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.
*****
The first sensations to assert itself on Xander's consciousness were the smells. There were so many his mind couldn't process them and sort them all. The two most predominant, however seemed to be the unique scent that he inhaled from Dawn each time she hugged him, and...Sakura blossoms? That didn't seem right. Why would he smell Sakura blossoms?
The next sensations to filter in were sounds. Those, too, came in a huge, nearly indecipherable wave. He eventually tried to focus on the nearest. The two most prevalent seemed to be a pair how heartbeats. That couldn't be right either. How could he hear a heartbeat?
Finally, the mind of Alexander Harris resigned itself to the fact that he would have to fully wake up and open his eyes. The first thing he saw was a field of white, which was quickly filled with two blurs in his left and right periphery. Wait. Was that right? Wasn't there something wrong with his left periphery? Oh well, he'd remember it after he had woken up. He eventually stirred, trying to sit up with groan.
This alerted the two blurs, now recognizable through the fog of sleep as Kagura and Dawn, who sat on either side of the bed he was resting in. Strange, he didn't remember going to bed. The two women immediately proceeded to glomp him and fuss over his general condition. As his head cleared more, he finally remembered just what had happened, and why he was unconscious. His father had clearly had him brought to his rooms at the estate to sleep off the effect of his Awakening.
He brought his hands up to rub his eyes, as he opened his mouth in huge, fang exposing, yawn. As he pulled them back, he realized what was wrong with his left side. He could see from it. His newly restored dog ears flattened against his head in consternation as he looked questioningly at Dawn and Kagura, who were both still trying to mother him.
Dawn just nodded happily, seeming to pay strange attention to the top of his head, as Kagura answered, "You're father had the healers do what they could while your change was still settling. You have your eye back and minimal scarring to the area. The only problem will be that it will always be its natural amber. Even disguise magicks and your one day a month as a human won't conceal it.", she said, brushing his bushier white hair back in a tender gesture.
This caused his ears to perk up as he let out as he let out an Oz-like "Cool."
Finally, at this sight, Dawn could take it no longer, and gave into a temptation she had resisted since Xander's transformation. She _HAD_ to play with those cute puppy ears. Her hands began to pull, stoke and scratch them as he squealed and said, "Xander, these are SOOO cute. The SiT's will be lining up around the block just to touch them when we get back."
This caused Xander to grimace, and flatten said appendages again, which brought out another squeal, from Dawn, and a giggle from Kagura. Xander took Dawns hands gently at the wrists, careful of his new claws, and placed them in her lap as he sat up more fully. "Dawnie. I love you, you know that. But I have a few ground rules now. One, my hearing is a good as a dog demon, which is really really good. So please try not to squeal loud and high whenever my ears move. It hurts. Second, I don't play with your body parts, so please don't play with mine. And finally, please promise to enforce those rules with the mini Slayers.", he pleaded.
Dawn blushed in mild embarrassment as she nodded guiltily.
Kagura smirked wickedly as she added, "Milord, you never specified /which/ body parts you want Dawn to guard. I'd like to volunteer my services to guard any.../parts/ she'd by uncomfortable seeing."
This made Dawn giggle madly, and Xander roll his eyes. "Great. You're corrupting Dawn with your ditty mind, Kagura. That was supposed to be Willow's and my job. We called it.", he said with a fake pout. This made all three laugh lightly.
The levity of the moment was broken slightly as a knock came to the door, and Jaken called through, "Kagura, Lord Sesshomaru bids me to tell you that once the young Master is awake and recovered properly, he is to head to the training room three to go over what preparations we have time for while you make you preparation to leave, and I entertain the ningen girl until Shippo is free again."
Xander cleared his throat, then called out, "C'mon in, Jaken. I just woke up."
Jaken entered as he was bade, and said, "Lord Alexander! It does this old youkai good to see you in proper health again."
Xander smiled at the toad youkai, as he motioned for Dawn to get up, so that he could stand up out of his bed. Once he was up, he stretched, then addressed the youkai retainer. "Jaken, I have a task for you."
Jaken's impossible large eyes boggled as he practically fell over himself to accept whatever task Xander set forth. "Of course milord. I live to serve your family, as I have since I first came into your father's service centuries ago. Simply command me, and I will do whatever you ask. It is the least I can do after you father has saved me from the very jaws of death on so many times over the years..."
