The Three of Us

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This Chapter is beta free. Please disregard all gramma tickle errors and mastikes.

Last time I checked none of these Characters belonged to me!
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Spike shivered as he approached Giles’ place. He quickly looked around, ‘That was bloody weird?’ he thought to himself. He shook himself again, and bounded up the steps to the door. He banged on the screen door twice, and stuffed his hands into his pockets while he waited. Looking up when he heard footsteps, he smiled at Xander, “So, wanker, you the new doorman?”

“Oh, look,” Xander deadpanned. “It’s Spike. I shouldn’t have bothered getting up.” He turned and walked back to the living room. Spike pulled open the door and followed him into the house, the storm door slamming behind him. Xander sat next to Anya, “You think she’s okay?” he whispered as he nudged his head toward Willow’s inert form.

Anya shrugged, “How the hell should I know?” She turned to look at him, “I didn’t even know she could do this!”

Xander shrugged, “I’m worried.”

Anya watched him for a moment, “If we went home and had orgasms, would that help?”

Xander’s head snapped around, and he blinked owlishly at her. “What?” he yelped.

Anya turned her head away, “I’m just trying to take your mind off of things.”

Spike coughed to interrupt the squabble, “Don’t mean to intrude, but where’s the Watcher?”

“Oh, hello Spike,” Giles walked in from the kitchen. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?” He sat in his chair and looked up at the vampire.

Spike was looking up at the ceiling. ‘Bleach-boy’ showed in the centre of Giles’ home. “What the...?” he asked. He turned and looked back to the splintered door in the hall way. He smiled and turned back to face Giles, “Done some redecoratin’ I see.”

“You could say that Faith dropped by.” Giles replied.

Spike was smirking at him, “That explains the door, what about that?” he pointed up at the ceiling.

Giles looked up and sighed, “That, is the remnants of the locator spell to find Buffy.”

Spike glanced at the two witches. Tara was sitting on the couch, with Willow’s head resting in her lap. “She’s gonna be ok,” he said quietly. “The dark one’ll keep her safe.” He looked back to Giles, “The dark one wants you to bring your car by.” He paused, “Said summat about you ‘Seein’ what you done’.”

Giles eyebrows rose, “She wants me to what?”

“I don’t know what happened,” Spike said slowly. He raised his arm to point at Giles, “But I’m pretty sure she blames you.”

“Yeah,” Xander said coldly, “He helped the Council take away Buffy’s powers and now she’s defenceless. Something about ‘crews meant hum’, or something.” Spike stared at him, not moving. After a moment, Xander asked, “What are you looking at me for? I didn’t do anything.”

Spike shook his head and turned on Giles, “Stand up.”

“What ever for?” Giles just looked at him.

“I said, stand up.” Spike growled at the watcher.

“I really don’t think I shall.” Giles looked away from the irate vampire.

Spike lunged at the chair holding Giles, and grabbed him by the lapels. He grunted and heaved the surprised watcher to his feet. He let go with his right hand and pulled it back, Giles blinked at the fist as it headed toward him. Spike screamed in agony when it made contact with Giles’ face. He dropped to the floor, in the foetal position, holding his head. Giles had fallen to the floor when he was punched. Xander walked over to Spike and extended his hand, “Well done, Spike, let me help you up.” He guided Spike to a chair and sat him down, “You gonna be okay?” he asked the shaking Vampire.

“Yeah,” Spike huffed out. “Bleedin’ ‘ell that ‘urts.”

Xander looked at Giles; he was still on the floor, holding his nose to staunch the blood flow. “What were you saying about Faith?”

Spike sighed and glared at Giles, “She wants ‘im,” he pointed at the watcher, “at the warehouse. She’s royally pissed about ‘im, and wants ‘im to see the results of what ‘e done.” He looked up at Xander, “I’m tempted to agree with ‘er.” Spike wobbled when he stood up, “Watcher-man, get off yer duff, and get in the bleedin’ car.”

Giles looked at him balefully, “Why should I go anywhere with you?”

“Cuz, when she goes in there, there’ll be a shite load of vamps runnin’ out. It won’t hurt for her to ‘ave some ‘elp.”

Giles sighed and started to get to his feet, “That is a salient point, I suppose I should go.”

Spike stared at him, “T’other reason might be yer slayer and ‘er mom could use a ride to the ER.” He reached over and grabbed Giles, roughly pulling him to his feet. Shoving Giles toward the hallway, he turned to Xander, “I’m dependin’ on you to look after these two.” He quickly pointed towards Tara and Willow, “And so are the Slayers.”

“Oh Goddess,” Tara whispered. Everyone turned to look. Willow’s body had started to shake, and her eyelids flickered. She moaned suddenly, and her whole body twitched.
“I’m guessin’ it’s started,” Spike muttered. He turned on Giles, “Get a move on four-eyes, we’re late.” He shoved Giles out of the room and out the door.

Spike stared at the watcher as he slowly backed the car onto the street. Giles shoulder checked before pulling away. “Ya might wanna step on it, mate,” Spike growled. Giles slowly increased his speed. “Bloody ‘ell,” he muttered. He turned on the watcher, “What the ‘ell were you thinkin’? She’s like a bloody daughter to you, and you let those bastards at her?”

“Spike,” Giles, said calmly, “You don’t understand.”

“Then bloody well explain it!” Spike yelled. “If either one of ‘em ever finds out ya told me to lay low, while the bastards were in town, they’ll have your guts for garters.” He turned to look out the passenger side window for a moment. He turned back to the watcher, “All you ‘ad to do, was leave a book out for one of ‘em to find. They’d a taken the Council apart on their own.”

“Do you not think I wanted to?” Giles seethed. “I’ve been fighting with myself for months about what to do!” He shook his head, “When the Council showed up early, I was screwed,” he whispered.

