Author: Vincent Rodger | Banner: Vincent Rodger & Andrew Sudomerski

Chronicles of Conflict: Episode 1

2007, Tokyo, Japan

She didn’t deserve this.

It was snowing, just as it did that day. It had been only a few weeks since he was forced to put her out of her misery, a quicker death than what awaited the woman he loved.

He hovered over her grave, a bottle of rum in one hand and the other on her name. He had always lost so much during his life, time and time again happiness being robbed from him when it was just within arm’s reach. This time costing him the life of the person he loved the most in this world, leaving him a hollow shell bumbling from bar to bar drinking until he felt nothing as he lost consciousness. The legend of Japan still wearing the clothing that she had given him on that mission only weeks prior, only wearing a brown leather jacket over it. Jubilee and Gambit had insisted that they bring him back home, that they could help him move on in the comfort of their home.

But like always he had pushed them away.

He was no hero, no honor bound warrior like the Yoshida Clan had always spoken of. He was a killer through and through, a monster that couldn’t even save someone that made him feel human in his long centuries of life. He didn’t deserve her, nor the happiness she could have brought him. The man took another long swig as he attempted to stand up from the grave, only finding himself stumbling back to the ground, hitting his head on the tomb.

He breathed heavily, clutching the bottle in his hand as hard as he could as he slowly forced his claws through the other. The three metallic blades taking their time to reveal themselves, blood trickling down from his knuckles onto the snow below. Tears forced themselves from his eyes as he silently wept, not making a sound as they flowed down his cheeks down to the tomb.

Mariko Yashida, the love of his life, was gone. The regret of not stopping the assassin of The Hand from poisoning her during an active battle rushed through his mind with every waking moment that passed, her begging words to not die such a horrific and slow death while she sat in his arms. It was mercy and yet the Mutant would never forgive himself for what he had to do, if he was just better it would have never had come to this.

“I’m so sorry my love,” he spoke with a somber voice as he forced himself to his feet, lifting the bottle to his mouth before downing most of the alcohol in a single swig. “I couldn’t be the hero you saw me as, or the animal you needed to protect you.” The mourning man pointing the bottle downward, having what little remained of the drink flow from the brown glass onto the grave below.

“You didn’t deserve this,” he began to shake as he placed the empty bottle on the ground in front of her grave, looking at her name the entire time he did so. He went to continue to speak, to say the things he wished he had when she was still alive, to reach the peace he had always desired… only to find that he didn’t have the strength. The man simply turning away from the tombstone before walking into the cherry blossom forest that surrounded her resting place, a silence born from sorrow filling the air.

Logan had been tortured his entire life, everyone that he had ever loved would one day be ripped away from him, every woman he ever felt a connection to dying to his hand through sheer accident or through an act of mercy. He didn’t deserve the suit he wore, nor the title of friend or husband.

He was no hero. X-Man, Avenger, teacher, survivor.

He was an animal through and through, he was The Wolverine…

***

The air smelled of cigarette smoke, even on the cold breeze of the waters nearby, the scent was almost a toxin covering it up.

Boats raced across the waters as a man watched from the seating, his clothing being the bare minimum. A black shirt covering his muscular form while white slacks covered his lower half, sandals matching the shirt in colorization tapping against the floor as he clenched a ticket in his hand. The other being used as a rest for his head, carefully keeping balance as he watched the show continue.

Carefully eyeing each boat that raced by, hoping to see his lucky number win him a fortune with the money he had placed on betting today. The former member of the Zenin Clan, one of the most powerful clans within Jujutsu Society, wished nothing more than to keep earning yen to his heart’s content.

The empty stadium around him became slightly less eerie as a man approached from the stairs above, a familiar figure to the bounty hunter. Lighting a cigarette as he stepped closer to the gambler, taking in a quick drag of the nicotine. The man wore a brown business suit, brown boots echoing his steps as he approached. A green tie sitting comfortably on his neck, short black hair flowing in the wind as boats continued to pass by.

“So Shiu, what do I hunt today?”

For a moment, his eyes widened in surprise that his client was able to tell who he was off of the sound of his footsteps but he knew better by now that his enlightened senses would have picked up on his scent the moment he had stepped out of the car. “Something that you will no doubt find interest in,” he stated as he reached into his suit, pulling out an orange envelope containing details on the job. Shiu Kong delicately handed over the bounty to the man, his client carefully and quickly opening it up to see what was going to test his abilities…

Only for a sinister grin to form upon his face as his eyes widened in excitement, looking back to Shiu before speaking. “So The Hand wants vengeance for the chaos that he had caused only a few weeks ago?” he spoke with curiosity as he examined photos of the target, even without a look at his costume, the man had instantly recognized the living legend. There was no mistaking the identity here, only one man in the world could truly match the image.

“They are paying a fortune for someone to take out the legendary Wolverine. There is even something special within that envelope.”

Carefully, the mercenary reached into the bag and felt something at the very bottom. Pulling out one of many small rounds for his specific firearm of choice, a feeling of respect and flattery reaching down to his wicked soul. “Adamantium rounds? This must have cost a fortune.”