Xander cut the toad youkai off with a gesture. "That's enough for now Jaken. Actually, I know that dawn was interested in my family's history. I was hoping you could escort her to the private drawing room until Shippo can instruct her again, and tell her some of the Inu Youkai family history."
Jaken looked shocked as he asked, "y yu...you mean the young lady actually /wants/ to hear my stories?"
Dawn grinned happily as she replied, "I'd love to hear then, Jaken. Xander has a tendency to get strong and silent about his own family. I'd really appreciate getting some backstory."
Jaken stood as tall as he could as he replied, "well then, young lady, follow me, and I will regale you with the honored tales of Lord Sesshomaru and his family.", as he headed out the door.
Dawn smiled at Xander, kissed his cheek, and scratched his ears again. "Later Xander. I'll see you after you talk to your dad.", she said, before jogging off after Jaken.
Once Dawn and Jaken had left, Kagura stood from where she had been sitting on the opposite side of the bed, and walked over to Xander. "I should go as well. I'll /see/ you later, Xander.", she said, whispering and blowing in his ear. As she pulled back, she licked her lips, and trailed a finger across the tip of his ear, before winking saucily at him. As she strode out, Xander swore he saw an extra sway in her hips.
He had to suppress a shiver at Kagura's actions as she left. Where before he could write things off as playful flirting with the she-demon, he could smell, and instinctively recognize her attraction and arousal. He'd have to take the time to think over what he thought about that after the situation in the 'Dale was handled.
Once Kagura had left, Xander closed his door, and removed his ceremonial kimono. He searched the room for appropriate training clothes, and found a wrapped bundle on the dresser with a note in his father's handwriting.
/These are the clothes I mentioned earlier, my son. Try them on, and wear them for training. Remember to bring keep the Tetsusaiga with you. Love, Father./
Xander unwrapped the bundle and took out the clothes. They consisted of a pair of black dyed, cargo style, baggy pants, a red, long sleeve pullover shirt, and a long red-brown leather trenchcoat with a pocket inside for the Tetsusaiga's sheath.
Once he was dressed, he found that everything fit perfectly, and that even the position of the Tetsusaiga was comfortable. The only problem was his shoes, which would never stand up to his new foot claws. He'd have to go barefoot, or get some sandals until he could have proper shoes made. Xander, now as dressed as he was going to get, headed off to meet his father.
*****
Sesshomaru sat in meditation, waiting for his son to arrive. He heard and smelled the hanyou long before he saw him. "Hello, my son, I see you armor fits you well. The alteration for your ningen friend's will be done before you leave.", he said.
"That's, Dad. Yeah, they fit well, but I'll need some new shoes made of tougher stuff. My sneaks won't stand up to my claws.". Xander replied with a shrug.
"I will see to it a few pairs are made for you in time for your next visit.", Sesshomaru replied evenly. "Now, this Sesshomaru will give you lessons on youki, and your new sword. I will also show you how I perform my youki whip, and let you read your uncle's notes on the Sankon Tessou. From there, you will eventually develop your own youki claw techniques, as we did emulating our father's. Most important, however, will be the lessons on the history and use of the Tetsusaiga, for the blade will defend you both from demon threats, and from the power of your own blood..."
*****
As Xander was getting his history lesson and instruction, Dawn was getting a lesson of a different kind.
"...and so, Lord Inuyasha used the fearsome power of his father's fang, and removed Lord Sesshomaru's paw to protect his future mate.", Jaken said.
This puzzled Dawn, as she asked, "They were enemies? From what I've heard, I though Xander's dad and uncle were close?"
"Oh, they /were/. later in life. Even then Lord Sesshomaru only sought the fang to improve his own power. He never bore any true malice toward his brother. In truth, he was just trying to toughen him up and force him rely less on humanity. After all the last time he had trusted a ningen, Lord Inuyasha was sealed to a tree in a state of living death for fifty years. Lord Sesshomaru sought to protect his brother from the pains of humanity again. In truth, he did not gain his current respect for humanity until he first met Lady Rin.", Jaken explained.
This caused Dawn, a not so closet romantic to look at a portrait of Sesshomaru and Rin and sigh. "So, it was love at first sight, then."