Spike looked at him for a few moments, “That’s just fuckin’ grand,” he sneered. “You tell ‘em that and it’ll be all hugs and kisses and roses.” He shook his head, “If you think any of them are gonna trust you after this, yer hallucinatin’.”

“Bloody marvellous,” Giles roared. “Tell me, Spike, just what the hell am I supposed to do?”

Spike looked at him hard, “Walk away.” Giles’s head whipped around and he stared wide-eyed at the blond vampire. “Walk away from the whole bleedin’ lot. The Slayers, the Council, all of it.” Spike pointed out the windshield at the oncoming car.

“Christ,” Giles muttered as he yanked the steering wheel over to get back into his own lane. “What do you mean walk away from it all?”

Spike sighed, “As long as you’re tied to those half-wits at the bleedin’ council, they’ll never trust you. Leave ‘em alone, and they’ll come back to you. It’ll take a bit, but they’ll come round.”

“I can’t,” Giles sighed. “If I quit the council, they’ll probably try and kill Buffy.”
Spike looked at the watcher, “‘Ave they met Faith yet?”

Giles shook his head, “No, she’s going to introduce herself later.”

“Huh?” Spike was staring at Giles like he’d just grown a third arm.

“She had Willow lock the house down, where they were preparing for the Cruciamentum. They’re currently trapped in there, with two new vampires, that are about to rise.”

Spike laughed, “That’s bloody brilliant! I wish I could see that!”

Giles had a half smile on his face. “Willow tapped into their communications and has control of all the cameras and things. So we’ll be able to watch from the house.”

“See,” Spike told him. “The dark Slayer’s gonna fix it for you.” He smiled, “By the time she’s done, she’ll own the place.” He paused for a moment, “She knows what they’d planned fer her girlfriend, that’s the last of the Cruciamentum.”

“Yes, well,” Giles started, “If that’s the case, what will prevent the council from trying to kill them both? I was trying to protect them Spike.”

“Keep tellin yerself that,” Spike sneered. “There’s summat about the dark haired one. She won’t put the fear o’ God into ‘em, it’ll be much worse.”

Giles turned to face Spike, “What do you mean?”

Spike pursed his lips and thought for a moment. “Stay on your side will ya?” Giles swerved to miss another car. “Bloody ‘ell.” Spike muttered. He rubbed his jaw with his hand as he thought. “She’s got a mean streak. I can feel it. She really struggles to stay on the good side o’ the fence.”

“What can you feel?”

“You ain’t been on ‘er bad side for long, and yer probably not that far over. Me, cuz I’m a vampire, ‘ave felt the full brunt of ‘er ‘atred.” He turned to look at Giles, “She scares the crap outta me. Me, William the Bloody, am afraid of that bloody Slayer.”

Faith grunted when her feet hit the Vamp on the shoulders. She bent her knees as he went down, out cold from the strike. Her two swords sang out, as she cut the vamps on either side. She rose up and the one on her right exploded into dust when she decapitated him. Moving to her right, the swords cutting through anything they came into contact with. “B!” she yelled. “Get to yer Mom, now!” Her foot shot out and caught a vamp in the chest, knocking him into another one, and they both went down. “B!” Faith yelled again. Buffy stood there for a millisecond, then ran to where her mother was. “Now Red!” She yelled. Faith kicked the two vampires charging at her away and turned to face Joyce and Buffy.

Willow saw them come into view through Faith’s eyes. “Contego!” she yelled as Faith raised her hands to the two women. Ripples of light flew from her fingertips and encircled the Summers’ women.

After a moment, the light fell away, “They ok, Red?” Faith ducked under a punch, and struck out with her knee into a rib cage. A quick step back, and a katana sliced through his neck, turning him into dust.

“Yeah,” Willow gasped, “They’re good.” She yelped, as Faith avoided a kick. She could feel the adrenaline, the anger, and the fear pounding through Faith’s veins. Faith smiled as she fought with the vamps. She smirked, at the satisfying crunch of a broken bone, when her foot connected. The sweat flowing from her pores as she worked through the pack of vampires around her. The darkness within her was growing, and clamouring to be let free. “Faith,” Willow called. She waited for a moment, “Faith!” she called again.

“What?” it came out as a grunt. “I’m kinda busy.” Faith cut the arm off a vamp that had tried to grab her. He stumbled backward and she followed him, the two swords cutting and slashing him. He fell to his knees, his head down, and one sword cut through his neck, turning him to dust.

“We have to destroy the urn on the altar,” Willow told her. “Whatever they’re trying to call with that, won’t be good. You have to interrupt the warlocks and destroy the urn. I would recommend quickly.”

“K,” Faith spat out. She’d reversed the swords and run them through the chests of two vamps behind her, a third charged toward her from the front. He had a clear run to the slayer until her foot caught him under the chin and sent him reeling back. Faith looked toward the altar and the urn in the middle of it. She yanked her swords out of the chests of the vamps behind her, turned and decapitated them. Turning back, she saw Ichiro was fighting with five vamps, between her and the altar. “Ichiro!” she yelled, “Fukoaa!” With her right hand she tossed the katana up in the air. It turned lazily, reflecting the light back on to the battle below. Faith’s right hand disappeared behind her back, then shot out in front, releasing two shuriken. When Faith yelled at Ichiro, Willow watched the man drop to the floor like a stone and he flattened himself against it. The vampires he was fighting with just stopped. The two shuriken passed through the group, aimed for the two warlocks. They saw the stars coming and dived out of the way, ruining the spell.

“You insolent Bitch!” Kralik yelled, “I’ll kill you for that!”