“They trust only you to kill him, it seems, the others that were alarmed of this deal were not given this advantage that you hold in your hand.”

“I am truly honored that the Hand sees me as trustworthy of this hunt,” A feeling of pride washing through him as, for a moment, he thought back to the family that cursed him as nothing more than a useless monkey. Finally some respect. “I will serve them the Wolverine’s head on a platter.”

A sinister grin formed before it quickly disappeared for a moment, realizing that he had lost the race and his money just went down the drain. Looking on the scoreboard on the screen high above him, rolling his eyes before taking an annoyed breath. “Whatever I guess, you win some, you lose some. Besides that money is NOTHING to what I will earn when I slaughter an Avenger.”

“He has been sighted throughout Tokyo’s entertainment district, it seems he has been bar hopping every night until the establishment kicks him out. A legend in a bender over the pain of loss, he seems to be worn down emotionally.”

“Works for me. The others after his head won’t be able to do a damn thing against him, so there is no point in wearing him down physically.”

A moment of silence passed as Shiu took another drag of his cigarette, inhaling the toxin into his lungs before speaking once more. “Business aside, how is your wife doing? I heard that she has been busy with Megumi a lot as of late.”

The man paused for a moment, looking up into the sky a bit confused. Pondering on what to say as he began tapping his foot once again, his hand reaching into the envelope once more and wrapping around all the bullets within the compartment. Reaching deep into his pocket as he placed the envelope aside to reveal a firearm to the open, sliding the magazine open and carefully placing each Adamantum round into it.

“Who is that again?” he asked with sincerity.

The true superhuman of Jujutsu Society was a lot of things. A scoundrel, a monkey who was discarded by his family for not having a Jujutsu Technique, a cold blooded killer. But Toji Fushiguro was nowhere close to father of the year, the name of his first born son not even being a second thought within his mind.

Toji slammed the fully loaded magazine into the bottom of his Colt before placing it back into his pocket before standing up, discarding the losing ticket as he began walking away from Shiu. “See you around Mr. Kong. I have a Wolverine to hunt.”

***

The cold winter breeze would continue to push past his body as he walked through the busy streets of Japan’s metropolis, the countless people that he passed through effortlessly as the snow began to pick up just felt like an ordinary day to him. If someone bumped into him, he would simply not pay them any mind. His stature wouldn’t allow most people to even attempt raising their voice, let alone begin a confrontation with him.

He had been walking bar to bar, gathering what little intel that he could just by listening to the people within the countless establishments. But now that the sun had faded away and the party life would only awaken, it wouldn’t take all that long for the discarded Zenin to find his target.

His enhanced senses would eventually pick up on something, knowing the location of his target from the very start helped the mercenary a great deal, anything to get the drop on the legendary Mutant would be a great asset.

Through the countless hours of searching, he finally had an answer when voices began to pick up. His enhanced hearing picking up a commotion down an alleyway establishment, various voices attempting to calm a situation down only to be met with a terrified scream and a few individuals rushing out into the night. The city itself, not even taking notice of the event, hidden beneath the sounds of the ongoing parties within the district laid the start of a major event.

The man followed the source of the sound, not taking long to find the bar with a broken window, revealing the cold night air to the indoor location. Toji stepped into the door frame, seeing a singular man at the very end of the bar. His face only looking downward as he tapped his finger onto the hardwood, urging the bartender to pour him another glass. The mercenary stood alone within the shop, the others drinking that night retreating as they had disturbed the lonesome mutant with countless photos like some common paparazzi for celebrities. Only one table in the center of the room was destroyed, having been broken in two as an unconscious man laid still in the broken furniture.

The bartender’s eyes widened a bit as he saw the figure of Toji standing in the doorway silently, shaking as he quickly poured another shot of Sake into the shot glass, only to recline in fear as the shorter man reached out and grabbed the entire bottle. Gently pushing the bartender back as he insisted on taking the rest of the alcohol.

“You don’t belong here,” the bartender said with fear ringing through his voice, slamming back onto the cabinet behind him as Logan had let go of the man. Taking a gigantic swig of the bottle before slamming the bottom in front of him, the drunk mutant stared directly into the man’s eyes with animalistic fury. Causing him to step back and finally run for his life, quickly making his way out of the bar past the newly arrived figure.

“I don’t belong anywhere anymore…” the X-Man whispered to himself as he continued indulging in the drink, Toji slowly walking over towards him but halting once three metallic claws popped out from the knuckle of his left hand, the other hand taking another swig of the bottle as the tone quickly shifted.

“Some special ammo you got there, Adamantium. The Hand still has reach, even as we slaughtered their numbers.”

“You got me, it’s pretty hard to hide anything from you when you have that keen sense of smell.” Toji reached into his pocket, holding the gun by the bottom of the barrel. Dangling it, before quickly unclipping it. “It would be boring to do this here, no? A man with your reputation deserves a proper burial site, not shot like a dog in an alley.”

He began to resume approaching the older man, dropping the clip of his firearm onto the ground below as he raised both of his arms up. It would be pointless to even attempt to start a brawl here, even with the element of surprise of his arsenal’s true nature, it would more than likely end with him being dead if he couldn’t reach the ammo quickly.

