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.
*****
As the Scoobies got their act together for their assault, Spike was doing the same with the army of Bringers and Turok-hahn he had inherited. "Right then, we keep a perimeter of Bringers so we know when the Slayer an' her crew are comin'. I want all the uglies waitin' in the sewers so we can cut them off inside the Hellmouth. From there, we'll have us a right good slaughter. Jus' remember, You can hurt Angel and the pup all you want, but I get to off 'em. And Buffy's mine. Anyone gets creative here, they answer to me." the bleached blonde vampire stated.
The Bringers and Turok-hahn, either mute, or incapable of human speech, respectively, just nodded in agreement.
*****
As night fell over the Summers home, a feast had been set up by the original Scooby Gang to feed the multitudes. It was Xander's opinion that everyone should have a good meal to help them stay loose and calm the night before the big battle. He was quickly seconded by Faith and Buffy both, whose Slayer metabolisms required large quantities to begin with.
Strangely, this was also the first time Jaken and Kagura got to formally meet Andrew. He'd always seemed to fall into the background, hearing and seeing things, but not really making a major difference. It was Kagura, who had hardly left Xander's side since what the house was calling the 'big kiss' (much to their annoyance and Jaken's squawking about propriety), finally who asked, "Xander, who is that strange little man again?", as she watched Andrew extol the virtues of Star Trek to a half dozen bored potentials.
Xander shrugged indifferently from where he was eating his third cup of ramen as he replied, "Andrew Wells. Small time demon summoner, sci-fi nerd, and former pawn of the First. He somehow went from being a prisoner to being well...that."
At his words Kagura and Jaken shared a look. They both knew of Andrew from the spy reports about the so called Trio last year, and their triggering of Willow's rage. They had never really looked at what Andrew's contributions to the groups were, though. Something was wrong about the lad. For one, how could such a weak, sniveling little ningen summon and control demons? they'd eat him within minutes. They were missing something.
Kagura started to look over Andrew more closely then, causing the seemingly unaware blonde to sweat visibly. His increased heart rate and scent caught Xander's attention as he finished his ramen. Finally the hanyou asked, "Why do you want to know? I figure you'd know all about the trio and their actions."
Kagura did something totally against her personality and ignored Xander as she calmly said, "Jaken."
The toad youkai nodded in reply as he replied, "Of course, Kagura." He then walked up to Andrew and cleared his throat loudly. "Uhm, excuse me, everyone." the retainer croaked.
"Uh, yes?" Andrew asked nervously as le looked over the toad youkai next to him, while the girls just looked on curiously. "Can I help you?"
Jaken's only reply was to wind up the Staff of Souls, which glowed with power, and strike Andrew full force in the face, knocking him across the room, and making him glow with a purple light.
This got the attention of the rest of the house, who either cried out in shock, of yelled their displeasure at the demon's actions, which looked intentionally lethal. Well, a few laughed, but would deny it later.
"What the Hell did you lay into the geek like that for, Froggy?" Faith asked in shock, as Buffy looked as if she was getting ready to attack the youkai.
It was not Jaken who answered, thus stopping Buffy's motion, but Kagura, who moved forward from her place next to a bewildered Xander.
"The very idea that so scrawny and pathetic a human could survive this long while trying to summon demons is ludicrous. Jaken hit him with a spell that will show what this little ningen is hiding." she said coldly, glaring at Andrew the whole time, as she drew her fan.
Willow was the first to protest where they thought the demons were going as she said, "But he can't be the First! He's all solid and stuff, and Jaken just hit him."
"Foolish witch! We never said he was the First. If Lord Alexander had more time to grow into his senses, and if he was not already used to this one from before his transformation, he'd have picked up on it too." the toad youkai admonished stubbornly.
"What are you talking about?" Xander asked seriously, as he flexed his claws and eyes Andrew more suspiciously.
"You wouldn't be old enough to recognize it, Xander. Even Jaken and I needed to confirm each other's suspicions before we acted. It was quite a good concealing spell. If Jaken wasn't so old, and I was not his daughter, we might have missed the deception." Kagura replied evenly, making Xander go pale, and confusing the others.
A sense of sudden dread filled the room as a red-eyed Andrew began to chuckle darkly as he looked up from where he was slumped over. "Finally figured it out, eh, sis? Took you long enough."
"I knew they needed a proper spy for a scrying focus, just as we used a Xander's nature to pierce the natural interference of the Hellmouth. I just never imagined Naraku would create something so...pathetic." she sniffed indignantly.
"Oh, but I am the perfect spy. And Father and the First do like to plan ahead. I think it worked out quite nicely. I corrupted a potentially powerful magic wielder in Jonathan, then killed him, nearly led their pet witch to true madness, and kept an eye on things while worming into their hearts. Not bad for someone so weak." he replied to the stunned horror of the room in general, as be began to stand.
Xander was growled low in his throat, advancing toward Andrew when Kagura spoke. "Save your effort, milord. I'll be _happy_ to handle this. I've never been fond of Naraku's willing puppets." she said as she threw Andrew out the door in a controlled gust of Gale force wind.
It was once outside that Andrew showed his one demonic power, speed. He took off running at a pace that nobody but Xander could hope to match among them. Unfortunately for Andrew, he wasn't faster than the wind.
"Dance of the Wind!" Kagura shouted as she went into her favorite technique, launching dozens of razor sharp wind blades at the fleeing demon spy. What was left of Andrew after they struck could barely be classified as messy roadkill. It certainly wouldn't be enough to bother to bury. "Be sure and give my regards to Naraku when we send him to meet you in Hell." she sneered at the distant mass of flesh.
The watching Scoobies, minus Xander, who had seen her practice when he first visited his father, were in awe at the display of power.
"Damn." Faith said succinctly.
"Quite." Giles added, a bit befuddled and unnerved.
"Uh, Xander? Remind me to thank you for asking her to avoid violence the next time she argues with me." Buffy said meekly.
"No problem Buff. And hey, if she does kill you, I'll just bring you back. It's what I do." he replied flippantly.
At that, both Willow and Buffy rolled their eyes and backhanded him across the chest simultaneously. "Dork." they said in unison.
"And proud of it." he responded cockily, as he strode forward to see if Kagura was alright. She hated Naraku with a passion, and the thought that he had a spy here she had missed for over a year would shake her deeply.
As he strode toward the demoness, he called over his shoulder, "Willow, get the spell components together. We'll do it here, in the morning before we leave, to prevent party crashers and to get an early drop on Spike. Is that good for you?"
"Yeah, Xan. That's fine. Now go take care of your girlfriend, mister I couldn't wait until that night so my best friend will loose both her private bet with Kennedy, and in the pool." she replied with a grin
"Well, faith owes me fifty for the Yankees/Boston game that first night I was in the hospital. Fate smiles of those that owe me money." Xander replied casually.
As Xander went and hugged his demon girlfriend, Willow remembered the game in question, and turned to Faith with a gasp. "You bet /against/ Boston?"
The Dark Slayer shrugged as she replied. "It was the Yankees, and I'm from Boston. I figured I'd know if my boys were due or not. Serves me right, I guess." she said.
*****
END CHAPTER 18