Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire slayer, Noir, or Naruto. All rights belong to their creators and producers so please do not sue.
Author Note 1: This is my second attempt at a BTVS fanfic and my first attempt at a crossover of this magnitude so make sure to give me feedback.
Author note 2: To those who know my work no I have not given up on "Mazoku" I do intend to finish it but this story will not die in my head and demands to be written.
Author note 3: I am in the market for a beta reader please let me know in the review if you would like the job as I am quite desperate.
Author note 4: I have never attempted a story like this and anyone who truly knows the world of "Noir" that might help me out after this chapter I would greatly appreciate it.
Summary: Memories- they are like grains of sand that can slip away or be forced into a compacted space. Who is he really? What is the path he must take? He has forgotten those times to be left waiting for the call. Yet on all hallows eve a mistake shall awaken what he has lost. Given the mind of a genius murderer and the return of what he never knew he lost. The legacy of the third will be written in blood.
Now on with the Show
Alexander
Chapter Thirteen: Requiem of Lost Innocence
Jonathan Wyndam-Pryce smiled as he read over the first report from his son Wesley. The boy was completely inept at being a field watcher and easy to control, which made him perfect for Jonathan's plans. Quentin Travers was dead and the ranks of his supporters broken allowing his own faction to slowly begin taking over the council.
"Quentin you damned fool I hope your rotting in the deepest pits of hell." He muttered finishing the letter. Officially the council carried on as a unified force as it always had been but unofficially there was a war going on inside the council for control. Travers had been the leader and conductor for one side since the beginning.
'Alexander played his part beautifully just as I envisioned. All I had to do was make Quentin paranoid enough to oversee Slayer Summers Cruciamentum and Alexander would deal with him for me. The boy will make a fine watcher one day but first it's time to thin the herd of loyalists to Quentin and his ways more. Perform well for me Alexander I know you can do it.' He thought and then picked up his phone dialing a number.
"This is Jonathan I believe I know the identity of the assassin who went after the late Mr. Travers. He's in Sunnydale now I suggest we gather a large force the man is no doubt dangerous. I'll send a list of names for the teams going in the morning. Goodnight to you as well" he said hanging up at the end.
"This should be a true test Alexander pass and I can call it all just self-defense for being assaulted. Fail and well you'll make a lovely scapegoat for us." He chuckled burning Wesley's letter.
Sunnydale High School
Xander and Faith sat under a tree during lunch simply enjoying each others company for the moment. The past two weeks had become hectic for both and it was small moments of peace like this that had to be treasured. Despite Xander's attempts to break away from everyone especially Faith they seemed to fail and slowly the assassin had been drawn closer to the group so finally he just stopped trying. The new Watcher was even attempting to teach Xander and failing miserably, when he discovered he was simply talking to a shadow clone.
"Are you sure Boytoy? I mean knowing is one thing but coming right out and telling everyone you know and what you know is another." Faith said watching the teenage assassin quietly eat a package of pockey from his bento.
"Things are coming to a head Faith both with us here dealing with the Mayor and with the Soldats front Mireille and Kirika are dealing with. The trials are coming to a close and I fear Mireille is going to snap. I need to get all of my knowledge out there to the rest of the gang and figure out if this is where I belong."
"You're worried that when you fight that chick you won't be coming back?" Faith asked.
"Pretty much and if I go I want the record clean or at least know where I stand with people I would kill for."
"I hate it when you get all reflective it's like watching PBS or something. You're going to win and then we're all gonna celebrate with a nice and simple apocalypse to stop." Faith said sticking her tongue out.
"The Xander you are watching was paid for in part by 'Hellmouth fighters like you' providing quality angst since 1945." He deadpanned and then laughed.
"That was bad Boytoy even for you."
"I have a way with words what can I say now if only I had a way with women."
"Oh and that reminds me what did you and English talk about a couple weeks back?"
"She asked me if killed someone."
"Did you?"
"Do you honestly want to know?"
"Yeah I really do. Look Boytoy I accept that this is something you do and unlike the other guys I've seen that part of you so yeah I want to know."
Putting his bento away he laid down in the grass his hands going behind his head and his eyes looking up through the tree and at the clouds. He laid there thinking for a minute before he answered.
"For every Lindsey and Giles there is someone like Quentin Travers or someone who would follow such a man. People who follow only one way of thinking so much that they twist it in order to gain power and wealth. He killed people directly or indirectly to get the position he held. Slayers were murdered because of him just to make sure they had a properly trained and obedient slayer on their leash. A child lost his mother because of him and who knows maybe many other orphans have him as the cause. That is what I was forged to avenge. Punishment was given and if I am evil because of that then so be it."
Nothing more could be said between the two.
Library
Buffy blinked as she entered the library to find a strange scene. There were a total of four Xander's in the room each playing either a flute drum guitar or fiddle. They seemed to playing an Irish folk song and entertaining the rest of the gang.
As the song ended three of the Xander's along with the instruments vanished in puffs of smoke. The last and real Xander took a bow before gesturing for Buffy to take a seat.
"Ok folks seeing as we have a lull in the whole evil Mayor thing I thought it might be a good idea if we talked. I need to explain some things to all of you and then we need to decide as a whole if I am to remain here with you or if we have grown to far apart."
