Yamato the Vampire Slayer
Desperate, For Something To Touch
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon, I don't own Buffy. The title is from 'A Thesis of a the Cruel Angel'.
Matt opened his eyes. He was cuddled up in bed, Tai's arm draped over him. For a second he didn't know what had happened as he lingered in a peaceful stage between dreaming and waking. Then sleep vanished and he remembered. The funeral. Which they'd just been to.
Matt shuddered. Tai stirred and Matt gently shushed him. He didn't want Tai awake. They'd already been up for hours after the funeral. Matt had been crying and Tai had been trying to comfort him until eventually Matt had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Tai had obviously stayed with him.
Matt carefully wriggled out of the bed, gently soothing Tai when Tai fidgeted. Tai had always been a pretty sound sleeper and Matt was able to loose himself from his grip without waking him. Matt packed a bag with Slaying equipment, then scrambled out through the window.
He walked through the streets aimlessly, not really looking where he was going. He only woke up from his semi-trance when he heard someone crying out for help. Moving towards them, he saw a teenage boy pressed against a wall with a vampire approaching him. Matt sprang forward, knocking the vampire down.
"Run!" he yelled at the boy. The boy obeyed, obviously petrified. Matt smiled pleasantly at the vampire. Then they began to fight. In a few moments, Matt forgot all the rules that Ms Fuyutsuki had taught him about staying in control, about not letting your emotions rule you. He slammed into the vampire again and again, beating the vampire to pulp. Eventually, the vampire was on the floor and Matt had a stake to her chest.
"You've got one chance!" he spat at her "Who killed my brother? You tell me, I let you live."
The vampire stared at him with her big yellow eyes.
"How should I know who killed your stinking brother?" she snarled.
Matt brought the stake down and watched as the vampire exploded into dust. Then he scrambled to his feet. He knew what to do now. He had to find the vampire who'd done this to TK. Find them and kill them. And if he had to ask every single vampire he saw, he would do that. He'd find the vampire that had stolen his brother from him. He would.
Matt walked down to the graveyard, knowing that vampires would be there. He paused. After all, the vampire was unlikely to be there. Graveyards were mostly new vampires, just rising. The vampire who killed TK would be on the loose somewhere.
Matt walked into the graveyard anyway. He heard to TK's grave, looking at the fresh soil.
"I'll get them TK," he whispered "I'm so sorry brother. I'm so, so sorry. But I'll find the vampire who did this. And I'll kill them. I swear."
He frowned suddenly. The soil looked a bit funny. Like it had been disturbed...
No. It was just the darkness, that was all. Making it difficult to see. Obviously nothing had been digging around there...
Matt turned and walked away, trying to blank the thoughts from his memory.
* * * *
Tai woke up when Matt crawled through the window.
"Matt?" he said.
"Shhh," Matt whispered "It's okay Tai. It's just me."
"Where have you been?" Tai asked. Glancing over Matt, he saw that Matt looked dirty and he had a cut lip.
"Out."
Matt kicked off his shoes and got back into the bed. He looked like he was about to snuggle up to Tai but then seemed to think better of it and lay down.
"Were you...." Tai paused "Slaying?"
"Still don't believe me?"
Tai hung his head.
"How can I?" he whispered "How can I Matt?"
Matt said nothing. Tai looked at the back of his head. Then he snuggled close and draped an arm round his friend. For a second, Matt relaxed. Then he tensed and pulled away.
"Goodnight Tai."
Tai looked at his friend, confused and a little hurt.
'What right have you to be hurt bozo?' an unpleasant little voice in his mind asked 'You broke off with him remember? You haven't been friends for ages!'
Tai lay down, struggling with his own feelings. He was so busy in his own mind that he didn't hear Matt's quiet sobs.
* * * *
The next day, Matt went for training at Ms Fuyutsuki's. Ms Fuyutsuki wasn't surprised at the vigour that Matt was putting into his training. She knew about TK.
"Yamato," she called eventually "Yamato."
"What?" Matt snapped at her, still kicking.
"Yamato, I'd like to talk to you," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"Well?"
"Yamato...Matt...perhaps you ought to take a few days off," Ms Fuyutsuki suggested gently "I know that you must be devastated about your brother..."
"A few days off?" Matt repeated "So more people can die?"
"Yamato..."
"It was a vampire Ms Fuyutsuki," Matt interrupted her. He began smacking the punch bag again "One of those...those things killed my brother. And I'm not going to let it happen again."
Ms Fuyutsuki frowned.
"Yamato, I understand your feelings..." she began.
"No," Matt interrupted "You couldn't possibly understand my feelings about anything. You've never been able to. You never will be able to. And it doesn't matter anyway because I am not taking time off. I'm going to stop the vampires. Isn't that my job?"
He moved away from the punchbag. Ms Fuyutsuki looked at him.
"Yamato, as your Watcher, I must insist that you take some down time," she said.
"Fuck you."
Ms Fuyutsuki's mouth dropped open. Matt turned and looked at her.
"Ms Fuyutsuki," he said "Thank you very much for all your help. I couldn't have done it without you. But I don't need you any more. You're fired."
"Yamato! Yamato Ishida!"
But Matt turned and walked out of the apartment, ignoring her shouts.
* * * *
That night, Angel and Spike found Matt in the park, pummelling a vampire furiously.
"Who killed my brother?" he spat at it "Who killed my brother?"
"I don't know!" the vampire snarled back.
Matt staked him.
"Matt?" Angel said.
Matt's head snapped round. He looked at Angel and Spike for a few moments.
"You're vampires," he said.
"Yeah," Spike "You know that. Are you tripping?"
"No," Matt said "I want you to do something for me."
"What?"
"A vampire killed my brother," Matt said.
Angel and Spike looked at each other.
"Matt, I'm sorry," Angel began.
"Skip it," Matt said harshly "I don't want your sympathy, just your help."
"With what?" Spike asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to find the vampire that did this," Matt said "I'm going to find them and I'm going to kill them. I want your help."
"Matt," Angel said "Listen. I understand that you're angry and upset. I would be if it was me. But vengeance...it doesn't work. Your anger clouds your judgement."
"Oh skip the Star Wars esq. crap," Matt said "Will you help me or not?"
"Look Boy-Slayer..." Spike began.
The next second he was being held against a tree with a stake to his chest.
"Stop calling me that!" Matt shouted "Just stop it!"
"All right, all right, take a chill will you?" Spike said.
Angel pulled Matt off Spike quickly.
"Matt, listen to me," he said "We'll help. Of course we'll help you. But you've got to understand that we don't agree with what you're doing. The Slayer has to be in control of he - his emotions when they're on the job."
Matt stared at him. His eyes were glittering with tears.
