Wow, I can't believe how many reviews I got for the first chapter! This seems to be going down well with you guys! It's definately made me feel better about taking on something which has never been done before! You guys rule! Ohh and as to the pairing, Nathan/Buffy won out, sorry for all you who wanted to see her with Katsumoto, I might try and write some brief romance between those two as well.
manticore-gurl071134: Hehe, my first reviewer! Kudos to you! Lol although you didn't say much for me to reply to, thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter.
WhiteWolf3: And a close second reviewer! Also kudos! You're right, knowing the stubborness of Buffy, especially like how she was in the earlier seasons, she's definately not going to co-opperate very easily with anybody! Poor Giles has his work cut out for him! Although you probably don't sympathise v. much with Giles, and yes it may seem a bit unfair for what he's done to Buffy, the whole shoving her through a portal thing, but he has his reasons. And can you imagine the reaction if he'd actually asked her? Would not have been pretty! He believes that Buffy needs this experience, so didn't ask her as he knew she'd protest. Hope you like this chapter!
taryn: Very happy you thought the first chapter was ok, always hard to get people interested from the get go, and thanks for your vote on the pairings!
Xochitl: Thanks for your support, I will definately keep going because I love this story, I just hope I get the reviewer response as well!
Eámanë Aldaríon: Hehe you sound so enthusiastic, thanks! I hope I deliever with the whole Buffy n Giles living with the Samurai, ti's a bit daunting actually! You've won out with the pairing and I agree with your reasons, they're pretty much why I could see them together in the first place! But although yes Nathan is older, he's like 140 odd years younger than her average so hehe! It's just another pretty much doomed relationship. I won't say much but keep in mind that Giles will NOT be happy!
Saint Maverick: Glad you like it, I have in mind for the story to follow the outline of the film, but mainly focusing on Buffy's impact on the Samurai and their's on her.
zayra: Major kudos to you! Hehe I'm so happy to finally be doing something that's original, and I'm so happy you like it, especially my writing style. Yeah I'll try and deliever with the angst, but be warned it's my first time writing angst so it might take a bit of developing. Hope you like this chapter!
Milamber : Thanks your opinion means a lot, I haven't seen any other crossovers like this either so yey I'm original!
Catlimere: Very happy you like the idea but I'm sorry to have to let you down on the Buffy/Katsumoto. But as I said I'll definately establish a good friendship and maybe some mild romance to screw up the process of Nathan/Buffy thus giving more angst. Thanks for all the support and I hope you like this chapter.
Skylar: I'm definately going to continue, never fear, happy you're very interested!
stcobb: Thanks for reviewing hope you likethischapter!
Anna: You'll be happy with the pairing, and thank you for giving me more insight into what I can have them have in common, I didn't think about their soldiers dying, thanks!
Theo: Happy you liked it.
goldenshadows: Glad you like the concept n hope you enjoy this chapter!
Lorency: Got your attention, hope I keep it! Yeah Buffy's reactions will be interesting, but concerning how the men treat her it won't be like the typical LOTR/Buffy crossover where the men/elves look down on her, the Samurai as I explain a bit more in this chapter, already know what a slayer is as one of their own was once the Chosen One, so they will treat her with a bit more respect. Well most will...
Jenn: Woo go new and exciting, and thank you I have never considered myself gutsy before, I like it! And I really appreciate your compliments on my writing style, I love those parts of reviews! And yeah isn't there just loads for Buffy to discover and learn about herself? It's so open! You won out on the pairing, and I agree with your reasons for liking them together. Especially about the stubborness making the whole process long and angsty. But be warned this is kinda my first attempt at writng angst into a story so any hints will be very warmly received!
fan : You be the reader I'll be the storyteller
Just Me: You're not the only one who hasn't considered this idea before, but I'm glad you like it. Enjoy!
dustie: Although I appreciate what you've said about why Nathan/Buffy isn't such a gd idea, the votes are against you and I secretly always prefered them together anyway, despite theobvious fact (as you stated) thathe will definately piss her off. But isn't that when Buffy's at her best, pissed off? Like how Spikeused to make her? I personally couldn't stand all the emotional crappart of her character. Butthere will probably be some mild Katsumoto/Buffy romance and a definate friendship formed. And surely Buffy's stronger thanthat? She wouldn't completely breakdown losing someoneelse, when she knows that she shouldn't embark oncertain relationships in the firstplace? Anyways hope you like thischapter!
Buffy was exhausted, and quite rightly so.
Three days straight of walking directly after an earth-shattering battle were enough to exhaust anyone, even a Slayer. Dawn and her had actually decided on a much needed spa weekend once they had relocated in L.A with Angel and his crew at Wolfram and Hart. Unfortunately, Buffy had never got around to booking it because of a certain British Watcher whose neck was in need of a serious wringing.
