InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Saving the World: One Hanyou at a Time ❯ Welcome to Wallmart ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

Welcome to Wal-Mart

 

Buffy's letter

Giles,

           I've found the owner of the sword.  He's Inuyasha, a half demon which isn't all that strange back home but here seems to be a big deal. His father was king of the dog-demons or something and he has silver hair, white fuzzy ears that look a bit like a Siberian husky and golden eyes. He's powerfully strong, fast and stubborn. I think he is old, maybe 150 years or more but his appearance is young.

I am traveling with him and his friends. We have a demon fighter Sango, a Buddhist monk Miroku but the strangest person is a modern day girl, HigurashiKagome. She is maybe 17 and is from Tokyo. She is the reincarnation of a powerful priestess, Kikyo who died and was brought back to life as a soulless angry woman. That part isn't so much different from Sunnydale. In fact when I heard about this zombie priestess I felt all homey inside.

They are fighting a demon named Naraku. He was once human but traded in his soul for an extreme demonic make over. He is wicked powerful and arranges for others to do his fighting for him. I fought an incarnation of him and it turned out to be only a puppet. He prefers to work through manipulation and doesn't like to get his own hands dirty. Everyone in our group seems to have good reason to want him dead; he has ruined the lives of nearly everyone here.

        The sword is called the Tetsusaiga and it's mystical. It turns out it's not as beat up as it looks. It's always looked battered but that's part of it's power. It was forged from the fang of Inuyasha's father and when it broke it was repaired with one of Inuyasha'sownfangs. I am still suspicious about that because I checked his smile and he doesn't appear to have any gaps. Who knows maybe it was a baby tooth. The sword comes to life in its owner's hands and is powerful enough to strike down a hundred demons or yokai in one swoop. It doesn'tallow just anyone to use it. Apparently only Inuyasha can wield it. But I was able to use the one the Council loaned me. It wasn't as powerful as Inu's but I was impressed and so was he.

I think this Naraku is the First and I'm sure he's the reason I'm here. I don't know how these guys defeated him but whatever they did laid him up for 500 years and he lost his corporeal form. I don't think Naraku started out as the First but that he was taken over and turned into the First.  Also the First is none too happy about my vacation here. It's made three appearances in the past two days and is trying to scare me off. It admitted that it existed in this time and claimed it won in this world and ruled in “blood”. (As if it would rule in something else like champagne or MountainDew.)  Naraku is the biggest monster around and is responsible for the death of thousands. That's another reason I'm positive he's the First.  
       
When I was face to face with Naraku's monkey puppet he didn't seem to recognize me. So the First and Naraku are two separate entities here. I'm worried that the First might join forces with it's former self and if it does, then we are in for a world of pain.

I've tried to find out what the date is but I don't understand the calendar they use here. And because I know nothing about Japanese history then Kagome wasn't much help. As far as I can tell it's the 1400s possibly during the lifetime of Christopher Columbus. Columbus was the only famous guy we were both familiar with. See I told ya I should've had more time off from Slaying in high school; now I wish I'd paid attention or at least showed up to my world history classes. Here is what I do know. I hope it's enough for you to research this and get me all the info you can. We are in feudal Japan, the Warring States period if that means anything to you…and somehow I just know it will. We are where modern day Tokyo now stands. We are heading to the HigurashiFamily shrine where there is a well that connects the modern world to this one. Kagome's grandfather is obsessed with the past and will be thrilled to share any of his knowledge with you. I've written the phone # on the back of this letter. According to Kagome the passage of time is the same on both sides of the well so one day here means a day has passed there. I assume the same rules apply to me.

        Inu and Kagome are on a quest to find pieces of something called the Shikon no Tama. Inu-boy doesn't want to tell me anything about it so that means it's important. I already know Naraku uses pieces of it to control monsters. Find out all you can about it. I have a feeling Mr. Higurashi will probably be able to help with that. Inuyashaand I have a working understanding but I don't want any surprises.
       
