Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Giles\u2019 Apartment
\nLater that Night<\/b><\/p>\n
Rupert Giles rose from his sofa, to brew some more tea. He, Xander, and Buffy had just informed Willow and Angel of their findings at Willis-Montgomery. It hadn\u2019t been revealing as to where Cordelia had fled too, but it was a start. \u201cDid you find any information with the Chases?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel gave Willow a brief, disgruntled look. He didn\u2019t know how the watcher would take to the news. He hadn\u2019t liked it one bit. Angel knew that the Chases were holding out on something, but there was only so far he could push them. \u201cYeah,\u201d he nodded, \u201cYou could say we did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-huh,\u201d Willow agreed, trying her hardest to maintain her own composure. What they found out was big!<\/p>\n
Finally, getting his tea just right, Giles came back to sit between Xander and Buffy. Both Willow and Angel were seated opposite the sofa in chairs. \u201cTell me,\u201d he took a lengthily sip of tea. It was good, although it still missed something. Tea made in America just didn\u2019t taste right, even if it was English imported.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really don\u2019t know how this is going to affect you, Giles,\u201d Angel began, \u201cOr your training with the Watcher\u2019s Council. What Willow and I found out was pretty disconcerting, but feasible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander made a face, \u201cThat word has\u00a0nothing<\/i>\u00a0to do with what it sounds like, right?\u201d That would be so gross.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, half-wit,\u201d Willow snapped, throwing a piece of her chocolate chip cookie at him. \u201cIt mean\u2019s \u2018possible,\u2019 now don\u2019t interrupt.\u201d Mental note, thesaurus and dictionary set for Xander prior to Christmas! Xander needed serious help in that department.<\/p>\n
Buffy totally agreed with Willow, and just for emphasis, reached over and smacked Xander on the head. \u201cSo uncalled for!\u201d Xander wailed, rubbing the back of his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids!\u201d Always the adult (for obvious reasons), Giles chided them. \u201cCan we let Angel continue?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Giles,\u201d Angel said with a small smile. He wasn\u2019t used to being around them so much, and their teenage prattle was beyond him. \u201cTo cut to the chase- no pun intended there! Her parents\u2019 knew what was going to happen to her. Knew it so well that they prepared for her calling by forcing her away from them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sendai, Japan
\nTemple of the Yoshino Clan<\/b><\/p>\n
God, she was so bored! There was only so much meditating she could do before she literally fell asleep from it. She had forgotten how warm and comforting it was in here, with the constant burning torches. And she was tired.<\/p>\n
How can he ask me to meditate when he could see how tired and confused I am<\/i>? She loved her great-grandfather a lot, but he could really be a pain in the neck with all this ritual stuff! Extraordinary things had just happened to her, well\u00a0impossible<\/i>\u00a0things, and he wanted her to meditate!<\/p>\n
Cordelia could actually feel a temper tantrum rise in her, she was so frustrated. She had been in there for over an hour and no amount of humming or feeling her mind transcend was going to block those horrible images of the Master from her mind. Any time she tried to concentrate, bat-face loomed in front of her. And every time she tried to relax, she\u2019d fall to her side in near slumber. Mediation thingy is going nowhere!<\/p>\n
Finally feeling her Queen C. resolve, Cordelia rose from her cross-legged position, her muscles aching in protest. She was still sore from her battle with the vampire. Sitting down again, after riding in the cab attested to that fact.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I want some Advil,\u201d she murmured, as she exited the temple. She knew Jun was going to be mad, but she needed his help now, not after self-channeling exercises!<\/p>\n
Giles\u2019 Apartment<\/i><\/p>\n
Judging from their expressions, Angel took into consideration that they were shocked. Didn\u2019t seem too uncommon. \u201cYeah, we couldn\u2019t believe it either,\u201d Angel attested, sharing a glance with Willow. What the Chases had confessed to was incredulous, but Angel knew deep in his soul that it as true. Everything that had transgressed the night prior was proof of that.<\/p>\n
Upon the death of Buffy, another slayer would be called- a slayer chosen specifically by the higher powers. The Watcher\u2019s Council was not to know anything about her until after she was called and even then, involvement was not necessary. The girl would be called, with the innate knowledge of the power she possessed and what she was supposed to do with it. No training required. This was giving Giles a headache. \u201cWho, in Cordelia\u2019s family predicted this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia\u2019s great-great grandmother. She was a powerful prophet in Japan,\u201d Willow offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, whoa,\u201d Xander shook is head in amazement. He had been a good boy and had let Angel yap without interrupting, but this was too much! \u201cJapan? Cordelia is part\u00a0Japanese<\/i>?!\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow understood why Xander would be surprised. They may have never liked Cordelia, but they\u2019d know each other since they were kids and nothing had ever been mentioned about Cordelia being of Japanese descent. She\u2019d always assumed the Japanese d\u00e9cor at Chase Manor was just that-\u00a0d\u00e9cor<\/i>! Willow had never even considered that it was familial. \u201cYup, it\u2019s true. Cordelia Chase is one-eighth Japanese. Jeepers, it\u2019s mind boggling.\u201d<\/p>\n
All throughout Angel\u2019s story, Buffy hadn\u2019t said a word. She\u2019d sat stoic and silent while Angel had told them about Cordelia…<\/p>\n
Cordelia was a slayer. Cordelia killed the Master, saving the world. Cordelia has vanished. Cordelia was part of a great prophecy. Cordelia is the greatest slayer ever.\u00a0Now<\/i>– Cordelia is Japanese!\u00a0Does anyone remember that I died last night<\/i>? Angel didn\u2019t seem to care. All he wanted to do was find Cordelia… it was all about Cordelia!<\/p>\n
