A Certain One-Eyed Mage

By: Bubbajack

Editors/Co-Authors: IcySnowSage, First Hassan

Note: Special thanks to our Super Donors Apostle _of_Darkness, Ben Wanless, CrazymanDK, Jac, Jareth Norris, Kenni Neilson, Meraj Alimi, and Selmphren.

Ch.2: Code Black.

Thanks to Dracula's private jet, the group touched down in Tokyo, Japan in the middle of the night. It was still several hours till dawn. A chauffeur met them in a private hanger holding a door open to a limo with smoked out glass. Glancing at Rani, Xander asked, "Um is this normal?"

"Yes, Vampires must travel in secrecy, which due to living for several centuries, means they've amassed several fortunes," She explained as she sat down in the back of the limo and motioned for the mage to sit next to her as she continued her explanation, "People like the Viovode have safe houses all throughout the world. He has granted us access to all of them and a meager ten percent of his fortune," Rani looked away, "Well I say meager, but in terms of actual liquid assets it is about three trillion dollars."

"Three…t-trillion dollars?!" Xander just about fainted when he heard that number. "Why is he giving us that much? What could we possibly ever spend that much money on?"

"For your studies and any possible reagents you might require to pursue them," Rani quickly replied. "From what we know of you and your skillset, it is likely that you lean towards the Arte of Artificy. It is a very costly, if impressive skill to master."

"So you think I specialize in what? Making enchanted gear?" Xander asked his teacher.

Rani nodded as she fixed her spectacles. "Indeed, though this is just an assumption due to your paradigm, and innate skill with carpentry. One's skill in the Arte can manifest itself in a particular skill or pastime before one's awakening. For you, it was the creation of things figuring out how things fit together. I also looked up your school records. You were in the AP classes not only for the sciences, but all your classes. Yet you didn't attend college, why?" She all but demanded while looking at him almost accusingly as she glared over the rim of her glasses.

"Didn't have the money, I was poor," He replied.

The Szlachta tutted, muttering about, "Poor parental financial planning,"

This caused Xander to scoff. His parents spent almost all the money they had on alcohol, occasionally they remembered they couldn't survive on just booze and bought food too. That's why his relationship with Jessie and Willow meant so much to him. They weren't just his best friends, they kept him alive. With food, friendship, and understanding. Losing Jessie was like losing a piece of his soul, and for a long time, it felt like he personally killed that bit of him himself. It wasn't until some long discussions with Giles and Anya that he finally reconciled with the fact he didn't kill his brother, but a demon wearing his skin.

"Honestly the wasting of your future on something so simple as alcohol makes me want to go find them and turn them into a nice coat. The sheer gall of wasted potential," ranted Rani with Mattia nodding along in agreement of skinning his parents alive.

I'm not all that great though?" Xander said self-deprecatingly.

"Alexander, you managed to impress the Voivode of Wallachia. He didn't turn you into a ghoul, nor flesh-crafted furniture. Hell he didn't even offer you the embrace which for Dracula is strange considering he usually doesn't take No for an answer. There was potential in you that he liked. No offense Suzue."

"None taken, I was kind of ….. Dying when Dracula saved me," replied Suzue, staying quiet on how she was dying or the circumstances involved with her death.

"So where are we heading?" Xander asked, as he stared out the window at the scenery wanting to change the conversation after seeing how uncomfortable Suzue was.

"The Imperial Hotel," Rani replied, "Founded in 1890 by decree of the imperial court. We've rented out the penthouse suite indefinitely."

"Cool."

The hotel was in the middle of a lot of important places as Rani explained. Within a five minute walk of the Ginza, Hibiya and Yurakucho train stations, offer direct access to various locations in Tokyo. The Imperial Palace and Ginza area were both a five minute walk away, while Tokyo International Forum was a ten minute walk from the hotel. Also according to her, the popular Tsukiji Fish Market was just a seven minute drive or taxi ride away.

The manager of the hotel kowtowed to them bowing extensively as they had a bellhop carry their bags all Rani's up to their hotel room. Xander was granted access to the Master bedroom in the penthouse. Said room was tastefully decorated and larger than Xanders's entire house, or so it seemed. The bed was plush and covered in cream covers, light green walls with tasteful art, with heated wooden floors, a tile bathroom big enough to golf in, and a tub and shower large enough to fit several people. 'I have a feeling I'm gonna be getting a lot of use out of that shower. Tia will see to that I'm sure,' He thought ruefully.

Coming out of the bathroom he found Rani tracing some kind of magical sigils along the outside of the bedroom door frames. Xander, who'd read more than a few books on magic and occultism, didn't recognize the script she was writing. He knew it wasn't French, Babylonian, Latin, Yiddish, or Old Norse though. "So what magical script is that Rani? It's not one I recognize."

"Runic Elder Futhark," The Szlachta replied as she fixed her glasses and looked over her handiwork. "Yes, everything seems to be in order here," Turning to Xander she asked, "What languages do you happen to be familiar with Xander? I'd like to know, so I know what to teach you."

"I know French, some Babylonian, Latin, Yiddish, and Old Norse. French came from looking for this amulet one year, Babylonian and Latin came from six years of reading old tomes on demonology, Yiddish… Well, my BFF is Jewish and I picked up a lot from her. And my… ex was the Patron Saint of Scorned Women."

"Anyanka… you dated the Anyanaka?" Rani asked, sounding both horrified and intrigued all at once.

"Dated?" Xander gave a mirthless laugh. "I almost married her," he revealed as he ran a hand through his hair, "I was this close," He held up a hand with a small gap between his finger and thumb, "Only for a demon to ruin it and had me leaving her at the altar."

"I'm sorry Xander," Rani replied, sounding genuinely remorseful. "You deserve a medal for returning a former demoness to the light. Making a vengeance demon see the good in the very thing she exists to strike against? That's remarkable honestly."

"Thanks Rani," Xander replied, as he came up to her gazing at the runic array as he did so. "What's this supposed to do anyway?"

"These runes when combined in this order will make a space bigger on the inside than it should be," The homunculi explained. "It is ill-advised to use it on a room when a living being is inside however as…well their organs will spill out all over the place as their bodies will get bigger while their insides will not grow to compensate, leading to internal collapse."

Xander covered his mouth, "Jesus!"

Rani nodded, "Yes magic is quite dangerous Alexander, remember that. Besides dealing with consensus we also must be careful that we do our magic properly in the first place. One failure, one mistake could lead to death."

"What's Consensus?"

"It's the collective human unconscious deciding what is and isn't possible. Humans throwing fireballs is deemed 'impossible' so mages doing it gets backlash by the consensus. The more mages push against the consensus the more it'll push back. That's why mages must be careful. It becomes even harder to do magic in front of those who are unaware of its existence. As someone who does not believe is blatantly seeing something he doesn't think should happen, taking place right in front of them. The more blatant the magic is cast in front of more who disbelieve, the more potent the pushback will be."

"Oof, it's like a tug of war. I bet if you use magic in magical or spiritual places magic becomes easier to perform right?"

Rani nodded, smiling. Pleased she had such an astute student. "Indeed. If lord Dracula and I are correct in our assumptions and you are indeed an artificer you can get away with more than most when it comes to magic as you can merely pass your magic off as advanced technology."

"Magitek. You're talking about magitek, or as Clarke's third law goes. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

"Correct again! Ten points to Slytherin," Rani said.

"Slytherin me?" Xander said, pointing at himself, "I always considered myself a Gryffindor." He replied with an eyebrow raised.

Rani shook her head, "You are a man of cunning and guile. Willing to take calculated risks, and even play dirty to win. You are indeed a Slytherin. Miss Summers is a Gryffindor, and miss Rosenberg is-"

"A Ravenclaw, yeah, just like you Rani."