“Wait,” Faith yelled back at him. The katana she had thrown, dropped into her outstretched hand, and she started to fight again. The shuriken had passed the altar in a widening arc away from it. They seemed to turn lazily in the air, before picking up speed and heading back to the altar. Kralik was dumb struck as one, then the other shuriken struck the urn, shattering it. They continued on and struck the two warlocks as they attempted to rise from the floor, killing them. The liquid within the urn splattered over the altar and ran onto the floor.

“Nooo!” Kralik wailed. “You’ll die for this!”

Faith laughed and dusted another vamp. She gasped as she saw a number of vamps jump on top of Ichiro. Before she had time to think, there was a huge flash and a cloud of smoke that enveloped the pile. A large grin spread across her face, she tossed her katana in the air again, reached behind her and tossed a stake into the rafters.
“You’re not worried?” Willow asked.

Faith scissor kicked a vamp, and caught the katana again. “Wait’ll the smoke clears,” she said. Faith traded blows with the vampire. “Did you see the stake come down?”

“No,” Willow answered, “Why?”

Faith chuckled as she fought, “Wait for it.”

Willow watched as best she could with Faith spinning, and turning as she fought. The smoke slowly cleared, revealing the five confused vampires looking around for some evidence of the body they had jumped on. “Where the hell did he go?” she asked Faith.

“Wait, Red,” Faith wheezed out. She dusted the last vamp she was fighting with, and looked up into the rafters. Willow caught the smallest of movements, before she saw a black blur rocket away from the ceiling toward the floor. Two vamps exploded into dust when the blur hit them. It rolled along the floor and stretched upright in front of two others that suddenly disappeared in a cloud of dust. The katana shot out and took the head off the vampire on Ichiro’s right. “Fuckin’ beautiful.” Faith muttered. Ichiro stood there in the settling dust. He bowed toward Faith.

“What have you done?” screamed an apoplectic Kralik. He lurched off the dais and headed toward Faith. His lips were moving as he charged toward the dark slayer.

“Hey, Red,” Faith said quietly, “Is he tryin’ to throw some kinda hoo-doo my way?”

“Yup,” Willow answered. “But I’m ready.”

Faith pushed her palms outward to Kralik, “Refuto!” Willow yelled. Faith smiled as Kralik flew back and bounced off the floor.

“Can you bind his powers?” Faith asked as she stalked toward the woozy vamp.

“No problem, Faith.”

Faith pointed to the fallen vamp, “Praestringo!” Willow yelled. Kralik shivered for a moment, before starting to get to his feet. He started to chant again, staring at Faith. An evil smile curled his lips as he threw his hands out at her. Faith smiled when nothing happened. Kralik looked dumbfounded as he realized his magic was useless, Ichiro had moved around to flank the side of the vampire.

Faith shook her head, “Uh-uh, Ichiro-san,” she smiled slightly. “This one belongs to me.” She bent down, her eyes not moving from Kralik, and placed both Katana on the floor. “C’mon, girly-man,” a cocky smirk was crossing her lips, “Let’s finish this.”
She straightened up, and shook her shoulders loose. She pulled her hands up into a loose defensive position, and smiled.

Kralik sneered at her, “I will kill you slowly, then I will kill your friends and family. It will all be because of you.”

“That’s what Kakistos said,” Faith laughed, “And you know what happened to him, dontcha?”

Kralik sneered again, still circling with the dark Slayer. “He was a rank amateur, compared to me. I am your end!” he roared and lunged at Faith. She sidestepped and grabbed his wrist with her right hand, using his momentum to pull him past her. The pointed knuckles of her left, struck the third rib with an audible snap. She smiled as she pulled back and up on his wrist, before sweeping his legs out from under him. Faith could feel the strain in his shoulder as he bounced and rolled across the floor. She turned and watched him rise up, settling into her stance. They slowly circled each other again.

Willow could feel the adrenalin and the darkness rising in Faith. It was blacker, more intense, swirling around her, slowly rising, dropping away, before coming back higher and faster with every breath. Willow watched through Faith’s eyes, as everything focussed, clearer than anything she’d ever seen. The world slowed to a crawl. Kralik faked with his hurting right side, and struck with his left. Willow could see it coming from a block away and she giggled as Faith deflected the strike, and counter punching to break a rib on Kralik’s left side. He rolled and popped up, lunging at the dark slayer. She stepped back and caught him with a combat boot to the sternum, knocking the wind out of him and causing both broken ribs to flex. “Why are you going after his ribs?” she asked Faith. “He doesn’t need to breathe.”

Faith smiled, “He ain’t gotta breathe, but every move he makes is gonna cause him pain.” Her foot shot forward again, and crashed into his upper thigh. She spun and connected with the side of his head.

He stumbled away from her and stared back at her. His blood red eyes filled with fury, he blinked at her. He slowly pulled himself up to his full height and smiled, his fangs glistened in the stark light of the warehouse. “Who are you?” he asked.

Faith smiled at him, “The Slayer,” she answered.

Kralik whirled around and stared at Buffy and her mom. Ichiro glided between them and the vampire. “But...” Kralik blinked. “But the council said she was the Slayer.” He slowly turned to Faith again, staring at her.

The brunette smirked at the confused vampire, “Don’t believe everythin’ yer told. It ain’t always true.” She settled a little lower into her stance, “I’m gonna introduce myself to the Council a little later.”