Sendai, Japan<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia banged on the door again. \u201cJun? Momiji?! Let me in!\u201d She\u2019d been standing outside the farmhouse doors for ten minutes, pounding on the door. Stubborn old people, stuck on traditions. They suck.<\/p>\n
Finally, a voice boomed from inside, \u201cDid you complete your meditation? Because something tells me you haven\u2019t,\u00a0magomusume<\/i>.\u201d There was no getting past Jun Yoshino. The man had eyes everywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t,\u201d she admitted. \u201cI can\u2019t concentrate,\u00a0jiisan<\/i>. I\u2019m tired and hungry and I was almost killed yesterday!\u201d\u00a0And I smell<\/i>, she thought wearily. She hadn\u2019t taken a shower since earlier that morning in Sunnydale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose are no reasons to delay you duties to your ancestors. Now, get back to temple and focus your energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was too much! He was more concerned about dead people than her? \u201cJiisan<\/i>! Open the door or I will break it down!\u201d She meant every word of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, really?\u201d Cordelia could tell by the sound of his voice he was getting beyond irritated.\u00a0Welcome to the club gramps<\/i>, she thought bitterly to herself. She knew he was standing by the door. \u201cJust like you broke the gate? And you\u00a0will<\/i>\u00a0be helping in getting that repaired.\u201d Suddenly the door slid open, and there he was- the immovable\u00a0samurai<\/i>. \u201cYou can\u2019t concentrate. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
Because I want to get out of these clothes<\/i>, she wanted to scream. But that wasn\u2019t the entire truth and he knew it. Bringing her hazel eyes to his brown ones, \u201cBecause,\u201d she began, feeling her throat tighten with emotion. \u201cBecause when I close my eyes I see\u00a0his<\/i>\u00a0face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jun nodded in acceptance. He knew she told the truth. \u201cThe one that did this to you?\u201d He lightly fingered her bruised jaw, which was already fading to a sick yellow. The one under her eye was still black and blue. \u201cThe\u00a0kyuuketsuki<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire<\/i>. Cordelia couldn\u2019t hold back her surprise, \u201cWhat?! How did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is time for you to come inside, granddaughter. There are things about yourself that you should know.\u201d Stepping to the side, Jun gently guided her into his home.<\/p>\n
Giles\u2019 Apartment<\/b><\/p>\n
Buffy couldn\u2019t help it, the jealousy that welled within her. She\u2019d fought so hard for two years, only to have her glory and her non-boyfriend\u2019s attention taken away from her. And by\u00a0Cordelia<\/i>! It was just wrong. \u201cGuys,\u201d she forced herself to her feet. \u201cI\u2019ve gotta go. My mom\u2019s going to be worried about me.\u201d Trying not to meet their eyes, she abruptly turned away, grabbing her coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy?\u201d Giles questioned, still concerned about his slayer. She had a ruff few days, with\u00a0her<\/i>\u00a0prophecy and her encounter with the Master. \u201cAre you going to be alright walking home by yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, yeah,\u201d she replied, hoping they wouldn\u2019t hear the tears in her voice. \u201cSlayer, remember? Nothing messes with me, I mess with them.\u201d Waiving goodbye, she headed out the door.<\/p>\n
Angel knew she was upset. He only had one guess as to why. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure she gets home, Giles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat,\u201d Xander said. \u201cJust what every girl wants- a dead-boy escort home.\u201d He ducked another cookie bomb from Willow. Soul or no soul, Angel was still a bad guy. He only hoped Buffy wouldn\u2019t get hurt when she found that out. Xander knew he had no special powers, but he could just see imminent doom radiating off tall, dark and blood-sucking.<\/p>\n
Angel didn\u2019t even acknowledge Xander as he walked out the door. Pretty soon that boy was going to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.<\/p>\n
East Crest Apartments<\/b><\/p>\n
Sybil Warner sighed in relief as she walked through her apartment door. There was nothing like being at home from a long day at work. She\u2019d had to pull a double shift, cause one of the girls had called off sick. Being a ticket agent sucked, but it paid the bills.<\/p>\n
Kicking her shoes off, Sybil stumbled through her hallway, flicking on the light as she made her way to the kitchen. Her thoughts in a jumble from the days workload, she could only focus on having a hot bath. She didn\u2019t even realize that she was about to die.<\/p>\n
Her killer was perched on the rooftop of the loft apartments across the street. He had been waiting for her all day. He had been expecting her a lot earlier, but he was a patient man, and didn\u2019t mind waiting. Sybil Warner now had a tiny red dot tracking her every step.<\/p>\n
Gently touching his earpiece, Sybil\u2019s would be assassin, established communication with his employer. \u201cI have the target in sight.\u201d His voice sounded a little muffled under his ski mask, but he doubted his employer would have trouble hearing him.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake the shot.\u201d The cold voice on the other end replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cAffirmative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adjusting the scope on the lens, he leaned in, his finger applying pressure on the trigger.\u00a0It’s a shame really<\/i>, he thought to himself, as he let his eye linger on her face. She was quite lovely. Sybil now had the red dot on her forehead, oblivious to that fact, as she milled about in her kitchen. She\u2019d just finished feeding her cat. A cute, orange tabby. Cat’s gonna need a new home.<\/p>\n
And he squeezed the trigger.<\/p>\n
What was once a lovely, blond haired woman was a mess of blood and skull.<\/p>\n
\u201cTarget has been eliminated. Awaiting instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n