Ninja Willow: A Love Story

by cathy nort

[reviews]

I've always pictured Willow playing the role of Damsel in Distress to Buffy's heroine to the rescue. This has been in my mind for some time. Willow wants to uphold her end of the bargain as far as Slaying vampires goes.



The voices seemed to be coming from so very far away. Willow could hardly make them out. Plus they had the hollow echo of a telephone that had not been tuned correctly. The voices she heard but who was speaking? She hadn't a clue.

Nor did she care. She was quite comfortable in the cozy blackness of her world. But brightness, light was now starting to penetrate it. Darn!

"I think she's coming to." Voice one.

"Who got her this time?" Voice two.

"Betsy. She feels terrible about it too." Voice one.

Willow finally gave in and opened her eyes. Two figures swam into her vision. They were peering down at her with concerned expressions on their faces. Voice one belonged to Myyoshi, the owner and instructor. Voice two was Karen Harms one of Myyoshi's students.

With great effort Willow raised a hand and waved weakly. "Hi."

The oriental woman smiled. "How you doing?"

Willow tried to push herself up onto her elbows but the room began spinning wildly so she laid back down. She had a pretty good idea as to what had happened although at the moment she had no memory of it. After a few seconds of quiet she spoke. "I get knocked out didn't I?"

Karen Harms rubbed her wrists gently, with affection. Like everyone else she liked Willow. "Yep," Karen said briefly. "Knocked cold. You've been out for almost ten minutes."

"I heard you say Betsy." Willow said. "Did Betsy knock me out?"

"God, I'm so sorry Will." Betsy had joined the two others and was looking down on Willow now also.

Willow reached out to pat Betsy's hand but she only managed to pat empty air. "Don't apologize. Been knocked out before. In fact I've been knocked out lots and lots."

Betsy, a tall, athletic girl with light brown hair wrinkled her forehead at the others beside her. "I hardly hit her and ......and she went down like a sack. I've never knocked another girl out before. I thought it would be harder."

Myyoshi tried to ease Betsy's guilt. "You probably caught her just right. If you catch someone just right it'll knock them right out cold."

Willow insisted on sitting up so Karen and Betsy helped her and Betsy cradled the redhead in her arms. Willow's memory was returning. She recalled fighting into her workout tights and pulling on her top. Myyoshi had paired her with Betsy today though Willow had been training for over a month. Betsy was the newest student in Myyoshi's martial arts academy having been there a little over a week. She had admitted to have had earlier training but for the most part Betsy was a raw, untrained student. Willow had suspected that Myyoshi thought Betsy more of an even match for Willow than were her other students.

Now it had turned out..........oh brother, Willow thought, Betsy was the fourth girl to have knocked her out. Willow had a clear picture of Betsy's foot coming up at her. Then the blackness that followed.

Myyoshi helped Willow to her feet. "Why don't you lie down in my office. I have a cot there."

"No, no, no." Willow said rubbing her chin. There was a sore spot so that must have been where Betsy's foot had connected. "I'm perfectly fine."

"You look a little wobbly," Myyoshi observed putting her arm around Willow's waist to steady her. "Come on into the office. At least till your head clears."

Willow let herself be led out of the workout room, then down the hall and into Myyoshi's office. Willow was sat down on the couch and the Japanese woman sat next to her holding both of Willow's hands in hers. She looked into Willow's eyes for a long time before she spoke.

"Willow? Why are you doing this? It's not that you're a bad student. In fact you are so enthusiastic that it's heart warming. You try so hard that I, all of us, pull for you but the truth is............." Myyoshi paused. "When the girls match up no one is trying to hurt anyone but when an opening appears it's only a natural reaction to take advantage of it. I mean everyone here has been knocked out. Even myself. It's something that just happens."

Myyoshi paused and gave Willow's hands a tender squeeze. "Look. Can I be honest with you?"

Willow wanted to say a resounding NO. She didn't want to hear what was coming. Before Myyoshi could go on Willow blurted out what she had to say. "I'm really, really fine Myyoshi. Honest. I've been knocked out before. I'm okay with it. I have a friend, Buffy." Willow stopped. She couldn't reveal more than that. She couldn't reveal that Buffy was a Slayer. That Buffy staked demons and vampires. It sounded too preposterous.

