Yamato the Vampire Slayer
License to...?
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon and I never will. Likewise Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
"D-Davis!"
Davis jerked awake at the cry. For a second, he didn't have a clue where he was. Then he remembered that he was staying the night at Ken's.
"Ken?"
He sat up and looked around.
Ken was kneeling on the floor. He was shaking.
"Davis, it hurts!" he cried.
Davis fell out of the bed and landed next to him.
"Ken, what's wrong?" he said "Ken! Ken, what hurts?"
Ken looked at him. His face was strained and utterly white.
"Davis, help me!" he cried.
Then he retched. Davis dodged, then stared.
Ken had just vomited blood.
"HELP!" Davis screamed "COME QUICK!"
When Mr and Mrs Ichijouji rushed in, Davis was holding Ken in his arms as Ken whimpered in pain. They took one look at the state of the floor and Mr Ichijouji ran to phone an ambulance.
* * * *
"Matt! Matt, you'll be late for school!"
Matt opened his eyes groggily.
"School? Oh...'nother five minutes. Please."
Mr Ishida glared at the hunp in the bed irritably. Matt always seemed reluctant to wake up in the mornings recently, no matter how early he went to bed.
"Matt, you'll be late!"
"What a tragedy," Matt muttered.
Mr Ishida yanked the covers off. Matt swore, then remembered that his father was standing there and blushed sheepishly.
"Oh...sorry Dad."
"Like I said, you'll be late," Mr Ishida said. The phone rang and he went to answer it as Matt slowly got up. The last thing he wanted to face was school. Still, he knew better than to try and not go. His father never let him skive, ever.
"Typical of someone who's not taken a vacation in fifteen years," Matt mumbled, trying to find some clean socks.
"Dad!" he yelled "Did you do any laundry? Dad? Dad?"
He leaned out of the room to glare at his father. To his surprise his father was still standing at the phone, looking upset.
"What's wrong Dad?" Matt asked.
"That was your friend Davis Motomiya," Mr Ishida said "He wants you down at the hospital. Apparently, Ken Ichijouji's had some sort of accident."
Matt froze.
"Oh no..."
* * * *
Ken lay in the hospital bed. He was unconscious now and wasn't showing any signs of waking up. Mr and Mrs Ichijouji were talking to the doctors anxiously. Davis was sitting outside silently when Matt arrived.
"Davis!"
Davis looked at him.
"What happened?" Matt asked.
"He woke up and was sick!" Davis said "And he was sick blood Matt! He was sick blood and then he was just screaming about how painful it was. The doctors don't know what's wrong."
"They wouldn't."
Davis blinked.
"Ah," Matt said "Um, Ms Fuyutsuki, meet Motomiya Davis. Davis, meet Ms Fuyutsuki Ishiko."
"Hi," Davis said.
"She's my Watcher," Matt added.
Ms Fuyutsuki gave Matt a look.
"We'll talk about this later," she said.
Matt winced. He had a feeling that she wasn't pleased about Ken and Davis knowing about his identity. But there were more important things to worry about. Like Ken.
"How is he?" Mr Fuyutsuki asked, her voice gentling.
"Unconscious," Davis said "The doctors said something about morphine or something."
Ms Fuyutsuki nodded.
"There's a big welt across where that thing hit him last night," Davis said.
"The Slydor demon. Yes," Ms Fuyutsuki said "This is likely to need a magical spell of some sort. Yamato, I need you to come back with me to do some research."
Matt nodded.
"It's going to be okay Davis," he said firmly "Trust me."
Davis gave him a small smile.
"I do," he said "I know you'll make Ken better."
The trust in his eyes scared Matt. What if he couldn't? What if he was unable to help Ken?
"Yamato!"
"I'm coming!" Matt said quickly. He gave Davis a wave and then followed Ms Fuyutsuki out of the hospital.
* * * *
Angel was woken by Spike throwing a basin of water over him.
