The sun filtered gently through the stained-glass windows of Xavier's library. It was usually a place of peace knowledge in rows, silence as its law. But today, tension thickened the air like a brewing storm.
Karna and James Moriarty were already seated, their postures relaxed until Ritsuka and Hakuno entered with grave expressions. Hakuno subtly raised a hand; a translucent soundproof barrier shimmered briefly around them and sealed with a low hum. Only those within would hear the words exchanged.
Ritsuka took a seat, leaned forward, and met their gazes.
"We have a few more problems," he said grimly.
Moriarty's monocle glinted as he froze mid-turn of a page, brows slowly furrowing. "I was under the impression that Jean was our only threat, Master'."
Karna remained still, eyes calm but alert. "What do you mean, Master?" he asked gently.
Hakuno, resting her hand on the table, didn't waste words.
"Aliens," she said flatly. "We've got aliens now."
Moriarty's amusement vanished. He folded his hands over the book in front of him and became deadly serious. "Have you learned anything about their capabilities? How strong are they?"
Ritsuka shook his head.
"They're called the D'Bari. I don't know the full extent of their abilities, but they're technologically advanced, highly intelligent. Possibly psionic. I've got basic intel, not the full picture. But one thing is clear, they've just entered Earth's atmosphere as enemies of humanity. That... can't be a coincidence. Not when Jean's power is spiking."
Moriarty narrowed his eyes, gears clearly turning.
"Aliens rarely operate without motive. But Master, you've made bonds with other space-faring servants and Alien God, So we may have a narrow chance to negotiate... assuming they're rational. Still this timing? It's not coincidence, they're after Jean if we think logically."
Hakuno clenched her fists lightly. "We have to protect Jean."
Karna closed his eyes, nodding solemnly. "She's a kind person. I saw her aura. Compassionate, deeply so."
Moriarty grimaced. "That's what makes it worse. Compassion is no shield against destruction from Aliens."
He looked to Ritsuka.
"Use the Wisdom of Humanity, Master. You've seen the history of thousands of worlds. If this world has knowledge about this... 'power of jean'then dig deep."
Ritsuka closed his eyes.
He reached inward not to magecraft or sorcery, but to the shared accumulated record of humanity's greatest collective wisdom. The true history, the human memory etched into the Akashic records.
In a flash, it came. "It's the Phoenix Force," he whispered. "It's beginning a rebirth."
[NOTE: Most of Ritsuka knowledge comes from Lost Library of Cagliostro from Marvel universe.]
All of them paused.
Karna's lips parted slightly. Moriarty raised a brow. Hakuno looked as if she'd been doused with cold water.
Moriarty leaned forward.
"The divine bird? That which rises from ashes?"
"Yes," Ritsuka nodded. "That one. The original myth goes like this in our old world"
"In ancient myths, the Phoenix is a divine bird that lives for centuries—only to immolate itself in flame and be reborn from its ashes. A symbol of immortality, resurrection, and the cycle of death and rebirth. It's appeared in Greek, Egyptian, and Persian traditions."
"But... this Phoenix isn't a bird."Ritsuka says
"It's a cosmic entity....a primal force of creation and destruction, tied to life itself. In this universe, the Phoenix Force represents the 'spark of life' that exists before and after death. It bonds to hosts with immense potential....usually psychics...and magnifies them beyond reason."
Ritsuka looked down.
"Jean Grey... she's the host. And I've felt it—her power is climbing fast. In a matter of days, she could reach stellar-level output. That's not just telepathy or telekinesis. That's destroying stars."
Hakuno's voice cracked a little. "Then we don't have time."
"She's a friend now. I don't want to lose her." She took Ritsuka's hand quietly beneath the table.
Karna looked at them both and said firmly, "She's worth saving. Not just because she's kind... but because we believe in people like her."
Moriarty closed his eyes. "I expected this. Jean is a linchpin. If the D'Bari are here, they likely know what's awakening. And they'll move before it matures."
He opened them again, deadly sharp.
"We must act today."
Ritsuka nodded.
"I'll go to her. I'll tell her the truth...that Hakuno and I are from another world. If she allows it, I'll let her see some of my memories... enough to understand who I am, where I've been, and what might happen if she loses control."
He exhaled.
"And then... I'll help her try to control it. No matter what. We can make things right I guess."
Hakuno squeezed his hand and smiled softly. "I agree."