"And let the creature who killed my brother get away with it?"
"Killing them won't bring your brother back," Spike said softly "But you might be able to stop the death of someone else's brother."
Matt looked at him. He jerked out of Angel's grip.
"If you don't want to help me then forget it," he said harshly "I don't need help. It would just have been nice."
"Matt!"
But Matt had gone, running away from them.
"Oh great," Spike said "Buffy was never like this! Not even Faith the crazy Slayer or Kendra the incredibly regular Slayer were like this!"
Angel said nothing, staring after Matt silently.
"This," he said "Is going to be a problem."
* * * *
It only took a week for everyone to realise that Matt had changed. He had returned to being alone and solitary, pushing everyone away. Most people thought that it was only natural. After all, his brother had just died. But all his friends - the ones who knew about the Slaying at any rate - weren't so sure.
"Matt," Davis said "Can't we come patrolling?"
"No," Matt said flatly.
"But Matt..."
"Look," Matt said "It's dangerous. Okay? I can't fight and keep an eye on all of you. So just...don't okay? I don't want your help."
"Matt," Davis said "I thought we'd established all of this! We want to help you!"
"Well I don't want your help!" Matt yelled "All I want is to be left alone! Okay? So just do what I ask!"
"No way!" Davis said "We don't want to watch you get killed because you're a stubborn moron!"
Matt hit him. Davis went flying. For a few minutes, everything remained dark around him. When he finally forced his eyes open, Matt was kneeling beside him, his face pale. He was holding Davis's hand.
"Did you see what happened to the elephant?" Davis asked blinking "Someone set an elephant loose and it stepped on me."
Matt gave a shaky laugh.
"You see Davis?" he whispered "You'll be safer if you just stay out of it. Stay out of it. Stay with Ken. Stay with Jun. Be safe."
"But Matt..." Davis began.
"No," Matt said "Please Davis. Stay away."
He rubbed the bruise on Davis's forehead, gently but hard enough to send sparks of pain through Davis's head.
"A vampire wouldn't stop at one hit," Matt whispered.
He got up and walked away, leaving Davis staring after him.
* * * *
He and Ken met up with the band later to discuss action.
"He's gone nuts," Akemi said bluntly "He's gone completely crackers."
"He's not," Ken said "He's just very, very upset."
"What would you know about it?" Istu said scornfully.
"I remember when my older brother died," Ken said flatly.
Istu looked at the floor.
"Sorry," he muttered.
Davis gave Istu a dirty look and put an arm round Ken. Gendo also gave Istu an angry glance.
"Look," Toshiki said, intervening hastily "We need to decide what to do."
"I say we leave him to it," Akemi said "If Matt wants to go down then no sense the rest of us following."
"Akemi!"
"What?"
"Forget it," Toshiki snapped irritably "You know, sometimes I think that you haven't a single human feeling in you at all apart from lust!"
The whole band looked shocked. Akemi looked like someone had smacked him in the face with a haddock.
"So what do we do?" Davis asked, breaking the silence with a nervous murmur "I mean, we can't just leave Matt to it."
"We don't have much choice," Ken said "If we can't talk some sense into him then we'll have to leave him to it. There's nothing else we can do."
"There has to be!" Gendo said "We can't just leave him to it! We must be able to stop him!"
Ken shook his head.
"I doubt it," he said quietly "When...after I..."
He gulped and didn't seem able to go further. Davis put an arm round him quickly, rubbing Ken's shoulders in a sympathetic way.
"I'm with Ken," he said "I don't think that there's anything that we can do about it either."
"We'll just have to think," Gendo said.
They separated. Ken and Davis walked home together.
"Do you think Matt will be okay?" Davis asked at last.
"I don't know," Ken said "He seems to have gone a bit..."
"Off the rails?"
"I guess."
Davis sighed.
"Davis," Ken said "Can...can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Davis said.
Ken swallowed.
"I...it's a bit..."
"Just spit it out," Davis said impatiently.
Ken gritted his teeth. He'd started this, he had to finish it. Besides, all the vampires and demons and TK's death had shown him that you had to live for the moment.
'Just sound casual and don't make it sound like you're head over heels in love with him. Even though you are.'
"Davis, I like you," he blurted "I mean I really, really like you. And we're best friends and I thought maybe we could go somewhat further...you know. And...you know..."
'Dope!' he mentally scolded himself 'Way to come off sounding stupid!'
Davis was staring at him. Ken felt himself blush and stared at the floor.
"If you want," he mumbled.
"Well, I..." Davis said. He trailed off "I guess that we could maybe....I mean, I'd like to."
Ken looked at him. Davis was blushing too.
"So...you want to date?"
"I...I think so."
"Do...do we kiss now?" Ken asked in a very small voice.
"Well I guess...if you want to..."
The two of them looked at each other. Ken leaned over and kissed Davis just on the side of his mouth. It was very quick and uncertain.
"That's not a real kiss," Davis said "That's just a...well, not real."
Ken shrugged, blushing scarlet. Davis gulped then leaned in and kissed Ken gently on the lips. It wasn't exactly how Ken had imagined kissing Davis would be like but it was good. He timidly pulled Davis nearer to him, returning the kiss. Feeling emboldened, Davis pushed Ken back against a nearby dumpster and kissed him with more strength, wrapping his arms securely round him.
His fingers brushed against something cold and strange-feeling on the dumpster lid. Puzzled, Davis drew away from Ken and looked over Ken's shoulder.
"Oh...shit. Ken..."
Ken looked.
He screamed.
Lying on the dumpster lid was the freshly killed corpse of a man. His eyes were filled with terror and his throat had been ripped out. Not the normal vampire puncture wounds but completely ripped out. Someone had removed his shirt.
Carved into his chest was a rough picture of an angel.
* * * *
When Matt arrived, the police were already there. The body was being loaded into an ambulance. Ken and Davis was huddled in a corner, both looking miserable. Matt came over. Both boys promptly clutched at him which Matt supposed was a normal reaction after you've found your first human corpse.
"Are you two okay?" he asked.
Davis nodded. Ken looked less certain but nodded too.
"What happened?"
Ken glanced at Davis.
"We...we were talking," he said "We were just talking and then...then we saw it."
"It was horrible!" Davis said "It's just...horrible. He...he had a..."
"Someone had carved this angel into his chest!" Ken said "And his throat..."
Matt shuddered.
"Sounds like either a new vampire sect or a demon," he said "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"Let us help you," Davis said.
"We've had this conversation," Matt said quietly "Have the police talked to you yet?"
Both boys shook their heads.
"Then you'll have to wait until they do," Matt said "Just be completely honest but don't mention all the bits about vampires and demons and Slayers."
