Well, here we go again... As a result of all the great C+C I rec'd on the original postings of this fic, I've made some revisions and re-writings to the first two episodes. Here's the redone versions, with a few codicils, some addendums, etc. Part three is in front of the pre-readers as we speak, so if they're quick, it should be suitable for posting by next week.
Note: If you read the original versions, and just want to see part three, that's cool, there's been no changes to the overall plot, just some more emotional stuff and the elaboration of a few points, so you won't miss TOO much if you skip these re-writes. On the whole, though, I think these are much improved.
Re: Fractured English. I rec'd more mail on this point than any other, both positive and negative. I stand by the wince-inducing English used by Ranma and Akane in the first part of the first chapter, because it's just ridiculous to assume that they'd speak PERFECT English. See my response to C+C posted a copule of weeks back if you need elaboration on that point.
AKANE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER/KYUUKETSUKI SATSUJINSHA NO AKANE
A Ranma 1/2-Buffy The Vampire Slayer Crossover
By: Leaping Gnome Productions
Disclaimer: The Ranma 1/2 and Buffy Characters are copyright
Rumiko Takahashi and Joss Whedon, and are used here without
permission but with great admiration and respect. I just had to play
in your pools!
Note: Events in this story take place after the third season
finale of Buffy, but before the beginning of season four.
IN EVERY GENERATION, THERE IS A CHOSEN ONE...
Buffy sighed, twirled Mr.. Pointy, her good-luck stake. The
misty graveyard got pretty cold at night, even at the end of
June, making her shoulder-length blonde hair cling to the back of
her neck. Absent-mindedly brushing her bangs back over her ears,
she sighed. She'd been nearing the end of her nightly patrol, and
had stopped to make one last pass through Sunnydale Memorial
Cemetery, her favorite spot. The spot where she and Angel used to
meet every night for a little necking. She smiled sadly to
herself. When your ex was a vampire, "Necking" could take on a
whole new meaning if you weren't careful... She'd been so lonely
since he'd left, and all her other friends were leaving, too.
Willow was going next week to a cram-camp in preparation for
college in September, Oz's band was going on tour, Xander was
leaving to go on his "Quasi-Kerouac" cross-country trip. Even
Cordelia was gone. She'd left for L.A. yesterday, leaving Buffy
alone to make what she could of summer. Sunnydale was pretty
boring in the summertime. Nothing much seemed to happen, aside
from the nightly vampire attacks that is. Giles had taken a
hands-off approach ever since they'd foiled the Mayor's
Ascension, leaving Buffy to patrol by herself.
"Bored now... bored bored bo-red..."
Behind her, she heard the now-familiar tearing sound of a
vampire digging his way out of the earth. Buffy smiled, letting
the undead creature creep up until she felt it directly behind
her.
"Finally! I thought you'd never wake up, sleepy!"
The vampire growled in surprise as Buffy spun sideways,
sweeping her leg out and connecting with the nascent vampire's
ankles, sending him sprawling to the ground. He spat the dirt
angrily from his fanged mouth, finding his feet a little
unsteadily. Buffy, intent on her target, didn't hear the second
vampire rising up behind her. A swift lunge forward with the
stake impaled the first vampire, rapid disintegration setting in
the instant the wooden shaft withdrew. The second, unseen vampire
leapt at Buffy's exposed back.
"Look out!!!"
Buffy whirled in time to see the second vampire slammed to
the ground by a powerful flying side-kick delivered by a
short-haired Asian girl wearing an off-white karate gi. With a
blur of motion, the girl slapped a strip of paper inscribed with
oriental writing onto the vampire's forehead. With a scream of
pain, the vampire convulsed, and exploded into dust. Dusting
herself off, the Asian girl turned to face Buffy, gave her a
small smile and a quick bow.
"You should go home, miss." The girl said in heavily
accented, halting english. "Is not too safe in such places, yes?"
"Uh... yeah... who *are* you, anyway?"
"Veddy... ahem, *very* sorry. I am Tendou Akane, Kyuuketsuki
Slayer. Forgive please, I must go now..."
Akane ran off into the night, leaving a stunned Buffy in her
wake.
"Slayer...?"
* * *
"Giles! Wake up, Giles! I know you're in there! Put some
clothes on and get your British fanny out here!" Buffy hammered
on the door of Giles' apartment with a closed fist. She stopped
when she heard the sound of the lock being turned. The door
opened, and a very flustered and fully dressed Rupert Giles
appeared in the doorway.
"Buffy, I have guests, try to be a little more, er,
restrained in your choice of words, if you please."
"Oops. Sorry, Giles.." She whispered, abashed. "But I need
to talk to you. I just saw the weirdest thing at the graveyard!"
"Well, come in then. Do try to keep your voice down, please.
I have neighbors, you know.
Buffy made a face, and walked in. There were two Asian girls
and an young, bespectacled asian man sitting in the living room.
"Hey! That's her, Giles! You know her?" The man and Akane
stood, dragging her sulky looking red-haired, pigtailed companion
to her feet as well. [A red-haired Asian girl? Gotta be a
dye-job], Buffy thought to herself, her fashion instinct in full
gear.
"You've met? Yes, I see you have...er, this is Doctor Tofu,
a fellow Watcher from Japan, and his charge, Miss Akane Tendou.
The red-haired young lady is Ranma Saotome, Akane's er,
iinazuke... did I say that right?" All three Japanese nodded.
"What's an in-suzuki?" Buffy asked, puzzled.
"I believe it means 'fiancee', or 'intended' Buffy, but my
Japanese is not what it once was."
"Fiancee? [Wow. I'd always thought Japan was really
conservative...] Well, that's peachy, but what are they doing
here? Wait! Don't tell me. She's here to replace Faith, right?"
"Exactly. When Faith, er... died, last month, Akane was
activated as a Slayer. The Watchers Council arranged for her to
spend the summer here, so that you could take her under your
wing. Unfortunately, they neglected to inform *me*, so I haven't
made arrangements for their lodgings yet.
"Well, gee Giles, gimme a sec, I'll call Mom. Maybe we can
put them up at our house."
Akane and Ranma were talking to each other in rapid
Japanese. Ranma kept shaking her head, until Akane yelled
something at her that sounded to Buffy like "Back-a". Ranma
scowled and pouted. Akane sighed, and turned to Buffy.
"Tenk you very much for your offer, Buffy-san. We would be
pleased to accept, if your mother agrees."
"What about Doctor Veggy-burger? Is he okay here Giles, or
am I putting him up too?"
"I will be staying here with Giles-san until I have secured
a flat of my own. Do not trouble yourself over me." Tofu answered
in excellent, if a little formal, English. "I must say, it is a
pleasure to meet the famed Buffy-sama at last." He bowed deeply
to her.
"Gee, uh, thanks!" She bowed back awkwardly. "You're a lot
nicer than some other Watchers I've met... err, present company
excluded..." she finished, apologetically, to Giles. Akane
tittered. Ranma merely looked confused.
* * *
Buffy's mom had been surprisingly pleasant about having the
two japanese girls as guests, once she got over her annoyance at
having the idea sprung on her after midnight on a work-night.
Buffy cheerily walked the two girls home.
"So, uh, Akane... How are you finding Slayerhood?" Akane
smiled quietly.
"It is... not too bad so far, Buffy. I was already a
trained martial artist before Dr. Tofu awakened my powers, so it
was not a too great shock. I enjoy destroying Kyuuketsuki, Oni
and
Youma, it is a good purpose. It *has* been hard on Ranma, I'm
afraid."
Ranma, hearing her name mentioned, looked over. [She really is
quite pretty,] Buffy thought. [It's no wonder Akane's attracted
to her. Too bad she's such a grouch.]
"How do you mean, hard on her?"
"Before my powers were awakened, Ranma was very proud of
having superior skill at the martial arts. Since I assumed my
duties, we are much more evenly matched. She cannot beat me with
any er... regularity? Yes."
"Oh. Little jealous?"
"Very jealous." Buffy smiled over at Ranma, who was
balancing, arms out, along the curb as she walked.
"Do you speak English?"
"Iie... no veddy much.. Paying no attention in class I am...
was." Ranma said, in her thick accent.
"So, uhh... You two are engaged? In-suzukis, right?"
"Iinazuke. Ee-nazu-kay. By parents choice, not ours..."
Ranma glared over at Akane, who glared right back.
"Wow. Lesbian arranged marriages. Japan really *is*
different... well, here we are!"
They arrived at the Summers home. The lights were on, so
Buffy went in the front door instead of climbing back in through
the window like she normally would. Joyce Summers met them at the
door.
"Hello, girls!" Joyce said, a little loudly and slower than
her usual speaking voice. "I'm Buffy's mother, Joyce. It's very
nice to meet you."
[Geez, Mom! They're Japanese, not deaf.]
"It is very nice to meet you, Summers-san. I am Akane
Tendou, and this is Ranma Saotome. We are very honored to be your
guests." Akane bowed. Ranma, after a quick cuff from Akane,
followed suit.
"Oh, no, please... no need to bow on my account, come in!
Come in! Oh, Ranma, I love your clothes! Those are chinese,
aren't they?" Ranma smiled awkwardly, cast a questioning glance
over at Akane. Akane sighed, and translated. Nodding in
comprehension, she responded in halting English.
"Hai..Yes, I tavel in China veddy moch. Arigatou... Senk
you."
"Your English is very good, Ranma! A lot better than my
Japanese is, anyway." Joyce smiled at her pleased houseguest.
"Akane, Ranma, it's very late, so I'm going back to bed, but
Buffy can show you to the guest room, okay?" Akane nodded. "I
hope you don't mind sharing the bed, at least for tonight." Akane
blushed, looked over at Ranma, and translated. Ranma also looked
a little flushed. Joyce didn't notice, but Buffy saw the look
that passed between them. [Hmm. I thought they'd look forward to
that, what with being... Ahh, whatever. Not my business.] Joyce
headed back up the stairs.
"Goodnight, girls... Buffy?"
"Yeah, Mom?"
"I'll talk to *you* tomorrow, young lady."
"Uh oh...."
* * *
The first thing Buffy did after seeing the girls to their
room was to grab the phone and punch in Willow's number into the
mobile receiver.
[Please don't be on the internet, please don't be on the
internet...] The phone only rang once before Willow picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Wil!"
"Buffy! Hi! What's up? Sorry I couldn't come out on patrol
with you tonight. Oz and the band were playing at the Bronze,
so..."
"No probs, girl! Gotta spend all the time you can with him
before the tour, right? Listen... Guess who just showed up?!"
"Angel? He came back?! Oh, that's so great! I can't believe
how really great that is.... Oh, no... you're not saying anything
and that means I'm wrong and now you're gonna get really upset!
Please don't get upset...."
"Uh, no, Willow, and thanks ever so for bringing up that
name."
"Oh, Buffy, I'm sorry! I'm so stupid! Bad Willow! Bad!"
"You're forgiven, Wil. Try again, and this time, no ex
boyfriends."
"Oh. Gee. Well, my next guess was gonna be that Pike guy you
told us about, but, hmm... Okay, good someone or bad someone?"
"Definitely not bad... but I dunno about all the way
good..."
"I give up! C'mon, Buffy, spill!"
"The new Substitute Slayer."
"Oh, wow! I hope she's nicer than You-know-who..."
"No argument there. She seems really nice, but she's still
learning English, so I haven't been able to pump her for much
info. She's from Japan, and engaged, and she brought her fiancee
with her. That much I know."
"From Japan? Cool! Can't wait to meet her! Did you know I
can speak Japanese?"
"No way!"
"Uh-huh... You know how my parents send me to computer camp
and summer school and things like that every summer? Well, the
year before you came to Sunnydale I met this really nice Japanese
girl at cram-camp and she taught me the language over the summer.
I never learned to read it, but I can understand it and speak it
pretty well! Did you say she's engaged? I thought you Slayer
types weren't encouraged to hook up like that..."
"Well, it's my understanding that it's an arranged marriage,
that her folks set it up before she became a Slayer... But that
isn't the strangest part. Her fiancee's a girl, can you believe
it?"
"Wow... Kim told me that same-sex couples were tolerated in
Japan, at least more than they are here, but I had no idea that
they could get married! Better not tell Xander..."
"What d'you mean?"
"Lesbians and Xander are a dangerous mix..."
"Don't tell me Xander's prejudiced!"
"No... let's just say that he's a big lesbian fan. Go-o-o-o
Lesbians!"
"Hmm. Well, he'd better not act like a creep around them.
Akane and Ranma are nice..."
"Ranma? That's a boy's name, I think..."
"Huh. Well, maybe she's the butch, I don't know... Anyway,
you wanna talk to 'em? They're staying across the hall in the
spare room..."
"I dunno, Buffy, what if they're, y'know... busy?"
"Tsk. Let me check..."
"Buffy!"
"I'm just gonna listen at the door for a sec. If I hear
anything too happy, I won't disturb them."
"All right..."
"Nope, they're just talking. I'll go on in."
* * *
A few minutes earlier, after they had unpacked their things,
Akane and Ranma stared shyly across the bed at one another.
"< Boy, these Americans are pretty liberal, huh?>" Ranma
said in japanese.
"<What do you mean, Ranma?>"
"<Well, lettin' a couple sleep in the same bed an' all, when
they ain't even married yet...>"
"<Honestly Ranma! Don't be such a pervert! Besides, I
*understand* English pretty well, and Buffy didn't tell her
mother that we're engaged. Not that I plan on sleeping in the
same bed with you, anyway. You're taking the floor!>"
"<Geez, Akane, it wasn't as if I'd try anything anyway...
You know this engagement thing was our Pops' idea, not mine. I
don't go for violent tomboys like you....>"
"<Ranma, the only reason I don't beat you to a pulp right
now is that we are guests in Buffy's home. Now go to sleep,
already.>"
"<Grumble, grumble... Well, alright, but I get the bed
tomorrow night. Pass me the hot water bottle, willya? This
floor's too hard for me like this.>"
"<Here. Don't forget the cold water bottle if you have to
get up in the middle of the night.>"
"<You don't have to tell me twice."> She emptied the hot
water bottle over her head. "<No sense in giving these Americans
any funny ideas...>"
* * *
Buffy knocked once on Ranma and Akane's room door and walked
in.
"Hey guys, a friend of mine'd love to speak..." She stopped
dead in her tracks as her eyes came to rest on the shirtless,
dripping wet, dark-haired boy sitting on the floor. Her hand
slackened and she dropped the phone to the floor. Willow's voice
from the earpiece echoed around the room.
"Buffy? What's the matter? Buffy? Hang on, Buffy, I'll be
right there!"
"Who.. what... is *he* doing here? Who *is* that?! Where's
Ranma?"
The dark haired boy looked panicked. He backed away,
babbling in japanese.
"Gomen, gomen, Buffy-san! Bore-wa Saotome Ranma desu..!"
Akane's eyes rolled heavenward.
"Ranma! Eigo hanashite bakayo!"
She turned to Buffy, an apologetic look on her face as she
continued in English.
"Buffy-san, he *is* Ranma. This very long story..."
* * *
Willow ran out her front door, Slayerette
backpack over one shoulder. As she raced to save her best friend
from what was no doubt another Hellmouth-fueled demon or killer
zombie or shape-changing vegetable, she mentally ran over the
contents of her pack.
Stakes? Check. Cross? Check. Holy Water? Check. Spellbook?
Check. Crossbow? Check. Okay, Willow, you're all set to kick some
booty... in a spiritual sense, of course...
Huffing and puffing, she sprinted up Buffy's block and
rounded the turn into the back yard. The spare key was still
where Buffy had told her it was. As quietly as she knew how,
Willow opened the door and snuck into the kitchen. She listened
hard. No screams, no punches being thrown... [I hope I'm not too
late!] She crept up the stairs, cross in one hand, holy water
vial in the other. She winced and froze as a stair creaked
underfoot, but nothing came out of the darkness to grab her.
Whew. So far so good, Willow... maybe now would be a good time to
go home and call in reinforcements...
She reached the top of the stairs and saw Buffy's door was
open, her room empty. Steeling herself, she pushed the door of
the guest room open, cross in front of her.
"Okay, vampire! Freeze!" She peeked one eye open, took in
the scene.
Buffy was sitting on the bed with the japanese girl, and a
strange wet Japanese boy was plunked down on the floor. All three
wore bemused expressions.