"WILLIAM THE BLOODY, WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT?"
"No," Spike said "Dammit Angel, why do you have to sleep so deeply?"
Angel scowled.
"What exactly do you want?"
Spike sighed.
"Those kids we saved," he said "They're all sick."
"What?" Angel asked confusedly.
"Okay, you remember that girl who was totally hot when we took that little kid home so I gave her our phone number?"
"You WHAT?"
"Oh yes, you weren't there," Spike said calmly "Well I did. And she phoned and said that he's been throwing up blood and is suffering in hospital. She wants us to do something."
"Oh crap," Angel said "Okay, hand me the phone."
"Why?"
"Need to contact Matt," Angel said.
"Ohhh, Matt!" Spike teased.
"Spike, if you don't shut up about that..."
"I'm quiet, I'm quiet."
* * * *
"This is useless!" Matt yelled, throwing the book at the wall.
"That is an antique," Ms Fuyutsuki said coolly "Please refrain from throwing my books at the wall."
Matt scowled at her.
"Ken's sick," he said "And according to Angel and Spike..."
"Spike?"
Matt blinked.
"That's the other guy's name," he said "You remember, there's two of them who keep showing up and helping me? Angel and Spike. I know it sounds like a TV show but..."
"Angel and Spike," Ms Fuyutsuki repeated "Wait there Yamato."
"Like I'm going to move," Matt mumbled "Where would I go?"
Ms Fuyutsuki returned a few moments later with a large book.
"Yamato," she said "Are these the men you've met?"
Matt looked.
"Yes, that's them," he said "They're in a book?"
Ms Fuyutsuki frowned.
"Yamato," she said "Angel and Spike are vampires."
"WHAT?"
Ms Fuyutsuki sighed.
"Read it," she said simply.
She watched Matt's face as he did. She couldn't help feeling sorry for him. Matt's face fell and he suddenly looked like he might cry.
"But they helped us," he said "They...they helped me. Angel saved me from a vampire."
"He did?"
Matt nodded.
"I fell asleep," he muttered shamefacedly "I got ambushed. Angel stopped them killing me."
Ms Fuyutsuki frowned. Something was nagging at her.
"Yamato," she said "Keep researching. I'm going to make a phone call."
Matt waited until she'd left the room, then buried his face in his knees. He hadn't realised exactly how attached he'd become to Angel.
'You're being dumb' he told himself 'You don't even know him! He's just cute, that's all.'
But he couldn't help feeling miserable. He'd trusted Angel. And Spike too. He'd thought that they were friends of his.
Matt unburied his knees and began looking through the book, trying to stay distracted.
He wasn't focusing on the book but something caught his eye.
'The Slydor demon gives birth to its babies and attaches them to human children. They drain....'
"Blah, blah, blah," Matt mumbled skipping it. His eyes lit on something else.
'The Slydor babies are attached until the connections are broken. If the connections are not broken by use of magic in the space of 72 hours, the babies continued to drain the energy until the child dies. The Slydor babies do not have to be present for their parents to attach them to the child. They cannot be killed by normal methods, although they can give the appearance of death if attacked. The connection between demon and child works from long distances, meaning that the connection must be broken to save the child. The connection can only by the use of a complex spell, including the use of the Charm of Quor, a sapphire and diamond amulet with unusual properties. To work successfully, the Charm must be taken to a high open space with unusual amounts of electric currents.'
Matt took the book to Ms Fuyutsuki.
"They've got me on hold," she said crossly. She looked at the book.
"Times running out," Matt said "Most of the children have been connected over 48 hours. Ken's only got another day!"
Ms Fuyutsuki reached into a drawer and removed some paper. She wrote down an address.
"Go there," she ordered "A wicca lives there by the name of Aida Kaya. If anyone can help, she can."
Matt left.
* * * *
Kaya Aida turned out to be an incredibly normal person as far as Matt could see. He had a feeling that she went to Tai's Mum's fungus cooking class. She listened to his story silently.