        We are short on supplies though we seem to have a never ending supply of Ramen noodles butthose things are too many shades of UC Sunnydale for my taste. Can we get the Council to fund a shopping spree for me?I'd like some good ole fashioned camping supplies. A lighter, an easy to carry bed-roll sleeping bag, water purification tablets, dried food, SOAP, a change of clothes, some antibiotics because who knows what I can catch out here (we passed some average people and they didn't look all that healthy.) A knife would be nice, so would Ibuprofen, my hairbrush, my I-Pod, extra batteries please, and that new little black Prada handbag (Will knows the one, if I am gonna be on a business trip funded by those arrogant watcher wanna-bees it's the least they can do. Oh and you can just leave the handbag on my bed). That should do me; you know how I like to travel light.

 

Okay Giles stop frowning, that was a joke.

        Now here's the part where I ask for a very important favor. I know not everyone will like this but it's important to me although I can't explain why. Spike is important. I have a feeling he will have some role to play in this and The First wants him gone. We are at war and every able bodied person counts. Please keep an eye on him and make sure he is safe. Have him write me a quick note about anything new the First has tried. Every time it appears, the First has something to say about Spike. Find out why. I think there is more to it than his recent vulnerability.

        I think this about covers it;my hand is starting to cramp. Send Dawn my love and make sure she isn't cutting school again. I've got all the bills in their envelopes with stamps sitting on my dresser; please mail them out for me. Don't forget the exterminator will be coming in two days, although I wonder if it's worth the money to have him come out because one of these days the house is going to be destroyed and then it won't matter if there was an ant problem in the kitchen. It's inevitable. Tell the school that whatever disease you told them I have is still going strong. I don't know when I'll be back to work. Right now I feel like we jumped out of the pot straight into the hell mouth's fire. Please be careful, I don't know what I would do if I lost you.

 Buffy

 

 

_-_-_-_

 

        Spike rode shotgun with Xander to Wal-mart. Dawn sat in the back leaning her cheek against the cool glass of the window.

 

Xander focused on the road. “You know, just because I agreed with you back there and I'm taking you with me, doesn't mean your coming in the store.”
       

Spike raised a brow. “Don't make no mind to me mate.” He studied the list. “But I doubt Wal-mart has this bag she wants.”
       

Dawn laughed, “Yeah I don't think she really expects to get it.”
       

Spike shook his head. “Doesn't matter, I know a fellow who knows a bloke.”
       

Xander asked, “Who does what? Helps things fall of the back of trucks?”
       

Dawn said, “Hey can I get one too?”
       

“No Dawnie. You know what Buffy will say about that.”
       

Spike smirked, “Morally repressed bitch.”
       

Dawn smacked the back of Spike's head. “Don't call my sister that!”
       

Xander smiled. “You were right about women…you know.”
       

“Sod off!” Spike grumbled rubbing the back of his head. “Little Bit packs quite a punch there doesn't she?”
       

Xander pulled into the parking lot. “Well she comes from good stock, what else would you expect?”

 

_-_-_-_-_-_

 

Inside:

 

An elderly woman wearing a familiar blue vest stood by the door. She waved and called out “Welcome to Wal-mart.” Then her surprisingly sharp yet cataract covered eye spotted Spike's unlit cigarette.

 

“Sir!” She called out. “Sir, there is no smoking in this store!”

 

Spike stopped and spun around in his high topped black boots. “Really, well ya don't say.” He turned to enter the store and she continued the confrontation.

 

“Sir, please leave the cigarette outside in the smoking urn.”

 

Spike glanced over at a shiny bright blue funerary like urn labeled with an insipid sign reading, “Pretty Please, no smoking. Thanks!”

 

He gestured to it with his still unlit cigarette. “What kind of politically correct load of bullocks is that? It's a bloody funeral urn! What do ya keep in there? Smurf ashes?”

 

“Of course sir, it's designed to remind us of the ever present dangers of second hand smoke.” She shook her finger in his face and peered up at him through the coke bottle lenses of her glasses. The top of her white curly head barely cleared his collar bone.

 

Spike plucked at edges of his leather collar, straightening it. A smirk crossed his lips. “I come to this store as a consumer; I'm here to consume, not to be lectured by the likes of your crusty, old, wrinkled, baggy ass.”

