As always, thank you for reading.
The Dawning of Faith
Chapter 32
"Did he just call Faith a sissy?" Dawn asked Giles in an outraged whisper.
"Hardly," Giles responded quietly, " 'Sumizome Shishi' translates roughly to 'Dark Lion', and using 'Sumizome' also carries with it implications of magical power. It historically refers to a Sorcerer's cloak, the color of which was said to be the very definition of blackness. It ties in with the darkness that is the core of a Slayer's power, and Faith has perhaps the strongest connection to that core of any Slayer. 'Shishi' are the stone lions that guard temples. It is a very powerful name."
Buffy approached next, and also exchanged formal bows, but not the rest. "It is good to see you again, Yoshi-Sama," Buffy told him as she straightened up.
"Also it is good for me to see you, Go-ruden Hyou-San." Dawn turned to Giles for translation.
"Golden Leopard", Giles told her, "the inspiration for these names was their respective fighting styles. Faith striking with blinding speed and overwhelming force, contrasting with Buffy using more of a slashing attack, relying on quickness and surprise."
Willow approached next, and the grave look on Yoshi-Sama's face was replaced by a bright smile, which Willow returned as they bowed. "I am happy to be with you again, Yoshi-Sama," Willow told him.
"As am I glad to be with you, Sakurabana Tejina-San."
"Magic Cherry Blossom," Giles supplied, "the cherry blossom is a powerful symbol in Japan, especially for a Ninja, it carries hints of divinity."
"It fits," Dawn agreed, "they all do. Want to go ahead and translate yours for me?"
"It's just 'Giles-San', I'm afraid, but Yoshi is my friend, and very few can say that. Don't be nervous Dawn, he is extremely civilized. I'll wave you over when it's time."
Giles greeted his friend formally, exchanging bows and honorifics. Yoshi then grinned, and extended his hand to clasp Giles'.
"Welcome back, Ripper," he said, "I hope you brought some decent scotch, I'm sick to death of Suntory."
"Never fear, Yoshi," Giles assured him.
"So, this is the young warrior for whom we forged the first scythe?" he asked, indicating the waiting Dawn with an inclination of his head.
"Yes," answered Buffy, "my sister, Dawn."
"An auspicious name," he replied as his gaze shifted to Faith. Yoshi's keen senses caught the look that Faith gave the subject under discussion.
"Shishi-San, your eyes do not look upon a sister, do they?" he asked.
"No, Yoshi-San, they look upon the owner of my heart," Faith confirmed. Yoshi smiled hugely, and clapped his hands sharply.
"I thank all ancestors for bringing light to my Dark Lion," he said warmly, "it will make you stronger."
"Yes, Yoshi my brother, it has," Faith assured him.
"And it was also she who brought you here on the wind?" Yoshi asked.
"It was," Willow answered, "she is Gugen."
Yoshi's eyes widened at that, for he knew well the significance of an incarnation of magic.
"Then perhaps she is a worthy guardian for the heart of my sister the Lion," he admitted. "But you understand that I must test this, do you not?"
"Yes, Yoshi," Faith told him confidently, "Dawn will prove worthy of more than me."
"Sumizome Shishi," Yoshi said gravely, "some day you must accept this thing. There is no-one more than you, and precious few your equal. Now let me meet this woman who holds your heart."
Giles beckoned to Dawn.
Dawn approached with every appearance of calm, but inside she was trembling. She faced Yoshi and bowed, saying, "I am honored to meet you, Yoshi-Sama."
"As am I you, Dawn-San, for the sake of your sister and the Lion who is my sister, and I honor your magic, as Sakurabana has told me that you are Gugen. But you carry a weapon of my forging, and you all seek my help in its retempering by magic. I must deem you worthy of all of this, will you be tested?"
"I will, Yoshi-Sama," Dawn agreed.
"Then tomorrow will be the time for that," Yoshi declared, "today I shall consult with Sakurabana on what is to be done, and I shall rejoice in the return of my friends, and in my meeting with you, the keeper of the Lion's heart."
Yoshi thrust open the gate, and led them into his home.
"It's beautiful…" Dawn said in awe.
"It really is," Faith agreed. "This is a place of harmony, perfect balance. Only alone with you do I experience the peace that I find here."
Within the enclosure were houses of traditional construction, light, airy places, broken up by walls of rice paper.
"There are no students here now," Yoshi told them, "and no servants but the kitchen staff. My cooking is no good," he admitted with a smile. "Giles-San, I beg you to stay in my home, so that we may better enjoy the excellence of your whiskey. My Lion, for you and your Dawn I have a house set apart for your privacy. I hope that this meets with your approval," he said with a shallow bow.
"Thank you, Yoshi," said Faith.
"I have other houses available for you, Buffy-San and Willow-San," Yoshi told them. Willow took Buffy by the hand,
"One will do just fine, Yoshi-Sama," Willow told him.
