Yamato the Vampire Slayer 2
Where do we Go From Here?
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I don't own Digimon. I'm not earning any money out of this and I'm not trying to infringe copy-write. Please don't sue me!
Matt put the Kendo stick down and flopped onto the couch with a thump. Kendo was cool to learn and interesting too but it was bloody exhausting, especially added with training and patrolling. Plus the extra band practises he was trying to fit around his schedule. His life was way, way too busy.
"You're getting better," Iori said "You're really learning fast."
"It comes from all the other combat training," Matt said dryly "You tend to pick up on the "how to beat people up best" really quickly."
Iori snorted at that and began putting his things away. Matt stared at the ceiling for a while, then squirmed up and grinned at Iori.
"How's everything going for you anyway?" he asked "Enjoying school?"
Iori gave him a look.
"Oh yes, it's really thrilling," he said with a smile "We're not doing anything very special anyway."
Matt grinned.
"That's pretty much my memory of school," he said "How's Yolei?"
He saw Iori flinch. Yolei was a touchy subject for everyone around Matt but Matt wanted to know. Yolei was still his friend, even if...
"She's fine," Iori said "She doesn't really hang around with us any more. She spends most of her time with her other girl friends."
Matt felt a guilty pang. He knew that a rift was growing between his friends. It appeared that Yolei was away from them completely. And even those who knew and believed were separating off slightly. Tai, Davis and Ken were all happy to get involved deeply, even coming out patrolling. The others were not so inclined. In fact, while they all wanted to be there for Matt, they'd all made it pretty clear that they were not at all interested in getting on the front lines. Matt accepted this - heck, he liked it, he hated his friends being in danger - but he knew that it was still creating a rift between everyone, even if he accepted it.
Why did they have to grow apart? It wasn't fair. Why had this happened to him? He wasn't even a girl!
"Matt?"
Matt realised he'd zoned out and smiled at Iori, hoping he looked convincing.
"Sorry," he said "Away with the fairies again. Look, you'd better be going, it's getting late. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Iori nodded and quickly picked up everything he needed to take.
"Goodbye Matt."
"Bye Iori."
Matt saw the boy out and watched him until he was out of sight. Then he went into his bedroom to practise his guitar for a while. The band were all practically going over board with practising, desperate to get to the gig in absolute perfect condition. They all really, really wanted that contract, Matt more than most. This was something that he could do that would prove he was normal, and something that would actually get him some money. Then his father would be proud again, which would sort out something else that was causing Matt problems. No doubt about it, they DEFINITELY needed to get that contract.
Matt smiled to himself, quickly losing himself in his music.
* * * *
Kaya Aida was one of the most powerful Wiccans in Odiaba. Which was why she couldn't fail to notice the signs that there were two new powers popping up around her.
The first had obviously been that dreadful hailstorm. Then she'd felt the reverberations of something else big happening. But as well as these two big things, she'd felt little ripples, as though someone was trying small things, and increasing them in size. From the signatures of the powers, she'd say that there were definitely two different people practising magic in the vicinity.
As Kaya had helped Ms Fuyutsuki and the Slayer before, she saw no reason not to try and help again. Ms Fuyutsuki had asked for her help over the hailstorm after all, and although Kaya hadn't been able to stop it then, she'd been researching and listening out. While she didn't have any leads as such, she thought it was important that Ms Fuyutsuki knew that there were two people practising magic.
She was walking along the streets when a girl stepped out into her path. She had long thick dark hair that fell loose to her waist and her eyes were cloudy grey. She smiled in what appeared to be a cheerful friendly way. Kaya instantly sensed an aura of power and stepped back slightly, smiling guardedly.
"Hello," she said.
"Yeah, whatever," the girl said "You're Kaya Aida right?"
"Yes," Kaya said "And who are you?"
"Zillah," the girl said calmly.
The name meant nothing to Kaya but she hadn't really expected it to. She just smiled again.
"Can I help you Zillah?"
"Not really," Zillah said, sounding rather regretful "I'm going to have to send you away now."
Kaya blinked.
"Indeed?" she asked neutrally.
"Yup," Zillah said "I need the keys to your flat."
Kaya stared at the girl, amazed by her cheek. Zillah smiled.
"Forget it," she said "I'll just open it by magic."
She held out her hand which Kaya noticed was bedecked with rings. They were mostly the plastic jewellery that teenagers wore but the one on her middle finger looked like it was made of real silver. Gleaming on it was a smoky grey gem which suddenly began to glow with a deep inner light.
Before Kaya could do anything or say anything, the smoke reached out and covered her. Her vision went grey and the last thing she knew was that she was being inexorably sucked forwards, where to, she didn't know.
Zillah shrugged rather regretfully as Kaya vanished into her ring.
"It's a shame," she remarked out loud "But what else can I do? I need the power."
She shrugged.
"Better head for her flat and collect the books before anyone else tries it!"
* * * *
Matt was packing his bag for a night's patrolling when the phone rang. He quickly kicked the bag under the bed and sprang onto it, grabbing a book and trying to look studious, just in case it was for him.
His instinct was right. His father opened the door.
"It's someone called Angel for you," he said.
Matt leaped off the bed and shot out, grabbing the phone.
"Angel?"
"Hey Matt."
Matt grinned, happy to hear a such a welcome familiar voice.
"How's things?" he asked, leaning against the wall "Enjoying yourself in not-so-sunny LA?"
Angel laughed.
"It's not too bad here," he said "Things are...interesting to say the least. What about you? Anything wild?"
"We had a hailstorm that lasted two days," Matt suggested "That count?"
Angel laughed again and Matt felt a small flutter inside which he quickly banished.
"Matt, I have something to tell you," Angel said. He suddenly sounded very happy, as though it was excellent news.
"What/" Matt asked.
"Buffy - the Slayer - she's alive!"
Matt wasn't entirely certain what to say to that in a way. He knew that it was a good thing - especially for Angel, and of course Spike. But...