"Okay," Ken said. Matt noticed that he was holding Davis's hand extremely tightly.
"It's okay," Matt said softly "I'll stop this."
"Unless you're too busy looking for whatever vampire killed TK."
Davis didn't mean to say the words but they slipped out. Matt stared at him, his face suddenly pale.
"See you later," he said flatly, turning to go.
"Matt," Davis called "Matt, I'm sorry."
But Matt had gone.
"I didn't mean it," Davis muttered.
Ken put an arm round him and they continued to stand in silence, waiting.
* * * *
Spike looked at Angel grimly.
"Does it mean what I think it means?" he asked.
Angel said nothing. He was looking out of the window, his eyes slightly glazed.
"Angel?" Spike said "Peaches?"
Angel looked at him.
"Darla and Drusilla are in town," he said flatly.
"Great," Spike said flatly "Now what do we do?"
Angel looked out of the window again.
"I don't know."
"Well, shouldn't we go and tell Matty?"
"You really think he'd listen to us?"
"Maybe it was Darla and Dru who killed his brother," Spike said.
"Maybe," Angel said "I think we should talk to the Watcher."
"Sounds like a plan," Spike said.
There was a silence.
"Do you think he can fight Darla and Dru?"
"With them working together?" Angel said "No. I don't."
The two vampires looked at each other with concern.
* * * *
Over the next few weeks, more bodies cropped up. Each had their throat slit, each was drained of blood and each had the angel carved into their chests. The police didn't seem to be able to get a lead. Neither did anyone else.
"There aren't any sects that I can find that use an angel as a symbol," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
She was talking to the band, Ken and Davis. Since Matt was no longer reporting in, she was allowing them to help her research. Akemi was messing with the punch bag while the others looked in books.
"Nakatsuru, stop that, you'll break it," Ms Fuyutsuki said absently "Have any of you seen Yamato recently?"
Everyone groaned.
"His physical body or his mental presence?" Istu asked dryly "'Cause his physical body often shows up for science but mentally? He's on another planet."
"He walked right into me the other day. I don't think he even recognised me," Gendo said.
"That might be because you dyed your hair," Toshiki said.
Gendo grinned and ran his hand through his new midnight blue hair.
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Davis said.
"Are you dissing the hair?" Gendo asked.
"Yes," Davis and the band chorused.
"I like it," Ken said "I think it looks nice."
"Thank you," Gendo said "Someone with taste."
Ken grinned and went back to his book.
"What's a Nytan demon? And why is it called 'the demon with the large gorgiamlis?' What's a gorgiamlis and why does it have one anyway?"
"I really haven't the foggiest idea," Ms Fuyutsuki said "It's probably an old demon language of some sort."
Ken shrugged.
"These books are so interesting," he said "I mean, look at this one. Apparently it was written by some guy in the fifteenth century but it's in perfect condition."
"Ever heard of copying?" Istu asked.
Ken's reply was drowned out by the bang of a punching bag hitting the floor followed by an 'oops' from Akemi. Ms Fuyutsuki was beginning to look annoyed and everyone quickly buried themselves in their books.
"Is this stuff really true?" Davis asked "I mean, look at this. 'From the union of woman and sea-lion will be born a human baby with six eyes, two of which shall only see the future and two the past. The last two shall have regular vision but shall only see in black and white and in no shades of grey'. What on Earth is that supposed to mean?"
"That there's someone out there with worse taste than Istu?" Akemi suggested.
The doorbell rang which proved a good distraction as both Ms Fuyutsuki and Istu were looking crabby. Ms Fuyutsuki went to answer it. A moment later she came in looking less crabby and more pinched with Angel and Spike following her.
"Hi Angel!" the band chorused, all wearing identical 'we know a lot about you' looks. Angel resisted the urge to blush.
"What?" Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"You have a problem," Angel said.
"We noticed."
"Darla and Drusilla are in town."
Ms Fuyutsuki turned pale.
"Who?" Davis asked.
"Darla's Angel's sire, Drusilla's his child and my sire," Spike said helpfully.
Davis stared at him. Spike rolled his eyes.
"Sire - vampire that made you a vampire," he said impatiently "Did no one teach you vampire terms?"
"No," Davis said.
Spike shrugged.
"Do you think they're responsible for these killings?" Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"No. Not their style," Angel said.
"Though it could be some loony that Dru's sired," Spike said.
"I suppose so," Angel said.
"Do you think they killed TK?" Ken asked.
"Perhaps."
"Then we should tell Matt," Davis said.
"No!" Angel snapped.
Everyone looked at him.
"Matt can't take them alone," Angel said quietly "They'll slaughter him. I know that."
"So what do we do?"
"I don't know," Angel admitted "But if we tell Matt now, he'll hare off to kill them and get killed himself."
"Which we don't want!" Istu said.
"Exactly."
"Then we'd better get researching," Ms Fuyutsuki said briskly "Angel, Spike - perhaps you could come and tell me some things. The rest of you - keep going through the books. Nakatsuru - stay off the equipment."
"She needs a good shagging," Akemi said as Ms Fuyutsuki walked out.
"Thanks," Gendo said "Bags me not!"
Akemi snorted and began flipping through a book.
"I hope Matt's okay," Istu muttered.
Nobody said anything.
* * * *
The doorbell rang. Matt glared in the direction of the door and looked back at the television. If he kept ignoring it, maybe it would go away.
It didn't. Matt scowled, dumped his cushion and opened the door.
"Tai," he said "What do you want?"
"To talk to you," Tai said "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Matt said "You shouldn't walk around alone at night. It's not safe."
"I can take care of myself."
Matt looked at him but said nothing.
"Dad's out," he said "He's going to be gone all weekend. Some work thing. I didn't ask."
Tai nodded.
"Matt," he said "Matt, we need to talk."
"Go ahead then. Talk."
"Matt, I know things have been...strained between us lately," Tai said "And I know that's my fault. But...but you need somebody now. And I can't help noticing that you've been pushing everyone away."
"I don't need anybody," Matt said flatly.
"Yes you do," Tai said "Matt, everyone needs somebody. And now TK's dead, you need someone more than ever."
"I don't," Matt said "I'm a Slayer remember? Slayers don't need anyone."
Tai gave an irritated sigh.
"You still don't believe me," Matt said bitterly "How can you possibly be here for me if you don't even believe me?"
"Because it's not possible!" Tai said "Matt, I'm sorry but it's really not possible!"
"Oh just go away!" Matt snapped "Just go away and leave me alone will you!"
"No!" Tai said. He grabbed Matt's arm "Matt, listen to me! It's true, I don't believe all this vampire stuff. But you're still my friend. And you still need somebody!"
Matt ripped himself loose.
