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 stood relaxed, feet shoulder width apart, arms extended, and both eyes open. After a long moment, five set of three loud ^CRACK^s filled the air, piercing the night.
"Nice set Dawn. You hit center mass on twelve of fifteen rounds at thirty paces, with five in the heart. For a rookie, that's phenomenal.", Shippo complimented, as Dawn ejected the clip, and replaced it as she had been shown.
"Yeah, that's the best set I've seen since...me.", a voice shouted from behind them, startling Dawn, but not seeming to affect the kitsune.
"Xander!", she cried, as she safetied and set down the 9mm Glock she as training on, before she rushed to and and hugged the White Knight.
Shippo just huffed and crossed his arms as he said, "You cheated, Mr. Military training through possession. You're better with an M-16 that /I/ am."
"When you've got it flaunt it, Ship." Xander said with a shrug as he returned Dawn's hug. "You guys just about ready? I think Kagura and Jaken have their stuff together.", he asked as he let Dawn go.
"As ready as I can get.", Dawn answered. "How about you? This go good learning the mystery that is Tetsusaiga?"
Xander lowered his voice as he replied, "My skills are complete. Indeed I /am? powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen."
"Nerd.", Dawn commented as she backhanded the hanyou lightly on the chest.
"Brat.", he answered, sticking his tongue out.
Shippo cleared his throat to break up the moment, but was smiling ruefully as he said, "Good luck, Xander. I wish I was going with you."
Xander nodded in understanding, but Dawn asked, "Why can't you? I mean I know things here are tight with the First being a general pain, but why can't you come along?"
"Sesshomaru's only letting Kagura and Jaken go because he worries about Xander alot. Not that Kagura might not go anyway. She's been in charge of watching our newest puppy and keeping him alive for a while." Shippo said with a teasing grin at Xander, which was answered with an indignant snort that made the kitsune think of Inuyasha. This made him smile sadly for a second before he continued. "Actually, we've been having real problems with Turok-han being added to bolster the ranks of the local clans of the Scourge. The FE is using them as its front line shock troops to either recruit or kill off all the unaligned demons in the area. We've lost three friendly clans, and four safehouses in two weeks. I need to stay to coordinate my fellow kitsune.", he explained.
"Good luck, fox boy.", Xander said, his voice colored heavily with respect.
"You too, Xander. Give 'em hell. Just like oto...Inuyasha would have.", Shippo said, his eyes growing misty.
The newly reawakened hanyou nodded solemnly, before grinning to lighten the mood. "I'll practice saying 'Feh!' for the next time I see you."
This made Shippo bark a laugh as he replied, "Man, Jaken really does talk too much."
"/Tell/ me about it.", Xander replied.
Finally, they finished their goodbyes, and Dawn and Xander exited the firing range, Dawn securing the pistol behind her back in the holster Shippo had given her earlier.
"So what's the plan?", she asked Xander as they headed back toward the bedchambers area of the estate.
"Dad said your fire rat armored clothes should be done by now. He had them sent to Kagura's room, so I'll take you there, and let you try them on. Then we all head to the stable to meet Jaken and head back to SunnyD. From there, we get my car, and hope the eight or so hours we've been here are enough time for the vans to have arrived safely. Then...I guess we figure out intangible lad's game, and spoil it. Hopefully without Buffy embarrassing herself by attacking me.", Xander replied, his voice slipping unconsciously into 'assault plan mode'.
"Someone has a high opinion of himself, even if Buffy is a vampire trusting froob at the moment.", Dawn said with a raised eyebrow.
"I can move in bursts too fast for anything short of another hanyou or youkai to see now, Dawn. Granted I look like a crippled old man compared to my dad in that area, but I could still outrun Buff's best shot. And is peroxide boy gets involved, I might have a new chew toy.", Xander replied, his voice sinking into a growl at the end.
"Not complaining with a game of hurt the Spike, but we have other things to worry about Xan. You know she'll blow several gaskets over this.", Dawn countered.
"I know. Look, despite everything, I love Buffy like a sister. Granted, she's the still hot, but seriously deranged necrophiliac sister now, but she's still family. A part of my pack. I'll find a way to make her deal. Besides who argues with Buffy better than me?", Xander responded.
"Giles", Dawn promptly responded cheekily. After a moment, she asked, "And if this goes as spectacularly as the last time Buffy and Giles argued, what's plan B?"
"We dope her up real good?", Xander suggested.
This made Dawn giggle and laugh all the way to Kagura's door.
*****
Kagura was inspecting the material for Dawn's new combat clothes. They consisted of a tasteful pair of fire rat leather pants, capable of stopping most edged weapons, and quite a few projectiles, as well as being impervious to fire and heat, as all fire rat clothes were, along with their wearer. The outfit also had a dark red turtle necked top, sure to frustrate any biting vampire, and a black, waist length, fire rat leather jacket filled with packet to secret weapons and ammo. With it all were the slings and harnesses for Dawn to easily carry her MP-5, or her flamethrower with her. All in all it was a good set. It was dark enough to give some camouflage at night, and looked modern enough not to stick out.
The armor was very similar to what Kagura now wore, minus the fact her shirt was a deep green that brought out the red in her eyes. She only wore her kimono for special occasions now, even if she did still prefer her fans and wind attacks to modern weapons. Armor was always a nice fall back for a youkai to have.