"I have a Charm of Quor," she said at last "But the high open space...the only place is the Odiaba Power Station."
"But that's miles away!" Matt said.
"And I don't have a car," Kaya said. She scowled "Stupid car company! I'm never using them again!"
"But what do we do?" Matt demanded "Ms Fuyutsuki doesn't have a car!"
Kaya frowned.
"Do you know anyone trustworthy with a car?" she asked "They must be completely trustworthy. If everyone knows I'm a wicca then I'll have a problem."
Matt thought.
"Well...there is one person."
* * * *
The band were practising. It wasn't the same without Matt, but they were practising.
"You're getting it wrong Toshiki!" Gendo growled "You are just absolutely hopeless!"
"Oh shut up," Toshiki said.
Akemi absently started making up drum beats. He only stopped when Istu threw a balled up piece of music at him.
"Oh this is stupid!" Gendo exploded "Are we going to practise or not?"
"Not!" came the chorus. Gendo scowled.
"Come on guys!"
"Why bother?" Istu said "We need Matt, you know we do."
At that point, the door banged open.
"Speak of the devil!" Akemi said, looking impressed "Istu, that's uncanny! You should go into show business!"
Matt gave him a slightly confused look.
"Gendo!" he said "Quick! I need your help!"
"Excuse me?" Gendo said.
"Please!" Matt said "This is urgent! I need you to drive me and a friend up to the Odiaba Power Station."
"WHAT?"
The rest of the band were all staring too. Matt swallowed.
"Gendo please," he said "I can't explain now but this is really, really important."
"Why should I?" Gendo said angrily "You dropped out of the band without a single word to anyone, you haven't spoken to us in months! Now you expect lifts!"
"Gendo, please!" Matt cried "Look, I'll explain, I promise! I'm sorry about everything but it's all been complicated! Please, you have to do this, please!"
Gendo looked at the others.
"Please," Matt said "I promise I'll explain everything!"
"Fine," Gendo said "Come on you lot."
"You can't all come!" Matt said.
He got withering looks from everyone.
"Of course you can," he said with a sigh "Come on."
* * * *
Gendo's van had recently been repainted ruby red with pink drips. Matt wisely said nothing about the choice of colour and just let Gendo get driving before beginning the story. Kaya looked doubtfully at the band and looked even more doubtful when Matt began to tell them everything but she didn't say anything. The band listened.
"You've flipped your lid," Akemi said when Matt had finished.
"That is the coolest thing I ever heard!" Istu said "I'm friends with a super-hero!"
"You're friends with a maniac!" Gendo said.
"But you'll still drive us up there?" Matt pleaded.
"Of course," Gendo said "I'll even start breaking speed limits."
"Oh no!" all the band yelled and ducked their heads. Gendo had a tendency to start driving like a maniac every now and then. It was normally best not to be around.
"You'll get arrested! You don't have a license!" Matt yelled.
"He doesn't have a licence?!" Kaya shouted.
"Long story!" the band all chorused at her. Gendo started driving quicker but resisted the maniac urges.
"Do you all think I'm crazy?" Matt asked in a small voice.
The band looked at each other.
"Oh Matt," Akemi said eventually "We always thought you were crazy!"
"Akemi, you know what I mean," Matt said.
"What's your name?" Toshiki asked.
"Yamato Ishida."
"How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Eight fingers, two thumbs."
"Who's President of the United States?"
"Who cares?"
"You're not crazy," Toshiki said.
Istu laughed.
"Matt, you know I'll always love you, crazy or not," he said.
"Damn," Matt said "I thought this story would put you off."
"NOTHING puts me off," Istu said proudly "I will not be put off until you and I have screwed."
"Where upon you will say 'But Matt, it was so good, I think it really meant something'," Matt said "And then I'll never be rid of you!"
The band all started laughing. Kaya raised an eyebrow and made a mental note to tell Ishiko Fuyutsuki that her Slayer was quite possibly slightly deranged.
