Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, locations, or references to the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They belong to Joss Whedon.
Rating: NC-17 (Just to be sure because most of my stories are. Let's just see where this one goes.)
Feedback: Yes please, it's what makes the world go round.
Distribution: Sure, if you want it. Just let me know first.
Dedication: To Katy who gave me the idea for this story and, of course, to Willow and Tara, the most beautiful couple to grace our television screens.
Timeline: Around Season 6. Willow didn't meet Tara in Hush in Season 4, however, so things are slightly different. She didn't get back with Oz either though (New Moon Rising, S4). This story tells of an alternate way that Willow and Tara meet.
Summary: There's a new threat in Sunnydale but it isn't of demonic origin. The Scooby Gang must find the cause of it. Willow has recently come into a large amount of power. A stranger is drawn into the web of danger that surrounds Buffy and her friends.
Shinjitsu Wo Tsukamitore
Written by
Caroline Tremble
Part 1
The sun set lazily on Sunnydale, pushing people into their homes and allowing the shadier of citizens to walk the streets. A redheaded young woman looked out of her bedroom window, lost in thought.
Life had been surprisingly harsh as of late and she wondered if things would get easier. Following Buffy's death, she had moved into the Summers' house to take care of Dawn, heaping a lot of responsibility on her slender shoulders but she had managed. Willow Rosenberg had come a long way since her geeky high school days. Gone was the painfully shy nerd who wouldn't even talk to a guy let alone date one, and in her place was a semi-confident witch who attended college in Sunnydale. Her aptitude in witchcraft surprised even her, yet it felt right. The feeling of the magic flowing through her was amazing. Though, sometimes, Willow felt as though something was missing. She couldn't place her finger on what it was though. There seemed to be many things missing in her life these days. Oz being one of those things. She had lost Oz after he took off and travelled the world attempting to find a cure to his lycanthropy. She had been so angry but most of all she felt the loss. She had loved him more than anything and she was sure she would never love again. One day, he had returned but Willow had surprisingly rejected him. She was so scared of being hurt once again and of letting herself feel. He had been incredibly hurt and had run again. Now, Willow wished she hadn't pushed him away. She wished she had someone in her life to share everything with.
She had lost Buffy as well but after a few months of non-stop research, she had found a way of resurrecting the Slayer. The ritual was very taxing and Anya and Xander had been against it at first but they had accomplished it. It had almost killed Willow but they had the Slayer back. Things had changed so much lately but Willow knew some things would always be the same. Being alone, for one, she thought. Buffy had been acting strangely over the past few months and she had told Willow where she had been whilst she was dead. Willow was so ashamed and guilty about what she had done. She wondered what heaven was like. She knew Buffy had been happy there but there was a part of her that didn't understand why she couldn't be happy with her friends.
Willow sighed. There were too many thoughts vying for attention in her head tonight.
She stood and made her way downstairs where she found Buffy preparing herself a snack.
At least Buffy's getting back to normal, she thought.
The Slayer turned and saw the redhead watching her. "Hey, what's up, Will?"
Willow shrugged and leant against a kitchen counter. "Just wondering if there's anything new going on. It's been kinda boring lately." She gave the Slayer a small smile.
Buffy returned the smile. "Nah, but you'll be the first person to know when I find some big evil lurking, okay?"
"Nice to know." Willow turned and made her way into the living room, sinking into the sofa and switching the television on. A commercial filled the screen and she quickly changed the channel, the news replacing the soft drinks advert.
A picture of police cars and an ambulance came up next to the newscaster. "Police have not disclosed any information of the deceased but are anxious to speak with any witnesses. A police spokesman said they do not have any suspects for the brutal murder but believe it to have been ritualistic. If you have any information please contact the police at this number…" The newscaster informed.
Willow jumped up and jogged into the kitchen where Buffy was just finishing off her snack. "I think I've just found you your next big evil."
*
Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Anya sat around the table at the back of The Magic Shop. Willow typed away at her laptop, skimming through directories, attempting to get the information they were after. Anya sighed and stood, making her way to the counter. She looked through a few books, checking the stock and finances for the fifth time that day. Xander swung back on his chair, trying to look interested but failing miserably. Buffy just played with the stake she usually had tucked away inside her jacket.
"At last." Willow muttered, finally finding the file she was looking for. "The police reports."
Buffy shifted in her chair so she could see the screen of the laptop. Xander also moved around the table and gasped as he saw the small photograph that was displayed with the report. The picture showed a bloodied corpse sprawled across a table, with cut wounds through the male's major arteries. The expression on his face was frozen in horror, his eyes wide open, and his mouth hanging open.
"The police say the middle aged male died from blood loss. The wounds were probably caused by a sharp blade." Willow read from the report. "Perhaps a sacrificial knife." She added.
Buffy nodded. "Not a demon then? Demon's don't tend to use knives."
Willow frowned and shook her head. "But someone is committing these ritual murders and we have to stop them. We can't trust the police to do that. Besides, there might be a demonic reason for the deaths."
Buffy sat silently for a while, thinking about whether or not they should take this up. "I think you're right, Will. We should find out who would do these sorts of rituals and why they're done. Even if a human is the cause of this, the sick bastard needs to be taken down."
"Oh joy, more research." Xander grumbled, making his way to the shelves of old books.
Buffy walked quickly to the shop's exit. "I'll check on you guys later. I'm going to do a quick patrol. You never know what I might find." She smirked before she left.
"Yeah, maybe an evil, knife wielding maniac." Anya said cheerfully.
*
Willow walked across the university campus towards a large oak tree. Her final class of the day had just finished and now was the time for a little relaxation before she went over to The Magic Box. The group's research last night had gone well and they had narrowed their search down to a few satanic groups and demons. She hoped they would find the killer before the killer had the chance to strike again. She had checked the police files again later and found a few more pictures. The photographs had been of symbols painted in blood at the crime scene. That had helped them narrow their search down but they still hadn't pinpointed any specific culprit. They needed to find out if this was someone working alone or in a group.
Willow sat down on the soft grass in the shade of the oak tree, breathing in the scent of summer. She placed her books on the grass and gazed around, watching the other students go about their business. Sometimes she wished she could be like the other students here, leading a relatively normal life without the responsibility of saving the world every other day. She laughed at the absurdity of it.
