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1/2 Blessing, 1/2 Curse - Season 2

~~~~Part 1: Hi Nerima! Bye Nerima!~~~~

Nerima

“Dang.  I can’t have inherited Ryoga’s sense of direction,” Xander muttered annoyed as he looked around, a garden wall to his left.  He was wearing tight jeans and a white shirt, his jacket laying over his shoulder and large backpack.  Central Tokyo had been confusing as hell, now in the Nerima district things should be easier . . . that is if everything didn’t look alike and his reading of Japanese wasn’t still somewhat lacking, and unlike Central Tokyo Nerima - not the tourist trap Central Tokyo was - did not have an alphabet translation on its signs.

He looked around for a bit, and then at his map.  He turned the map around, and studied it confused.  The map itself was English, thank god for that at least.  He sighed in annoyance.   He was pretty certain of the route he had taken, including all of the wrong ways, so he should be close by now . . . finally.  A guy on a bicycle came around a corner, and decision made, Xander went to the edge of the pavement.  “Excuse me!  Can I ask you something?” Xander asked in Japanese - his spoke was much better than his written, although he still had a heavy accent.

The guy slowed down and stopped, getting off the saddle.  “Certainly,” the man spoke politely.

“I’m looking for the Tendo Dojo?” Xander asked the man.

“You’re standing next to it,” the man said, pointing at the wall.  Xander looked surprised to his left, and the man finished, “The dojo entrance is around the corner behind you, the entrance to the house is around the corner in front of you.”

“Thank you very much,” Xander said, and gave the man a light bow, who returned the gesture.  Then Xander turned to the two-and-a-half-meter-tall wall and jumped over it.

The man looked surprised, then grunted annoyed.  As he cycled onward he muttered, “Damn, martial artists, no respect.”

On the other side, Xander landed smoothly on the grass.  Just in front of him was a pond, to the left a path, and a tree on the left of that one.  Another tree was too the right of the pond. Behind the pond was a traditional Japanese house; sliding doors with white paper in front of it. The dirt path lead up to it, and crossed with another one that ran around the building, left and around to the dojo, right and around to the entrance of the house.  The walls were yellowish, and the house had a slanted red-tiled roof.

Deciding not to waste time, Xander called out, “Ranma!?  Genma!?  You guys here!?”

Instantly one of the sliding doors opened, and there was indeed Genma, built like a bear, in his white gi, and a protective cloth cap on his head.  It was made of a clothe and tied in four corners to make it into a cap, the nots sticking out and visible.  “XANDER!  You are here!” Genma yelled enthused.  Opposite Genma sat a lanky man in a brownish gi, which flowed down past his waist; a dark loose pants underneath it.  The mans’ hair was long past his shoulders and combed back.  A thick mustache completed his rather good looks.  He was studying the new arrival calmly.

“GENMA!  THE FATHER I NEVER HAD!” Xander yelled happily, put his backpack down, and started running forward.

The man did the same and yelled, “The son I never had.”

“POPS!” There was a red and green streak, and a moment later Genma was launched off of his feet, to land in the pond with a big splash.  Xander had slowed down and looked surprised at the event.  Ranma, red buttoned up shirt, green pants, Japanese shoes, black hair and a single braided pig-tail running from the back of his head to just below his shoulder blades stood there with a scowl and his hands folded across his chest.  “What am I?  Chopped chicken?” Ranma said with some anger, as behind the man in the house arrived two girls.  One with short brown hair, and another in a flowing dress with a brown ponytail tied with a red ribbon.  Her hands and head were politely downward.

As behind Ranma arrived a short-statured, but powerful-looking beauty with short black hair and wide surprised eyes, Xander told his friend, “Ranma, I’m certain your father meant a second son, a brother for you he never had.”  Ranma grumbled.

The pond water broke with a splash, and a panda rose from it.  “Growf,” it said, and held up a sign, on which was written: ‘What Xander said.’

“Genma!” Xander called, and as the panda got out of the water, Xander rushed over and enveloped the panda in a hug, who returned it happily.  Xander didn’t care that he got wet on the wet fur at all.  A moment later the panda shook himself and a spray of water was splashed around.

“Growf,” Genma said, and held up a new sign, ‘What a surprise!  What are you doing here, Xander?’

“Huh?  I’m spending my vacation here of course,” Xander answered, and then broke in a grin, “You had me going there Genma.”

“It would be nice to ask on beforehand,” the short-haired brunette said coolly, adding, “we could negotiate compensation then.”

“What are you talking about?” Xander asked confused and with a little annoyance, “I asked Ranma and he said it was fine for me to come over.”

Everyone turned toward Ranma who calmly nodded his head and said, “Yes, been looking forward to it too.  Only male friend I’ve got.”  Then he became aware of the looks remaining on him, and he thought about it, bringing one hand up to his chin, “I did ask, right? Everyone knows he’s coming for weeks now?”

“Ranma-idiot!” the short-haired raven girl screamed and kicked out, right in Ranma’s knee.

“OW!” Ranma yelled out, jumping up and down, “Akane!  Stop that!”  The girl smashed him powerfully over the head, while he held up his hands in a pitiful defense.  “OW!  I just forgot a little thing!”

Akane kicked him int he other leg, and yelled, “Idiot!  I’ll show you forget!”  She grabbed him by the collar and smoothly threw him over her shoulder, over Xander, over Genma, and landed with a splash in the water.

Xander looked at the whole spectacle with wide eyes, while the rest looked bored.  Girl-Ranma, now having red hair, rose from the water in annoyance, still feeling his aching body.   “Wow, Ranma,” Xander said with wonder, “you weren’t exaggerating when you called her a intolerant, aggressive witch who needs anger-management therapy.”

“WHAT!?”  The exclaim from the girl was the only warning Xander had to realize he made a big mistake.  A moment later the girl’s fist smashed into his chin and he was launched into the air, to land with a splash into the pound.

“Come on, Akane,” the short-haired brunette remarked dryly, “you have to admit that’s a pretty accurate description.”

“NABIKI!” Akane gave a screech.

A moment late Lexa rose from the water, and felt her chin.  “Ow, she’s stronger than Buffy was before I started training her,” Lexa said in a groaning way, her ample breasts now somewhat visible through the white, wet, clinging shirt.

Ranma chuckled and said, “Hey, with any luck, with you around, I’ll suffer only half of the usual abuse.”

“Ranma, you idiot!” Akane screamed again, and then growled.  “OOOH!” she grunted and with her fist clenched alongside her body, stomped into the house past the second man and the two girls.

The two girls got out of the water and tried futilely to dry off for a moment.  “Xander, let me introduce you to the others living here,” Ranma said with a smile, happy his friend was here.

“Lexa,” Lexa corrected with a smile as the two walked over to the remaining Tendos. Ranma looked at him.  “When I’m a girl, I go by Lexa,” Xander clarified with a grin.

“Why?” Ranma asked as the Panda joined up behind the two, managing to smile somehow.

“Because Xander isn’t a girl’s name?” Xander asked in a ‘duh’ manner.

“Sensible, unlike stupid over here,” Nabiki commented coolly.

“It does seem prudent,” the man said, agreeing with his daughter.

“You don’t have a name for your girl-persona?” Xander asked slightly confused.

“Lexa, let me introduce to you, Tendo Soun, head of the Tendo family, and owner of the Tendo Dojo of ‘Anything Goes’ Martial Arts,” Ranma said formerly.  “Soun-san, this is Xander ‘Lexa’ Harris.”

Lexa took a slight bow, and said, “An honor to meet you, Soun-san.  I’m in your debt for letting me spend my vacation here.  I shall repay the favor if you ever come to my humble home in Sunnydale.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Lexa-san, my home is your home for the duration of your stay,” Soun said with his own slight bow, while Nabiki rolled her eyes.

“This is Nabiki,” Ranma said casually, while looking suspiciously at the usually devious brunette.

“A pleasure,” Lexa said taking another slight bow.  The brunette regarded the gesture with a dry look, not even bothering to remove the arms from her chest, let alone bother stop leaning back against the frame.