Ritsuka pull out his new phone...still shiny and slightly too large in his hand. He looked at the contact: "Teacher Flint (Bakery)", and hit dial.
The line clicked.
"Yeah?" came the voice—deep, raspy, like sand grinding through gravel.
"Good evening, Teacher," Ritsuka said, a bit awkwardly but respectfully.
There was a brief pause. Then came the reply, rough but warm beneath the sternness.
"Fujimaro. Thought you forgot how to dial to me."
Ritsuka chuckled lightly. "It's Fujimaru. And Sorry. I just wanted to say... I won't be able to come in today or tomorrow. The other place Hakuno and I work at...they're having a party and some planning, and they asked us to join. I didn't want to vanish without notice."
There was a long silence on the other end.
"Tch. Party kids," Flint muttered under his breath, but not with venom. "Fine. You will have to work harder later okay. Take two days."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, Teacher."
"Also About Hakono. Bring her to work here, if she wants to work with her boyfriend."
Ritsuka laughed quietly. "It's Hakuno, Actually she also wants to ask you about this, So she can work with me in the bakery. Now you gave green signal. She will be very happy to hear."
Click.
Pocketing the phone, Ritsuka rejoined the group. The tension in his shoulders hadn't vanished.
"I'm also going to think more about the D'Bari," he said to the others. "I don't want to assume they're evil. I've seen too many 'enemies' who just had reasons. There must be something...something that drove them to make humanity see them as a threat."
James Moriarty raised an eyebrow. "You're far too generous for your own good, Master. But Don't assume everyone have good reasons."
Karna offered a quiet nod. "But I agree with Master."
Ritsuka sighed. "Anyway, we talk to Jean tonight. We need her to know we are Trying to help her."
---
(Party)
It wasn't grand. In fact, it was pleasantly plain.
A quiet section of Xavier's garden had been arranged with garden chairs, patterned tablecloths, a spread of tea and light cookies....Ororo had made sure to replicate some Italian almond biscotti...and faint, jazzy instrumental music from an old speaker. A few small, polite fireworks were fired off by Jubilee for ambiance, but no one wanted noise.
The wine lovers...Logan, Remy, Beast...had all skipped out. Too calm for their tastes.
Ritsuka and Hakuno arrived with James Moriarty and Karna, each dressed neatly but simply...Karna still with his red scarf fluttering behind him.
Several X-Men greeted them casually. Nightcrawler teleported in and out just to steal a few cookies and make someone jump. Kitty Pryde waved to Ritsuka, teasingly asking if he wants to hang out with her but only to be get Jealous angry look from Hakuno. Ritsuka just smiled. His mind was elsewhere.
Hakuno nudged his arm softly.
"Jean," she whispered.
They both looked across the garden.
Jean Grey had just arrived...modestly dressed in a burgundy sweater and jeans, her long red hair tied back. She smiled at them, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Hakuno approached gently. "Jean. Are you feeling okay?"
Jean blinked slowly, then rubbed her temple. "It's just... a small headache. Nothing serious."
Ritsuka observed her aura..pale, flickering, like a candle under pressure. Not dangerous. Not yet. But something within her was building. Even Karna looked at her with a hint of concern.
At that moment, Scott Summers walked up, holding two cups of herbal tea.
"Hey, Jean," he said, reaching out. "Everything alright?"
"She's feeling a bit off," Hakuno said quickly, before Jean could brush it off. "Could be space sickness. Some people get that...like sea-sickness, just... slower."
Ritsuka added, "We saw something like it before in news channels. The pressure, the zero-g effects, the reentry. It messes with people with no training."
Scott frowned, worried. "You sure?"
Jean nodded slowly, accepting the tea from him. "I think I just need some rest."
Hakuno smiled and touched her hand. "Then do. We'll keep the party going. No pressure."
Jean offered a grateful smile, then quietly excused herself and left.
As she walked away, Ritsuka watched her carefully.
There was a flicker...just behind her steps.
A faint burn, a trail of cosmic gold like fading embers that no one else saw.
As the soft jazz still floated through the evening air, Hakuno leaned in toward Ritsuka, her voice low and urgent.
"Now's the time. She's alone in her room....we can speak with her freely."
James Moriarty, swirling a cup of untouched tea, sighed dramatically. "As charming as this soirée is, I believe I'll take my leave. Gardens are poor replacements for opera houses."