She smiled as a knock came to her door. Her smile widened when she saw Xander and Dawn there. "Why hello you two. Dawn, Lord Sesshomaru delivered your armor. It's on my dresser.", she said to the only full human of the trio.
"Ok, I'll get it and change, and we can get gone.", the former key replied with a grin.
"Take your time. I can give Xander a tour of my room while we wait.", Kagura responded, eying the hanyou up and down, and licking her lips, causing Xander to blush.
Dawn smiled wickedly as she said, "If you need time, I'm sure Jaken has more stories to tell me. I could get dressed quick, them meet you two at the stables after the...tour."
"Why that's a wonderful idea, Dawn! You're such a thoughtful friend to give Xander a little more time to get to know _every_ /inch/ of the estate...personally.", Kagura replied with a predatory grin.
"More like biblical.", Xander mumbled uncomfortably, his blush increasing. Damned pheromones from Kagura were leaving him tongue tied.
This made both women giggle in unison, before Kagura put on a fake shocked expression, and placed her right palm to her face as she exclaimed, "Why Lord Alexander, you're not suggesting anything...improper, are you?"
Xander smirked sarcastically as he replied, "Nah, that's you're job. I'll just wait for you ladies at the stables, and try to salvage some of my dignity while I still have it."
"See you in a few, Lassie!", Dawn said with a grin, at his retreating back, making Xander flatten his ears and increase his pace, muttering about bad influences.
Once he was gone, Kagura closed the door, and tuned to Dawn as she asked, "Lassie?"
"We all made pirate jokes when he lost his eye. I'm just helping him cope the best way I can. Thought taunting him as any good Little Sis should.", Dawn replied as she changed.
"You do know that Lassie was always a female right?, Kagura inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Oops.", Dawn responded flatly, making Kagura laugh heartily.
*****
Xander arrived at the stable to find his father and Jaken waiting for him. "Dawn changing. Once she's ready, the girls will meet us here, and we'll be ready to kick this pig.", Xander said, earning a look of puzzlement from Jaken, and a small grin from his father.
"Down Periscope.", Sesshomaru said emotionlessly, his eyes shining with mirth as he looked upon his properly hanyou son.
Xander barked in pleased laughter as he responded, "You've been practicing."
"I've always enjoyed Kelsey Grammar's work.", the Tai Inu Youkai if the rest said, his voice still an unchanging deadpan.
Xander decided it would be too hard to figure out if Sesshomaru was joking or not, so merely shrugged and said, "I heard from Shippo that things here are awfully hairy. Will you need any help after we settle things in Sunnydale?"
"No. Once we find the Scourge's lair, this Sesshomaru will show them his power at the end of the Tokijen. They will know the folly of defying our house and the laws we have set. You will be able to rest until you come for you regular visit."
"Just be careful, father. I've only had a few years to get to know you. I don't want them to end prematurely."
"Hmmph, as if those face rotted weaklings could harm Lord Sesshomaru. you should know better than that, young master.", Jaken exclaimed, though hew was mostly ignored by father and son.
"Will it be alright if I come a little early? I...kind of want to spend more time with you when we can.", Xander asked.
Sesshomaru merely nodded, his face breaking into a small grin again, before moving toward Xander and surprising both his son, and his retainer, by hugging the White Knight publicly. Ashe held his son, he whispered, "Take care, pup.", which was answered with a "You too, /pop/.", before they stepped away from each other.
Sesshomaru growled low in his throat as he admonished, "Never call me that again, boy." It was hard to keep the angered facade in place, however, in the face of his son's open and unrepentant grin.
Jaken looked on in silent amazement at the interaction between his Lord, and his Lord's son. *Truly, Alexander's return was a gift from the heavens. Lord Sesshomaru seems happier than I have seen him in over two decades.*, the old toad youkai thought to himself.
The moment of silent camaraderie was broken by the arrival of Kagura and Dawn, an arrival easily heard and smelt long before it was seen by the descendants of Inutaisho in the stable.
"Please forgive the wait, milord.", Kagura said with a bow, an action followed uncertainly by Dawn.
"It is of no concern. This Sophomore enjoyed the extra moments to speak with my son.", Xander's father said in reply. "Ah-Un is ready with a larger chariot to accommodate you all, but will return after he has dropped you off.", he said, addressing the group as a whole, as Dawn moved to stand beside Xander.
"Thank you for having me in your home, Sesshomaru-sama.", she said with a bow.
"Thank you for watching over my pup.", The Lord said in reply to her. "You are free to visit these estates whenever you wish as an honored guest, Miss Summers." His attention moved to Kagura as he said, "A word, Kagura."
The wind sorceress nodded her acquiescence, moving off to speak with her lord in tones too low for even Xander to hear.
"Kagura. You have been my friend for many years, so this Sesshomaru will only say this. Take care of them, and yourself. And come back alive.", the Lord said, his voice as steady as it always was.
"I will, Sesshomaru. I swear it.", she said solemnly, before heading toward the group, and the Lord of the Western Lands left the stable to attend to his business.
"What was that about?", Xander asked, concerned as she returned to them.
"Just a promise to an old friend. Now, let's get going. I keel like showing the First Evil what it stirred up when it attacked Xander.", She said.
Jaken, who was controlling Ah-Un, nodded in agreement from the crate he was standing on to see over the lip of the chariot. "Well spoken, Kagura. We shall show that foolish ball of mist the true power of the youkai.", he said, as he snapped the demon dragon's reigns, making it take off into the sky.
*****
END CHAPTER 6