The girl’s right eyebrow rose as she regarded Lexa straightening up, and she asked, “Which one of you is the smartest?  You or Ranma?”

“Huh?” Lexa answered brilliantly confused.

“As I thought,” Nabiki smiled, nodded, then turned and walked into the house, thinking, *This guy is going to be easier to clean out than Ranma.*

Lexa shook herself from her confusion and before Ranma could say anything, she turned to the last girl, and said, “Then you must be Kasumi, the nicest girl and best cook in the world according to Ranma’s letters.  I’m Lexa - Xander.”

“Oh, uh,” Kasumi blurted out, blushing and looking down with humility.  “I try,” she said and then quickly she said, “Food is cooking.”  She turned around and walked away embarrassedly just as quickly as she arrived.

“Ah, well, introductions are over, come in,” Tendo spoke with a smile.

“Growf,” Genma grumbled and nodded his Panda head twice.

“Let me get my backpack first,” Lexa said, and quickly dashed back to get her giant luggage backpack.

When she returned girl-Ranma told her, looking at the see-through shirt, “You’re lucky the old pervert is out, probably on one of his underwear raids.”

“Underwear raids?” Lexa asked confused.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Ranma said, and led Lexa inside to find him/her a place to sleep.

*****

Sunnydale

Buffy and Willow and came out of the hospital.  They were silent, walking forward almost like they were zombies.  “I’m bored,” Buffy commented finally, snapping both of them out of their trance.

“Yeah, me too,” Willow replied, then shook her head to shake her drowsiness, “Giles is great as a researcher and at telling us how to kill evil things, but in a hospital room - not the best of company.”

“Poor Jenny,” Buffy said in sympathy, then looked over at Willow, “She’s with him much longer than our little visits.”

“Yeah . . .” Willow said, the two of them turning right onto the pavement, “perhaps the testosterone she induces makes him more Ripperish.”

“Huh?”

“Girlfriend make Giles go caveman?” Willow clarified with a wry smile, started to suspect more often than not Buffy just said ‘huh’ for the heck of every word longer than two syllables, even when she perfectly understood it.  It was kinda cute, and probably why she did it.

“Oh, right,” Buffy answered, nodding.  “Sometimes Giles could do with being a little less Watchery, and a little more Rippery, not much, just a smidgeon.”

Willow turned her head and regarded Buffy for a short while as they walked along, “Undoubtedly the next evil thing we have to defeat is a magically made full on Ripper Giles.”

“Ack!” Buffy exclaimed in horror.  “I need fun, something to kick start my brain now before I jinx us all to kingdom come.  Ah, there I go again!”

Willow laughed, and Buffy enjoyed the sound.  The witch then told her, “Well, we’re free.  We already did our training, so we can go anywhere we want to.”

“Bronze,” both of them said the same time, nodding at each other.

*****

The music blasted through the small hall.  On a Monday incredibly, but then, it /was/ vacation. Disco lights flashed, and in the middle were Buffy and Willow dancing to their hearts’ content. Willow was in tight, dark-brown leather pants, that hugged her figure perfectly.  Her tummy was bare and a short-sleeved green top was above it; her red hair contrasting nicely with the dark green.  Buffy in contrast was in a short, pleaded skirt, and a white blouse.  The two swung back and forth, and regularly rode up against each other, letting their breasts move up the other’s torso.  Not too surprisingly, there was a whole horde of guys dancing around them, salivating at the two girls having fun.

Buffy looked over her right shoulder, her head only barely moved, the rest was done by her eyes.  A seductive smile and seductive look in the corner of her eyes, had the guy of her attention practically cream his pants.  She smirked and let Willow pull her closer, the redhead’s hands on the small of her back, slowly going down to her barely-covered ass.  “God, it’s fun toying around with hormonal guys’ attractions,” Buffy whispered loudly in Willow’s air, the place of her head making it look on one side that she was kissing Willow.

The witch in training grinned, and returned the whisper, “Yeah, all the heartache of every girl after Xander is worth being taught this.”

They broke apart again, and pulled a few boys to themselves, dancing with them around them.  Girls around the Bronze who were left in the dust were looking pissed.  A few with arms folded across their chest, knowing that two teases would soon quit, and it was time for some payback on their dates.

A little later the band took a break, and there were disappointed sounds.  Willow grabbed Buffy by her right hand and pulled her off the dance floor to their table, looking back at the blonde and smiling naughtily.  Buffy laughed, when she heard the even more disappointed sounds from the boys.  Soon they sat down at their table, Willow raising her legs and laying them out on another stool, covering it, and making it impossible for anyone to join them.

Sitting down, Buffy admired the leather pants.  “You look so good in leather, Will, I’m almost jealous.  I didn’t know you could afford them,” Buffy said with a wistful smile.

Willow’s face broke in a wide smile, and said, “Yeah, filling in as librarian for a hospitalized Giles has its perks.”  To emphasize the item bought with the perks, Willow gently slapped her right thigh, making a light smacking sound, and then ran her hand a little down along he leather hugging her shapely leg.  Willow looked back at Buffy and said, “I’m certain you’d look amazing in leather too, Buffy.”

Buffy smiled, and looked down at her own naked legs, only partially covered by socks, heels, and a skirt.  “You might be right,” Buffy said with a light smile.  They broke out in a little laughter.  When Willow was sure all their dance partners had retreated to their own spots, she pulled her legs from the stool and turned to face Buffy.  She placed her arms on the round table and leaned on them, looking Buffy who took the same position, both leaning forward for some more intimacy.  “Can you imagine us doing this last year, talking like this?” Buffy asked the redhead.

Willow laughed, and shook her head.  “No, the best we’d manage is me pining over Xander not noticing you, and you pining over either Slayer troubles, vampire-Slayer-relationship troubles, or both.”

Buffy chuckled, and answered, “Yeah . . . well, unless it’s you pining over Xander sitting right next to you pining over me.”

“Probably doing what we were just doing,” Willow agreed with a grin.

“Nah, I wouldn’t do that to you guys,” Buffy said with a grin, and then pouted, “Well, unless I was trying to make Angel jealous.  I remember when Lexa just got here, I was looking around hoping for Angel to come in, so I could pull some random guy on the dance floor . . . and then Lexa and you stole the show.  God, was I jealous.  Seriously, I knew if Angel would come in at that moment, I didn’t have to bother trying to make him jealous, his eyes would be glued to Lexa, whether I’d be joining you two on the dance floor or not.”

Willow snickered, “Lexa is and was smoking that night - the day she changed my entire world view.”

Their good mood went down at the memories, especially Buffy over Angel, shivering again as for a moment she remembered his clammy corpse body against hers.  She smiled suddenly, determined not to get in a funk on this great night.  She jumped off her stool, and said, “I’ll get some drinks, dancing is dehydrating business.”  And off Buffy went, leaving a wide-eyed Willow.

A little while later Buffy returned, placing their drinks in front of them.  She sat down and looked up, and became very much aware of Willow looking at her with an odd, triumphant smile.  Buffy looked behind her, then back at Willow, and asked with a confused pout, “What?”

“I knew it,” Willow said with a grin, “you’re faking it.”

“Huh?” Buffy added, totally confused now.

“Dehydrating business,” Willow repeated Buffy’s earlier words, “if you can say that correctly, ‘testosterone’ shouldn’t be any trouble.  You fake you huhs, and your confused looks.”

“Not all of them,” Buffy said indignantly.

Willow grinning widely, “Why?”

Buffy smiled and looked down, shaking her head.  “I was really confused, no fakes at first.  It was Giles’ long foreign words that got to me most.  Anyway, I noticed Xander perking up; I figured he liked the pout I give when I get confused.  You obviously loved that you were smarter than I am, so I thought if it perks you both up, and all it takes is me being confused, why not fake it?”  Willow looked with an astonished but happy smiling look at Buffy.  Then Buffy leant even more forward, mysteriously, and beckoned Willow over.  “Shh,” Buffy said secretively, reeling Willow in, who was obviously all ears now.  “But most of all, it annoys Giles, and it’s fun annoying Giles.  You can just see him think: ‘Bloody American teenagers!’”