Karna gave Ritsuka a glance. "There is nothing more for me here. I shall accompany him."
BOTH Ritsuka and hakuno turned to go with them but a soft voice with authority stopped them.
"Leaving so early?" said Ororo Munroe, stepping closer, her white hair glinting faintly in the light of the lanterns. "The stars are out. That's rare these days."
Ritsuka smiled gently, but his tone was faintly off...measured, careful.
"I've been tired today, Ororo. I think I need the rest."
She studied him for a moment, clearly sensing something else behind the polite excuse.
Then...
BOOM.
A psychic shockwave rippled out from the mansion...an invisible force that hit like a hammer.
Guests were thrown to the grass, tables overturned, fireworks cut mid-burst in the air. Ritsuka reacted instantly, pulling Hakuno close, shielding her body with his own as dust and wind kicked up around them.
"...This is getting out of hand," Hakuno muttered grimly. Her brown eyes narrowed.
Ororo had stumbled but caught herself midair with a gust of wind. "We must be under attack!"
"Hardly," Hakuno exhaled."That psychic push... It's her. Jean."
Ororo's eyes widened. "Are you certain?"
Ritsuka nodded, brushing off debris. His expression was serious.
Ororo felt he is hiding something like Logan said.
Without another word, Ritsuka was already running, Hakuno at his side. Ororo follow them back.
---
Jean room
They saw Jean unconscious body being carefully moved into bed. Scott, Beast, and Nightcrawler were there already, helping. Her skin was glowing faintly...heatless, but with a gold undertone....and energy readings on nearby devices spiked erratically.
She was asleep, but it wasn't normal sleep.
"Is she okay?" Ororo asked softly.
Scott looked up. "Stable, Hank says. But… this isn't normal. Maybe that solar flare...maybe something out there changed her. Gave her more than just a headache."
From the corner of the room, Logan grunted.
"Maybe she turned into one of those four bubs."
Quicksilver, casually leaning against the wall, added, "You mean the Fantastic Four? Got hit by a cosmic anomaly and walked out with upgrades?"
Mystique, arms crossed, scowled. "That would explain why Charles couldn't read her mind earlier. Not even a flicker. Something's changing inside her."
Ritsuka stood near the foot of Jean's bed, silent for a moment.
Then, his voice firmed.
"Then Don't use force on her. Let her come to terms with what's changing inside her. The worst thing you could do is push her."
The others turned to him.
"Tell Charles....he must not go into her mind by force," Ritsuka said, his voice losing all traces of politeness. "I know how strong he is. But I also know what happens when you force someone dealing with powers they don't understand."
Ororo blinked at the seriousness in his voice...he wasn't addressing Charles as 'Professor' this time. Just 'Charles'. That alone said volumes.
She nodded, understanding instantly.
"You're right. I'll tell him myself. He listens to me… sometimes."
Ritsuka gave a slight smile. "Then that's good enough for now."
He glanced once more at Jean...her glowing aura now calm, like the eye of a storm.
"We'll come back tomorrow. I hope by then... she's herself again."
Hakuno touched Jean's arm gently, whispering a silent prayer under her breath.
Karna stood silently by the doorway, crimson eyes watching the young woman.
As Ritsuka and Hakuno turned to leave, Ororo murmured softly to herself
"You're hiding something, Fujimaru. The way you act today is different but you still worried about Jean. I hope you weren't enemy to us."
---
The hallway lights buzzed faintly as Ritsuka, Hakuno, Karna, and James Moriarty walked down the quiet corridor. The tension from earlier had lessened, but the memory of Jean's outburst lingered like static in the air.
Footsteps approached in a blur before suddenly halting.
"Hey—wait up," came a light, fast-talking voice.
A silver-haired young man in a leather jacket casually slid into step with them, hands in pockets. His features were sharp, eyes alert but friendly.
"Nice to meet you guys. I work with the X-Men but I don't live here full time. I stay with my mom at our place, so I won't be hanging around the mansion much."
Hakuno blinked, tilting her head. "So that's why we didn't see you around before. When did you arrive?"
"Just today. Came in for the mission." Pietro shrugged as if cross-continental sprints were just afternoon errands.
Ritsuka smiled and extended a hand politely, calm but with the natural charm of someone who's met hundreds of heroes and still respected each one.