"Willow...?"
"Buffy...? What's going on?! I thought you were in
trouble..."
"Willow, this is Akane Tendou, and her fiancee Ranma
Saotome. I think..."
* * *
"<So.. let me get this straight... You fell into a cursed
spring and now everytime you're doused in cold water, you turn
into a girl? And hot water changes you back?>" Willow's Japanese
had come back fast.
"<That's about the size of it. yeah.>" Ranma replied,
shrugging.
"What's he saying, Wil?"
"Hold on Buffy, this is neat.<So are you really a boy or a
girl?>
"<I'm a guy! Geez, why does everybody always ask that?>"
"<This is so cool, Akane! My boyfriend only turns into a
wolf!>"
"<Y-your boyfriend turns into a wolf?>"
"<Yeah. He got bit by a werewolf so now I keep him locked up
three nights of the month. But Ranma's way neater. You guys can
hang out and do fun girly-things and stuff. I'm kinda jealous!.>"
Buffy glanced uncomprehendingly back and forth between Akane and
Willow, looking for all the world like a spectator at a tennis
match as the rapid-fire Japanese continued.
"Will somebody *please* speak English so I know what's going
on?"
"Oh, sorry, Buffy... Just a second. I think I have a spell
here for languages, just let me dig it out..."
"That's my little Sabrina!"
Willow pulled out her spellbook and scanned the pages.
"A-ha! Now, if only I brought some newt's toes... Here!" She
mumbled a few words in a strange, burbling language, and the
cellophane packet of newt's toes dissipated into a puff of smoke.
"How's that, everybody?"
"H-hey! I can understand you!" Ranma said in perfect
english.
"And I can understand you, Ranma!" Buffy exclaimed. "Good
stuff, Wil! You really *are* getting good at this..."
"It's a gift..." Willow answered, smiling proudly.
"So... What exactly is the story here, people? What's up
with the gender-bending?"
"Hey, I'd love to hear it again... don't mind me..." Willow
cheerfully piped.
Akane smiled, relief evident in her features.
"It's a little complicated, so bear with me, okay?
Ranma and his father were on a decade-long training journey in
China. Two years ago, they ended up in a place called Jusenkyo,
which means 'Training Ground of Cursed Springs'. There's over a
hundred springs there, and each one carries a terrible curse that
befalls anyone who happens to fall into the waters. Of course,
Ranma and his dimwit father had no idea exactly what they were
getting themselves into, 'cause neither of them can understand a
word of Chinese..."
"Hold on a minute... you mean they went to China for ten
years and they didn't even bother to learn the lingo? Talk about
mondo stupidity..."
"Yeah, well..." Ranma interjected in a surly tone. "Nobody's
ever accused my Pop of bein' a rocket scientist or nothin'..."
"Do *you* want to tell the story, Ranma, or shall I?" Ranma
grunted non-comittally. "Fine. then keep it zipped." Akane
turned back to Buffy.
"So, anyway, there they are in Jusenkyo, and their local
guide is trying to warn them, but being the pig-headed idiots
they are, they don't listen. Sure enough, within ten seconds,
Ranma's father falls into the Spring of Drowned Panda, and he
pops back out again as a giant Panda, if you can believe it..."
"Spring of Drowned Panda?! So... the victim of the curse
turns into whatever critter drowned there in the first place?"
"Right in one, Buffy. Except this particular panda is also a
master of the Saotome School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts, so
next thing you know, Ranma here's taking a dip too."
"Lemme guess. Spring of Drowned Girl, right?"
"You catch on quick..."
"So, uh... how come he changed back? Did the curse just wear
off or something?"
"Huh. I *wish*." Ranma interrupted. "The way the curse works
is that everytime I get hit with cold water, I turn into a girl.
Hot water changes me back, but only until the next time..."
"Huh. Geez, you'd make a mint in showbiz, Ranma. Didja ever
consider the movies?"
"No thanks. S'bad enough I change, but as far as i'm
concerned, the fewer people know about this, the better. It's
embarrassing!"
"It's not so bad... At least you make a cute girl..."
"That's the worst part! I don't know how American high
school guys are, but Japanese ones are animals! There's this one
jerk, Kuno, tries to jump my bones every time he sees me in
girl-form. I've been sexually harrassed, fondled, groped and
molested, not to mention becoming the favorite victim of a dirty
old panty-stealing man... I've even had nude pictures of me sold
to half the school! Believe me, It's a relief to get out of that
nuthouse... Even if it's only for the summer."
"What about you, Akane? Do you have to worry about cold
water too?"
"No, thank heavens. The only things I have to worry about
are vampires and assorted denizens of the underworld."
Buffy, Akane and Willow shared are giggle.
"So, how'd you guys end up engaged? No offense, but... you
seem a little young... not to mention the fact that you haven't
stopped arguing since I met you..."
"Long story made short, it was our fathers' idea. They used
to train under the same Sensei, so when they had kids, they
decided to combine our Schools and marry us off. Nobody asked us,
of course, but..." She shrugged. "We've kinda gotten used to the
idea by now, but that doesn't mean we like it."
"That really sucks, guys! Did you guys have, like, sweeties
of your own before this mess?"
"Ranma did."
"I did not!!!"
"What do you call Ukyou, then?!"
"That was Pop's idea... *again*..."
"Didn't see *you* complaining..."
Ranma stuck out his tongue, and gave evidence that the
raspberry is truly international. Akane ignored him, continuing
her story.
"I don't really care all that much for guys my own age...
they're all pretty dopey, present company included..." She
smirked. "But Ranma here's quite a casanova! At last count, he
had three, er... two other fiancees besides me!"
"Ranma!" Buffy and Willow looked scandalized.
"Hey, it's not my fault! My dad has a habit of selling me to
pay off bad debts. It's not as if I actually go after these
girls, it's just a new one seems to show up roughly every six
months, that's all."
"Your dad sounds like a total weenie..." Willow commented.
"Definitely."
"I think your dad and my dad should get together and go
bowling..." Buffy murmured.
Willow sat up straight as an idea hit her between the eyes.
"Hey, you guys! I bet I might be able to help you out! I
picked up a book yesterday at the occult shop all about water
spells... maybe it has a chapter on cursed springs!"
"I don't know, Willow..." Akane cautioned. "Dr. Tofu's done
some pretty intense research on the subject... I don't think
there *is* a permanent cure for Jusenkyo's curse."
"Not so fast, Akane!" Ranma interjected. "If Willow finds
something, i'm willing to try it..."
"Kewl!" Willow chirped. "I'll get right on it first thing
tomorrow... Hey, Ranma! If Buffy and Akane are patrolling
tomorrow night, d'you maybe wanna come with me and Xander to see
my boyfriend's band play at The Bronze? They're really good..."
"Uh, sure, I guess... If you don't mind, I think i'll go as
a girl. I've had my fill of jealous boyfriends..."
"Oh! Oz isn't like that at all, Ranma! Although, he *can* be
kinda territorial sometimes... I think it's a wolf-thing. Be
careful around Xander, though. He's nice, but he's a little bit
of a goofball, and he's got a thing for women who could beat him
up..."
"Terrific... Just what I need, another Kuno..."
Buffy stood, stretched her arms over her head.
"Well, Akane, Ranma... I guess you two are probably tired or
jet-lagged or something. I'll walk Willow home, so you guys can
turn in... Ranma, I think it'd be a good idea if you stayed as a
girl in the house. I think my mom would totally wig out if she
found out about your curse.
"No problem. I'm used to it..."
Willow gathered up her things, humming happily.
"Bye, guys! I'll see you tomorrow... Oh, and that language
spell's gonna last until the next full moon which is in..." She
ticked it off on her fingertips. "Fifteen days. So you should be
able to speak and understand English until then, okay?" The two
Japanese nodded, understanding.
"Bye, Willow! It was very nice to meet you!" Akane said
"Yeah, Willow! Let me know about that spell, okay?" Ranma
added.
"Mmm-hmm!" Willow bopped on out, humming a happy tune.
The two American girls left, closing the door quietly behind
them. Akane turned to Ranma, speaking in Japanese.
"<Buffy and Willow are so nice! I was worried you'd freak
them out...>"
"<Pshht! This is California, Akane. Nothing shocks these
people... So why didn't you tell them the truth about why we came
to America?>"
"<If Dr. Tofu didn't tell Giles-san, then I'm not about to
tell Buffy. Besides, it's just... too painful right now, Ranma...
We'll tell them soon, though, okay?>"
"<All right. It's just... I miss them, y'know? Especially
her...>"
"<Me too, Ranma. Me too...>"
* * *
Paulie'd seen a lot of players come and go over the past
three years. Sunnydale's vampire underworld seemed to have a sort
of revolving door leadership since The Slayer moved to town.
First the Master bit the dust, then Spike and his psychotic
squeeze Dru had breezed through town. Angelus, Mr.. Twitch, and
finally, the Mayor. All dead or defeated at the hands of the
Slayer... Paulie had stayed alive (or undead, if you prefer,) by
keeping his head down and preying solely on the blood of winos
and derelicts, people nobody missed when they disappeared. Other
vamps, who preferred young, healthy victims laughed at him, but
where were they now? Slain, that's where. Paulie figured he'd be
hanging around the Hellmouth long after the whole damn town dried
up and blew away.
He'd been toying with the idea of bucking for leadership of
the city's anarchic vampire population since the Mayor bought the
big one last week. He'd made a few discreet inquiries, called up
a few favors... he might have a shot... At a hundred and
twenty-seven years, there weren't too many vampires left in
Sunnydale older than he was, and those that were tended to stay
out of sight.
He'd gathered together what few vamps he remembered from the
old days, when The Master was nominally in charge. Most of the
newer bloods were either dead or running with that bitch up at
the university, so it was a pretty old crowd tonight. Only one
vampire younger than fifty years was present. That's not to say
the group looked old, by any means. An innocent passerby would
probably think they were a group of about twenty young toughs out
looking for trouble. They met down at the waterfront, where the
fog and the canal provided plenty of escape routes should The
Slayer pay a visit...
"Awright, youse mooks! Listen up!" Paulie yelled. The motley
collection of vampires, zombies and assorted demons stopped
talking and turned to face the burly ex-longshoreman standing on
top of the wooden crates. Paulie had been a merchant marine
before his change, and he still carried the bulk around with him.
"Mosta youse guys know me, or hearda me. I'm Big Paulie, I work
the mission district and the soup kitchens..." A few nodded,
others snorted scornfully.
"Yeah, yeah... Well, I'm here to ask youse guys if ya wants
me as yer boss. Now hold on! I ain't all flash 'n trash like
Spike or Angelus, but I ain't never brought The Slayer down on my
buddies, neither. Think about it..." A murmur of agreement passed
through the crowd. Big Paulie had a rep as a stand-up guy, for a
vampire... Charlie Finster, a Chaos demon from the fifteenth
host of the Abyss, raised his hand.
"Ya gotta question, Charlie?"
"Yeah, Paulie... Whatcha gonna do 'bout the second Slayer?"
"Second Slayer? The Mayor's little chippie? Ain't she dead?"
"Naw, not her. The new one!"
"Yeesh! Dese broads are like roaches! They just keep
comin'... Okay, listen... Here's da deal... we keep outta sight,
only prey on the rummies and hopheads, and they'll never notice
us..."
"Aw, c'mon, Paulie! I gotta bizness ta run! I need the young
stuff..."
"Well, geez, Charlie! If you'd stuck to the old farts and
bums like I does, ya would'nta hadda deal with that police raid
that put youse in dutch wit da Mayor last year, wouldja?"
"Fuggedit, Paulie. I can't eat the old ones! They're too
stringy!"
"Ahh, whatever, Charlie. Anybody else got a question?" A
blond haired Zombie raised a rotting hand, dropping clods of dirt
and meat on his neighbor's head.
"Yeah.. Hey, Paulie, I still wanna know what you're gonna do
about the new Slayer!"
"I already answered that... Anybody got any *other*
questions?"
"Naw, screw that, Paulie! Nobody's gonna listen to you
unless you can do something about the Slayers! If you ain't got
no ideas, than i'm goin' back to my crypt to watch the game!"
"Hey, c'mon Joey! Gimme a sec-" The crowd was dispersing,
shuffling, walking or oozing off.
"Is this a closed meeting, or may anyone speak?" An
accented, masculine voice echoed through the fog..
They crowd stopped, looked around... who had said that?
Two figures stepped out of the fog, standing atop the prow
of the tanker moored at the end of the pier. The male was tall,
at least six feet, with long straight black hair swirling around
his shoulders. Moonlight glinted off the round sunglasses he
wore. His hands were hidden in the wide sleeves of his black silk
shirt crossed across his chest. His companion was no less exotic.
Much shorter than the man, she wore a matching black silk outfit,
gathered at the waist and ankles. She held a pair of spiked maces
in her hands, and her shockingly-purple hair was elaborately
styled, held in place with silver combs and ornaments. Her
oriental eyes flashed with a red vampiric light. Once all eyes
were upon him, the man spoke again.
"I am... *quite* familiar with this new Slayer of which you
speak... My companion and I have pursued her here from her home
in Japan. Shall I kill her for you?" A murmur of surprise passed
through the crowd. Paulie, nervous, decided to take the measure
of the strangers.
"We've heard that line a few times, pally! What makes you
think you can take out one Slayer, let alone two?"
"Heh... Try me, gwailo..."
Paulie snarled, manifesting his vampiric features. No way
was he lettin' some snot-nosed new bloods fresh off the boat take
*his* post. He'd waited too damn long!
With a roar, the burly vampire leapt up to the top of the
stack of crates.
"C'mon, ya dumb chink! I pass scrawny little geeks like you
in my stool !!"
The tall asian man chuckled, and leapt straight up. For a
moment, he was silhouetted against the fog-shrouded moon.
Throwing his arms out, his wide sleeves billowed open, and a
flurry of fleshy, rope-like...things... shot out, pinning the American
vampire to the bulkhead of the tanker. Paulie was stuck like a
bug, the cord-like tendrils of metamorphic flesh
pulsing before growing barbs and knife-like edges. He screamed as
the blades tore through his undead flesh, causing excruciating
pain. The other ends remained attached up the oriental vampire's
sleeves, writhing as through each tentacle was independently
alive.
"Hyaargg! D'ya... this'll finish me...punk? You're...
dumber'n y'look..." Paulie flexed his corded, screaming muscles
hard, ripping away from the bulkhead and falling to the ground.
Unsteadily, he rose to his feet, ropy pseudopodia still piercing
his body.
"Heh-heh... I am not done yet, round-eye..." He alit
gracefully on the ground twenty feet away from his victim. With a
ripping jerk, he withdrew the hooked and bladed tendrils back
into his sleeves, taking pieces of Paulie with them. Old blood
and vampiric ichor fountained, spraying like a fine mist across
the gathered spectators, who whooped with glee at the gory
display.
Paulie still stood, barely alive...
"Hmm... You *are* sturdy, round-eyed fool." He turned to
his female companion, who was still perched on the prow of the
barge.
"My dear? Would you take care of this? I've grown bored..."
"Yes, my Airen... "
She leapt with blinding speed off the prow, streaking by
Paulie's tattered form. With a lightning-quick stroke of her
spiked mace, Paulie's head separated from his neck, flying into
the canal as the headless body disintegrated, necrotizing
instantly. The crowd gasped in horror and glee.
The oriental pair embraced, ignoring the cheers and gasps of
the assembled monsters for but a moment.
"Well, now... I repeat... Shall I kill the Slayers for you?
Will you then acknowledge us as your masters?"
The creatures roared their assent.
"Know then, that I am Mu-tsu. My beloved is Xian-pu. By
tomorrow night, we shall be your lords..."
* * *
At Giles' apartment, He and Dr. Tofu were setting up the
sofa-bed.
"Well, there you go, Doctor... I'm afraid it's not terribly
comfortable, but..."
"Nonsense, Giles-san. It's more than enough. You're
hospitality is more than generous."
"Not at all, Doctor... Now, if we're done being insufferably
polite, perhaps you can tell me the real reason why you and your
two charges are here..."
"W-why, Giles-san... Whatever do you mean? As I said, The
Council of Watchers-"
"Poppycock! The Council would never authorize such a thing!