“If the room wasn’t a clear indication to leave me the fuck alone, then you might have a deathwish bub,” he stated with rage as he continued to stare onward at the bottle in front of him, the only thing he could hear was ringing from the vast sea of sorrow within his heart almost like that of a trance from a siren.

“So the legend in the flesh,” he stated with an opening, his hand reaching out to another bottle behind the bar. The brutish man not wishing to leave his seat as he wrapped his hands around the bottle before turning to his side to attempt to find any unbroken glasses nearby, not caring much for the condition of previous use in this instance. Amongst a group of broken shards, there was a single glass tipped over on its side. Carefully reaching over to it before pouring himself a singular drink. “Arguably one of the most dangerous people on the planet, normally I would have drawn this out and kept throwing obstacle after obstacle your way before landing the blow but this,” he stated with a grin, his gaze slightly turning towards the Avenger.

“It will be a pleasure to remove your head from your shoulders.”

The room was silent as Logan’s side eye only grew with fury, his other hand popping claws as his grip onto the bottle shattered the entire glass. With animalistic rage, he attempted to instantly stab into Toji’s side and neck with a swing, only to find Toji was already on the other side of the room as if he was never beside him. “You have quite the reputation Mutant,” he stated with slight hate within his tone, the bigotry that his own clan had put onto him being pushed onto Logan. “One which spans generations of human history,” A quick flash of a memory long ago appeared before his eyes as he continued speaking, the image of Satoru Gojo as a young boy staring at him within the abyss. A sinister grin continuing to form upon the mercenary’s face, anger rising with each passing word. “But every animal gets mounted on a wall of a hunte-”

Logan roared as he quickly charged at Toji, not having anything to say towards the antagonizing reject of Jujutsu society, his claws aimed directly for his chest for a direct killing blow. Only for the attack to miss as time seemed to slow down for a moment, the reflexes of the superhuman anticipating his movements before striking the mutant upon the chest and skull, slamming his skull downward before pushing him across the room. His speed being unable to register at all to the intoxicated mutant, slamming into the wall with a heavy wheeze as it slammed him through the wood into the next door establishment. A restaurant filled with people quickly fled in all directions out into the cold night air, the situation becoming not so simple in a single action.

“You might want to listen hero, you are missing the point,” he stated as he reached back down to the ammunition on the ground, placing it back into the weapon before aiming it directly at Logan. “There is only one way this ends, with one of us dead in the snow and the other walking away to do as they wish.” The jacket covering the suit underneath was slightly falling off of Wolverine’s form as he sat crouched, looking directly at Toji with clenched teeth and exposed blades ready to spring into action once again.

“What the hell do you want Hand!?” Logan screamed with fury, not having a moment of peace since the love of his life had died only weeks ago.

“Shouldn’t that be obvious? I want to see you tick.”

And then just like that, he vanished before his eyes. He blinked, confusion and anger rising as he quickly stood up and walked into the bar. Still prepared for an assault from this new arrival, but even to his nose, it would seem that he had left. Logan took in a few sniffs in the air, his enhanced smell instantly picking up on the man’s scent and turning towards the door of the bar. The mutant, now sober and wishing to release all the hate he had endured upon his challenger, looked out into the populated streets of Tokyo.

He couldn’t just ignore this, it was obviously a trap to lure him towards an attempt on his life but if anyone else had gotten hurt during their confrontation, he might have to live with more guilt and shame then he had already been enduring. No… this wasn’t a trap, it was an invitation. For death at the hands of an assassin with the proper tools to put him down, a duel to the death, a proper death… far more than he ever could deserve.

If he died in the battle, the nightmares would no longer claw through his brain at every waking moment…

With a silent but firm resolve to see this to its conclusion, he dropped the winter coat that was wrapped around his outfit onto the snow below before pulling down his mask onto his face. White eyes glowed into the alley way as the cold air’s frozen breath emanated from his mouth. The cold snow and massive swarm of people would make it hard for him to track the assassin but he wouldn’t stop until they met again, unleashing claws once more, shining in the night as he sank them into the brick beside him for the next door building. Quickly climbing onto the roof in order to gain an advantage, the hunter’s instincts kicking in as he sat perched above the crowds of people walking around.

They wanted to get his attention. They fucking have it now.

***

Sniff, sniff

The scent was getting a bit stronger. Whoever had found him within that small bar wasn’t that far away, luckily even amongst the gigantic crowd of civilians he was able to track his prey without much issue due to the unique ammunition that he carried. The very metal within his bones in the shape of countless bullets that are within the gun’s clip, luring him outside of the city and into a familiar area.

Snow continued to fall on the night, the only light within the dense cherry blossom forest was the shine from the radiant moon high above. Its shape a crescent, its glow illuminating the ground below but due to his enhanced senses, Logan didn’t need to rely on his vision per say. He continued to march forward, leaving a trail of tracks behind him which led back to the city. A small amount of fog began to roll in, while not very dense added to the very atmosphere of the night. He could hear various birds of the night hunting, the heart beats of several animals hiding from their predators as well as those hunting for food within the cold winter night.