"But do you believe me?" Matt asked, going back to the point.
"I believe anything you say," Istu said.
"Istu, if you don't have anything serious to contribute, please shut up," Gendo said.
"I believe you," Akemi said.
Everyone looked at Akemi.
"Eyes on the road, eyes on the road!" Kaya shrieked at Gendo, noticing that he was looking too. Gendo looked at the road and swore loudly as he saw a car coming straight at them.
"Yamato Ishida!" Kaya shouted "I asked for someone reliable!"
"The band are reliable!" Matt shot back "Just slightly deranged!"
"You believe Matt?" Toshiki said to Akemi, deciding to go back to the important point.
"Yes," Akemi said "Well, there are stranger things aren't there, than Matt being some sort of super-hero."
"Stranger things like what?" Gendo asked.
"Thanks," Matt said, sounding hurt.
"Like Istu thinking that he ever has a chance with Matt," Akemi said "Like Robbie Williams actually being considered good-looking. Like people actually enjoying McDonalds burgers."
"Actually, he's right," Gendo said "Okay Matt, I believe you too."
Matt groaned. Toshiki patted his shoulder.
"I think I'd like more proof first," he said.
"I'll see what I can do," Matt said "Gendo, how much longer?"
"You were the one who wanted me to drive like a normal person," Gendo said with a shrug.
"GENDO!"
"All right, all right, I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying."
It didn't take them long to reach the Power Station, especially with Gendo driving like a slightly deranged person. Kaya was out of the van immediately, looking slightly sick. She'd already removed the Charm of Quor from a box she was carrying.
"You lot stay down here!" she ordered sharply before running off. The band stood there uncertainly. There was suddenly an explosion of bright purple light that was far too bright for all of them. Then there was a silence.
"Did everyone else just a really big purple light?" Istu asked.
"Yes," Gendo said.
"Oh good."
Kaya walked back down shortly after.
"That should have worked," she said "I thought it would be more powerful than that actually. I was expecting more of a kick."
"Um...Kaya?" Matt said.
"Yes?"
"Your hair's sticking up on end."
* * * *
They arrived at the hospital quite soon after to find Ken sitting up eating a bowl of jelly and leaning quite snugly against Davis who was smiling happily.
"Ken!"
Matt shot in and gave him a hug.
"Get off Matt," Ken said giving him a shove "I'm fine now."
"What did you do?" Davis asked.
"This witch cast a spell," Matt explained.
"A witch?"
Matt grinned.
"Don't get too excited. She belongs to Tai's Mum's fungus cooking class. She's pretty normal."
"So no broomsticks then?" Ken said "Rats. I've always fancied a ride on a broomstick."
Matt laughed. Sitting on the bed, he hugged both of them.
"I'm glad you're both okay," he said.
"Oh get off and stop being soppy," Davis said.
The band stood nearby watching. Ken suddenly noticed them and blinked.
"They know," Matt said "We needed a lift to do the spell. I think they are still being a little dubious though..."
"Oh no," Toshiki said "That flash of purple light convinced me! Unless you are really good with disco lighting, I'd say that was real magic."
"Thanks," Matt said.
The band cheerfully gathered round the bed.
"But don't think this lets you off the hook with band practise!" Toshiki said "You've got to come back Matt! We need you! You'll have to make time!"
Matt sighed.
"All right, all right," he said "Fine you know. I'm just a super-hero with duties, supposed to save the world, you know. And I still have band practise!"
They all laughed.
"See, I've got it figured!" Istu said "We'll make you a schedule."
He grabbed some paper and a pencil.
"Hey! Those are my Math problems!" Ken protested.
Istu ignored him.
"Okay...here's school, here's band practise, here's studying, here's Slayer training, here's date with Istu..."
Matt grabbed the paper off him.
"ISTU!!!!!!"
Istu gave him an angelic grin.
