Like it better out 'ere anyways."[/color]

It was peaceful. Nobody out here to bother him but the fireflies. He leaned against the railing, the wooden frame bending under his weight. The forest stretched out in front of him, densely packed and evergreen. Shadows clung beneath its canopy, only broken up by the intermittent flashes of light coming from above. It reminded him of another forest from his dreams: where the trees were taller, where the ground was covered in snow and bodies, and explosions lit the dark. Logan took another drink.

A series of fireworks popped in the sky, shining bright greens, reds and blues. Trails of sparkling light fell across the night air like paint across a canvas, drawing all sorts of nonsensical patterns. People were shouting and clapping back at the manor. The scent of expended gunpowder suffused through the air, sharp against his nostrils.

He could smell unused gunpowder, too.

One of the fireworks exploded in the same moment the gunman fired, masking the sound. He was good. The bullet popped Logan's left eye and crunched up against his skull. He was [i]really[/i] good-- anybody else would'a dropped, but all Logan did was snarl.

[color=Khaki]"Come'n out ya bastard! Ya picked the wrong sucker'ta try this on-"[/color]

Feet hit the floorboards behind him. He whipped around and caught a foot to the nose, stumbling back. A beer fell off the rail, shattering. Tragic. Another two hits came for Logan's chest, knocking the wind outta him.  His assailant was an oddity, to be sure-- some weirdo in their black pajamas, or a Halloween costume. Someone else dropped from the top of the gazebo in the same getup, drawing a weapon from their back. A sword?

[color=Khaki]"Oh, you gotta be kiddin' me."[/color] Logan caught the ninja's next punch in his palm. The two locked eyes, staring hate into the other's soul. [color=Khaki]"That's enough Kung-Fu bullshit, pal."[/color] Logan whipped the attacker's hand down, snapping his wrist in twain. There was bone n' muscle tissue hanging out, but to the fella's credit he didn't scream. 

The ninja retreated to his comrade's side, using his good hand to unsheathe his weapon as well. A third flipped up onto the railing behind them.

Logan's eye bulged in its socket, ejecting the spent bullet in a splurge of blood. He blinked a few times before the pupil [i]popped[/i] into existence, granting him a blurred picture of the three suckers in front of him. They were armed, but looked hesitant. Smart of 'em. Not smart enough to book it, though. [color=Khaki]"Gotta be honest with you, fellas, I'on't really want'ta do this,"[/color] He explained, rolling his shoulders. [color=Khaki]"I'm tryin' to turn over a new leaf, ya dig? What's Chuck call it...conflict resolution. That's where you three-- four, with your friend in the woods-- all get ta walk away with ya limbs intact."[/color]

Another set of fireworks thundered in the sky above, and a hail of bullets struck the Wolverine: two in the back, one straight through his throat. [color=Khaki][i]'Guess we're done talkin'.'[/i][/color]

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The first guy stepped up to slash at Wolverine's left arm, his other buddy dancing around to come from the opposite side and under. 

Logan walked into the left one's sword, letting it tear through flesh, muscle and all other sorta shit until it smacked against his bone. Claws kissed his sternum, pinning him to a beam behind him. 

Wolverine pulled out and let the corpse hit the floor as the third leapt in, planting his heels into Logan's skull.

That, along with the second guy cutting into Logan's back knee, took him to the ground. 

Adamantium sang as it turned that katana to ribbons. Steel lasted about as long as any squishy human body. 

Wolverine was roaring the moment he felt his vocal cords squirm back into place. Red foam and spittle splashed out of his mouth and onto the face of his second victim as he buried his claws into the guy's shoulders.

More gunfire entered the wall-less pavilion, no longer timed to the pyrotechnics. Desperate, rapid, but still well aimed-- the last surviving ninja was never in any danger of gettin' shot. Plenty chance of gettin' stabbed, though, as Logan stumbled back to his feet and turned the guy's head into a shish kabob.

[color=Khaki]"Peaceful thoughts,"[/color] Logan muttered, standing back to his feet as the body fell in tandem. Bullets popped out of stitching wounds, clanging against the floor. 

[color=Khaki]"Forgiveness. Reconciliation. When's violence ever solved anythin', Logan?"[/color]

The last man in black pajamas dropped his rifle to the forest floor and took off running toward the fence. He never made it as far as the hedge maze before a tiny mass of hair and rage brought him to the ground and knocked the lights outta him. 

[color=Khaki]"We're gonna have a talk when you wake up, bub. Better hope ya don't."[/color]
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