Sengoku Otogi Zōshi: Buffy
By Abby Road
CHAPTER 9
It was a good thing she'd invested in necro-tempered glass. However, this meant that Spike and Xander had to sit in the same vehicle – overall, not so good. Tension you could cut with a knife. Geesh! Buffy could only count her blessings that Xach had been otherwise engaged, or the testosterone levels in this vehicle would have already reached critical levels. Although she couldn't actually see Spike reflected in the rearview, she was pretty sure that sparks should have been flying with the way Xander was glaring.
"Watch the road! Watch the road!"
Dawn could still reach unholy decibel levels when she tried. Buffy glanced back out the windshield and, just then, Inuyasha landed on her hood –
"Watch where you're going you stupid bitch!"
-and then launched himself off at an angle. She supposed she deserved that, but that boy was going to have to learn to watch his mouth if he didn't want to get decked.
By the time they reached their destination Buffy was ready to kill something. She hopped out of the SUV swinging The Scythe in irritation. This drew Inuyasha's attention immediately.
"Where did you get that?"
Rude much? She was so not in the mood for more macho bullshit.
"It's mine. I don't see how that's really any of your business, kid."
"It's a demon blade. Humans shouldn't't mess with such things."
Well that was interesting. And also presumptuous. If there was one thing that felt truly right and good about her demon power, it was The Scythe. The blade was made for her, it chose her.
"You know what they say…don't judge a book by its cover. I'm The Chosen One. The Slayer. This is my blade."
She swung The Scythe in emphasis and it sang contentedly through the air. Dog-boy just gave her a speculative look and stalked off with one hand on the hilt of his sword. She was being a little presumptuous herself. But, the other girls didn't begrudge her the singular title. She wasn't The First Original Slayer, but she was the last Chosen One, before Willow's spell had awoken all of them.
Willow was setting up to put herself into a trance, but Spike was stuck in the SUV until sunset. She might as well keep him company. She opened the door on the shady side and slid into the backseat next to him.
"Sorry about Xander. He still doesn't understand."
"I'm not sure I understand either, Buffy."
Dammit! Zero point three seconds and already this conversation was too heavy for her. She didn't have the answer. Didn't he get that? Why did he have to be so goddamned moody!
"Well, that makes three of us."
Spike just sighed and ran a hand over his head – flattening the gelled in spikes into comical bleach-white curls. But she couldn't find it funny. That was a gesture she'd never associated with him before.
"Why are you doing this? Cornering me like this?"
"In the car? I'm sorry. I thought you'd like the company! What's your problem anyway?"
The problem was, she knew exactly what his problem was – it was her. And the way she couldn't help acting around him – familiar, intimate. And he wouldn't believe her. If she made a move on him now he'd bolt faster than Speedy Gonzales – and every other man in her life. When he'd rejoined them, they'd fallen back into the routine of hunting and camaraderie – as natural as breathing. But, every time she thought that they'd made progress – the idiot had to go and over-think things! He called after her as she slammed the door, but she didn't turn. If she answered him, she was likely to say something she'd regret. She was so mad she could just spit! Weepy, melodramatic jerk! She should totally rent Interview with a Vampire on the next movie night, just to piss him off!
"Buffy! We're ready over here! You're gonna' wanna' get a load of this!"
Thank God…and Xander…for good timing.
Willow was all done with the hocus pocus and they were just waiting on the sandworm thingy. It usually didn't take long to come after cars. And, there it was – arching through the earth like a landbound whale or something out of that movie with Sting. This would make more sense if they still lived in the desert, but who was she to question? Willow told her it had something to do with pocket dimensions. Which was why the thing was so difficult to kill.
When Inuyasha drew his sword, even she could see the magic sparking off the blade. It transformed completely. Now that was a big fucking sword! It was just asking for male inadequacy jokes – but she'd save those for actual enemies. No matter how much her allies were asking for it at the moment.
"You trying to make up for something?"