She sat there for a few more minutes before making her way to The Magic Shop. She walked the familiar route, not paying much attention to the stores she passed. A noise caught her attention. She wasn't sure why she had noticed it above all the other sounds around her but her senses honed in on it. It was almost like a quiet cry. She made her way to where she had thought the noise had come from. She found herself at the mouth of an alleyway and suddenly dreadful thoughts pushed their way into her mind. What if someone is being attacked? She rushed into the alleyway at the thought. Then another thought came across her. What if it's the ritualistic killer? She paused, wondering if she should get Buffy but then shook her head. There wasn't time.
There was nothing in the alleyway apart from litter and a few trashcans so she kept moving forward until she exited into a small car park. She blinked a few times. She had never realised there was a car park here before and she had walked past it many times. The noise she had heard before was now louder. She recognised it as a feminine voice, a whimper. She turned and saw a large, ugly looking camper van parked in one of the parking slots. Beside it were three people. A young male stood beside the door to the van and in front of him were an older man and a young woman. The tall wiry middle-aged man held the blonde haired woman by the arm and was trying to pull her into the van. Willow stepped towards them, unsure of what was taking place here. The blonde woman struggled slightly, her face hidden by her long tresses. Willow could hear her sobbing.
"Come on, girl." The middle aged man hissed.
The younger man stepped forward to help, grabbing the woman's other arm. "Listen to father, stop being so selfish." He backhanded the girl across the face and she sunk to her knees crying. The middle aged man looked at his son almost proudly before sneering at the woman on the floor.
Willow felt sickened by the display. She presumed they were all family but even though that were the case, she couldn't let the two men treat the woman like that.
As the son went to grab the blonde woman again, Willow called out. "Hey!"
The two men looked up suddenly, looking surprised. Willow rushed forward but stopped a few feet away. "Leave her alone!"
"This is no concern of yours, young lady." The middle aged man said calmly.
Willow donned her 'resolve face' and stood defiantly. "I can't stand by and watch you assault her like that." She looked down at the blonde, trying to see if she was all right but she wouldn't look up.
The younger man spoke up. "I'm afraid my sister was being stubborn and selfish. It was her own fault." He looked at his father but the wiry man just gave him a stern look.
"You know nothing about us to judge. If you knew what she was like then you'd say nothing." The older man sneered, dragging his daughter to her feet. She still hung her head, unwilling to look up. "See, she is pathetic and has been very bad." He pushed her towards his son who grabbed her just as roughly.
"Maybe I don't know anything about you but I can tell what an assault is when I see one." Willow bit back.
The wiry man laughed at the redhead. "Let's see what she thinks then." He looked towards the blonde. "Tara? Nothing seems out of place here does it?" His voice was commanding rather than questioning.
The blonde lifted her head slightly and Willow caught her first glimpse of blue eyes. She also saw the bruised cheek and tears, feeling anger bubbling up.
"N-n-no. I-I'm fine." The blonde stuttered. Her voice was soft but very scared.
Willow sighed. There really wasn't anything she could do. What did you think you were going to do? Take down two fully-grown men and whisk her away? You're not Buffy. Willow scorned herself.
"Well… okay then." Was all she could say. She felt so helpless and she felt sorry for the poor girl who was being pushed into the van.
She watched as the ugly camper van pulled away before making her way back to the main street.
*
The young blonde sat at the rear of the camper van, staring out the back window. She sub consciously rubbed the black and blue mark on her cheek whilst her thoughts lingered on recent events. Her brother and father had decided on a short vacation to the area. The only reason Tara had accompanied them was that they didn't trust her on her own at home. Her father decided that they'd spend the day in the town of Sunnydale before moving on. When they had first arrived in Sunnydale Tara had a strong feeling of negativity. Something was wrong with this town but she wasn't sure what exactly. Her day had gotten worse when they had stopped to look around the shops. They were returning to the van when she had mentioned something about a shop that had looked nice. For some reason the remark had annoyed Donny and he had promised her she would be punished when they got back to the van. She had been very reluctant to get back in the camper van and that had incurred her father's wrath. That was when the stranger had turned up. Tara had only caught a glimpse of the woman when she had looked up briefly but she had noticed a few things about her. Firstly, the fiery red hair and the beautiful features. Also, the determined and defensive stance the redhead had taken up. She had been standing up for Tara and that made her so happy inside. Even Tara didn't defend herself so why should a complete stranger?
The blonde felt the vehicle slow and finally stop. Her father and brother's voices drifted through from the front of the van. "We'll stop here for the night." Came her father's voice. "Shall I get the bitch in back?" Her brother snarled. "Donny!" Her father reprimanded. "I think your sister needs some alone time right now."
Tara felt tears well up in her eyes. She wished her mother were here. She missed her so much. She felt so alone.
She gazed out at the increasingly darkening sky, spotting several stars and the waning moon.
*
Buffy leaned against the counter in The Magic Box, listening to the information Xander reeled off.
"We know the markings found at the crime scene are placed exactly as they would be for a power draining ritual. There's a few references to it but they were as far back as the ninth century. They were designed to take away the powers of magic users but never kill them."
Buffy frowned, wondering if this was an extreme version of that ritual.
"We also know the victim was a practicing witch." Anya offered.
"A witch? Don't you mean warlock?" Buffy questioned.
Anya shook her head. "No. Males can also be known as witches. Witches can become very angry if you call them warlock as the word actually means oath breaker."
"Remind me not to do that." Buffy pointed out. "So this killer is after witches… for their witchy power." She sighed. Then something dawned on her. "But that means Will's in danger!" She looked at the redhead who sat at the table, staring into space. It seemed she wasn't paying attention to what her friends were saying.
"Will!" Buffy moved towards the table.
Willow jumped and looked at the Slayer. "Uh, yeah?"
Buffy looked at her best friend with an annoyed expression. "You haven't been paying attention at all, have you? What's up with you?"
The redhead shrugged. "Um, it's n-nothing. Just tired I guess." She gave the blonde Slayer a sheepish smile. "What did you say?"
The Slayer sighed, deciding to let the issue go for now. "I said, this murderer is after witches so that means you're in danger."
Willow frowned at the statement. "That's not necessarily true. I mean, he's only struck once, who says he'll do it again? Plus, who would want me? I'm only little Willow Rosenberg, nothing special about me." The redhead babbled.