 

She took a step back and stumbled over the electronic Ride N Go motorized shopping cart. Fat tears ran down her face. “There's no reason to be rude! I'm just here making an honest living in addition to a meager social security check.”

 

The sounds of the old woman's blubbering were beginning to attract a crowd. Spike started slowly backing away looking for any kind of quick exit.

 

“Hey Xander, here he is.” His head swung around at the sound of Dawn's voice.

 

Xander was beside her. “So this is how we behave when I ask you to keep a low profile.” He stretched out his arms. “Well then I am really glad I didn't ask you to cause to a scene!”

 

“I really didn't start it. That old woman's got a death wish!”

 

Xander rolled he eyes, “What happened? She wouldn't give you one of those yellow smiley face stickers?”

 

Spike's dignity had suffered a great deal since the Initiative had him chipped. Of course some days were better than others but today was just worse than most.

 

The old woman yelled at him, “Smoking is a sin. You'll rot in hell for it!”

 

Spikes eyes went wide with rage, “You heard her! She's off her nut!”

 

He pushed Xander off his arm and stormed back to the fool hardy door greeter. He leaned in close to her face and for a moment gave her a glimpse of his vampric self.

 

She saw his forehead turn bumpy followed by a flash of his fangs and began screeching.

 

Spike gracefully turned and swept his way back into the store his duster swinging around him. He pointed to her as he left. “And that's for selling me a censored Guns N' Roses CD last month. Bloody Hell…”

 

Because this was a Sunny Dale shopping center everyone decided to pretend they hadn't just witnessed a vampire threatening an old woman. They turned away and went back to their shopping.

 

Xander and Dawn escorted Spike to the back of the store in the Camping section. They piled the shopping cart with a sleeping bag and dried food.

 

Spike was examining the long grill lighters. He saw Dawn wander off and turned to Xander who had his back to Spike as he picked through the dried food.

 

“So, are we going to let Rupert and the Witch keep Buffy in the dark?” Spike saw the muscles in his neck tense and knew he'd hit home.

 

“I'm not discussing this with you Spike. Remember that talk we had. The one where I told you we weren't friends, mates, comrades or even buds? I should have left you in the car.”

 

“Well then chum,” said Spike sarcastically, “I'm writing Buffy a little missive. Think I should drop the ball?”

 

Xander tossed a huge bag of buffalo jerky into the cart. “Spike, I really hate this. But as long as I've known Giles he's never let us down.”

 

“No one's perfect Xander. I've been around awhile now and never met one perfect person…cept for maybe Sid Vicious.”

 

Xander blinked. “Do you ever just listen to yourself? I mean really?”

 

Spike frowned. “Yeah, and it's boring. Why do you think I hang round with you lowlifes? Gives me something to do.”

 

Xander rolled his eyes, “So much for the afterlife.”

 

Dawn skipped back to the cart. “Guess what I'm getting Buffy?”

 

Xander put on a tired smile. “What Dawnie?”

 

She held up a bag filled with long slender red wrappers and giggled. “Chop sticks!”

 

_-_-_-_-_-_

 

Buffy sat with her back against the tree. She was trying to take a nap but it was next to impossible. After Anya left Inuyasha yelled at Kagome demanding to know what she'd wished for.

 

“You heard her. I declined her services!” Kagome turned her back to him.

 

Inuyasha spun her around and put his face in hers. “I heard her tell you something about asking Halley. Explain it or no one is going anywhere.” He crossed his arms and exclaimed “Keh.”

 

Buffy's head begin to hurt.

 

Kagome hollered back, “Fine! I didn't want to ride on your back anyway.”

 

Buffy couldn't believe it. `Where is a hell beastie when you need one? I cannot believe I am here listening to this! It's obvious she asked Anya to take out Kikyo. He knows that. I hate this.'

 

She sighed and reviewed her mental to-do list. Investigating Kikyo wasn't at the top but it was somewhere on there…in the middle.

 

Buffy tried to intercede. “Miroku and Sango must be waiting on us don't you think?”

 

Inuyasha ignored her and Kagome stomped off. Buffy leaned back and closed her eyes. “I'd better off alone sometimes…”

 

A father knows best voice sounded behind her. “No you wouldn't. You know how it is in this world. People who need people and all…”

 

Buffy bit back her anger. `Great, the perfect ending to the perfect day.'