"I figured you knew who we were, but introductions are important. I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru. This is Hakuno Kishinami and these are my companions, Karna and James Moriarty."
Karna gave a nod, solemn and still. Moriarty, with his book and confident stride, smirked but said nothing for once.
Pietro hesitated, the motion uncharacteristic for someone who moved like the wind.
"...Pietro Maximoff. I go by my mom's last name now… after my parents got divorced."
Hakuno blinked innocently. "Who was your ex-father?"
Pietro looked away. "Erik Lehnsherr."
There was a small pause.
Then Moriarty, never one to let the obvious hang in the air, let out a sharp breath. He already started to gather information about important things. So he knows this name very well.
"Isn't he the leader of the Brotherhood? The mutant separatist terrorist organization?"
Pietro nodded. "Yeah. That's him."
There was silence. Even Karna, ever the stoic, looked thoughtful.
They all understood why Pietro's mother...might have chosen separation. Erik's ideology, his violent tactics… they weren't the future anyone sane wanted for their child.
"The reason for their divorce is complicated and different family matter. You don't need to know," Pietro added quickly, defensive but calm. "Anyway, it was good meeting you guys. Take care." He gave a nod and, without ceremony, vanished in a blur of silver.
Only Ritsuka and Hakuno were able to see his speed easily.
As the wind settled, the group kept walking.
Ritsuka glanced up at the moonlight. "We lost our chance to talk with her."
Hakuno sighed beside him. "Yeah. If that explosion hadn't happened… I think Jean would've cooperated. She won't pushing us away."
"I did say it, didn't I?" Moriarty twirled his book. "Luck matters. And ours ran out tonight."
Hakuno gave a tiny, reluctant smile and gestured a silent you're right with her hands.
Karna, arms folded, finally spoke. "We'll try again tomorrow. But I don't trust Charles Xavier. He may still try to force his way into Jean's mind. That man walks a line between guidance and control."
Hakuno, voice quiet but resolute, said, "Don't worry. I already set a mental barrier around Jean's thoughts before we left."
Everyone stopped and looked at her.
"Wait," Ritsuka said.
Hakuno smiled softly. "A non-intrusive one. Just enough to delay any psychic intrusion. It won't hurt her...and it'll dissolve if she wakes up or feels threatened. But it should keep Charles from doing anything rash until we talk to her tomorrow."
Ritsuka blinked in surprise....then smiled.
"You did a good job." He gently patted her head.
Hakuno turned her face slightly toward him, looking up with those wide brown eyes. A slight warmth reached her cheeks as she gave a bashful smile.
'She's cute,' Ritsuka thought, before quickly clearing his throat and looking away.
Moriarty raised a brow with a knowing smirk but said nothing. Karna, ever focused, merely observed the interaction in silence.
They reached the street where James Moriarty hailed a taxi, tapping the roof with his cane as the vehicle pulled over.
"Come along, my apprentices," he said theatrically, stepping in first.
Ritsuka helped Hakuno in, followed by Karna. The door shut, and the taxi pulled away from the mansion, headlights disappearing into the night.
---
Note: Sorry guys for late Upload. I went to see Thunderbolts movie. So you guess what. Movie is very good. It's surprising to know Marvel did a job with characters like them. I want to say more. But we can talk later.
Bad news guys, I won't be able to upload chapters regularly for 2 weeks because I have exams. I will try to post every 2 or 3 days a chapter when i have free time. So sorry about that.
Wanda is exist in the story but she is in Hydra hands from young age. I will tell her story in Ultron arc.
I am going to put Karna x Phoneix ship. I was surprised many liked this ship of mine. But this time I will definitely take more time and development with them. Phoenix won't fall for him instantly or anything. I will make it good story.
I have clear story in my mind. But I will take readers opinion mostly in future for changes. But the only two characters I want to write without readers opinion is Nick Fury and Ritsuka Fujimaru. I love them both.
Also the cast of x-mens are here so readers don't get confused.
Wolverine ,Ororo Munroe (Storm), Rouge, Kitty Pryde, Piotr Rasputin (Colossus),Kurt,Wagner (Nightcrawler), Betsy Braddock (Psylocke), Bobby Drake (Iceman) , Jean grey, Scott Summers, Quicksilver , Remy Lebeau (Gambit) , Mystique , Jubilee, Charles Xavier ,
Okay see you later.