Before he could go on the doors burst open and men in full body armor rushed in with rifles poised to fire quickly surrounding the group. Alexander flipped out of his chair and landed behind it immediately falling into the cold mindset of a trained assassin.
"Alexander Giles on the authority of the Council of Watchers you are under arrest for the assassination of Quentin Travers and his envoy. Come along quietly or you will be forced." Wesley spoke entering last dressed with only a vest over his usual suit.
"To seek justice for a murderer is folly. I will not comply." He responded.
"Xander you didn't." Giles asked through the group shock.
"Those who would do what you were planning to do to Buffy have no right to judge anyone especially without proof."
"Alexander you cannot win this fight and if you try to one of your friends might get hurt please come along peacefully." Wesley attempted.
""Faith explain things while I enjoy their company." Alexander ordered flying through a set of seals.
"Kokuangyou no Jutsu" (Journey into Black Darkness Technique) suddenly the entire room was plunged into complete darkness and when it lifted Alexander was no where to be seen.
"We do it our way now lad's safeties off." The team leader ordered and the men moved out.
Wesley found himself slammed against the wall a second later by an Irate looking Faith.
"Ok Weasel what the hell is going on and if you lie to me I promise you it will hurt." She hissed.
"A reliable person within the Council accused Alexander of the death of Quentin Travers there was no choice but to capture and bring Alexander to England for trial." He spoke when was able to breath.
"He got what he deserved from what I heard and just what proof do you have Boytoy did anything."
"This person had no reason to lie what other proof do we need?"
"Faith put him down this instant!" Lindsey ordered and watched her drop the scared man.
"This ain't right and you know it English especially after the little surprise G had for B's eighteenth." She raged.
"Faith what are you talking about?" Buffy asked her mind spinning with the last few minutes happenings.
"Go on G tell B all about that fun ritual all slayers go through at eighteen. You know the one where you take all her powers away and force her to fight a Master vamp? Boytoy filled me in on it and English you try that on me and we are through."
"Xander told you about the Cruciamentum?" came form the mouth of all three watchers.
"Boytoy told me a lot of things I never would've guessed. He trusts me unlike the rest of you do him."
"Hey we trust Xander!" Willow spoke up getting angry at someone saying she didn't trust her best friend.
"You got a funny way of showing it Red. Boytoy loves you guys even when you treat him like crap and hide things he needs to know from him. Man's far too loyal for his own good."
"What are you talking about?"
"Let me tell you guys a story. One Red and B wanted to keep from you guys and Boytoy and how after we heard it Boytoy lost control of his emotions. Let me tell you guys about Project Alexander."
Buffy and Willow paled.
Grave
Alexander kneeled before the grave of Jesse gently placing a black rose against the headstone. After escaping the library he'd went home and grabbed his weapons before coming to this spot. He'd felt a presence following him ever since those fools tried to arrest him and so he decided there was no better fitting place to face that presence and every fear and doubt in his mind.
"Hello Valkyrie" he spoke not even looking up as he felt someone in the area.
"You know I never much liked that name I would've preferred Pestilence much more." She said tapping her chin in thought to his back.
"What are names to those fated to die? If it comforts you though it shall be the name engraved on your tombstone." He replied standing and slowly turning to face and see her for the first time.
She had sky blue eyes and hair the exact same color of his flowing down her back like a dark waterfall. A pale beauty seemingly untouched by age she wore a black skirt and blouse with knee length boots and fingerless gloves a black cloak encircling her form with the hood left down.
"Perhaps I did not come to fight Alexander? You seem so quick to judge me because of a past event you were not alive to see."
"You committed the ultimate sin and betrayed everything you were supposed to stand for. How could you call yourself Noir and then attack your partner even on the orders of the corrupt? Noir is supposed to protect and avenge the newborns the sword of darkness that Soldats forges in Noir was not meant to break itself. Because of your actions I was born. Because of you this bastard child of alchemy was created and now I don't know who or what I am. You are the one solely responsible for my pain and confusion and yet it's not fair that I cannot kill you!" He accused letting his feelings about his birth leak out.
"Noir is the tool of Soldats Alexander as it changes so must we. What you call corrupt is only the words Altena fed you as a child to help her own agenda. What do you truly know of Soldats that she did not teach you? Never once have you questioned the word of Altena and listened to others. When she learned of the project she made sure the prophecy Soldats saw was just enough to reinforce the plan to create you. The time when Noir was truly needed has passed yet now it serves a new purpose one that will occur even after Altena is allowed to complete the ritual."
"Then no matter what I chose I become nothing more then a tool." He said turning back to the grave.
"You are one of the few the High priest has blessed that wasn't chosen to perhaps be Noir Alexander if nothing else that proves you are more then a simple tool. Soldats wants you to return Alexander to fight at the side of the true Noir and in that become rich and powerful enough to one day set your gun aside for good." She spoke walking up to the grave and standing by his side.
"The price is eternally being linked to Soldats and death if I ever rebel. I am one of the few who know just whom Kirika was sent to kill the same night I murdered one of my fathers."
"Altena is the one who ordered that. She may have opposed using Kirika but when the death of that man was necessary she jumped at the chance to use her precious Alexander."
"That's not true!" he hissed placing a hand on the headstone.