Kralik growled and launched himself at her. She smiled and started to defend herself. Rage was fuelling Kralik’s attack on the dark slayer. She smirked as the blows rained down. She wasn’t just defending herself, she was giving more than she got. Whenever an opening presented itself, she attacked the broken ribs and the bruised thigh. Every hit she landed drained some of the strength from the vampire. When he stumbled after a vicious hit to his sore leg, Willow felt the anger and rage in Faith come over her like a tidal wave. She knew Faith had surrendered to the darkness. Kralik couldn’t keep up anymore, Faith was landing crushing blows, and he couldn’t defend himself from all of them. She was still concentrating on his sore spots, but more places were starting to feel the pain. Faith dropped to the floor and her foot shot out connecting with his knee. The sudden impact forced it sideways into an unnatural position, tearing the ligaments. He screamed as it collapsed under his weight. He quickly rolled away from her and struggled to get to his feet. Faith’s eyes were wild as she stared at him. She growled as she attacked the vampire again. She punched and kicked, forcing him to step back, again and again. She struck his bad knee a second time, and when he collapsed, she grabbed his wrist, straightening his arm. Her boot slashed back, breaking both bones in his lower arm. Willow cringed at the sound. Faith spun on her heel after releasing his broken arm, her foot caught him in the chest, lifting him up off the floor and flipping him onto his back. Blood sprayed from his battered face as he rotated around. She strode around to the other side of him and ground his hand into the concrete with the heel of her boot. She smiled as she listened to the bones breaking in his hand. He screamed as she dropped to a knee beside him and drove a strike into his liver. Willow was stunned into silence with the emotion running through the dark slayer. She wanted to get her to stop, but she couldn’t find her voice. Faith pulled back and launched a short, sharp, jab that bounced Kralik’s head off the floor.

“Faith,” Ichiro said quietly. The dark slayer’s head snapped up at the single word. Her chest heaving from the fight, she slowly rose from the floor to stand and face him. Willow could feel the anguish within, as the anger and rage drained away from the dark slayer.

“Hai,” Willow could barely hear Faith’s answer.

Ichiro’s black orbs stared at Faith from within his black ninja mask. “Show mercy to your enemies, lest you require it from them one day.” There was no recrimination in his words, just another lesson from the Master to the Student.

Willow could feel the rising despair in Faith. “Umm, Faith?” she queried, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. She looked at the cuts and scrapes on her arms, “I’ll be okay in the mornin’.”

“That’s not what I was asking,” Willow said softly.

Faith nodded and turned away from Ichiro, Buffy, and Joyce. “The first time I see him in two years, and he’s mad at me.”

“He’s mad at you?” Willow asked. “He doesn’t look like he’s mad.”

Faith shook her head, “I can hear it in his voice. He ain’t happy.” She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “He’s probably gonna ask me not to be a member of his family anymore.”

“Hmmph,” Willow snorted. “He’s not that dumb or fickle. Listen to what he has to say. You’ll be okay Faith.”

Faith nodded, and turned to face the others in the room. She looked at Ichiro, “I apologise Sensei, for losing control.” When she finished speaking, she dropped her gaze to stare at the floor.

He nodded briefly, “You are young, and still learning. Mistakes are made, that is how you learn.” He pulled off his mask and bowed to her, “You are the daughter of my heart Faith,” he smiled. “I was impetuous and not willing to listen when I was younger. You will learn and grow. Those around you will help you on your journey.”

She raised her head; there was a smile on her lips and a sparkle in her eye. “Hai,” she responded. “Red, can you lose the protection spell?”

“Ready when you are,” Willow said. Faith turned, “Libero!” Willow yelled when Buffy and her mom came into Faith’s vision.

Buffy, slowly limped away from her mother toward Faith, “Are you okay?”

“Five by Five, B,” came back to her with a huge smile. She wrapped her arms around the blond, “Let’s get your mom outta that chair.” Ichiro was kneeling by one side, already undoing the knots. “Save the rope,” she said as she kneeled on the other side. “We’ll use ‘em to tie up shithead.” she nodded in the direction of the unconscious Kralik. “I’ll return him to the Council later.”

“He’s not dead?” Buffy turned to stare at him. “Why would you return him to the council?”

“Uhh, Faith?” Willow asked.

“Yeah, Red,” Faith answered.

Buffy turned around to see who Faith was talking to, “Is Willow here?” she asked.

Faith stood, and looked at her girlfriend, “Nah, Willow is at Giles’. Well at least her body is. I’m carryin’ her spirit with me.”

Buffy blinked and leaned forward, peering into Faith’s eyes. “Willow is in there?” she pointed at Faith’s head.

She nodded, “Yeah, I can hear her, but I gotta talk out loud for her to hear me.” Buffy stared at her. Faith sighed and rolled her eyes, “Wadda ya want, Red?”

“Do you always fee like this after a fight?”

Faith blinked, “Wadda ya talkin’ about Red?” She paused for a moment, Buffy was watching with interest. “Feel how?”

“I, uh, I feel, umm, kind of hungry.” Willow stammered out.

Faith chortled, “What else?”

“I, feel kinda, you kn-now?” Willow stuttered.

“No I don’t Red,” Faith was smiling now.

“Grr,” Willow growled. “You’re gonna make me say it, aren’t you?”

“Say what?”

“I feel hot and bothered,” Willow grumbled. “Are you happy now? I’m just, like bouncing off the walls in here.”

“That’s the ‘Hungries and Hornies’, Red.” Faith was grinning. “Welcome to the aftermath of a good slay.”

Buffy’s eyes bugged out, “Oh my God, Willow’s been in there the whole time?”

Faith nodded, “Yeah, that’s how I could throw the protection spell around you and Mrs. S.” She looked at Buffy for a moment, “B?” she asked. She frowned and looked harder at the blonde. “B?” she waved her hand in front of Buffy’s eyes and got no response. “Shit,” she wheeled around and looked at Ichiro.

He was starting to age again. His gi was changing from black to white. He shrugged, with a trace of sorrow in his eyes, “We knew it would happen, Faith,” he smiled at her. He straightened up and looked at her; the smile had been replaced with an extremely serious look. “I am honoured to have fought with you. You have made me very proud in the way you have progressed.” He brought his hands together in front of him, before bowing deeply and holding it. He straightened up and looked into her eyes, “You bring me and my family much honour. Thank you, Faith.”

“No,” Faith’s shoulders sagged as she spoke. “It is you who honours me. I will live by what you have taught me.”