Surely you must be aware that I have been formally
excommunicated... I am hardly in any position to be advising a
new Watcher of his duties, or training a Slayer. I have watched
as two young girls died in that capacity, and seen a third's life
turned upside down. I am *quite* tired of my duties, and have
been looking forward to a vacation. So I must ask again, sir; Why
have you come?"
"Ah... Well..." The younger man sat on the edge of the bed.
He sighed sadly, removed his glasses and massaged the bridge of
his nose. "It is a very long story, Giles-san..."
"I have nothing if not time to spare. Pray enlighten me."
"Before I was activated as a Watcher, I had a small
chiropractic and acupuncture practice in Nerima, a commuter
suburb of Tokyo. Ever since she was a very little girl, I have
looked after Akane and, more recently, her iinazuke Ranma. It is
important for you to know that Ranma is a very honest and
honorable person, but i'm afraid... also something of a trouble-
magnet. Since returning from a training voyage in China, Ranma
has earned a reputation as the greatest fighter in Nerima. There
were always challenge matches to fight, grudges to be held,
rivals to vanquish. It has been a very difficult two years for
the child. For some time, I believed that it was Ranma who was
destined to become The Slayer, but... At any rate, it was Ranma
who was the first, unwitting cause of the trouble last month."
"While in China, Ranma defeated a woman named Xian-Pu in
ritual combat. As Xian-Pu is a member of a tribe of women
warriors, The Nyanichiczu. They have many strange customs,
foremost of which is the law that any outsider who defeats a
tribeswoman in battle must either be killed or must marry the
defeated tribeswoman. Although she originally planned on killing
Ranma, Xian-Pu soon fell in love, and changed her mind. Intent on
marriage, she pursued Ranma to Japan, where she made a constant
nuisance of herself with myriad plots and schemes to entrap her
'Airen' into wedlock."
"Forgive me, Doctor, but I'm afraid I seem to be a little
confused..." Giles interrupted. "I was not aware that female
homosexuality was so openly accepted in the Orient. Is Ranma's
case unusual?" Dr. Tofu smiled.
"I'm afraid it's not a case of lesbianism at all, Giles-san.
You see, Ranma is a boy."
"I *beg* your pardon?"
Dr. Tofu took a moment to explain the curse of Jusenkyo to a
stunned Giles.
"I... see... How unfortunate... Perhaps, if the vast
majority of the books in my library had not been blown up, I
might have been able to find a cure for the poor lad... Well, do
go on... You were talking about a Chinese girl..."
"Quite right, Giles-san... Xian-Pu... A delightful girl,
truly. She worked for me as a nurse for a time... while she was
not pursuing Ranma, that is. She was, in fact, being pursued
herself by a young man of her own village, a rejected suitor
named Mu-Tsu. A very dangerous young man..."
"I'm afraid none of us took Mu-Tsu terribly seriously at
first, even though he called himself the Master of Dark Magic.
Although we soon learned he was indeed an Adept, the fate that
befell him proved that he was no Master..."
"He attempted to conjure a minor demon to grant him power
enough to defeat Xian-Pu so that she would accept his suit as
legitimate, but he made a mistake during some part of the
incantation. The demon possessed him, and-"
"Made him a vampire. Oh dear..." Giles mopped his forehead
nervously.
"Yes. With the powers granted him by his vampiric state, as
well as his existing skill in the martial arts, he was easily
able to defeat Xian-Pu. By her own law, she was his to do with as
he pleased. He promptly made her his vampiric consort, and
together they went after his only rival, Ranma Saotome."
"Akane's iinazuke."
"Exactly. Her powers as a Slayer were activated only shortly
before Mu-Tsu and Xian-Pu's attack on her family's Dojo. She and
Ranma managed to fight them off, but there were casualties. The
Dojo's founder, Happousai, was slain by Xian-Pu after he unwisely
attempted to commit a mischief on her person. His death was not
greatly mourned. Kuh-Lohn, Xian-Pu's great-grandmother and
matriarch of her village, fell to Mu-Tsu in an act of vengeance.
We lost a valuable and powerful ally in her. But the greatest
tragedy was the loss of Kasumi, the eldest of the three Tendou
sisters. She f-fell to Mu-Tsu's fangs... She was so very kind and
gentle, she had no chance against him... We were t-too late to
save her..." Tears began to run down Tofu's face as the memory
washed over him. "I-I loved her, very much... I drove the stake
into her heart myself when she arose... I could at least grant
her soul rest..."
"I'm very sorry, Doctor... I lost someone... very close to
me to a vampire as well... I can imagine how you must feel.
Forgive me, but, how did you three end up defeating the
vampires?"
"To our sorrow, we could not... Akane was too new to her
gifts, and Ranma and myself were simply outmatched. It was not
until we learned certain esoteric techniques from the Manou
family, who are themselves famed Devil Hunters, that we were able
to make a significant dent in their plans. To protect what
remained of the Tendou and Saotome houses, we fled here to
America and Buffy-sama, leaving Akane's surviving sister and
Father, and Ranma's own father, under the protection of the
Manous until we are ready to defeat the vampires..."
Giles stood, placing his hands on Tofu's shoulders. He
looked the younger man in the eye.
"Don't you realize that Xian-Pu and Mu-Tsu will follow you?
If their hatred for Akane and Ranma is so strong, they'll come
here to Sunnydale for certain!"
"True... We hope, however, that we have some time... time to
train under Buffy-sama and yourself... To prepare for their
arrival. We believe that they will be reluctant to travel by
boat, due to a fear of water, so we think we have some time. But
Xian-Pu is an excellent tracker. It will not be long..."
"They're afraid of water? Is this some characteristic of
Oriental vampires?"
"Merely a phobia, in this case. Mu-Tsu and Xian-Pu were once
victims of Jusenkyo curses of their own. I do not know whether or
not their transition to an undead state has affected that. They
certainly seem in no hurry to test the theory themselves."
"I see... Well. this *is* quite a predicament Doctor... I'm
sure Buffy would be willing to help, but... If these two vampires
are this powerful..." He sighed. "Only a week ago we faced a
Demon Ascension, and Buffy is still reeling from the fight... I'm
not sure that they *can* be defeated, not now..."
************************************
END PART ONE
If you'd like to pre-read my stuff, or just have
questions, comments, etc.. E-mail me at
<leapinggnome@hotmail.com>
AKANE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER / KYUUKETSUKI SATSUJINSHA NO AKANE
EPISODE TWO
A Ranma 1/2 / BTVS X-over Fanfic by The Leaping Gnome
DISCLAIMER: The Buffy and Ranma 1/2 Characters are copyright Joss
Whedon and Rumiko Takahashi respectively and are used here
without permission but with great admiration.
LAST TIME, ON AKANE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: There's a new Slayer in
Sunnydale, and her name's Akane Tendou, a Japanese martial artist
who's been called to replace Faith. Along with her fiancee Ranma
Saotome, a young man cursed to transform into a girl when struck
by cold water, and her Watcher, Dr. Tofu Ono, she has arrived in
Sunnydale to learn at the feet of Buffy Summers, the first Slayer
of her generation. Problem is, Akane and Ranma have been followed
by some old enemies; oriental vampires whose strange powers and
weird abilities may be too much for even two Slayers (plus
entourages) to handle . . .
IN EVERY GENERATION, THERE IS A CHOSEN ONE . . .
The bright morning sun rose over Sunnydale, birds chirped,
cars started, paperboys missed the front stoops of the houses
along their routes. In the kitchen of the Summers home, Buffy and
Joyce sat across from each other, nursing coffees.
"All I'm saying, Buffy, is that you should have shown a
little more consideration for *my* schedule. I *told* you the
museum was bringing in a shipment of rare Chinese artifacts
today. I'm going to be very busy for the next few days, and I
won't have time to be a proper host for our guests!"
"Mo-om! It's not as if I planned this or anything. I was as
surprised as you, and so was Giles. If you want, I'm sure we can
put them up in a hotel, y'know."
"Tsk! Don't be ridiculous. Two girls all alone in a strange
country . . . "
"One of them's a Slayer like me, Mom. We're tough stuff . .
. "
"Please don't get me started on that, Buffy. Half the time I
don't know what Mr.. Giles is thinking, letting you face things
like that . . . graduation day still gives me the shivers . . .
at any rate,
I'm happy to put Akane and Ranma up, but I just wish there was
some way you could have given me more notice, that's all."
"Like I said, Mom, I didn't *have* any more notice to give!
Yeeesh!!"
The sound of loud voices echoing from upstairs forestalled
any further argument from Joyce.
"What are those two *doing* up there?!" Joyce sipped at her
coffee pensively. "I hope they're not fighting . . . " Buffy
pushed
away from the table.
"I'll go check on 'em, Mom."
* * *
Upstairs, the Summers' two houseguests were bickering in
rapid-fire Japanese. Neither of them had slept well last night,
the events of the past two weeks weighing heavily on their minds.
In no time at all, tempers flared.
"Akane! Gimme a break, huh? I ain't wearin' that stoopid
outfit, okay?" Girl-Ranma held a pretty yellow sundress at arm's
length. "Just 'cause I'm a girl right now don't mean I gotta
wear *your* dumb clothes..." Akane fumed.
"Honestly, Ranma! Then don't! Just wear that stupid red top
for the third day in a row, then. Stink if you want to! I
couldn't care less...." Ranma pulled a face at Akane's back. She
snatched up her red top, giving the armpits a quick sniff, Akane
wrinkling her nose at the sight.
"Gaah! Maybe you're right... " She quickly shimmied into
the dress, only getting tangled up in the straps once.
"How does it fit?" Akane asked, having already dressed
herself in a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a comfy baggy cotton
top.
"It's too tight in the chest and too baggy in the
waist..." Ranma answered, tugging distastefully at the material.
"Fine! Take it off, then!" Akane advanced on Ranma
threateningly, hefting the double bed over her head, the frame
brushing the light fixture.
"Hold on, Akane, c'mon, I..." She stepped closer. "Not in
the house! Not in the house!"
"Ahem..." The two Japanese girls froze, slowly turning
their heads to see Buffy standing in the doorway, a surprised
look on her face.
"Oh, uh... Hi, Buffy! Heheheheh..." Ranma piped up, rubbing
the back of her head in embarrassment. Akane blushed furiously
and gently replaced the bed.
"Oh-kay... I think we need to set a few ground rules,
kids... No fighting in the house, for starters..." Buffy ticked
off each point on her fingers. "No throwing furniture at each
other,and no being so darn perky first thing in the morning, hmm?
Now kiss and make up, Mom made breakfast..."
"Sorry..." Akane and Ranma chorused.
"It's okay, you two. Just ease up a little, huh? This is
California, the mellow state."
"Um, Buffy?" Ranma piped up. "Do you have any clothes I
could borrow? I need to do a load of laundry, and Akane and I
aren't really the same size..." She gestured down at the
ill-fitting dress. "Maybe something a little less... girly?"
Buffy looked pensive for a moment. "Hmm. You know, I just
might... You're lucky, you know. I don't let just anyone raid my
wardrobe... C'mon, I'll set you up."
* * *
With a little help from Buffy's keen fashion sense, Ranma
was soon resplendent in a red cropped Tee shirt and a pair of
stretch nylon slacks with a small flare at the ankles. Sneakers
were borrowed, as well as appropriate undergarments. (The last
under extreme protest, until Buffy explained at length how boxers
would leave noticeable lines under the black stretch fabric and
that the braless look went out in the seventies.) Even Ranma had
to whistle when she saw herself in the full length mirror.
"Whoosht! I *am* a hot little tamale!" Buffy beamed proudly.
"I'm glad to see that years of mall-crawling in the
Hollywood Hills weren't entirely wasted. Are you sure I can't
convince you to undo that pig-tail? We could brush it out, and
you'd have a nice wavy-thing going on..."
"Are you kidding? That's my trademark... er... thing! I'd
feel naked without it. Er, not that i'm complaining, but... isn't
it hard to fight in these tight pants?"
"Trust me Ranma. Stretch nylon is a Slayer's best friend. Or
a Slayer's best friend's best friend. Or a Slayer's In-suzuki's
best friend..."
"I get the idea, thanks... Now, If Akane'd just dress this
well, maybe she wouldn't look like such a tomboy all the time...
It's no wonder I get all the guys..."
"Are you sure you're really straight? 'Cause that last
statement was mondo weird..."
"'Course I'm straight!! Geez !"
* * *
Akane had discovered that breakfast in the Summers home was
a little different than what she was used to back home. When
Joyce Summers "made breakfast", it seemed to extend to no more
than brewing a pot of coffee and getting the toaster waffles out
of the freezer. Joyce was all smiles, although Akane's unaccented
English threw her for a loop at first.
"Oh, *that*... I guess I was just a little jet-lagged last
night... my English suffers a little when I'm tired, that's all.
Ranma's the same way..."
"Well, it's just amazing! All those wonderful things they
say about the Japanese school system must be true... I couldn't
even convince Buffy to take freshman French... So tell me a
little about yourself, Akane. How old are you? What part of Japan
are you from?"
"Umm, well, I'm eighteen years old, and my family has, er..
had a Training Hall in Nerima. It kinda got leveled last
month..."
"Oh, my goodness! A hurricane?"
"Um, no... Slayer business."
"Oh... I suppose that property damage is part of the job..."
She forced a laugh. "How about Ranma? Is she a friend or
family?"
"A friend of the family, actually. Her dad and my dad used
to train together when they were young. When they decided that
Ranma and I had to..." She stopped herself, remembering that Mrs..
Summers didn't know about the Jusenkyo curse, or the engagement.
"Er, inherit the Dojo and combine our father's Martial Arts
Schools, she and her dad came to live with us. Er, can I ask you
something, Mrs.. Summers?"
"Of course, honey." Joyce smiled reassuringly.
"Did you know Faith Spencer? The girl I, er... replaced?
Buffy hasn't spoken about her, and Mr.. Giles was kind of
evasive..." A sad look passed over Joyce's face as she
remembered.
"Yes, yes I did... She spent Christmas with us last year.
She *seemed* like a nice girl, but... she was so very angry all
the time. I'm sorry to say I didn't know her very well before she
died. Buffy won't tell me what happened to her, other than it had
something to do with all that mess that happened at
Graduation..." Joyce sighed, taking a sip of her coffee before
continuing. "I worry about Buffy sometimes. All the time,
actually. I suppose it's sort of like being a police officer's
mother. You know your child is doing good work, important
work,but you still can't help but wish..." She shook her head,
clearing her throat. "Well, anyway, I imagine your parents feel
much the same way."
"Actually, Mrs.. Summers, my father encourages me. He's very
big on duty. I know he must worry, though..." Joyce nodded, her
gaze growing distant.
A change of subject might be a good idea here, Akane
thought.
"Er, these are very good waffles, Mrs.. Summers."
"Hmm? Oh, I can't take credit for these, Akane. The toaster
does all the work... Speaking of work, I really have to get
going. Will you tell Buffy and Ranma when they get down that I
won't be back for dinner? There's pizza in the fridge..." She
gathered up her plates, taking them to the dishwasher. She
grabbed her briefcase, almost shyly giving Akane a quick peck on
the top of her head. "You take care, Akane." She hurried out the
door.
Akane sat stunned for a moment at Joyce's unexpected display
of affection. Wow, she thought. She's really nice. Buffy's lucky
to have a Mom who cares that much... Heck, she's lucky she's
*got* a Mom... Tears began to well up in her eyes, as memories of
Kasumi flooded her mind. Her voice, her perfume, the sense of
inner peace she radiated at all times. She fought hard against
the wave of grief that washed over her. Oh, no you don't Akane,
don't go there. Not now...
Collecting herself with a sniff, she went over to the
stairs.
"Buffy! Your Mom just left for work!" She called up the
stairs. "Ranma! Hurry up and get dressed! We should check in with
Dr. Tofu soon!"
"Coming! I'm almost ready!" Ranma called down. Buffy came
down the stairs carrying a boombox.
"Presenting, the all-new, stylin' and profilin' Ranma
Saotome! Ta-Dah!" Buffy pressed play on the tapedeck, and Right
Said Fred's "I'm too Sexy" came blasting out.
Ranma descended the staircase doing a creditable impression
of a fashion model, striking poses on every step, looking
fabulous in western clothes. Akane couldn't help but giggle.
"Ranma, you look... American!" Akane laughed.
"That'd *better* be a complement, Akane." Buffy
mock-growled. The three laughed.