"Say I do," he said "Say I do need somebody. It wouldn't be an untrustworthy bastard like you!"
"How dare you?" Tai yelled.
"You are!" Matt shouted "You searched my room! You went through all my belongings! You read my diary! That's private and you just read it and found out everything and now you've broken up with me because you think I'm crazy! How can I ever trust you?"
"I was worried about you!" Tai yelled "I was scared for you! Okay? I'm sorry about what I did but I was frightened!"
"No you weren't!" Matt said "You just couldn't get rid of your curiosity! That's all! You were just feeling nosy!"
"That's not true!"
"Of course it's true!" Matt cried "You couldn't give a damn about me! You just wanted to know!"
"Matt..."
"Oh just leave me alone!"
Tai grabbed Matt's arm. Matt punched at him. His eyes were blurring with tears and he only caught Tai a glancing blow, causing Tai to stagger.
"That's it!" he yelled at Matt "Hit me! Show how good you are at handling everything! Use your 'Slayer strength' to beat me to pulp! God, you really are crazed!"
"I'm not crazy!"
"You're a complete psycho!"
Matt ripped himself loose from Tai's grip, turning away. Furious, Tai grabbed Matt and shoved him against the wall.
"Get off me!"
"Not until you listen to me!" Tai hissed, glaring at Matt. Matt glared back, his eyes burning with rage and frustration.
Then they were kissing.
Tai wasn't sure if he'd initiated it or if Matt had but somehow they were clinging to each other and kissing passionately. Matt had practically melted into Tai's body and was holding on tightly. Tai kept one arm supporting him and ran his other hand through Matt's hair, enjoying the soft feeling. He'd always liked Matt's hair even though he'd never admitted it to Matt. He felt Matt pressing himself even closer and kissed him harder, feeling a need to hold him and never let go. Matt moved away from Tai's lips and began kissing a trail down Tai's neck.
"Matt," Tai muttered drawing away. His last vestige of sense was telling him that this wasn't going to help in the long run "Matt we shouldn't...."
"Tai please," Matt whispered "Please, please! Please hold me, please love me!"
Tai looked at Matt's pleading, flushed face with hungry eyes and his vestige on sense left him. He kissed Matt again hungrily, letting everything else flow away.
* * * *
Matt opened his eyes groggily feeling uncomfortable. He was lying on the couch with Tai still half on top of him. He swallowed. He and Tai had just...
He shook Tai gently. Tai's eyes flickered open. He flushed.
"Matt. Hi."
"You'd better leave," Matt said softly "It's getting late - later than it was. Unless you want to stay....?"
Tai shook his head. He slowly got up and began to dress, avoiding Matt's eyes.
"Can't you even look at me?" Matt asked sadly.
"I...." Tai muttered. He broke off and shook his head "Forget it. I'll see you around."
He fled. Matt stared after him and put his head in his hands. Oh that had been so, so stupid. Any chance of saving his relationship with Tai had just been severed now. How could he have let that happen?
It proved what he'd been feeling though. He had to keep his distance from people, not get close. Otherwise they died or they just started to hate him and it hurt. And the more he hurt, the worse his slaying would become.
Matt vaguely knew that his logic was probably a bit dodgy but he didn't care any more. Huddling up on the couch, he began to cry.
* * * *
Another week passed. Matt avoided everyone and pretty much remained absent from school all week. Tai was acting strange too, keeping his own distance from people and not explaining what was wrong.
"This is depressing," Ken said "Everything's getting worse."
"I know," Davis said "But all we can do is keep reading these dumb books!"
"It's a study date tonight right?" Ken said.
Davis nodded.
"Akemi's bringing the popcorn," he said "I'm bringing potato chips."
"I get the dips," Ken said.
"See you there?"
"You bet."
* * * *
At the same time as their study date (Akemi had just split garlic dip all over a priceless volume of prophecy), Matt was in an alleyway, killing a group of vampires. There was only one left now. Slamming him back against the wall, he held him there.
"Who killed my brother?"
He wasn't expecting an answer. None of them ever gave him one. So he was pretty surprised when the vampire replied.
"You don't want to know about your brother."
Matt instantly threw him, slamming him on the floor. He knelt down, holding him there.
"Yes I do!" he said "You let me know, I'll let you live."
The vampire glared at him. Matt removed the cross Tai had given him and held it against the vampire's cheek. The vampire screamed in pain.
"Who. Killed. My. Brother?"
"You'll find them in the old factory!" the vampire gasped "Those chicks really dig factories."
"Are they there now?"
"No. They go out hunting at this time. For the next victim."
"So it's them mutilating corpses?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where they are?"
The vampire went silent. Matt held the cross against the other cheek. The vampire named a block.
"That's near Tai's place," Matt said slowly.
"I told you what you wanted to know," the vampire said "Now let me go!"
Matt staked him. The vampire roared in rage as he exploded into dust. Matt got up without a backwards glance and began heading through the streets.
He reached the streets in time to hear a scream of terror. He started running. Maybe he'd be in time to save this one.
"Ooooh look!" he heard a voice saying "It's the Slayer!"
"I was expecting him before this," another voice said.
Matt looked at the speakers. Two ladies, one blonde, one dark. The blonde was wearing an outfit that looked suitable for fighting but the dark haired one was wearing a floor length dress that looked very old and didn't look manoeuvrable at all. He couldn't see the victim though.
"Were you the ones who killed my brother?" he asked.
"Not me," the blonde said "I just let Dru get on with that."
The dark haired woman - Dru? - smiled.
"His blood was sweet," she said "Like....sugar water."
Matt clenched his teeth, gripping the stake harder. Rage was flooding through his veins and he couldn't see properly any more. Blood was roaring in his ears.
"You killed him!" he spat "You killed him!"
"That depends on your definition, brother."
The world froze. Matt slowly turned round and looked behind him.
TK was standing there.
"Hello Matt," he said softly.
Matt thought he would be sick. It didn't seem exactly real.
"TK," he said "Oh God TK."
"Aren't you glad to see me brother?" TK asked "I thought you missed me."
Matt couldn't say anything. He was gripping the stake so tightly that it splintered in his hand. TK stepped forward. Behind him, Matt saw the body of one of Tai's neighbours, eyes frozen wide in terror, an angel carved in his chest.
"Did you get it?" TK asked "An angel? Like Angemon, remember?"
"Oh God!" Matt said.
TK smiled.
"While I hate to interrupt this brotherly reunion," Darla said sarcastically "We've got to run. Previous engagements, you know."
She grabbed Matt from behind and threw him. Matt connected solidly with the wall.
"I'll see you soon brother," he heard TK saying before he plunged into darkness.
End of Part 10.