Ichiro smiled, “Live your life, Faith, use what you have learned as a guide. It will keep you centered.”

Faith beamed at him, “Thank you,” she paused, “I wish you could stay.”

He shrugged, “I have achieved everything I wanted to do, while I was here. I will be watching you, your life. We will meet again, Faith, when it is time.”

“It’s not next week or anything, is it?” she had a glint in her eyes and a smile on her face.

He laughed, “It will not be anytime soon, Faith, of that I can assure you.” She could see that he was in his seventies now, time was running short.

“Psst, Faith,” Willow whispered. “That misty stuff is back, but it’s different.”

Faith focussed on the mist behind Ichiro. She nodded briefly at him, before moving to where she’d laid the two katana on the floor. Using the toe of her boot, she spun one around, so the two grips were crossed. She never took her eyes off the shapes growing in the mist. “Whatta ya think Red?” she said quietly.

“I’m pretty sure we’ve got company,” Willow answered. “I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing yet.”

“K,” Faith whispered. “Just be ready.”

Ichiro moved away from the expanding mist, to stand closer to the chair, holding Joyce. They watched the mist start to solidify into human form. The two glanced quickly at each other as they moved into a defensive stance. The five forms appeared to be fairly short, but different shapes from when Ichiro had appeared. “Wadda ya think, Red?” Faith whispered.

“I’m not sure, but the way they’re placed, they almost look like some kind of committee."

“How the hell do you get that out of five pillars of mist?” Faith scrunched her eyebrows up as she asked the question.

“It’s easy,” Willow explained. “The guy in front is the leader, and the ones behind him are, like, the rest of the committee.”

Faith shook her head, “Yer somethin’ Red, ya really are.”

“Well you explain it then!” Willow huffed.

“Can’t,” was the simple reply. “I just gotta be ready if it’s bad news.”

Willow sighed, “That’s a pretty good option.”

The first figure had solidified into a short, rotund, Japanese man. He looked like a business man, and seemed out of place in the warehouse. He quickly looked around, and sneered when he saw Faith standing next to an inert Buffy. When he spotted Ichiro he stomped straight over to him and started yelling in Japanese. Ichiro stood stock still, not blinking or moving while the man railed at him, his arms gesticulating and occasionally pointing at Faith.

“Any guesses, Red?” Faith said quietly.

“I’m guessing they know each other.”

“Thanks, for the heads up,” Faith sniped. She took a quick look at the other four shapes that had materialized. Three of them were dressed as Samurai; the other was an ancient man, dressed similar to Ichiro, leaning on a cane. “Can you do somethin’ so’s we can understand’em, Red?”

“Yea, I think so,” Willow answered. “It’s a translation spell. You’ll hear what they say in English, but when you speak, it will be in Japanese.”

“Oh,” Faith paused, “What about you?”

“I’ll hear whatever you hear,” Willow explained. “That means I’ll hear you in English. Ready?”

“Yup,” was the reply.

“Okay,” Willow paused for a moment. “Reddo.” As soon as he said the word Faith could understand what was being said.

“...my back is turned, you’re dishonouring our Family name by giving it to some gaijin whore!” The guy in the suit was in full rage now, spittle flying from his lips, his arms thrashing about in the air. Ichiro had not moved.

“Hey! Fat boy,” Faith said in perfect Japanese. Everyone in the room turned and stared at her wide eyed. “You got somethin’ to say to me? Come over here and tell me. I’m standin’ right here.” She looked at Ichiro, and pointed to her temple, “Red” was all she said. He gave a brief nod. “So, Fat boy,” she was giving a long hard look to the guy in the suit, “What can I do for ya?” The five interlopers still stared at her. She slipped the toes of her right foot under the grips of the katana and flicked her foot upwards. The two katana rose up on their points and she grabbed them, slicing through the air as she rotated them around. “I asked you a question,” her voice rolled out, filled with darkness. One eyebrow slowly rose on her forehead as she waited for a response.

“Faith,” Ichiro spoke quietly. “This is my older brother, Kenji. The reason I moved to America.” He stepped around the suit, and bowed to the first Samurai, “This is my father, Tatsunori.” He bowed to the second one, “This is my grandfather, Kosuke.” Turning to the third and bowing, he said, “My great-grandfather, Akinori.” He walked up to the old man and dropped to one knee in front of him. He lowered his head, and spoke reverently, “This is, Daisuke, the first of our line.”

Faith held the two swords to her sides, and bowed to the four men, “Umm, konban wa.” (Good Evening)

The old man looked at her, “Is this the one you told me about?” he asked Ichiro.

“Hai,” he responded. He stood from his kneeling position and turned to face Faith. “This is the warrior I told you about.”

The old man nodded and hobbled slowly toward the dark slayer. He stopped just in front of her and peered up into her eyes. “She is not alone.”

“No,” Ichiro answered, “She carries the sprit of a friend for now.”

The old man nodded once, and continued to peer at her. Faith watched him stare at her. He turned slowly and started to shuffle around her. She looked to Ichiro who was watching impassively as the scene played out in front of them.

It was just a whisper of movement behind her, Faith’s swords flashed upwards into a cross over her head, blocking the strike aimed for the top of her skull. She dove forward and rolled into a standing position, facing her attacker. The old man was gone. In his place was a ninja in his late 20’s, with dead pools for eyes. Faith smirked at him, watching him move the two swords in the same way she moved hers. “This oughta be interestin’,” she said quietly. “Red,” she still watched and circled her opponent. “Stay outta this okay? It’s just me ‘n him.”

“Are you s-sure?” Willow felt like she was hyperventilating. “I can turn him into a toad or something?”

“Nope,” Faith told her. No matter what, just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

“Oh Goddess,” Willow moaned, “I’m going to die.”