"Quite, but we are getting off topic. For which I apologize," Rani said looking away flushed in embarrassment. Clearing her throat, she said, "Anyway, I intend to turn the master bedroom into your workshop while we're here. The room I'm sharing with Mattia will also double as mine."

"Okay, sounds good. Though you can probably just turn the whole room into a workshop, if this morning is any indication all three of you are going to end up in my bed at night anyway, so…"

"You'd like that wouldn't you, you incorrigible pervert?" Rani said, slapping him on the arm. "Alexander, I know you have a weakness for the flesh, but do try and remember you're an artificer and not a part of the Cult of Ecstasy won't you?" Flicking her violet hair behind her, she said, "Since you've shown an interest shall I show you the runic room expansion array?"

"Sure?" Xander didn't see the harm.

Rani stood in front of his door frame and said, "Watch closely and pay attention to my explanation, it's important," She traced a rune that looked like a "C" then an "R" and lastly an "N". Shr then explained their names and meanings. "The first is Kenaz meaning Torch or creation in many forms. The second is Raido meaning expansion, movement, or journey. And lastly is Halglaz, it can mean hail, crisis, radical change, or completion. Trace them in this order with the meanings I explained. If done properly you'll expand the interior of the room."

Xander nodded. He traced the "C" for Kenaz thinking, 'Create,' Then the "R" for Raido 'Expand' lastly came the "N" for Halglaz, 'Completion'. He saw gears clicking and snapping into place like tumblers in a lock through his mage sight.

Once all three were traced onto the left, top and right of the doorframe, a flash happened. Turning to Rani, Xander asked, "Is that good? Did it work?"

"Open the door and find out," She prompted him.

Doing so, Xander found the already large room was now the size of a movie theater. "I think it worked."

"Good job Alexander, I'm very proud of you," Rani said earnestly.

"Thanks, I had a good teacher," Xander replied honestly, causing the tanned girl to flush again.

(...)

Xander decided to take a break from Rani's 'harsh' lessons on magic. His brain could only take so much before he blew a gasket. He asked the girls if they would like to go shopping or check her finances in Suzue's case since she has been missing for a few months.

The three girls nodded at needing some local clothes. Suzue was appreciative of Xander giving her some money.

"Thanks a lot Xander I had quite a bit of debt before I … uhm … passed. My car was blown up and I went through several phones," spoke Suzue as she gave Xander a nice hug while squishing her breast into him.

Xander looked at her in bewilderment, " Listen unless you live on a hellmouth I have to wonder. How dangerous is being a cop in Tokyo? I mean the culture seems pretty nice from my perspective?"

Suzue could only shiver from all the crime, debauchery, death, and drugs that she uncovered while working with her previous partner, "From what Dracula taught me Japan is basically a battleground of many supernatural factions. Some would love to kill me for just existing, turn Mattia into a breeding mare, and pick Rani's brain. Outside of her body of course. And those are from three different factions each. Luckily, a few factions in Japan look at Dracula not only as an ally but a graceful and respectful business partner."

Xander nodded along at the number of people he may need to murder.

"Of course the Tzimisce have allies and enemies alike. Especially those who are part of the Sabbat," spoke Rani.

"Sabbat?" questioned Xander.

"The counter organization of the Camarilla. They are the outcasts of vampire society that basically came together to oppose the other clans and groups that kicked them out of their society. The Tzimsce are one of the members of the sabbat most liked for supplying the ground troops as Szlatcha such as me and Mattia. Lord Dracula though is a master of fleshcrafting and created life from multiple samples. He also took the extra step to ensure that Mattia and I looked semi-human to not arouse suspicion. Any other questions before we leave Xander?"

Xander had to appreciate how Rani didn't dumb things down but helped him better understand the strange world he was in. He appreciated her blunt way of explaining subjects, "Just one really. Is there any non-supernatural group we need to look out for?"

Suzue perked up, "Well supposedly there is a secret group of assassins going around killing the blight of society. They are called Black Label. I was actually investigating several cases involving them recently. If we have time to go by my place in Tokyo I have some files we could look over. It's nothing but circumstantial evidence though."

Xander nodded in agreement," I mean it wouldn't hurt. Let me get a few things together, then we can take care of your stuff. Also is there anything financial you need help with?"

Suzue blushed so hard that her hair skin almost looked the same as her hair," I might need help paying off an auto loan and some hospital bills."

Xander could only smile,"No problem. Mattia, Rani, do either of you need anything before we go?"

Mattia shook her head in the negative.

Rani looked the room over and then spoke up, "Let me put up some security runes to set a bounded field before we go and I will be ready."

Xander looked around at the girls and thought how lucky he was to be here now, "Alright let's pack up our stuff and I will check with the front desk."

(...)

Xander and company walked the streets of Tokyo and looked around in wonder at all the sights to see. Restaurants hawking their wares, big screens with pop idols singing and dancing in synchronization.

Suzue played a makeshift guide and explained what was what and where everything they were looking at was. She was a little nervous and looked side to side as the night sky allowed the city to shine.

Xander enjoyed and was happy to have his own adventure without all the drama that came from Sunnydale.

"And this is actually the area where I was renting an apartment," spoke Suzue. She grew quiet as she saw all the police tape around her apartment complex and what looked to be Tobioka police force. Suzue hid behind Xander when she immediately saw her old work partners.

"Xander we might need to go or at the very least I need to. I don't think any of my former associates would expect to see me. Although I wonder what they are doing here of all places?"

Xander agreed and decided to use some of the skills he developed to the hellmouth to good use. Then it occurred to him, "I don't speak japanese? How am I going to talk to anyone?"

Rani took that moment to poke Xander's shoulder, "I have a simple solution for that."

"What-" before Xander could finish Rani liplocked Xander and was giving him a kiss that made nearby people uncomfortable. Xander felt her tongue moving around in his mouth.

When their lips disconnected Rani looked nonplussed as she then spoke in perfect Japanese which Xander now understood, "The Ansuz rune means god, order, breath, and communication. A simple application of exchanging saliva allows me to transfer my knowledge of languages to you. I understand most modern and ancient languages. Sadly saliva is low quality so I can only do one language per make out session. So I won't blow your mind. Let's just do Japanese for now alright."

Xander shook his head in agreement. Suzue was a little embarrassed but also turned on a bit by the action. Public displays of affection were rare in Japan after all. "Okay," Xander said, smacking his cheeks to get his brain out of the hazy fog the kiss had put him in. "Suzue go hide. Rani, wait out here. Mattia, come with me. This is a quick in and out."

The Szlachta nodded and the two headed into the apartment. He was stopped just inside the door by a grizzled looking detective type that looked like he had stepped out of a Dick Tracy novel. His clothes were a disheveled mess, he had a day or two of stubble on his face, and if the black circles around his eyes indicated he hadn't slept recently either, "Hold it right there, this is a crime scene, can I help you?"

"Umm yes?" Xander replied, holding up his hands to prove he wasn't a threat. "I'm a former friend of Suzue-chan and I heard she fell in the line of duty. I didn't know her apartment had been declared a crime scene though," Xander replied, "I came to pay my respects and pick up some of her things."

"Odd," the detective said, his voice shrewd, "She never mentioned you."

"Well, we weren't exactly dating or anything…" Xander admitted sheepishly. "I was going to ask her out before this happened." He confessed.

The detective sighed, "She probably would've been thrilled," He offered Xander a handshake instead of bowing, "Detective Tatara Isoroku,"

"Harris Alexander, and my other friend Mattia Kyrielight." He replied, shaking the man's hand. "Nice to meet you, detective."