"That's marvellous," he said "You must be so happy."
"Willow brought her back to life with a spell," Angel said, his voice still sounding overjoyed "She's back and fighting evil in Sunnydale!"
"That really is wonderful," Matt said, his stomach cramping bitterly "I'm really pleased for you Angel."
They talked for a little while longer (Angel seemed to keep bringing it back to Buffy in Matt's eyes) before hanging up so that Angel's phone bill didn't get too high. Matt returned to his bedroom, bitterness filling him and making him sick.
So. The Slayer whose death had called him was alive. Which really meant that his destiny, his birthright - was a complete and utter waste of time. He didn't need to be fighting because there was only supposed to be one Slayer at any one time - and thanks to Buffy Summers there were THREE Slayers at this time.
Another bitter pang shot through Matt. Everything he did was for nothing. TK's death - for nothing because he never needed to be called in the first place!
He grabbed his bag and scrambled out of the window. He needed to get out of here and go patrolling. He needed to find a good demon to kill.
* * * *
Zillah was sprawled on her bed, flicking through a book of magic she'd removed from Kaya Aida's apartment. She knew that somewhere in one of these books was the spell to summon up a Garuru Demon and she wanted it. She hadn't done anything for a bit and felt the boy Slayer deserved some excitement of the demon variety.
"GOT IT!" she yelled in triumph eventually. Leaping off the bed, she skipped over to her chest and pulled it open, scrabbling through until she found what she needed - six long white candles, chalk and salt. Kneeling down on the floor, she began preparing for her incantation.
The Slayer Boy was in for a shock that night.
* * * *
Matt was considering calling it a night - nothing was happening after all - when he heard a very faint growl coming from somewhere behind him. Quickly he spun around, glancing up to check that it wasn't a full moon - Ms Fuyutsuki had made him read a lot about werewolves recently. It wasn't however, and therefore Matt knew he could assume it was something else. It hadn't sounded like a vampire and therefore he could assume that wooden stakes weren't necessary Removing a long, sharp knife from his bag, he pushed it aside and waited nervously.
He didn't have long to wait. A huge creature suddenly leaped out in front of him. For a brief second Matt thought it was Garurumon but then he realised that it wasn't. The creature was white and roughly wolf-shaped but its front paws were more human-like and it didn't have a tail at all. Matt was struck with a different feeling of familiarity then - he knew that somewhere he'd seen this demon before.
But before he could consider it longer, the creature lunged at him with a very unwolf-like shriek. Matt dodged, swiping at it with his knife. A thin line of blood appeared on the creature's shoulder blade and the creature howled with fury, hand-paw sweeping out for Matt. Matt dodged again but the misplaced air knocked his hat from his head and his hair tumbled down. Matt cursed softly, knowing that if the creature got a grip on his hair, it would hurt. It was also likely to be the first thing that it grabbed for.
With a sigh, Matt leaped straight at the creature, trying to land on its back so he could use the knife to sever its spinal cord. The demon was too quick for this and although Matt landed on the demon's back, it bucked violently before he could get a grip and sent him sailing off. As Matt staggered to his feet, a great blow hit him, sending him flying through the air.
Matt was never sure how it happened. But when he'd fallen from the demon's back, everything had got twisted round and when he was thrown and hit the wall with such force, somehow - somehow - the knife he was holding had got twisted enough to go straight through the palm of his hand.
Matt had never felt pain like it before. He screamed, blackness flickering at his vision, blackness Matt desperately wanted to give into, anything to escape the pain...
Then his Slayer instincts kicked in and somehow he sprang away from the demon as it lunged again, other hand scrabbling blindly to pull the knife out of his palm. He braced himself, then as the demon leaped for him again, threw the knife straight into it's chest. The demon screamed as in landed on him, Matt smelt blood and fur as they both slid along the ground. He grabbed the knife with his uninjured hand and ripped at the creature's chest. There was another scream of pain, Matt felt scolding hot blood soaking his clothes and then the demon went limp on his body. Matt lay there, completely unable to move, paralysed by the pain and pinned down by the demon's weight. Tears fell down his cheeks in streams and he found it difficult to force himself to remain conscious. Eventually, he shoved the demon away from him, moving as slowly as possible. He got to his feet and then risked a glance at his hand. His stomach churned and he quickly stopped looking. Stupidly, he bent down and retrieved his hat, clumsily tidying his hair back into it with one hand. He knew he needed to do something about the demon but knew that in his current condition, he couldn't do anything.
Slowly and haltingly, he headed for Ms Fuyutsuki's house.
* * * *
Ms Fuyutsuki was sleeping when she heard someone thump three times on her door. Scrambling up, she pulled on her dressing gown and walked down the stairs, as the thumps came again, weaker this time.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Matt."
Frowning, Ms Fuyutsuki opened the door. She instantly had to grab out and catch Matt as he crumpled in through her door. He was covered in blood, although where it stemmed from was not immediately apparent.
"Good God!"
"Mostly from a demon," Matt said, his voice distant "My hand....my hand though."
Ms Fuyutsuki looked. Unlike Matt, she'd seen worse wounds and didn't recoil.
"It hurts," Matt whimpered.
"Yes it would," Ms Fuyutsuki said gently "All right. Come on."
She dragged Matt into her hallway, wrapped the hand up quickly and efficiently and phoned for an ambulance. She then phoned Kaya Aida, deciding to try and get her to dispose of the demon body as she herself had to go to the hospital with Yamato.
But nobody answered the phone.
* * * *
Matt drifted into consciousness to find himself surrounded by a large group of very alarmed people. He saw Ms Fuyutsuki, the band, Tai, Kari, Ken, Davis and Joe. The first thing he thought about panickedly was his hair but he could feel it slicked back into a long ponytail and lying underneath him. They probably hadn't seen it and if he didn't mention it, they probably wouldn't either.