Willow blinked at Buffy continuing to grin at her, looking a little surprised.  Then she burst out in laughter.  Buffy chuckled happily along with her laughing friend, noticing how the redhead’s long, flowing hair shook from side to side.  “You’re a bad, Buffy, bad,” Willow said at last.  They just sat in friendly silence for a bit, and then Willow said, “So, you wanna dance, or should we torment one specific guy?”

*****

Nerima

In the end they had decided that Xander would sleep in the room with Ranma and his father. They slept on a mattress and there was enough room for another one.  Also there was enough shelf space for Xander to put his things, since Genma and Ranma, having traveled around all their lives didn’t own much.  So Xander unpacked his large backpack, and eventually came across some girl outfits, as well as panties and bras.  Ranma who was standing next to him waiting, looked shocked.

“You’ve got bras and panties!?” he exclaimed in shocked horror.  “And skirts?”

Xander looked at him while putting his stuff away, and said, “I’m a girl half the time, of course I’ve got them.”

“AARGH!  You can’t be serious, men don’t wear that,” Ranma exclaimed in horror.

“When I wear it, I’m not a man, I’m a woman,” Xander said, grinning, having gone through something similar with Ryoga he was already aware what the problem was; Japanese sense of male honor.

“But, but . . . that’s not real, that’s a curse!” Ranma said in horror.

“Ranma, you got to stop thinking like that,” Xander said sagely, “Do you know how many men and women out there would give to be able to be the other gender for a even short while?  We can choose to be either whenever we want to!”

Ranma looked at him in shock, “That’s just wrong.  I’m a man, not a girl . . . it’s just wrong!”

“Plus, in your case that’s important, the less you have against being either state, the less the curse will mess with you,” Xander said with a wide grin.  “The more you have against one of your forms, the more the curse will actively try to get you in that form.  Water will come from places it normally couldn’t just to get change you.”

Ranma’s jaw dropped, as he tried to wrap his mind around it.  There was no way he’d just enjoy being a girl, it seems that to beat the curse he had to embrace the very reason why he hated it.  “That’s . . . that’s evil!”

“It’s a curse, what did you expect?” Xander said with a smirk, filing away the last of his clothes.  “You know, the best way to get you familiar with your feminine side; you fingered yourself yet.”

“Ah!?  You’re a pervert!” Ranma exclaimed instantly at the thought.

“Oh, please, it’s my body, I get to do with it as I please,” Xander told him smirk, audibly slamming the drawer of the small cabinet with drawers shut.

“That’s just, that’s just wrong!  There’s no way in hell . . .” Ranma paused as he saw Xander roll his eyes.  “Okay, for giving me that picture you get your ass kicked.  Let’s go, Harris, we got some sparring to do, and see if you improved any.”

*****

Xander and Ranma stood across from each other in the wooden dojo, Xander smiling lightly, Ranma smirking.  In the entrance stood the Tendo family and Ranma’s father.

Nabiki took the fight in, and turned to her family, “Anyone wants to bet Ranma loses?”   They all turned to regard her.  “Didn’t think so, damn,” she said, and leaned casually against the door frame.

“Prepare to get your ass kicked, Xander,” Ranma said and then attacked rapidly.  His open hand palm struck at Xander’s chin, and Xander took a step back and deflected the blow with his right.  A left got the same treatment, and Xander jumped up.  Ranma followed, and his hands turned to a blur, saying, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire!”

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire!” echoed from Xander, his own hands turning into a blur parrying and blocking each of Ranma’s.  The last of the exchange had Xander’s hands landing on the surprised Ranma’s chest.

Xander landed smoothly, as did Ranma, the latter being thrown back, but somersault backward in the air to land.  There was a surprised silence for a moment, and then Genma jumped in the air triumphantly, one fist raised, yelling, “That’s my sons!”

“You never wrote your Amazon taught you that,” Ranma said measuredly, taking in Xander, realizing this wasn’t going to be as easy as he had thought.  He was still going to win, he knew, having seen several flaws in Xander’s technique, and he had allowed Xander to hit him by his surprise Xander knew the Chestnuts, not because Xander was better.

“Hey, gotta keep some secrets,” Xander answered with a shrug.

A moment later they were fighting again.  Xander deflected one of Ranma’s punches, then ducked to avoid a roundhouse kick.  He made a swipe for Ranma’s standing leg at the same time, but one leg was enough for Ranma to jump back, somersault and land.  A moment later he was in Xander’s face again, throwing a punch.  When Xander went to deflect it, Ranma grabbed Xander’s arm, and slammed his remaining one in Xander’s gut.  He followed it up with a open-handed upper cut, and then twisted around, tossing Xander over his shoulder.

Xander slammed with a grunt on the hard wooden floor, but immediately kicked his right leg up and back, slamming it into Ranma’s face who hadn’t had time to back away because of Xander’s quick reaction.  As Ranma staggered back, Xander flipped back to his feet.  He turned around right away, lifting his left leg in a swiping high kick.  Ranma ducked underneath it, and took a step back, getting closer to the exit door leading to outside.

Xander decided to attack and made a rapid combination of punches, all of which Ranma avoided or blocked.  Ranma looked deeply into Xander’s eyes for a moment, giving Xander an opportunity.  Xander kicked out rapidly, and caught Ranma square in his stomach, launching him backward, against the door which swung open, and then outside till he manage to land in the grass.  Xander quickly followed Ranma out and jumped down the small decline of the foundation upon which the house and dojo was built.  When Xander was out, the Tendos followed the two out to see.

Xander stood in the grass and saw the heavily breathing Ranma, feeling his tender stomach.  Xander attacked again, rapidly, and Ranma was on the defensive.  After a few seconds of this Xander backed off, looking at his friend.  It seemed as if Ranma couldn’t keep up with his speed and power.  That couldn’t be?  Could it?  Could training with a Slayer and Lotion and Ryoga as apposed to just alone with no equal have progressed him so much?   Xander quickly squashed that thought; thinking like that would lead to an utter total humiliating defeat.  Ranma had to be up to something, but what?

Xander grimaced, and attacked once more, harder this time, much harder.  Continuing to fight was his only option; he had to look out for whatever Ranma had to be planning, and hope the extra speed and power he was pumping into the fight would keep Ranma from executing it. Multiple punches and kicks followed, and all Ranma did was block and back away, and he looked to be straining.  A few even got through.  And yet, there was nothing unusual, no sight of anything out of the ordinary.  Except perhaps . . .?

Xander was right, but too late.  There was one thing out of the ordinary: Ranma was backing away in perfect ever shrinking concentric circles.  Now reaching the middle, he threw his fist up in an uppercut to mid-air, and shouted, “HIRYU SHOTEN HA!”

Instantly there was high-pitched roar, and a dragon made of pure energy, a head and a long tail, burst forth from the ground, high up into the air, it’s snake-like body twisting rapidly around.  At the same time a roaring powerful tornado burst forth from its body around the circles Ranma had moved.  “WAH!” Xander screamed as he was picked up, and twirled around it like little leaf in a gale wind.  Ranma himself was picked up as well, but smoothly navigated the currents.  Not long after Xander was launched from the tornado with great force, screaming all the way.  With a powerful smack he crashed into the garden tree, his stomach bashing into branches.  The same thing happened to his head.  “Argh, uuuh . . .” he groaned out, as the tornado lost power and dissipated.  Ranma landed smoothly on the floor, grinning up at a totally dazed Xander.  Xander groaned and reached for his head to steady it: big mistake.  His body was no longer balanced and tipped off the branch.  “Oh, shit!” Xander exclaimed as he fell down.  His back slammed on a branch, making him groan in pain, then he tipped over, and fell further, crashing painfully on the ground.

“Aargh!” he exclaimed and stayed put for several seconds as Ranma walked over.

“You alright aren’t you?” Xander’s Japanese friend asked with a big smirk.

“What - argh - happened?” Xander asked, groaning all the way.  Slowly he forced himself to his feet, being pulled along by Ranma, and groaning at the pains in his body.

“That was the Flying Dragon Wind,” Ranma said with a big grin, “I used the hotness of your attacks, while I lowered the temperature of my chi to icy temperatures.  Mixing them together in circles and using them both I can summon a dragon and form a tornado.”