"She took everything that wasn't essential to her plans away from you Alexander. Altena forged you into the perfect sword to insure her Noir was the only one to awaken and her Soldats was the only Soldats that would survive your wraith. You believe nothing good came from the current Soldats? Then perhaps you will remember thus." She pulled a box from her cloak and sat it upon the headstone.
The box was made from oak and painted black with white and blue vine shapes curling or running all over its surface. Metal pieces ran along the side to make it appear to be a miniature trunk even sporting a pair of tiny handles.
Alexander lifted his hand to let it run along the smooth surface memorizing every inch of the box. Slowly he brought a finger to the front clasp and lifting the box open. Inside there was space for things to be kept but at the back was an old mechanism that began to turn and emit a beautiful melody that seemed impossible for the level of technology. Resting atop the mechanism was a small figurine of a knight dressed in white with his sword pointed at the ground.
'Flash'
'Alexander was dressed in his normal attire of black pants and a white shirt but was no older then three or four. He was standing in front of a woman easily in her twenties with short hair the same color as his own and wearing a lab coat over a white and cream colored uniform. She was leaning forward with a smile in her hands she held out the same box to him.
"I thought that maybe since we don't have a piano here this could keep you company I know you miss being home and maybe this will take away the loneliness." She said placing the box in his hands.
"I… Thank you very much." He replied politely and opened it to discover the song playing and the knight he looked to the woman questioningly.
"You always look so sad or alone I thought that this music would reflect that and you seem like a knight to me. A gallant warrior rushing into battle to protect those he loves. Maybe one day you will even be knighted by the queen of England herself or maybe France will make you a musketeer." She said with a laugh.
'Flash'
Alexander shut the music box turning the music off and allowed his eyes to open not even sure when he had closed them. Turning his head he found the woman had not moved from his side.
"Dr. Ibiki gave you the things you craved more then life itself yet she was the first person you were ripped away from."
"I crave nothing what I do has to be done be it slaying demons or killing for money."
"Alexander above all else you crave recognition as well as other things closely related to it. When you trained under Altena you pushed yourself to near death just so she would praise you. At the base you performed everything as best you could to impress the head of project Alexander and Dr. Ibiki. The Harris's you tried to be perfect for them with grades manners and even just being a shadow out of there way. Your friends after the incident with the bully you tried to be loud and comical hiding anything bothering you away just to be their rock. The watcher when you met him you wanted so bad to revert to the good child but your fear stopped you so instead you remained the jester. Everyone you ever met Alexander all you wanted was to be recognized and loved."
"Everyone wants to be loved I doubt your suspicion and it doesn't change who or what I am."
"If you continue to defy them they will ask me to kill you Alexander do you honestly care so little for your own life."
"I don't know what to do I can't even figure out who I am anymore. Chloe, Kirika, and Altena if I go with you I'll have betrayed them the only family I've ever really known before Sunnydale."
"Noir will be created Alexander but it will be under Soldats control not under this faction that wants some 'grand return' Kirika and Mireille or Kirika and Chloe will be by your side. You know what the prophecy says about you and her. We cannot have one without the other."
"The odds of that happening are astronomical."
"It is coded into your very genetics Alexander and in her mind it will happen."
"I have some business to handle I thank you for the words I will consider them." Picking up the music box he turned to walk away.
"Alexander." He stopped at her call.
"I am still on orders to help the Mayor we are enemies and one of us may have to die do not expect me to spare you."
"I swore to kill you already your fate was sealed." He spoke before leaving and leading the Watcher team away.
Library
Faith Paced the length of the floor after she finished telling the story of what was on the disk and then filling everyone in on just what it did to Xander and was doing to him even now. Patience was not one of the Bostonian slayers virtues and waiting for Xander to just pop up or get word that he was snagged was getting to test on her last nerve.
"Faith please calm down your walking is making me quite dizzy." Lindsey said after her fifth trip across the floor.
"We should've heard something by now Boytoy ain't an amateur and those losers wouldn't last five minutes if he took this serious. Only thing that might stop him is it came down to killing them. Damn it I should go out and find him not like his chakra is hard to miss in this town." She fumed sitting down.
"As good as young Alexander must be it matters very little. Every man out there was hand picked and fairly close to Mr. Travers he is out numbered and they most likely want to shoot him on sight." Wesley said his mind trying to wrap around the story he was just told.
Cordelia was silent though as she contemplated the story in her mind and trying to figure out just how someone could live with learning that about themselves. She and Xander were on good terms with the occasional argument to spice things up and keep them in practice and because they enjoyed the verbal sparring matches. Xander had sat down with her and talked it all out a few months before Christmas and while it bothered her that he was getting paid to kill people in her eyes the same dopey guy was still there just maturing.
Oz was well Oz-like about the whole situation. Xander was Xander and that was all he was. Why would the circumstances of his birth be cause for alarm and not celebration? People were a crazy bunch if they couldn't see that no matter the choices we make we are ultimately defined by our hearts and the company we choose to keep.
"This is exactly why he shouldn't have been allowed to see that disk or keep helping out. If he was safe from all this then he might have a chance at a normal life." Buffy spoke up finally keeping to her beliefs on the whole matter.