"That's gonna look cute if you accidentally change back into
a guy, Ranma. Especially the tight pants..." Akane smiled at the
mental image. Ranma blanched.
"Ooops. I never thought of that... Umm, Buffy? I don't
suppose you..."
"Do you *see* any males in this house, Ranma? You'll just
have to be careful until you can do your laundry. Speaking of
which, the machine's in the basement, soap's on the shelf..."
"Aargh..." Ranma disappeared downstairs. Buffy sat on the
bottom step, pulling on a pair of sneakers, while Akane fiddled
with a brochure she found on the table in the foyer.
"Hey, Buffy... Is this where your Mom works?" She held up
the pamphlet. It was an ad for the Ancient China exhibition at
the Sunnydale Museum of Natural History.
"Yep. Why, you wanna go see that?"
"Do you think we could? It might be interesting..."
"Well, maybe Willow'll want to go. I'm not much for musty
old things. I live in the now..."
Ranma resurfaced from the basement.
"Alright, I've a load in the washer. Can we get goin'? I
need to do something. All this standin' around is drivin' me
nuts."
"Sure. We'll go talk to Giles and Dr. Veggie-burger, pick up
Willow along the way, and then we can show you guys scenic
Sunnydale California, okay?"
"Sounds good to me..."Akane smiled. Ranma nodded her
agreement.
* * *
"Knock Knock! Slayers and guest, party of three!" Buffy
pounded cheerily on the door to Giles' apartment. The door swung
open.
"Ah, Buffy, excellent. Good morning Akane, Ranma..." Giles
ushered them into his living room. "Dr. Tofu will be out in a
moment, he's in the shower. Have you eaten?" Akane and Buffy
nodded. Ranma shook her head.
"Well then, there's tea and fresh bagels on the counter,
help yourself..." Ranma set to with a vengeance while Buffy and
Akane sat down on the hide-a-bed. Buffy scanned the room, noting
the stacks of books on every available surface. She leaned
forward, kicking her legs as she spoke.
"So, Giles. Dr. Bean-curd keeping you up at night snoring?
You've got luggage under your eyes."
"Er, what? Oh, yes.. that is, no, I've been reading up on
some of the esoteric techniques used by Akane and Ranma, as well
as some of the characteristics of Oriental undead... Fascinating
reading, really quite absorbing. A whole different class of
demons quite unlike anything we've faced."
"Hmm. Monsters and beasties and things that go slurp in the
night. Always *my* favorite choice for bedtime reading..."
"Yes, well... all sarcasm aside, Buffy, we may be in serious
trouble. Dr. Tofu has answered some questions I had about this
whole affair, and I must say I am quite concerned...."
Akane looked away. Ranma froze, a bagel to her lips.
"He told you what happened in Nerima?" Ranma whispered.
"What happened in Nerima?" Buffy queried.
Giles explained to Buffy about the battle at the Tendou
Dojo. When he got to the casualty list, Akane broke down in sobs.
Ranma rushed to comfort her, hugging Akane close, her own eyes
moistening.
"Oh my god, guys... I'm so sorry..." Buffy looked over at
the couple, then up at Giles. "So, uh, what about these two
vamps, whatchacallem, Mousse and Shampoo?" Ranma looked up.
"Mu-Tsu. Xian-Pu. They'll follow us. You can bet money on
it," she said in a voice as cold as the grave. "I'll kill him
myself for what he did to Kasumi..."
"Get in line..." Akane whispered.
"At any rate, Buffy... These two vampires... They are
creatures of a very different stripe than our domestic breed...
The Oriental Vampire is unaffected by crosses, for example. They
are metamorphs, and possess many other abilities that can only
truly be described as magical in nature. The techniques that must
be used to fight them... Well, it may necessitate retraining you
almost completely."
Dr. Tofu emerged from the bathroom in a robe, toweling his
hair dry. "Ah, good morning, Akane, Ranma. Buffy-sama. I... oh
dear. What happened?" Perching his glasses on his nose, he took
in the scene. "Oh. I see. We are discussing the Dojo battle." His
mouth hardened. Buffy noted that Tofu's eyes sported bags of
their own. Well, no wonder, she thought. If what she suspected
about him and Akane's sister was correct, he couldn't have been
sleeping well either...
"We have given this some thought. I have prepared
a training schedule with Giles-sama for you three, equally
balancing Buffy's experience in Slaying with the techniques we
have learned from the Manous, as well as some of the techniques
of the Saotome and Tendou Schools of Indiscriminate Grappling.
You shall each be responsible for tutoring the others in your
respective specialties. Mr.. Giles?"
"Indeed. Buffy, it's up to you to give Akane and Ranma the
benefit of your experience. Drill them on the habits and haunts
of our local vampires, as well as our patrol patterns and working
with Willow, Xander and the others. Akane, you will teach the
Manou style, including spirit-weapon manifestation and the use of
tesseracts. Ranma, we leave the martial training in your
competent hands. We should begin right away. As soon as Dr. Tofu
is dressed, we can leave. I've made arrangements secure the
gymnasium at Sunnydale Elementary for training every day from ten
'till two."
"Whoa! Hold on a minute, Giles! I was gonna take these two
on the grand tour today with Wil and Xander... Can't we start
this tomorrow?"
"Hmm. Yes, capital idea, Buffy. Call Willow and Xander. Oz,
if he's awake. They should participate in this as well."
"That's not what I meant!"
"Buffy..." Akane said quietly. "It's really for the best.
Mu-Tsu and Xian-Pu are extremely dangerous opponents. Anything
you can teach us would help..." Ranma nodded in agreement.
"Okay, whatever you guys want... There goes another sunny
summer day..."
* * *
"So, Wil. Remind me why we're here again? Every time I set
foot in here, I have horrible dodgeball flashbacks..." Xander
grumbled, yawning.
"Because you wanted to meet the new Slayer. Plus, she's
gonna be showing Buffy a thing or two, and Giles thought we might
be able to help."
"Well, you know me... always willing to help out the ol'
Scooby Gang... *And* meet female foreign exchange students.
Did'ja know I'm huge in Europe? Sort of like David Hasselhoff...
Hey, is that her?" He pointed at Ranma, who was entering the gym
in a white Gi. "Wow. A red-headed Asian girl. I've had dreams
that start this way..." Willow gently punched him in the arm.
"No, silly. The dark haired one. That's Ranma. The Slayer's
name is Akane. She's really neat." The two friends watched Ranma
fly through a rapid series of katas, displaying speed and agility
light years beyond Buffy's considerable talents.
"Are you sure? 'Cause Sister Street Fighter there looks like
the genuine article to me..." His eyes slid over to Akane, doing
warm-up stretches in a yellow Gi. "Her friend looks pretty
limber, but..."
Buffy entered in sweatpants and a T-Shirt.
"Ah, here's the home team... Hey Buff!" She jogged over to
her friends.
"Hey guys! Where's Oz?" She wiped a bead of sweat off her
forehead.
"He's still asleep. Musicians..." Willow smiled. "So, you
gonna show the new girls your stuff? Ranma looks pretty good..."
"I'm no slouch myself, Wil. Just you wait. As soon as Giles
and Veggie-man are ready to start, you'll see the Buffy-meister
in action..." The two watchers arrived from the dressing rooms,
Giles in a gray jogging suit and Tofu in a black Gi.
"Ah, You're all here, marvelous. Willow, Xander, this is Dr.
Tofu Ono, Akane's watcher..." Tofu bowed. Xander smiled,
extending a hand to the Japanese man.
"Hi! Yoko's nephew?" Dr. Tofu looked at him quizzically.
"Er, never mind..."
Willow elbowed Xander aside.
"Hi! I'm Willow! Very nice to meet you!" She said in
Japanese. Tofu smiled in response.
"It's nice to meet you too, Willow. Your Japanese is very
good! I take it you've met Akane and Ranma?"
"Oh, yes. All three of them..."
"I have absolutely *no* idea what you're all saying, but I
ask again, why are we here?" Xander interjected, a little
irritably. Giles took off his glasses, polishing the already
spotless lenses with a sigh.
"You are here, Xander, because I thought it might be wise
for you two to familiarize yourselves with the abilities of your
new teammates. Akane and Ranma will be staying here for the
foreseeable future, after all."
"Teammates? How official..." Xander mused. "So we're a
*team* now, are we? Neat. Can I be the little furry guy with the
claws? No wait, that's Oz... How about the witty and irresistible
Cajun? Ah ga-ron-tee mon chere..."
Giles, Willow, Tofu and Buffy blinked.
"Wow, tough room... okay, shutting up now."
"Right. Now if we're all ready to begin... Buffy, Ranma, if
you two would start us off with a bit of sparring?"
"Sure, no probs. You ready, Ranma?" Ranma looked hesitant.
"What's the matter? Afraid I'll kick your butt?" She smiled
sweetly at the Japanese girl.
"Er, it's just... I don't fight girls. Human ones, that
is... I make a special exception for vampires."
"Well, just pretend I'm one of them, then. Besides, this is
only a sparring match. I promise to take it easy on you..." Akane
walked over to the group smiling like the cat that ate the
canary.
"This conversation sounds awfully familiar... Ranma, just
fight her, okay? She's a Slayer, she can keep up." She sat down
on the courtside bench. The others joined her after a second,
leaving the two girls on the mat.
"Well, if you say so, Akane..." Ranma slid easily into a
defensive stance. "Ready Buffy? Hit me with your best shot."
Buffy brought up her guard in turn, and the two circled on
another warily. Buffy made a quick feint to Ranma's head,
switching rapidly into a spinning side kick. Ranma easily
sidestepped both blows, sweeping out with a low leg drag,
knocking Buffy's feet out from under her. The American girl fell
to the mat, but recovered quickly, regaining her footing with a
quick kip-up. Blow after blow was exchanged, Buffy blocking and
Ranma dodging easily aside. It seemed that they were fairly
evenly matched...
"C'mon Ranma.." Akane called from the sidelines. "Quit
fooling around and fight for real..."
Buffy goggled.
"Not for real?... I'm- WHOoollp!!" A lightning fast flurry
of punches landed hard on Buffy, sending her flying across the
room into the bleachers.
"Buffy!!" Willow cried, running to her friend's aid, Giles
and Xander hot on her heels.
"Holy... What hit me..?" Buffy stood unsteadily. "Feels
like..." She lifted up the hem of her sweatshirt, revealing a
number of rapidly purpling bruises. "What the heck was that?! It
felt like a jackhammer!"
"Sorry..." Ranma called sheepishly. "I tried to pull my
punches as much as I could..."
Tofu took a look at the bruises.
"Hmm. I'd say you succeeded, Ranma. You didn't break any
ribs." He stood. "That, Buffy, was the Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken,
or Sweet Chestnut Fist, one of the attacks I hope you'll be able
to learn. What Ranma did was use it to hit you close to a hundred
times. At full power, the Amaguriken strike could easily pulp a
body's internal organs in a heartbeat." The group whistled. Ranma
rubbed the back of her head, laughing modestly. Buffy felt her
bruises, wincing slightly.
"Whoa... Just think what I could do with Mr.. Pointy and that
move... Vampire puree!"
Xander leaned over to Willow and stage whispered.
"Are you *sure* she's not the Slayer..?" Willow nodded
slowly. He rocked back and forth on his heels. "Just checkin'..."
Giles hovered, worried.
"Do you think you're up to another demonstration, Buffy?
There's one more technique I'd like Ranma to show you all today.
To be honest, I didn't realize exactly how strong Ranma is..."
"S'okay, Giles... I'm ready for a second round... I
think..."
She walked back out onto the mats, resumed her stance.
"Let's do it, Ranma." Ranma shrugged, and assumed a soft
defensive stance. The spectators moved back, giving the
competitors their space.
"Okay, Buffy, come at me. Don't hold anything back,
alright?"
"Don't worry. I owe you for that Sweet Chestnut Thingee!"
She charged the Japanese girl, going in low this time. Ranma
nimbly leapt over her head, backflipping into a defensive stance
across the gym from her original position. She closed her eyes,
pulling her arms down and to one side like she was catching an
invisible baseball bare-handed. Buffy spun and charged back
towards her opponent, failing to notice the blue glow growing
between Ranma's cupped palms.
"Mokou Takabisha!!"
"Huh?"
The blast of blue energy struck Buffy head on, picking her
up off her feet and sending the petite blonde flipping end over
end into the far wall. She collapsed to the floor with a grunt,
leaving a faint impression in the painted cinderblock wall. The
spectators and Watchers rushed over to her side.
"Buffy! Are you okay?" Willow helped Buffy to her feet. Her
hair and clothes were slightly singed.
"Unnh... I think I've had enough for today..." She collapsed
in a faint in Willow's arms, her breathing deep and regular.
"She'll be fine, everyone. Ranma was holding back, weren't
you?" Dr. Tofu said reassuringly. Ranma hesitated, looking down
for a moment at her hands before nodding.
"I, uh... Yeah, I was holding back. Is Buff gonna be all
right?" Tofu nodded.
"She has a quick-healing ability, remember?"
"Holy Mortal Kombat, Batman!" Xander exclaimed. "I didn't
think that kind of thing existed in real life!" He examined the
Buffy-shaped dent in the wall. "Uh, guys? This is some seriously
powerful stuff here. Can anybody learn this?"
Tofu nodded. "Almost anyone, if they've ten years or so to
spare on constant training, could become a good enough martial
artist to attempt it. Luckily, Buffy's abilities as a Slayer
should allow her to learn this technique relatively quickly."
Xander's shoulders slumped. Willow piped up.
"What exactly *was* that? It didn't look like a spell to
me..."
Ranma answered readily.
"It's just focused Ki. Life-force, energy, whatever you
wanna call it. I'm not too good at explaining the Zen of
things... It draws on your self-confidence and inner strength. So
as long as you have faith in your own abilities, you're able to
use it."
"Jinkies... All that from just thinking happy thoughts?"
Willow whispered breathlessly. Akane laughed softly in return.
"The Mokou Takabisha is great, so long as you have no
self-doubt. Only the very competent or the extremely stupid can
use it well, since any fear you feel diminishes the power." Ranma
looked stunned, then angry.
"Hey! Was that a dig?!"
"You tell me, Ranma..." Akane said, her back to her
iinazuke. As such, she didn't notice the hurt look that crossed
Ranma's face, to be replaced a moment later with her familiar
scowl. Obliviously, Akane continued. "The good thing is, if
she can't get a handle on this one, there's an equivalent
technique she can learn that's fuelled by fear and insecurities,
the Shi Shi Hodoukan. But I don't think we should worry about
that right now, guys. We should take a break, try things
again tomorrow..."
"I quite agree.." Giles said. "I fear we've some distance to
go before we're ready to face Mu-Tsu and the others. Right now,
I'm more concerned with Buffy's health. None of us will be in any
condition to fight these creatures if we don't take things a
little slower..." Buffy stirred, opening her eyes with a groan.
"Here's an idea... Why not use a tackling dummy instead of
me? Who elected *me* official punching bag?" Dr. Tofu blinked
once before responding.
"I suppose we could... it's just it'd be easier for *you* to
learn the techniques by sparring against Ranma than against a
dummy. Perhaps we can have Akane take over the lesson from here
on in. Her techniques can be demonstrated without an opponent..."
Akane looked worried.
"If you think so, Dr. Tofu... I'm just concerned about
Buffy." She turned to her American counterpart. "Are you *sure*
you want to continue? We can always do this later..."
Buffy smiled thankfully, but shook her head.
"Let's see your stuff, Akane... I can see I've got some
catching up to do..."
Akane smiled sympathetically.
"Don't feel badly... Ranma and I are trained martial
artists... we've been doing this kind of thing since we were
little. But you've got a natural talent, I could tell watching
you spar. You'll pick this stuff up in no time..." She extended a
hand to help Buffy to her feet, which the blonde girl gratefully
accepted. "For your average, run-of-the-mill vampire or Oni,
these techniques are pretty superfluous. But Mu-Tsu and Xian-Pu
aren't just ordinary vampires... they've each got a lifetime of
training in the martial arts as well. You- *We've* got to be
prepared, that's all." A troubled look hung on her features for a
moment. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she led the blonde
girl out onto the mats as the others withdrew to the sidelines
once more.
