Title: Awaken the Inu
Author: DhampyrX2
Genre: Crossover
Rating: PG-13
Timeframe: prologues are btw seasons 3 and 4. The rest starts season seven.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Poverty is my constant friend. Please don't sue. I make no money from this.
Note: Evil plot bunnies have invaded my brain again, and the demons of writer's block are spreading. Instead of Starting with a Buffy or Star Wars sequel, or adding to 'The One Who Sees", I feel compelled to work on this. Sorry. Blame the bunnies. Anya's right, they're EVIL. I also changed this from a season five idea, to a season seven idea. Just because I hate Caleb, and want Xander to have a bigger role in the proceedings.
Summary: Xander's father is not who he thought. His real father has decided to inform him of his heritage, leaving Xander with some tough choices.
*****
Dawn watched the passing ground beneath them with muted awe as the demonic chariot _flew_ them to LA. She was amazed, even knowing as much as she did about magic from Willow, that nobody could see the wondrous, comet-like trail Ah-Un left as he flew. The total lack of dangerous wind resistance as the went so fast also had her slightly off balance. This new world of Xander's was going to take some getting used to, if her first impressions were anything to go by.
Xander, seeming to read her mind, grinned as he said, "You'll get used to it in no time. I was pretty wowed the first time I rode the Ah-Un express to visit my father, too."
Dawn faced the carpenter and asked, "So, what's your father like, Xander?"
Xander looked pensive as he answered, "He's cold alot of the time. He's been hurt more than any human can really picture over the years. He has a sense of humor that's wicked when he lets it out, and he can be the cruelest and most merciless demon in existence if you piss him off."
Kagura interjected from where she was guiding their flight, "He wasn't always that bad, Xander. Well, he was when I first met him. Slightly worse, actually, if you can imagine that. Nobody knew he knew how to smile, much less that he had a sense of humor then. Rin snapped him out of it. Well, her, and making peace with his brother. He only got like this again after your mother was killed. It got worse when Naraku used an assassin to kill Inuyasha. That's when he put you into protective custody on the Hellmouth. He was scared you'd be next when you were too young to defend yourself. It was better to seal you and hide you, and leave you to become too tempting a target."
"I know. We talked alot of that over last summer when I visited. Still, I wish I could lighten him up some more.", Xander replied.
"You will, in time. Now that you'll be safer, he should relax a little. Once we kill Naraku, he might even let himself go for a bit. Hopefully, he'll find your mother's reincarnation in a few years. Her presence has always calmed him."
"It will be nice to meet her.", Xander said, looking out over the night sky.
Dawn was wisely quiet for the rest of the trip. The conversation was far to heavy and mind blowing to attempt to get them to explain it. She'd get the expanded story from Xander later. Instead, even as the two older occupants of the chariot switched their conversation to catching up on each other's lives, she just kept an eye on the view, and kept her thoughts to herself.
*****
As they finally arrived and set down near the stables, the first thing that crossed Dawn's mind was *Xan wasn't kidding when he referred to it as an /ESTATE/. This place is huge!* Her thoughts were cut short, as she saw the approach of a man that could only be Sesshomaru. He was dressed in his formal white with red trim kimono, his sacred blades displayed for all to see. It took all Dawn had not to let out an 'eeep' when he reached them and spoke. This man, no _demon_, personified power.
"Welcome home, my son. All is nearly ready, including arrangement for the girl. Will Shippo be suitable to instruct her.", Sesshomaru said formally, his voice detached as usual. He gave no apparent mention or notice to his son's missing eye.
Kagura and Xander bowed, with Dawn following suit a half second later, before Xander replied. "Hello, Father. It's good to see you. I'm sorry to arrive because of such dire circumstances. Yes, Shippo will be fine. Thank you for arranging it.", he said in a similar tone.
"Excellent. Welcome to you as well, Miss Summers.", Sesshomaru said to Dawn, which earned a timid 'thankyou' from the girl. A ghost of an impression of a grin appeared for a fraction of a second on the Tai Inu Youkai of the Western Lands' face at that. It was the most emotion he's shown to someone beside Jaken, Kagura, or Xander in quite some time. It was obvious to the few that knew him that he had taken an instant liking to the girl. "Kagura, take the girl on a small tour while you lead her to Shippo. My son and I have much to discuss before the ceremony. And see that the Kitsune is aware she should have time to attend as well. This Sesshomaru knows his son would want her there.", Sesshomaru then said to the wind sorceress.
"Yes milord.", Kagura replied, dipping her head in servitude to his orders.