Desperate, For Something To Touch
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon, I don't own Buffy. The title is from 'A Thesis of a the Cruel Angel'.
Matt opened his eyes. He was cuddled up in bed, Tai's arm draped over him. For a second he didn't know what had happened as he lingered in a peaceful stage between dreaming and waking. Then sleep vanished and he remembered. The funeral. Which they'd just been to.
Matt shuddered. Tai stirred and Matt gently shushed him. He didn't want Tai awake. They'd already been up for hours after the funeral. Matt had been crying and Tai had been trying to comfort him until eventually Matt had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Tai had obviously stayed with him.
Matt carefully wriggled out of the bed, gently soothing Tai when Tai fidgeted. Tai had always been a pretty sound sleeper and Matt was able to loose himself from his grip without waking him. Matt packed a bag with Slaying equipment, then scrambled out through the window.
He walked through the streets aimlessly, not really looking where he was going. He only woke up from his semi-trance when he heard someone crying out for help. Moving towards them, he saw a teenage boy pressed against a wall with a vampire approaching him. Matt sprang forward, knocking the vampire down.
"Run!" he yelled at the boy. The boy obeyed, obviously petrified. Matt smiled pleasantly at the vampire. Then they began to fight. In a few moments, Matt forgot all the rules that Ms Fuyutsuki had taught him about staying in control, about not letting your emotions rule you. He slammed into the vampire again and again, beating the vampire to pulp. Eventually, the vampire was on the floor and Matt had a stake to her chest.
"You've got one chance!" he spat at her "Who killed my brother? You tell me, I let you live."
The vampire stared at him with her big yellow eyes.
"How should I know who killed your stinking brother?" she snarled.
Matt brought the stake down and watched as the vampire exploded into dust. Then he scrambled to his feet. He knew what to do now. He had to find the vampire who'd done this to TK. Find them and kill them. And if he had to ask every single vampire he saw, he would do that. He'd find the vampire that had stolen his brother from him. He would.
Matt walked down to the graveyard, knowing that vampires would be there. He paused. After all, the vampire was unlikely to be there. Graveyards were mostly new vampires, just rising. The vampire who killed TK would be on the loose somewhere.
Matt walked into the graveyard anyway. He heard to TK's grave, looking at the fresh soil.
"I'll get them TK," he whispered "I'm so sorry brother. I'm so, so sorry. But I'll find the vampire who did this. And I'll kill them. I swear."
He frowned suddenly. The soil looked a bit funny. Like it had been disturbed...
No. It was just the darkness, that was all. Making it difficult to see. Obviously nothing had been digging around there...
Matt turned and walked away, trying to blank the thoughts from his memory.
* * * *
Tai woke up when Matt crawled through the window.
"Matt?" he said.
"Shhh," Matt whispered "It's okay Tai. It's just me."
"Where have you been?" Tai asked. Glancing over Matt, he saw that Matt looked dirty and he had a cut lip.
"Out."
Matt kicked off his shoes and got back into the bed. He looked like he was about to snuggle up to Tai but then seemed to think better of it and lay down.
"Were you...." Tai paused "Slaying?"
"Still don't believe me?"
Tai hung his head.
"How can I?" he whispered "How can I Matt?"
Matt said nothing. Tai looked at the back of his head. Then he snuggled close and draped an arm round his friend. For a second, Matt relaxed. Then he tensed and pulled away.
"Goodnight Tai."
Tai looked at his friend, confused and a little hurt.
'What right have you to be hurt bozo?' an unpleasant little voice in his mind asked 'You broke off with him remember? You haven't been friends for ages!'
Tai lay down, struggling with his own feelings. He was so busy in his own mind that he didn't hear Matt's quiet sobs.
* * * *
The next day, Matt went for training at Ms Fuyutsuki's. Ms Fuyutsuki wasn't surprised at the vigour that Matt was putting into his training. She knew about TK.
"Yamato," she called eventually "Yamato."
"What?" Matt snapped at her, still kicking.
"Yamato, I'd like to talk to you," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"Well?"
"Yamato...Matt...perhaps you ought to take a few days off," Ms Fuyutsuki suggested gently "I know that you must be devastated about your brother..."
"A few days off?" Matt repeated "So more people can die?"
"Yamato..."
"It was a vampire Ms Fuyutsuki," Matt interrupted her. He began smacking the punch bag again "One of those...those things killed my brother. And I'm not going to let it happen again."
Ms Fuyutsuki frowned.
"Yamato, I understand your feelings..." she began.
"No," Matt interrupted "You couldn't possibly understand my feelings about anything. You've never been able to. You never will be able to. And it doesn't matter anyway because I am not taking time off. I'm going to stop the vampires. Isn't that my job?"
He moved away from the punchbag. Ms Fuyutsuki looked at him.
"Yamato, as your Watcher, I must insist that you take some down time," she said.
"Fuck you."
Ms Fuyutsuki's mouth dropped open. Matt turned and looked at her.
"Ms Fuyutsuki," he said "Thank you very much for all your help. I couldn't have done it without you. But I don't need you any more. You're fired."
"Yamato! Yamato Ishida!"
But Matt turned and walked out of the apartment, ignoring her shouts.
* * * *
That night, Angel and Spike found Matt in the park, pummelling a vampire furiously.
"Who killed my brother?" he spat at it "Who killed my brother?"
"I don't know!" the vampire snarled back.
Matt staked him.
"Matt?" Angel said.
Matt's head snapped round. He looked at Angel and Spike for a few moments.
"You're vampires," he said.
"Yeah," Spike "You know that. Are you tripping?"
"No," Matt said "I want you to do something for me."
"What?"
"A vampire killed my brother," Matt said.
Angel and Spike looked at each other.
"Matt, I'm sorry," Angel began.
"Skip it," Matt said harshly "I don't want your sympathy, just your help."
"With what?" Spike asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to find the vampire that did this," Matt said "I'm going to find them and I'm going to kill them. I want your help."
"Matt," Angel said "Listen. I understand that you're angry and upset. I would be if it was me. But vengeance...it doesn't work. Your anger clouds your judgement."
"Oh skip the Star Wars esq. crap," Matt said "Will you help me or not?"
"Look Boy-Slayer..." Spike began.
The next second he was being held against a tree with a stake to his chest.
"Stop calling me that!" Matt shouted "Just stop it!"
"All right, all right, take a chill will you?" Spike said.
Angel pulled Matt off Spike quickly.
"Matt, listen to me," he said "We'll help. Of course we'll help you. But you've got to understand that we don't agree with what you're doing. The Slayer has to be in control of he - his emotions when they're on the job."
Matt stared at him. His eyes were glittering with tears.
"And let the creature who killed my brother get away with it?"