"Hey," he said weakly.
"I'll go and fetch your father," Ms Fuyutsuki said "He's getting a coffee."
Matt glanced at the nearest clock and saw that it was about midday. He blinked, surprised.
"They sedated you," Joe explained "You did some pretty nasty stuff to your hand you know. Tendon damage, broken bones...quite charmless."
"Yes, that I can feel," Matt said, still drowsy "It's okay though isn't it?"
"It was a pretty small wound," Joe said comfortingly "And a clean entry. The doctors were able to patch you up and there won't be any lasting damage, except for a scar. You should be right as rain in about three weeks but it's going to hurt like a bitch until then so no exercise for that hand!"
Matt grinned a little but it was wiped off his face when Akemi spoke up.
"Can he still play guitar?"
"Not in those three weeks," Joe said "Trust me, no way."
"WHAT?" four horrified voices screamed. Matt was confused for a moment until Istu said haltingly "But the concert - that's in a week! He HAS to be ready for that concert!"
Matt felt his stomach turn to ice. The concert...oh god, no...
"Look, you don't have to trust my opinion," Joe said "You can ask the doctors if you want, I won't mind. But I promise you, Matt won't WANT to play a guitar for three weeks! That hand is going to HURT."
"But that concert is going to make our careers!" Gendo yelled "We could get a record deal!"
Joe shrugged a little helplessly.
"I'm really sorry," he said.
There was a silence then. Matt looked at his fellow band members. Gendo was fuming with rage, obviously wanting to hurt someone. Akemi was looking stunned, as though he didn't quite understand what was going on. Toshiki's face was completely neutral, schooled to look that way by many years of practise. Istu was crying. Matt couldn't tell if it was from frustration or upset but he could see the tears sliding down his friend's face. Matt suddenly felt the knowledge hit him like a well-placed punch.
They weren't going to be able to play the concert. Which meant that they wouldn't get their record deal. Which meant that because of his Slaying - because of the stupid, stupid Slaying that he shouldn't even have to do because he was a boy and there were already two others Slayers - he'd not only let his friends down but possibly destroyed any chance he had at getting any sort of normal life.
"Guys," Tai said, his voice nervous "I'm sure there'll be other chances. This isn't the only chance you know. As soon as Matt's better..."
"Yeah," Akemi interrupted harshly "Whatever."
He stood up and stormed out of the room. Gendo followed him. Neither of them even said goodbye. Matt felt tears beginning to push at his own eyelids. This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't.
"Perhaps I ought to go to," Toshiki said softly "Someone had better get cancelling things and those two won't."
"Toshy..." Matt said but he didn't know how to carry on from there and went quiet instead. Toshiki shrugged.
"Are you coming Istu?"
Istu nodded shakily and stood up.
"Goodbye Matt," he said brokenly.
They walked out of the room, not as fast as the other two, just at their own paces. But somehow, it made Matt feel worse and the tears pushed their way out and began oozing down his face.
"Matt!"
His father. For once looking like he actually cared.
"Matt, how are you feeling? Does it hurt? Do you need one of the doctors?"
Matt just shook his head in answer to all three questions. Despite trying to fight them back, the tears continued to run down his face.
Everything was spoilt again.
* * * *
"Gendo! Akemi! WAIT!"
Toshiki and Istu chased up behind them and caught them up. Gendo was about to unlock the van but Toshiki put a restraining hand on the blonde's shoulder.
"You're too upset to drive," he said quietly "Let's talk first."
They scrambled into the back of the van and sat round in a circle. Istu was still crying and he accepted the tissues Gendo silently offered him. Gendo then let it up a ciggerette, his face still twisted in a furious scowl.
"This isn't happening," Akemi said "I'm dreaming this. I dreamt something like this a couple of nights ago and I woke up then!"
"Sorry," Toshiki said "But this is 100% real."
"You said that in my dream too," Akemi said, sounding slightly giddy "This CAN'T be happening, it just can't be!"
"Face facts," Toshiki said flatly "It is. There's only one question we really need to consider now."
He looked at them each in turn; at Gendo's anger, Istu's misery and Akemi's confusion.
"Where do we go from here?"
* * * *
Matt was awoken from his feverish doze by someone holding his injured hand which was throbbing uncomfortably. He muttered something and felt a hand brush through his hair soothingly.
"Shhhhh."
"Davis?" Matt muttered drowsily.
"Shush Matt."
Then he could hear someone whispering words over his hand. It sounded like utter nonsense, something about potatoes and the pain being taken away but it obviously worked because the pain suddenly went. Then he was released and someone tip-toed out.
Matt went back to sleep and when he woke up he remembered it as a rather strange dream.
* * * *
He was allowed home after a few days but it didn't make him feel any better. The other Digidestined all came over or phoned him but things were awkward again. They were obviously shocked by what had happened. This didn't stop Davis, Tai and Ken offering to take over until he was better which helped somewhat but the nervousness of his other friends still hurt him bitterly. Every time anyone arrived, Matt always made sure that he was either wearing a hat or had his hair pulled back into a ponytail so that they couldn't see how long it really was.
The band didn't contact him at all. On the day of the ill-fated concert, Matt curled up and cried himself sick with rage and misery.
A distraction quickly came in the face of Davis.
The day after the concert should have been, Ms Fuyutsuki arrived, dragging Davis with her. Davis was looking obstinate and sulky. Matt was lying on the sofa, the TV remote in easy reach. He smiled nervously at them.
"Hey," he offered.
"Hi Matt," Davis said.
"You sit down," Ms Fuyutsuki ordered sharply. She turned to Matt and her face was wearing its most forbidding frown.
"Yamato," she said "Did you know that Daisuke had stolen some of my magic books and was practising arcane powers?"
"WHAT?" Matt yelled.
"It's not that bad," Davis said with a small grin "I'm pretty good actually!"
Matt turned and stared at Ms Fuyutsuki.