Xander hugged Dawn and said his quick goodbyes before he left with his father. "See you in a little while, kiddo. Don't worry, you'll like Shippo. He's got a real wicked sense of humor. And stick close to him or Kagura until I see you again."
"I will.", she promised as she hugged him back. "Good luck."
Xander just smiled as he let her go and watched her leave with Kagura. When his eyes met with his father's again, he nodded once, and they headed off in another direction.
They walked for a few minutes before either spoke again. Not surprisingly, it was Xander that started the conversation. "I meant what I said. I'm sorry it took this to make me visit. I wanted a reunion to be a happy thing with us.", he said.
"I know. You would have visited over the summer again, regardless. Do not worry yourself over it. I understand.", Sesshomaru replied. "I just wish it wasn't circumstances forcing you to this. I wanted it to be your choice if this day came or not. Not the First's."
"It was time. I had no reason to cling to my humanity. I had no human mate like Uncle Inuyasha did, none of my friends are normal enough to complain about this, save Dawn, and she'll be behind me 110%. Circumstances just made me grow up faster, is all.", Xander said.
"As they do for us all.", Sesshomaru commented. After another pause, he added, "I meant what I said as well, pup."
"Hmm?", Xander inquired, not quite sure what his father meant.
"It is good to have you home.", The Lord replied, placing his hand on Xander's shoulder and giving the young man a rare grin. They soon reached his private audience chambers, where Jaken was waiting for them.
"Welcome back Lord Sesshomaru, and you as well young Master. I am pleased to announce that the Awakening ceremony will be prepared within the hour. It does this demon's heart good to see you in good health.", the toad youkai rambled, before actually bothering to look up from his groveling to see Xander's eye-patch. "Ahhh! What happened you, Lord Alexander? Who would attack you so heinously? Surely we must mobilize to destroy the foul cur!"
Xander cut off Jaken with a gesture. "It's handled, Jaken. He's dead, and I'll take my revenge on his troops after the ceremony.", he said.
"Jaken, leave us. Return when all is ready. And be prepared to go with Xander, Kagura, and young Dawn when they leave.", Sesshomaru ordered.
"As you wish, milord.", the toad youkai answered feebly as he bowed, before heading out of the room. As he passed them, both could hear his mutter to himself. "Who could maim the young master like that? Even with healing spells he'll be scarred. I swear, the very sight took another hundred years off my life. I'm getting too old for this.", he groused as he left.
Xander grinned, and Sesshomaru nearly did as they watched him go, closing the door behind him. "Good to see some things never change.", Xander said.
Sesshomaru's good humor fled as he replied, "And some thing do, my son. What happened?"
Xander sighed, he knew this was coming. "A jackass minion of the first was ripping through during in a poorly planned assault on our part. I was helping the evac, and he caught me as I was saving a potential Slayer's life. But, like I told Kagura earlier, Buffy killed him already. Twice. If he comes back again, I'll introduce him to the Kaze no Kizu."
"Assuming this Sesshomaru doesn't reach him fist and show him the Dokkaso.", his father said in reply. "Either way, I will have healer rectify what they can. And you can rest assured this will not go uncontested." After a moment to think things over, Sesshomaru sighed. "Wounded helping a human in a situation she wasn't ready for...you have too much of your uncle in you.", he said.
"Maybe. It doesn't matter much after the fact, anyway. The important thing is that we get everything together for my return.", Xander said evenly.
"The vans are loaded and on their way to Sunnydale. They will precede you be a good couple of hours. I've had a pair of fire rat outfits in modern styles made for you and your little ningen friend to use as armor. Beyond that, all that needs to be done is to release your seal, and teach you what I can of a few basic Inuyoukai attacks before you have to leave. The Kaze no Kizu for the Tetsusaiga should be easy to cover. You should also read the notes Inuyasha made later in life about the Sankon Tesso, and the blood blade technique. Both will serve you well later, even if they can not be mastered now.", Sesshomaru said, leading his son to a small, comfortable sitting area away from the main chamber where he had a pot of makai tea, and a pot of human green tea, each, waiting.
"Now, in the meantime, tell this Sesshomaru about his son's life. I want to hear about your happenings where I can see you, instead of using a phone, or spies, or Kagura.", he said once they were seated.
Xander smiled warmly at his father as he heard that. He settled in, and poured them each a cup of tea from their respective pots as spoke. "Well, to start off, I made site foreman at work, starting with the rebuilding of the high school. Thanks for letting me work my way, instead of just buying the company for me or something, by the way...", he said, as be began to spend some quality catching up time with his father.
*****
END CHAPTER 3