I really like it!

Author's Response: Thank you!

*sigh* Poor Takeshi. He can be glad the his training aloud him to hold the demon in check. If his wife would have caught him feeding she would have killed her. So he was a very very young vamp, only two days old. I don't have the time to count now how old he was till he died (dusted). Seems as if Ai/Kieko did give Takeshi his soul back. I wonder if Ai/Kieko knew what would happen (great costs) but I think she did because she asked Takeshi to send Kaede to her. ~ *gg* It took Takeshi a bit of convincing Spike to accept :) Good luck? They'll sure can use it.

Author's Response: I'll explain the soul situation in a little bit, I promise. As for Ai, I would imagine that she did know Takeshi's fate. She's creepy like that. ;-) Thanks for the review!

Spike and his woman troubles! =) I must say that I'm just as caught up in the Takeshi/Kaede story line as the Spike/Buffy one! It's great to see the two storylines converge.

Author's Response: I'm glad people seem to be liking both time lines. I was kind of worried people would skim through the Japanese section to get to the Spuffy (call it a lack of faith as to my ability to make a whole suite of interesting OCs), which would kind of defeat the purpose of the entire story. Thankfully that doesn't seem to be the case. Thanks for the review!

*Gulps* So now, I presume Spike has just received Takeshi's memories? Of things specifically relating to the battle against Orochi and how to defeat him - so whatever it was that Ai/Kieko passed to him? Or was this transfer something different and will those memories include his and Kaede's ill fated love? *bittersweet sigh*

The scene with Ai/Kieko was reminiscent of the old Watermargin series I used to watch avidly when I was a girl... but that used to be the evil spirits who were always using a beautiful maiden as their vessel
to fool the good guys. Here, Ai is different, I know, but it's that etheral monochromatic imagery you invoke, and inot it you place a flash of scarlet and white. Powerfully suggestive.

And I love the fact that Takeshi retained parts of the man and was able to master his demon for his love. Ho sad that Kaede's training was strong enough for her to close her heart and home to him because of that. Watchers have so much to answer for... I hope Giles Ripperman suit chaffes occasionally!

I like this update very much. Thank you again


Small typo, methinks, I am surprised you could control the hunger for as long as you have. No go! should probably read, "... now go!"



Author's Response: I promise you'll find out what both of their memory transfers entailed. As for spandex chaffage, I'm not sure if I can help you out with that one, at least not in this story. ;-) Thanks for the review (and the mad typo-finding skills)!

Wow brilliant love it.

Author's Response: Thank you!

I am breaking my orders for this story, since I'm supposed to be resting and icing my arm. This is fascinating. . . I love how you are weaving the two stories together and creating a third by linking the main characters of each. Lyrical and lovely and full of knowledge of Japanese myth and belief. . . . I am so looking forward to reading the rest of this story.

Author's Response: Yikes! I hope your arm's doing better. I'm glad you're liking the story so much. Thanks for the review!

So much to love. Takeshi's struggles and his despair at not being able to speak with Kaede are very poignant. And I love the confrontation between Spike and Takeshi. Funny in parts, and also moving. Poor Spike. He really hasn't had a brother, or any kind of equal, since he was turned (and perhaps before). Despite his discomfort at the thought of Buffy as his consort, it seems clear to me that your (and Mutant Enemy's) Spike longs for true connection and comradeship. He was a lonely man, and he is a lonely vampire.

Author's Response: At least Xander can blame his bug eatting and weird disease catching on spells. Spike just has the unfortunate habit of playing Fate's whipping boy. I'll see what I can do about our boy's isolation, deal? Thanks for the review!