Within the wilderness is where Logan felt the most within his element, the most he ever felt he could belong within the world’s food chain. At the peak of the wild, the bottom of society. Though maybe comfort and happy thoughts were not the same thing here, his thoughts drifted to the various missions with the X-Men which battled the various bigotry that they had faced as Mutants throughout their entire lives. While certain people, mostly within the Mutant or Superhero communities, had accepted him for who he was even after so many mistakes; very few ordinary humans had seen him as anything but a monster…

His thoughts cut down to a sensitive subject matter when he realized where he was, seeing up ahead several lights illuminating a singular graveyard amongst the dense cherry forest. Eyes widening for a second out of realization, only to squint with fury as a growl exited his gritted teeth with anger rising throughout his mind. His heart beat skyrocketing at the transgression upon his personal life, he picked up speed as the following emotion began to climb. Each breath having a memory with her flash before his eyes.

The moment they first met, being introduced on a mission while asking for her cousin Sunfire’s aid. Her first visit to New York, all to meet him after getting to know each other. Their hands wrapping around each other as lips embraced, beginning a long night in their shared warmth. Of all the women in his long self loathing life, Logan had felt truly connected with Mariko. Love was not a new concept to him but this… she was his everything. Every single day felt like a millennia without her smile, her touch, her scent. Only being alive within his memory, it was enough to crush any ordinary person let alone a man who had lived for hundreds of years.

This bastard would DARE bring her memory into this!? Would dare to piss him off to the point that all he saw was red, his prey was either the dumbest person he had ever met… or a foe that knew exactly what he was doing.

Logan pushed forward through the snow, the heavy element not holding him back even for a second as he approached his target. He sat with his back to him, wearing casual clothing within the tundra as he stared up at the moon. A smile emerging upon his face as the mutant had finally arrived, quickly turning around and standing up to face the legendary warrior.

“You know, I always pictured you as someone taller but I guess you fit your moniker after all.”

“Why are you doing this?,” he questioned, instantly cutting down to the point. “You know who I am, why the hell do you want to fight me? You with The Hand or your own?”

Toji rolled his eyes while doing a motion with his hand pointed towards his head, doing a circular motion as he simply told without saying a word. “As much as I will never not enjoy killing Jujutsu dogs… I wanted to hunt something bigger, that is all.”

The air grew silent as they both stood still, the passing howling wind echoing in the woods. The both of them awaiting the other to make their first move, almost daring them to do so. Only to Logan to take his gaze past his target, spotting the small cemetery housing his other half not that far away.

His attention quickly snapped back to Toji as he suddenly began spinning a bladed weapon upon a chain, the wind picking up as he made the snow scatter around him from the fast motion. The fallen Zenin doing so with little effort, Wolverine couldn’t tell how long the weapon really was but it reminded him of a fellow assassin from Weapon X.

“Once you know what breed of dog you hunt,” Toji started noticing his target’s attention had been lost for a moment, earning it back with quick action. “It is easier to put them down.”

The X-Man quickly got into a hunched position, claws popping out of each knuckle. The metal shining within the limited light, anticipation growing as the chain continued being swung in a rapid motion, hearts beating at a semi pace as adrenaline rushed through their veins. There was something wrong here, though he couldn’t see whatever was wrapped around his neck, he sure could smell it.

It reeked beyond belief. Being comparable or perhaps even like a mix of sewage, pollution, and death. He didn’t know what a Jujutsu Sorcerer was but all clues pointed to this man being one of them, perhaps like several heroes within the community in New York he could manipulate some sort of magic.

“Logan! It only seems fair that you know the name of your executioner, Fushiguro. Toji Fushiguro, inform the devil when you meet him that I have an assigned seating!”

Wolverine’s eyes squinted as he still sat, waiting for his hunter to make their move, when surprisingly at the same time, they declared the other’s demise with a roar of hatred and excitement adorned with fangs and a smile.

“Wolverine, I will erase you from the face of the Earth!”

“Fushiguro, I will erase you from the face of the Earth!”

Logan instantly charged with fury, screaming at the top of his lungs as he lunged forward. His adamantium claws aiming for the stomach, only for the bladed chain to slice across his chest with the first move before it wrapped around his arms. Pinning them together before being pulled forward at rapid speeds, without a moment to even process what was happening, he was met with Toji’s foot being embedded into his core. A loud gasp for air exited his jaws as he was sent flying into the nearby terrain, crushing trees before slamming into the earthen floor below.

If his skeleton wasn’t made from the strongest metal on the planet, that kick would have shattered his rib cage in an instant. Quickly returning to the battle, Logan felt himself being violently thrown in the air, repeatedly slamming into the environment around him. Not allowing for even a moment the chance to regain his composure, let alone breath. Rage began to build as blood splattered across the battlefield, if he couldn’t slice his way through the chains, he would simply break them through pure muscle. But the moment he began the attempt, the chains loosened and once again before he could process the action he was struck. Toji launching himself directly at the free falling mutant, his fist embedded its way into the chest and sending him flying several meters.