Tatara ran a hand down his face, "So what're you kids here for? Clothes, pictures?"

"All of the above? Anything of hers she wouldn't just leave behind and want the landlord to throw in a dumpster," The younger of the two men replied.

"Well we're not tagging and bagging anything here. Not officially anyway," He said under his breath.

Xander didn't survive on the hellmouth by being hard of hearing though. "So this isn't an official investigation then, detective?"

Tatara grimaced, "Tch, you got keener hearing to make up for the loss of your eye or something? How'd that happen anyway?"

"Catholic priest," Xander replied, "Didn't want to take no for an answer and tried to kill me when I threatened to call the cops."

Mattia next to Xander bristled a little at the reminder of Xander's enemies trying to maim him. Luckily said priest was dead or Mattia would have show him the Tzimisce mercy. As a nice chair of course.

"Eeh, and I thought that was just a stereotype," The man shuddered and seemed genuinely sympathetic. Also seeing the amount of anger on the young woman next to Mr. Harris.

"Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, detective. Kinda like the one about the grizzled hardboiled detective who won't rest until he solves his partner's murder?"

Tatara scoffed, "You got me there," looking down at the floor he sighed and said, "She had real potential you know? Suzue I mean, she was green, and optimistic like I was when I first started out. But maybe it was because of that, that I could tell she'd make a damn good detective one day. Now… she's gone." He looked up, his eyes full of rage, "So yeah, I'm not gonna stop until I get the bastards who did it! Those Black Label shits!"

Xander decided to fish for information, "I see… are they a gang or something? Bad news?"

"They're a group of vigilantes thinking they can take the law into their own hands and execute the criminals in this city! We have due process and the courts for a reason damn it! The moment people start taking the law into their own hands, its total anarchy! People can and will just start killing each other for no good reason, just you wait," He paused to take a breath. "Sorry I've been holding that in awhile now kid."

"You're fine, sounds like you needed to vent," Xander replied understandingly, "It's not the first time someone has used me as a soundboard, and likely won't be the last. Anyway, where are her things?" He asked while peeking into the kitchenette the apartment wasn't huge or anything, not like he expected much on a cops salary, but compared to where they were staying the whole apartment was the same size as the bathroom. 'I'm glad Konomi-chan is with us now, there's quaint and cozy, then there's shoving an elephant through a mousehole and this is borderline that,' He thought to himself as he made his way past the kitchenette and into the room beyond.

It was her bedroom, a small one. It had a small bed, a dresser, a nightstand with a lamp, and a closet. Sitting in one corner was a dry erase board on the wall next to that was a cork board. Pictures had bits of red string tied to them with sticky notes attached and the dry erase board had lots of notes written on it. Taking a good long look, Xander made sure to memorize everything on both boards. He then noticed a manilla envelope. Opening it, he saw it was a map of all known sightings of Black Label. Presumably written in Suzue's handwriting. 'Most likely hiding places due to direction and frequency of sightings are Mochizuki General Hospital and the nearby highschool.'

"Bingo," Xander said to himself. He then called out to the detective. "Detective Tatara, you might wanna come see this if you haven't already!"

"Harris-san, I really don't wanna see Suzue's unmentionables-" The cop mumbled.

"No not that! Though, I suppose I should pack up her clothes," The younger of the two said more as an afterthought as he nodded to Mattia who happily gathered up Suzue's clothes and put them in her bag of holding. "All this!" He said, spreading his arm out towards all the evidence. "Have you seen this?"

Tatara looked at the dry erase and cork boards then through her notes. "The chairman of Mochizuki General Hospital, Masamune Mochizuki. He lost his son in a medical conference bombing awhile back. Could that have driven him over the edge? Forced him to take the law into his own hands and found a vigilante group?"

"Maybe, but why the high school?" Xander asked, "Could some of its members be highschool students? No ones that crazy to recruit students to be murderous vigilante's right?" The American questioned. 'I say as a teenage demon slayer all throughout highschool. Pot meets kettle. Irony thou art a cruel mistress.'

"I need to head back to the station, do some digging into some old cases," Tatara said at last. "Thanks kid, you've been a big help. Don't touch any of this stuff, but feel free to take whatever else alright?" the detective said, "make it quick though because I'm gonna call a couple of uniforms to come and secure this evidence and i don't want you to be arrested."

"Right thanks Tatara-san, I'll be quick and make myself scarce," Xander promised before he took a duffle bag he found in the closet which he noted had a spare firearm and plenty of ammo in it, and proceeded to fill it with some of the clothes in the closet, any pictures he could find, and a hidden tea can fill with emergency cash tucked into an air vent before he beat a hasty retreat. Anything else he couldn't fit he also handed to Mattia to put into her bag of holding. No need to get arrested by the cops on his first day in Japan after all.

(...)

Secret Underground Facility beneath Mozuchi Hospital

The members of Black Label had gathered to once again go over the case of the missing 'White blood cell' known as Suzue Konomi. She had, months prior, mysteriously disappeared. No trace of kidnapping or suspects to be found, only copious amounts of what was later identified as her blood was later identified at an abandoned warehouse near the docks.

"Have you heard anything from your contacts Sensei?" a white-haired teen girl with a stern disposition asked, as her yellowish amber eyes flickering first to an emaciated man in a wheelchair then to a surly and silent boy with dark brown hair and silver eyes in customized red and black biker leathers.

"Nothing concrete," the chairman of the hospital and leader of this clandestine group, Mochizuke Masamune replied from his wheelchair, "Black Label's allies in the supernatural community, Task Force Zero, haven't heard anything about Junior Inspector Suzue. They did pass on the fact that an envoy of the Tzimisce, of the Impaler himself, is visiting our fair city."

Everyone stiffened, suddenly tense. Vlad the Impaler was not a name casually bandied about, and for him to have an envoy in the city could mean dozens of things at once, or nothing at all. The boy in the leathers spoke up, "Sir, what should we do about the envoy? By being one of the Impaler's pawns, does that not automatically make him a Code Black?"

"Arashi, only sensei gets to decide that!" The silver-haired girl snapped at him.

His silver eyes bored into her as he replied, calmly to his partner, "I know, but I also know that anyone from Clan Tzimisce being in this city is going to agitate its sickness. All the tumors are going to move about… it might even cause the cancers in the city to metastasize if you take my meaning, Mikoto?"

"I suppose that's true," Mikoto Kiba replied as she bit her lower lip nervously as she asked the sickly man, "The Tzimisce are unusually well liked by many of the cancer cells in the city arent they sensei? Mainly the Kuei-Jin, and the Sabbat?"

"Correct Mikoto-chan," Mochizuchi replied, "A Tzimicse, even an envoy being in the city, is sure to stir up its cancerous elements but we can use that to our advantage."

"Bait," A small pink haired girl with her hair in two side ponytails on either side of her head replied as she rocked the gothic lolita dress she wore, all black lace and ruffles, "You want to use the envoy as bait to lure out the cancer cells and then take them all out at once."

"It's a sound strategy with the highest chance of cauterizing the sickness in the city," the chairman confirmed. "We just need to figure out who this person is, and how to get close to them first."

"So sensei needs a honeypot?" A buxom white-haired woman asked her assets on full display, "I suppose I could do this mission. It is my duty as a Sagiri to do unsavory things like this,"

"Umm, Sagi-chin we don't know if it's a guy who's even into girls yet so maybe calm down a little?" the pinkette said.

"Oraiha-chan is right of course," The woman, Yuko Sagiri sighed, "I'm just saying if it's necessary, I volunteer."

"Not that I'm not grateful but why do you feel you have to do it, Tsurugi-senpai?" Mikoto Kiba asked.