"I didn't know," he said "I had no idea!"
"Good," Ms Fuyutsuki said, her voice still icy "Because I would have hated to report you to the Watchers Council for abuse of arcane rights."
"What the hell happened?" Matt demanded.
"Last night, Daisuke threw....threw a dustbin at a vampire that was attacking us," Ms Fuyutsuki said icily "A stupid thing to do, and a waste of power to boot."
She turned to Davis.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Since that party before everyone had to go back to school," Davis said.
"And exactly what have you done?" Ms Fuyutsuki enquired.
Davis shrugged.
"Levitation," he said "I transfigured that snowstorm for Izzy. I changed some bread into cake. I did some other stuff too. I can do a lot. I'm good at this."
"That is not for you to decide," Ms Fuyutsuki hissed "You will return my books to me and you will cease this dangerous work NOW."
Davis's lips set stubbornly.
"I won't," he said "You can't make me. I like magic and I'm good at it. You can't stop me doing what I want to. I'll return the books but I won't stop practising my magical powers."
"Davis, you have to!" Matt said "Don't be insane, this is deeply dangerous!"
"I'm fine!" Davis snapped "I can do what I want and I want to do this! And you can't make me stop!"
He stood up and stormed out of the apartment, despite Ms Fuyutsuki ordering him to return. Matt leaned back against his pillows with a sigh.
"Oh great."
"I thought he'd have more sense," Ms Fuyutsuki said "I told you that getting your friends involved was a bad idea!"
"Well I didn't know Davis would be so stupid!" Matt snapped back "I'll call Ken tonight. He might be able to talk some sense into that pig-headed little idiot!"
Ms Fuyutsuki sighed.
"Do you think he can?"
"Maybe," Matt said uncertainly "If Davis will listen to ANYONE, it'll be Ken."
He scowled.
"Damn Davis!"
Ms Fuyutsuki stood up.
"I should go," she said "I'm going to visit Kaya Aida, I haven't heard from her in a while. Do you know when you can resume training?"
"Another week," Matt said miserably "I should be fine then."
He knew that his accelerated healing powers were helping him out here and was sort of grateful - but not really. He shouldn't even have to have them because he should be the damn Slayer!
"Very well," Ms Fuyutsuki said, completely missing his bitterness "I'll see you soon then. Goodbye."
She walked out. Matt watched TV again for a while until he suddenly threw the TV remote at the wall.
"I have to get out of here!" he yelled.
He dressed himself carefully and walked out, wandering the streets randomly, hating everything around him. It looked so peaceful now, just humans and cars. And then at night the demons came out and the world was dark. Matt's world. The world he should never have belonged to because Buffy should never have died!
Why did he have to carry on with this? The damn bitch was alive. Angel was happy. He liked Buffy better than Matt. And obviously so. But Matt shouldn't have to live through this because there was no need for him!
Matt scowled, instinctively clenching his fists. His hand screamed it's furious agony and he quickly relaxed it, swallowing the nausea.
He kept walking for a while, his head spinning with the bitter thoughts and rage and misery until he finally found himself standing outside of a shop and staring in at the clothes, not really taking them in. His vision finally came back to him and he realised it was a dress shop and he was staring at a long blue-green dress, silky and sewn with sequins that glittered in the sun. Matt blinked, suddenly wondering what it would be like to try it on, wondering if it would suit him. Girls clothes were so much prettier than boys clothes. So much nicer to look at. Were they nicer to wear?
Without really thinking about it, Matt walked into the shop, reaching for the money in his pocket.
A few minutes later, he was walking home again, a bag stuffed with several items of girls clothing and his heart heavy in his stomach.
* * * *
Davis was setting up a candle to try and create fire when Ken arrived.
"Hey Ken-chan," he said cheerfully, giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek "How's things?"
"Fine," Ken said. He sounded a little stressed "Matt called me."
Davis paused a moment, then frowned.
"Oh," he said flatly.
"Is it true?"
Davis nodded, adjusting the candle, then coming over and sitting beside Ken on the bed.
"There's nothing wrong with it!" he said "Magic's cool! You should see the stuff I can do! And it's not dangerous and I'm careful! Ms Fuyutsuki and Matt are fussing over nothing, that's all! Look, I'll show you!"
He stretched out a finger towards the candle.
"Ignius," he said.
For a moment he thought it wouldn't happen. Then a flame leaped from his finger, springing onto the candle and lighting it. Ken's mouth dropped open.
"You see?" Davis said "I can make fire Ken! And I can do all sorts of other really cool things and I promise that I'm not going to do anything silly!"
He scowled.
"People just don't trust me because they think I'm stupid," he said bitterly "But I'm not stupid and I'll show them that I can handle this!" Ken frowned. Twisting round he caught Davis's hands.
"Davis," he said "Dai-chan, listen I have a real bad feeling about this okay? I want you to stop."
Davis pulled away, his face turning pale. Ken swallowed and continued.
"Please," he said "For me? Please Dai-chan, it's not that I think you can't handle it but I don't like it and I don't want you to do it. Please? Please don't?"
Davis stood up and stalked over to the candle, blowing it out.
"I'm not going to stop Ken," he said, his voice icy "I don't want to. I can't believe even you don't trust me!"
"Of course I trust you!"
"You don't."
Davis sounded utterly betrayed.
"No trusts me. You all think I'm stupid."
He whipped round and glared at Ken with tear-filled eyes.
"Well you're all wrong!" he shouted "I can do this and I'm GOING to do this! I'll prove myself right AND I'll show you all that I can be useful! You'll all see!"
Ken frowned unhappily. He knew there was no use fighting with Davis in this mood and stood up to leave. As he did, he turned and looked back at Davis, who was already studying a magic book again, as though he'd forgotten Ken's very existence.
Ken felt a pang of fear.
"Bye," he said softly.
Davis simply mumbled something. He didn't even notice when Ken walked out of the door.