Under normal circumstances she would not be ashamed to admit her fatigue but then again, these definitely weren't normal circumstances. She was currently riding a horse for the first time since elementary school through the beautiful, pink-tinged mountainous scenery of 1876 Japan surrounded on each side by silent Samurai warriors. Not your everyday trip. Therefore, she rigidly kept her seat on the horse, forcing her eyes to remain open despite the powerful waves of sleep that threatened to overwhelm her. She was desperately clinging on to the land of the awake in an attempt to save face infront of the warriors; from what little she could remember of her highschool history, no nation of the 1800's looked kindly on opinionated women and if she was to live with the Samurai, she had to be accepted on their terms. She had a hunch that falling asleep and/or falling off her horse wouldn't help and she was anxious to disprove any speculation that she was too weak to keep up with them as warriors, which equaled no nice nap for Buffy.
'Stupid Samurai,' she muttered under her breath, thankfully only being heard (and understood) by Giles, or so she thought. To her embarrassment, the wounded man from the earlier battle managed to lift his head an inch off the horses back to shoot her a wry amused smile before promptly collapsing again. Buffy felt herself blush and looked away from the bound American, urging her horse gently onwards to catch up with Giles, who seemed to be annoyingly comfortable on horseback.
'Hey!' She cried to get his attention. Giles glanced over and offered her a small smile.
'Hello Buffy.'
'Who's that guy they've taken as prisoner?' She blurted out, unable to contain her curiosity. Giles looked over his shoulder to see the man nearly slip off his mount before a Samurai roughly pulled him back up by his hair.
'Nathan Algren I believe,' he replied nonchalantly. Buffy raised an eyebrow.
'And how is that at all helpful?'
'Oh you want details, you should have said.'
'Giles!'
'Algren, yes, well if my facts are correct he has recently been commissioned by the Japanese Army as a Captain to train his troops in modern warfare ready to lead them against the rebel forces,' Giles informed her.
'And who would the rebel forces be?'
'You're riding with them,' Giles replied, his smile widening. Buffy looked disgruntled.
'Oh great, so not only am I stuck in Japan, I'm also stuck with the rebels? Good planning there Mr Watcher.'
'Actually my plans are turning out quite well so far,' he countered mildly. Buffy ignored his last comment, instead sneaking another glance at Nathan Algren.
'Yeah anyway, back to the Captain, why is he here?'
'Well according to history,' Giles began slipping back into studious Watcher mode. 'He was an old War Hero from the Civil War, an alcoholic who suffered greatly from the guilt of war crimes committed in his time in the army. In the first failed attempt to lead the Japanese forces against Katsumoto's rebellion he was taken prisoner, as you've just seen, and Katsumoto keeps Algren with him in an attempt to learn from his so-called enemy. The Japanese are very spiritual people and greatly believe and revere the concept of destiny.'
'Perfect,' Buffy interupted. 'More of that destiny crap.'
'Buffy please! Honestly! As I was saying, due to the concept of destiny Katsumoto believed, well believes, his rebellion to be in service of the emperor. Nathan Algren spent a period of his life learning from the Samurai, giving his life meaning once again, and he chose to fight alongside them against the emperor's forces that he had once trained,' Giles paused. 'Off course all that hasn't happened yet, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention any of that to anyone, we don't want to change the course of history too much.'
'Fine fine, I'll keep quiet,' Buffy grumbled distractedly, digesting all the information she had just been given. As much as she was letting Giles know she was NOT amused at being shoved back in time without her consent, Buffy was exceptionally curious to learn more about the Samurai and Nathan Algren in particular. She was beginning to wonder if maybe Giles had been right in taking her here, if she were ever to warm up to the idea of destiny it would certainly be here amongst these people.
As the sun set in a glorious display of dark reds and oranges that evening, Buffy thankfully fell down from her horse and collapsed very ungracefully next to an exotic looking tree, relishing in getting the feeling back into her leg muscles. Her abandoned horse was taken away by a Samurai who shot her an inquisitive and wary glance as he set about tending to the horse's needs. Giles had disappeared, his horse already tidily unpacked and tethered to a tree with a pale of water to drink from.
'Showoff,' the Slayer murmured, wincing at the pain she could now feel shooting through her limbs as the numbness left her. Dark shapes cast a shadow over her and Buffy looked up eagerly.
'Giles did you find food? Wait…you're not Giles…' she trailed off in humiliation when she saw who really stood above her; Katsumoto who was now partially free of his armour and eyeing her carefully as if waiting for her to attack. Two other men flanked him, one appearing so confrontational it was all she could do not to roll her eyes. His arms were folded, his hands already forming fists. The other man was of advanced age, with a thin face and a wiry body to match, only a breastplate of armour covering his dress like kimono. Oddly Buffy found herself reminiscing about her own blood red silk kimono that she used to sleep in, that was now somewhere in the huge crater that was formally Sunnydale. She was snapped out of her trance however when Katsumoto spoke to her once again in his slow broken English.