"Buffy and I, well...we've ........, " Willow gathered herself. "Buffy's knocked me out three times herself. So I can take it." And Buffy had. The circumstances weren't exactly the easiest to explain. Not if you didn't know what Buffy did or that Willow wasn't the only one Buffy had ever knocked unconscious.

Myyoshi was taken aback. "She has? Why on earth........?"

"I want to stay," Willow said quickly. "I NEED to stay and learn even if I have to take more bumps. Oh please don't give up on me Myyoshi. I'm getting better. Surely you can see that."

Without revealing her purpose Willow spent the next minutes pleading and begging with Myyoshi until she finally relented to keep on training Willow. "But from now on I'll be the only one to spar with you. Maybe I can restrain myself enough to cut these incidences down to zero."

"But," Willow protested. "I have to experience combat or I'll never progress further. I need to get good at this. It's important to me that I do."

"Why? It'll just lead to more punishment for you."

"I just have to learn. I have to."


* * * * *

Willow, that night, was studying herself in front of the mirror. The bruise on her chin was hardly noticeable. It was nothing make-up would not cover. She also had a purple bruise on her hip. Buffy, when she came over, would notice that. Somewhere along the way Willow would be naked and Buffy would see the wound. Unless she turned off the lights. Naw. Couldn't count on that being an option once their love making started. Better to just make up something. Fib.

The truth wasn't an option. Willow wanted her martial arts training to be a surprise for Buffy. Not just a tweaky one but a huge, gabendous one that would bowl Buffy over. Willow had been training four times a week now, for over a month. Getting knocked out today was just a set back, Willow decided. A bump in the road not a concrete barrier.

At the moment, next to her relationship with Buffy, it was the most important thing in her life. Ever since that night when it had happened. She HAD to be ready when Buffy needed her. Not like that terrifying night.

Willow went over to her dresser and opened the top drawer. She had a wide assortment of panties but she knew Buffy liked her in the white lace trimmed cotton boy cuts. Willow selected them and stepped into the underpants. She had a matching bra, front hooked, "for convenience" as Buffy liked to say and Buffy slid it on. A little white scooter and the purple, silk top Buffy had bought her for Christmas topped off her wardrobe. As she finished dressing Willow heard the downstairs door open and close.

That would be Buffy. "I'm upstairs," Willow called brushing on some rouge and applying lipstick.

She heard Buffy bound up the stairs. When she came into Willow's bedroom the Wiccan crossed immediately to her. "You look absolutely beautiful," Willow said stepping into Buffy's waiting arms.

"You always say that. Even when it's not true."

Buffy was wearing a sleek pair of tennis shorts that did wonders for her gorgeous butt. Willow couldn't decide which was Buffy's greatest asset. Her legs? Her slender athletic figure with a tiny hint of muscle? Nothing dramatic just a tinkle of strength. And she certainly wasn't overpowering boob-wise but, as far as Willow was concerned, guys overrated that aspect of a girls anatomy.

Pretty? That Buffy was.

"But it's ALWAYS true. Shut up and kiss me." Willow said.

Buffy's mouth found Willow's and the kiss was soft, tender, loving. Willow buried her fingers in the blond hair of her lover and extended the kiss until it seemed every inch of their bodies were touching.

Willow broke off the kiss and ran her hands down to the swell of Buffy's hips. She pulled Buffy's middle against hers. "I am so friggin hot for you.'

"Ooooooooo," Buffy purred. "A Wiccan in heat."

Willow kissed the hollow of Buffy's neck. As she did she saw the puncture wounds near the jugular. They had healed greatly since then and unless you had been aware of that night......Willow drew back, the fear in her reviving, trumping the passion.

Buffy, still holding Willow in her arms, felt Willow tense up, pull away emotionally if not physically. "Ya alright babe?"

Willow nodded absently. Both Buffy and Willow knew the moment, the night was lost. This was the third time Willow had grown remote and Buffy didn't know why. She had never acted like this before. Was her love dying, Buffy wondered? Should I begin preparing myself for the end?