End of Part 4
Where do we Go From Here?
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I don't own Digimon. I'm not earning any money out of this and I'm not trying to infringe copy-write. Please don't sue me!
Matt put the Kendo stick down and flopped onto the couch with a thump. Kendo was cool to learn and interesting too but it was bloody exhausting, especially added with training and patrolling. Plus the extra band practises he was trying to fit around his schedule. His life was way, way too busy.
"You're getting better," Iori said "You're really learning fast."
"It comes from all the other combat training," Matt said dryly "You tend to pick up on the "how to beat people up best" really quickly."
Iori snorted at that and began putting his things away. Matt stared at the ceiling for a while, then squirmed up and grinned at Iori.
"How's everything going for you anyway?" he asked "Enjoying school?"
Iori gave him a look.
"Oh yes, it's really thrilling," he said with a smile "We're not doing anything very special anyway."
Matt grinned.
"That's pretty much my memory of school," he said "How's Yolei?"
He saw Iori flinch. Yolei was a touchy subject for everyone around Matt but Matt wanted to know. Yolei was still his friend, even if...
"She's fine," Iori said "She doesn't really hang around with us any more. She spends most of her time with her other girl friends."
Matt felt a guilty pang. He knew that a rift was growing between his friends. It appeared that Yolei was away from them completely. And even those who knew and believed were separating off slightly. Tai, Davis and Ken were all happy to get involved deeply, even coming out patrolling. The others were not so inclined. In fact, while they all wanted to be there for Matt, they'd all made it pretty clear that they were not at all interested in getting on the front lines. Matt accepted this - heck, he liked it, he hated his friends being in danger - but he knew that it was still creating a rift between everyone, even if he accepted it.
Why did they have to grow apart? It wasn't fair. Why had this happened to him? He wasn't even a girl!
"Matt?"
Matt realised he'd zoned out and smiled at Iori, hoping he looked convincing.
"Sorry," he said "Away with the fairies again. Look, you'd better be going, it's getting late. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Iori nodded and quickly picked up everything he needed to take.
"Goodbye Matt."
"Bye Iori."
Matt saw the boy out and watched him until he was out of sight. Then he went into his bedroom to practise his guitar for a while. The band were all practically going over board with practising, desperate to get to the gig in absolute perfect condition. They all really, really wanted that contract, Matt more than most. This was something that he could do that would prove he was normal, and something that would actually get him some money. Then his father would be proud again, which would sort out something else that was causing Matt problems. No doubt about it, they DEFINITELY needed to get that contract.
Matt smiled to himself, quickly losing himself in his music.
* * * *
Kaya Aida was one of the most powerful Wiccans in Odiaba. Which was why she couldn't fail to notice the signs that there were two new powers popping up around her.
The first had obviously been that dreadful hailstorm. Then she'd felt the reverberations of something else big happening. But as well as these two big things, she'd felt little ripples, as though someone was trying small things, and increasing them in size. From the signatures of the powers, she'd say that there were definitely two different people practising magic in the vicinity.
As Kaya had helped Ms Fuyutsuki and the Slayer before, she saw no reason not to try and help again. Ms Fuyutsuki had asked for her help over the hailstorm after all, and although Kaya hadn't been able to stop it then, she'd been researching and listening out. While she didn't have any leads as such, she thought it was important that Ms Fuyutsuki knew that there were two people practising magic.
She was walking along the streets when a girl stepped out into her path. She had long thick dark hair that fell loose to her waist and her eyes were cloudy grey. She smiled in what appeared to be a cheerful friendly way. Kaya instantly sensed an aura of power and stepped back slightly, smiling guardedly.
"Hello," she said.
"Yeah, whatever," the girl said "You're Kaya Aida right?"
"Yes," Kaya said "And who are you?"
"Zillah," the girl said calmly.
The name meant nothing to Kaya but she hadn't really expected it to. She just smiled again.
"Can I help you Zillah?"
"Not really," Zillah said, sounding rather regretful "I'm going to have to send you away now."
Kaya blinked.
"Indeed?" she asked neutrally.
"Yup," Zillah said "I need the keys to your flat."
Kaya stared at the girl, amazed by her cheek. Zillah smiled.
"Forget it," she said "I'll just open it by magic."
She held out her hand which Kaya noticed was bedecked with rings. They were mostly the plastic jewellery that teenagers wore but the one on her middle finger looked like it was made of real silver. Gleaming on it was a smoky grey gem which suddenly began to glow with a deep inner light.
Before Kaya could do anything or say anything, the smoke reached out and covered her. Her vision went grey and the last thing she knew was that she was being inexorably sucked forwards, where to, she didn't know.
Zillah shrugged rather regretfully as Kaya vanished into her ring.
"It's a shame," she remarked out loud "But what else can I do? I need the power."
She shrugged.
"Better head for her flat and collect the books before anyone else tries it!"
* * * *
Matt was packing his bag for a night's patrolling when the phone rang. He quickly kicked the bag under the bed and sprang onto it, grabbing a book and trying to look studious, just in case it was for him.
His instinct was right. His father opened the door.
"It's someone called Angel for you," he said.
Matt leaped off the bed and shot out, grabbing the phone.
"Angel?"
"Hey Matt."
Matt grinned, happy to hear a such a welcome familiar voice.
"How's things?" he asked, leaning against the wall "Enjoying yourself in not-so-sunny LA?"
Angel laughed.
"It's not too bad here," he said "Things are...interesting to say the least. What about you? Anything wild?"
"We had a hailstorm that lasted two days," Matt suggested "That count?"
Angel laughed again and Matt felt a small flutter inside which he quickly banished.
"Matt, I have something to tell you," Angel said. He suddenly sounded very happy, as though it was excellent news.
"What/" Matt asked.
"Buffy - the Slayer - she's alive!"
Matt wasn't entirely certain what to say to that in a way. He knew that it was a good thing - especially for Angel, and of course Spike. But...