 

She didn't bother turning around. “Okay come on out already and let's get this over with.”

 

She wasn't surprised when the former Mayor of Sunny Dale stepped into her view. He was dressed in his best impression of a used car salesman. `This isn't so bad…actually it's kind of funny.'

 

Buffy couldn't resist, “So the snake thing didn't work out for you? Pity…”

 

He laughed and pulled out a container of Instant Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel and spritzed it on his hands. “Nope you did quite the job of mucking that up for me.”

 

He held out the bottle of gel offering it to Buffy. She shook her head with mild amusement. “Still worried about germs even in the afterlife? It's cute.”

 

“Well you know what they say about cleanliness and Godliness.” He pocketed the bottle and began rubbing the gel into his hands. “But you wouldn't know too much about that. I suspect coming back from the dead is quite the dirty business.”

 

Buffy cocked her head almost enjoying the banter. “Yeah but getting dead in the first place is way messier. Oh wait…you should be an expert in that.”

 

He wagged a finger at her, “Ha-ha young lady…well you really aren't a lady are you? Pre-martial relations with vampires and all…”

 

Buffy made a wrap it up motion with her hand. “And your point would be?”

 

“My point is this.” His expression turned from corny substitute teacher/youth pastor to predator. “What you pulled back there…it was clever. I was even impressed. You won the battle but I'm winning the war.”

 

She shrugged, “From my vantage point you've only won an all expense paid luncheon with the grim reaper, worms included.”

 

He let out a full bodied laugh and Buffy began to feel uncomfortable. `Why pick the Mayor? He wasn't the stuff of nightmares…Ya know you've lived on the Hell Mouth for too long when giant snakes have become passé.'

 

The mayor turned his face to the sky and held his hands out palms up. “Don't you see? I've become part of the bigger picture and joined with the higher power!”

 

Buffy was nonchalant, “If you say so. Sounds a bit like you've just joined a cult to me.”

 

He knelt down in front of her. “I am the cult.”

 

Buffy yawned. “Yeah, yeah I know.”

 

He frowned, “No you don't. I know your greatest fears. I going to make them all come true. It's already too late.”

 

Buffy checked her watch. “Really? You must go to bed way earlier than I do then.”

 

 

The mayor stood and pulled off his suit coat then morphed into her mother. Joyce Summers stood before her with her arms open, “Honey listen to him, it's too late.”

 

Buffy's head snapped up. “Mom? No! Get away.”

 

She gritted her teeth, “You are not my mother. I'm not afraid of you.”

 

Her mother reached for her, “Die like a good girl. Don't make me worry…”

 

_-_-_-_-_-_

 

Buffy felt firm hands on her shoulders gently shaking her awake. “Hey! What's wrong? Wake up.”

 

She opened her eyes and saw it was only InuYasha. Her body flooded with relief.

 

“Some dream huh?” He pulled her into his arms against his chest. Buffy was surprised but was still shaken up and accepted the comfort. His red kimono smelled dusty but clean, not what she'd expected. Buffy felt the tips of his claws work their way into her hair.

 

When she was composed he let her go. She stood and dusted off her jeans. “So is Kagome talking to you yet?”

 

He groaned. “No but we are out of food and she has some school test “thing” so we are going back anyway.”

 

Inuyasha emphasized the word thing by making parenthesis with his claw tipped fingers. The sight was funny and Buffy wondered where he'd picked up on the joke. `Must have been from Kagome.'

 

She smiled, “So are we ready or what?”

 

He nodded, “Yeah and Kaede will feed us too.”

 

“Really?” Buffy was skeptical, “Does she cook something beside ramen noodles?”

 

InuYasha frowned with great sadness. “Yeah.”

 

_-_-_-_

Notes:

 

Yes I am a wicked, wicked lady who deserves to be beaten. But whenever I write about Shippo I cannot force myself to take him seriously. He kept coming off like Scrappy Doo so I have (gasp) left him out. So our little Kitsune is on vacation maybe at Disneyland Tokyo if he's lucky.