"Not your choice B. Boytoy had more right to that disk then anyone and it was his to begin with. Besides not everyone wants a boring life like you do." Faith replied eyeing her sister slayer.
"Better a boring life then going to prison or becoming a killer." Willow fired back.
"There isn't a prison that can hold Boytoy especially if he gets mad. Killing is in his blood be it demon or human the only consolation is he has a good heart and only goes after the bastards of the world. Either case it's his choice and as a friend I'll back him up and not try to decide his life for him."
"We're doing what's best for him Faith."
"Only person who can decide that is him" Oz spoke in his serene Zen-like voice.
Willow looked at him with betrayal shining in her eyes but any arguments were stalled as Wesley rec4ived a phone call. The others watched as he answered the phone and listened as the person on the line talked to him before ending the call.
"Seems the team found Alexander coming out of a graveyard and assaulted him. He took out ten good men before a pair of snipers got him with a tranquilizer round. They've moved him to a secure location until reinforcements can arrive to handle transport. The place still has nearly a hundred men in it and they have him in chains without any weapons."
"How long is the stuff supposed to keep him out?" Faith asked barely suppressing a growl.
"About 15 hours."
Getting up Faith went to the weapons locker and started grabbing the gear she would need. A pair of short swords rested against her back her dagger at her hip and a few throwing knives were all she needed.
"Faith what are you doing?" Lindsey asked once the girl walked back out to them.
"Boytoy doesn't get taken anywhere he doesn't want to go which means he let those idiots catch him. Your fifteen hours won't be but minutes knowing Boytoy and then he is going to fall on those bastards like a storm. I got the best chance of stopping him if he's lost it." She explained heading for the doors.
"You guys coming?"
Cell
Alexander had been stripped of his cloak and shirt and every area patted down for hidden weapons. He was currently standing with his arms raised out at the sides each wrist locked in a metal cuff attached to a thick chain, which was attached to the ceiling forcing him upright. That left him in only his black slacks and his ninja sandals.
'Dreams are the reality we wish for ourselves or the sins we bare come back to haunt us. These men and women are tainted and corrupt seeking vengeance for the fall of a blackened soul. I will send them to hell to meet their master again. Kirika is this what I'm supposed to do? The blood I shed perhaps it is not the only way but it is the way I choose. Forgive me lord in heaven but this child can do nothing more then take the lives of the souls you place here on earth.' Alexander thought as he kept his eyes closed faking sleep.
Resolutions were hard to make in a world that was constantly changing especially when the rules of your life seemed to always shift one way or another. Alexander chose to do what came naturally to him. To kill and make those who had hurt him pay with their life. He couldn't decide where the road led but for now he had to walk it. Itachi had walked this road once as well and he never wanted to be like the ninja but he knew right now that is what he had to be. He only hoped he was making the right choice and if not that he could be pulled back from it.
He heard a key in the lock turn and the sound of the metal door swinging open. Keeping up his charade he waited as the heavy booted steps drew closer and closer to his form. When the man was close enough his eyes snapped open and he acted. Using the chains like a set of rings he brought his legs up and wrapped them around the guard's neck. The idiots had kept his hands apart and secure to stop him from making seals but they'd forgotten to bind his legs at all. Feeling him struggle he flexed his legs and sharply turned breaking the man's neck.
Letting the guard's body fall to the floor his foot keeping the door open Alexander stretched in his chains again maneuvering so his feet rested on the roof of his cell. Gathering chakra to the bottom of his feet he felt them latch onto the ceiling. Pushing more chakra he felt the pressure begin to build up between the concrete and the surface of his foot. Finally the pressure proved too much and the chains strained before being ripped out of the ceiling and he was launched to the ground leaving a small crater in the concrete.
He rose letting the chains remain along with the manacles as they would make deadly weapons. Looking at the guard he picked up his pistol and any extra clips he had along with a combat knife. The last thing he grabbed was the automatic rifle all the guards were carrying.
The crimson and black of the Mangekyo Sharingan looked up and out the door and this time there was no resistance as his lips twitched and rose into that unnatural smile. The sword forged by Soldats was indeed sharp and unlike Noir who was soaked in darkness Alexander was a blade destined to be coated in blood.
'Those that deserve death shall always come before me. I am the blade to avenge and protect. I am I and while the personality has facets this is the element I know the score in. Didn't you tell me once mother that we can't run from our talent but we also can't be consumed by it. Maybe this is my balance.'
Walking through the door he lashed out with the chain connected to his left arm the metal links wrapping around the neck of another guard, who died a second later when a bullet pierced her forehead. Expanding his senses and letting his chakra flow around him he searched for the power that would be radiating of the seal pendant that had been in his cloak. Finding it three floors up he continued walking using the chains to subdue anyone he ran across before opening fire at them conserving his chakra for the escape he knew was coming.
Entering the small room with nothing but a wooden table in it he let a sigh of relief come to him as he saw the black cloak and his shirt. Slipping both back on he felt some of his bloodlust quell thought still he knew these people had to die. Souls who corrupt and seek to punish others for the loss of corruption could not be allowed to continue to draw breathe.
"Maybe I am nothing more then a killer. Maybe I am just the weapon you forged to be used by one of two sides. This night though I don't kill for you or for money I kill to protect those I love and to insure that no one else but I have to coat their soul in death." He whispered to himself drawing his Nemesis pistols.