"Killing them won't bring your brother back," Spike said softly "But you might be able to stop the death of someone else's brother."
Matt looked at him. He jerked out of Angel's grip.
"If you don't want to help me then forget it," he said harshly "I don't need help. It would just have been nice."
"Matt!"
But Matt had gone, running away from them.
"Oh great," Spike said "Buffy was never like this! Not even Faith the crazy Slayer or Kendra the incredibly regular Slayer were like this!"
Angel said nothing, staring after Matt silently.
"This," he said "Is going to be a problem."
* * * *
It only took a week for everyone to realise that Matt had changed. He had returned to being alone and solitary, pushing everyone away. Most people thought that it was only natural. After all, his brother had just died. But all his friends - the ones who knew about the Slaying at any rate - weren't so sure.
"Matt," Davis said "Can't we come patrolling?"
"No," Matt said flatly.
"But Matt..."
"Look," Matt said "It's dangerous. Okay? I can't fight and keep an eye on all of you. So just...don't okay? I don't want your help."
"Matt," Davis said "I thought we'd established all of this! We want to help you!"
"Well I don't want your help!" Matt yelled "All I want is to be left alone! Okay? So just do what I ask!"
"No way!" Davis said "We don't want to watch you get killed because you're a stubborn moron!"
Matt hit him. Davis went flying. For a few minutes, everything remained dark around him. When he finally forced his eyes open, Matt was kneeling beside him, his face pale. He was holding Davis's hand.
"Did you see what happened to the elephant?" Davis asked blinking "Someone set an elephant loose and it stepped on me."
Matt gave a shaky laugh.
"You see Davis?" he whispered "You'll be safer if you just stay out of it. Stay out of it. Stay with Ken. Stay with Jun. Be safe."
"But Matt..." Davis began.
"No," Matt said "Please Davis. Stay away."
He rubbed the bruise on Davis's forehead, gently but hard enough to send sparks of pain through Davis's head.
"A vampire wouldn't stop at one hit," Matt whispered.
He got up and walked away, leaving Davis staring after him.
* * * *
He and Ken met up with the band later to discuss action.
"He's gone nuts," Akemi said bluntly "He's gone completely crackers."
"He's not," Ken said "He's just very, very upset."
"What would you know about it?" Istu said scornfully.
"I remember when my older brother died," Ken said flatly.
Istu looked at the floor.
"Sorry," he muttered.
Davis gave Istu a dirty look and put an arm round Ken. Gendo also gave Istu an angry glance.
"Look," Toshiki said, intervening hastily "We need to decide what to do."
"I say we leave him to it," Akemi said "If Matt wants to go down then no sense the rest of us following."
"Akemi!"
"What?"
"Forget it," Toshiki snapped irritably "You know, sometimes I think that you haven't a single human feeling in you at all apart from lust!"
The whole band looked shocked. Akemi looked like someone had smacked him in the face with a haddock.
"So what do we do?" Davis asked, breaking the silence with a nervous murmur "I mean, we can't just leave Matt to it."
"We don't have much choice," Ken said "If we can't talk some sense into him then we'll have to leave him to it. There's nothing else we can do."
"There has to be!" Gendo said "We can't just leave him to it! We must be able to stop him!"
Ken shook his head.
"I doubt it," he said quietly "When...after I..."
He gulped and didn't seem able to go further. Davis put an arm round him quickly, rubbing Ken's shoulders in a sympathetic way.
"I'm with Ken," he said "I don't think that there's anything that we can do about it either."
"We'll just have to think," Gendo said.
They separated. Ken and Davis walked home together.
"Do you think Matt will be okay?" Davis asked at last.
"I don't know," Ken said "He seems to have gone a bit..."
"Off the rails?"
"I guess."
Davis sighed.
"Davis," Ken said "Can...can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Davis said.
Ken swallowed.
"I...it's a bit..."
"Just spit it out," Davis said impatiently.
Ken gritted his teeth. He'd started this, he had to finish it. Besides, all the vampires and demons and TK's death had shown him that you had to live for the moment.
'Just sound casual and don't make it sound like you're head over heels in love with him. Even though you are.'
"Davis, I like you," he blurted "I mean I really, really like you. And we're best friends and I thought maybe we could go somewhat further...you know. And...you know..."
'Dope!' he mentally scolded himself 'Way to come off sounding stupid!'
Davis was staring at him. Ken felt himself blush and stared at the floor.
"If you want," he mumbled.
"Well, I..." Davis said. He trailed off "I guess that we could maybe....I mean, I'd like to."
Ken looked at him. Davis was blushing too.
"So...you want to date?"
"I...I think so."
"Do...do we kiss now?" Ken asked in a very small voice.
"Well I guess...if you want to..."
The two of them looked at each other. Ken leaned over and kissed Davis just on the side of his mouth. It was very quick and uncertain.
"That's not a real kiss," Davis said "That's just a...well, not real."
Ken shrugged, blushing scarlet. Davis gulped then leaned in and kissed Ken gently on the lips. It wasn't exactly how Ken had imagined kissing Davis would be like but it was good. He timidly pulled Davis nearer to him, returning the kiss. Feeling emboldened, Davis pushed Ken back against a nearby dumpster and kissed him with more strength, wrapping his arms securely round him.
His fingers brushed against something cold and strange-feeling on the dumpster lid. Puzzled, Davis drew away from Ken and looked over Ken's shoulder.
"Oh...shit. Ken..."
Ken looked.
He screamed.
Lying on the dumpster lid was the freshly killed corpse of a man. His eyes were filled with terror and his throat had been ripped out. Not the normal vampire puncture wounds but completely ripped out. Someone had removed his shirt.
Carved into his chest was a rough picture of an angel.
* * * *
When Matt arrived, the police were already there. The body was being loaded into an ambulance. Ken and Davis was huddled in a corner, both looking miserable. Matt came over. Both boys promptly clutched at him which Matt supposed was a normal reaction after you've found your first human corpse.
"Are you two okay?" he asked.
Davis nodded. Ken looked less certain but nodded too.
"What happened?"
Ken glanced at Davis.
"We...we were talking," he said "We were just talking and then...then we saw it."
"It was horrible!" Davis said "It's just...horrible. He...he had a..."
"Someone had carved this angel into his chest!" Ken said "And his throat..."
Matt shuddered.
"Sounds like either a new vampire sect or a demon," he said "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"Let us help you," Davis said.
"We've had this conversation," Matt said quietly "Have the police talked to you yet?"
Both boys shook their heads.
"Then you'll have to wait until they do," Matt said "Just be completely honest but don't mention all the bits about vampires and demons and Slayers."
"Okay," Ken said. Matt noticed that he was holding Davis's hand extremely tightly.