“Not if I can help it Red,” Faith whispered. “Not if I can help it.”

Daisuke moved first, it was lightning quick, the sword slashing toward Faith. She blocked it with the sword in her right hand and the sword in her left blocked his second strike. His foot shot out toward her knee, she avoided it and tried a standing leg sweep to take him down. He leapt over it and back cut at her head with a katana. She blocked it and kicked him, forcing him away from her. Her eyes were dancing as she smirked at him, “You warmed up yet?” They were circling each other again. He attacked her, forcing her back. She grinned, and moved forward, taking the advantage away from him and pushing him back. The air in the warehouse rang with the crashing of steel blades, the sound of elbows, fists and feet, making contact. The two warriors ebbed and flowed across the empty spaces. To the five people standing and watching, all they saw was a moving blur. Willow had a completely different viewpoint. “Jesus Christ, Faith,” all she could see was razor sharp death flying around her.

“You’ll be okay, Red,” Faith grunted. “I won’t let you die. Just keep quiet and let me do my job.”

“M-hmm,” Willow mumbled. Try as she could, she couldn’t close her eyes, she was trying to be calm though. She felt the darkness and the joy rising up in the dark Slayer again. Faith’s vision cleared, and everything slowed for Willow again. “Oh Goddess,” she muttered. Faith kept the darkness bubbling at the breaking point this time. She was using it to help take her foe apart. She was cataloguing his moves, and storing the ones she hadn’t seen before. Her confidence grew as the fight continued. Her skin glistened as she fought. Moving from defence to offence and back again, she started to gain control of the fight. A small smile grew on her face as she figured out how to beat him. She slowly started to drop her left arm, as if it was hurt. She showed him a weakness he wouldn’t be able to resist. He started to work that side harder; he spotted an opening and lunged at her to strike the killing blow. Faith broke out into a grin as she saw it coming. His eyes showed surprise as he encountered no resistance where a body should have been. Faith had sidestepped and as his body over extended past her, she held her sword out level with his neck. At the last possible moment she rolled the sword, so his neck made contact with the unsharpened back of the blade. His eyes sprung wide open when he felt the steel of her other sword sliding across the back of his neck. He stumbled forward for another step and stopped. He dropped his swords to his sides, and turned to face her. His breath was ragged as his appraising eyes raked over her. He bowed deeply and held it, not saying a word. Faith waited a second, then bowed as well. When she straightened up, the older Daisuke was back. He was leaning heavily on his cane, his breath rattled in his chest as he struggled to inhale.

“You ok?” Faith transferred her right sword to her left hand, and reached out to the old man.

He waved her off and closed his eyes, his breathing slowed quickly, until it was almost back to normal. “It has been a while,” he smiled. “It felt good though.” He shrugged his shoulders, to loosen them, “Did you know all the moves you used?”

“No,” Faith answered. “I picked some up from you.”

Daisuke’s left eyebrow rose slightly, the other five men exchanged quick glances with each other. “You learned them while we were fighting?” he asked. Faith nodded in response. “How did you defeat me?” He was looking at her hard now, his lips pressed together in a thin line.

Faith watched him for a moment, “I could see you lookin’ for a openin’, so I showed you what you wanted to see. Soon as you took a shot at it, you were mine.”

He nodded, “You have used that combination before?”

“Nope,” she said, “I just put it together as it came to me. Just seemed right, ya know?”

He nodded quietly again, thinking to himself. He looked up at Faith, then to Buffy’s still form. “What have you done with your talents?”

She shrugged, “You mean, besides slayin’ a lot o’ demons, ‘n vamps?” He nodded in answer. She sighed, “Well, I’m teachin’ her,” she jerked her thumb at Buffy, “The first four positions with bokken. I’m also teachin’ her and Lil’ D, Tai chi. I ain’t sure, but I think after this, her mom’s gonna want some lessons too.”

His face was expressionless as he turned and slowly hobbled toward Ichiro, and the rest of the family. They were all watching him closely. He looked at Ichiro, before turning to face Kenji. “I have decided,” he said. “Your son has forsaken the path. Much like his father.” Faith noticed that her eyebrows weren’t the only ones that shot up at that statement. Daisuke continued, “Ichiro’s daughter has proven to be better than I had thought possible. She is growing the skills she was taught, and passing the knowledge on. She will be a great Sensei, one day. She is how our clan will survive.”

Kenji’s mouth was flapping open and snapping shut, seemingly of its own accord. “But,” he finally spit out, “But my son is the rightful heir!” His cheeks were red again, and spittle was flying when he yelled.

Daisuke snorted, “He may carry the name, but that is all. He has no honour, or respect for the way of our clan.” Kenji’s mouth hung open, and he just stared. “The survival and prosperity of the clan will rest with her.”

“But it belongs to my son!” Kenji roared. “My family deserves to carry the traditions of our clan!”

Daisuke looked at him blankly, “When you left the dojo and went into business, you forsook the clan and all it stood for. Blood alone does not entitle you to lead the clan. When you left, you paid lip service to us so you could maintain control. Your son learned from you not to respect us, or our ways.” The old man sighed and looked down, “You have brought dishonour to our clan. I am almost ashamed that you are of my line.”

Kenji had gone white with rage. He looked at the other members of his family and calmed himself, “Otoosan,” he was looking at his father, “Tell him he is mistaken, and that leadership of the clan belongs to my family. Not some Yankee whore that Ichiro has found. The blood of Emperors runs through our veins, and my son should lead the clan.”

Tatsunori looked at each of his sons, no emotion showing on his face. In a deep resonant voice, he spoke quietly, “You bring up good points about our bloodlines, Kenji.” He paused and looked at Daisuke, “However, I agree with Daisuke. You made a choice to stray from the path laid out before you. We watched the decisions you made and their consequences. You did not even use the way as a guide, you just adapted it to fit your requirements at the time.” He paused and there was a brief flicker of sorrow that crossed his eyes. “You and your family have made your choices. Now we have made ours.”