"Great now I making dramatic life changing monologues to myself it's official I've become Deadboy." He muttered an instant later.
Outside
Faith and the rest of the gang gasped at the sight awaiting them. The building looked secure except for the five or six gaping holes that vented smoke into the air. The scent of death and scorched flesh filled their noses and the sound of gun fire and screaming came from within the building. Fifteen members of the watchers team burst out of the front doors most of them burned or cut in several places fear and fatigue marring their faces as they moved.
"He's not human theirs no way." One of them shouted.
"He killed them all without even blinking." A female guard said.
"We have to kill him here lads and lasses. A demon like that can't be allowed to live." The obvious leader called getting the rest to stop and aim their guns at the main doors.
"You idiots stop or he'll kill you!" Faith yelled attempting to stop further death.
"Shut the hell up Slayer or your next." The voice that spoke died a heartbeat later as a shuriken pierced his forehead.
"I would've allowed you to escape but you threatened my friend! After all this you still hunger to take away life. So be it you wish to die and join Quentin Travers in hell then come and face me." Alexander's voice floated from the entrance smoke obscuring his form.
"OPEN FIRE!" en masse the remaining fourteen watcher wet works team members unleashed a deadly spray of metal into the doorway.
The bullets didn't stop until each member had emptied an entire clip into the doorway but when the smoke cleared nothing but a bullet ridden hallway was seen.
"Doton Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu" (Earth Element Inner Decapitation Skill) was heard and suddenly a par of hands snaked out from the ground and dragged the leader down until only his head was above ground. Emerging from the ground as if it were water was Alexander.
Ducking he avoided a knife attack made by a braver man and struck out with his palms slamming them into the man's gut and hurling him back with the wind knocked out of him.
The battle was on in that moment the thirteen people able to fight charging the boy hoping to overwhelm him and Alexander simply waiting for them. He moved and flowed around each attack his hands lashing out in crippling strikes that forced each recipient back with varying degrees of external or internal injury.
"He's toying with them." Faith whispered watching him work.
"It doesn't scare him that he's out numbered or that we will see him kill." Cordelia breathed drawing everyone's attention to her.
Alexander jumped and spun his body around with a sharp kick knocking three people back and putting a little distance between him and the watchers capture team. He knew they would see him kill but he also had to punish these people.
He began walking towards his prey and watched fear fill their faces. Idly he wondered just how many people had given those looks to them and received no mercy. Chakra began flowing around him like a torrent yet only Faith could see it, while to the rest it looked like a wind was rising off of Xander's body.
"STOP IT!" Cordelia suddenly shouted and rushed forward grabbing onto Xander from behind and wrapping her arms around him.
"Stop it Xander they're defeated you've proven your point they won't be dumb enough to come back after you. Please Xander I don't want to see you lose your soul to this. You've killed enough now please just let them go be the bigger person and show them mercy." She pleaded holding onto him with tears in her eyes. She couldn't see her friend like this he might be an assassin but still he had to keep some humanity.
Faith was the next over her hand resting on his left shoulder.
"Boytoy don't cross that line because if you do you can't go back. They're beaten and I know you killed nearly all of them let that be enough let that be the vengeance and don't sink to their level. Let's just get out of here." She spoke trying to calm him down.
Alexander lowered his eyes the sharingan fading to his normal chocolate colored orbs. Bringing his hand sup he formed a set of seals and spoke out a jutsu.
"Hikui Tenkuu Assaku no Jutsu" (Low Air Pressure Technique) forcing the air pressure to lower around the living watcher team he forced all to slip off to sleep or lose conciseness.
"Collect your dead and go back to the Watcher's council. If I see them again I will kill them. They stay alive tonight only because I don't want them to see me kill you." He spoke to the buried leader before walking away with Cordelia and Faith.
He stopped when he reached the rest of the Scooby gang.
"Now you must decide and I will abide by that decision. I can never reclaim the innocence I lost; this is my life take it or leave it because I can't change it." He spoke looking at each of them before continuing on.
"Faith why is my car here?" He asked seeing the F1.
"Uh, well we were kinda in hurry and I remember you telling me where the extra key was and it was an emergency." She tried to explain.
"We will have to work on evasion training tomorrow." He said seemingly off-handedly
"Aw come on Boytoy It was an emergency and I swear I will pay to get that scratch fixed." She stopped a second later when she spotted his eyebrow twitch. He hadn't noticed the scratch evidently.
"I think it's time you learned how to dodge explosive notes too."
"Crap."
"Do you mind if I join you guys?" Both sensei and student blinked at Cordelia.
"What? I may not be a slayer or some genetically created assassin but I am tired of being defenseless. I refuse to be the Zeppo of the group that's more of a Xander title anyway."
"Great just great I get anymore students and I might as well make Sunnyhell a hidden freaking village." He muttered.
"It could be worse."
"And now it most likely will be. Hey where the heck is my pockey?" turning he saw the guilty look on Faith's face.
"I think it's time we used shadow clones as well."
"Aw crap."
Forest
Alexander sat on a stump in a quiet meditative stance, while Faith attempted to avoid her punishment for the loss of his beloved pockey and the scratch to his car by helping Cordelia along with training. He had not said a word about last night and both of his friends and students had not mentioned it as if they agreed it was forbidden ground.
