The Dawning of Faith
Chapter 33
"Was one of the 'Righteous Brothers' Japanese?"
Breakfast was an eclectic mix of traditional Japanese fare and American staples. There was plenty of all of it, as calories were simply incinerated at this place.
"Yoshi-Sama…" Buffy began after breakfast.
"Please," he broke in, "the formal greetings are done, and no students are here, Yoshi will serve, Buffy." Buffy smiled in appreciation.
"There are some of my Slayers that I think are worthy of your teachings. May they come?"
"Anyone you and Faith deem worthy will be welcome," Yoshi replied. "I would be honored to teach them. Faith did defeat me, after all."
"How did that happen, anyway? I mean, I've fought Faith. Really fought Faith. And she was tough, no doubt, but you beat me easily. And Faith never did, not really," Buffy asked him.
"She never desired to defeat you, Go-ruden Hyou, for she has always loved you," Yoshi told her. "Your sister is fortunate indeed, and I acknowledge her power, but if she is to prove worthy of Faith… she must demonstrate this to me. I will not allow my feelings for you and Shishi to influence me. Faith is my sister, and my conqueror. I will require much to give my blessing to this, though I can plainly see how Shishi cares for her."
"I understand, Yoshi," Buffy told him. "I cannot allow Dawn to die in this test, but I acknowledge that my interference would cause you to withhold your sanction. She must prove herself."
"Hai. But believe me when I say that I wish her well. She makes my sister's heart sing. Now tell me of this Slayer who has ensnared Giles."
"Get out!" exclaimed Buffy. "He admitted it?"
"Once the Caol Ila was gone, he referred to her as 'A Nubian Goddess'. Giles is done for; he's just working up the courage to tell her."
"They should have babies," Buffy said in awe, "those would be some babies."
"You must not reveal that I have told you," Yoshi cautioned, "and do not tease him about this."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Buffy assured him. "Not while we're here, anyway."
"Why don't you come with me to the courtyard, Dawnie?" Faith asked her. "We'll do some Tai-Chi to center your energy."
The pair of them went through the graceful motions together beneath the cherry trees, and Dawn felt her resolve harden, and her spirit strengthen. And she felt her desire for Faith sharpen to an almost painful degree.
"It will be soon," she thought, "I can feel it. But I can't think about it now, I have to pass this test first."
Dawn's movements increased in grace as she yielded to the stream that flowed through all things.
"She is so fuckin' beautiful," Faith thought in wonder, "and she's mine. Life doesn't suck after all…"
"Buffy, are you sure this is wise?" Giles asked her. "Yoshi will not compromise because Dawn is your sister. This test will be real, and it will be perilous."
"I know that, Giles. But I cannot deny Dawn this chance. I mean, I cannot, it's not up to me. Not any longer. Dawn is a woman, and her choices are her own to make, whether I like it or not."
"I suppose so," Giles admitted. "We've come a long way together, Buffy, you and I, haven't we?"
"We sure have, and I couldn't have made it without you. I even forgive you for screwing Mom on a cop car."
Giles blushed fiercely.
"Yes. Well you see… that is… Ethan… Band Candy…"
"Relax," Buffy told him, "damn some candy, Mom was hot. You ain't so bad yourself, and that is NOT a come-on. But I'm glad she had that with you, she deserved some love. Even if it was sort of the tawdry kind."
"Quite," Giles muttered, still mortified.
"Dawn will do just fine. And if she gets into trouble Faith and I will handle it, neither of us will let her come to serious harm."
"Failing the test would do her serious harm, Buffy," Giles told her. "She is indeed a woman, but she is young still, and a part of her does not yet believe that she is worthy of Faith. Should she fail, I'm not sure that she will be able to accept Faith's love. Not without reservation."
"Shit," said Buffy as the truth of his words sunk in.
"Is there anything you can tell me about this test, Faith?" Dawn asked her as they wound down their exercises.
"Not a lot to tell," Faith answered, "I expect that it will be the same as with Buffy and me. You fight a demon."
"Any particular type?"
'I had a Fyarl, Buffy got a Suparvo. I guess it's whatever is available, I saw all kinds when I was training here," Faith told her.
"Did you really beat Yoshi-Sama?" Dawn asked.
"Yes," Faith confirmed. "But it was unarmed combat. I would rather jump into a log chipper than face Yoshi with a sword in his hands.