Buffy saw how her worried remark had made her best friend nervous so she rubbed the redhead's arm reassuringly. "I'm sure he wouldn't be stupid enough to mess with you, Will. He'd have to get past me first."
Willow smiled up at her friend, feeling slightly better about the situation.
The Slayer took a deep breath and stepped away from the group. "Well, I'd better set off on patrol. No rest for the wicked." She turned and walked to the door. "Or me either."
Before she reached the door, a voice called out behind her. "Need some company?"
Buffy looked over at Willow who peered up hopefully. "Sure." The redhead jumped up, grabbing her jacket and jogged up to her friend. The pair waved goodbye to Xander and Anya before leaving.
*
Willow walked silently beside the Slayer, staring at the ground. The patrol had been uneventful, the only action they had seen were two reckless vampires, both of whom Buffy had dusted quickly and efficiently. Willow let her thoughts once again wander back to the poor blonde girl that she had encountered earlier in the day. She had been thinking about the same thing when Buffy had been trying to talk to her in The Magic Box. Willow felt guilty for not being able to save the blonde woman. Even though it was her family, the blonde didn't deserve that kind of treatment. Willow realised she didn't know anything about the trio but she instinctively knew that the stuttering girl was the innocent party. What had the wiry man called her? Tara? Yes, that was it. What a nice name. Willow thought. Nice eyes too. Willow's brow creased with her thoughts. She wasn't sure why she was having such thoughts. This Tara was a complete stranger.
Exasperated, she sighed and glanced ahead of her, catching sight of a fast moving figure. The figure was clad in black, from what Willow could see, and something glinted in its hand.
"Buffy." She breathed, clamping a hand onto the Slayer's arm.
She pointed in the direction of the figure and Buffy looked in that direction. Her eyes narrowed as the figure disappeared into the shadows but she had seen the metal object in its hand.
"Could that be…" The Slayer didn't finish the thought as she took off after it, Willow following closely behind.
The redhead followed Buffy for quite a while, dropping back a bit through lack of speed and fitness but she kept the blonde in sight. They moved through alleyways and through the nicer part of town. Willow realised they were nearing the edge of Sunnydale. We must have really run far! Willow thought, her lungs screaming at her to stop.
She watched the Slayer come to a sudden stop and Willow quickly realised why. They had come across a small lay by on the road out of town and in it sat a familiar camper van. Willow took a sharp intake of air as she realised it was the one she had seen earlier in the day. On top of the van stood the robed figure, its hands in the air.
Buffy ran forward, covering the distance quickly but before she reached the vehicle, she was thrown backwards, landing on her back on the dusty ground. Willow ran to her side, panting for air. She looked Buffy over hastily; making sure the Slayer was okay. Buffy pulled herself to her feet and scowled at the figure on top of the van.
"Magic huh?" She turned to Willow.
The redhead nodded. "A protection spell more than likely. You can't break it physically."
Just as she spoke the camper van began to shake slightly and gradually more violently. The door of the vehicle burst open and two men fell out, stumbling over one another. Shortly after them, a blonde woman tumbled out, falling to the ground. Willow recognised her as Tara. She moved forward, readying some spells in her mind. She could feel the protection spell and it was strong. Unusually strong.
The figure spoke in a deep male voice. "Surrender yourself and I promise your death will be painless." He looked down on the frightened blonde woman.
Willow looked desperately at Buffy. "He wants the girl!" She gasped.
The figure stepped off the roof of the camper van and he descended slowly to the ground. He walked slowly towards Tara, his knife drawn. The blonde cowered against the van, tucked up in a ball.
"No!" Willow shouted, trying to find a weakness in the barrier.
The attacker turned, noticing her for the first time. Willow couldn't make out the face beneath the hood, shadow obscuring his features. "Well, well… What do we have here?" His tone was menacing but also curious.
In one swift motion, he lunged at the blonde woman and brought her up into a standing position, his blade against her throat. "Have you come to stop me?" He taunted.
Willow got to see Tara's face fully for the first time. Her beautifully defined features were contorted in fear and her blue eyes pleaded with Willow.
The redhead could feel anger rise up inside her and with it her own power. The attacker hesitated in his actions as Willow's pupils dilated drastically, filling her eyes. She placed her hand against the barrier and it shuddered out of existence. She approached the van.
"Stop!" The hooded male hissed, pressing the blade against Tara's throat, causing her to whimper in pain.
Willow raised a hand and the knife was pulled out of the attacker's hand and clattered against the ground beside the redhead. "Release her!" Willow demanded.
The hooded male threw the blonde to the ground and raised his own hands, muttering under his breath in an ancient language. Willow heard a cracking noise to her right and then a tree branch whistling towards her. She threw herself to the ground to avoid being hit.
"Incendre." She shouted out in Latin and the branch burst into flames, falling to the ground in ashes.
Willow got to her feet and stared the hooded man down. She could hear him incanting again but before he could complete his spell, she used her own power to raise him from the ground, breaking his concentration. Her hair whipped at her face, the magic causing a false wind around her. She felt incredibly strong at this moment but all that mattered to her was protecting the innocents here. She noticed all too late that he had regained his focus and completed a spell, making the ground beneath her tremble violently. She lost her footing and landed awkwardly in the dirt. When she looked back up, the hooded man was gone.
"Damn!" She heard Buffy curse. She ran over to the edge of the woods that she had presumed he had escaped into.
The redhead pulled herself up and walked over to the blonde woman, her eyes returning to their usual green. She knelt down beside Tara and smiled at her.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked, noticing the red mark across the blonde's throat.
The blonde looked up at her timidly, nodding slightly. Willow looked over at the girl's father and brother who just stared back at her with a mixture of awe and fear. She moved her attention back to the beautiful woman before her.
Willow extended a hand to the girl. "Willow." She beamed. The blonde just stared back at her blankly. "Uh, that would be my name." She laughed suddenly feeling somewhat nervous.
A faint flicker of a smile adorned the blonde's face and she took the offered hand. Both girls immediately noticed the flash of energy that passed through them. Willow stared at their hands, wondering what had just happened.
"T-T-Tara." The blonde said finally. She too seemed completely distracted by what had happened.
Buffy walked back over to them, an annoyed look on her face. "I couldn't find any tracks. We have to get these people to safety." She stated.
Willow looked up at her and nodded. "Where shall we take them?"
Buffy's brow knotted in deliberation. "The Magic Box is probably the best place for now. It's closest at any rate."