* * * * *

That night Willow tried to sleep. It was useless. Buffy would be out patrolling. In danger again. Like that night when she almost lost.

That night. That night. That night.

Willow had been with her. She had insisted that Buffy take her along that night. The vampire had come out of nowhere. Maybe Buffy had been occupied with the red head next to her. Me, Willow thought. She had been a distraction and Buffy had lost focus.

Willow had been tossed aside like a rag muffin. She had slammed into the ground. Buffy, too, had been tossed over a grave stone by a vicious kick. She had lain on the ground trying to free her stake which was pinned under her. Then the vamp was on her, teeth bared.

Willow could see it vividly as she could now lying bed. A heavy blow had knocked Buffy out. She was helpless. Defenseless. Willow had watched, frozen, horrified. And useless. Powerless.

Willow was no physical match even for other women her size. No match at all for a vampire.

But Willow had rose and rushed the vampire as his mouth lowered onto Buffy's neck. Almost as an after thought it had slapped her aside and into unconsciousness.

When she had opened her eyes she saw a familiar figure looking down at her.

There was smile, however slight, on her face. "Howdy red."

Willow looked over and saw Buffy still lying, not moving.

"Blondies' okay," Faith had said. "Down for the count. I got it before he got too much of her blood. She'll be as good as new by the morning."

But will I?

Willow, at that moment, felt she, by being weak, had almost cost Buffy her life. She vowed that she would never let it happen again. Faith had been there for Buffy. Willow hadn't.


* * * *


Myyoshi was circling Willow who was in a semi-crouch. This was the second week since she had personally taken Willow under her wing. Like the previous weeks, Willow's effort was there. She listened, she tried everything she was told to the letter. But.......? Her skills weren't. Whatever her talents were they weren't in the field martial arts.

Myyoshi made a feign and Willow went after it. All Myyoshi had to do was step aside and could have decked Willow as she stumbled by.

Instead, she watched Willow as she splattered to the mat.

The instructor whirled and started to leave. Then she stopped, her back to the red head. She didn't want to see the lovely girl's expression when she spoke. "No more Willow. It-is-just-no- use."

"Oh noooooooo," Willow groaned tears welling in her eyes.

Myyoshi turned back toward her. She could see Willow was completely devastated. "Look. I've tried. You just don't have it. I hate telling you this because it obviously means so much to you but............but you're not only bad, you're lousy."

The instructor walked up to Willow and took the broken figure into her arms. "Oh Willow. I couldn't be fonder of a girl if she were my own. It tears me apart having to say this to you but go home. Paint. Write. Sing. Find another avenue for your energy."

* * * *

Willow sobbed as she dressed alone. It was all falling apart. Her life was over. Her life with Buffy at least. Since that night Willow felt herself pulling away from Buffy. She didn't want to. It was just happening. Her feeling of unworthiness was dominating, destroying and there wasn't a thing she could do about it. She had always been proud that she and Buffy were together even though most people didn't know how deeply their relationship went. She knew.

Now, her feelings were that Buffy was being robbed. That she, Willow, was not the top of the totem pole but the bottom. The very, very bottom.

Buffy deserved better.

* * * * *

Willow was sitting on the edge of her bed. In the dark. There was a light tap on the door. Couldn't be her folks. They were at bridge club.

"Yes?" Willow asked without enthusiasm, her voice hardly audible.

The door opened and Buffy peeked in. "Hi Will."

"Oh Buff. Hi."

Buffy looked radiant in a off blue summer dress, pearls at the neck and pendant earrings. She looked so radiant Willow had to look away. It was too painful knowing, seeing what was lost.

Buffy crossed over and sat down next to Willow. "Best when you start dressing you complete the job," Buffy joked lightly. "I wouldn't go out like that."

Willow tried to smile. She forgot she was in her bra and a lace trimmed half slip that was tucked between her legs.

"Actually you look kinds delicious," Buffy went on. "Edible even."

Willow turned away. "It....it's over Buffy. Over." The last words hardly left Willow's lips.

"Why? Don't you love me any more?" Buffy asked calmly but her insides were churning, hurting.

"No. I mean, no, that's not it." Willow started to cry. She could not hold back the tears. She had been crying for days now. She didn't think she had any more tears left. Strange. There's never enough smiles but always too many tears.