"Do you fight with weapons very often, Buffy?" Akane asked,
settling into a lotus position. Buffy joined her, arranging her
limbs with a little difficulty.
"Giles drills me with a few things but, other than Mr.
Pointy, I can count on one hand the times I've used any of 'em in
hand to hand combat." Akane nodded.
"That's fine. What you need to do is close your eyes and
picture a weapon in your mind. Pick the one you're most
comfortable with, and imagine it resting in your hand. As solid
and as three-dimensional as you can make yourself see it.
Consider the weight and heft of the object. If it's got a blade,
imagine how sharp it is, like a razor's edge... Can you see it?"
Buffy scrunched up her nose, but nodded.
"Good. Now, keep concentrating on the weapon, and breathe.
Feel the air enter and leave your lungs. Picture it as a cloud of
light, permeating your body, filling your chest, arms, legs...
and then release the air." Buffy exhaled loudly. "Good, now,
again, pull in the light, feel it, and exhale. Are you keeping
your weapon in mind?" Buffy nodded. "Good. Continue..."
On the sidelines, Willow leaned over to Giles, whispering.
"Is she doing what I think she's doing?" Giles nodded, his
eyes still focused on the pair of Slayers.
"A conjuring spell... Object manifestation is one of Akane's
specialties. It would be invaluable to Buffy if she could learn
it..." His attention returned to the girls sitting zazen on the
mats. Akane was ready to move onto the next step of the lesson.
"Now, Buffy, here comes the tricky part... The next time you
draw in the cloud of light, don't release it when you exhale...
can you try it? Nod if you understand..."
Buffy nodded calmly.
"Terrific. Now, once you've built up a bit of light, say,
maybe three or four breaths worth, send the light down along your
arms into the palms of your hands, and hold it there..."
On the sidelines, Xander's eyes widened as he watched the
blue-white glow build around Buffy's hands.
"Wil... Are you seeing this too, or am I going mental?"
Willow nodded.
"Yup. I see it."
"Oh, good... What the hell is it? Anyone?"
"Life force. Soul energy... It's the stuff you make magic
with... Only I don't know too much about Conjuration or
Transmutation yet... I had no idea Buffy could do this..."
"Neither did she, I wager..." Giles interjected, whispering.
"Use the Force, Buff!" Xander called, receiving an elbow in
the ribs from Willow in response. Buffy didn't react, her
attention focused on her breathing. Akane scowled at Xander,
placing a finger to her lips in the "Shhh!" gesture before
returning her attention to Buffy.
"Keep going, Buffy, you're doing great... Now repeat the
other steps, until it feels like you've got a ball of light the
size of a basketball in each palm, okay? Take as much time as you
need, there's no rush..."
The spheres of light around Buffy's hands grew larger in
fits and starts over the next few minutes, until they were the
desired size. Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, but
her eyes remained closed.
"All right, Buffy... now I need you to form that light into
the shape of your weapon... picture the light filling it up like
it was a hollow shell or a mold... until the whole thing is
glowing like the sun... are you with me? Nod if you are..."
Buffy nodded, concentrating.
"Okay... now, keep the image of the weapon fixed in your
head, but open your eyes and look down."
Buffy complied. Her eyes widened in shock. The americans
gasped. Ranma and Tofu applauded.
In her hands, real as life, right down to the little nicks
and chips, was the sword she had been imagining! It was a long
blade, and light, with a basket hilt. A rapier. Identical to the
blade she had used last year to fight Angelus... The weapon
glowed with a faint bluish luminescence, the overhead light
reflecting off its polished surface as she turned it in her hand.
"T-This is... Incredible! This is my sword! How did it get
here?"
"You created it, Buffy. The strength of your Ki manifested
it..." Akane smiled proudly.
"Is it real?" She asked wonderingly.
"Quasi-real... A soul-sword can't cut you or me, or any
other living thing... but it'll cut through demons and vampires
like a hot knife through butter... "
"Wow... Is it okay if I get up?"
"Sure... take the weapon's measure. But remember to keep a
portion of your mind fixed on the blade, otherwise it'll fade
away and get re-absorbed by your Ki..."
Buffy stood, and went through a quick series of thrusts,
parries and ripostes. It felt exactly like the real thing! She
turned to Akane, eyes wide with amazement.
"This is too cool... Can you do this, too?"
Akane nodded and closed her eyes for a moment, reaching
behind her back for a second before producing a 20-LB glowing
wooden sledgehammer.
"I like the hammer, myself. Less messy, and blunt objects
have the added bonus of affecting mortals as well as supernatural
beings."
"No kidding!" Ranma piped up from the sidelines. Buffy shook
her head, unable to tear her eyes away from her blade.
"Hey, howcome that only took you a second?! It took me ten
minutes- Oh! Let me guess... practice, right?"
"You bet. It gets easier every single time you try it.
Someone who is truly adept at this technique can produce almost
anything from nowhere. Mu-Tsu, before he became a vampire, was a
master. Since the technique requires control over your Ki, and
the undead don't have any, he lost the ability when he died. Of
course, his vampiric metamorphic powers can almost make up for
it... He can make a weapon out of his own flesh and bone. It's
not very pretty to watch..." She shuddered. "You can let the
sword go, now. The synaptic pathways have been forged, so all
you'll need to do from now on is find your center, and will it
into existence... Pretty cool, huh?" Buffy nodded, letting the
rapier fade away in a rain of sparkles. "The Tendou and Saotome
Schools of Indiscriminate Grappling teach the basics of this
technique, but it was the Manou family who really developed this
into an exorcism tool. How do you feel, Buffy?"
"A little... drained, I guess. Is that because I used up
some of my, er... Ki?" Akane nodded. "Wow. Isn't that kind of a
drawback in a fight?"
"Yes. You can avoid that by storing Ki energy when you have
time. You'll need a focusing object, something you keep with you
all the time... I use this ring, here..." She held up her hand,
revealing a small gold-colored band on her left middle finger.
"It's just a little gold-plated thing I got from my mom before
she died, but it does the job. You just do the meditation we
practiced today, and instead of sending the Ki energy into your
hands, send it into your focus. It'll stay there until you need
it. To access the reserve, you just touch the focus and zing!
Instant Ki stash. Of course, you could still use that up, too...
So pulling out the soul-sword should still be a last resort.
Pretty much all the stuff Ranma and I can teach you involves
manipulating your Ki in one way or another, either to manifest a
weapon, add to the strength or speed of your strikes, like the
Tenshin Amaguriken, or just as a force blast, like the Mokou
Takabisha or Shi Shi Hodoukan. So the first thing you need to do
is build up your Ki. Once you've got that up to speed, everything
else comes easily. Do you think you can do it?" Akane asked with
a smile.
"Sure... it seems so easy, y'know? Why doesn't everybody do
this?"
"Not everybody *can* do it... It's like the difference
between learned skill and inborn talent in a musician. Some
people are competent, some are geniuses, and others are just
plain tone-deaf. It's not a reflection on someone as a person.
Even with the talent, some people have it to greater or lesser
degrees. Ranma, to give credit where it's due, is one of the
most talented and adaptive Ki-users on the planet. I've got a
knack for mallet manifestation, but that's mostly it. I've been
training hard, but for the meantime, it's better that Ranma teach
you the blasts and special moves once you feel up to it."
The two girls continued their conversation while the others
sat on the bench, with varying looks of pride or amazement on
their faces.
"Marvelous! Truly marvelous, Giles... She is every bit as
promising as we'd hoped! We may beat the creatures yet!" Tofu was
ecstatic at Buffy's progress. Giles was equally happy, but
restrained his elation beneath the trained composure of a proper
Englishman.
"Quite... Well, I certainly think we've had enough for
today..." He stood, clapped his hands to get everyone's
attention.
"Well done, all... Same time tomorrow, then? Willow, Xander,
tomorrow we can work with you two as well."
Xander could barely contain his urge to do an impromptu
Riverdance right there and then.
"How incredibly cool is that, Wil? I'm gonna be putting
Jackie Chan to shame in no time flat!"
Actually, Xander..." Ranma said apologetically, "It takes a
trained eye to see this, but... you don't have the knack... for
Ki use, anyway. We can teach you some moves, sure... but *this*
stuff is going to be way beyond you..." She patted him on the
shoulder soothingly.
"Aw, man..."
"Don't take it so hard, guy. Maybe we could work on weapons,
or straight hand to hand..."
"I *never* get to do the cool stuff... Wait. What kind of
weapons?"
"Uhm, the katana, if you want. Maybe a staff or polearm like
the naginata? You've got the reach to pull it off..."
"Samurai Xander... Works for me..." He smiled faintly, his
mind wandering. "Maybe i'll cancel my cross country drive after
all..."
"What about me? Do I get to be ninja Willow?" Willow asked
cheerily. Dr. Tofu cleared his throat.
"Well, Willow, I was hoping you, Giles and I could work
together. Your growing skill in western sorcery could be
invaluable to a project we're working on. If you'd like, I can
lend you some of my texts on pressure points and aggressive
Shiatsu, if you're really interested in martial training..."
"Sounds neat... Oh! But I can't read Japanese! That could be
a big problem... "
"Hmm. let's see... what about a variation of the language
spell you used on Akane and Ranma?"
"Hey! I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner!
Great!"
"Wonderful. I've some texts with me right now. Then, while
the others are working on their martial training, we three can
begin work..."
"Nifty! Oh, but no, I'm supposed to go the cram camp next
week, so I won't be around, which kinda sucks..."
"Not to worry, Willow, " Giles said reassuringly. "I'm sure
we can work something out. Perhaps some sort of extra credit for
college... I can speak to your mother this week..."
"Okay! Twist my arm... Ouch!"
Ranma sauntered over.
"Hey, Willow? I've been meaning to ask... any progress with
that spell we were talking about yesterday? Not that I'm trying
to rush you or anything..."
"It's okay... No luck yet, but i'm keeping my eyes open..."
"Oh. Sure... No problem, really." she sighed. "It was just a
shot in the dark..."
* * *
In the basement of a deserted warehouse near the waterfront,
the latest overlords of Sunnydale's vampire underworld were
waiting out the day in a room furnished with the rescued set
pieces from Sunnydale U's production of The King and I. Mu-Tsu
reclined in a sedan chair while Xian-Pu curled up in a pile of
silk-covered pillows. Mu-Tsu grumbled irritably in Mandarin
chinese.
"These Americans are pathetic, my love... All this fuss
over one little girl..."
Morphing his hand into a bird-like claw, he stabbed a
talon into a tattered copy of the 1999 Sunnydale High Yearbook,
impaling the photo of Buffy Summers on the tip. He slumped down
into his cushioned chair, flinging the hardbound book across the
candlelit room. Xian-Pu strode languorously up behind him, ran a
tapered finger down his neck. Spinning around, she draped herself
across his lap. Purring quietly, she kissed his chest before
looking up into the night-black lenses that hid his eyes.
"Don't trouble yourself over the American, my husband. She
is hardly a threat to our plans... Have your minions found the
mirror yet?" He smiled down on her, a hint of fang showing in the
grin.
"Yes... By dawn tomorrow, it will be no more... I am still
concerned about the Tendou girl... She and the hated Saotome may
yet vex me... Tonight, while I secure the mirror, you shall
dispose of Saotome. Take the gymnast with you..." He lifted her
chin to look into her eyes. Her gaze was distracted. "What is
it... surely you don't still *feel* anything for that fool?" She
looked away.
"Of course not... All will be as you say... " She curled
up tighter against him, sliding her barely-covered chest across
his with special emphasis. "Come back to bed, husband... Your
dinner is getting cold..." She gestured at the unconscious girl
dressed in the tattered remnants of a MacDonalds staff uniform
lying on the floor.
"I hate fast food... " He stood, gently depositing Xian-Pu
on his vacated seat. "I hate America. A nation full of
startled-looking idiots acting like they're the center of the
universe... If it wasn't for the Mirror, and that fool
Saotome..."
"And Tendou Akane..." Xian-Pu prompted.
"*And* The Slayer, I wouldn't set foot in this backward
country..." He sighed. "The things I do for global domination
and unparalleled supernatural power." Xian-Pu slid over to him,
rubbed his shoulders. He leaned back into the caress, a fanged
smile crossing his lips.
"Oooh. I love it when you talk like that, husband... Why
don't we skip dinner and go straight to dessert... I've made
something special just for you..." Shrugging out of her robe,
she wrapped herself around him, purring contentedly.
"You always were an excellent cook..."
* * *
"Man. I'm hungry. Anyone for chinese?" Xander asked the rest
of the group. Everyone except for Ranma shrugged noncommittally.
"Yeah, I could go for some. You've got chinese food here?"
The five teenagers had escaped adult supervision in the
aftermath of the lesson and had adjourned to the nearest coffee
shop for refreshments. Ranma had been regaling the three American
kids (with Akane making corrections to certain major
embellishments as needed) with some of the more unbelievable
tales of life at Furinkan High back in Japan. Willow and Xander
had listened raptly, while Buffy had merely sipped at her coffee
and groaned, her rapidly-healing bruises aching.
"'Course we do, lil' lady! It's one of the four major food
groups, ranking fourth behind pizza, potato chips and cheezy
poofs. I could show you this one place with incredible dim sum...
You wanna try it? My treat..." Ranma glanced quickly over at
Akane, who shrugged her shoulders.
"Go ahead if you want. I need to talk to Buffy..." Ranma
nodded, turning her face back to Xander.
"Sure, Xander. Never let it be said that I'd pass up a free
meal... Anyone else wanna come?"
"Not me, Ranma. I need a nap.." Buffy groaned.
"Willow?"
"No, that's okay... I was just gonna go meet Oz... Have fun
anyway..."
"Okay, Xander, looks like it's just you an' me. Lead on.."
Ranma left with Xander, who flashed a thumbs up sign to the
table and mouthed the word "Yes!"
Akane turned to Willow, an odd look on her face.
"Have you told him that Ranma's really a guy?"
Willow gasped, placing a hand to her mouth. Buffy snickered.
"Oh! Xander! Xander, wait...." Buffy placed a hand on her
shoulder, stopping her.
"Nah, Wil, let 'em go... A little male bonding never hurt
anyone..."
"Buffy! That's just plain mean..."
* * *
"So, are you and Akane related or something?" Ranma almost
choked on his eggroll.
"Hunh? No. Our dads are friends from way back. Why?"
"Oh, it's just there's some kind of vibe between you two. I
figured you had to be real close or something... So how do you
like livin' in the USA?"
"It's all right, I guess." Ranma answered around a mouthful
of dumpling. "Haven't been here long enough to form much of an
opinion, to be honest. Pleasantly cool for this time of year..."
"Are you kidding? It's eighty degrees in the shade!"
"Try Japan in July sometime. This is nothin'."
"Huh. So, uh... you got anyone special back home?" Ranma
looked up, her eyes widening. Xander continued, backpedaling
rapidly. "Oh, uh... not that i'm trying to, uh, that is... I'm
just making conversation, that's all..."
"I don't wanna offend you or nothin', but I don't like
guys..." Ranma said discreetly. He liked the guy, and didn't want
to hurt his feelings. It was none of *his* business if Xander was
gay...
"Oh..." Xander breathed. Images popped into his head.
Graphic images, worthy of an x-rated video. Restraining himself,
he cleared his throat.
"Hey, no problem, Ranma... I'm down with Pride and
everything... Actually, I've often said I'm a lesbian trapped in
a man's body, heh heh..." Ranma stared at him blankly, blinking.
"Lesbian? Oh, right... Damn. They didn't tell you, hunh?"
Xander looked confused.
"Tell me what?" Ranma leaned in closer to whisper in
Xander's ear.
"Xander, I'm really a guy..." Xander blinked once, then
resumed eating, eyes on his plate.
"Joking?"
"Nope."
"Transvestite?"
"Nope."
"Transsexual?"
"Nope."
"Oh-kay... that leaves... victim of a magical curse?"
"No- I mean, yes! How'd you guess?" Ranma looked stunned.
"Got a friend who's a werewolf. I was a hyena once. Another
friend turned herself into a rat. It's not as uncommon as you
might think..." Xander calmly continued to eat his chicken fried
rice.
"Man, you Californians *are* mellow."
"Naw, it's just Sunnydale Fatigue. So how'd it happen?"
"Fell in a cursed spring."
"Ah. 'Nuff said, then."
"You gonna eat that chicken ball?"
