Yep I would be too.

Hehe...  She almost let something slip!  Still loving this story.

Author's Response: Freudian? Thanks!

I've been away too long! I just read your last three chapters and am kicking myself that I didn't get here sooner. The Kaede/Takeshi storyline is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I like how you're giving us just enough to hint at the 'Japanese Romeo and Juliet' relationship carrying over to Buffy and Spike. As always, well done!

Author's Response: That was the whole idea. At this point in the game, I guess it's not very spoilery to say that even though I also want them to be their own characters, I'm also using Kaede and Takeshi as a mirror. Think of it this way. How would their relationship have turned out if his siring had been a non-issue? Just some food for thought. ;-) Thanks for reviewing!

great chapters, all three of them

Author's Response: :-D Thanks!

Two words... Laundry..... paralegal. What a picture you conjure, Weyr... absobloominlutely hysterical!

And, how you jumped to that from the intense scenes in Edo with Takeshi and Kaede, I know not... I'm assuming (and I know nothing of an authors writing process) that you must plot out the Japanese backstory as a single story in itself and likewise write the Sunnydale tale... then blend them together with little side-steps like the patrol. Phew. You're right, very intricate and must be hard to pick up all of the threads. So pleased to be the reader and not the writer.

It's interesting to see a slayer and her husband interact together so caringly... and for the slayer to welcome her partner into her world. It's hard to challenge protocol and, for them especially, in a very traditionally rigid culture their behaviours have to satisfy so many expectations.

For the Sunnydale pair, it's almost the opposite, if we discount the archaic Council of Wa***ers, because they are trying to find their common ground with virtually no 20th Century protocols.

So clever. Love it. *grins*

Author's Response: I don't know if this makes me more or less crazy, but I wrote the chapter sections simultaniously, with only the vaguest of outlines, in order to preserve the parallel construction. I wanted to write them together so that I could make sure that the mirroring aspects of the stories could be accentuated as the chapters progressed. Wah, brain cramp. And Chloe? I honestly can't say where she came from. I just love inserting the mundane aspects of demonic life into stories. It makes everything seem more real to me. Thanks fot the review!

Loved the chapter! It was great to read Buffy and Spike's banter too!

Author's Response: Snark is fun to write as well. I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing!

Continuing to really enjoy this!

"“It’s not like I do background checks on potential boyfriends. Plus? I don’t think he would have put ‘secret agent man’ on a resume if I had asked for one.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Well, what is your point then?”

“I don’t know!”

“Oh thank God.”

“What?!”

“Vampires.”"

Love this exchange; very much in character for our heroes at this point. I'm a fan of the snark, and season four brought the snark at it's best.

You're reallly breaking my heart here with Takashi and Kadae; knowing the outcome makes it so much hearder to watch! Really masterful storytelling. When the story's done I'm going to have to re-read the whole thing in one go...

Author's Response: When I'm done, I've been thinking about going back and reading the whole thing backwards, just to see. I'm glad you're liking the snark. It's certainly fun to write. Thanks for the review!

So Takeshi wanted to know more about vampires! I thought it was about fighting.. yet in a way it is, huh? ~ Hehe.. Buffy's face when Spike told her that the rinjal demon named Chloe did the laundry and was a paralegal :) And me too :) (I would have loved to know what Buffy intended to say. Sure not allies :)

Author's Response: "Know your enemy." ;-) I might be hinting at Buffy's thoughts in the next chapter. Maybe. Thanks for the review!