Holy God she was glad Inuyasha didn't seem to get it. Honestly, did Xander have no sense of self-preservation?
"Oh, wow!" there was not a little awe in Willow's voice.
Buffy wondered what it was she was seeing in the unveiling trance. All Buffy could see was that the blade was almost as large as it's wielder and the hilt had grown a kind of girly-looking ruff of white fur to match his hair. How could he even lift that thing? As the sandworm neared, the blade turned midnight black.
Then Inuyasha cut the air with a shout of "Meidio Zangetsuha!"
Buffy knew a portal to a dark dimension when she saw one. Most weren't quite so pretty. It was perfectly spherical, and she could see galaxies in it's blackness as it swallowed the sandworm. Then it was gone. Right along with a huge chunk of the terrain.
Inuyasha was propping the sword on his shoulder with a cocky grin on his face.
"Heh! Piece of cake! Anything else you need cleaned up while we're here, Slayer?"
Could he possibly sound more arrogant? Probably no.
Over the campfire, no one could talk about anything but Tessaiga. Personally, Buffy thought the kid's ego was big enough as it was.
"So the sword-"
"Tessaiga," he corrected, yet again, as if the blade's feelings would be hurt.
"- sorry, Tessaiga absorbs the abilities of the demons you kill with it?"
Willow was really giving the kid the full force of her research mode – but he seemed to be enjoying it.
"Yeah. There's no limit to how strong we can get."
Nice, how he was refering to himself and the sword as 'we'. But, admittedly, she knew the feeling. She lay a hand on The Scythe. Maybe she should give it a proper name?
"And, I saw that it's…bound to you."
"Tessaiga and I are one."
"Can I touch it?" that came from Xander and was answered only with a growl.
"So, we've decided that there's no way we came here through Meidio Zangetsuha, right?"
"So it seems, Kagome-sama," answered the monk, "It would appear that our eyes were deceived. Which points to-"
"Byakuya," growled Inuyasha.
"Of The Mirage," finished Sango.
"Who of the what now?"
Really, Xander could be so eloquent. It was Miroku who answered.
"Byakuya of The Mirage is a…detachment – for lack of a better word – of our fated enemy, Naraku. If he was involved in sending us here, it means that Naraku wants us here. I fear he may simply want us out of the way while he goes after the final shard."
"Feh! Yeah, he can try! Don't worry Sango. You know he doesn't stand a chance of that!"
"I can probably pinpoint your dimension," Willow yawned, "but right now, I need some shuteye."
"Right, I've got first watch," announced Inuyasha,"You sleep, Miroku."
Buffy fell asleep, watching the reflected golden eyes of the dog-demon and the vampire in the dying firelight – to the sound of Dawn exchanging an endless round of "no, you hand up first" with her boyfriend.
Buffy was very suddenly awake, because something was wrong. She was pretty sure the smothering fog had something to do with it. And the way Inuyasha was growling menacingly – sounded like he hadn't moved much from his place across the campfire, but she couldn't see anything. Something vaguely tentacle-like was wrapping around her feet, but she wrenched free and heard Willow muttering a counter-spell.
"Byakuya! You son of a bitch!"
"Not a morning person, are you Inuyasha?"
The voice of the questioner was echoing and untraceable - ephemeral as the fog. And, the words were completely alien to her. This person had not been included in Willow's translation spell.
"Foxfire!"
A green glow blossomed in the fog to her left, but failed to illuminate anything. She could't even see Shippo, although he was clearly the source of the light. Then Dawn screamed and it echoed through the fog - giving no direction.
"Shippo, where-", asked Miroku.
"Hurry!" shouted the fox-kit and the green light darted off.
"Goddammit! Get the fuck back here, Byakuya!"
As she made a blind dash, Spike grabbed her hand and darted off in front of her - Guiding the way across the uneven ground. She felt him jump ahead of her and, taking a leap of faith, launched herself after him. The fog cut off suddenly to be replaced by a yawning blackness and a feeling of vertigo so intense that she lost consciousness.