Xander looked at Ranma dumbfounded for several moments, while the Tendos and Genma came closer, Genma grinning proudly.  “You /have/ to teach me!”  Xander then exclaimed.  “Ow!” he said, his sudden outburst making him ache once more.

“And what’s in it for me?” Ranma asked folding his hands across his chest.  He grinned, showing that he didn’t really mean it.

Xander looked down and back.  He leant and around the corner was the pond, surrounded by stones.  “This,” Xander said and walked over, Ranma following.  When Xander reached a stone, he stabbed downward at it.  His finger smoothly penetrated, and then the stone exploded.  Xander smiled back at Ranma, and said, “You teach me that tornado, I teach you the Breaking Point technique.”

Ranma looked with wide eyes at the event, the others arriving at the site.  The Tendos and Genma recognized it easily, but before anyone of them could answer, Ranma realized, “YOU TAUGHT RYOGA THE CHESTNUTS TECHNIQUE!”

“In exchange for the Breaking Point, yep,” Xander said nodding his head.

“You little bastard!  Couldn’t you have warned me!?!” Ranma called out angrily.

Xander grinned at Ranma, “What is it, Ranma?  Don’t tell me all Ryoga needed to defeat you was that little technique.”

“Of course not,” Ranma answered immediately, folding his arms across his chest, looking angrily at the absurd notion.

Akane decided to point out, “Of course, Ranma-idiot did get beaten up good before he finally defeated Ryoga.”

“That was a lucrative day,” Nabiki said with a smile, nodding at the memory.

Xander frowned at that for a moment, and then dismissed it with a shake of his hand, and asked Ranma, “So, we have a deal?”

“We have a deal,” Ranma answered, smiling in anticipation.  He then took a step forward as if to shake Xander’s hand, and then with a quick motion tossed him into the pond.  Ranma rubbed his hand back and forth, almost slapping, and grinned.  Lexa rose from the water and looked up at Ranma with annoyance.  “For not warning me,” Ranma said.

“Making me wet?” Lexa asked, and shrugged her shoulders, stepping out.  Casually she shook herself trying to get most of the water off.  While the others looked rather surprised he had no qualms about being a girl, not a shred of anger.

*****

Xander blocked the punches and kicks that Ranma was throwing at him.  He was going backward in circles.  He was trying to feel and take a hold of Ranma’s hot attacking chi.  At the middle, he threw an uppercut, saying, “Hiryu Shoten Ha!”

Nothing happened.  “We’ll try again,” Ranma said with a grin, “Your circles aren’t round enough, and your chi has to remain cold.  It kept going up to hot.”

Off to the side Akane was angrily training herself: smashing to pieces several wooden boards at once.  Then she got a new stack, and went again.  She looked up for a moment at Ranma and Xander going at it heavily, and then haughtily return to smashing her boards.  After two more smashes she grabbed her towel, wrapped it around her neck, and went to the exit.   She reached it, turned to regard Xander and Ranma one last time, and muttered annoyed, “Men.”

“Yes, and some mighty fine specimens indeed,” Nabiki’s cool voice sounded.

Akane jerked in surprise, turning her head to see Nabiki arrive, regarding her with a measured look.  “Hm,” Akane offered.

“Come now, Akane, even you have to see that physically they are very well endowed,” Nabiki said with a cool smirk, letting her eyes glide over the two sweaty, training guys without shame.   “If only they had the bank checks to match their physique, eh?”

“Nabiki, you . . . ugh,” Akane grunted, and then moved passed her sister.  Nabiki grinned, and continued to ogle Xander and Ranma for a bit longer.

Once again Xander failed to perform the Hiryu Shoten Ha.

*****

Night

In the cover of darkness, the barely four foot man snuck into room from outside.  “Hmm,” the old geezer whispered to himself, “let’s see if Ranma is a girl tonight.”  He tiptoed over, and blinked when even in the darkness he could clearly count three heads attached to three forms.   “Three?” he asked himself softly, and took a closer look.  Dark hair, darker than Ranma’s girl-form lay on a pillow, and he peered.  She moved.  Yes!  It was a girl!  As she turned a bit her face became more visible: luscious lips, lovely bone structure, magnificent nose - he wondered what her eyes looked like.  Not as important, salivated he looked down, and manage to make out two lumps even in the darkness and the bed covers.  His hands came forward, and he stopped himself.  It was a Herculean effort, but a thought had struck his mind.

“Let’s see if she has any underwear around first,” he muttered and looked around.  It didn’t take him long to find the cabinet and try the drawers.  One drawer: pants, shirts. Another drawer: male underwear.  And another: female clothes.  That left only one drawer: with a face full of anticipation the little man pulled out the drawer, which made creak and then looked inside over the edge.  “Sweet jackpot!” he exclaimed with a croak at the sight of panties and bras.  He quickly placed his hand over his mouth, and looked back to see if he had woken anyone.  Then his maniacal grin returned and he grabbed some of the panties and stuffed them in the bag he had slung over one of his shoulders.  “Ooh, sweet,” he said softly.

“*Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing?*”

The old guy froze at the cold demand, and turned around.  The new girl was sitting up, a pair of just about perfect sized and shaped breasts now above the covers.  “Hey!” she suddenly exclaimed as a short stare had allowed her to identify some of the contents sticking out of the bag, and the panties in the old guy’s hands.  “Those are my bras and panties!”

The exclaim woke the two other occupants up, sitting up similarly, at the same time the old man launched forward.  “SWEEEEET!!” he screamed happily, latching onto Lexa’s breast.

“WHAT THE!?  Aah, get off me!” Lexa raged.

Ranma next to her was now fully awake, “HAPPOSAI!  YOU PERVERTED GEEZER, CAN’T YOU EVER LEARN!?”

Ranma reached over rapidly, and Happosai jumped back with a happy laugh to avoid Ranma’s grab, saying, “Too slow, Ranma!”  Instead Ranma grabbed Lexa’s left breast - he swallowed, usually this was where he got his ass kicked multiple ways.

“Don’t you start too, Ranma!” Lexa exclaimed and pushed his hand away.  Lexa was up instantly, and as she - clad only in a g-string - charged after the old geezer who was now out the door, she screamed, “You don’t have to worry about Ranma, you piece of perverted shit!   Give me back my underwear!”

The lights came on in the house, as the commotion woke up the rest as well.  Laughing heartily Happosai ran around a corner toward the dining room and kitchen, Lexa yelling profanities right behind him.  Behind her Ranma and Genma completed the train.  In the light it was now easily to see that the old guy was wearing a purple gi, and a purple handkerchief tied around his head to obscure his identity.  “Give it back, you dirty pipsqueak!” Lexa yelled.

“Finders keepers!” Happosai called back happily, reaching the stairs.  Up above stood Soun - Akane and Kasumi somewhat sleepily behind him.

Nabiki rubbing her eyes just came out of her room, and muttered, “What’s all the commotion?”

“STEALING IS NOT FINDING!” Lexa screamed, and Happosai stopped running. “CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE!” Lexa yelled, jumping forward with the devastating move.

Happosai almost casually retrieved a pipe from the insides of his gi-jacket with his free hand, and proceeded to smoothly block each hit and attempted grab for the underwear with the pipe.  “Too slow,” he said with a grin at Lexa’s astonished look.  A moment later the tobacco section of the pipe slammed into Lexa’s stomach, making her double over.  With a flick the pipe slammed in her chin and she was launched backward off her feet, moaning in pain.

“Ah, master!” Soun called in horror, as Lexa slammed into Ranma and Genma sending all three down.

“Oh, my,” Kasumi said with mortification.

As Akane was growing angry at the old man, Nabiki yawned, and turned around.  “Oh, it’s just the old guy again, I’m going back to bed,” she said, walking back into her room. “They should invest in better locks,” she muttered, before closing and locking her door.

Happosai in the meantime was happily jumping up and down and turning to leave the house, saying, “Sweet panties, all mine.”

“AARGH!!” Lexa screamed in rage, jumping up from her downed position.  “That’s it you perverted old geezer, you are going down!”