"That's marvellous," he said "You must be so happy."
"Willow brought her back to life with a spell," Angel said, his voice still sounding overjoyed "She's back and fighting evil in Sunnydale!"
"That really is wonderful," Matt said, his stomach cramping bitterly "I'm really pleased for you Angel."
They talked for a little while longer (Angel seemed to keep bringing it back to Buffy in Matt's eyes) before hanging up so that Angel's phone bill didn't get too high. Matt returned to his bedroom, bitterness filling him and making him sick.
So. The Slayer whose death had called him was alive. Which really meant that his destiny, his birthright - was a complete and utter waste of time. He didn't need to be fighting because there was only supposed to be one Slayer at any one time - and thanks to Buffy Summers there were THREE Slayers at this time.
Another bitter pang shot through Matt. Everything he did was for nothing. TK's death - for nothing because he never needed to be called in the first place!
He grabbed his bag and scrambled out of the window. He needed to get out of here and go patrolling. He needed to find a good demon to kill.
* * * *
Zillah was sprawled on her bed, flicking through a book of magic she'd removed from Kaya Aida's apartment. She knew that somewhere in one of these books was the spell to summon up a Garuru Demon and she wanted it. She hadn't done anything for a bit and felt the boy Slayer deserved some excitement of the demon variety.
"GOT IT!" she yelled in triumph eventually. Leaping off the bed, she skipped over to her chest and pulled it open, scrabbling through until she found what she needed - six long white candles, chalk and salt. Kneeling down on the floor, she began preparing for her incantation.
The Slayer Boy was in for a shock that night.
* * * *
Matt was considering calling it a night - nothing was happening after all - when he heard a very faint growl coming from somewhere behind him. Quickly he spun around, glancing up to check that it wasn't a full moon - Ms Fuyutsuki had made him read a lot about werewolves recently. It wasn't however, and therefore Matt knew he could assume it was something else. It hadn't sounded like a vampire and therefore he could assume that wooden stakes weren't necessary Removing a long, sharp knife from his bag, he pushed it aside and waited nervously.
He didn't have long to wait. A huge creature suddenly leaped out in front of him. For a brief second Matt thought it was Garurumon but then he realised that it wasn't. The creature was white and roughly wolf-shaped but its front paws were more human-like and it didn't have a tail at all. Matt was struck with a different feeling of familiarity then - he knew that somewhere he'd seen this demon before.
But before he could consider it longer, the creature lunged at him with a very unwolf-like shriek. Matt dodged, swiping at it with his knife. A thin line of blood appeared on the creature's shoulder blade and the creature howled with fury, hand-paw sweeping out for Matt. Matt dodged again but the misplaced air knocked his hat from his head and his hair tumbled down. Matt cursed softly, knowing that if the creature got a grip on his hair, it would hurt. It was also likely to be the first thing that it grabbed for.
With a sigh, Matt leaped straight at the creature, trying to land on its back so he could use the knife to sever its spinal cord. The demon was too quick for this and although Matt landed on the demon's back, it bucked violently before he could get a grip and sent him sailing off. As Matt staggered to his feet, a great blow hit him, sending him flying through the air.
Matt was never sure how it happened. But when he'd fallen from the demon's back, everything had got twisted round and when he was thrown and hit the wall with such force, somehow - somehow - the knife he was holding had got twisted enough to go straight through the palm of his hand.
Matt had never felt pain like it before. He screamed, blackness flickering at his vision, blackness Matt desperately wanted to give into, anything to escape the pain...
Then his Slayer instincts kicked in and somehow he sprang away from the demon as it lunged again, other hand scrabbling blindly to pull the knife out of his palm. He braced himself, then as the demon leaped for him again, threw the knife straight into it's chest. The demon screamed as in landed on him, Matt smelt blood and fur as they both slid along the ground. He grabbed the knife with his uninjured hand and ripped at the creature's chest. There was another scream of pain, Matt felt scolding hot blood soaking his clothes and then the demon went limp on his body. Matt lay there, completely unable to move, paralysed by the pain and pinned down by the demon's weight. Tears fell down his cheeks in streams and he found it difficult to force himself to remain conscious. Eventually, he shoved the demon away from him, moving as slowly as possible. He got to his feet and then risked a glance at his hand. His stomach churned and he quickly stopped looking. Stupidly, he bent down and retrieved his hat, clumsily tidying his hair back into it with one hand. He knew he needed to do something about the demon but knew that in his current condition, he couldn't do anything.
Slowly and haltingly, he headed for Ms Fuyutsuki's house.
* * * *
Ms Fuyutsuki was sleeping when she heard someone thump three times on her door. Scrambling up, she pulled on her dressing gown and walked down the stairs, as the thumps came again, weaker this time.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Matt."
Frowning, Ms Fuyutsuki opened the door. She instantly had to grab out and catch Matt as he crumpled in through her door. He was covered in blood, although where it stemmed from was not immediately apparent.
"Good God!"
"Mostly from a demon," Matt said, his voice distant "My hand....my hand though."
Ms Fuyutsuki looked. Unlike Matt, she'd seen worse wounds and didn't recoil.
"It hurts," Matt whimpered.
"Yes it would," Ms Fuyutsuki said gently "All right. Come on."
She dragged Matt into her hallway, wrapped the hand up quickly and efficiently and phoned for an ambulance. She then phoned Kaya Aida, deciding to try and get her to dispose of the demon body as she herself had to go to the hospital with Yamato.
But nobody answered the phone.
* * * *
Matt drifted into consciousness to find himself surrounded by a large group of very alarmed people. He saw Ms Fuyutsuki, the band, Tai, Kari, Ken, Davis and Joe. The first thing he thought about panickedly was his hair but he could feel it slicked back into a long ponytail and lying underneath him. They probably hadn't seen it and if he didn't mention it, they probably wouldn't either.
"Hey," he said weakly.