The woman put her hand on her chest as she replied, "Well, Kiba-chan isn't the flirting type, she's too serious,"

"Gah,"

Oriha-chan is famous but is much too young, if he is interested in her I'd wonder about his predilections."

"Hey! I do softcore porn too, you know!" The pinkette complained.

"That's not something I would brag about," Mikoto said under her breath.

"I heard that Miko-chin!" Oriha shot back.

An athletic looking brunette in a black bodysuit spoke up, "And what about Sayo and I?"

"You're like Kiba-chan, you don't flirt either," Tsurugi replied, only for her to add under her breath, "Plus they might mistake you for a boy,"

"I heard that!" Miki snapped, "Not all of us look like upright cows!"

"I could do it," the messy blue haired Sayo offered.

Only for Tsurugi to shake her head, "Only if you were a decoy. Your bloodlust makes you too obvious to be a honeytrap. Thus if it comes right down to needing a honeytrap, I'm the best choice."

"Not if the target is into men," Arashi replied, "In that scenario I'm the best choice for completing this mission." the teen said neutrally.

"Yes well… we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Yuko replied, "And hopefully we won't have too."

"Indeed," Mochizuchi replied, "For now, we should hold off on making any plans till we find out just who this person is," Taking a moment to have a coughing fit, the ill man continued, "I'm waiting for Inukami-san to call. I asked him to see if he could dig up any information."

Then as if speaking his name summoned him, the television behind them lit up, showing the caller was the wayward member of Ampule Zero. Hitting a button on his wheelchair, Mochizuki answered the call, saying, "Inukami, I have you here on speakerphone with Ampoules Zero and One. What have you discovered?"

"Nice to hear from you too, Mochizuki. Hey Miki, miss me?" He asked flirtatiously.

"No!" the sniper of Ampule Zero snapped, "Now get on with it!"

Inukami just laughed playfully, "Fine, fine. Here's what I know. Our envoy is a young, former up and coming carpenter by the name of Alexander Lavelle Harris," A picture of a young man with messy dark brown hair and a lone hazel eye, his missing left one was covered by a leather eyepatch bearing the symbol of Clan Tzimisce in gold. "He comes from what was a small suburban town in America, Sunnydale California."

'So he's an American… I doubt he's heard of me then,' Oriha thought with a slight pout, 'But he is kinda cute in a mature grizzled kinda way,' She admitted to herself. 'Like James Bond but with an eyepatch… wait they have a guy for that, Rick Rage… no, that's not it… Nick Fury! That's it! He looks like Nick Fury!' The young idol thought to herself.

"You said former home? What happened to it?" Sayo asked.

"It's gone, utterly wiped off the map, raised to the ground. All I can find out is that it wasn't done via shell bombing. But some form of localized destruction leveled the town completely. After that, a known associate of Harris-san, one Elizabeth Anne Summers, has gone on to form a terrorist organization known as Slayers and through raiding Swiss banks to fund it."

"Is it possible that the Tzimisce is in league with this Slayers group?" Mochizuchi asked.

Inukami sighed over the line creating static, "I've no idea honestly. I can't get a concrete answer on what happened in the boy's hometown where he went after its destruction, or how he is in any way affiliated with the Tzimicse, particularly The Impaler. But if Dracula is allied with this Slayer organization Mochizuchi, I'd be very, very careful. I've seen video footage of what these girls can do and they are at the very least on par with Sayo and Yuko… and there are hundreds of them. To make matters worse. We have no idea if they are allied with the Technocracy Union or not. They have a very powerful witch in their organization who if my research is correct can manipulate the souls of the dead. They also have connections with a major Demon Law firm Wolfram & Hart. It seems the slayer organization also works with blood demons. In fact one Angelous of the Angelic Face from the Scourge of Europe has been seen talking with Buffy."

Stroking his chin, Mochizuki said, "There are just too many unknowns. I can't give someone a Black Label based on what they might be doing, and who they might be doing it for,"

"So what do we do then?" Mikoto asked, "Just wait for him to pull off some ingenious plan and total our city like he seemingly did to his own home town?"

"Mikoto," Arashi said a bit heatedly, "That was uncalled for."

The silver-haired girl looked down guiltily, "You're right sorry, sensei. But for a guy to randomly disappear after his town gets reduced to rubble is too suspicious!" She continued, "Then he shows back up after being gone. Who knows how long being employed by the Dracula of all people? We have no idea who he could be working for and why he's here, or what his agenda is…" She subconsciously rubbed her shoulders as she finished, "...And that's the scariest thing of all."

"I agree with Mikoto, too much isn't adding up," Arashi added, "When it comes to the usual cancer cells we at least know why they are behaving the way they are. A desire for money, power, or just plain old greed. But we know nothing about this person or his motives. Whether he's acting under someone else's agenda or his own."

"What do you suggest we do then, Arashi-kun?" Mochizuki asked.

"We need to learn more about this person, whether he's a cancer cell or possibly even a white blood cell."

Mikoto scoffed, "A white blood cell? Aren't you being a little too optimistic there Arashi? I doubt he's anything like Junior Inspector Suzue was or Inspector Tatara. Considering he's working for a bloodsucker."

The stoic boy shrugged, "We know nothing about him, or even how, or why his hometown was leveled, until we do, I suggest we reserve judgment."

"Though it is unlikely, Arashi is correct, until we know more we should keep an open mind," Mochizuchi agreed. "To that end, if he's spotted at any point try to get to know him, and get a feel for why he's here, or background information at least. I need more information before I can give him a proper label."

"Yes Sir!" Ampoules zero and one replied.

"Good, you're dismissed," the wheelchair bound man replied tiredly.

Inukami then spoke up, "I did manage to dig up his report cards by the way. He was in the AP classes, and had a B-plus average. He's intelligent if not gifted. Notes also stated he was tired if not absent a lot starting sophomore year, yet he still managed to keep his grades up to that level,"

"Hmm, interesting," Mochizuchi commented, "Do you think this has anything to do with the end the town faced?"

"I just find it… odd," the rogue element amongst rogue elements replied.

"Seems like you've picked up some kind of scent. Feel free to follow it, but keep me posted," Mochizuchi commented.

Inukami chuckled, "I'll start braying if I find anything, Inukami out!"

The blonde who was always deftly at his side spoke up, "What do you think is really going on Chairman?"

"For once my dear Fiona, I have no idea, and that truly scares me," The sickly man replied, "When it comes to Alexander Lavelle Harris, I can't begin to see what he might do, and cannot fathom a guess as to how we might start to counter him." Looking at her he said, "For the first time since we met, I am well and truly afraid,"

Taking his hand in hers and giving it a squeeze Fiona Winchester replied, "It will be okay Chairman, don't worry. We're not alone."

"Your right of course my dear," He managed a small smile, "We have many allies on our side, don't we? Ampoule Zero, Ampoule One, many volunteers, and our friends in Strike Force Zero as well," He seemed to calm even as he spoke, "Perhaps all will be well, even I can't see what Harris will do,"

Fiona smiled and replied, "I'm sure it will, Chairman. You shouldn't stress about this too much, it'll agitate your condition," She told him.

"You're right of course," He replied in a tired if resigned tone.

Fiona could only hope the words of comfort didn't end up ringing hollow.

(...)

The unknown variable known as Alexander Lavelle Harris, was currently walking in the shopping district with 'his girls' as he referred to them in his head. Mattia was oohing and ahhing as she flitted from window to window looking at the kimonos. Rani stayed by his side, shaking her head at the supposed elder Szlachta's childish behavior. "Honestly acting like a child when she's supposed to be guarding your person,"

"It's fine," Xander replied, "No one dangerous is within thirty meters of us,"

"How can you tell?" Rani inquired over her glasses.