Lexa charged Happosai who quickly ran out the door.  “What Xander said, you bastard!” Ranma exclaimed quickly following the two, “You’ll have to face both of us now!”  Soun and his two daughters quickly came down the stairs, joining below with Genma and followed after the first three.

“Hey!  Two against one isn’t fair!” Happosai exclaimed outside in the garden.

“Especially if you’re holding a bag of underwear with one hand, huh!” Ranma exclaimed as the two teens simply barreled at the much smaller old man.  Happosai hesitated between protecting himself and his treasure of women’s underwear, which became his undoing.  Lexa slammed into him, sending him flying back, while Ranma grabbed the bag and pulled it away.

“Give me that, Ranma, I want my underwear back,” Lexa said pissed off, grabbing the bag and pulling it to her.

She pulled out her underwear, as Happosai slowly got up, whimpering.  He felt his ass, which is what he landed up, gave a wail, and then his demeanor changed.  “THAT’S IT!” the old guy screeched angrily, face twisted in rage, and a moment later among dangerous lightning flashes a giant Happosai of pure chi energy toward above him and the house.  “NOBODY MESSES WITH MY UNDERWEAR COLLECTION!  FOR THIS YOU WILL PAY!”

“It’s /not/ /your/ underwear, you perverted bastard!  It’s /my/ underwear!” Lexa yelled back angrily, going through the bag to see if there was more of her.

“You will feel the wrath of my most dangerous, and deadly attack for this: the Happosai Fireburst!” Happosai exclaimed angrily, his battle aura shrinking back down, while an unholy gleam glimmered in his eyes.

“Oh, no, master, please don’t!” Soun Tendo exclaimed in horror.  Akane took a step back, swallowing.

Genma sank to his knees, calling, “Not that.  Oh, of horrors, don’t!”  Even Ranma took a an involuntary step back at the implication.

“Oh, my, this isn’t good, is it?” Kasumi said gently, brining her hand up to her chin to signify her apprehension.

Lexa though, just put her underwear on the ground, went into a fighting stance, and yelled, “Bring it on, old man, show me what you’ve got so I can kick your ass properly!”

“Oh, no, don’t say that!” Genma said cowering.

“You little insolent brat!” Happosai exclaimed, and pulled from his gi-jacket a round ball, with now a sizzling fuse.

Lexa looked confused for a moment, and she said, “That’s not an attack.  That’s a bomb!”  Happosai giggled evilly, and then tossed the bomb.  “A bomb!” Lexa exclaimed and dove to the side, as did Ranma, the Tendos and Genma ducked and put their arms protectively in front of them.  The bomb exploded where they had been, sending the underwear flying everywhere.  Enough of the explosion sent both Lexa and Ranma tumbling, the shockwave hurting them.

“Oh, no!  My precious!” Happosai said in horror, watching both singed, destroyed and intact underwear floating through the air everywhere.

Lexa got back up, as did Ranma.  “Son of a . . . that old geezer,” Ranma said to himself, in no mood to become a target for more bombs.

Lexa was only more pissed off, yelling, “You little, perverted chickenshit.  You threw a fucking bomb at us!  A bomb!”

Happosai turned to Lexa, and his face twitched, “You made me hurt my precious!  Feel my wrath!”  More bombs were tossed toward Lexa, who jumped back afraid.  One explosion followed another as Lexa jumped aside and was tossed about.

“Stop, you nutcase!” she called out genuinely afraid, and rightfully so.  “You’re crazy!”

After a few more bombs, Happosai stopped, and with an maniacal grin, he asked, “So, you’re going to apologize to me now!?  I demand an apology!”   She was in front of the door again with the cowering Tendos, and a weary Ranma close by her, Happosai now more to the right of his former position.

“Oh, master, oh, master!” Soun Tendo and Genma groveled going toward the perverted old man.  “Please stop, before you bombs hit the house!”

Lexa still looked a little afraid at the old man, ready to light another.  The she hardened, rising up slowly and dangerously, she said in a low growl, “That’s it.  Two can play this game!”  Lexa then bolted into the house, blowing past an astonished Akane and Kasumi.

Happosai blinked, as everyone looked at the door where Lexa had disappeared from sight in dumbfoundment.  “Two can play this game?  What does he mean, Saotome?” Soun asked Genma, who shrugged.  Happosai took two steps forward, surprised at the reaction, and Ranma stayed put with wide eyes.

From inside came Lexa’s voice, yelling, “Mr. Tendo, I pay you back for the ingredients!”

“Ingredients?” Ranma asked.

“She went toward the washing room, I don’t know what she wants there,” Kasumi observed helpfully.

“Washing room?” Genma muttered.

Ranma then remembered one of Xander’s letters; his eyes widened and he muttered, “He can’t be serious. . .”  Happosai’s eyes went wide, coming toward a similar realization, obviously having some knowledge of explosives.  Slowly he started to tiptoe toward the wall, knowing when not to stick around.

“*Oh, Happosai!*”

Happosai froze and turned around, and saw the naked Lexa - barring her g-string and straps of a backpack - stand there with a grin as evil as his own.  For a moment he thought about charging the vision of beauty and molest her again, but then he became aware of the small bag landing with a crunching sound on her outstretched hand.  She had tossed it in the air earlier, and had been invisible - apart from the sizzling, burning fuse which landed smoothly straight up without her even looking at it - because it was dark - a part of a garbage bag. Everyone else looked with shock at Lexa, and before they could say anything, she called out, “I call it the Xander Starburst Special!  EAT THIS!!”

She tossed her bag, and Happosai jumped up and back in fear, easily flying over the surrounding wall - which was incidentally what the bag crashed into.  There was a mighty explosion, and the wall was sprung apart, forming a three meter wide wall at the base, and a five meter one at the top; the remaining wall edges now diagonal, a few chunks falling down.

“My wall,” Soun muttered close to crying.

“Why you!” Happosai exclaimed, and tossed one of his own bombs down, a bigger one this time.  With a roar of anger Lexa jumped forward, and batted the bomb off to the left.  It landed at the base of the tree near the pond, and exploded, sending wood of the trees base flying everywhere.  A moment later it noisily toppled over.

“My tree!” Soun now cried out, while the rest just looked on in shock . . .

Except Lexa and Happosai.  “GET BACK HERE, OLD MAN!” Lexa yelled, tossing the next bomb.  Happosai jumped high again, and a following explosion later the neighbors’ wooden fence was all but shredded, a much, much bigger destruction than the stone wall.

“You, brat!” Happosai called back, and another bomb was tossed.  Lexa avoided it, and it flew onward, exploding in the Tendos’ house, sending part of the roof flying, and collapsing one section of the wall.

“My house!” Soun now wailed out.  Akane and Kasumi quickly walked outside, since the destruction was close by and they didn’t want to get buried in case their part came tumbling down next.

Ranma, Genma, and the Tendos were in silent shock, except Kasumi, who said nicely, “Oh, my.”  Behind them more explosions sounded and they walked to the hole in the wall, except Soun, who came crawling in defeat.

There they were: Happosai and Lexa jumping high and other reactions to avoid bombs, while they tossed them back and forth.  The neighborhood, a suburb with lovely houses, and mostly small gardens surrounded almost exclusively by wooden fences was being laid to waste by explosions.  Lights were flicked on in most houses by people coming to see what was going on.  Fences were blown apart, the middle part of a tree was completely destroyed before the top came tumbling down.  All this amidst yells of, “OLD BASTARD!”  “BRAD!”  “HOLD STILL, PERVERTED GEEZER!”  “YOU DO THAT, FRIGID BITCH!”  “I’M NAKED, AND YOU CALL ME FRIGID, DECREPIT STALKER!”

Eventually Happosai stood on the house at the far end of the small street the two had moved along bringing destruction everywhere, while Lexa was standing down in the garden.   Apart from smudges neither were harmed.  “What’s the matter old man, out of bombs!?” Lexa called up, chuckling evilly while reaching back in her backpack.  Her chuckles and her grin faded.

“I see I’m not the only one,” Happosai said with a grin.