Kenji and Ichiro were both watching their Father, one with pride, and one with contempt.
“You have no idea of the modern world,” Kenji spat out. “Your antiquated ideas will not save us, nor will the clan follow her. They will follow my son, like they should.”

“That is where you are very wrong. They did not follow you and they will not follow your son.” Daisuke raised a frail arm and pointed at Faith, “Her, they will follow to the gates of Hell, and kick them in.”

He turned his back on Kenji, and looked at Ichiro, “You did follow the way and brought great honour to our clan Ichiro-san.” He bowed toward him. When he straightened up, he looked warmly at Faith, “Your daughter will also bring much honour to our clan. I have been allowed to see how things will unfold. There is a third one, a seer, who will join these two,” he pointed at Faith and Buffy, “And the three of them will change the world drastically.”

“Uhh,” Faith broke in, “Whatta ya mean by that?”

Daisuke smiled at her, “What I have seen is a possibility of what may happen. The choices made by you and your friends will affect the outcome. But from what I have seen here, you will make the right choices.” He motioned to her with his free hand, “Come here, and show me your swords.” Faith walked up to him and handed the two Katana to him. He turned slightly away from her and rested his cane against his leg. He moved the two swords slowly through an arc around himself, testing their balance. He held them up and examined the steel and craftsmanship in the blades and grips. His head slowly nodded up and down as he viewed the blades. He turned back to Faith, “Your swords are of a good quality, but not what you deserve.” Daisuke bent slowly and placed the two katana on the floor. He looked over his shoulder, “Akinori, hand me the swords please.”

“Hai,” he said. He undid the front portion of his robe and gently pulled out two katana in black lacquered scabbards.

Kenji’s eyes popped open in surprise. “Are those...?” he demanded.

“Hai,” Akinori answered with a curt nod. “These are the ‘Swords of an Empire’.”

“They can’t be!” Kenji exclaimed. “They belong to my family!”

Daisuke spoke quietly to answer him, “They were taken from your possession, twenty years ago. This is what was meant by you paying lip service to our clan. You didn’t even notice they had been exchanged. These swords belong to a warrior who will use them, not to just sit in a case behind a desk. Your son will discover they have been replaced, when he goes to sell them.” He stared hard at Kenji, “The buyer will have them appraised, and that will be when the sham will be discovered. Your family’s legacy will be the disgrace heaped upon them.”

Akinori placed the two swords flat across the forearms of Daisuke, as he presented them to him. They bowed briefly to each other as they exchanged possession. Akinori faced Faith and bowed briefly to her. He stood upright again, and pointed to the swords. “These are the ‘Swords of an Empire”, he began. “They were crafted by the finest weapon maker in Japan, and given to the first Emperor. After he gave them to the Emperor, he committed seppuku, thus ensuring no swords would be better, or equal to these. The Emperor used these to forge the Japanese Empire, in the blood of its enemies.” He looked at Daisuke for a moment, before continuing. “They have been in the possession of our clan for three hundred years. They are given to the warrior entrusted with the defence of the Empire. They have been given to you, to defend the human race.” He briefly bowed toward Faith before walking back to the others.

Daisuke shuffled toward Faith with the two swords balanced on his arms. He stopped in front of her and looked up into her eyes, “These swords were made to do battle. They must draw blood when removed from their saya. Even if you use them for practice, they must draw blood. Yours, or someone else’s, it doesn’t matter.” He raised his arms slightly and Faith grasped each sword by its saya, and took them from him.

“I,” she hesitated. “Uh, thanks, but I,” she looked to Ichiro, “I don’t think I’m worthy of this.”

Ichiro smiled at her. “She is right, they belong to my son!” Kenji interrupted. “You have no right to give away my son’s legacy!”

“Kenji!” Tatsunori voice carried a warning. “You and your son have disgraced us enough!” He stared at his oldest son. “She is a far better warrior than your family will ever produce.” He pointed at Kenji, “You have had many years and chances to redeem yourself and you have ignored them all. We did not come to this decision lightly, or quickly. We did this because of the path that you and your son have chosen.” He looked away for a moment and composed himself. Turning back to Kenji with an unforgiving look, “This is no one’s fault, but yours. The clan will not follow you, but we have been shown that they will follow her.” Tatsunori slowly raised his arm to point at Faith. “She is the future of the clan, and of the way.” He folded his arms across his chest, and stared at his eldest son.

Kenji sagged, the fight taken out of him. He looked at his Father with sad eyes, the realization that he had lost everything dawning on him. “I shall leave,” his head dropped as he whispered the words.

“No,” Daisuke spoke to him. “You are still a member of this clan, and a part of our history. You have made some bad choices, but we have not forsaken you. That is why you are here.” He gestured toward the others, “Stand with us Kenji, it is your place.” Kenji nodded silently, and moved to stand behind his father.

Daisuke nodded when Kenji looked up again, “Hai, that is as it should be.” He turned to Faith, “We have seen what is possible in the future and your role in it. We decided,” he pointed to the rest of the group, “That you are more than worthy, now and in the future.”

Faith looked down at the two swords in her possession, after a few moments, she raised her head, and looked at each of the men in turn, “I am honoured by your belief in me. I don’t understand why you have chosen me, but I am deeply honoured.” She looked back down at the twinkling scabbards, “May I?” Her voice quavered when she asked the question.

Daisuke’s lip curled up in a small smile, “Hai,” he nodded.

Faith took a sword in each hand and slowly bent at the knees. She placed the sword in her left hand gently on the floor, and quickly stood. She grabbed the saya of the sword in her right, with her left hand, and stretched the fingers of her right hand around the tsuka of the katana. She flexed her fingers around it and felt the grip grab the palm of her hand. Her brow furrowed and she quickly glanced up.