It was then that Willow realised she was still holding Tara's hand and she pulled it away, slightly embarrassed. "A-are you okay with coming with us?" She asked the blonde softly. Tara just nodded in return.
"She isn't going anywhere with you, freak!" Tara's father spat.
Buffy stepped forward before Willow could say anything. "She's in a lot of danger. We are doing this to protect her."
Donny approached her, sneering. "It was probably all her own doing. She's evil like that."
Willow stood abruptly. "How can you say such a thing about your own sister?" She narrowed her eyes and looked at Tara's father. "I'm not leaving her here so you can beat her senseless. I'm going to look after her if that's what she wants. I think it's up to her, not you!"
She looked down at the blonde who was looking back at her with an expression of wonder. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she nodded.
"And now… we are leaving." Buffy stated, making sure she was in between Tara and the two men.
Willow offered her hand once more to the blonde. She took it and the same jolt of energy passed through them as Willow pulled her to her feet. The redhead noticed for the first time what the blonde was wearing. A long plain white night dress flowed over generous curves. Willow looked away quickly. "G-go get a change of c-clothes and then we can get out of here." She whispered to the blonde.
Tara blushed deeply but moved to the van and disappeared inside.
"You're not taking my daughter away from me!" The wiry man spoke.
Buffy stood with her hands on her hips. "Watch us!"
"You don't understand, girl. We're the only ones that can keep her true self from coming out." He snarled.
Willow looked over at him, confused. "Her true self? What are you talking about?"
Tara's father laughed mockingly at them. "She's part demon, you fool. All the women are in our family."
Buffy looked at Willow, shocked. Willow shook her head, disbelieving. How could such a sweet, shy girl be a demon? Besides, being a demon didn't always mean you were evil. Buffy saw the determined expression on Willow's face and decided to go with her best friend's instincts on this one.
"We'll take our chances." The Slayer hoped she wasn't making a foolish mistake.
Willow watched as Tara exited the van, now in every day clothing. She wore grey trousers and a white top with a dark jacket pulled over it. She also carried a rucksack.
"Well, nice meeting you." Buffy waved to the pair as they moved away from the lay by.
Tara glanced back at them with mixed emotions. She felt guilty for going but also relieved. She was scared at what had happened but so happy someone had come to her rescue. She was overwhelmed by the fact that it had been this amazing redhead once again and in awe of the power she possessed. She was also curious by what had passed between them when they touched. She had never felt anything quite like it but she decided that she liked it. Yep, she definitely liked it and everything about Willow so far.
*
The three young women approached the small shop in the darkened street. Buffy fiddled with a set of keys that she was now glad she had hassled Anya for, in case of emergencies such as this. She neared the front door and pushed the key into the lock.
"Anya's going to kill us when she finds out we've stayed in her shop without her permission." The Slayer commented with a mischievous grin.
Willow looked over at Tara who now had a shocked and worried look on her face. The blonde changed the grip on her rucksack nervously and glanced up at Willow.
"Uh, not literally." The redhead attempted to alleviate the girl's worries.
Buffy pushed the door open and ushered the other two women inside, glancing quickly up and down the street before shutting the door swiftly and locking it once more. She turned and pressed her back firmly against the wooden door, wishing she had destroyed the bell above her head a long time ago as it still jingled from the door's movement. She watched Willow guide Tara to the back of the shop and offer her a seat at the large table. The blonde gazed around at her surroundings, obviously impressed at the collection of items arranged in the displays. Buffy caught Willow's attention and pointed to the phone, telling the redhead she needed to contact someone. She felt the need to check up on her sister, even though it was late.
Willow sat beside the shy woman, watching her examine the shop. A dull ache pounded at her head but she tried to ignore it as she attempted to structure an explanation for Tara. The shy woman beside her paused her inspections and rested her gaze upon the redhead.
"Th-thank you." She stuttered, not sure what else to say.
Willow looked at her, seeing the genuine appreciation in the girl's blue eyes. "No need to thank us." She smiled, vaguely registering Buffy's lowered voice near the front of the shop.
Tara continued to stare at Willow, a myriad of thoughts flashing through her mind. There was so much she wanted to know about this woman, she was worried about the hooded figure that had tried to attack her, she was scared of what her saviours thought of what her father had said. The close proximity of the redhead was playing havoc with Tara's senses. She could feel the warmth radiating from her, could smell the girl's subtle scent that reminded her of jasmine, and she could feel the redhead's energy. Tara's eyes lost a little of their focus as she tuned into Willow's aura. She concentrated on the swirls of colour and saw the bright hues surrounding her. She smiled at her goodness but a frown etched its way onto her face as she saw the thin layer of black suffocating the bright colours. From what Tara had seen, Willow tapped into black magic to create powerful spells. It saddened the blonde to think how such a beautiful soul could allow itself to be tainted by darkness. Her mother had taught her never to touch dark magic, as it was like a poison. It never allowed you to use it without something in return. Tara shuddered at some of the stories she had been told of witches and mages turning to the dark arts and being consumed by them.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked, concerned at the blonde's distant look.
Tara snapped back to the present and nodded quickly. She placed her rucksack on the table and let her hands fall into her lap.
"So, you're a witch then?" Willow tried to start up a conversation that hopefully wouldn't lead to her having to explain about the attack.
Tara nodded once again. "I've been practicing since I was little. My mother was a powerful witch and taught me most of what I know. How long have you been practicing?"
Willow noticed the use of tense by the blonde but decided not to press for details. "Oh, just a few years. I've only recently become better at my spells." She smiled, proud at her own achievement.
Tara took a quick intake of air in surprise. She wasn't even sure if it was possible to become so powerful in such a short space of time but somehow this petite redhead had managed it. "Only a f-few years? That's a-amazing." She breathed.
Willow blushed slightly and lowered her gaze. "I-it's not really. I mean, at first, I made a total mess of things… my spells never worked or when they did they went totally wrong, like making my best friend fall for her arch nemesis and making Xander a demon magnet, or bringing my slutty alternate self here; that was disturbing I can tell you…" She trailed off, realising she had gone into babble-mode and revealed way too much information.
Tara blinked, trying to take in all the words, completely bowled over by what the redhead had said. "Um…" She started but no other words formed in her mouth.