Just as the battle was about to continue, the sounds of police sirens drew Lexa away from the old man.  She turned around to see a police car screeching to a halt a little bit away.   “SWEET!” Happosai exclaimed, having jumped down and now attacked to Lexa’s breasts once again.

“AAAH!”  The scream was all Lexa had time for before the small, old pervert was back up at the roof and jumped to the next one, making his getaway laughing all the way.  Lexa made a fist, and hissed mad as hell, “That little . . .”

“FREEZE!”

Lexa grumbled and turned around to regard the police officers who were pointing their guns at her across their opened doors.  “Oh, uh, high their officers, you probably to know why I helped cause all this destruction huh?” Lexa said with a big disarming grin, and now took the time to /really/ see the destruction.  Blackened craters everywhere, destroyed fences, several destroyed, garden, kids’ playing appliances, a few destroyed roofs, and two, not counting the Tendos’, destroyed fronts of houses, along with several fires.  “Yikes,” Lexa muttered.  She took a small step back, and said, “You so the guy, assaulting my breasts right?  Well, he assaulted me before, stole my underwear too, given the size of his bag, you have to know about a pervert stealing underwear all around Tokyo, right?”

“Uh, yes, well, but . . .” the dumbfounded cop on the driver side said, feeling horrible about pulling guns on such a sweet, super hot, and all but naked girl.  All but naked, his brain frying up, think!  The other cop couldn’t even get anything out of his mouth, he just stared disbelieving at naked girl, and the destruction around her - which was really only a tiny fraction of the total destruction right behind him.

“You see!  When I went after him, he started tossing bombs at me, so I had to defend myself, and put some bombs of myself together, all self-defense you see?  What’s a poor, defenseless, naked girl with no more underwear to do when attacked by a pervert, hmm?  You don’t think I can be faulted for this then, can you?” Lexa asked sweetly, playing the poor, defenseless girl-part to the hilt.

“Ah, well I suppose n- . . .” the cop stated.

“In that case, I might as well leave.  Thank you, officers!” Lexa said, giving them a good-bye wave.  Then she jumped up on the house roof, jumped to the next roof, then another and was out of sight.

“Impossible,” the second cop finally managed to say, looking up after her.

“I still don’t believe this,” the other muttered still in shock.

The other with all the effort he could muster manage to turn his head to his partner, and said, “I guess now we know why we rookies were sent here, huh?”

The other cop looked around him, remembering the two figures jumping impossibly high around and tossing bombs at each other.  Bombs!  Thus causing all the devastation.  The place was in ruins, and some people were coming out of their houses, still too disbelieving to cry or be angry; most of them had barely noticed what it was that had happened.  The cop nodded and muttered, “How are we going to explain this?  We write this up, the department shrink is going to send us to a mental institution.”

After a few moments of silence the other asked, “Gas explosions?”  The turned to look at him, as if to ask, ‘Lie?’  The other one added, “Means insurance also covers their damage, no need to make all these people suffer even more under that perverted freak.”

“Good idea,” the officers said and quickly got back in the car.  He pulled his radio, and said, “Uh, dispatch, get firefighters to the Nerima district; we’ve had multiple gas explosions . . .”

Back at the Tendos house, several people stood in the hole, looking around.  “I don’t believe it,” Akane muttered, taking in the devastation.

“Damn,” Ranma muttered and then grinned evilly, “I like it, I only wish one of those bombs had hit that old bastard.  He almost got some of his own medicine.”

“Oh, my,” Kasumi gave her usual, gentle statement of shock.

“SAOTOME!  This is all your fault!” Soun exclaimed turning to Ranma’s father and pointed accusingly at him.

“My fault!?  How is this my fault, Tendo!” Genma returned instantly.

“Because you trained the boy, if you hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been here!” Tendo replied instantly.

“And what about the master, hm!?” Genma questioned his old friend once again.

“I accuse him, he’d beat me up before blowing me up!” Soun offered right away.  Ranma and Akane groaned at that and rolled their eyes.

Genma squared his shoulders, and said, “Well, why don’t you just blame the boy!”

Soun stopped short of his arguments for a moment, looked up to consider and then said, “That could work, friend-Genma.”

Akane and Ranma rolled their eyes again, and the first said, “In case you haven’t paid attention, /dad/, the ‘boy’ might very well decide to blow you up just as easily as Happosai can.”

Soun’s eyes widened again as he realized his daughter was right, and then he pointed at Genma, saying, “I knew it!  This is all your fault, Saotome!”

Ranma and Akane lifted their hands to the sky in despair, and Ranma said, “Bunch of cowards.”  Then the two of them stalked back toward the partially destroyed house.  Kasumi joined them a moment later rather flustered, leaving Genma and Soun to argue.

Up in the second floor, Nabiki was leaning on her window sill, her window open.  She looked over the devastation, thinking of the two throwing bombs at each other.  “Wow.  If I had known this, I could have made a pile . . . I could have made piles.  Oh, well, you win some, you don’t win some,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.  She went back inside, sliding the window shut, locking it, and then casually put the camera on her night stand.  With a smirk she said, “That should fetch a pretty penny anyway though.”  Then she casually went back to bed.

*****

Lexa returned several minutes later, looking at the strewn about underwear, and quickly finding his own was all but destroyed.  “Damn it, I’m going to have to buy new ones,” she muttered to herself.  “That god damned, old geezer.”

*****

Sunnydale

“I’ll get it, mom!” Buffy called, and hurried over to the door.  Willow remained patiently on the couch in the living room.  She opened the door, and said, “Oh, hi, Cordelia.  Hi, Oz.”

“Hello, Buffy,” Cordelia said, and Oz gave a grunt.

She stepped back, and the two of them took the unsaid invitation.  “Hey, guys,” Willow greeted from her position on the couch.

“Hello, Willow,” Cordelia greeted and Oz gave a nod that Willow correctly interpreted as a greeting.

“What’s up?” Buffy asked as she entered the living room behind them.

“My mom is determined to drag me on her business trip for two days.  Something about it being good for my education,” Cordelia explained casually, “and you know what tonight is.”

Willow nodded and answered, “Last day of Oz’s three day cycle; day after full moon.”

“Exactly,” Cordelia said, nodding and glad Willow was up to date, “that means that since I’m not there to keep OzWolf in his place - sorry, Oz . . .”

“No problem,” Oz answered calmly.

“. . . he’s going to be all grrr, and I need someone to Ozsit for me,” Cordelia went onward and turned to Buffy.  “Since you’re the big bad Slayer around here Buffy, I was thinking of you.”

“Oh . . . sure,” Buffy answered the cheerleader captain.

“Good, now for the very same reasons I’ve managed to convince my mother that it would be good to get a trial run at living alone, which means I’ve annexed the Chase Estate garden house,” Cordelia explained, and pulled out a key and a keycard.  She was about to continue, but then asked, “You know the address, right?”

“Of course, the huge building, who doesn’t know where that is?” Buffy asked somewhat annoyed.

Cordelia looked at Buffy suspiciously and then handed out the key and the keycard.  She explained, “The keycard is for the gate, the key for the garden house.  I’ve set up a cage for Oz, and he has a key and keycard too, so he’ll be there on time.  There’s drinks, chips, tv, DVD-player so you can rent DVDs if you want too - if the rental rents them finally that is - there’s a VCR if it doesn’t, and dad’s playstation with some games.  You can make yourself at home.  Oz’s steak is in the refrigerator, eating something calms him down.”

“DVD?” Buffy asked with a confused pout.

“Basically CD for movies, Buffy,” Willow explained quickly.

“Why don’t they just use CDs for movies?” Buffy asked trying to figure it out.

“Because they’re not big enough,” Cordelia answered with a little annoyance.

“Oh, so they’re really big then?” Buffy asked, holding her hands apart.

Cordelia sighed a long suffering sigh, and said, “No, they’re just as big as CDs, just a little thicker, what I meant was, that it has more storage capacity!”

“Well, /excuse/ me for not being Miss Technology,” Buffy replied, making Cordelia grumble with annoyance.  Then she asked her, “Can I bring Willow?”

