Law of the Heavens

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/SMT Devil Summoner Raidou Kuzunoha (Casts Shadows)
Summary: Raidou Kuzunoha the XVIII begins his first adventure.
Word Count: 985
Rating: Teen

        Raidou Kuzunoha the XVIII opens his eyes to a scene of complete and utter chaos. It’d be understandable if this was the Dark Realm, although so many civilians having been pulled into the spiritual world overlaying the normal reality they lived in would require a demon of such power that...well. It’d be concerning.
        And then he winces, watching a zombie lurch after a crying child in a fast if limping gait, brains spilling from its skull, and amends that statement. This is obviously concerning, because pulling this off in the normal world is no joke, either, and he’s only recently been appointed, too. He’s no Fourteenth.
        It’s not the Dark Realm, though. He’s only visited once, to get a feel for the place, and this clearly is not the same place, what with a lack of a Dragon Cave to anchor his being, or any signs of Dragon’s Gates constructed (likely by a wayward Ippon-datara) to make traversing the demons’ world more difficult, or by the lack of strange colors tinting the entire area.
        “Xander!” It’s some relief, in all this chaos, to hear a recognizable voice. Gouto’s somehow disappeared, too, which is more of a concern than it might appear, since an enemy actually pinpointing a black cat as the more seasoned and likely dangerous of the two (despite the lack of opposable thumbs) is a dangerously well-informed foe indeed.
        He turns to the spirit with a relieved smile.
        “Xander, it’s me, Willow. Do you, uhm, do you know who I am?” She doesn’t pause for breath, but he’s become accustomed to that since their introduction.
        “Of course I know you, Willow. Do you know what’s going on?” He puts a hand on the sword, eyeing the Reaper, of all things, in the distance. It hasn’t noticed them yet, but he’s pretty sure he’s going to have to retreat if it does. He’s not ready for a Fiend, yet.  He'd help the child, but some sort of spider demon he can't identify seems to have picked a fight with the zombie, allowing the civilian to escape.
        She relaxes. “I...I don’t know, but everyone’s turning into their costumes.” She looks down and mumbles, as if embarrassed, “...I did. I don’t know why you’re fine.”
        He frowns. That statement makes no sense on the face of it. True, unlike most ghosts she appears to have been able to change her clothing, but otherwise she still appears exactly as she always has. He doesn’t get the opportunity to question her further, because instincts honed from long, uncomfortable training at the Kuzunoha village sense movement behind them that the spirit seems not to have noticed. He barely has the time to draw his blade to block the ninja’s sai seeking his throat.
        “Holy shit,” Willow breathes from behind him, but he has to act fast, throwing himself backward against the force of the ninja’s weight, to avoid being disarmed.
        He grits his teeth. “I’m not sure if he can harm you. Stay back.” He doesn’t have much in the way of supplies, but on the other hand, if he doesn’t summon a demon soon, he might well join Willow in the afterlife. He didn’t pass the trials only to fail now. His gun has disappeared just like Gouto, and while it’s only a single ninja now, it’s chaotic enough that the situation will hardly contain itself. He may as well go for his strongest demon right now, even if he’s not fully loyal, and takes out one of the Tubes, muttering the spell to release Žiburinis, the Tube slowly unscrewing itself and letting out the green light of the Mag within before bursting forth in a bolt of that same energy.
        “I bring terrible vengeance,” the skeleton intones, deep voice a death knell, flame of the candle in its chest flickering wildly.
        Willow, off to his left, gasps. At least she’s backed away from the fight, like he’d asked. “Xander, is that a demon?” That’s...a really odd question to ask a Devil Summoner. Is she all right?
        And, another oddity...the ninja apparently happens to be one of those who can see demons, because rather than continue the fight he merely melts away into the night. Which allows this Raidou Kuzunoha to catch his breath.
        “Disappointing, but to not fight a Žiburinis shows some judgment.” The skeleton stretches, candle flame dying down until only its bones are glowing.
        “I appreciate your help anyway,” he responds, because some demons appreciate manners more than others, and it chuckles, deep and unnerving.
        “Any who would pick a fight with a Kuzunoha have more courage than common sense.” Sure, perhaps he should reconfine the demon, but it wouldn’t hurt to get Žiburinis more power and loyalty, and he really doesn’t feel like resummoning him every time, particularly when he’s already low on supplies including Mag. Besides, if there’s others that can actually see the demon out, maybe they’ll be less likely to pick a fight.
        “I thought you answered to ‘Xander’,” Willow states accusingly, and he glances over to see she’s glaring, hands on her hips, like he’s in trouble for...something.
        And he doesn’t even know what it’s for. This time. Though maybe he’ll get some answers by answering this question, because she’s been acting oddly. “ I do. That is the name I was born with. I am also,” (but surely she knows this already) “...known as Raidou Kuzunoha the XVIII, protector of Sunnydale.” She just stares at him, rather than looking suitably impressed. Or like she’s heard that combination of words ever before. Which is odd, because the Herald specifically stressed that she was an ally of the Yatagarasu.
        And then she mutters “oh brother” under her breath, considering where to start before she begins her explanation, and it’s clear that he’s in for an adventure like one of his predecessors. He can only hope he lives up to the expectations.