Willow laughed nervously, inwardly cursing herself for letting all of that slip. Now she had probably scared the blonde more than the hooded maniac had. "Well, that may have been a slight exaggeration." She attempted to cover up.
Tara decided to change the subject rather than push Willow for an explanation. It wasn't her place to pry into the redhead's life. "Uh, c-can I ask you a question?"
Willow nodded. She hoped it wouldn't be about the mess of words she had just bumbled out. She didn't look forward to having to explain how she had brought her alternate vampire self to Sunnydale.
"Who was the guy in the robe?" Tara's voice was quiet as she spoke.
Willow looked at her alarmed. Ask about vamp Willow! Her mind screamed. "Oh… erm." She tried to find a good way of wording it but finally decided there wasn't one. "Tara, we believe…" She glanced over at Buffy who was still on the phone. "That he is a warlock from a satanic group of some sort. He has struck before and he killed a witch and drained his essence. We think he's on some sort of power trip." Willow swallowed hard, hoping the blonde wouldn't jump up and run away, screaming.
"K-k-killed?" Tara croaked.
Willow nodded sadly. "We followed him to your father's camper van in an attempt to stop him. Luckily we got there in time…" She placed a hand on the blonde's knee. "I'm so sorry that you got dragged into this."
Tara opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She felt the warmth of Willow's hand through the material of her trousers, the contact calming her fraying nerves. She was terrified at the thought that someone was after her, that someone wanted to kill her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked down at the redhead's hand, knowing that it wasn't only from fear. As if sensing the blonde's feelings, Willow pulled her hand away and stood, pacing around the table, deep in thought. Finally, she turned to Tara.
"You'll be safe here though. There's a protection and concealment spell around the shop so he wont be able to find you." The redhead smiled a reassuring smile.
"Who are you?" Tara asked in complete bewilderment.
"Me?" Willow placed a palm flat over her chest. "I'm Willow Rosenberg, a student at the university here in Sunnydale." She smiled.
Tara shook her head, thinking the redhead was being evasive at first but as she saw her aura, she could tell it was the truth. "A college student?" Her tone still held a note of doubt.
Willow nodded in affirmation. "Yes, I just like to help pretty girls on the side." The redhead slapped a hand to her mouth, a blush creeping over her face. She couldn't believe she had said that. It was true she thought the blonde was beautiful but she would never have voiced that opinion. It just wasn't Willow-like.
Tara lowered her face at the compliment, letting her hair fall forward, obscuring her features. Before Willow could stutter an apology or excuse, Buffy strode up to them, not noticing the tension that had suddenly built up.
"I just checked on Dawn. She's fine but a little worried. Everything okay back here?" The Slayer explained, looking at Willow.
The redhead lowered her hand. "Yes, why wouldn't it be?" She blurted quickly, unsure why she felt she had to cover.
Buffy gave her a bemused look before turning her gaze upon Tara. "You okay?"
Tara nodded slowly. "W-Willow just explained the situation. Though, I d-don't understand how a couple of college students could get involved in something like this."
A smile inadvertently worked its way to Willow's face as she heard her name on Tara's lips. It sounded so right spoken by this gentle woman. Willow caught the thought and firmly put a lid on it, slightly disturbed by it. Why was she having these thoughts? She's a girl! Her mind chastised. You must be relating to the witchy side of her, she rationalised.
"Oh I don't attend classes at the university." Buffy glanced at Willow, unsure of what her friend had told the newcomer. "I, uh… Will, can I talk to you for a sec?" She grabbed the redhead's arm and pulled her to the front of the shop. Willow didn't struggle, as she knew it was pointless.
"Do you think we should trust her?" The Slayer questioned in a hushed voice.
Willow just looked into Buffy's hazel eyes for a moment. "I think we can, Buffy. I do." She wasn't sure why she trusted the shy witch. "How are we going to explain that a couple of girls want to track down a ritualistic murderer on their own?"
Buffy's brow creased. "But you heard what her father said. She might be a demon." She ignored the hacker's question.
Willow shook her head adamantly. "No. I'd be able to sense it. Can't you? Don't your Slayer senses pick that kind of thing up?" The redhead didn't want to believe the shy young woman at the back of the shop was some sort of hellish creature. She refused to believe it.
The Slayer sighed. "No, I… I don't think so." Her gaze drifted to the rear of The Magic Box. "Alright Will, we trust her. But only so far. I'll go talk to her, you re-enforce the concealment spell."
Willow nodded and moved to a shelf to collect some herbs. Buffy approached the table and forced a smile as the blonde witch looked up. She sat in the seat Willow had previously occupied and looked Tara purposely in the eye.
"I guess you have the right to know what is going on." Buffy didn't feel like starting with small talk. After all, the girl's life was at risk, she deserved some facts. The Slayer watched as Tara nodded for her to continue. "I wont lie to you. This guy wants to kill you. Willow and I are here to assure he doesn't get the chance."
Tara's eyes widened slightly at her bluntness but she soon calmed herself. "What could you p-possibly do? I know Willow is a p-powerful witch but you're just…"
Buffy held up a hand for Tara to stop. She wanted to get through all of her explanation before her better judgement got the better of her and she backed out. "There are certain things you don't know about this town, about me." She looked over at Willow to see the redhead replacing some jars on the shelves.
"I know a strong evil lurks here. I felt it as soon as I arrived in Sunnydale." Tara was glad she had managed to get the sentence out without stuttering. Something about these people elicited a safe and relaxed feeling in her.
Buffy looked back at Tara, impressed by her intuition. "Yes, definitely a strong evil. Tara..?" She made sure she had gotten the girl's name right before she continued. "This town lies on a centre of mystical convergence." She used Giles' first explanation so as not to scare the blonde too much.
"The Hellmouth?" Tara breathed.
The Slayer looked at the shy woman in shock. "How did you know?"
Tara looked away, unsure whether she should have spoken the words or not. Did her knowing that name prove to this woman that she was indeed a demon? Tara regretted the words. "My m-mother advised me to r-read up on all sorts of things. I r-read it in a b-b-book." She stuttered badly, quickly trying to explain.
"Oh." Buffy merely said. Tara breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't challenged her explanation. Even though, it was the truth, Buffy had no way of knowing it was.
"C-can I ask you something?" Tara decided now was as good a time to drop the bombshell. Buffy nodded so she continued. "Are you o-okay with me being a d-d-demon?"