"Go ahead. So is Akane really a guy too, then?"
"Nope. Just a macho tomboy."
"Would she mind if I asked her out?"
"Actually we're sort of engaged. I'd rather you didn't."
"Fair enough, forget I said anything. Pass the plum sauce,
wouldja?"
"Here you go."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
* * *
Dinner time chez Buffy...
"He took it that well? Wow. That's Xander for you. Full of
surprises..." Buffy finished off the last slice of pizza. Her
healing factor had kicked in, and the bruises were already almost
gone.
"It was actually kinda nice.... Food was lousy, though. I
can't believe they had the gall to call that crap chinese
food..." Akane walked back in from the living room.
"Probably didn't stop you from going back for second
helpings, I bet..."
"Hey, it *was* all you can eat... There's a concept that
travels well... Why Ucchan doesn't do it, i'll never know..."
"You'd bankrupt the poor girl. Anyway, enough about your
bottomless pit. I need to ask you something."
Akane produced the museum brochure she'd been examining that
morning, flipping to the copiously-illustrated catalogue section.
"Any of these things look familiar to you?" Buffy and Ranma
peered over.
"Isn't that the exhibit Mom's working on?" Buffy asked.
"More moldy oldies..."
"I don't see anything... Oh... My... God... Is that...?"
"Happousai's magic mirror... The Nanban, you bet..."
Ranma's eyes bugged.
"How the heck did an American museum get ahold of that?!"
"Better question... How do *we* get ahold of that?" Ranma
turned to look at Akane, eyes wide.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Pretty sure..."
Buffy looked perplexed.
"Am I missing something? What's so special about an old,
cracked mirror?"
"Buffy, the Nanban mirror has the ability to transport
people through time and space! We could go back, save Kasumi and
the old ghoul... and Happousai too, I guess... Heck, we could
even stop Mu-Tsu from casting the spell that made him a vampire
in the first place!" Buffy shifted in her seat.
"Wait a minute. I've seen Star Trek...under protest, but
I've seen it... Isn't it impossible to change the past? I mean,
what happened, happened, right?"
"No, it's possible... just really, *really* dangerous. Who
knows what could happen... "
Buffy leaned back in her chair.
"Stop me if i'm wrong, but... wouldn't changing the past so
that all that bad stuff never happened alter the present so that
you never found the mirror in the first place, thereby making it
impossible for you to change things anyway? Or else, wouldn't it
just create a parallel timeline where these things never happened
and leave our reality completely unchanged?"
Ranma and Akane stared at the American Slayer.
"You've uh, really thought this one through, haven't you?"
"Mm, not really. But I've seen Back to the Future..."
"Oh..."
"But still, whether you guys actually use it or not, we
*should* probably go get it back from the museum. After all,
leaving a time machine lying around isn't exactly smart... Do you
want me to call Mom? She could probably 'lose' it, if
necessary..."
"We don't want to get your Mom in trouble, Buffy... Maybe we
could lose it *for* her..." Ranma nodded.
"It'd be a cinch. We could just sneak on in and grab the
thing."
"Well, I couldn't help you with that... My prints are on
file with the local cops... Why don't we just try it the easy way
first, before resorting to illegal activities..."
"It's your call, Buffy. We really, really need to get ahold
of it as soon as possible, though..."
"All right, then. Akane, you and I'll go visit Mom, try to
explain the situation, then we can go out on patrol like we
planned. Ranma, why don't you just meet Willow and Xander at the
Bronze like you wanted to, and try to have fun. You could use
some...You'll like Oz's band, they're overdue for a record
deal..." Ranma shrugged her shoulders with a sigh, obviously let
down.
"I guess... Lemme go shower and change, then I'll head
out. You two better get moving, sunset's in half an hour..."
"Hey, Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"If you need to go before you change back, don't forget to
put the seat down... Mom almost fell in this morning... That sort
of thing could make her suspicious, y'know?"
"Oops..."
* * *
"I'm afraid I just don't understand this, girls... you want
to steal a priceless artifact because it's really a time machine?
Are you pulling my leg?" Joyce stared at her daughter and
houseguest. Sighing she sat down at the curator's desk, put her
head in her hands. "Are you deliberately trying to make me
insane? Because it's working, it really is... I can't just let
you walk off with it! I'd be fired!"
"Mom, I can't believe you! This is really really important!
If somebody used it accidentally, without knowing what they were
doing... Well, they could go back in time and kill a butterfly
and then we'd all end up speaking Esperanto and worshipping Ned
Flanders... Okay, that sounded just as stupid to me as it did to
you, but really, Mom! That thing is just way too dangerous to be
left lying around!"
"Mrs.. Summers, please! It's very important... It may be a
matter of life and death..." Akane chimed in.
"Sigh... Look, girls... I'll tell you what I'll do... I can
make sure that the mirror is in a locked display case with an
alarm system. Once the exhibit is over in two weeks, you two can
give it to Mr. Giles to get rid of. But i'm afraid it stays here
until then... The museum's already advertised it as part of the
exhibition. The head curator knows it's here. It'll have to
keep..." Buffy and Akane sighed. "Don't sulk. It's rude... now,
do you two need a ride home, or are you going out to put
yourselves in harm's way?"
"Going out..."
"Well, then, don't be too late... I'll leave the key under
the mat, as usual... Now, I love you, stay safe, take care, and
get out. I need to finish this tonight..."
"Yes Mom..."
"That's my girl..."
* * *
By the time Ranma arrived at the Bronze, night had fallen
and the lineup to get in was already around the block.
Fortunately, she spotted Willow at the front door and she waved
her in.
"Hi... Whoa, this place is crowded... Where's Xander and
your boyfriend?" The two red headed girls shouldered their way
through the crowd and headed for the couch near the pool table.
"Xander said he'd meet us here... Oz is backstage warming
up... He'll be the cute one on lead guitar..."
"What's the band's name?"
"Dingoes Ate My Baby..."
"Grisly..."
"It's a grisly town... So, how did your lunch with Xander
go?"
"Surprisingly well. He behaved himself, before and after I
told him I was a guy... He's pretty cool."
"Yeah, he's really nice. I hope you let him down easy..."
"Yeah, he took the whole thing pretty well." She shook her
head, trying to get out of her funk and relax. "So.. How does a
girl get something to drink in here?"
"You've got to flag down the waitress... Hello! Hi! Two
girls need drinks!!"
The waitress expertly ignored them.
"Should I just go up to the bar? It might be easier..."
Ranma stood.
"Okay, if you don't mind... I'll take a coke, no ice..."
Willow handed her a five dollar bill.
"Be right back!" Ranma began elbowing her way through the
crowd, and soon disappeared into the smoky haze.
A familiar voice called out Willow's name.
"Wil! Hey, Wil!" She looked around.
"Hey, Xander! Who're your friends?"
Xander had a girl draped over each arm. One was a shockingly
purple-haired oriental girl. The other, also asian, had wavy
black hair tied into a slightly punky topknot. Both were dressed
in scandalously short leather skirts and halter tops, outfits
that screamed "Bar Sluts" in loud high pitched tones.
"This lavender-haired lovely is Shan, and on my right is
Dachi... They're new in town. I told you I was huge overseas...
Shan, Dachi, this is my friend Willow. You girls play nice, and
i'll be back with drinks in a second... That was two Bloody
Marys, right?" Both girls nodded. Xander in turn vanished into
the crowd, leaving the three girls alone on the couch, Willow
between the two newcomers.
"So, umm... where are you two from?" Willow said in her
sweetest, friendliest voice.
"Uh, Korea..." Shan answered, a little distracted. She
seemed to be scanning the crowd for someone.
"Oh, don't worry, Xander'll be back in a moment... Where did
you get your hair dye? I love that shade of purple..."
"Mmm. Thanks. It's natural..." Shan said absently,
continuing to scan the crowd. Shrugging her shoulders, Willow
turned to Dachi. The dark-haired girl was staring intently at
Willow, a small, predatory smile on her face.
"You're very pretty, Willow... And such a lovely name. I
love plants... Do you know what white willow is used for?" Willow
nodded, smiling.
"Sure, it's a pain reliever if taken properly..."
"Mmm-hmm... " Dachi reached up and gently stroked the
curve of Willow's cheek. Wil started, uncertain about what was
going on. "Tell, me, Willow, if I take you properly, will you
relieve my pain...?"
"Oh! Oh, uhm, gee... I'm sorry, Dachi, but I don't really,
uh... like girls. That is, I like them just fine, but, not really
that way..." She stood up, gathering her things. She felt a
strong hand clamp down on her wrist. "Hey, leggo!"
"No, I don't think so... Why don't you join me outside in
the alley, hmm? We can make it quick..."
Willow froze, uncertain whether to yell for help from the
bouncers or use her TK to remove the girl's hand from her arm,
when she heard Ranma coming up behind her.
"Hey, Willow, where're you goin'? I brought your coke..."
The Japanese redhead froze as she spotted the two girls with Wil.
"Thorn. Xian-Pu..."
The two girls stood, smiling evilly.
"Hello, Ranma..." Xian-Pu's eyes flared red as her tongue
moistened her lips, showing a brief flash of ivory fang. Her
companion chuckled merrily.
"Ranma-Darling... So nice to see you... Do you know this
little Amerika-jin? Answer truthfully..."
"She's nobody. It's me you want..."
"Actually... no. We were just looking for a nice light
snack, and a coffee crisp didn't quite hit the spot. This
charming little thing should do nicely, however... We've always
had a taste for redheads..." She leaned over and gave Willow's
neck a long, slow lick. Willow shuddered, closing her eyes.
Ranma's aura flared blue, the Ki energy visible in the smoky
bar's air.
"Outside... Now..." Ranma growled, her battle-aura pulsing
in rhythm with her words.
Xander picked that moment to show up, a drink in each hand.
"That was two Bloody Marys, right? I think the bartender
made one of 'em' a Caesar by mistake, but I can never tell..." He
looked up. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Thanks all the same, Xander..." Xian-Pu said in a sultry
voice, "But I think we'll settle for splitting a bloody
Willow..."
"Oh crap. Vampires. Boy oh boy, Harris, you sure can pick
'em." He dropped the drinks, the cocktails hitting the concrete
floor with a crash. Several heads turned, including those of the
bouncers. In seconds, they were surrounded by a trio of extremely
burly men.
"There some kind of problem here, ladies?" The largest man
said.
"None whatsoever..." Xian-Pu breathed. "My friend and I were
just leaving, weren't we Thorn?"
"Yes... We'll see you later, Ranma... Xander..." They
released Willow and allowed themselves to be escorted from the
bar, shooting the trio a red-tinged glare before mouthing the
words "We'll be waiting..." as they disappeared out the doors.
Willow, Ranma and Xander released the breaths they'd been
holding all at once, as Ranma's Ki-aura faded away.
"That was smart, Xander, getting the bouncers' attention
that way. Vampires like to be discreet when killing... No animal
shits where they eat..." Ranma growled. Willow nodded her assent.
"Actually, I just... Er, yeah, that was pretty clever, wasn't
it?" He puffed himself up a little. He was elbowed aside by a
short young man in an old bowling shirt and two days growth of
goatee on his chin.
"Oh, hey Oz... You just missed the party..."
"Oz!" Willow hugged the musician tightly.
"What happened? Are you okay?" He held her at arms length,
staring with concern into her eyes.
"Yeah, i'm fine too, Oz, thanks for asking..." Xander
mumbled. Ranma rolled her eyes.
"I'm okay, Oz, really! We just had a visit from a pair of
vampires, that's all..."
"Oh. So long as you're all right..." He spared a moment to
look over at the others. "Oh, hey Xander. Who's your friend?" Oz
sniffed the air, a strange look passing across his face.
"Ranma Saotome... You must be Oz... I've heard a lot about
you." She extended a hand. Oz shook it.
"Hey. You're about the most convincing drag queen I've ever
met. Why aren't you famous?"
"Hey!! I'm no drag queen!"
"Well, you sure aren't a girl... you don't smell right. No
offense meant, really. I think you guys put on a hell of a
show..."
"No, I'm a guy! I'm just..." Xander put a hand up and leaned
in, whispering conspiratorially.
"Fell in a cursed spring. Turns into a girl."
"Hmm. Interesting." Oz mumbled, cocking an eyebrow.
"He's the werewolf I mentioned..." Xander whispered to
Ranma, as if it explained everything.
"Right. And I thought Nerima was weird..."
"I hate to be pushy here folks, but we have a major
problem... The Brides of Dracula are waiting for us outside..."
Xander whispered. "Now, ordinarily, I'd say, no prob, call the
Buffinator, we're home free. And I've seen Ranma here in action,
but... didn't someone say that these oriental vamps are a lot
tougher than the homegrown kind? Ranma, d'you think you can take
two of them on?"
"Ordinarily, yes... But these two... well, they used to give
me a hard time individually before they turned. Now? I'm not sure
if I can do it. I'm gonna need your help if we wanna get out of
this alive..."
"You got it." Xander nodded.
"Oh! Okay, I guess..." Willow said, swallowing hard.
"I'll get the stakes..." Oz grunted, heading backstage...
* * *
"This totally sucks, Akane. Mom's being way to uptight about
this..." Buffy grumbled to her partner as they strolled casually
through Sunnydale Memorial cemetery. The grounds were quiet, the
dead apparently staying dead, for a change. Akane broke out of
her reverie, tried on a wan smile. She'd been thinking of
possible ways to sneak away from Buffy and get the mirror without
risking deportation or Joyce's job.
"I understand her reasoning, Buffy... It's only two weeks to
wait. It's just... If we can use it right, we can undo what
Mu-Tsu did, to my home, to my family... Providing nothing happens
to the mirror, I guess we'll be fine." Akane said, her attempt at
optimism defeated by the sigh in her voice.
"Yeah, but that's the problem, though. This is Sunnydale.
We're perched scenically on top of a Hellmouth here. If there's
an artifact of amazing power, chances are someone's after it
already. I just wish that Giles and the Doc were home when we
called, maybe they'd be able to help convince Mom... she's got a
bit of a soft spot for Giles; I guess she likes men in tweed..."
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it now..." Akane said
unhappily. "Unless..."
"Unless what? I detect the sound of a plan forming..."
"Not so much a plan... just an idea. We could just stick to
patrolling the museum grounds... sort of keep an eye on things
tonight. Then in the morning, maybe Mr. Giles could talk to your
mother."
"Mmm. good idea..."
"I sense a but..."
"But... there are at least two vampires we've got to take
care of here tonight..."
"How do you know?"
"Giles and I check the Obits and the police blotter in the
paper every day... Three days ago, two people died of mysterious
blood loss. Which in Sunnydale means they're due to surface
sometime tonight. I've got their names here somewhere..." She
patted the pockets of her jacket, eventually producing a
newspaper clipping. "Ah ha. Here we go... Keep an eye out for two
new graves, with the names 'Michael Wildgust' and 'Andrea
Lafontaine'. Those're our targets."
"Say, that's pretty clever... Did Mr. Giles think of that
system?"
"Nope. Lil' ol' me... Not too shabby, hmm?"
"It certainly saves a lot of aimless wandering... I think I
see a fresh grave over there..."
The girls walked over to the freshly-turned earth. Buffy
produced a Maglite flashlight and shone the beam on the
headstone.
"'Michael Wildgust'... Contestant number one, come on
down..." Buffy switched off the flashlight, handing it to Akane.
"Why don't you check around for the girl's grave. I'll keep
an eye on Mikey here."
"I've got an idea... Why don't we ward the grave? That way
the vampire won't be able to rise."
Akane took out a strip of fine paper with Kanjii ideograms
painted on it. Buffy shone the light on the paper.
"You used one of these on the vamp last night, right? I was
wondering what that was..."
"It's an Shinto exorcism prayer... If you stick one to a
vampire's forehead, it'll immobilize them, or destroy them,
depending on the strength of the creature. The two you were
fighting last night were newly-risen, right?" Buffy nodded. "If
they'd had a while to grow in power, they probably wouldn't have
exploded like that. But if we place one on the grave, it should
prevent the creature from reanimating until we're ready. Like,
say... tomorrow night?" Buffy smiled, nodding slowly.
"Giving two Slayers the night off to keep an eye on a magic
mirror... I like it! We still have to find the girl's grave,
though..."
A twig snapped behind the pair of girls.