The X-Man screamed in pain as he slammed into a boulder, cracking it in an instant. For a moment he laid still, pain rushing through him as he struggled to breath as he forced himself to his feet. Standing covered in liquid iron, rubble and blood falling from his body onto the snow below as his claws once again revealed themselves to the open world when the blade at the end of the enemy’s weapon quickly approached his neck.

Quickly, he deflected the blade before wrapping his hand around the chain and pulling as hard as he could, launching the fallen Zenin directly at him. His eyes widening once again as the enemy pulled out the fire arm with his free hand, aiming the weapon directly at Logan as he approached. Without a moment to lose, Wolverine quickly forbade the gamble. Attempting to jump out of the way before any of the bullets landed its mark, managing to dodge most of them as they slammed into rock only for a single well timed bullet to strike true. The metal punctured his left lung, breaking the ribs as it entered from a direct path, earning a cry of pain as he landed behind Toji.

Blood erupted from his maw, pouring onto the snow below in a bath of crimson as pain trailed across every nerve. The newest member of the Fushiguro family quickly turned his body mid air, catching himself onto the split apart rock and not only launching himself backward but kicked the remains of the large boulder away from the battle… the legendary samurai of Alpha Flight couldn’t even turn in preparation for the next event.

Toji’s Inverted Spear of Heaven still laid within his target’s chest, allowing him to throw him over his head as he had gained momentum. Mid air, forcing the three hundred pound mutant over him effortlessly before slamming into the ground head first. The assassin landed onto his feet with grace, standing tall as Wolverine laid limp. He held the pistol firmly as he slowly approached the downed mutant, aiming the fire arm directly at his body waiting for the several century hero to rise. Only to be completely thrown off guard as he heard a snap of metal and Logan launched himself from the ground towards the side, quickly taking cover once behind one of the remains of the boulder as bullets launched. Each missing.

Wolverine took in heavy breaths as his regeneration began to work on the various wounds across his body, the sound of footsteps getting closer, and with the superhero not wanting for his assassin to once again regain control of the situation took action. He quickly turned behind him before swinging as hard as he could, the rock formation shattering into shards directly towards Toji. Forcing him to quickly take action, summoning a massive blade from seemingly thin air and eliminating the shards without issue. Only to spot Wolverine launching himself directly at him, leaping for the killing blow.

He quickly aimed as he dodged, firing off another round which grazed his shoulder as he managed to dodge the attempt on his life. The claws barely missing to slice through his face, he prepared for a follow up by placing the Split Soul Katana in front of him. Sparks flew as the claws met the blade, repeatedly clashing as Toji was forced to deflect the various swings from the adamantium claws. The sound of metal crashing into each other at incredible speeds echoed within the battlefield, the silent night being broken apart by the clash of warriors.

In an attempt to force Logan back, he fired several rounds directly at him as he continued to dodge and deflect his advances. While two of them made their marks, puncturing through the stomach and chest, the others zipped past Wolverine’s body but kept him on a razor’s edge away from death while giving Toji breathing room. Until Logan attempted a new strategy, slamming his arms into the snow to temporarily blind the assassin, the element launching into the air and for a moment hiding his form as Toji blindly fired in front of him. Missing the target completely as it disappeared into the night, accompanying the sound of a thunderous bullet was flesh being punctured as the claws finally landed a blow. While not as deep as Logan intended, they had met the flesh of Toji’s side earning a smile from the mutant as he jumped back as Toji swung with his katana.

Even through the rush of pain from the puncture wound, he didn’t flinch a single muscle.

The two stood still for a moment, surprisingly as blood began to pour from the assassin’s wide smile before charging once again. Wolverine swung forward, aiming to slice through his target’s chest in a sideways motion, only to earn a slice to the back as Toji leapt into the air behind him. Once again landing with grace before rushing past him repeatedly with blows, the air rushing past him as he simply became a blur to the mutant. Not being able to properly anticipate his foe was growing frustrating, even as his sense of smell could detect him, it couldn’t keep a lock on.

Anger only rose when the blade attempted to force its way through him completely. Flesh hanging on by threads across his body, it was as if he wasn’t even crossing those distances but simply appearing where he wished to go.

Almost like Peitro and Kurt were fighting him at the same time.

Along with the strength comparable to the Hulk, a seemingly endless chain reminding him of Omega Red, the attitude of his greatest rival in Sabertooth… Wolverine was truly dealing with the worst of his past manifested into the fallen Zenin.

The assault suddenly stopped, causing Wolverine to quickly act as he finally knew where to strike, only for a bullet to land directly in his chest. Logan’s eyes widened as he was thrown backwards, blood spraying in the air as he landed on the ground. His vision became hazy, iqor dripping from the various wounds like flowing rivers, ringing echoing in his mind as he attempted to breath. Toji stood above him now, pride filling him as he had done only a select few had accomplished since the metal transplant in the mutant’s skeleton.

Putting him on the executioner’s chopping block.

“You know, Logan,” he stated as he walked past the fallen form of the mutant, while taking his back on a dangerous target, he was confident that between the various wounds and his enhanced senses that he would not be taken off guard. “We are alike in a manner. Within my world, I was born without Cursed Energy. Being gifted a Heavenly Restriction at birth, I was cast aside for not having a Cursed Technique.”