The Slayer narrowed her eyes, her brow knotting. "Tara, you're not a demon. Whatever your family have told you… they're lying." She tapped her fist against the table, making the blonde Wiccan jump slightly.
"I… I…" Tara didn't know what to say. She was touched that this woman would try to comfort her but she had no reason to. They had just met and even though she was protecting her from a horrible killer, it didn't explain her actions now. Perhaps she was just a genuinely kind person.
"You see, I would be able to sense if you were a demon. I have special abilities and one of those is being able to pinpoint demons." Buffy lied, trusting her friend's abilities rather than her own.
Tara took in this new information, totally astounded. "B-but… how?"
Buffy took a deep breath, imagining herself placing one foot ahead and toppling forward into the deep end. "I'm The Slayer. I'm not sure if you would have come across that during your readings. I'm a Vampire Slayer, a chosen one from every generation that has to kick demon butt." She smiled opening her arms in a 'here I am' stance.
"Goddess…" Tara stared wide-eyed at the Slayer. She couldn't believe it. She was sitting face to face with legend.
Willow picked this time to walk past and towards the training room. "I'm just going to set up in the training room, Buffy. Take care of our guest." She saw the look on Tara's face but Buffy gave her a reassuring smile so she hesitantly went on with her task.
Buffy turned back to the surprised woman opposite her. She played with the hem of her short leather jacket as Tara regained her composure. "I didn't mean to get all dramatic on you." Buffy laughed.
"N-no, it's okay. It was just a s-surprise." Tara allowed a small smile to grace her lips. She pushed the anger of betrayal from her family to the back of her mind as she focused on the petite blonde in front of her. "I've had an eventful day." She added.
Buffy smiled at her and then stood, her attention drifting towards the training room door. She could just smell the scent of burning candles. "Will's just boosting the concealment spell for us." She turned back to the blonde. "To make sure you're super safe."
The blonde witch smiled broadly, feeling so happy that these people were going to so much trouble to keep her from harm. No one had ever treated her like this before. "She's very special isn't she?" Tara hadn't meant to speak the thought aloud. "H-her magical a-abilities, that is." She covered, blushing.
Buffy moved behind her chair, running a hand over the top of the seat's back. "Yep, that's our Will. She's helped out a lot with the demon slaying. Our own little redheaded super-wiccan." Buffy laughed at her own words.
*
Buffy paced the shop silently whilst Tara sat huddled over her rucksack. The Slayer wasn't sure what their next move should be. It had been about half an hour since she had seen her best friend disappear into the training room and she thought it wise not to disturb her. Perhaps now would be the best time to call Giles. It would be a reasonable hour in England and Buffy had practically run out of ideas. If anyone could help them on the knowledge side of things, it would be her ex watcher.
"I'm all done." Willow interrupted her thoughts. Buffy turned and saw the redhead standing in the doorway of the training room, looking a little pale. If she admitted it, the Slayer felt a little tired so she couldn't imagine how exhausted Willow was right now.
"You okay?" Buffy asked as she moved towards her.
The hacker leant against the doorframe, a tired smirk on her lips. "You know me, I'm always fine." She rubbed her forehead. "Well, maybe I have a slight headache."
"M-maybe you should sit down." Came Tara's voice from Buffy's left. The blonde was on her feet, a worried expression on her face. Buffy was surprised at the shy witch's concern.
She watched as Tara gasped and when Buffy followed her gaze, he saw the reason why. A thin trickle of blood made a trail from Willow's nose to her top lip. The redhead's hand shot up to wipe at the crimson liquid. A look of panic etched into her features before settling into annoyance.
"Damn it." Willow uncharacteristically cursed. She continued to wipe at the blood but it didn't stop flowing and she only succeeded in smudging it across her lip. Buffy rushed forwards, grabbing a tissue from a box on the shop's counter. She shoved it into the redhead's hand and it was accepted it thankfully.
"What's going on, Will? It seems to me that you've been having these nose bleeds regularly." The Slayer questioned but before Willow could answer, she staggered forwards, almost losing her footing. Buffy reached out instinctively and supported her best friend with strong arms. She half dragged, half led Willow to a chair at the table, and lowered her into it. The redhead rested her head against a hand, placing her elbow on the table as her other hand held the tissue to her nose.
"I'm okay, I just need a few minutes." Willow muttered, trying to keep the room in focus. Buffy sighed and made a decision right there.
"I'm going to call Giles. Maybe he can help us with the attacks." She moved away before anyone could say anything, leaving the two witches alone together.
Willow stared down at the smooth wood of the table, focusing on the grooves and unique markings. A high-pitched buzzing reverberated around her head, accompanying the team of blacksmiths hammering away at her brain. She pulled away the tissue, watching the fresh blood being absorbed into the soft white paper. A drop fell onto the collection of red, informing her the bleeding hadn't ceased yet. She sighed, replacing the tissue to her nose.
"A-are you sure you're okay?" Came Tara's timid voice. Willow nodded but didn't look up. She didn't like people seeing her weak sides, especially people she was meant to be protecting.
"Bet I don't seem so all powerful now, do I?" Willow almost whispered.
She heard Tara moving her chair closer and felt a warm hand on her upper arm. "The human body can only take so much. Channelling so m-much magic can overload you." Willow could hear the concern in her voice.
The redhead looked up, lowering the tissue once more. She frowned. "It's frustrating." She said simply.
Tara nodded with understanding. "You'll get s-stronger over time. You j-just have to be patient." She gave the redhead a half smile that did wonders to life her spirits. The smile reached the blonde's eyes and Willow found it infectious. There was something about this woman than gave her a comforting warm feeling inside.
"I should listen to the wise witch huh?" Willow said with a grin, watching as a wave of red washed over the blonde's face and down her neck. It was so easy to make the shy witch blush and Willow enjoyed causing that in a mischievous kind of way. Her grin broadened as she thought about it, eliciting a slightly confused and worried look from Tara. "I'm feeling a little better now." The redhead tacked on, pushing the thoughts away.
Tara smiled a little and plucked the reddened tissue from Willow's hand. She folded it so a clean white area showed and tenderly wiped at the redhead's nose. "I kinda feel like my mum's cleaning me up." Willow complained.
Tara giggled at the redhead's objection but continued, completing her task quickly and efficiently. "There you go, little one, all clean again." She joked. Willow let out a laugh. They locked eyes for a moment, each revelling in the sparkle of blue and green.