"I'll go and fetch your father," Ms Fuyutsuki said "He's getting a coffee."
Matt glanced at the nearest clock and saw that it was about midday. He blinked, surprised.
"They sedated you," Joe explained "You did some pretty nasty stuff to your hand you know. Tendon damage, broken bones...quite charmless."
"Yes, that I can feel," Matt said, still drowsy "It's okay though isn't it?"
"It was a pretty small wound," Joe said comfortingly "And a clean entry. The doctors were able to patch you up and there won't be any lasting damage, except for a scar. You should be right as rain in about three weeks but it's going to hurt like a bitch until then so no exercise for that hand!"
Matt grinned a little but it was wiped off his face when Akemi spoke up.
"Can he still play guitar?"
"Not in those three weeks," Joe said "Trust me, no way."
"WHAT?" four horrified voices screamed. Matt was confused for a moment until Istu said haltingly "But the concert - that's in a week! He HAS to be ready for that concert!"
Matt felt his stomach turn to ice. The concert...oh god, no...
"Look, you don't have to trust my opinion," Joe said "You can ask the doctors if you want, I won't mind. But I promise you, Matt won't WANT to play a guitar for three weeks! That hand is going to HURT."
"But that concert is going to make our careers!" Gendo yelled "We could get a record deal!"
Joe shrugged a little helplessly.
"I'm really sorry," he said.
There was a silence then. Matt looked at his fellow band members. Gendo was fuming with rage, obviously wanting to hurt someone. Akemi was looking stunned, as though he didn't quite understand what was going on. Toshiki's face was completely neutral, schooled to look that way by many years of practise. Istu was crying. Matt couldn't tell if it was from frustration or upset but he could see the tears sliding down his friend's face. Matt suddenly felt the knowledge hit him like a well-placed punch.
They weren't going to be able to play the concert. Which meant that they wouldn't get their record deal. Which meant that because of his Slaying - because of the stupid, stupid Slaying that he shouldn't even have to do because he was a boy and there were already two others Slayers - he'd not only let his friends down but possibly destroyed any chance he had at getting any sort of normal life.
"Guys," Tai said, his voice nervous "I'm sure there'll be other chances. This isn't the only chance you know. As soon as Matt's better..."
"Yeah," Akemi interrupted harshly "Whatever."
He stood up and stormed out of the room. Gendo followed him. Neither of them even said goodbye. Matt felt tears beginning to push at his own eyelids. This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't.
"Perhaps I ought to go to," Toshiki said softly "Someone had better get cancelling things and those two won't."
"Toshy..." Matt said but he didn't know how to carry on from there and went quiet instead. Toshiki shrugged.
"Are you coming Istu?"
Istu nodded shakily and stood up.
"Goodbye Matt," he said brokenly.
They walked out of the room, not as fast as the other two, just at their own paces. But somehow, it made Matt feel worse and the tears pushed their way out and began oozing down his face.
"Matt!"
His father. For once looking like he actually cared.
"Matt, how are you feeling? Does it hurt? Do you need one of the doctors?"
Matt just shook his head in answer to all three questions. Despite trying to fight them back, the tears continued to run down his face.
Everything was spoilt again.
* * * *
"Gendo! Akemi! WAIT!"
Toshiki and Istu chased up behind them and caught them up. Gendo was about to unlock the van but Toshiki put a restraining hand on the blonde's shoulder.
"You're too upset to drive," he said quietly "Let's talk first."
They scrambled into the back of the van and sat round in a circle. Istu was still crying and he accepted the tissues Gendo silently offered him. Gendo then let it up a ciggerette, his face still twisted in a furious scowl.
"This isn't happening," Akemi said "I'm dreaming this. I dreamt something like this a couple of nights ago and I woke up then!"
"Sorry," Toshiki said "But this is 100% real."
"You said that in my dream too," Akemi said, sounding slightly giddy "This CAN'T be happening, it just can't be!"
"Face facts," Toshiki said flatly "It is. There's only one question we really need to consider now."
He looked at them each in turn; at Gendo's anger, Istu's misery and Akemi's confusion.
"Where do we go from here?"
* * * *
Matt was awoken from his feverish doze by someone holding his injured hand which was throbbing uncomfortably. He muttered something and felt a hand brush through his hair soothingly.
"Shhhhh."
"Davis?" Matt muttered drowsily.
"Shush Matt."
Then he could hear someone whispering words over his hand. It sounded like utter nonsense, something about potatoes and the pain being taken away but it obviously worked because the pain suddenly went. Then he was released and someone tip-toed out.
Matt went back to sleep and when he woke up he remembered it as a rather strange dream.
* * * *
He was allowed home after a few days but it didn't make him feel any better. The other Digidestined all came over or phoned him but things were awkward again. They were obviously shocked by what had happened. This didn't stop Davis, Tai and Ken offering to take over until he was better which helped somewhat but the nervousness of his other friends still hurt him bitterly. Every time anyone arrived, Matt always made sure that he was either wearing a hat or had his hair pulled back into a ponytail so that they couldn't see how long it really was.
The band didn't contact him at all. On the day of the ill-fated concert, Matt curled up and cried himself sick with rage and misery.
A distraction quickly came in the face of Davis.
The day after the concert should have been, Ms Fuyutsuki arrived, dragging Davis with her. Davis was looking obstinate and sulky. Matt was lying on the sofa, the TV remote in easy reach. He smiled nervously at them.
"Hey," he offered.
"Hi Matt," Davis said.
"You sit down," Ms Fuyutsuki ordered sharply. She turned to Matt and her face was wearing its most forbidding frown.
"Yamato," she said "Did you know that Daisuke had stolen some of my magic books and was practising arcane powers?"
"WHAT?" Matt yelled.
"It's not that bad," Davis said with a small grin "I'm pretty good actually!"
Matt turned and stared at Ms Fuyutsuki.