"Or, that might not be necessary..." Buffy whispered,
spinning around, Mr. Pointy in hand. Akane readied the ward.
From the bushes lunged a female vampire, her face a demonic
rictus. Spittle dripped from her fanged mouth, and her eyes were
burning yellow coals. She threw herself towards the girls with a
hiss, swiping wildly with claw-like hands still stained with
gravedirt.
The Slayers dodged easily, rolling to the left and right
away from the vampire. Buffy then flipped forward, her arm
snapping out in a fluid motion, sending Mr. Pointy flying into
the vampire's chest. With a howl, the undead creature exploded
into ash and dust, the now-unsupported stake falling to the
ground with a dull thud.
Buffy stood up, brushing dust and grass from her knees.
"Well, that wasn't so hard, was it? Hurry up and ward that
grave, and we can go check out the museum." Akane complied
wearing a stunned expression.
"What's the matter, Akane?" Buffy asked, stooping to collect
her favorite stake.
"It's just... Your reflexes are terrific! You must really be
used to fighting these things... I still hesitate a second or
two..." Buffy smiled at the compliment.
"Well, I *have* been doing this for four years now... To be
honest, these newborn vamps are a cinch, not much smarter than
animals. The demon possessing the corpse hasn't really had a
chance to absorb the victim's memories and personality. Or so
Giles tells me, anyway. Once they grow up, well... They can get
pretty nasty."
"I-I.. guess I still have a lot to learn. Deliberately
striking to kill isn't something I really practiced before, well,
you know..." Akane mumbled.
"Are you kidding? You can do stuff that'll turn these vamps
white! Or, whiter, anyway... You just have to stop letting them
scare you."
"How can you *not* be scared? These are demonic creatures!"
"Yeah, but strictly small-time on the demon food-chain.
Whatever possessed your Mu-Tsu and turned *him*... Well, these
little guys probably aren't even close to it's league... *That*
worries me."
* * *
At the Sunnydale Museum of Natural History, Joyce Summers
was just finishing the tally count of the exhibition items. She
tucked a strand of wavy light brown hair behind her ear with a
pencil, sighing in relief. She loved working at the museum, but
the night before an exhibit opened was always stressful. She
checked her watch. Quarter to eleven already? Where does the time
go?
She took a quick moment to check on the so-called "Nanban
Mirror." According to Dr. Alberts, the head curator, it was at
least a thousand years old, and came from a small village called
Joketsuzoku in the Qinghai Province of China. The small hand
mirror certainly was exquisite, Joyce thought to herself. It was
a shame it was cracked, but...
She secured the case with the passkey she'd been issued,
armed the alarm system and stepped back. Time to find Harry, the
security guard. He'd hang on to the key until Dr. Alberts came in
at eight. Tucking the passkey into the pocket of her skirt, she
strolled leisurely back to her office, the sound of her high
heels echoing around the darkened, marble-floored hall. At the
end of the corridor, she picked up the security phone, lifting
the handset to her ear.
There was no dial-tone.
"Funny... Oh, well. I guess i'll just have to catch him in
his office..."
She hung up the receiver, turned around, and headed back the
way she came. The security offices were at the front of the main
hall, clear across the museum from the curating staff's. She
sighed. It looked like she'd *never* get out of here...
* * *
In the security office, Mu-Tsu was polishing off a late
night snack. Harry's limp form slumped as the last light left his
eyes. The vampire pulled away, licking off his extended fangs
with a red-stained tongue.
"AAaah... *That* hit the spot..." He let the guard's
drained body fall to the floor like a sack of rice. Suddenly, his
sensitive ears detected a sound. Freezing, he listened hard.
Footfalls...
Without a sound, he leapt upwards, clinging to the ceiling
like a lizard. He scuttled noiselessly forward until he was
directly above the doorframe. Twisting around so that his back
was to the ceiling tiles, he lay in wait for the hapless victim
approaching...
Americans... The Chinese vampire thought. Ten minutes later
and you're hungry again...
* * *
Back at the Bronze, Ranma and the Slayerettes were trying
desperately to come up with a plan. They'd managed to stay in
after the club closed for the night thanks to Oz's connections,
but they had to leave sometime... The Sunnydale gang's standard
tactics weren't likely to work against these two vampires,
considering their origins and martial arts skills. They held a
huddle in the Dingoes' dressing room to debate strategy.
"I don't see why we just don't hide in here where it's safe
until sunrise..." Oz said, leaning back in his chair.
"'Cause if we keep 'em waiting too long, they'll come in
after us." Ranma said, frowning. "I'd rather take it to them, if
we had any idea how to do it..."
"No problem. Just bein' the suggestion guy..."
"Right... so the first order of business is to get past
Xian-Pu and Thorn. That won't be easy... and where Xian-Pu is,
Mu-Tsu probably won't be far..." Ranma sighed. Plans were never
her forte. She preferred to act alone. In the past month or so,
she'd learned to expand her fighting style to compensate for a
newly-powerful Akane as a partner, but... Bad enough her own
abilities were becoming less and less reliable lately, but having
to count on three other people, practically strangers, with no
martial arts training? It looked grim...
"Yeah, they probably brought flunkies, too. I say we're in
it pretty deep, folks." Xander added disconsolately. "Any luck
reaching Buffy or Giles?" Oz shook his head.
"No joy... We gotta get that girl a pager... I left a
message for Giles, but who knows when he'll be back... I think
we're on our own for this one." Ranma leaned back in her chair,
massaging her temples.
"Think... Think... Okay, what are our assets? Willow, you
can cast spells..." Willow nodded.
"They usually take a little bit of preparation, though. Like
a couple hours worth... My telekinesis is okay for throwing
stakes around, though..."
"Wooden stakes might do for the goons, but they'd just annoy
Xian-Pu or Thorn... Can you make spirit wards or do an
exorcism?"
"Not quickly... I can maybe work something up that'll keep
them at bay, since you said crosses won't affect them either...
Oz, can you get my satchel?" Her boyfriend nodded, handing her
the bag. She peered inside, nodded. "Goody! I *can* work
something up... I need a few minutes, though..." Ranma nodded,
about to turn away when he saw her pull three bagels out of her
bag.
"This is no time for snacking, Willow..."
"Okay, Ranma? I don't tell you how to do kung-fu, so don't
tell me how to do magic, 'kay?"
"Er, okay... Our other assets are what?"
"Well, I've got the Dingomobile..." Oz held up the keys to
the band's van. "It's good for getaways..."
"And I've got my sparkling wit and a bod which is for some
reason irresistible to monster-women of all races creeds, colors
and species." Xander chimed in. "I can be Decoy, the Boy
Hostage..."
"Terrific." Ranma sighed. "Which still leaves me to take out
Xian-Pu and Thorn..."
"Why don't you just Ki-Blast 'em to kingdom come?"
"Problem with that idea is that throwing Ki around takes a
lot out of me anymore... I might not have enough juice for more
than one shot... And if that doesn't work...?" The table grew
silent. Willow shot to her feet.
"Hey! I've got an idea! I've been looking over one of the
books Dr. Tofu lent me, I think it's one of his journals...
Ranma, don't you know a technique called the Hiryuu Shoten Ha,
Heavenly Dragon Blast?"
Ranma nodded, blinking.
"But that technique uses the enemy's Ki against him. It
won't work on vampires, 'cause they ain't got any..."
"Right." Willow said, leaning forwards conspiratorially.
"But what if you did this instead..."
* * *
Twenty minutes later...
Xander stepped alone out of the exit, the steel fire door
swinging shut behind him. The metallic slam echoed through the
empty, dark alleyway.
He cleared his throat, rocking back on his heels.
"Whew..." He said, perhaps a little too loudly. "Looks like
the coast is clear..."
He stepped out into the alley, stumbling for a moment as his
foot found something slick and squelchy. He lifted his foot to
examine the bottom of his shoe.
"Ugh... I don't even want to *guess* what that might be..."
He cleared his throat once more.
"Guess i'll be heading home, since those scary vampire
chicks are gone..."
In answer, a high pitched laugh echoed through the alley,
the sound of stiletto heels on pavement ricocheting off of the
seeping walls. A pair of glowing red embers appeared in a pool of
shadow not five feet away, causing Xander to start.
Thorn emerged from the darkness, eyes sparking scarlet, a
hand on a cocked hip. She eyed him appraisingly.
"Oh, heheheh, hi... Dachi? Remember me, Xander? Bought you a
drink?"
"But of course I remember you, Xander-Darling... Tell me,
what has become of your little friends, hmm? The pair of charming
redheads?" She stepped closer, licking her lips hungrily. "You
wouldn't be planning an ambush, would you?" She stepped back,
snapping her fingers. Three other vampires emerged, obviously of
the domestic variety.
"Go and assist the Mistress... I have a theory to test..."
The vampiric minions scattered, melting back into the shadows.
Thorn spared them a glance before returning her attention to
Xander.
"Now, my little Amerika-jin... " She stepped closer to him.
Were she a living girl, he might have felt her breath on his
face. He paled noticeably. "Back home, we have a saying about
white men... Big ears..." She touched his left ear gently. "Long
nose..." She touched the tip of his nose playfully. "Big... well,
you know..." He hand shot lower, grasping his most sensitive area
roughly through his jeans. Understandably, he yelped in surprise
and fear. "Hmm..." She murmured into his ear. "I see that the
rumors are true..."
Xander stammered, attempting to extricate himself from
her grip without damaging himself.
"Uhm, y'know, this might, *might* be a turn-on, if I didn't
know you were planning on eating me..." She frowned, tsked, and
released him. He stepped back with a little hop, manually
assuring himself that all his equipment was still attached.
"Oh very well... You Americans have no sense of drama or
style... I suppose we can cut straight to the killing..." The
glow in her eyes flared from a fiery red to a bright sulfurous
smolder. Her lower jaw unhinged, the chin extending down and
out, the teeth elongating and becoming pointed. Her forearms
stretched as well, becoming half again as long as they should
have been, her digits extending, growing talon-like with ebon
black claws. Xander's eyes bugged.
Thorn opened her jaws and roared, the force of
the noise knocking Xander to the ground. She advanced on him, her
knees back-hinging with a crack of metamorphosing bone.
"Holee..." Xander tried to scramble to his feet but slipped
on the slick pavement. Desperately, he crab-crawled back away
from the vampire to the mouth of the alleyway. She continued to
advance on him at a leisurely pace, a guttural, rumbling chuckle
issuing from her gaping maw.
"Yessss... " She hissed. "Rrrun, little man.... It
makesss the kill all the sssweeterrrr..."
Xander's mind was awash with panic. He knew he was supposed
to do *some*thing... But what? Under their own volition, his
hands shot into the inside pocket of his jacket, pulling out a
handful of small black grains. What the heck was he supposed to
do...?
The demon leaned over his prone form, dripping
spittle onto his chest.
"Yummmm.... " She licked her chops, forked tongue sliding
across ivory fangs. "Time to die, Xanderrr Darrrling...."
The sudden adrenaline surge finally cleared Xander's mind.
He remembered!
His arm swung out, flinging the tiny black grains across the
alley. Thorn whipped her head around, tracking the granules'
flight with a curious snort.
"Know what those are, Dachi-honey? Poppy seeds... Enjoy!"
He scrambled to his feet as the vampire howled her
frustration, lunging face down to the pavement, her talons
scrabbling at the tiny black seeds. Xander backed away to the
edge of the alley, panting and clutching his chest.
"Wow... It worked... She's compelled to count the seeds,
just like Willow said she would be..." He poked his head around
the corner to the street. "Hey guys... now's the time for all
good Slayerettes to come to the aid of their fellows... Hello?"
The street seemed empty. He glanced back at the once-again
humanoid vampiress, on her hands and knees in the alley. She was
hissing and cursing in frustration.
"Twenty-three... twenty-four... Arrgh! Human, you'll pay for
this humiliation! Twenty-five..." Xander scratched the back of
his head pensively.
"To run, or not to run..." Hesitantly, he pulled the
foot-long wooden stake out of his coat. Looked at it, looked at
the prone vampire... "Oh come on... It couldn't be *this*
easy..."
He walked carefully up to the vampire, lifted the stake up
over his head, and brought the sharpened table leg down as hard
as he could.
The stake sunk deep into the vampire's back, causing her to
howl in agony. Her head whipped around, her eyes blazing.
"THAT... HURT...!!!" She stood, ripped the stake straight
through her torso, tossing it aside.
"Right. Going now!" Xander hot-footed it out of the
alleyway.
After a block, he looked back. No sign of Thorn... She
must still be counting seeds... He slowed to a stop, breath
coming in gasps.
"Well, *I* made it... Where the hell are the others? They
were supposed to be waiting at the alley mouth..."
* * *
Right at that moment, the others were pinned down behind the
stage door by three domestic vamps and Xian-Pu standing between
them and the van. Hammer-like blows rained down on the steel
firedoor that was all that stood between the three humans and the
vampires.
"Aw, man..." Ranma grumbled. "This is *not* going according
to plan... how'm I supposed to take 'em out if I can't even reach
'em..."
"Look at it this way, Ranma..." Oz breathed, his back to the
door. "They can't get to us either..."
A heavy pounding cut off whatever Ranma's reply might have
been. Willow checked her watch.
"This is no good! We were supposed to meet Xander two
minutes ago... He could be in real trouble, guys!" Ranma sighed.
"All right... We're gonna have to break out of here...
Willow, get the stakes ready. There's three goons directly
outside... We need to take them out quickly, then I can engage
Sham- er, Xian-Pu. Oz, while Willow and I cover you, make for the
van. Got it?"
The others nodded.
Willow closed her eyes, and three sharpened wooden shafts
rose out of the open dufflebag, hovering in mid-air.
"Ready..." Ranma and Oz exchanged nods.
"Here we go..."
She stood and delivered a devastating spinning side kick to
the steel door, blowing it off its hinges and the goons onto
their backs. Within seconds, though, the three goons had thrown
the dented door off and were in the doorframe, snarling and
reaching for the trio. In the space of a heartbeat they were
dust, Willow's stakes plunged through their chests.
"Gogogo!!" Ranma yelled, taking the point, scanning the
alley for Xian-Pu as Oz made for the van and Willow ducked back
behind the doorframe.
"Ranma! You've come out to play! How wonderful!" Xian-Pu
landed lightly on the ground between Ranma and the van, her eyes
glowing a flaming orange. A seductive smile crossed her face,
showing fangs. "Too bad your little friend had to dispose of my
helpers, but..." She shrugged. "It is no bother. Come to me, my
love... let us embrace..."
The light in her eyes pulsed, and Ranma felt the weight of
Xian-Pu's will strike her like a wave. Unwillingly, she took a
step forward.
"That's it, my lover... come to my arms. It's been so very
long for us, hasn't it?" She held out her hands, beckoning.
Under the influence of Xian-Pu's mesmerism, Ranma's mind
felt like it was enveloped in a fog... Xian-Pu came closer,
unhurried, as she continued to weave her hypnotic web ever
tighter around her erstwhile love.
"It's okay, Ranma-Airen... I am here for you... I know
you're tired of running, tired of fighting... I can give you
peace..."
Languorously, she draped her arms over Ranma's shoulders,
leaning down to whisper in her ear, slipping into the sing-song
speech pattern of her mortal life.
"Shampoo loves her Airen... Doesn't Ranma love Shampoo...?"
"Sh-Shampoo...? What's..."
Ranma's eyes glazed as the compulsion locked down. Xian-Pu's
mouth opened, fangs sliding into place. Gently, she began to kiss
Ranma's ear, moving slowly down the neck towards the jugular
vein. Between kisses, she murmured into her ear...
"Join me, Airen... Stupid Mousse would have no chance
against us... Shampoo could be yours again, forever..."
Ranma's slack lips managed to form a word.
"F'rever...?"
"Ranma! Snap out of it! She's not the girl you knew!
Remember what she's done!" Willow called out. Xian-Pu snarled,
her gaze shifting to Willow.
"Stupid girl! Stay out of this!" The momentary lapse of
concentration cost her, as Ranma broke free of the compulsion and
staggered back, her head clearing.
"Hunh? Wha... Xian-Pu!" Her eyes locked on the vampiress,
her battle aura flaring. "How DARE you?! You're NOT Shampoo!
You're just some monster wearing her skin!!"