Stretching his arms above his head, the one-eyed awoken replied, "The enhancements Draq gave me. I can hear the heartbeats of people around me, see body language, acutely remember every fight I've ever been in, hell I could replicate some of Buffy's fighting techniques. The memories are so clear."

"That might not be a bad idea," Rani mumbled to herself, which Xander heard just fine due to his enhanced hearing. "Alexander, just what is your goal? What do you desire to accomplish as a mage, and as a person?"

Xander scratched his head in thought, "What do I wanna accomplish huh? No one has ever asked me that before. Hell, my highschool teacher told me I existed to be placed upon a sacrificial stone,"

"Bastard!" Rani spat, it was the first time he'd heard an emotional inflection enter her tone. "I trust he suffered before he died? For a leader of an institution of learning to tell that to a student, it is not only disgusting, but it's also inconceivably inappropriate."

"Well he did get swallowed whole by the Mayor after he turned himself into the Old One Oleran if I recall correctly so meh?" Xander shrugged, "I guess karma got him in the end?"

"Far faster than he deserved if you ask me," Glancing at the woman on the mage's other side, Rani asked, "What do you think Suzue?"

The vampiress, who's through use of Vicissitude on herself, had gone from a redhead to a brunette, along with shrinking her chest a couple of sizes thanks to what Rani explained as a called a 'rather complex application of life pattern'. Looked around nervously, "Are you sure no one will notice me?"

Sighing, Rani switched over to flawless Romanian and conversed with the girl, "You were trained in the Arts by Lord Dracula himself were you not?"

"Yes?"

"Then what do you have to worry about? Worse comes to worst you can erase people's memories of you with Dominate can you not?"

Suzue sighed, "True, true, I'm just nervous. I'd hate to bump into detective Tatara. I think even with my disguise he'd see right through me."

"Everything okay you two?" Xander, who didn't speak Romanian, inquired.

Switching back to the native language of the country they were in Rani consoled him, "Yes Alexander, everything is fine. Suzue is just worried she might bump into colleagues like Detective Tatara whom you've already met."

Xander nodded, "Yeah, nice guy. If a bit too serious about following the law,"

The ex-cop laughed a little upon hearing that, "Yes but that's what made me respect him. He always said that we cops aren't judges. We don't get to decide people's fates. We just follow and protect the law. That's why he doesn't like Black Label. They are deciding unilaterally who gets to live and die."

Xander walked silently with his hands in his pockets, "I've killed a lot of blood demons, even some humans," Xander said after a moment, "The first time was the Initiative, a group in the US government that knows about the supernatural and was trying to… domesticate them? Weaponize them?" He shook his head, "I dunno, anyway they tried working with Buffy for a bit, she even dated one of em, but like it often did things turned sour and we ended up fighting them. The Big Bad was a guy called Adam, a human fused with demonic flesh and cyborg parts."

"What an abomination!" Rani said under her breath which was funny coming from a Szlachta, who asked with baited breath, "How on earth did you deal with that?"

"We used an enjoining ritual to summon the spirit of the First Slayer to well… Slay him. I was the Heart, Wills was the Spirit, and Giles was the Mind, and Buffy got supercharged as a result,"

Blinking as she stared at him with her jaw slightly slack, Rani asked, "How are you not dead?"

"What'cha mean Rani?"

"Xander, serving as the heart, the source of life for such a spell should've killed you!" She told him bluntly. "Your Slayer friend got the combined strength of her progenitor and magical knowledge of both her teacher and friend, yes?" Seeing him nod she replied, "You should've died as a trade off, such ancient magic doesn't come without some kind of cost."

Swallowing the bile that rose in his throat, he spoke past it asking, "D-Do you think they knew Rani?"

"I cannot say," She said at last. "Miss Rosenberg is unlikely, Elizabeth doesn't seem the eclectic type from how you've described her, which leaves the only outlier being…"

"Giles," Xander finished for her,

"Yes, but again babylonian magic is damn near primordial, even he might not've known the full effects of the spell Alexander," Rani warned.

Running his hand down his face, Xander said, "But that begs the question, how did I survive what should've been a sacrificial spell?"

Rani shook her head, "Even I can't begin to fathom the answer, and I was created to know all there seemingly is to know about the nine Spheres of magic. Each of my predecessors barring one was a master at a particular sphere hence why I am the eighth iteration and their parts were used in my creation. I am a sublimation of those who came before me," She looked down and away, "I do sometimes wonder how much of an individual that makes me however."

"Your a straight-laced exhibitionist, I think you're doing just fine defining yourself as a person. Take it from the guy who used to be the normal guy. Sometimes hanging in the background lets you see the faults in others they can't see because the limelight is too bright. So don't be in such a hurry to define yourself alright?"

Rani smiled and nodded, "Yes, thank you… but what makes you think I'm an exhibitionist?"

"Are you wearing underwear right now Rani?"

"No," she confirmed.

"Do you enjoy not wearing underwear in public?" He elaborated, "Do you find it thrilling?"

"Slightly, I suppose, I just find them constricting but the idea of someone seeing me is… oh my," She flushed a bit and smiled. Clearly she hadn't thought about it until he brought it up, but now that he had, it seemed to appeal to her if the smile was any indication.

"I think you just made a monster Xander, have fun with that," Suzu said as she moved ahead to keep an eye on Mattia.

"Open mouth, insert foot Xander," He muttered to himself. Giving the homunculi a little shake he said, "Fetishes of the non magical variety aside, I think I can answer your question now Rani."

"My question? She echoed.

"You asked me about goals and things. Well, I think I have one but… well it's a tad childish," Xander admitted.

Cocking her head to the side, his magic teacher asked, "What is it?"

"I'd rather not say now that I think of it, I can come up with a better goal than this, surely," He said to himself.

Putting her hands on her hips and glaring up into his eyes which was somehow both cute and intimidating at the same time, Rani demanded of her student, "Alexander Lavelle Harris, you will tell me your original goal this instant!"

"Fine, fine!" He knew when to give in to a pint-sized powerhouse, "I want to be a hero. Well not just that, I want to use these powers to help people, I want… I want to stand on the front lines next to Buffy and Willow next time an apocalypse happens! Not as the cleanup guy, not being in the way or hiding in the shadows waiting to get a cheap shot in, but as an equal!" Xander found himself panting a bit at the end all of his internal resentment that had been building in him over the years spilled out like puss out of a wound. Once he got his breathing under control, he apologized, "Sorry about that, it's just frustrating… one could even call it emasculating, seeing the women around you become these inhuman powerhouses and just be left behind as the normal one."

"I understand. Men have since time immemorial been protectors, hunters, and defenders. It's not your fault per se it is something hardwired into your very DNA. To not be able to fulfill a basic neurological response must be quite infuriating," Rani seemed to empathize with him. "A hero? Yes, this works quite well with your artificer skill set."

"Wait, you actually think I can do it?" Xander was surprised.

"Certainly," Rani replied, "You're a mage Xander you can do whatever you wish. If helping others is what you desire, then I shall assist you… you really haven't gotten much in the way of positive reinforcement have you?" She said sadly.

"Well we've talked about my school and parents, it was… not the best."

"So much to fix," Rani said under her breath, shaking her head in disgust, "But yes we can do this. I'll focus on teaching you Matter first along with Prime you can make basic enchanted items with that. After Which, we can branch out into the other spheres of Forces, Correspondence, Entropy, and the rest."

"Ok,"

"Do you have a theme for the type of hero you wish to be?" Rani asked conversationally as they walked down the thoroughfare to catch up with Mattia and Suzu.