End of Part 5
License to...?
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon and I never will. Likewise Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
"D-Davis!"
Davis jerked awake at the cry. For a second, he didn't have a clue where he was. Then he remembered that he was staying the night at Ken's.
"Ken?"
He sat up and looked around.
Ken was kneeling on the floor. He was shaking.
"Davis, it hurts!" he cried.
Davis fell out of the bed and landed next to him.
"Ken, what's wrong?" he said "Ken! Ken, what hurts?"
Ken looked at him. His face was strained and utterly white.
"Davis, help me!" he cried.
Then he retched. Davis dodged, then stared.
Ken had just vomited blood.
"HELP!" Davis screamed "COME QUICK!"
When Mr and Mrs Ichijouji rushed in, Davis was holding Ken in his arms as Ken whimpered in pain. They took one look at the state of the floor and Mr Ichijouji ran to phone an ambulance.
* * * *
"Matt! Matt, you'll be late for school!"
Matt opened his eyes groggily.
"School? Oh...'nother five minutes. Please."
Mr Ishida glared at the hunp in the bed irritably. Matt always seemed reluctant to wake up in the mornings recently, no matter how early he went to bed.
"Matt, you'll be late!"
"What a tragedy," Matt muttered.
Mr Ishida yanked the covers off. Matt swore, then remembered that his father was standing there and blushed sheepishly.
"Oh...sorry Dad."
"Like I said, you'll be late," Mr Ishida said. The phone rang and he went to answer it as Matt slowly got up. The last thing he wanted to face was school. Still, he knew better than to try and not go. His father never let him skive, ever.
"Typical of someone who's not taken a vacation in fifteen years," Matt mumbled, trying to find some clean socks.
"Dad!" he yelled "Did you do any laundry? Dad? Dad?"
He leaned out of the room to glare at his father. To his surprise his father was still standing at the phone, looking upset.
"What's wrong Dad?" Matt asked.
"That was your friend Davis Motomiya," Mr Ishida said "He wants you down at the hospital. Apparently, Ken Ichijouji's had some sort of accident."
Matt froze.
"Oh no..."
* * * *
Ken lay in the hospital bed. He was unconscious now and wasn't showing any signs of waking up. Mr and Mrs Ichijouji were talking to the doctors anxiously. Davis was sitting outside silently when Matt arrived.
"Davis!"
Davis looked at him.
"What happened?" Matt asked.
"He woke up and was sick!" Davis said "And he was sick blood Matt! He was sick blood and then he was just screaming about how painful it was. The doctors don't know what's wrong."
"They wouldn't."
Davis blinked.
"Ah," Matt said "Um, Ms Fuyutsuki, meet Motomiya Davis. Davis, meet Ms Fuyutsuki Ishiko."
"Hi," Davis said.
"She's my Watcher," Matt added.
Ms Fuyutsuki gave Matt a look.
"We'll talk about this later," she said.
Matt winced. He had a feeling that she wasn't pleased about Ken and Davis knowing about his identity. But there were more important things to worry about. Like Ken.
"How is he?" Mr Fuyutsuki asked, her voice gentling.
"Unconscious," Davis said "The doctors said something about morphine or something."
Ms Fuyutsuki nodded.
"There's a big welt across where that thing hit him last night," Davis said.
"The Slydor demon. Yes," Ms Fuyutsuki said "This is likely to need a magical spell of some sort. Yamato, I need you to come back with me to do some research."
Matt nodded.
"It's going to be okay Davis," he said firmly "Trust me."
Davis gave him a small smile.
"I do," he said "I know you'll make Ken better."
The trust in his eyes scared Matt. What if he couldn't? What if he was unable to help Ken?
"Yamato!"
"I'm coming!" Matt said quickly. He gave Davis a wave and then followed Ms Fuyutsuki out of the hospital.
* * * *
Angel was woken by Spike throwing a basin of water over him.
"WILLIAM THE BLOODY, WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT?"