"Aaahhhh," said Yoshi as he took her meaning. "Congratulations, your love honors my home."
Yoshi showed them to their quarters, and they all settled in.
"This house is like something from a fairy tale," Dawn said in wonder as she stepped into the courtyard. There was a small grove of cherry trees blooming there.
"Yeah, it is," Faith agreed, "but don't be fooled. This is a place where the deadliest art in the world is taught, and whatever test you are put to will be very real."
"I can handle it," Dawn promised as she wrapped her arms around Faith, "just so long as you are real."
"It's good to be here again," Buffy sighed as she sat in the courtyard of the house that she and Willow shared. "This place is so peaceful, for all its deadly purpose."
"The two aren't exclusive," Willow told her. "I wish the girls could all come here, it would be good for them."
"A lot of them wouldn't understand, but while we are here I'll talk with Yoshi about sending a select few. Amanda, for sure, maybe Karen if she works out like I think she will, and Rona. I kind of wish Dawnie would come here."
"Dawn won't leave Faith. She finds her peace in Faith's love," Willow assured her.
"Like us?" Buffy said wryly.
"How about if tonight I cuddle you like a baby and let you sleep?" Willow asked with a smile.
"Just as long as you wake me with a new number," Buffy replied, "have fun explaining all this to Yoshi. Maybe you ought not to mention where the blood comes from, though." Willow shrugged.
"Yoshi will know anyway, he's a powerful sorcerer."
"What does this magic you bring accomplish, Sakurabana?" Yoshi asked Willow.
"It will imbue the scythe with the power of their love, and their own powers, making it stronger. If all goes well it will never break, never dull, and always cut true. It will in a sense live, and it will seek to protect Dawn as the original does for the Slayers. It depends on the depth of their love for one another. Love is founded on trust, and the ultimate trust is faith, the belief that is beyond proof." Willow explained.
"This is very great magic;" Yoshi said gravely, "this blood has much power."
"It is, and it does," agreed Willow, "but the power of their love is greater still." "I hope," she added in her mind. Yoshi nodded.
"How will you know if the magic is successful?" he asked.
"There will be a flash of light when it is done. I will have some idea of the true power of it by the brightness of the flash, but it will be for you to determine what the real effect on the scythe is."
"It is intended to give the properties of the original, yes?"
"It is, it will only work with Dawn or Faith handling it though, it is their love for each other that makes this possible," Willow explained.
"This Dawn," Yoshi asked candidly, "do you think her worthy of all this?"
"I do," Willow told him. Of that she had no doubt at all.
"This magic you will do," Yoshi asked her, "would it be possible to perform it a second time?"
"That would depend," Willow asked him with a grin, "what do you have in mind?"
Yoshi uncovered something on a bench, and Willow gasped in wonder.
"How are you faring in your house of yuufu, Giles,?" asked Yoshi late that evening as he relished the Caol Ila that Giles had brought.
"It is the greatest joy of my life, my good friend," Giles admitted. "They are simply extraordinary, all of them. And now with Faith and Dawn together, along with Buffy and Willow… I am content. Were I to die tomorrow I would smile at the passing."
"May such joy be long delayed, Ripper," toasted Yoshi. "This is very good scotch."
"Indeed it is, and it is the extravagant gift of one of the Slayers, who, I dare to think, rather fancies me," Giles told him.
"Tell me of her, my friend," Yoshi encouraged.
"Well, of course she is far too young for me, though not a child by any means. Twenty-three or so. She has the loveliest skin, perfectly smooth, and a beautiful shade of dark caramel. She has the most outrageous dreadlocks that you can imagine, and of course since she is a Slayer, her body is magnificent. Also," Giles admitted as he drained his glass and poured another, "she likes my music."
"Giles-San," said Yoshi gravely.
"Yes?"
"You are done for, my friend."
"You may be right, Yoshi. But who am I to spurn such a gift?" He raised his glass to Yoshi and then drained it. "Frankly, I find myself sorely tired of worrying about the approval of others. Rona is a Slayer, an adult, and her choices are hers to make. And … Yoshi, my good friend…"
"Yes, Ripper?"
"Her eyes… her eyes are like molten chocolate, flecked with gold," Giles whispered.
"Completely done for," Yoshi repeated solemnly, but with a twinkle in his eye.
"I daresay I am," Giles agreed. "Still, a man could have a worse fate."
"Most of them do, Ripper," Yoshi said as he raised his glass. "Now then," he continued as he handed Giles a guitar, "I believe that we were working on "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling", when last we were together, hai?"
"Willow my love?" murmured Buffy sleepily.
"Umm-hmmm?" Willow purred in response.
"Was one of the Righteous Brothers Japanese?"
A/N: "yuufu" - heroine or powerful woman