Coughing into his hand the former contractor replied, "I was thinking a mix of Doctor Doom and Iron man. You know? Combine technology with magic along with decent martial skill?"

'He would fit right in with House Veriditas of the Order of Hermes, same with the Ars Cupidate. The only problem is, I don't know if the Order would even accept him due to his association with Lord Dracula,' She sighed, "For every answer, another obstacle," She said to herself.

"Don't worry about any of that right now," Xander told her. "For now, I just want to buy you girls some kimonos and then maybe swing by Akihabara and see if I can pick up some tech to mess with," He gave her a once over before saying, "I think you'd look good in something that comes in a shade of dark blue,"

"You think, that would contrast nicely with my hair I suppose," She said as she twiddled the end of one of her strands in front of her eyes. Giving a brisk nod, she made him a deal, "I will allow you to buy us clothes on the condition that we also buy a nice suit for you as well. It's only fair."

"Do I need a suit though?" Xander asked. "I mean if you teach me Matter well enough I can just turn my clothes into whatever, whenever right?"

"Yes, but that's not the point, you are Lord Dracula's representative here in Japan, and thus must dress the part, lest you embarrass him."

"Fine, I don't wanna make him look weak, and thus someone's lunch,"

"You're a quick study," Rani said approvingly. She then took both of her small hands in one of his as she looked up into his and promised, "Your goals are mine Alexander. You will become a hero, I promise you. By the time you meet Miss Rosenberg and Miss Summers again, they won't even recognize you, because you'll be a completely different person. Someone you can be proud of, provided you are willing to put in the effort to become what you want to see in the mirror that is,"

"Thanks Rani, and I'm nothing if not a hard worker," Smiling he asked, "Ready to shop till I drop?"

"Why till you drop?"

"Cause someone has to carry all the bags," Xander said with a demeaning laugh.

Rani tutted, 'This poor boy, he's been treated as a janitor, pack mule, carpenter, but hardly ever as an equal and friend. I have my work cut out for me,' She thought as she headed into the store. Xander, being a gentleman, held the door open for the women before following them inside.

(...)

"Okay!" Xander said after several hours. "I could keep going but this is getting menatious, so I think that's enough shopping for one day!"

"We can carry some of the bags Xander," Mattia told him not for the first time, reaching for various parcels he had hanging from his arms only for him to pull away.

"No this is nothing, they feel feather light after whatever Draq did," He replied honestly, "It's just tedium honestly. I can only look at different color variations of the same clothing for so long. Having a photographic memory combined with perfect recall isn't all it's cracked up to be apparently."

"Caine that must make everything so boring," Mattia said to herself. Deciding to test it, she asked him, "What did you have for breakfast last Tuesday?"

"A full English breakfast minus the tea, cause I don't like it," He replied easily.

"What did you score on your last test in highschool?" Suzue decided to ask something harder. Something a normal human couldn't recall.

"An eighty-nine, I got five extra points because I nailed the bonus question."

"Speaking of bonus questions, what are our three sizes?" Rani asked mischievously.

"Suzue is one hundred ten bust, fifty-nine waist, and eighty-nine hips. Mattia is eighty-eight bust, fifty-six waist, and eighty-seven hips, and your eighty bust, fifty-eight waist, eighty-one hips," He looked at her challengingly and asked, "I'm sorry did you want that in inches?"

"Touche, I thought I could catch you off guard," Rani replied, "Well done,"

"Yeah, anyway whaddya say we call it a night and head back to the hotel? The sun'll be rising soon and Suzue needs to-" He stopped talking and his head snapped to the left, like a dog suddenly hearing a noise.

"Master?" Mattia asked, "Is everything alright?"

Instead of answering, the one-eyed man dropped the bags and took off down a nearby alley on their left just up ahead. Mattia was impressed by his speed. It was impressive for a human, but not something she couldn't easily outpace. She quickly took off after him, her own body a blur of motion. She was in her element. Her master was about to put himself in danger and it was her duty to make sure he didn't get in over his head.

She arrived mere seconds after him. She watched as Alexander surveyed the scene with a cool eye. Like a group of Jackals, Hyena, Dingoes, or other scavenger animals, a group of Cainites had gathered around a buxom dark haired girl. He had no idea what she was doing out so late, but if the spilled grocery bag was any indication, a bit of late night shopping had been in order and, perhaps taking a shortcut home, she had run afoul of those to whom the night truly belonged.

They weren't blood demons; they didn't flash their 'game faces' the moment they saw him. Meaning they were real vamps. Which clan he had no idea. Didn't really matter though. They were terrorizing a young woman and would be dealt with the same regardless. "Isn't it getting a little late for a snack fellas?" The trio of hulking punkish brutes all, kept their eyes on him as he calmly approached with his hands in his pockets. "Shouldn't you be getting to bed?" He carried on, "Not too long till sunup now, tarry out here and you're dead-dead,"

"How the hell do you-" One with a ring in one nostril began only for the biggest of the bunch, a bald headed man in a bomber jacket, to hold a hand out silencing him as he snarled, "Look at the eyepatch ya dolt! He's Tzimicse,"

"Sabbat?" The smallest, a wiry looking fellow said in disgust, "Let's gut em, stake em, and leave 'im in the sun,"

"Idiots! Does he smell like Kindred to you?!" The big one snapped, "No, he's kith, ghoul family maybe? He smells different."

Having heard enough from the peanut gallery, Xander spoke to the pack leader directly, "Listen, big guy you seem to be the only smart one of this trio, so why don't you take tweedles Dee and Dum over there and leave. Dawn is soon and if you're caught out in it, you're all dead."

The two insulted Kindred snarled in an attempt to be menacing, yet the biggest one just put a hand on either of their shoulders. "You aren't a normal ghoul, you're too cognizant. Who or what are you?"

"I'm nobody, just Vlad Dracula's best friend," Xander said as he held his hand over a trash can lid. It folded itself up like a piece of origami before it was encapsulated in heat, forming a crude but effective knife. One he held casually at his side as he said, "So, what's it gonna be fella's?"

Upon mentioning Dracula the big vampire leaned back as if the rays of the sun itself were shining out of Xander's very being, "An associate of the Impaler?" He hissed in agitation before giving a manhole cover a kick sending it spinning into the air before he caught it one handed. "We'll go, but I will be reporting our encounter to my Clan,"

"You do that Gangrel," Mattia replied for him, "Be sure to let your elders know that the Viovode will retaliate with equal if not superior force should the Camarilla attack us in any way,"

Pushing the smaller kindred down the hole, he nodded, "I'll pass on your message, though for your sake, I hope you're not going to be in the city long. The balance here is… delicate and people who attempt to… upset that balance tend to get removed,"

"Thanks for the warning," Xander replied, "Have a good morning," he finished with faux-cheer as the vampire pulled the manhole cover closed behind him. He then turned his attention to the young woman who was watching him warily, she had a wooden bokken half lowered to the ground even as she kept her eyes locked on him.

"What, is there something on my face?" He asked disarmingly as he smiled at her. "It's the eyepatch isn't it?" He said holding his hands up, dropping his makeshift knife as he walked closer, "Believe me, it's not a fashion statement, I really am missing an eye under this thing,"

"You… Did something to that trash can lid," The girl said, her blue eyes almost looking purple as they flicked down to the knife he'd discarded.

"Yeah, well, a magician never reveals his secrets Miss?" He said a little lamely.

"Saeko, Busuijima Saeko," She replied, as he started picking up her fallen groceries.