He was thinking on the words Valkyrie had told him at Jesse's grave. The inevitable conflict between them was going to happen and he would be prepared if only to stop the Mayor but still she had brought a lot of issues to his mind.
'I need to bring my training up if I plan to defeat that woman. A part of me doesn't want too but we became enemies the moment she was ordered to help the Mayor. I am not confident in my ability to kill her and that puts me at a handicap. Guess I need to stop being a lazy Nara and be more of an Uchiha genius.'
Taking the seal charm from his pocket he watched it his chakra senses able to detect the churning mass of pure demonic power contained within its depths. Slowly the seal was converting the energy into chakra much like the Kyuubi and Shakaku used and granted their containers. It would be unstable but still the boost would come in handy at some point if he needed it and maybe he could use it to increase the chakra potential of those he chose to teach.
Putting it away he stood up and turned sensing people nearby from the only path into the woods he watched Buffy, Oz, Willow, Giles, and Lindsey walk up to them carrying what looked to be a picnic basket.
"If you're here to sign up you better have brought pockey and have a hidden village name picked out." He called out getting the attention of Cordelia and Faith.
"B what's the what?"
"We talked about it and decided we can't run your life and it would be silly to lose a friend or a son because of it." Giles responded as he and Lindsey began unrolling a blanket.
"You're our friend Xand and while I don't like what you do I've no right to judge. Promise us you'll be careful though/" Buffy said seemingly having lost her argument about cutting him out.
"Are we still friends? Willow asked reverting to her shy voice.
"Did you bring pockey?"
"Yes we brought pockey we know how much that blasted stuff is loved by you" Lindsey answered shaking her head at the youth.
"Then all is forgiven."
"Chow time" Oz offered.
"Yeah then lets you and I discuss a way to seal up that wolfy alter-ego of yours with a technique called the evil sealing method."
"Cool"
'These people are worth protecting and worth killing for. Mother Altena and Mother Sarah I don't know which of the two paths I will follow but for now I just want to lose myself in these times before I am ripped away from them. I'll find my answer when I face you Valkyrie but until then I can enjoy this peace.' He thought as he joined the group for a simple picnic and laughter as friends fully reconnected.
England
Jonathan resisted the urge to laugh as he looked over the report from the fourteen officers that had survived the ordeal in Sunnydale. Alexander had slaughtered their numbers with incredible precession and power enough that he and his faction were very close to claiming complete power over the High Council.
'Quentin I think even you could see the use of this boy. Soldats is making its play for the world and I can't allow them to take Alexander from us. Let's see which of our sins is greater Soldats and then discover if Alexander wants to be your tool or ours. A family reunion either he is good enough or she will finally prove herself.' He though closing the report and picking up the ringing phone.
"Yes? Good then if Mr. Rayne is done with her prepare her for the trip to Sunnydale. Keep an eye on Soldats and their movements I don't want anyone to interfere. Accompany her if you wish but know you will die if she fails. Good then have a safe flight."
Hanging the phone up he sipped a cup of tea and thought about the phone call Wesley had made earlier. The boy had been stricken with the news of Alexander and then fear when he described the scene he had witnessed. Wesley was ordered to stay behind and act as a third watcher and council reprehensive.
Cafeteria
The lifeless body of the lunch lady slumped to the floor the rat poison laden soup flowing down off the counter and onto her body mixing with the blood leaking. Alexander stared at her coldly before ripping the kunai used to kill her out of her forehead and wiping it clean. Buffy had somehow become telepathic and caught the stray thought in the lunchroom not knowing who was the thinker everyone had split up and he had gotten lucky. Lighting the woman on fire he walked away without ever being noticed.
Things were quickly getting out of hand and after losing the hard copies of the books of accession to the Mayor he was out for blood. Buffy's insane plan to get information by using Angel had predictably blown up in her face, while he and Giles had been in San Francisco.
Xander was training more and more these days pushing him beyond what he should've been capable of. The natural instinct to strike back or kill was stronger then ever but only in situations where his assassin mindset came into play. He suspected the more his seal charm converted the demons energy into demonic chakra some of it was leaking out into his own coil system. He rectified that by keeping it locked up when he wasn't sure he needed it.
Faith and Cordelia were training hard and for reasons that escaped him the former cheerleader was quickly catching up to the slayer. Cordelia showed a natural aptitude with genjutsu and a more stealthy or agile style relying on quick tactics and uses of chakra that could finish a target off fast before her inexperience or very limited chakra ran dry.
Tonight he was supposed to patrol with Faith and Buffy so he beat a hasty retreat for the library.
Graveyard
Alexander spun around slamming a wooden kunai into a stunned vampire that dissolved into dust. Buffy and Faith were tag teaming another few and were basically playing with them. It seemed Buffy had passed on her ideals of playing with the enemy to Faith.
It seemed like a pretty average night, which ad him in high alert mode because even a vampire filled average night was not common lately. Not to mention he had felt a strange feeling all day as if something bad was on its way. Taking out the last Twinkie and his beloved pockey he combined the deliciously addictive goodness and devoured them licking his fingers as the slayer duo finished the last of the vampires.