“Of course you can bring Willow!” Cordelia exclaimed, raising her hands in the air with frustration.  “I’m starting to wonder if I shouldn’t have asked someone else,” she added in an almost hiss.

“She’ll do fine, Cor,” Oz said, calming Cordelia down some.

Buffy turned to Willow and asked, “Wanna come along, Willow?”

“Sure.  A nice night of chick flicks as Xander calls it sounds like fun,” Willow answered with a smile.

“Great, we’ll be there,” Buffy told the cheerleader and her werewolf.

“Good, then I can get out of this place,” Cordelia answered and beckoned for Oz, who got up out of the couch and quickly followed Cordelia.  Buffy went over and held the door open for them.  They left.

Buffy turned around and saw Willow smiling.  She raised her eyebrows at her.  “You were faking it from big onward,” Willow accused, repeating the size-gesture of Buffy with her hands.

Buffy smiled, and said, “Did you see her face?  Almost as good as Giles.”  Willow giggled.

“So, uhm . . . what’s the Chase address?” Buffy asked Willow a little embarrassed.   Willow looked dumbfounded, and after peering, and realizing Buffy wasn’t faking it this time, she went back to laughing.

*****

That night, along wit two rented video tapes, several bags of M&Ms and chocolate bars along just to be certain, the two girls were standing in Cordelia’s little pad.  They looked around in wonder.  It had two stories, a stairs on the right leading to the second floor.  They started just beyond the glass doors that lead to the pool.  There was a book case at the far side, a table, a couch, and a bit entertainment center in the middle.  To the left a bit beyond the small table was higher dinner table.  Directly beyond it, close to the left corner was a door, that Buffy and Willow would later find to lead to the kitchen.  Under the stairs was another door, which lead to the washing room.  Against the left wall was a large cupboard, through the small glass windows in its doors, glasses and other table necessities were visible.  The Next to the entertainment center set up, stood a small stand, in which, they later would find, the games and CDs were stored.  Half-way the left wall was a corner, making the left side beyond it a little wider.  The steel cage, some two meters high, was in that corner.  “Jesus,” Buffy said, looking around.

“Yeah, I think it’s bigger than my parents’ house, and this is just a garden house,” Willow said with equal wide eyes.

“Ah, you’re already here.”

“DA!” both girls exclaimed, and jumped around with the shock.  They regarded the just arrived Oz, who raised two eyebrows and formed a tiny smile, which was his equivalent of a belly laugh.  “You scared us!” Buffy said the obvious.

“Sorry,” he said, with just a hint of a smile.  He walked over to the cage as the girls started settling in on the couch, Willow inspecting the entertainment set.  He went inside, and slammed the door shut, making it fall in lock.  “Ah,” Oz said, drawing the girls’ attention.

“Right,” Buffy said and came over, testing the key of the cage for a moment, and then pulled it out.  She took a few steps back, and Willow joined.

“Actually, in order to keep me from tearing apart my clothes and being without them in the morning, I take my clothes off before the transformation,” Oz explained what he really had drawn their attention for.

“Sure, go right ahead,” Willow said cheerily, and stayed put as Buffy turned around.  The Slayer quickly grabbed the redhead’s arm and pulled her around.  “Oh, right, sorry.”

A little while later Oz voice was replaced with angry growling.  Willow and Buffy turned back around and the wolf lunged forward, crashing deliberately against the steel cage, rattling it, and growling at the girls.  “I’ll go get his steak, because he can use some calming down,” Buffy muttered taking in the angry wolf.

“Yeah, hey, Ozzie,” Willow said, waving happily at the wolf, who slammed against the cage again for it.  Willow yanked back, and said, “Yikes.”

“Which do you think is the kitchen?” Buffy asked her friend.

“Try ‘em all, I’ll set up the movies,” Willow said happily.

*****

With OzWolf happy now that his belly was full of meat, Buffy and Willow could watch their movies in peace.  The two were huddled together on the couch, sniffling, and crying.  On the screen an old woman reached a railing and dropped a ring over it, falling into the water and sinking.

“Oh, god!” Buffy whimpered, as the credits started to play.  “Titanic is /so/ sad!”

“Uhuh,” Willow agreed, wiping away tears.  They looked at each other and hugged.   “Oh, I needed that,” Willow added, feeling relieved after all the crying the movie had installed.

Buffy nodded.  “Good thing we hired a comedy for the second one, I don’t think I could handle another one of those,” Buffy whimpered, enjoying the hug with her best friend.

“Yeah,” Willow agreed.  A bell rang, and the two looked up.  “Pizza is here,” Willow said with a smile.  “We timed it perfectly.”

“Great; I’ll rewind, you get the food,” Buffy smiled broadly, reaching over to the remote.

Willow smiled and got up, running toward the door.  “You just don’t want to pay,” Willow accused the Slayer.

Willow went out the door and to the main gate.  There she got the pizza and returned. Buffy was just reaching down to get the tape.  Willow put the pizza on the table and opened it up.  “Hmm, smells good,” Willow said with a smile.

“I know,” Buffy answered and put in the following movie.  “I wish Xander was here.  I remember us three going to the theater to watch it, that was just before the master.  We had fun then didn’t we?”

“Yeah, us three together guarantees loads of fun,” Willow answered, remembering their little trip to the theater.

“Now we’re stuck here, and he’s off having fun in Japan . . . Shouldn’t he have taken us along?  Three friends on vacation?” Buffy asked her friend with a thoughtful look.

“Yeah, exactly!  ‘Cause friends go on vacation all the time?  Why couldn’t we come along?” Willow agreed, getting caught up in the emotion.

“Because we’re /girl/ friends, and /girl/ friends can’t understand boys, so they couldn’t /possibly/ have as much fun together as two boys,” Buffy mocked a pre-teen boy.

“Exactly!  We could /so/ have a lot of fun there, especially with his friend around.  Nice even four, who knows, you might like him, he you, and then we could have double dated!” Willow reflected the mounting emotion and argument back to Buffy smoothly.

“We should prepare a punishment for him not taking us along,” Buffy said quickly, the unholy fire of a slighted woman in her eyes.

“Exactly!  Not talk to him for a week, or something, or date other guys when he gets back, or something even worse,” Willow returned, nodding her head vigorously.

They looked each other in the eyes for a few moments, then deflated.  Buffy closed her eyes, and shaking her head she complained, “God, are we pathetic or what?”

“Definitely, just push ‘play’ quickly,” Willow replied, feeling really down now, then remembered the pizza and perked up a bit.

*****

Deep in the night

“Yeah, take that, bitch, you’re going down now!” Buffy exclaimed, pushing the buttons on the controller furiously.  On the screen one three dimensional male fighter was fighting a female fighter, who was at the moment on the receiving end of some severe punishment.  “There ya go!  There ya go!  Now it’s grim reaper ti- . . .!”  There was a snick, and the male fighter was no longer fighting.  The female fighter rapidly took over with a devastating combo.  “Ah, oh, noo!” Buffy exclaimed looking down . . . at a broken in half control.

“Die, Buffy!  Getting your butt kicked now, huh!  See, nerd trained finger dexterity is better than Slayer fingers any day!  Woo- . . . oh!” Willow said, trailing off as looking triumphantly at Buffy, and noticed the broken controller.  Buffy was pouting helplessly. “Okay, no more action games for the super-strength enhanced girl,” Willow said nervously.

“Cordelia is going to hate me, isn’t she?” Buffy asked with eyes angled down sadly.

“Well, no . . . I don’t think so . . . I mean, I didn’t feel like she cared much for the Playstation.  It sounded like it just came with the garden house,” Willow soothed her best friend.

“I’m so stupid,” Buffy muttered and got up, walking toward the machine, obviously determined to put the controller back and the machine out.

“No, you’re not, it was an accident that has nothing to do with how big your brain is,” Willow said and put her controller on the table.

“Yeah, well,” Buffy muttered putting it away.  When she was done she saw Willow sitting there rather lifelessly and then she yawned widely.  “You can go to sleep, you know? Slayer here, don’t need as much sleep, I can stay awake easily.  And OzWolf doesn’t seem to be any trouble; again Slayer, and the tranquilizer gun is more than enough.”