"Do you think I'll have to fight Yoshi?" Dawn asked.
"You won't fight Yoshi," Faith said emphatically.
A bell sounded.
"Time to go, baby," Faith told Dawn. She kissed her full on the lips, and Dawn's heart raced. "For luck," Faith told her, "and because I love you so. Now get your scythe put your game face on."
"This is like something from a Chuck Norris movie," Dawn said as she got her first sight of what could only be called an arena.
"Chuck's been here," Faith told her, "he's good, but I kicked his ass. I'll take you to the room where you wait. I'd like to stay with you, but I can't, tradition is big here. Work on centering your energy and clearing your mind, you've known demons your whole life, this is no different. Fight to train, train to fight, fight to win; there ain't no other way, Slayer. Got it?"
"Got it," Dawn assured her. "My baby kicked Chuck Norris's ass…"
"Then come on." Faith led her to a small room that contained only a table with a pitcher of water and a cup, and a mat on the floor. "When you hear that bell again, go through that archway we saw at the end of the hall. Once you're in there, Yoshi will release the demon. Get centered and wait, and don't think about time, that's part of the test and you might be in here a while. I love you, and I believe in you. You'll do great." With a last look into Dawn's eyes, Faith left the room.
Dawn seated herself on the mat, and allowed the stream to enter and pass on.
Faith joined Buffy, Willow, and Giles in the viewing area. Across the arena floor they could see a massive figure pacing restlessly behind a gate.
"A Polgara demon?" Giles said in wonder. "Yoshi is laying it on a bit thick, isn't he?"
"He's serious all right," Buffy said, "but I think this is actually good. Dawn knows Polgaras."
"But she seems so slight, Dawn does," protested Giles, "and she's not a Slayer, after all."
"Right now she is," Faith told him, "and let's stop with the negative vibes, okay?"
"Quite," Giles muttered.
Faith and Buffy exchanged looks; they both knew what they would do if things turned ugly, and the Scythe was propped up between them.
Willow's eyes subtly darkened, she had her own plan in place.
"I should not have had so much Caol Ila," groaned Giles as he rubbed his temples.
"It is time," Yoshi said as he appeared beside them. He pulled a lanyard and a bell rang.
In a moment, Dawn stepped into the arena.
Yoshi then pulled a lever, and the Polgara rushed at Dawn, skewers extended and blood in its eye.
Dawn was not Faith, and Dawn did not attack with blinding speed and overwhelming force.
Dawn was not Buffy, and she did not attack in a slashing fashion, relying on quickness and surprise.
Dawn was Dawn, and Dawn danced with the demon…
A graceful Paso Doble of death.
The demon lunged, and Dawn slid aside.
It struck out, and Dawn fell back.
It thrust its skewers at her, and she bent away.
It reached for her, and she was not there.
"God in heaven…" whispered Giles.
There was a terrible fascination at work amongst the witnesses as they watched. Faith felt her heart swell with pride as her student, her heart, showed just how much she had learned. Buffy watched in awe, and came at last to the full realization that her baby sister was indeed a powerful woman in her own right. Willow felt the flow of energy that passed through Dawn as she fought, she was using no magic other than that of her own body, but she was nonetheless a part of everything.
Yoshi watched; his face impassive.
The demon howled in rage, and launched itself at her, but Dawn slid past.
And always there was the whisper of the scythe, and the raining of dark blood onto the sand of the arena floor where so much blood had been spilled through the years.
The dance continued, and the hissing of the scythe was now accompanied by the gasps of the demon, and then Dawn was behind it and the blade bit deeply into its neck and the dance was done.
No one spoke as Dawn pulled her weapon free and stood facing them all over her fallen foe.
Yoshi leaped lightly into the arena, and walked over to Dawn, his face a blank mask. He stared into her eyes in silence, and she met his gaze and replied in kind.
Yoshi-Sama extended his hand in silent demand, and Dawn placed the scythe in it. From inside his gi, Yoshi produced a cloth and proceeded to wipe the weapon clean as he examined it closely. He held it cradled on his open palms, and he raised his eyes once more to Dawn's.
"It brings me great honor for you to wield my creation," he said as he bowed deeply and held the scythe out to her, "Kamisori Kaze–San." His words were clearly audible to the rapt onlookers, and the women turned to Giles for translation.
"Razor Wind," he breathed.