"I didn't know," he said "I had no idea!"
"Good," Ms Fuyutsuki said, her voice still icy "Because I would have hated to report you to the Watchers Council for abuse of arcane rights."
"What the hell happened?" Matt demanded.
"Last night, Daisuke threw....threw a dustbin at a vampire that was attacking us," Ms Fuyutsuki said icily "A stupid thing to do, and a waste of power to boot."
She turned to Davis.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Since that party before everyone had to go back to school," Davis said.
"And exactly what have you done?" Ms Fuyutsuki enquired.
Davis shrugged.
"Levitation," he said "I transfigured that snowstorm for Izzy. I changed some bread into cake. I did some other stuff too. I can do a lot. I'm good at this."
"That is not for you to decide," Ms Fuyutsuki hissed "You will return my books to me and you will cease this dangerous work NOW."
Davis's lips set stubbornly.
"I won't," he said "You can't make me. I like magic and I'm good at it. You can't stop me doing what I want to. I'll return the books but I won't stop practising my magical powers."
"Davis, you have to!" Matt said "Don't be insane, this is deeply dangerous!"
"I'm fine!" Davis snapped "I can do what I want and I want to do this! And you can't make me stop!"
He stood up and stormed out of the apartment, despite Ms Fuyutsuki ordering him to return. Matt leaned back against his pillows with a sigh.
"Oh great."
"I thought he'd have more sense," Ms Fuyutsuki said "I told you that getting your friends involved was a bad idea!"
"Well I didn't know Davis would be so stupid!" Matt snapped back "I'll call Ken tonight. He might be able to talk some sense into that pig-headed little idiot!"
Ms Fuyutsuki sighed.
"Do you think he can?"
"Maybe," Matt said uncertainly "If Davis will listen to ANYONE, it'll be Ken."
He scowled.
"Damn Davis!"
Ms Fuyutsuki stood up.
"I should go," she said "I'm going to visit Kaya Aida, I haven't heard from her in a while. Do you know when you can resume training?"
"Another week," Matt said miserably "I should be fine then."
He knew that his accelerated healing powers were helping him out here and was sort of grateful - but not really. He shouldn't even have to have them because he should be the damn Slayer!
"Very well," Ms Fuyutsuki said, completely missing his bitterness "I'll see you soon then. Goodbye."
She walked out. Matt watched TV again for a while until he suddenly threw the TV remote at the wall.
"I have to get out of here!" he yelled.
He dressed himself carefully and walked out, wandering the streets randomly, hating everything around him. It looked so peaceful now, just humans and cars. And then at night the demons came out and the world was dark. Matt's world. The world he should never have belonged to because Buffy should never have died!
Why did he have to carry on with this? The damn bitch was alive. Angel was happy. He liked Buffy better than Matt. And obviously so. But Matt shouldn't have to live through this because there was no need for him!
Matt scowled, instinctively clenching his fists. His hand screamed it's furious agony and he quickly relaxed it, swallowing the nausea.
He kept walking for a while, his head spinning with the bitter thoughts and rage and misery until he finally found himself standing outside of a shop and staring in at the clothes, not really taking them in. His vision finally came back to him and he realised it was a dress shop and he was staring at a long blue-green dress, silky and sewn with sequins that glittered in the sun. Matt blinked, suddenly wondering what it would be like to try it on, wondering if it would suit him. Girls clothes were so much prettier than boys clothes. So much nicer to look at. Were they nicer to wear?
Without really thinking about it, Matt walked into the shop, reaching for the money in his pocket.
A few minutes later, he was walking home again, a bag stuffed with several items of girls clothing and his heart heavy in his stomach.
* * * *
Davis was setting up a candle to try and create fire when Ken arrived.
"Hey Ken-chan," he said cheerfully, giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek "How's things?"
"Fine," Ken said. He sounded a little stressed "Matt called me."
Davis paused a moment, then frowned.
"Oh," he said flatly.
"Is it true?"
Davis nodded, adjusting the candle, then coming over and sitting beside Ken on the bed.
"There's nothing wrong with it!" he said "Magic's cool! You should see the stuff I can do! And it's not dangerous and I'm careful! Ms Fuyutsuki and Matt are fussing over nothing, that's all! Look, I'll show you!"
He stretched out a finger towards the candle.
"Ignius," he said.
For a moment he thought it wouldn't happen. Then a flame leaped from his finger, springing onto the candle and lighting it. Ken's mouth dropped open.
"You see?" Davis said "I can make fire Ken! And I can do all sorts of other really cool things and I promise that I'm not going to do anything silly!"
He scowled.
"People just don't trust me because they think I'm stupid," he said bitterly "But I'm not stupid and I'll show them that I can handle this!" Ken frowned. Twisting round he caught Davis's hands.
"Davis," he said "Dai-chan, listen I have a real bad feeling about this okay? I want you to stop."
Davis pulled away, his face turning pale. Ken swallowed and continued.
"Please," he said "For me? Please Dai-chan, it's not that I think you can't handle it but I don't like it and I don't want you to do it. Please? Please don't?"
Davis stood up and stalked over to the candle, blowing it out.
"I'm not going to stop Ken," he said, his voice icy "I don't want to. I can't believe even you don't trust me!"
"Of course I trust you!"
"You don't."
Davis sounded utterly betrayed.
"No trusts me. You all think I'm stupid."
He whipped round and glared at Ken with tear-filled eyes.
"Well you're all wrong!" he shouted "I can do this and I'm GOING to do this! I'll prove myself right AND I'll show you all that I can be useful! You'll all see!"
Ken frowned unhappily. He knew there was no use fighting with Davis in this mood and stood up to leave. As he did, he turned and looked back at Davis, who was already studying a magic book again, as though he'd forgotten Ken's very existence.
Ken felt a pang of fear.
"Bye," he said softly.
Davis simply mumbled something. He didn't even notice when Ken walked out of the door.
End of Part 4