"Well, um, how are you doing?" Willow mentally patted herself on the back for thinking of something so original to say. She still held her smile, not being able to stop it, even if she wanted to.
The blonde let out a small chuckle. "To tell the truth, I'm a l-little overwhelmed. There's so much to take in and I'd rather not think about it r-right now."
"Of course." Willow understood how the girl felt, as she'd had to deal with difficult and confusing situations before. She glanced over to where Buffy stood leaning on the shop counter, involved in a hushed conversation on the phone. "What do you want to talk about instead then?" She turned back to the blonde woman sitting close to her.
Tara paused for a moment as if in thought. She let her eyes wander over Willow's face, taking in her beautiful features. "You." She answered simply. "I w-want to know a l-little more about you." She elaborated.
The redhead almost panicked, not knowing what she could tell the shy witch. There wasn't really anything impressive to say about herself. Why do you want to impress her, Rosenberg? Her mind questioned. She probably doesn't want to be impressed; she just wants to know boring, little facts. You've got plenty of those. Her mind comforted her with babble.
"Let me see…" Willow began. "As I said before, I'm a student at Sunnydale University. I am a witch, that much you know, but I'm also pretty good with computers. I can get hold of almost anything as long as it's been entered into a database or on a computer in any form." Willow beamed proudly. "Okay, you have to give me a fact about yourself now."
Tara's smile faded. "Oh. Well, uh, I… I don't go to university. I did want to and I even applied for a place at Sunnydale University but my father wouldn't let me go." She looked at her boots sadly.
Willow placed a hand on her knee. "That's so unfair. He doesn't have the right to take your life away from you like that." She rubbed the blonde's leg slightly in a comforting gesture.
Tara looked back up at her. "He won't anymore." She vowed.
Willow grinned at her. "Just think, we could have met long before now and be great friends." The blonde smiled back at her, swept up in Willow's thoughts. "I was completely hopeless at my spells at the start of college. If I'd met you then, we could have practiced together and be witches extraordinaire."
Tara laughed. "Wouldn't that have been great?" She placed her hand over Willow's, which was still moving gently over her knee. Willow, as if realising for the first time where it was, looked down at her hand but did not move it. Tara didn't seem unhappy with where it was and neither was she.
"What's your biggest dream, Tara?" The question came totally out of the blue and Willow didn't exactly know why she had asked it.
Tara lost herself in thought for a moment, her fingers idly stroking the lengths of Willow's own slender fingers. "I guess to be s-special. To be someone another person can l-love. To make my m-mother proud." Sadness crept into her voice as she spoke.
The redheaded hacker looked at Tara with caring eyes. A part of her was so angry at the way her family had made her think. She would have to prove to the blonde that she was special and that she deserved to be loved. And how are you going to do that? Her mind taunted. "Well, I dream of a big house in the country, with a family and two dogs and my own computer firm." Willow laughed. "It sounds kind of shallow now though."
Tara shook her head. "No, no. It sounds lovely. Though, I think a cat would be better." She tried to lighten the mood a little after her saddened statement.
Willow grinned. "I could get a cat. You'd have to pick one for me though." Tara's caresses on her hand were bringing her nerve endings to life and she found herself enjoying the contact increasingly. She noticed her own administrations to Tara's knee were getting more adventurous and her hand was straying from its location. What am I doing? In her mind, she panicked. She slipped her hand out from under Tara's hand but not too fast. She didn't want to give the blonde the impression that she was scared of her, after all.
"I think we're b-both feeling better now." Tara stated, trying to hide her disappointment at the loss of contact. The electricity that passed through them every time they touched was addictive, as was Willow's scent, her voice, and merely her presence. Oh, you've got it bad Tara Maclay. You've only just met the girl and you've already got a huge crush on her. She chided in her thoughts.
*
Gripping the telephone tightly, Buffy listened to the male English voice that was droning on and on about magic users and their ilk. She had been talking to him for nearly ten minutes and she had perhaps uttered a dozen words in that time. It was more than likely she would have a wrathy ex vengeance demon hunting her down when the phone bill came in. Giles had, however, provided her with some interesting information that should prove helpful in their current situation.
"Hold up a minute Giles." Buffy interrupted. "You're telling me this guy isn't alone?"
There was a pause at the other end of the line and the Slayer could make out the rustling of paper, perhaps paged of a book. "Yes, that is right. From the information you have given me, though it is vague, I believe these ritual murders were committed to benefit a large group."
"Murders?" Buffy questioned. "I only mentioned one killing. There haven't been any others. We stopped this maniac before he could harm the girl we have with us." The Slayer hoped Giles had made a mistake but a sinking feeling told her that the Englishman was about to drop something big on her.
"Uh, well, yes." Giles hesitated. "It has been brought to my attention by a contact The States that similar killings have taken place. I had no idea the killer or killers had moved to your location but it may work to our advantage."
Buffy slapped the palm of her hand on the shop counter in frustration. Why did things always have to get more complicated? One murderer was bad enough, but a whole group of them? This could get messy. "Okay, spill Giles. What do you know and who's your contact?"
"I've already told you all I know and as for my contact, well, I'd like to keep that under wraps for now. It isn't necessary for you to know, you need to concentrate on the task at hand." The Englishman explained.
With a sigh, Buffy realised she wasn't going to get anything more useful out of her former mentor. Once he had set his mind on something, it usually stayed that way and he wasn't present so she couldn't give him a threatening look so she'd have to accept that fact. She glanced over to where Willow and Tara sat. The pair seemed a little uncomfortable and avoided each others' gazes. Buffy put it down to the fact that they'd just met and were thrown into a stressful situation.
"Alright Giles. I have to go now and fill the others in." She paused, letting the tension fall out of her voice. "Thanks for your help."
"No need for thanks Buffy. It was nice hearing from you, though I wish it had been under better circumstances. Give my regards to everyone." The Englishman's tone was softer now.
"Yeah, sure thing." Buffy replied. "I'll give you a call soon and keep you updated."
"Good bye for now then." Giles said warmly.
"Bye… I miss you." Buffy added quickly and then hung up, not wanting to get too emotional on the phone and make the ex watcher feel uncomfortable. That just wouldn't do, Buffy donned an English accent in her mind.