He sensed someone nearby and brought his right hand out catching a kunai between his fingers as it was thrown from somewhere in the trees. He flipped it over to grab the handle and deflected a barrage of shurikens that came a second later even keeping up with the ones hidden in the shadows of others. Remaining calm he could feel the chakra of someone but it was higher then Faiths or Cordelia's yet substantially lower then his own.
"You can stop hiding now I can sense your chakra suppressed or not I know exactly where you are." He spoke simply and leaned against a headstone Buffy and Faith looking around for the assailant.
The response to his words came in the form of giggling flowing out from the trees. The sound was female in nature and sounded young no older then sixteen but most likely younger he determined.
"Don't you want to play hide and seek with me Alexander-Niisan" The voice was soft yet playful and followed by another set of childish giggling but still the subject began to come towards them.
The trio watched as a form came closer and closer before getting a full sight of her once she passed the tree line. She wore a black skirt that fell around her thighs and was tight against her with a crimson belt that held the various holsters a ninja would need along with a black blouse. She wore her hair in a pair of long pigtails with the rest falling down her back. Both her hair color and eyes were a match for his own it was as if he was looking at a slightly younger female version of himself.
"What the hell?" Faith yelled.
"My god she looks just like you Xander." Buffy said a step behind her.
"Of course I look just like Alexander-Niisan he is my Aniki after all." Both girls stared at her not knowing the words meaning.
"She called me older brother but it's impossible for me to have any siblings no matter how much you look like me." He spoke his voice neutral as he was trying to place the chakra signature she had.
"Yeah Boytoy is one of kind girly. They literally broke the mold with him." Faith spoke thinking about the teenage weapons birth.
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery don't you agree Aniki? They told me so much about you Alexander-Niisan. You were naughty though going out and trying to get something I couldn't be born with but they fixed that too so were still the same." She said her eyes switching to a pair of level three sharingan eyes at the end.
"Are you something created by Soldats or those fools who attacked the place of my creation?" he asked his voice never wavering even as Itachi's memories supplied a name for the chakra presence at last.
"I am the sin that will be pitted against the sin of Soldats. Please don't think ill of me Aniki but I have to kill you now." She replied with a smile.
"So the Avenger returns and this time in the body of someone produced because of my sinful birth. They attempted to forge their own weapon and continue the cycle of insanity. Creating life is God's territory not Man's when will people realize this." He spoke his weights falling off and the gravity jutsu on him fading.
"I was born in your shadow Aniki but when I kill you I will no longer judge my existence by how much I am like you. You'll pay for being created first and for the pain Itachi causeed in Sasuke!" she declared pulling out four kunai for each hand.
"Faith take Buffy and leave I don't want any distractions nor do I desire for you watch this." He ordered staring down the girl his eyes switching to his own sharingan.
"NOW!" he shouted with authority when neither moved forcing them into action and away from this fight.
She charged him as soon as the two were out of sight hurling her kunai at him, which were easily deflected by the kunai he still held. Alexander caught her incoming punch with his left hand then leaned back as she tried to take his head off with a kick. Lashing out with the kunai in his right hand she ducked and rolled back brining up a pistol and firing. The first bullet passed cleanly through his left shoulder but the rest were easily dodged with his speed and sharingan predicting. Coming up from his last dodge he dropped the kunai and ignoring the searing pain from his wound brought his Nemesis pistols and returning fire his shots grazing her legs and right arm but she refused to cry out in pain.
"First blood belongs to me Aniki you underestimated me." She said wagging a finger at him before rolling to avoid his gunshots.
Hiding behind a tree she made a few quick hand seals and cart wheeled out molding chakra in her lungs.
"Katon Housenka No Jutsu" (Fire Element: Mythical Fire Flower Technique) she called and began spitting fireballs at him.
Avoiding the fireballs with ease he was struck full on by the hidden shurikens only to vanish a second later and be replaced by a broken tree branch. The girl jumped into the air to avoid the onslaught of ninja stars that came form behind her and formed another pattern of seals.
"Katon Goukakyuu No Jutsu" (Fire Element: Powerful Fireball Technique) the massive fireball flew towards Alexander who started making his own seals.
"Mizu Tate no Jutsu" (Water Shield Technique) drawing water from the ground around him he was able to raise the shield of water in time to intercept the fireball and cancel its effect.
The girl charged through the resulting smoke attacking with martial arts and taijutsu. Both moved around the graveyard in a deadly dance of skill each countering the other or dodging a strike. Alexander was clearly dominating the fight though without his weights on and with his body already used to the speed and strain of this type of fighting his opponent could never stand a chance just using the copied skills with her own.
"I refuse to live in your shadow anymore. Why couldn't you stay the bumbling sidekick? If you didn't exist I wouldn't have to either, so just die and let me be free of your legacy." She screamed launching into a rapid series of kicks he leapt back from then ducked as she shot at him again.
'I'm becoming distracted by her outbursts I have to let go of my feelings for now.' He thought walling up every emotion he could and allowing his mind to simply slip into the mindset of the assassin Soldats created.
The two met again though now for every bruise and scrape she dealt to him he left a cut or wound in return. He could feel the wounds she had dealt to him though begin to pile up and even a few that weren't bad open up and bleed with the exertion of his body but still he was in far better shape then she was.