"No," Spike said "Dammit Angel, why do you have to sleep so deeply?"
Angel scowled.
"What exactly do you want?"
Spike sighed.
"Those kids we saved," he said "They're all sick."
"What?" Angel asked confusedly.
"Okay, you remember that girl who was totally hot when we took that little kid home so I gave her our phone number?"
"You WHAT?"
"Oh yes, you weren't there," Spike said calmly "Well I did. And she phoned and said that he's been throwing up blood and is suffering in hospital. She wants us to do something."
"Oh crap," Angel said "Okay, hand me the phone."
"Why?"
"Need to contact Matt," Angel said.
"Ohhh, Matt!" Spike teased.
"Spike, if you don't shut up about that..."
"I'm quiet, I'm quiet."
* * * *
"This is useless!" Matt yelled, throwing the book at the wall.
"That is an antique," Ms Fuyutsuki said coolly "Please refrain from throwing my books at the wall."
Matt scowled at her.
"Ken's sick," he said "And according to Angel and Spike..."
"Spike?"
Matt blinked.
"That's the other guy's name," he said "You remember, there's two of them who keep showing up and helping me? Angel and Spike. I know it sounds like a TV show but..."
"Angel and Spike," Ms Fuyutsuki repeated "Wait there Yamato."
"Like I'm going to move," Matt mumbled "Where would I go?"
Ms Fuyutsuki returned a few moments later with a large book.
"Yamato," she said "Are these the men you've met?"
Matt looked.
"Yes, that's them," he said "They're in a book?"
Ms Fuyutsuki frowned.
"Yamato," she said "Angel and Spike are vampires."
"WHAT?"
Ms Fuyutsuki sighed.
"Read it," she said simply.
She watched Matt's face as he did. She couldn't help feeling sorry for him. Matt's face fell and he suddenly looked like he might cry.
"But they helped us," he said "They...they helped me. Angel saved me from a vampire."
"He did?"
Matt nodded.
"I fell asleep," he muttered shamefacedly "I got ambushed. Angel stopped them killing me."
Ms Fuyutsuki frowned. Something was nagging at her.
"Yamato," she said "Keep researching. I'm going to make a phone call."
Matt waited until she'd left the room, then buried his face in his knees. He hadn't realised exactly how attached he'd become to Angel.
'You're being dumb' he told himself 'You don't even know him! He's just cute, that's all.'
But he couldn't help feeling miserable. He'd trusted Angel. And Spike too. He'd thought that they were friends of his.
Matt unburied his knees and began looking through the book, trying to stay distracted.
He wasn't focusing on the book but something caught his eye.
'The Slydor demon gives birth to its babies and attaches them to human children. They drain....'
"Blah, blah, blah," Matt mumbled skipping it. His eyes lit on something else.
'The Slydor babies are attached until the connections are broken. If the connections are not broken by use of magic in the space of 72 hours, the babies continued to drain the energy until the child dies. The Slydor babies do not have to be present for their parents to attach them to the child. They cannot be killed by normal methods, although they can give the appearance of death if attacked. The connection between demon and child works from long distances, meaning that the connection must be broken to save the child. The connection can only by the use of a complex spell, including the use of the Charm of Quor, a sapphire and diamond amulet with unusual properties. To work successfully, the Charm must be taken to a high open space with unusual amounts of electric currents.'
Matt took the book to Ms Fuyutsuki.
"They've got me on hold," she said crossly. She looked at the book.
"Times running out," Matt said "Most of the children have been connected over 48 hours. Ken's only got another day!"
Ms Fuyutsuki reached into a drawer and removed some paper. She wrote down an address.
"Go there," she ordered "A wicca lives there by the name of Aida Kaya. If anyone can help, she can."
Matt left.
* * * *
Kaya Aida turned out to be an incredibly normal person as far as Matt could see. He had a feeling that she went to Tai's Mum's fungus cooking class. She listened to his story silently.