"It's okay," Matt said softly "I'll stop this."
"Unless you're too busy looking for whatever vampire killed TK."
Davis didn't mean to say the words but they slipped out. Matt stared at him, his face suddenly pale.
"See you later," he said flatly, turning to go.
"Matt," Davis called "Matt, I'm sorry."
But Matt had gone.
"I didn't mean it," Davis muttered.
Ken put an arm round him and they continued to stand in silence, waiting.
* * * *
Spike looked at Angel grimly.
"Does it mean what I think it means?" he asked.
Angel said nothing. He was looking out of the window, his eyes slightly glazed.
"Angel?" Spike said "Peaches?"
Angel looked at him.
"Darla and Drusilla are in town," he said flatly.
"Great," Spike said flatly "Now what do we do?"
Angel looked out of the window again.
"I don't know."
"Well, shouldn't we go and tell Matty?"
"You really think he'd listen to us?"
"Maybe it was Darla and Dru who killed his brother," Spike said.
"Maybe," Angel said "I think we should talk to the Watcher."
"Sounds like a plan," Spike said.
There was a silence.
"Do you think he can fight Darla and Dru?"
"With them working together?" Angel said "No. I don't."
The two vampires looked at each other with concern.
* * * *
Over the next few weeks, more bodies cropped up. Each had their throat slit, each was drained of blood and each had the angel carved into their chests. The police didn't seem to be able to get a lead. Neither did anyone else.
"There aren't any sects that I can find that use an angel as a symbol," Ms Fuyutsuki said.
She was talking to the band, Ken and Davis. Since Matt was no longer reporting in, she was allowing them to help her research. Akemi was messing with the punch bag while the others looked in books.
"Nakatsuru, stop that, you'll break it," Ms Fuyutsuki said absently "Have any of you seen Yamato recently?"
Everyone groaned.
"His physical body or his mental presence?" Istu asked dryly "'Cause his physical body often shows up for science but mentally? He's on another planet."
"He walked right into me the other day. I don't think he even recognised me," Gendo said.
"That might be because you dyed your hair," Toshiki said.
Gendo grinned and ran his hand through his new midnight blue hair.
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Davis said.
"Are you dissing the hair?" Gendo asked.
"Yes," Davis and the band chorused.
"I like it," Ken said "I think it looks nice."
"Thank you," Gendo said "Someone with taste."
Ken grinned and went back to his book.
"What's a Nytan demon? And why is it called 'the demon with the large gorgiamlis?' What's a gorgiamlis and why does it have one anyway?"
"I really haven't the foggiest idea," Ms Fuyutsuki said "It's probably an old demon language of some sort."
Ken shrugged.
"These books are so interesting," he said "I mean, look at this one. Apparently it was written by some guy in the fifteenth century but it's in perfect condition."
"Ever heard of copying?" Istu asked.
Ken's reply was drowned out by the bang of a punching bag hitting the floor followed by an 'oops' from Akemi. Ms Fuyutsuki was beginning to look annoyed and everyone quickly buried themselves in their books.
"Is this stuff really true?" Davis asked "I mean, look at this. 'From the union of woman and sea-lion will be born a human baby with six eyes, two of which shall only see the future and two the past. The last two shall have regular vision but shall only see in black and white and in no shades of grey'. What on Earth is that supposed to mean?"
"That there's someone out there with worse taste than Istu?" Akemi suggested.
The doorbell rang which proved a good distraction as both Ms Fuyutsuki and Istu were looking crabby. Ms Fuyutsuki went to answer it. A moment later she came in looking less crabby and more pinched with Angel and Spike following her.
"Hi Angel!" the band chorused, all wearing identical 'we know a lot about you' looks. Angel resisted the urge to blush.
"What?" Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"You have a problem," Angel said.
"We noticed."
"Darla and Drusilla are in town."
Ms Fuyutsuki turned pale.
"Who?" Davis asked.
"Darla's Angel's sire, Drusilla's his child and my sire," Spike said helpfully.
Davis stared at him. Spike rolled his eyes.
"Sire - vampire that made you a vampire," he said impatiently "Did no one teach you vampire terms?"
"No," Davis said.
Spike shrugged.
"Do you think they're responsible for these killings?" Ms Fuyutsuki said.
"No. Not their style," Angel said.
"Though it could be some loony that Dru's sired," Spike said.
"I suppose so," Angel said.
"Do you think they killed TK?" Ken asked.
"Perhaps."
"Then we should tell Matt," Davis said.
"No!" Angel snapped.
Everyone looked at him.
"Matt can't take them alone," Angel said quietly "They'll slaughter him. I know that."
"So what do we do?"
"I don't know," Angel admitted "But if we tell Matt now, he'll hare off to kill them and get killed himself."
"Which we don't want!" Istu said.
"Exactly."
"Then we'd better get researching," Ms Fuyutsuki said briskly "Angel, Spike - perhaps you could come and tell me some things. The rest of you - keep going through the books. Nakatsuru - stay off the equipment."
"She needs a good shagging," Akemi said as Ms Fuyutsuki walked out.
"Thanks," Gendo said "Bags me not!"
Akemi snorted and began flipping through a book.
"I hope Matt's okay," Istu muttered.
Nobody said anything.
* * * *
The doorbell rang. Matt glared in the direction of the door and looked back at the television. If he kept ignoring it, maybe it would go away.
It didn't. Matt scowled, dumped his cushion and opened the door.
"Tai," he said "What do you want?"
"To talk to you," Tai said "Can I come in?"
"Sure," Matt said "You shouldn't walk around alone at night. It's not safe."
"I can take care of myself."
Matt looked at him but said nothing.
"Dad's out," he said "He's going to be gone all weekend. Some work thing. I didn't ask."
Tai nodded.
"Matt," he said "Matt, we need to talk."
"Go ahead then. Talk."
"Matt, I know things have been...strained between us lately," Tai said "And I know that's my fault. But...but you need somebody now. And I can't help noticing that you've been pushing everyone away."
"I don't need anybody," Matt said flatly.
"Yes you do," Tai said "Matt, everyone needs somebody. And now TK's dead, you need someone more than ever."
"I don't," Matt said "I'm a Slayer remember? Slayers don't need anyone."
Tai gave an irritated sigh.
"You still don't believe me," Matt said bitterly "How can you possibly be here for me if you don't even believe me?"
"Because it's not possible!" Tai said "Matt, I'm sorry but it's really not possible!"
"Oh just go away!" Matt snapped "Just go away and leave me alone will you!"
"No!" Tai said. He grabbed Matt's arm "Matt, listen to me! It's true, I don't believe all this vampire stuff. But you're still my friend. And you still need somebody!"
Matt ripped himself loose.