She charged forward, the Amaguriken strike flying. Xian-Pu
flipped out of the way, slipping around behind Ranma's back. Her
eyes glowed as she attempted to re-establish her psionic hold.
"Ranma-Airen..." She cooed. "Why you want to hurt Shampoo?
All she wants to do is love you always..."
Ranma spun, eyes mad with rage and grief.
"YOU'RE NOT HER! SHE'S GONE!! YOU KILLED HER!!!" Almost too
fast to see, she fired off a series of Amaguriken-fuelled kicks
to Xian-Pu's midsection, sending the Chinese vampire flying
through the brick wall of the alley.
Xian-Pu found her feet with a hiss, snapping her body around
and clambering out of the hole. The unnatural light in her eyes
flared again as she advanced on Ranma.
"No, I didn't..." She said, her voice losing the child-like
quality and gaining a steely undertone. "YOU did... Shampoo is no
more because YOU didn't love her enough to protect her from
Mu-Tsu... YOU failed her, just as you failed her
Great-Grandmother and the Tendou woman... Now, there is only
Xian-Pu..."
Violet fur sprouted from her pale skin as her features took
on a distinctly feline cast, her voice becoming a low growl.
"... But Xian-Pu still wants you, Airen..."
Her face and form shifted, long manicured nails becoming
claws, irises narrowing into slits, her mouth becoming a bestial
muzzle.
Ranma flipped out of her way, dodging the attack easily.
Xian-Pu landed on all fours, her transformation completing itself
as she became a violet-furred panther with molten golden eyes.
She roared in frustration, crouching to pounce once more. Ranma
struggled to regain her composure...
"C-c-cats... Why does it always have to be cats?" She fought
to contain her petrifying ailurophobia, to withstand the urge to
bolt and run. Remember the plan! She forced herself to focus on
the two new friends who needed her, needed protection from the
monster. Forcing the vampire's words out of her mind for the
moment, she concentrated on her earlier fury at this
creature that had destroyed his beautiful friend... She felt her
rage build, her battle aura flaring hot.
"Xian-Pu! You want me, come and get me, you bitch!"
The panther roared, leaping at Ranma, barely overshooting
her mark as her claws tore strips out of Ranma's borrowed shirt.
Ranma ducked to the left, Ki flames leaping from her body.
"What's the matter, kitty? Can't catch one puny little
human? C'mon! Come at me!" Ranma fought hard to keep the quaver
out of her voice. The vampire cat roared, tossing her head. The
phosphorescent eyes of the great cat flared and she pounced
again. Ranma dodged the attack as nimbly as before, drawing the
cat deeper into a spiral pattern. It took everything Ranma had to
keep from losing her focus and running screaming from the demonic
feline. Gotta stay angry! Gotta stay angry! Just a monster, not a
cat! Just a monster, not a cat...
Oz reached the van, throwing open the door and starting the
engine with a heavy foot on the gas. The big vehicle squealed
away from the kerb, hurtling towards the alley door where Willow
crouched. He pulled up with a screech of overtaxed brakes,
flinging open the passenger side door.
"Wil! Get in!" She dove into the van, slamming the door
behind herself as Oz kicked the van into reverse, squealing back
the way he came.
"How's she doin'?" Oz called back to Willow over his
shoulder as he attempted to navigate the trash-filled alley.
"It was getting pretty freaky for a moment, but it's looking
good now... She's drawing Xian-Pu into the spiral... We
can't stick around to watch, we've gotta meet Xander around the
other side..." The van peeled out onto the street, hurtling
around the block.
Back in the alley, Ranma continued to lead the panther
deeper into a contracting spiral, letting the heat of her anger
flare.
Soon the two combatants were nothing more than a red and
purple blur, whirling closer and closer. Within seconds, they had
reached the center. At the last possible moment, Ranma threw one
superheated punch at the vampire...
"Hiryuu Shoten Ha Reversed!" She cried, as the hot energy of
her Ki struck the deathly cold aura of the vampire with a noise
like a dozen thunderclaps. A Ki-fuelled tornado sprung up from
the point of impact, the luminous bands of energy coruscating as
they picked up the undead cat and sent it hurtling end over end,
howling almost louder than the winds over the horizon.
Ranma slumped to her knees in the now-silent alley.
"I did it... "
* * *
Joyce heard a sound like thunder echo outside. She changed
course, running for the front doors. Her face to the glass, she
squinted out into the night. Was that a... tornado?
She could see the tail of the whirlwind rise back up into
the clouds, the whole thing lit up and sparking like a fireworks
display. Joyce swallowed hard.
"Buffy...?"
She flung open the door, charging out into the night.
* * *
Inside the guard office, Mu-Tsu also heard the thunderclap.
"Saotome.... " The word was a curse on his lips.
Best to hurry, he thought. The sooner the mirror is in my
possession, the sooner Saotome ceases to be a threat to my
plans... Dessert can wait.
He retracted his claws, dropping silently to the floor. He
raised his head, using his vampiric senses to probe outwards. The
human had left...
Carefully, he opened the door, peering out into the darkened
museum.
Now what did the brochure say? The Anderson gallery?
* * *
Buffy and Akane, at the edge of the museum grounds, both
jumped almost a foot in the air when the sound hit.
"What the heck was that...?" Buffy breathed, watching the
spiraling energy rise up into the clouds. Akane stared,
awestruck.
"It looks like... The Hiryuu Shoten Ha!"
"Hooziwhatzit?"
"One of Ranma's Ki techniques... But it's incredibly
dangerous! She wouldn't use it unless she was in real trouble!!"
"Well, we'd better get over there! Never mind the mirror
now..."
The two took off at a run, almost tripping over Joyce as she
came whipping around the corner.
"Buffy! Akane!"
"Mom!" Joyce grabbed Buffy, hugging her close.
"When I saw that... thing in the sky, I thought it had to
be you..." she released her daughter, smiled affectionately at
Akane. "Well, thank goodness you're both all right..."
"Mrs. Summers, I'm afraid that the same can't be said for
Ranma! That has to be her at the center of the blast, I just know
it!" Akane said, a tremor of fear creeping into her voice. Buffy
nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Mom. We've gotta go... Willow and Xander were with
her..." A worried look crossed Joyce's face. She nodded.
"All right. You two come with me. I need to give my keys to
Harry then I'll drive you downtown..."
"Mom, we really don't have a lot of time..."
"Two seconds, Buffy. That's all."
Buffy nodded, following close behind her mother, Akane
bringing up the rear.
* * *
Mu-Tsu slunk through the darkened museum from gallery to
gallery... There were quite a few objects on display that he
wouldn't have minded taking back to the lair, both for decorating
and other purposes, but he wasn't on a shopping trip. The mirror
was what he was here for... Eventually, he found it, nestled
securely in its locked display case.
"Finally! It's mine! Mine, mine, mine..." He did a small
jig, before restraining himself and clearing his throat. "Ahem.
Well... I expect this is probably locked...Oh well..."
Morphing a fist into a fleshy club, he brought it down hard
on the case, shattering the glass and setting off the alarm
klaxon.
Shrugging, he slipped the mirror into an interior pocket of
his shirt. He'd be out of here long before any authorities
arrived...
* * *
Buffy, Joyce and Akane opened the door of the guard office,
glancing briefly around before their eyes alit on the crumpled
body of Harry the guard. Joyce gave a small shriek, while Akane
and Buffy merely rushed forward to check for a pulse.
"He's dead..." Buffy rolled the corpse over, revealing the
puncture wounds in the neck. "Vamp got him."
At that moment, the alarm went off. Akane and Buffy
exchanged glances.
"Terrific. Mom, you should get out of here..."
"Buffy, I can't just-"
"Mom! Don't argue with me! This is my job, remember? That
alarm will bring the police, right?" Joyce nodded, still worried.
"Well, then go outside and wait! We won't be long..."
"Please Mrs.. Summers, we MUST make sure the mirror is all
right!" Akane said pleadingly, glancing towards the door
frantically.
"All.. All right. Just, take care, you two, okay?"
Both girls nodded, before dashing out the door.
* * *
Mu-Tsu glanced around, looking for the nearest window.
"Freeze, Vampire!" He spun, snarling, eyes flaring green
sparks behind his round sunglasses.
Buffy and Akane faced him across the gallery floor. Akane
held a spirit ward in each hand, Buffy brandishing Mr. Pointy.
"Slayers!" He turned the word into a curse. "A two-for-one
special no less!"
Akane spared a glance at the smashed display case.
"It's Mu-Tsu! And he's got the mirror, Buffy!"
"We'll just have to get it back, then. C'mon!"
The two girls circled outwards warily, trying to hem in the
chinese vamp.
"Oh, ho... I see you know why I'm here... Well, I don't see
why I can't eat *then* run..." He extended his arms, hands
morphing into gigantic claws as they left his sleeves. His chest
expanded, filling the baggy shirt to bursting, corded muscles
standing out on his neck. His hair flew wildly behind him, as
though independently animated. He opened his mouth, transforming
teeth into snake-like fangs. Shaking his head like a beast, he
roared, the guttural sound echoing across the gallery.
"Whoa... I've never seen a vamp do *that*..." Buffy
breathed, a little taken aback before finding her resolve. She
dove forward into a roll, snapping her arm forward, flinging the
stake at the transformed Mu-Tsu. It sailed straight towards its
target, only to be intercepted by one of Mu-Tsu's deceptively
clumsy-looking talons.
"You expect to hurt me with *this* pathetic little toy?
Tsk..." He brought the wooden shaft to his mouth, biting the
stake in two. "Typical American... Overconfident *and* stupid..."
"Hey! That was my favorite stake!" She produced three more
from the inside of her jacket, throwing each in rapid succession
as she dove towards the vampire. He caught all three, but by then
she was inside his guard. He gave a grunt of surprise as Buffy
delivered a blinding series of strikes to his chest and head,
sending him reeling. Pressing her advantage, she lashed out with
a straight uppercut kick to Mu-Tsu's jaw. It failed to connect.
Her reach overextended, Mu-Tsu caught her ankle easily, picking
her up and sending her flying through several display cases
across the room, where she impacted head-first against the wall.
"Buffy!" Akane yelled, before turning and rushing in turn at
Mu-Tsu's monstrously distorted form, flinging flurries of Shinto
spirit wards like shuriken. The vampire leapt straight up,
dodging the wards, and flung out his arms, each talon-finger
becoming a cable of sharpened flesh hurtling towards the Japanese
Slayer. With difficulty, she avoided the whip-like tendrils,
somersaulting and flipping across the room.
Several display cases shattered into flinders as the cables
struck them.
"This is no good, Buffy! We can't take him like this!! Use
your sword!"
Buffy, head spinning from the impact into the wall, tried to
comply. She fought her incipient concussion and closed her eyes.
Despite her dizziness, she found her center easily.
Akane's right! She thought, her head clearing as the energy
coursed through her frame. This *is* easier the second time
around!
With a flare of Ki energy, the glowing rapier appeared in
Buffy's hand. Lifting the weapon, she leapt back across the room
using a strength and agility she didn't know she possessed.
"Oh, so? Back for more, are you?" Mu-Tsu snarled. He flung a
sharpened tentacle at the petite blonde, aiming to impale her
lithe form on the end.
With a flick of her wrist, Buffy sliced the appendage off
before it could penetrate. Mu-Tsu howled in agony. Hissing and
spitting, he retracted the remaining tendrils up his sleeve.
"You... !! No one hurts me!!" He reared back his head
and howled, shattering all the windows in the wing with the force
of the sound, blowing the Slayers off their feet.
Buffy clambered to her feet and ran over to Akane, forming
up back to back.
"*That* got his attention... So now what do we do? We can't
just hack him to bits, it'll take forever!" Akane nodded, her
breath coming hard. Her eyes narrowed.
"We can't hope to beat him like this... not us, not yet...
we just need to get the mirror back..." She scanned the room.
Looking up, she inhaled sharply. "Look, this is a long shot,
but... can you keep him busy for a moment? I have an idea that
might work...."
Buffy nodded, straightening.
"All right, ugly..." She looked Mu-Tsu straight in the eye.
"Let's dance..."
Mu-Tsu snarled in response as Buffy rushed across the ruined
hall towards his monstrous form, soul-sword held high.
Throwing his arms forward, he shot out dozens of
weapon-tentacles at incredible speed. Bobbing and weaving, sword
flashing, Buffy moved through the forest of limbs like a bullet
until she was once more within his guard.
Roaring and snapping at her with hyperextended mandible-like
teeth, Mu-Tsu forced her backwards, forcing her to use all her
skill simply to stay out of his way.
"Whatever you're doing, Akane..." She called out, parrying
another attack. "Do it fast..."
Akane stood stock still, head bowed, arms at her sides, hand
clutched into trembling fists. Yellow Ki energy flared out from
her in waves, licking higher and higher like a pillar of flames.
It surged upwards as she snapped her eyes open, locking gazes
with the furiously shapeshifting vampire through a veil of tears.
"Buffy! Out of the way! Now!!!" Buffy sideflipped instantly,
leaving a clear path between Akane and Mu-Tsu. The vampire's eyes
widened behind his dark lenses as he saw the Japanese girl facing
him. Akane's voice was a whisper, a sob, but carried easily
across the hall.
"...This is for Kasumi, you undead son of a bitch..."
The Ki energy flared, shooting across the distance like a
thing alive. It ripped into the vampire like a firestorm, picking
it up and blasting it into the stone walls of the gallery like a
bug on a windshield. The golden light seared the undead
metamorph's flesh like sunlight until Mu-Tsu was a howling pillar
of flames, ropy pseudopodia of vampiric flesh flailing in agony.
Mu-Tsu screamed, his howls merging with the roaring of the
flames. "YOU... CAN'T STOP... ME... SO... EASILY!!!!"
The flaming thing stepped forward like a living bonfire, a
blazing claw shooting towards Akane's prone form. Buffy, in a
split second reaction, leapt across the floor in a roll, grabbing
Akane and dodging the living firebrand...
The sprinklers kicked in.
The vampire disappeared in a cloud of steam that rapidly
filled the room. The howling ceased, to be replaced with the
steady hiss of water raining down from the ceiling.
When the steam cleared, Buffy opened her eyes hesitantly...
The gallery was a shambles. The sounds of approaching sirens
could be faintly heard, growing louder.
"Akane?!" Buffy whispered. The insensate girl didn't
respond. "Akane! Wake up! C'mon, girl, wake up!" She shook her
roughly, stopping when the Japanese girl moaned.
"Uhnn... Did we get him?" She opened her eyes slowly,
groaning.
"I guess so... I lost sight of him when the sprinkler system
turned on... What the hell did you do?!"
"Sin . . . Techu . . . Yari" Akane stared grimly at
the charred and blasted section of the museum.
"Heaven's Judgement Spear.."
Akane stood unsteadily, with a little help from Buffy. She
looked around walking slowly forward. She looked up at the broken
windows, down at the ground. Crouching, she picked up a small
object.
One white feather.
"He got away..."
She dropped the feather, walking forward with a little more
strength until she stood under the scorched outline of the Mu-Tsu
thing burned onto the wall by her blast. Stooping, she picked the
blackened form of the mirror off the floor. A small smile broke
across her features.
"At least, we got it back... maybe now we can make things
right..."
*************************************
Well folks, that's it for episode two. Roll the closing
credits as Nerf Herder plays in the background...
Thanks heaps to everyone who took the time to vote for ATVS
Episode One in the Best of Ranma Fanfic Awards. As far as I'm
concerned, you're all official members of Akane's Slayerette
Squad. You like me! You really like me!!!
Thanks also to the ATVS pre-reading team for helping this
rough beast to be born. If you want to join their august ranks,
send me an e-mail to the addresses above or below.
A special thanks to Angela for the rilly, rilly kewl fanart
she sent me. More special thanks to Talen, for hours of
frustrating, yet always informative, discussion.
Thanks as well to Allyn for the scathingly ruthless C+C. The
fic is much the better for it.
NEXT TIME: The gang decides what to do with the
time-travel mirror, Mu-Tsu and Xian-Pu lick their wounds and
regroup, and three visitors arrive from overseas... but are they
here to help or hinder our heroes? Tune in next time to find
out....
Send all C+C to (catthouse@lweb.net) or
(leapinggnome@hotmail.com) All comments (even >sob< negative
ones) are greatly appreciated, nay, demanded, and I promise to
write you back!