Willow let Buffy take her in her arms. This last time. Just this last time, Willow thought. She would never again be in this place, this moment again.

Buffy's mouth was up against Willow's ear, her hands stroked Willow's thick red hair. "You said you loved me. You just say it. If you do that's all that matters."

"You *sob* need *sob* to find *sob* someone *sob,sob* else. Someone better. You *sob* deserve someone better. Someone worthy of........."

"Oh stop it sweetheart." Buffy said gently. "Stop it now. I can't bear to hear that. You know what love feels like don't you? Well that's how my love for you feels inside me. You're all I want. You complete my life. You make it whole."

Willow couldn't speak. She just sobbed.

"It's that night, isn't it? That fucking night." Buffy pulled Willow closer to her and felt Willow's body form against hers. Buffy's voice became firmer. She refused to let that night do any more damage than it had already been done.

"Willow. I don't want to be protected. Not by you. That isn't necessary. You couldn't have done any more that night than you did. Do you really feel that I'd love you more if .......if you were like another Faith? I love this Willow. The Willow I'm holding in my arms right now. The gentle, kind, soft, sweet, caring, giving Willow Rosenberg that's who I fell in love with."

Buffy saw the purple bruise on Willow's rib just below her bra. "Another one?" Buffy caressed it with her finger tips.

Willow tried to smile. "Been working out."

"What? Where?"

"Martial arts. Trying to learn. Didn't do so well."

"For me? All for me."

"I wanted to..........," Willow's words trailed off. "to help."

Again Buffy drew the Wiccan into her arms. "If you want to help then be you. That's all. Just be you. Please do only that."

Willow felt the flood of relief wash over her. How stupid I've been. How so very stupid. What had won Buffy to her she had been trying to change. Change to something she never was or could ever be.

Willow let the warmth of Buffy's kiss flood over her. At first it was tender kiss of two sets of lips meeting. Then their mouths slowly parted extending the kiss to the next level, inviting their tongues to come alive.

Panting, Buffy broke off the kiss after a long while. She stood up and extended her arms over her head. Willow stood too undoing the top buttons of Buffy's dress. Then, grabbing it's hem, Willow pulled the dress up and over the blond head of Buffy.

"Now were on equal terms," Buffy panted her mouth again finding Willow's. Her hands began roaming, touching with her fingers, rubbing with her palms the Wiccan's body. When the fingers reached the waist of the half-slip she pushed it down over Willows hips. Willow was following the lead and Buffy's slip was soon at her feet.

Aroused, the strength of Buffy's kiss forced Willow over onto the bed, onto her back. Willow yielded to pleasure of feeling the weight of Buffy's body on top of hers. She ground her middle against Buffy's and unclasped Buffy's bra. Willow pulled and soon she was the one on top and Buffy undid her bra. Their naked breasts were now flattened against the other. Hard, sensitive nipples alive with desire.

The kisses were wild, hungry almost out of control. Their panties were tossed to the floor, the last barrier was gone.

"I want you Buff. I want to fuck you Buff." Willow's voice was desperate. Her fingers were every where touching the smooth flesh they found, caressing it. She cupped each of Buffy's breasts in each palm as she drove her tongue into Buffy's mouth. One of Willow's hands slid down lower, then even lower still. Buffy parted her legs in welcome and Willow's finger curled inside the wet, warmth there. Then plunged in and out as Buffy's hips rose to meet each trust.

Buffy's whole body was alive. She could feel Willow's own wetness on her thigh as the Wiccan's hips pushed against her leg in unison with the penetrating finger.

Buffy closed her eyes and let Willow take over her whole world.

Later, lying beside each other Willow saw Buffy was asleep, exhausted by love making. For the longest time Willow watched as Buffy's breasts rose and fell in slumber. A few times Willow leaned and took a nipple in her mouth and sucked it tenderly. Buffy never stirred her sleep was so deep.

Willow smiled . Her own body felt alive, her feelings were no longer held, pent up like a knot inside her.

When Buffy woke Willow decided she would make love to her again until......... Maybe she wasn't any good at being a ninja but she sure knew how she could knock Buffy out.