"I have a Charm of Quor," she said at last "But the high open space...the only place is the Odiaba Power Station."
"But that's miles away!" Matt said.
"And I don't have a car," Kaya said. She scowled "Stupid car company! I'm never using them again!"
"But what do we do?" Matt demanded "Ms Fuyutsuki doesn't have a car!"
Kaya frowned.
"Do you know anyone trustworthy with a car?" she asked "They must be completely trustworthy. If everyone knows I'm a wicca then I'll have a problem."
Matt thought.
"Well...there is one person."
* * * *
The band were practising. It wasn't the same without Matt, but they were practising.
"You're getting it wrong Toshiki!" Gendo growled "You are just absolutely hopeless!"
"Oh shut up," Toshiki said.
Akemi absently started making up drum beats. He only stopped when Istu threw a balled up piece of music at him.
"Oh this is stupid!" Gendo exploded "Are we going to practise or not?"
"Not!" came the chorus. Gendo scowled.
"Come on guys!"
"Why bother?" Istu said "We need Matt, you know we do."
At that point, the door banged open.
"Speak of the devil!" Akemi said, looking impressed "Istu, that's uncanny! You should go into show business!"
Matt gave him a slightly confused look.
"Gendo!" he said "Quick! I need your help!"
"Excuse me?" Gendo said.
"Please!" Matt said "This is urgent! I need you to drive me and a friend up to the Odiaba Power Station."
"WHAT?"
The rest of the band were all staring too. Matt swallowed.
"Gendo please," he said "I can't explain now but this is really, really important."
"Why should I?" Gendo said angrily "You dropped out of the band without a single word to anyone, you haven't spoken to us in months! Now you expect lifts!"
"Gendo, please!" Matt cried "Look, I'll explain, I promise! I'm sorry about everything but it's all been complicated! Please, you have to do this, please!"
Gendo looked at the others.
"Please," Matt said "I promise I'll explain everything!"
"Fine," Gendo said "Come on you lot."
"You can't all come!" Matt said.
He got withering looks from everyone.
"Of course you can," he said with a sigh "Come on."
* * * *
Gendo's van had recently been repainted ruby red with pink drips. Matt wisely said nothing about the choice of colour and just let Gendo get driving before beginning the story. Kaya looked doubtfully at the band and looked even more doubtful when Matt began to tell them everything but she didn't say anything. The band listened.
"You've flipped your lid," Akemi said when Matt had finished.
"That is the coolest thing I ever heard!" Istu said "I'm friends with a super-hero!"
"You're friends with a maniac!" Gendo said.
"But you'll still drive us up there?" Matt pleaded.
"Of course," Gendo said "I'll even start breaking speed limits."
"Oh no!" all the band yelled and ducked their heads. Gendo had a tendency to start driving like a maniac every now and then. It was normally best not to be around.
"You'll get arrested! You don't have a license!" Matt yelled.
"He doesn't have a licence?!" Kaya shouted.
"Long story!" the band all chorused at her. Gendo started driving quicker but resisted the maniac urges.
"Do you all think I'm crazy?" Matt asked in a small voice.
The band looked at each other.
"Oh Matt," Akemi said eventually "We always thought you were crazy!"
"Akemi, you know what I mean," Matt said.
"What's your name?" Toshiki asked.
"Yamato Ishida."
"How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Eight fingers, two thumbs."
"Who's President of the United States?"
"Who cares?"
"You're not crazy," Toshiki said.
Istu laughed.
"Matt, you know I'll always love you, crazy or not," he said.
"Damn," Matt said "I thought this story would put you off."
"NOTHING puts me off," Istu said proudly "I will not be put off until you and I have screwed."
"Where upon you will say 'But Matt, it was so good, I think it really meant something'," Matt said "And then I'll never be rid of you!"
The band all started laughing. Kaya raised an eyebrow and made a mental note to tell Ishiko Fuyutsuki that her Slayer was quite possibly slightly deranged.