'Rest now, and do not disturb my men, someone will bring you and your Watcher food.' With that said, Katsumoto turned and walked away dismissively, his men following in his wake, before she'd even had a chance to get to her feet and say something. Well, considering the sate she was in after riding, just say something rather than manage the whole standing up thing.
'Do not disturb my men, what the hell is that all about,' she grumbled.
'I think he means don't take any of your clothes off to sleep,' Giles answered as he approached. 'In case you haven't noticed you are the only woman in the camp Buffy,' Giles pondered for a moment. 'Or he could mean for you not to attack anyone, I'm not entirely sure.'
'Geez that's so helpful,' she replied sarcastically. 'And yeah stripping down to my underwear infront of about thirty plus men one of them being my Watcher not high on my to-do list,' she made an disgusted face which quickly disappeared as a thought crossed her mind. 'Wait, the chief guy said 'Your Watcher!' Giles! You told them I was a Slayer? What were you thinking? And they know what it is?' She demanded incredulously. Giles sighed.
'Buffy I was about to be gutted like a fish, so forgive me if I gave away your secret to save my neck. And yes they have heard of the Slayer as about five years ago, one of Katsumoto's people became a Slayer, and she died three years afterwards. They consider it to be a great honour.'
'More like a great burden stroke pain in the neck!' Buffy exclaimed, shifting against the tree as her bum had started to go to sleep on her. A samurai approached and gave them each a wooden bowl of food, Giles saying something in Japanese to which the man bowed.
'Um thanks,' Buffy said uncertainly. The man looked at her strangely and she tried again. 'Um, thank you?' The man shrugged before leaving them with the food. Buffy eyed the rice suspiciously, taking a tiny bit. It was actually really good so she started to pig out, realising just how hungry she was.
'The whole language barrier thing is going to get really old, really fast,' she said to Giles between mouthfuls.
'You could try to learn Japanese.' She snorted.
'Giles I failed highschool French, what makes you think I could learn something as difficult as Japanese?'
'You had other commitments in highschool.' She gave him a cynical look.
'I would have failed anyway.' Giles shrugged and grinned.
'Probably.'
'Hey!' They ate the rest of their food in silence and Giles got up to give their empty bowls back to the Samurai. Upon returned, he smiled to see that Buffy had finally given into sleep and had curled herself into an uncomfortable little ball. Giles retrieved a blanket from his backpack and settled himself on the ground, moving Buffy so that her head rested upon his shoulder, her position a lot more comfortable. He arranged the blanket around them and in a loving, fatherly gesture kissed the top of her head.
'Sleep Buffy, god knows you'll need it,' he murmured looking up at the stars as he felt himself drift off into a peaceful sleep.
Rudely awakened at dawn, Buffy was forced to leave the comfort of Giles's shoulder and the woolen blanket to get on her stupid horse again for another half a day's trekking until they reached Katsumoto's son's village, or so Giles informed her.
'That's where we'll be staying?' She asked him as the made the slow progress over the uneven terrain.
'Yes, as will Algren, until the snow melts and the paths are clear. That is when Katsumoto will travel to the capital in an attempt to negotiate with the Emperor before the final confrontation, and that's also when we'll leave. We don't want to get too involved with the politics, we're not here for that and we certainly can't…'
'Change history?' Buffy supplied sweetly. 'You already mentioned that part, besides we won't even need to be here that long right?' He didn't answer and she began to panic. 'Right?'
'We will be here for around six months,' Giles replied, gaze averted waiting for the expected reaction.
'WHAT?' Buffy yelled, attracting the attention of several of the Samurai, as well as the semi-conscious Nathan who could only just make out the blonde woman riding alongside the British man. 'We're staying for six months? How dare you! How dare you drag me here and tell me I'm stuck in Japan for six freakin' months! Not even modern day Japan at that! What about Dawn? My friends? And the potentials, finding the new Slayers? What about them?' Buffy finished her rant and glared at Giles waiting for his answer. Reluctantly he met her furious gaze.
'Everyone in L.A has been informed of the situation and Xander and Willow have agreed to look after Dawn while you're gone. She's going to school in L.A, Hemery I think, and Angel's set up a special unit in Wolfram and Hart for locating and training the new Slayers, Faith's sorting it out, linking it with what's left of the Watcher's Council in England. Wesley's taking control of rebuilding it.' Buffy was completely speechless; her friends knew? And everything had been decided without her knowledge. Plus FAITH was running the show back home as the original Slayer! How much more could things suck!
'Buffy,' Giles began but she cut him off with a sharp look.
'I don't want to talk to you at the moment,' she said harshly before moving her horse away from his, lost in her thoughts.
I know it was short, but it was more of a connecting chapter, the next will definately be longer. Review!