He reached down to the small blade that was once attached to the knife, his invisible Curse that was wrapped around his neck opened its disgusting mouth to reveal the chain once more. The assassin simply attached the spear to it without issue before the entity consumed it whole, its form hidden to the outside world. Toji turned around to see Wolverine standing but not moving an inch, blood pouring down his tathred body as his uniform ripped across its form revealing his iron bathed body.

For a moment he saw a strange flash appear before his eyes, it was quick and almost too fast to register but he saw it all the same. Wolverine stood there, only wearing a pair of trunks and a metallic helmet upon his head. A red visor staring with intensity as it glowed in the night, the feral experiment simply standing still as a pack of wolves surrounded him, only for the mirage to disappear just as quickly as it emerged. Only seeing the current Wolverine standing in pain and hunched over, Toji didn’t know what this meant but perhaps it was a glimpse into the horrific past or a foreshadowing of a horrible future.

Either way the fallen Zenin continued on as he spoke. “For that I was deemed as nothing more than a ‘Monkey’ below their world, a monster to my own kind. We are both Mutants, Logan, only born from different ways.”

The Avenger stood still, only raising his head up to face his opponent as he continued to stare directly at Toji, taking heavy breaths which were revealed in the cold air. Bullets fell from the various holes in which they had entered to the snow below, the last emerging from his fanged maw with a trail of smoke before spitting it out onto the ground. “Guess that means you aren’t a sorcerer… then why is that disgusting thing wrapped around your neck only visible now?”

“Oh the Cursed Spirit? Sometimes even normal people are capable of seeing Curses in cases such as near death or if a spirit of incredibly high power seeks their sights on them,” Toji smiled a bit, feeling success falling in his grasp by simply chipping away at Logan’s form. He already looked on the verge of collapsing, surely it wouldn’t be too much longer. “But it isn’t always guaranteed.”

“I was wondering,” he said with a heavy breath, summoning strength as the various wounds began to finish healing. “What smelled so putrid. I couldn’t see what it was the entire fight but it was almost as if every vile feeling a person had was wrapped around your throat, you were right… you are a monster. A genuine demon even.”

“If you showered in death, wouldn’t everything smell like shit to you?”

Wolverine formed a blood soaked smile as the healing completed, standing at his full height as he cracked his neck ready for a second round. “I just thought that you hadn’t showered at all.”

The two resumed with an instant action, the pair charging at each other with violent intent. The Soul Split Katana was pulled back, preparing for a strong swing upward to slice across the abdomen completely in one swift motion, only for the mutant to do something unexpected.

“DRILL CLAW!” he roared before spinning mid air, aiming directly at Toji’s chest for a decisive blow to the enemy. While he quickly reacted to the attempt on his life by blocking the sharp claws, the mercenary’s eyes widened with surprise as Logan had managed to catch the massive blade in between this set of blades. With a sinister grin, the Wolverine made a quick motion down both sides of the blade, sparking flying as the claws glowed with heat for a moment. The motion barely missed Toji’s fingers as he jumped back, only to be on the receiving end of a stab to the gut on his left. Heat burning through flesh without resistance as Adamantum punctured, the other set of blades aimed directly at his head only for them to retreat into his fist before the limb repeated the strike.

“NOT YET!” Wolverine screamed as he continued to pummel the assassin with a strong strike to the face, blood spraying on the ground below as bone fractured from the immense weight and strength of the blows. The blades acting as an anchor to hold his target still for even just a few hits in, to gain the upperhand in the long game in any way he could. Only for pain to return to him as the katana was swung upward enough to slice through the torso in an upward motion, forcing Logan back as Toji was once again given breathing room. A chuckle leaving his mouth as excitement rose to his very core, quickly becoming a laugh which echoed into the night.

Just as he had the means to finish the fight in a single pull of the trigger, it seemed that even the Wolverine was enjoying himself. How exciting!

The Avenger once again charged directly at his opponent, this time putting the pair of claws together as he did so, generating heat as he slid them against each other with each passing moment. Sparks flew from the action, claws slightly glowed yellow from it, forcing Toji to take action before Logan could land something devastating. He rapidly began to assault him from all angles once again, overwhelming him with strength and speed to lock him into a choke hold.

Pain rushed through him, violent intent rose as anger was reaching a boiling point, swinging at the air in an attempt to land a strike only to miss over and over again…. he shut his eyes. Not relying on his sight but his other senses, trusting the attack to strike true even through the anger and pain. He needed just one good hit in, just one to cause the entire assault to cease before taking action once again.

No not yet…

The assault continued, blood dyeing the snow below bright crimson with each attack.

No…

Then he smelled it again, the special ammunition for the assassin’s mission.

NOW!

Logan swung violently, managing to slice across Toji’s torso in a downward motion. Finally earning a scream of pain from the assassin as he was thrown onto the ground, rolling across the earth before coming to a halt near the entrance of the graveyard. The lights from the lanterns above revealed his bloody form as he looked up to see the X-Man standing, slowly approaching.