"Say I do," he said "Say I do need somebody. It wouldn't be an untrustworthy bastard like you!"
"How dare you?" Tai yelled.
"You are!" Matt shouted "You searched my room! You went through all my belongings! You read my diary! That's private and you just read it and found out everything and now you've broken up with me because you think I'm crazy! How can I ever trust you?"
"I was worried about you!" Tai yelled "I was scared for you! Okay? I'm sorry about what I did but I was frightened!"
"No you weren't!" Matt said "You just couldn't get rid of your curiosity! That's all! You were just feeling nosy!"
"That's not true!"
"Of course it's true!" Matt cried "You couldn't give a damn about me! You just wanted to know!"
"Matt..."
"Oh just leave me alone!"
Tai grabbed Matt's arm. Matt punched at him. His eyes were blurring with tears and he only caught Tai a glancing blow, causing Tai to stagger.
"That's it!" he yelled at Matt "Hit me! Show how good you are at handling everything! Use your 'Slayer strength' to beat me to pulp! God, you really are crazed!"
"I'm not crazy!"
"You're a complete psycho!"
Matt ripped himself loose from Tai's grip, turning away. Furious, Tai grabbed Matt and shoved him against the wall.
"Get off me!"
"Not until you listen to me!" Tai hissed, glaring at Matt. Matt glared back, his eyes burning with rage and frustration.
Then they were kissing.
Tai wasn't sure if he'd initiated it or if Matt had but somehow they were clinging to each other and kissing passionately. Matt had practically melted into Tai's body and was holding on tightly. Tai kept one arm supporting him and ran his other hand through Matt's hair, enjoying the soft feeling. He'd always liked Matt's hair even though he'd never admitted it to Matt. He felt Matt pressing himself even closer and kissed him harder, feeling a need to hold him and never let go. Matt moved away from Tai's lips and began kissing a trail down Tai's neck.
"Matt," Tai muttered drawing away. His last vestige of sense was telling him that this wasn't going to help in the long run "Matt we shouldn't...."
"Tai please," Matt whispered "Please, please! Please hold me, please love me!"
Tai looked at Matt's pleading, flushed face with hungry eyes and his vestige on sense left him. He kissed Matt again hungrily, letting everything else flow away.
* * * *
Matt opened his eyes groggily feeling uncomfortable. He was lying on the couch with Tai still half on top of him. He swallowed. He and Tai had just...
He shook Tai gently. Tai's eyes flickered open. He flushed.
"Matt. Hi."
"You'd better leave," Matt said softly "It's getting late - later than it was. Unless you want to stay....?"
Tai shook his head. He slowly got up and began to dress, avoiding Matt's eyes.
"Can't you even look at me?" Matt asked sadly.
"I...." Tai muttered. He broke off and shook his head "Forget it. I'll see you around."
He fled. Matt stared after him and put his head in his hands. Oh that had been so, so stupid. Any chance of saving his relationship with Tai had just been severed now. How could he have let that happen?
It proved what he'd been feeling though. He had to keep his distance from people, not get close. Otherwise they died or they just started to hate him and it hurt. And the more he hurt, the worse his slaying would become.
Matt vaguely knew that his logic was probably a bit dodgy but he didn't care any more. Huddling up on the couch, he began to cry.
* * * *
Another week passed. Matt avoided everyone and pretty much remained absent from school all week. Tai was acting strange too, keeping his own distance from people and not explaining what was wrong.
"This is depressing," Ken said "Everything's getting worse."
"I know," Davis said "But all we can do is keep reading these dumb books!"
"It's a study date tonight right?" Ken said.
Davis nodded.
"Akemi's bringing the popcorn," he said "I'm bringing potato chips."
"I get the dips," Ken said.
"See you there?"
"You bet."
* * * *
At the same time as their study date (Akemi had just split garlic dip all over a priceless volume of prophecy), Matt was in an alleyway, killing a group of vampires. There was only one left now. Slamming him back against the wall, he held him there.
"Who killed my brother?"
He wasn't expecting an answer. None of them ever gave him one. So he was pretty surprised when the vampire replied.
"You don't want to know about your brother."
Matt instantly threw him, slamming him on the floor. He knelt down, holding him there.
"Yes I do!" he said "You let me know, I'll let you live."
The vampire glared at him. Matt removed the cross Tai had given him and held it against the vampire's cheek. The vampire screamed in pain.
"Who. Killed. My. Brother?"
"You'll find them in the old factory!" the vampire gasped "Those chicks really dig factories."
"Are they there now?"
"No. They go out hunting at this time. For the next victim."
"So it's them mutilating corpses?"
"Yes."
"Do you know where they are?"
The vampire went silent. Matt held the cross against the other cheek. The vampire named a block.
"That's near Tai's place," Matt said slowly.
"I told you what you wanted to know," the vampire said "Now let me go!"
Matt staked him. The vampire roared in rage as he exploded into dust. Matt got up without a backwards glance and began heading through the streets.
He reached the streets in time to hear a scream of terror. He started running. Maybe he'd be in time to save this one.
"Ooooh look!" he heard a voice saying "It's the Slayer!"
"I was expecting him before this," another voice said.
Matt looked at the speakers. Two ladies, one blonde, one dark. The blonde was wearing an outfit that looked suitable for fighting but the dark haired one was wearing a floor length dress that looked very old and didn't look manoeuvrable at all. He couldn't see the victim though.
"Were you the ones who killed my brother?" he asked.
"Not me," the blonde said "I just let Dru get on with that."
The dark haired woman - Dru? - smiled.
"His blood was sweet," she said "Like....sugar water."
Matt clenched his teeth, gripping the stake harder. Rage was flooding through his veins and he couldn't see properly any more. Blood was roaring in his ears.
"You killed him!" he spat "You killed him!"
"That depends on your definition, brother."
The world froze. Matt slowly turned round and looked behind him.
TK was standing there.
"Hello Matt," he said softly.
Matt thought he would be sick. It didn't seem exactly real.
"TK," he said "Oh God TK."
"Aren't you glad to see me brother?" TK asked "I thought you missed me."
Matt couldn't say anything. He was gripping the stake so tightly that it splintered in his hand. TK stepped forward. Behind him, Matt saw the body of one of Tai's neighbours, eyes frozen wide in terror, an angel carved in his chest.
"Did you get it?" TK asked "An angel? Like Angemon, remember?"
"Oh God!" Matt said.
TK smiled.
"While I hate to interrupt this brotherly reunion," Darla said sarcastically "We've got to run. Previous engagements, you know."
She grabbed Matt from behind and threw him. Matt connected solidly with the wall.
"I'll see you soon brother," he heard TK saying before he plunged into darkness.
End of Part 10.