Jaken laughed, an irritating sound at the best of times, as he replied. "Oh heavens no. Rin was no more than seven when Lord Sesshomaru first encountered her. He was lying, wounded in the forest after a skirmish with Lord Inuyasha when she happened upon him. Although he mostly ignored the child, she continued to bring him food and aid she had stolen from the local village, despite the beatings they gave her for it. This sacrifice began to touch the Master's hardened heart. So much so, that later, when young Rin was killed by wolves, he revived her with the holy power of the Tenseiga. From that day forward, she never left our side."
Dawn scrunched her face at Jaken's words. It was hard to picture Xander's father as some kind of sick demon pedophile.
Jaken seemed to sense where her mind was going, and he scolded her for it. "Get your mind out of the gutter, girl! Lord Sesshomaru cared for her a father cared for a daughter, and that was all, in those days. She was well over sixteen summers when things began to change between them, and that was a _HER_ insistence." Jaken then went into another story, this about how an older Rin conquered and captured the heard of the Prince of the Western Lands.
Dawn paid rapt attention to the romantic story, which went on until the time of Sesshomaru's and Rin's marriage, when another voice interrupted them. "Jeeze, Jaken. We're supposed to be nice to Dawnie, not bore her to death. You still like the sound of your own voice way too much.", Shippo said from where he was leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed.
Jaken huffed indignantly, sticking his pointed chin high into the air, as her replied, "I'll have you know the young lady was enjoying my stories."
Dawn smiled gently as she replied, "I really did, Shippo. It was nice to hear about Xander's family history like this. Jaken's a great story teller."
The kitsune merely rolled his eyes at this as he responded, "You haven't had to listen to the over and over again for five centuries. Trust me, they don't change, and the toad still likes to talk.", eliciting a giggle from Dawn.
Jaken shook his tiny fist angrily as he cried, "Impudent fox! You should show respect to your elders. To think one raised by Lord Inuyasha and his mate could hold such little regard for their history is deplorable."
"I respect their history Jaken. But fir now I'm concerned for their future.", Shippo said. He then turned to Dawn and said, "Speaking of the future, I see learning side arms in yours. We have time. Come on, a good pistol can save your tail." With that, he turned and headed toward the firing range, trusting Dawn to catch up.
Dawn quickly said her goodbyes and thank yous to Jaken, getting him to promise to consider with the story later (Not that took any effort. He loved to prattle on about Sesshomaru's history.), and hurried off to match Shippo's pace. As she reached him, he gave him a puppy dog look as she asked, "Shippo? How can a pistol save my tail when I don't have one?", looking toward his own bushy fox tail.
The kitsune just grinned mischievously as he made a show to stare at her butt before replying, "I don't know. It looks like you have a nice tail to me.", and running off laughing toward the firing range.
Dawn stood there in stunned shock for half a second, before taking off after him, shouting playful insults and threats all the way.
*****
"And now, my son, you can see the wind scar. With that you can perform the Kaze no Kizu, the stroke that can slay a hundred youkai with a single pass.", Sesshomaru said to Xander.
"Yes father.", Xander replied respectfully, his brow wet with sweat.
"Then all that remains, is to test your new skills.", his father replied, as he turned and headed toward an adjoining room. "Follow me."
Xander did as he was ordered, and followed his father to a room filled with various wards. Back against the wall was a Turok-han, also dubbed an uber vamp by the Scooby Gang, chained in place with magick.
"This is the last test for your use of the blade. To see the wind scar between us is simple, for we have great and powerful youki. Now you must find it on this lowly Turok-han, and use the Kaze no Kizu to strike him down. Do not worry about the walls. The wards will protect them. That is what they are there for.", Sesshomaru instructed.
Xander nodded his acquiescence as he stepped forward, raising the transformed fang that was the Tetsusaiga in front of him. He concentrated on the differing energy patterns between him and the uber, after finally finding the uber much smaller energy. It took almost a full minute, but eventually he had it. Once he did, he looked to hoe each patter clashed against the other, creating ethereal 'winds'. Between them was a golden light, the wind scar. As soon as Xander found it, he readied the Tetsusaiga, and called out an attack that had not been hear in nearly five hundred years.
"Kaze no Kizu!"
The poor uber never stood a chance.
*****
END CHAPTER FIVE