“You called us ‘monsters’ early,” he sheathed his claws once more as he continued speaking, eyes glowing and tone slightly rising in volume with each passing word. “Weapon-X turned me into that, into the animal I always thought I was. But you? No, you ENJOY this. From the taste of your own iron in your mouth to the smell of gunpowder, you’re sick Toji. I suggest that if you manage to survive this, you seek out some therapy. You’re clearly insane.”

The mercenary spit out blood as he simply grinned, locking eyes with the mutant. “All I need is your corpse in front of my employers and a paycheck in my hand. You are lying to yourself if you say you didn’t enjoy landing a hit on me.”

“…Yeah you’re right, It’s been a long time since I heard a bastard like you scream.”

Claws aimed directly at the assassin’s skull, the final blow only being a moment away when…

Bump bump…

He stopped in his tracks, collapsing onto his knees in front of the mercenary as blood erupted. Toji making a sinister smile as it had finally worked, it was not just the Adamantum bullets that Logan should have been concerned with.

Bump bump…

No normal poison would be affecting him this much, might make him feel groggy but it wouldn’t be forcing him to the ground. Was there something laced with the ammunition that ripped through his flesh earlier in the fight? No that wasn’t it either…

Bump bump…

He could feel the healing process deeper than ever before, his immortality working its way to repair the very damage to his… his…

“How?”

“How did I manage to bypass the barrier to your soul? It seems that I have more than one edge over the legendary ronin. I don’t know how much longer your soul will last, even with that pesky healing factor of yours.”

Toji smiled as he rose back to his feet, standing tall over the mutilated mutant. Putting the massive blade upon his shoulders, slightly on top of the Cursed Spirit. His other hand aiming the gun directly at Wolverine’s skull, his finger wrapped around the trigger. “An immovable object meets an unstoppable force…” Logan stated as he looked up before closing his eyes, taking in a deep breath as he seemed to accept the end.

“Now you are getting it!”

Bump bump… Bump bump…. bu-BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP

Instinct took complete control, a gamble that would end in his life in an instant if played wrong for a single instance and yet it seemed that fate favored the X-Man as he lunged forward with his fangs. The teeth shattering as he did this, breaking metal with his fangs in an effort to cease the use of the firearm ever again. Toji’s eyes widened as he couldn’t even anticipate the attempt, it was almost as if the jerking motion forward signaled something far worse than the superhero to emerge. He attempted to pull the trigger, only for the entire front of the pistol to be ripped apart, a small explosion emerging as gunpowder ignited. The bullet exiting out of the mutant’s cheek, blood spraying as he rolled across the snow.

The mercenary backed away, cringing in pain as he looked upon his hand. Shrapnel of metal punctured across the entire limb, hair being slightly burned as blood poured from the several wounds. He looked back up and saw fury incarnate, glowing crimson eyes filled with hate illuminated in the night was followed with a roar filled with animalistic hatred. He quickly took action, using his arms as leverage as he dodged the leap for his life before planting both of his feet firmly into the Wolverine’s stomach. The attack launching him into the cherry blossom trees that surrounded the area, petals following to the ground as a loud crash was heard.

The fallen Zenin looked towards the direction he had managed to launch his prey in, quickly reaching towards the Cursed Spirit to retrieve his chained Inverted Spear of Heaven. Turning his katana towards the ground and planting it before swinging the blade once again at rapid speeds, awaiting the emerger of his target.

It launched into the sky from the trees, for a moment it had seemed that the moon’s light was now bathed in a dark red as twin glowing eyes glared at Toji as it rapidly descended. It was… rage.

Time seemed to slow down for a moment as memories continued to flash before his eyes. The family that he had made with the X-Men, the various loves of his life, the constant war. Toji had brought it all back, the reason for him to go on as he saw the faces of those he had pushed away during this dire time in his life. He wished to mourn, to be embraced by loved ones as the pain took its toll.

The assassin threw his chained weapon directly at Wolverine’s leg, attempting to throw him to the ground as the first move. But the rabid anti-hero growled as he cut through the chain without effort, slicing through every part down a trail as he caught up to Toji’s position.

His speed increased, the red glow which now surrounded his target couldn’t be identified as Cursed Energy or perhaps a perk of his mutation, but something had SNAPPED within him to go berserk. He would need to tread carefully and fast if he was to survive this encounter, the next few moves would decide the victor.

Leaping back to the handle of his katana, Toji wrapped his hands around the hilt mid air as he landed closer towards the graveyard. Standing upon the very entrance of the mass burial ground, only for the distance to once again be closed without a moment to spare as Wolverine went on the offensive.

“BERSERKER BARRAGE!” The animal screamed as he continued to rapidly slash at an alarming speed, it was taking everything to simply deflect the strikes. Within the Jujutsu world, stating your technique and revealing its capabilities would allow it to make it stronger. Another painful reminder of the world that threw him to the gutter as nothing more than a “Monkey”, Toji had found himself in a corner with a rabid animal.

The slashes continued, not halting for even a second as sparks flew. His grip was wavering, his blade was chipping away with every strike, the first time in its entire existence that it has taken damage. The assassin was looking into the center of a colossal storm, its eyes burning unlike anything he had ever seen, once again the image of young Satoru Gojo flashing through his head.