"Chidori!" she yelled the blue lightning and chakra gathering in her hand as she pushed all of her chakra into the attack not caring if her body died from the depletion as long as he was killed by her hand.
Charging at Alexander her attack was ripping at the ground but not slowing her down. As she brought the Chidori forward at his chest she watched as he sidestepped suddenly and let her pass him by. She felt white hit pain fill her a second later as he brought his gun up and fired into her back.
Alexander allowed his emotions to return as she fell forward the Chidori vanishing. Moving to her side he rolled her onto her back and prepared to heal the wounds he'd inflicted but stopped as he saw her pale skin. She had used too much chakra there wasn't enough to keep her alive even if he could stabilize her.
"Aniki I'm cold so cold I guess I wasn't good enough." She whispered her eyes glazing.
He reached into his cloak for the seal tag maybe he could use the demonic chakra as filler until he could heal her. He was stopped by her hand tugging on his and pulling it to her cheek.
"Please don't Alexander-Niisan there's nothing for me in this world without killing you as the price. Do you think if I had been born like a normal girl or like you at Soldats we could've been a family?"
"I can fix you Imouto and then we can be a family I won't let those bastards who created you use you again." He said trying to go for the charm again but she held his hand firm.
"You called me little sister I'm so happy Aniki now I can go in peace knowing you loved me for me. Aniki do you think our Kaasan and Tousan are waiting for me or that I can even go where they are?" she was growing weaker crying at the end.
Tears flowed openly down Alexander's eyes making the sharingan shine in beauty and sorrow.
"Of course they are Imouto we have many mothers and fathers and they're all waiting to see you and tell you how proud of you they are. You're a good girl and heaven is the reward for good little girls."
"So cold, Alexander-Niisan will you please wrap me in your beautiful black flames? I want to be warm so badly." She pleaded.
"Close your eyes ok? Close your eyes and go to sleep and when you wake up I promise they'll be there waiting." He told her and started the seals as she did.
"I'll miss you Aniki and I promise to tell them all hello for you and watch all your fun battles. I love you Alexander-Niisan."
"I love you too Imouto." He whispered as he finished the last seal.
"My name was Alexandria." She breathed out.
"Amaterasu" (Goddess of the Sun Technique) he called out softly letting the Uchiha black flames flow and consume the body of the one living blood-family member he would ever have.
Throwing his head back sparkling tears were thrown around him glistening as they fell. He wailed at the sky in sorrow and loss knowing he only had himself to blame for another person dying.
'I'm truly no better then Itachi.'
Graves
Faith walked into the area she was sure Xander was in. He had come into the library that night cut and bruised but seemingly unfeeling to his injuries. After patching him up they had only gotten from him that the girl was gone, which to Faith meant he had done what he didn't want to and killed her. He had since gone back to being his old self but Faith could see unlike the others it was just an act just a defense mechanism so he didn't have to talk about it. She also figured his killing mindset was another of those funny mechanism things she had gotten from psychology books she found in Lindsey's stuff.
A second grave now stood next to Jesse's the headstone was new and the earth around the hole was still clearly visible showing how recent the coffin had been placed. The headstone read.
Alexandria Uchiha
His Imouto
'No longer a Shadow'
"I figured you'd be the one to come look for me Faithie." He spoke without turning around.
"You put up a good front Boytoy but I know you better then even Red. You know if you hadn't done it she would've killed you."
"Maybe that would have been for the best."
He blinked as Faith marched up and turned him around then delivered a right hook that both hurt and turned his head.
"Don't you ever fucking say that again Boytoy or I'll kick your ass myself? A lot of people need you and you're doing good work it's not your damn fault these nutcases did what they did. So stop blaming yourself yes you had to kill her and maybe you've failed a few people or iced a few fuckers but damn it Boytoy you can't let it destroy you."
"I guess I have been a little broody."
"A little, I was about to check you for forehead growth and then stake you if it was anywhere near Fang or god forbid that Haruno chick from that anime we watched."
"This is the first time I've killed and felt any remorse for it. Maybe it was there with Miss C but it was overshadowed by my anger. I didn't just end her life I fought and broke her and then held her in my arms and got forgiven for it before the end. A part of me is disgusted with that feeling while another is glad."
"It's called being human Boytoy a nasty habit but hey what can you do about it?"
"I have more practice being an assassin."
"Yeah, yeah now come one C and I let you off the hook yesterday for training but not today Boytoy."
"You do know you can train without me right?"
"Where's the fun in that?"
Shaking his head he walked away with Faith though he wore a thin smile his eyes remained sharp yet bored looking.
'I won't always be here Faith. Soon it will be time for me to go fulfill my purpose. The Soldats is calling to me and I can't ignore it forever. My loyalty has yet to be decided but my place will soon be at the Manor. I've one more fight in this place and one last demon to slay and then I will vanish again. I just hope you and everyone can understand.
"Let's grab some snacks before we go Faith."
"What kind?"
"Pockey and Twinkies the greatest foods on earth my friend."
"To quote you and your catch phrase Boytoy. Troublesome."
Please read and review
Ending note 1: I am taking suggestions for the rest of this series so let me see your creativity.
Ending note 2: The pairing will not be seen until a few chapters for now as I am building to something big so the mystery continues.
Till next time