Finishing putting the things back in order Xander handed the bag to her, "Here you are Busujima-san. You should be fine now. You should just go home and forget all about this okay? It'll probably be for the best," He turned, preparing to walk away when the edge of a bokken was placed against his neck, "You have an odd way of saying thank you Busujima-san. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"I can't just go home and forget what I just saw!" She said, not only her tone, but the hand that was holding her wooden sword was quivering ever so slightly. "What just happened? Explain this to me?"

Xander sighed, "I could tell you the truth, but I don't think you'd believe me, even if I did,"

"Try me," She challenged.

The mage just shrugged, she did ask after all. "Those were vampires, I could do what you saw me do to that lid because I'm a mage and was using magic," He nodded, seeing her surprise, "Yeah, the world is a lot darker and more fucked up than you know. Monsters, zombies, vampires, demons, all those things you've heard about in folklore? They're probably all real in some form or fashion. See, this is why I said you probably wouldn't-"

"I believe you," she said abruptly, cutting him off.

"Wow really?" Xander was surprised, 'Maybe Sunnydale Syndrome is only a thing in Sunnydale after all?' he wondered.

Saeko nodded, "It's the only thing that makes sense, no normal man could kick a manhole cover into the air, or catch it one handed. It also explains the knife," she peered down at the bladed weapon curiously, "What else can you do?"

"Dunno still learning," He replied honestly, before he felt the feeling of a hot piece of sharp metal being dragged down his right arm. Hissing Xander pulled his sleeve up and noticed a raised scar trailing down his forearm.

"What did that?" Saeko asked.

"So this is Paradox huh?" He asked himself more than replying to her question before pulling his jacket sleeve down, "I've felt worse,"

The dark-haired girl took a water bottle out of her groceries, pulled his sleeve back up, and poured it over his wound. It hurt but in a cathartic kinda way.

"Why did that happen?" She asked looking at the wound to make sure the swelling was going down.

"It's what happens when you use magic in front of someone who doesn't know about it," Xander replied, "The collective unconsciousness doesn't like contradictions, kinda like nature and vacuums."

"So collective belief trumps all," Saeko muttered.

"Yep. Anyway, Busujima-san I should go my arm hurt and my friends are probably worried about me by now,"

Grabbing his shoulder, she asked, "What if I have more questions or run across something else like… like those vampires?"

"Would you like my number to call me in case you run into something weird?" He offered mainly for her peace of mind.

"Yes please," She said, getting her own phone out, "I'll give you mine as well,"

The two exchanged numbers and Xander even offered to walk her home yet she declined stating she'd inconvenienced him enough. She was glad she got his number though for once she understood what was going on with herself right now, she might need the help of a mage. Even now, she could hear the whispers in the back of her mind saying, 'THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.'

(...)

Now back in their hotel room as it was too close to dawn for Xander's comfort. He wanted to get Suzue safely inside the penthouse and in her coffin, come dawn. So the group beat a hasty retreat to the penthouse and after bidding the Draculina goodnight, said to his soon to be teacher, "We can start training properly after like eight to sixteen hours of sleep, Rani. I'm surprised jetlag is just now hitting us." He replied as he released a yawn.

"Of course," She replied. "We shall begin learning Matter, and Prime in tandem tomorrow. I considered focusing on just Prime first but, since all the Sphere's are intrinsically linked I see no harm in learning certain ones simultaneously."

"Awesome looking forward to it, Teach," He said as he made his way to his room, he turned back. He couldn't resist a final joke, "Should I have an apple waiting for you by my desk in the morning?"

"Yes," She said matter-of-factly "One needs to start somewhere and that is as good a place as any. Though I'm not sure if an apple counts as living matter under the Life Sphere or not since it's technically been picked from its tree… hmm… Yes, bring the apple just in case Alexander, and we'll test this theory," She decided finally.

"Yeah, sure Rani goodnight," Xander said with a chuckle as he made his way to bed. He found Mattia there, waiting, wearing a sheer silver negligee with her legs beneath her as she sat on his bed, "Not tonight Mattia, I'm exhausted and jet lag is a bitch."

Mattia nodded, then she poked her fingers together as she blushed, asking, "Fair enough master… perhaps we could just… cuddle?"

Coming out of the bathroom after brushing his teeth and changing into something more comfortable. Giving her a warm smile he said, "Yeah sure,"

The two slid under the sheets, spooning with Mattia acting as the big spoon clinging to Xander's broad back in the dark. After a moment she spoke. "You were reckless today Master, rushing ahead on your own like that," She squeezed him a bit before she continued, "I can't do my job if you don't let me."

"Sorry," Xander said after a moment, "I didn't mean to worry you, I'm just so used to being weak and helpless but now I'm not I can do something now Tia!" He raised his voice ever so slightly above a whisper before he continued, "I wouldn't expect you to understand, but to me, being helpless to do anything is worse than being dead."

The lilac-haired girl just shook her head, "I can't understand I'm sorry. Because without you, I have no reason to exist. I would be purposeless. I was ready to tear those Gangrel limb from limb if they had so much as touched a hair on your head before I arrived…" She paused for a moment before she asked, "Master? Am I a burden to you?"

Xander turned to face her, "What?! No, why would you think that?"

"It is my duty to prevent you from coming to harm, yet you seem intent on putting yourself in harm's way, our desires are conflicting with each other and our very natures are incompatible. Would it not be best if I were… dismantled?"

"Don't be stupid!" He said a little harsher than he intended. "You are fine just the way you are, do you understand me? I… I intend to help people, yes, but sometimes my temper gets the better of me. Sometimes my emotions overtake my reason. That is why you're here Tia, you exist to keep me safe from the most dangerous person to me, myself. You're even more level headed than Rani, and there will be times when I'll need you to save me from myself. That will be your time to shine. So don't try to change or anything okay, " He kissed her forehead, "You being the way you are is exactly what I need, okay?"

Mattia was relieved she often wondered if she had no reason or right to stay by her master's side, yet he'd affirmed that wasn't the case. In fact, in her own way, she was even more important than Rani herself was. "Yes thank you," She pecked him on the lips. "I feel better now,"

"Good, while I'm studying with Rani tomorrow you can do some training of your own, join us, or watch tv or something. It's up to you."

"I shall likely continue my reading, I do enjoy my history books," Matia was one for scholarly pursuits when not doing her duty particularly of war tactics and strategy.

Xander kissed her head again, "My little military scholar,"

"You and your embarrassing nicknames," She said, hiding her blush by burying her head in his chest.

"Night Tia,"

"Good night, Xander." She replied as she drifted off into the land of morpheus.

(...)

Tobishiro Mansion the Next Afternoon,

While one group decided to rest during the day. The daywalkers had their own struggles.

Jotaro Tobishiro thought himself a man of excellence.

He led his clan to a new age of ruling over Tokyo. All rival yakuza learned quickly to not mess with his territory. The extinction of the Kabuto group by Black Label showed his immense dislike of making "his" city dirty. His son was nothing but a disappointment though. He tried so hard to raise him as a proper and dignified samurai. The betrayal of one of his guardian demons or yaksha soured his attempts and he guessed guarding his son more backfired on him. He mused on how he had to go through his organization with a fine toothed comb after that.

Any outliers or traitors were cut from the cloth for his image of Tokyo. Just as he warned the technocracy that while they have some reign. They were still under his thumb.

Oh how the world changed when he was assassinated. The Yama kings put fear in Jotaro that no other yakuza or human could do when he arrived in hell for his sins. His fear overwhelmed him and he crawled his way out of hell centimeter by centimeter.

He supposed his ascension to a Kuei-jin has slowed down his aging but he died an older man. HIs time was still measured in decades instead the centuries other kuei-jin were guaranteed. He wanted to make sure his empire and heir were protected. So he decided to break the taboo. He pooled all his knowledge to bind a mighty Yaksha from the bowels of hell to become a true guardian demon.

