Koishiteru

Wolverine and Mariko

Logan-

"You all right darlin'?" I ask as I walked over and crouched next to Mariko.

She doesn't look so good... I thought. She was shivering violently, her face as white as a sheet. It was a cold night, the wind was howling and ripping through the air. She was scared.

"Mmmm..." she replied.

I sighed and looked away, holding onto Mariko's arm. She took my hand, my eyes darting back towards her.

"I'm fine, Logan," she mumbled, a small smile forming on her lips.

"You're not," I said, fiercely rubbing her arm in an attempt to ward off her shivering.

"Here, put this on,"

I gently sat her up and took off my trench coat; carefully removing the blankets and wrapping the coat around her frigid shoulders.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"Don't thank me yet," I replied, tucking the blankets back around her, "They're still out there," I said, looking out into the blizzard raging outside.

"I should have brought you somewhere safer".

"No, Logan it's ok"

"No, it's not,"

"Logan, there wasn't enough time," she urged, placing her hand on his shoulder.

I sighed, "Try to get some rest, ok? This will all be over soon, I promise."

She gave me another small smile and nodded, snuggling into the pile of blankets. I tenderly planted a kiss on her forehead and got up, flashing my claws out as I stood at the mouth of the cave, ready to kill anyone who tries to hurt Mariko. My Mariko...

My one and only Mariko.

Mariko-

I jolted awake. I had no idea what time it was. Everything was silent. The wind, the snow... I couldn't hear anything.

"Logan?" I whispered into the deep night.

Nothing. I slowly got up, the blankets falling off my shoulders, his jacket staying firmly around me. I looked at the black digital watch around my wrist, 1:15 AM

"Shit" I mumbled.

Where was he? I slowly crept towards the exit of the cave, terrified of what lingered outside. I reached the mouth of the cave, nothing but total darkness greeting me. I didn't know what I was expecting really... a monster? I didn't know what to do. Logan told me not to leave the cave... but then again he told me I would always be safe with him, so finding him wouldn't be the worst idea, right? I sighed, thinking about what to do next. I knew it would be smart to stay in the cave, but smart wasn't really my style. I gradually started to step beyond the boundaries of the cave, wandering into the forest, knowing this may be the last stupid thing I do. Hoping my support would save me, my Kuzuri would always save me...

He'll always be there to save me.

Logan-

I didn't know what I was doing... something was wrong. Something was controlling me. I thought my mind was telling me to go back to Mariko, but my body had other ideas. I rebelled against it, desperate not to fail her, but the grip on my mind was too strong, and it wouldn't let go. Sure, this wasn't the first time I've experienced mind control, not by a longshot, but this was different. A pull in my subconscious whispered lies, but I knew it was just that. Whatever bastard is doing this is gonna pay, I thought. Through gritted teeth, I attempted to stop running. It was near impossible, my whole body was telling me to go, and my mind telling me too, the remainder of my strength was holding on by a thread.