He had seeked to shatter the world’s view on him, the world which never paid him mind through his constant struggles, feeling much more like a ghost than a human through most of his existence.

For a moment as his life flashed before his eyes, he didn’t feel the separation of his hand from his body as the animal sliced through bone with a swipe. Time seemed to just… halt.

His eyes widening as the impending doom before him, thrusted forward without a moment to lose. Sharp claws puncturing flesh, exiting the other side of his body. Blood was erupting like a waterfall as Toji fell silent, Wolverine roaring as he lifted the larger man over his head, rapidly stabbing into his torso. Liquid iron continuing to pour onto his form, licking his lips as the fresh taste of iron landed in his fanged mouth. Creating a smile filled with hate as he enjoyed every moment of dispatching pain upon Fushiguro.

“I’m done playing nice!” he screamed as he remarkably threw the larger assassin into the air, motionless as he could no longer feel the strength to defend himself. His thoughts drifted to a white void, the only things within being his wife and newborn son… oh… that’s right. That was his name.

He was a miracle. One born out of love, a new life that he never even dreamed possible even if he buried the feelings of happiness down, they still pulled to him. Toji Zenin was an outcast, a monster, a no cursed energy Monkey, he wished for a better life for Megumi. One that he never got. A smile forced itself on his face, at the very least he would change his son’s fate and he would fall to the very god he was attempting to slay.

“Tornado Claw!” He roared as he leapt into the air at incredible speeds, a slight boom being heard as he charged directly at the falling Toji with a clawed uppercut. Claws cut through flesh like butter, a display of gore exiting his body as he slammed into the earth below. Entrails landing besides the body with a loud thud, the wound opening from the mid section to the collar bone.

Wolverine landed directly behind his head with grace as blood bathed the snow and him below. The mercenary now laid motionless, his weapons destroyed, his body torn to shreds… but yet somehow his humanity was found.

“In sometime, my son will be sold to the Zenin Clan for his Cursed Technique… do with that as you will.”

Toji Fushiguro was dead.

Wolverine turned towards the corpse, a mixture of feelings rushing through him as his last words were uttered but the nightmare was over. He took in deep breaths as he stumbled past the fallen body, limping into the graveyard once again.

The snow and petals of the Cherry blossoms began to fall, a moment of peace within a blood bathed field. His healing factor was taking its proper time to repair the damage done to his body, being truly pushed to his limit for the first time in a while. Blood continued to ooze from the various wounds, his tattered uniform soaking in the blood of his prey and himself.

He stepped forward until he fell to his knees in front of Mariko Yashida’s grave, the ringing in his ears making it a bit hard to think properly as his vision was blurry but he began to speak, finally having the strength to say what he should have weeks ago.

“You were my best friend,” Logan spoke softly, allowing the next word to emerge after the other fluently as he spoke. Not thinking but simply acting, to finally begin to heal. “I have missed you every single day since your life was cut short…” tears swelled within Logan’s eyes a bit as the moon light basked him in radiant light, illuminating the emotions ever so stronger as the petals above continued to fall.

“I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself for what I had to do, even if I couldn’t allow you to suffer any longer, you were a rose whose beauty was only matched by stars…” The memories began to climb back up, her voice echoing within his mind as he wished to feel her warmth again. A stroll at night on a trail within the forest looking upon stars, dancing to music during a summer festival, cooking a meal for a beautiful woman and his family in an earnest attempt to grow closer to her. A smile forced itself upon his weeping face, the tears erupting silently as he struggled to breath, to speak.

“I will never forget you for as long as I live my dear Mariko, the love of my life… for… for all of eternity…” he collapsed onto the ground, unconscious and wounded but at peace after a long night of violence. As he drifted into an abyss of memories, the night slowly being erased by the rising sun on the horizon. Through a vicious violent altercation with a mercenary he had never met, the spark to live was reunited and a new determination found itself in his mind.

To reunite with the people he loved, to spend as much time as he could to make up for his mistakes and to live earnestly with his found family. To live every day as if it was his last, for one day they will all be gone and though he might be alone once again due to his immortality, at the very least he had them within his memories. He was honored to be with the X-Men as a family, to have earned the title of Avenger through all the hardships of the world, to be seen as someone worthy of love.

And to give that same kind of love to someone that would require it, just as he did.

Whenever Logan would wake up, he was going to search for the son of Toji Fushiguro and give him the kindness that he would surely need within the darkness of the world. It wouldn’t matter what his father had done, we weren’t where we came from and he was proof of this. He would give this boy a future worth living, teaching him just as the professor had to him.

Tonight Logan had made a promise, one which he would uphold to the end of his life. He was a hero, teacher, survivor, father. He was no monster, no animal, while holding the title of “Wolverine” and the trauma which had been born from Weapon-X, he had proved every single time it mattered that he was more than those things.

He was the best at what he did, and what he did wasn’t very nice…but he was trying and that was all that mattered to him and the world.

The End

Next Time on Chronicles of Conflict: Kaiju No. 8 vs. Invincible!