"But do you believe me?" Matt asked, going back to the point.
"I believe anything you say," Istu said.
"Istu, if you don't have anything serious to contribute, please shut up," Gendo said.
"I believe you," Akemi said.
Everyone looked at Akemi.
"Eyes on the road, eyes on the road!" Kaya shrieked at Gendo, noticing that he was looking too. Gendo looked at the road and swore loudly as he saw a car coming straight at them.
"Yamato Ishida!" Kaya shouted "I asked for someone reliable!"
"The band are reliable!" Matt shot back "Just slightly deranged!"
"You believe Matt?" Toshiki said to Akemi, deciding to go back to the important point.
"Yes," Akemi said "Well, there are stranger things aren't there, than Matt being some sort of super-hero."
"Stranger things like what?" Gendo asked.
"Thanks," Matt said, sounding hurt.
"Like Istu thinking that he ever has a chance with Matt," Akemi said "Like Robbie Williams actually being considered good-looking. Like people actually enjoying McDonalds burgers."
"Actually, he's right," Gendo said "Okay Matt, I believe you too."
Matt groaned. Toshiki patted his shoulder.
"I think I'd like more proof first," he said.
"I'll see what I can do," Matt said "Gendo, how much longer?"
"You were the one who wanted me to drive like a normal person," Gendo said with a shrug.
"GENDO!"
"All right, all right, I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying."
It didn't take them long to reach the Power Station, especially with Gendo driving like a slightly deranged person. Kaya was out of the van immediately, looking slightly sick. She'd already removed the Charm of Quor from a box she was carrying.
"You lot stay down here!" she ordered sharply before running off. The band stood there uncertainly. There was suddenly an explosion of bright purple light that was far too bright for all of them. Then there was a silence.
"Did everyone else just a really big purple light?" Istu asked.
"Yes," Gendo said.
"Oh good."
Kaya walked back down shortly after.
"That should have worked," she said "I thought it would be more powerful than that actually. I was expecting more of a kick."
"Um...Kaya?" Matt said.
"Yes?"
"Your hair's sticking up on end."
* * * *
They arrived at the hospital quite soon after to find Ken sitting up eating a bowl of jelly and leaning quite snugly against Davis who was smiling happily.
"Ken!"
Matt shot in and gave him a hug.
"Get off Matt," Ken said giving him a shove "I'm fine now."
"What did you do?" Davis asked.
"This witch cast a spell," Matt explained.
"A witch?"
Matt grinned.
"Don't get too excited. She belongs to Tai's Mum's fungus cooking class. She's pretty normal."
"So no broomsticks then?" Ken said "Rats. I've always fancied a ride on a broomstick."
Matt laughed. Sitting on the bed, he hugged both of them.
"I'm glad you're both okay," he said.
"Oh get off and stop being soppy," Davis said.
The band stood nearby watching. Ken suddenly noticed them and blinked.
"They know," Matt said "We needed a lift to do the spell. I think they are still being a little dubious though..."
"Oh no," Toshiki said "That flash of purple light convinced me! Unless you are really good with disco lighting, I'd say that was real magic."
"Thanks," Matt said.
The band cheerfully gathered round the bed.
"But don't think this lets you off the hook with band practise!" Toshiki said "You've got to come back Matt! We need you! You'll have to make time!"
Matt sighed.
"All right, all right," he said "Fine you know. I'm just a super-hero with duties, supposed to save the world, you know. And I still have band practise!"
They all laughed.
"See, I've got it figured!" Istu said "We'll make you a schedule."
He grabbed some paper and a pencil.
"Hey! Those are my Math problems!" Ken protested.
Istu ignored him.
"Okay...here's school, here's band practise, here's studying, here's Slayer training, here's date with Istu..."
Matt grabbed the paper off him.
"ISTU!!!!!!"
Istu gave him an angelic grin.
End of Part 5