Spike never could resist a chance to get a little payback, could he?  Love this story, so far.

Author's Response: The enemy of my enemy and all that. ;-) Hey, I had to have a plausible reason for Spike to join in the fun. Thanks for the review!

Nice story and thnx for the year thing. Now this story is divided into 2 parts the japaneese and the spuffy, the interesting thing seems to be that you tell the japanese in backwards order. It's sort of like memento (the movie if you have seen it), a nice touch. Are we going to meet the japanese slayers desendants? I take it that one of them was the one that sent the swords. I like this idea more and more and can't wait to read more.

Author's Response: I actually haven't seen Memento, but I keep meaning to. Reiko is Kaede's descendant, but I'm afraid you won't be seeing her in the metaphorical flesh. Thanks for the review!

Bringing in the revenge angle is very clever of Giles (and you!).

I love the structure of this story, with the ancient Japanese part of the story moving back in time while the modern part moves forward. It's very compelling.

Also, I just have to comment on the excellent Spike voice. In "In League with Serpents," your Spike is already in love with Buffy and far more than half-way to being a white hat. That is reflected in his voice. In the new story, the difference in voice is remarkable. You really capture the still unreformed, manipulative, angry vampire.

Author's Response: I love Spike in all his iterations, and a big part of the appeal that this idea held for me is that season 4 Spike is beast of a different color that season 6 Spike. I'm glad you don't think I'm dropping the ball with that. Thanks for the review!

You characterizations are amazing! Reading this chapter, it felt as if I were watching an episode of BtVS unfold. I already knew how great you were in Spike's head, but you have the Watcher down pat as well. Keep it coming!

Author's Response: I can't tell you how much that complement means to me. Thank you!

Fire had scoured the area bare of trees for miles around and the glow of the moon on the snow gave the plain an ethereal beauty. What a background for a story banner that sight would make... sadly my graphics skills are but in the infancy stage, but hopefully someone will make you a banner for this haunting story setting.

Being picky here, but:
... or spread far and wide to cover a city block., I'm not sure the parallel to a 'city block' works when you're in the Genroku period... how about a rice field or something more endemic?

Willow were having about as much luck with Buffy as Giles was having with him. should read, 'Willow was having...., I think?

I like this Rupert. He's not the bookish, indecisive lightweight that we were so often presented with in the show. Nor do you use the 'Ripper' personna like Superman to Giles' Clark Kent - which is so silly. Instead, you've given this Giles 'balls'. Suits him.

As always, I like your Spike.

And, Takeshi and Kaede's story intrigues and grows on me with every chapter. Again, there's inferrence to their marital relationship from them in past tense, and then you pile on the intrigue by having Takeshi aided by Ai, a priestess no less... so somewhere there, there is a meeting of good and evil... interesting.

Deliciously satisfying chapter, pet. Thank you.

*Chrissie goes off to learn a few chords on the koto... just for Weyr*




Author's Response: Bwahahaha! Sorry, I just had this amazingly hysterical flash of Giles stepping into a stereotypical red British phone booths, stripping off his tweed, and then leaping out in a black spandex outfit with a big "R" on the front. It's Ripper-man, to the rescue! Ahem. So yeah, tweaking away (but Edo was a huge city at the time). That's what I get for not having a beta. Sigh. Mmm, banner... That'd be the day. I'm glad you're still liking the story. Thanks for the feedback!

Oh, I'm loving this story. You're doing an amazing job with Spike, Buffy and Giles voices, they sound so true to the characters we saw on tv. I'm very glad that Spike accepted to help them and I can't wait to read more of this fantastic story. :D c

Author's Response: Thank you! I worry about getting the "voices" just right, so it's great to hear that I'm not completely mangling the characters.