A small smile graced Daisuke’s visage, “It is the skin of a shark. It will grip in the wet, so it can’t slip from your hand.”

Faith nodded in understanding, she looked down at the sword and slowly started to pull it from its saya. The lights of the warehouse shimmered along the length of the blade as it came into view. Faith bent down and placed the saya next to the other sword. Her eyes never left the one in her hand. She tested the weight and the balance of it as she slowly straightened up, her head nodded at the perfection in her hand. She raised it to a vertical position and grasped it with her left hand as well. She looked up and down the length of it, a smile growing on her face. With a loud yell she stepped into the first position, just as Ichiro had taught her, she quickly transitioned into the second position, then into the third. Each move was crisp, precise, just as it was supposed to be. Everything around her faded away, nothing was left except for her and the sword. The pace of her movements increased as she swept through the positions, lithe movements propelling her around the floor of the warehouse. The light danced off the blade, as it twisted, turned and cut through the air, it looked like Faith was holding a huge sparkler.

The six men watching her judged each move and step against the years of practice that they themselves had spent perfecting the art of the sword. Each face showed nothing of what they felt; the only movement was their eyes, as they followed her. Faith slowed her movements, and came to a stop next the other sword. She bent down and picked it up, sliding it from it’s saya as she stood. She held them both out at arms length, toward the six men, for two minutes, the tips never wavering. Suddenly the swords slashed out to the sides, as she started to use the two of them to protect and attack. Again, everything faded away until there was just her and the swords. She noticed something different this time, as the swords whirled around her she could detect two distinct notes rising, and falling with the speed of her movements. A genuine smile crept onto her face, ‘They’re singin to me!’ she thought, ‘That’s just fuckin amazin.’ She slowed, and stopped next to the saya lying on the floor. There was a light sheen of perspiration on her again, her chest rising and falling rapidly from her exertion. She held out her left arm and placed the flat of the blade in her right across her arm. She rolled it to a vertical position, before pulling it from her arm. A thin red line of blood welled up from her skin where the sword had lain; she did the same to her right arm.

The five men behind Daisuke briefly glanced at each other before looking to him to say something. He just stood there, looking at Faith, with a small smile.

“I have heard the stories of a true warrior being able to make the Swords of an Empire sing,” it was Kenji who had spoken. “I have used them and I have seen my father and brother use them. I have never heard them sing.”

“My father and I have never heard them either,” Kosuke spoke for the first time. “The only person I ever heard of was Daisuke.” Akinori nodded in agreement.

“Hai,” Daisuke replied quietly. “They did sing for me once, when I first got them.” He smiled at Faith, “But you will make them sing like they were meant to.”

Kenji coughed lightly, and all eyes turned to him. He stood straight and looked at each one in the room, ending with Faith. He slowly walked up and stopped in front of her. “I have heard the legends and myths associated with these two blades, all of my life.” He paused and looked back, “They were told to me and my brother, by my father and grandfather. I dismissed them as tales, after I first used the swords. I apologize to you, for the things I have said.” He turned to others, “I apologize to my family for straying from the way.” He bowed briefly as he spoke. When he straightened up the others bowed back in acceptance. He turned to Faith again, “Thank you for returning me to the path,” he bowed to her as well.

Faith returned it and looked at him with a small smile on her face, “Does this mean I can call you ‘Uncle K’?"

He shrugged and smiled, “It does sound much better than ‘Fat Boy’.” Faith chuckled as he walked back to his family.

“Crap,” Faith suddenly whispered.

“What?” Willow answered.

“I left my duster on the roof, and that’s where my sword cloth is,” she whispered to Willow.

“No problem, Faith,” Willow replied. “Point your right hand at the skylight we came through, and hold it there.”

Faith shifted both the swords to her left hand, raised her right arm and pointed at the night sky showing through the broken glass.

“Accerso,” Willow said. She watched through Faith’s eyes as the duster slowly drifted down through the skylight. It looked like a ghostly scarecrow, the arms extended, and the lower edge moving in some unseen breeze. It moved to Faith’s outstretched hand, and collapsed upon it, looking like any other coat.

“Thanks, Red,” Faith smirked, “You ain’t too bad to have around.”

“Huh,” Willow snorted, “Don’t get used to it, and I’ll accept that as a compliment.”

“Yer welcome.”

Faith bent down and laid the duster on the ground, next to the two saya. She placed both swords on her coat, and pulled the oiled rag out. She quickly wiped each of the katana down and replaced them in their saya. She opened her duster completely and removed the empty saya from the harness that held them in. Quickly she replaced them with the Swords of the Empire. Rising she looked at Daisuke, and gestured at the two swords lying beside him. “May I?” she asked. “B’s gonna need a set in a while, and I’d like to give her those.”

Daisuke smiled, “Hai.”

He bent down and picked them up, handing them to her. She slipped each sword into its saya, and laid them down on her coat. When she turned to face them again, she could see the grey mist pooling around the ankles of the men. “It’s time,” she muttered. She looked at the group and bowed, “I am honoured by your trust and belief in me. I will defend the way with my life.”

The six men bowed in unison, when they straightened up, Ichiro spoke, “You have earned our respect and our trust, Faith-san.”

“Hai,” Daisuke answered. “Someone from the clan will find you in time. Everything you need to know about us will be revealed. We are honoured to have you as a member of our clan and our family.”

Faith bowed briefly, and looked at Ichiro. He had a sad smile on his face. She stepped around Daisuke and walked up to him, “Thank you Splinter.” She grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you for teaching me, thank you for saving me.”

His smile warmed and his eyes sparkled, “You’re welcome Leonardo.”

After she stepped back from the embrace, she watched quietly with Willow as the mist enveloped the men and disappeared