The summons went well enough. A sacrifice of a grand sinner who liked children particularly too much was enough to appease the spirits and allow him to drag a grand sinner from hell.

What he got though was not what he was expecting.

He was a man. Of that there was no question. His skin may have been red as blood and his eyes as yellow as the sun but he was a man nonetheless.

What a curious demon. He looked around wearing little but a tan overcoat, and a pair of pants. He had a pair of shortly shorn horns on his head, a mutton chop beard, and a spade tipped tail. The most curious aspect about him however was his right arm, which looked to be made out of cracked reddish stone. He looked around the others and saw the dead man whose blood they used to summon him.

For his oddly english appearance the demon spoke fluent Japanese, "Aw shit bub. Now I have to ask, are you trying to use me to destroy something or do your bidding are you? I gotta say I already filled my quota for destruction."

His dry wit made Jotaro smile. It seems his luck hasn't run out yet, "No grand sinner. I summoned you to help guard my empire. My city is infested with parasites, plagues, and disease. I needed an edge to guarantee my empire last after my passing."

The raising of the eyebrow showed the demon was willing to hear him out, "Who am I to go against a man's dying wish. You got a smoke though. All this blood smells pretty rank. I would say I don't work with people who kill innocents but if my Romaji isn't rusty. You traded a sinner's soul to damnation for a soul that was already damned. So what did this guy do?"

"He had a particular craving for flesh. Whether it was hedonism, rape, or cannibalism. The tragedy is that he targeted the innocent and unguarded, particularly the young."

A small frown on Jotaro's face shows that he cared on some level. While he was a demon in his own right he did not particularly desire the deaths of his people, especially the children on his hands.

The demon grunted in displeasure. He didn't like to disrespect the dead but there were just some people who wasted the life they were given. "Alright so what exactly do you need me to do?"

"I would like you to keep an eye on my son. I have a watcher on him but she is biased towards his faults. I feel that asking you to kill people would be against your nature, strangely enough."

"If they ain't hurtin' nobody I ain't touching anyone bub."

"AHAHAHAHAH good good. I desire some backbone in my guardians. Tell me demon, what is your name? I asked for a destroyer but you are most certainly a breath of fresh air," laughed Jotaro of the prospect of a friendly demon.

"Hellboy. Call me Hellboy."

"Yamatarou? Interesting, very interesting," Jotaro said as he steepled his fingers. "Tell me Yamatarou, have you ever heard of kuei-jin before or the Scorpion Eaters?"

"Nope, sounds like a kickass name for a band though. Scorpion Eaters I mean. Does this have anything to do with the kid I'm guarding Boss?"

The kuei-jin just waved him off, "Oh no, not at all. I simply wanted to know what, or rather whom I was dealing with," He then snapped at one of the minions cowering at the edge of the room, "Go fetch that useless heir of mine at once! It is time for him to meet his new… minder."

Hellboy blinked as something entered the room a few minutes later. Turning to the old man, he asked, "Hey, boss! Is this some kinda joke! Whose bright idea was it to shave a pig and put it in a white suit?" feeling something tickling his throat, he glanced down and noticed a quiet looking chick pressing a sword there, "Hey hun I don't need a shave but thanks,"

"You dare insult the Young master?" She hissed before glazing at the elderly lord, "Lord Jotaro, what is this thing?"

"He, is my heir's new minder." Jotaro said calmly. "Did you think I would not notice your obvious bias Gyoryu? You should consider yourself fortunate. I am allowing you to keep your life."

Hellboy interjected, holding up both hands as he said, "Wait, wait, wait, you mean I gotta babysit a piglet?"

"Stop calling me that you horned freak!" said pig rebutted.

Walking forward till he loomed over him Hellboy runted out, "I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear you from all the way over there. Would you like to repeat that?"

"N-N-No, it was nothing! I'm Kyoji Tobishirou Nice to meet you Demon-san,"

"You can call me Yamatarou, I guess," Hellboy replied, before he picked him up by his jacket collar so as to hold him up at eye level and said, "Listen up piglet, if I say run you run as fast as your stubby little legs can carry you. Same if I say duck, hide or jump, got it?"

"Yes Yamatarou-san!" Kyoji replied, nodding rapidly. All the while thinking, 'How dare you put your filthy hands on me! Me, a Tobishirou! If i had Lily-chan you'd at least be quieter,' Turning to the old buzzard that just wouldn't die he asked in a sickeningly cutsie voice, "Grandfather, must I have a new bodyguard, Goryu is my secretary after all?"

"Buy a damn PDA you fool," Jotaro replied, "My decision is final! Goryu will be reassigned. If she fails again the price is death."

"You honor me with a second chance my lord," Goryu replied humbly. "What must I do?"

"News of an envoy of the Tzimicse entering the city. Watch him, if he could be useful, entice him to our side. I'm sure you can figure out how. Now go!" He snapped at her.

Goryu nodded from her kneeling position, "As you command Toshirou-dono," she replied before disappearing in a burst of speed. 'I hope you will be okay, young master,' She thought.

Hellboy for his part grinned at his new charge, "Okay little piglet, where to first?"

Glaring at him sourly, Kyoji replied, "The docks I guess? Some important merchandise of mine has gone… missing. I want it back and my men at the docks have gone silent."

Dropping him, the demon replied, "Lead the way to the car Wilbur," He told the piglet, "I'm not a safe driver but I'll get us there fast."

'He's going to get me killed!' Kyoji cried, 'I want my dolls, I want Lily-chan! I want my favorite toy, Goryu back!'

Jotaro meanwhile was cackling happily as the Yamataro-san was going to beat a spine into his heir, 'Excellent!' he thought.

(...)

Word Count: 12,100 Number of pages: 26 Date Completed: 3/2/2023

(...)

AN: Hello one and all and welcome to chapter two of a Certain One-Eyed Mage. Hellboy has arrived! Yes he's a thing, cause well, demons are a thing in WoD. Not Hellboy specifically but… yeah. I can make it work so here we are. Hope you all enjoyed his inclusion. Here's Snowy and First Hassan to wrap things up.

Snowy: Hello folks. Snowy here. I am here to say well things are getting bad fast. The masquerade is strong but the City of Tokyo is getting dangerous fast. We are aligning worlds that are brought together in this beast of a world. Xander is showing he is adapting to the world of the masquerade. He is showing his power. Also just a warning this story will touch upon themes of loss, grief, and feeling an emotion of uselessness. Xander is making steps and his steps resound amongst the world. Be warned Xander has aged and grown more mature. So let's hope these girls and boys are ready for the revolution Xander may bring. Also, doesn't something else happen in Tokyo? I swear there was something about Buffy vampires stealing an axe? Meh mustn't be important. On an unrelated note my Birthday was yesterday March the 10th so please celebrate and enjoy the story we all crafted together!

First Hassan: Like what Snowy said, the city has become more dangerous and deadly due to the dire situation Xander had landed into. He has time to adjust to his new surroundings, getting used to his environment. There will be strong emotions, sometimes that would potentially make you cry what Xander has been feeling inside of him. Give the man credit because Xander will have gone through so much tougher situations that normally wouldn't be possible. If you want to continue supporting Bubba and keep him motivated go to P-A-T-R-E-O-N the website to donate money to our beloved author, help him make enough money to make a living and we'll see you guys later on! That is all I have to say(Turning around while blue flames surrounds Hassan before disappearing)

Thanks everyone for reading. Till next time this has been an Icysnowsage, First Hassan, and Bubbajack Production! Peace!