Her hand lingered over the telephone receiver as she thought of the Englishman. She missed him a lot and especially on days like this. He was a great asset when it came to research and information but above all that, he was a great friend. Buffy looked upon him as a second father. He had always been there for her where her real father had not. She even missed Giles' annoying little habits, such as the way he would obsessively clean his glasses when he was nervous and the way he muttered "dear lord" when some impending doom became apparent to him.
The Slayer halted her reminiscing and turned towards her two companions. They were still examining the room nervously and looking at everything but one another. What's up with those two? She wondered. She approached them and Willow looked over at her expectantly. Buffy sat on the edge of the table, clutching the edge of it firmly with her hands.
"Things don't look good guys." She muttered, watching the two women to gauge their reactions. Willow just continued staring at her with curious eyes whilst Tara's face paled slightly. "From what Giles has told me, we could be looking at a large group of magic users, perhaps a coven."
Willow didn't seem particularly fazed by this information. In fact, her interest peaked as Buffy spoke. "What else did Giles say? How is he?" She tacked on her second question quickly.
Buffy took a deep breath. "He's fine, a little worried. Apparently, our ritual killer had killed elsewhere but Giles wouldn't give me any more information on them. He just told me that we had to find out the identity of the coven and their motives."
The redheaded hacker looked a little upset at this information. "Didn't he say how we could stop them? Shouldn't that be our priority rather than information gathering?" She almost pouted and if it weren't for the seriousness of the conversation, Buffy would have laughed.
The Slayer shook her head. "He doesn't know. 'Knowledge is power' he said." She turned her gaze on the blonde who had remained silent throughout the conversation. Tara was still looking a little pale but Buffy gave her credit, she wasn't showing her fear through her expression. "Remember, these people are still human. No matter how sick and twisted they may be, we can't deal with them as we would a demon."
Tara didn't react but Willow reluctantly nodded. "So, what now?" The question had to be asked.
Buffy shrugged. "I have no idea. We need to find these sons of bitches before someone else becomes a victim to them but I don't know how to track them down." Her voice was taut and exasperated.
"Y-you could use m-me." Tara spoke for the first time since Buffy had returned from her phone call. "As b-bait." She continued in a small voice.
Willow's eyes went wide and the Slayer was sure that they would pop out if the hacker wasn't careful. "No way!" She said firmly, voice raised. She looked to Buffy for back up.
The Slayer stood and turned round, resting her palms flatly on the hard wood of the table. "That isn't an option Tara. I appreciate the fact that you want to help but putting you life in danger isn't a risk I'm willing to take." She gave Willow a reassuring look and the redhead visibly relaxed. "We're here to protect you, not put you in harm's way."
The shy blonde sank back a little in her chair, allowing years of habit to take over. Here was just another person ignoring her suggestions and doing what they thought best for her. "O-okay." She whispered.
Willow noticed the way Tara seemed to shrink in on herself, blocking the world out. "Tara, we just don't want to see you get hurt." She reached out for the blonde's hand and she looked up. "What do you think we should do that doesn't involve you being a martyr?" She gave the blonde a disarming smile.
Tara couldn't stop the half smile from creeping over her features as the redhead went into 'cheer up mode'. She tried to wrack her brain for just the smallest scrap of information that might prove useful. Unfortunately, the redhead's adorable and expectant look completely distracted her and her mind drifted. "Uh…" Was all she could manage to say.
Buffy smiled also, wanting to make the blonde feel safe and welcome. "It's okay, I'm sure we'll figure something out." She paced to the counter once again, glancing over at the front door. It would be hours before the sun would rise. "Maybe you two should get some sleep while I keep watch." She looked back at the pair.
Willow debated whether she should argue the matter with her best friend but the brass band marching through her head seemed to decide for her. She nodded slowly and rose slowly to her feet. She walked towards the training room, stopping and peering over her shoulder before she went through the door. "You coming?" She asked the shy witch who sat unmoving at the table.
Tara nodded and followed the redhead into the back room, leaving the Slayer alone in the main shop. She sighed, settling into a comfortable armchair. She let her muscles relax slightly, though all her senses were alert, waiting for even the smallest hint of danger. She hoped the hours would pass quickly, she hated waiting around.
*
Both young women arranged the training mats neatly into a bed-like appearance before sitting on them. Tara lay back letting her eyes drift shut, trying to keep out all the thoughts that demanded attention. Willow sat cross-legged, holding her head in her hands, waiting for the constant thudding inside her skull to dissipate. Her eyes drifted over Tara's curvaceous form and up to her beautiful face. Willow wasn't sure if she was asleep already but she looked so serene, as if nothing negative could touch her. The redhead could feel her pulse rate quicken as she admired her companion, confusion flooding through her immediately. Why was she having these thoughts and feelings? She wasn't like that; after all, she had loved Oz. Love. She corrected herself. Now that she thought about it, doubt crept into her mind. The flame that she once held for her ex boyfriend was dying down, slowly fading away to a fondness that she expected always to have. Now, looking at the beautiful blonde beside her, she could feel new sensations building up inside her, feelings she didn't understand, emotions that scared her.
"Are you okay?" Tara's voice pushed passed all her fears momentarily. Willow hadn't realised the blonde had opened her eyes and noticed the redhead staring at her.
"Uh… yeah." Willow looked away quickly, hoping the blonde hadn't seen the conflicting emotions in her eyes. "Just a bad headache. That's all." She tapped her temple with a finger for emphasis. As soon as she had done it, she wished she hadn't. The sound and feeling reverberated around her mind like a rubber ball, passing through every nerve ending on the way. She winced and let out a small whimper.
Tara immediately sat up, shuffling closer to the redhead. "Let me try something, it may help the pain."
Blue pierced green as Tara looked at the redhead with concern. Willow nodded slowly so as not to set off any more cascades of pain. The blonde moved around Willow and knelt directly behind her. She placed her cool hands on either side o
I really like this so far! More please. 
This is really an interesting possibility how they could've met each other. Loved it, how Willow and Buffy helped her to get away from her dumb family. I can't wait to see your next part! 
Yay to Willow and Buffy rescuing Tara from her family and that evil guy. This is a very interesting way for W/T to meet and you write so well. 
Angry Tara could lead to dire ramifications, fear leads to hate, hate leads to anger, anger leads to the dark side.... hmmm could we see Tara venturing down a path often reserved for Willow in our fics.