Willow looked up drowsily, and then shook her head, “No, just get me a few cups of very strong, black coffee and I’m good to go for a few more hours.”

“Okay, if you’re sure,” Buffy said, and Willow nodded.  The Slayer then went to the kitchen and went to make the coffee.

“Don’t worry, Buffy!  You can’t screw up, now you /have/ to make the coffee much too strong!” Willow called after her friend with a tired smile.

“Ha!  Ha!” Buffy called back.  A short time later sounds of the coffee maker came from the kitchen, and Buffy returned to the living room.  She sat down in a chair diagonally opposite from Willow on the couch, and smiled completely fresh at Buffy.

“Sometimes I really envy you,” Willow said, shaking her head at her own expense.

“Huh?” Buffy said and then inspected herself.  Her eyes widened when she figured it out a moment later, and said, “Oh, the Slayer lack of needing sleep.  Yeah, it has its perks.”

Willow forced herself to sit up straight, shaking her sleep from her.  Hands folded in front of her, arms leaning on her legs, she asked deeply interested, “Does that mean it has not so good stuff too?”

“Yeah, a few,” Buffy answered, wanting to evade the question for a moment, but then answered with a grateful smile, “the nights lying fully awake at night staring at the ceiling.  Not bad for me during the day as with normal people, but the nights itself are boring and annoying.”

“Oh . . . I guess with your mother knowing about you, you might as well go watch tv or something.  You don’t /have/ to lie in bed doing nothing,” Willow suggested helpfully.

Buffy shook her head, and said, “Would wake mom.”

“Read a book,” Willow returned smoothly, rather awake now, interested in her friend’s welfare.

“That . . . wouldn’t help with the other thing,” Buffy said, looking away a bit, embarrassed, or perhaps even ashamed, Willow recognized.

“What other thing?” Willow asked lightly, looking at Buffy intently.

“Sometimes, not always, at night, I have this urge to go out and find something to kill,” Buffy confessed, and looked at Willow with apprehension.

“Really!?” Willow answered excited, eyes shining.  “I always thought you were just like me, but just with more strength, speed, stamina, healing, aggression, and less need for sleep - but you actually get the urge to what . . . hunt?  You’re a predator?”  Buffy looked down.   “Hey, that’s not a bad thing or anything, Buffy.”

“It’s not?” Buffy asked a little surprised.

“Of course not . . . well, it’s demons that you have the urge to kill right?  N-not humans, like me, or anything, right?” Willow asked her a little uncertain.

“Just demons,” Buffy quickly reassured.

“Great!  I suppose I should have realized; Slayers kill demons, Slayers need to hunt demons.  Have you ever . . . well, went out and fulfill your urge?” Willow asked excitedly, looking at Buffy who seemed a little uncomfortable, but quickly relaxing.

“No, why?” Buffy said, frowning.

Willow sighed, almost feeling like rolling her eyes, and explained, “Never thought that by doing a little late night kill, you could go back to bed and easily fall asleep for the rest of the night?”

“Oh, yeah, I suppose,” Buffy said, and not forgetting Willow’s sigh she answered, “Hey, we already established you’re a genius, Willow.  Cut us average brains some slack okay?”  The coffee maker made a distinctive sound.  “Coffee’s ready, be right back with a cup,” Buffy said and quickly got up to get the coffee.

*****

“He ran.  He ran as hard as he could.  The thugs were right on his heels, and . . .” Buffy trailed off.  They had decided to read the books they had brought, and to keep each other awake, and make this a more fun girl friend experience, they would be reading one chapter to each other, and then switch.  Now though there was a slight rumbling, which quickly formed into a full fledged snore that interrupted the Slayer’s reading.  She looked to her right, and saw the sleeping Willow, head lolled light forward.  Then she turned half around, trying to find a better position than the sitting one.  She soon found it, by snuggling against a lightly surprised and lightly amused Buffy - using her side as a mattress and her shoulder as a pillow.

Buffy hesitated, debating with herself whether she should get from underneath her friend, lay her out along the long side of the couch, or perhaps try to see if she could carry her without waking to a bed.  In the end she smiled, and decided against both.  She put the book on the table, careful not to wake Willow or let her drop.  “Sleep tight, Will,” Buffy said with a smile, and placed a light kiss on the top of her friend’s head, then sat herself to more squarely watch Oz.  The wolf looked up from his position in the cage, looking deep into Buffy’s eyes.  Buffy stared back, her own fierceness in her eyes.  The wolf then lowered his head again, and looked more gently at the two figures, and Buffy felt oddly as if she had made some kind of connection with the wild beast.

*****

It had begun to lighten quite a bit ago.  Now though, the moon finally disappeared behind the horizon, while the first raise of the sun peaked above it, and fell through the glass doors leading to the pool.  It was still early, Buffy guessed no later then six in the morning.  The wolf stirred, then growled, and then the sounds of bones restructuring themselves started coming from him.  Buffy smiled.  She checked Willow for a moment, still sound asleep, and no longer snoring.  Then she turned to regard OzWolf turning back into Oz.   As the fur started retreating and skin became visible, Buffy’s eyes widened.   Quickly she moved her left hand up and put it in front of her eyes.  After a few moments she dared to peak to see how far Oz was along, and then quickly closed her fingers again as she noticed he was about finished.

“Ugh, oh,” came from Oz, and then he slowly pushed himself off the ground.  He shook his head to clear it, and then frowned.  He soon remembered, and looked around.  He smiled when he found his guards.  Willow asleep against Buffy, and Buffy with a hand in front of her eyes so she couldn’t see him naked.

“Could you get dressed quickly, Oz?” Buffy asked softly.

“Sure,” he all but whispered back, and went to do exactly that.  When he was finished he murmured, “Finished.”

Buffy removed her hand and regarded the male teenager.  She smiled, and fished the cage key from the pocket of her jeans.  “Catch,” she whispered, and tossed the key in a precise arc.   He caught it, and then unlocked his cage.

Oz now took a better look around, seeing the pizza box, and multiple pieces of wrappers strewn about.  “Had fun?” he whispered.

Buffy nodded with a smile.  “Could you take over Willow watch?  I’m beat and I’d like to find a bed and get a little sleep,” Buffy whispered softly.

“Sure, hold on, be right back,” Oz told her, and then sped softly up the stairs, and went into on one of the rooms there.  He returned soon after with a pillow and a blanket.  Buffy smiled, and together they very gently lowered Willow down.  The redhead murmured a little, not liking that her comfortable position was leaving.  A moment later she found the pillow waiting for her, and settled down.  Oz then gently moved her legs on the couch while Buffy stretched get the kinks out of her body.  Buffy watched as Oz finished putting the blanked over Willow.

Buffy nodded, and whispered, “Three hours should be enough for me to be fresh for the day.  Either of you can wake me then, okay?”

Oz nodded, and gestured for her to get going.  Not long after Buffy drifted off to sleep in one of the beds upstairs.

*****

Cordelia’s lips pressed against Buffy’s, her velvet tongue dancing with her own.  Then unknown girl’s lips and tongue.  Jenny’s; more girls.  She was back again!  Then!  When her love spell made everyone in Sunnydale except Xander mad with love for her!  The horror of it, the violation, the fear!  But no . . . those weren’t here, no, she was kissing the girls back with all of her passion.  What?  Gentle sensual tongues against her.  Soft bodies and arms pressed against her, caressing, fondling, oh nice.  Wait?  How can that be?  She only felt herself grow aroused and kissing all those girls back again.

Willow . . . Willow’s tongue.  How did she know it was Willow’s tongue?  She still had her eyes closed with the enjoyment of it all, and why was she enjoying kissing girls again?  Oh right, spell, more so, Willow!  She knew!  Willow had kissed her twice now, right!?  Wait? Where were all the other girls.  Opening her eyes revealed herself to be in a costume shop. Willow was in front of her, just finishing a quick sensual kiss of tongue against tongue on what the redhead had perceived as a dare.  She remembered again, yes.  She had almost forgotten, had wanted to forget . . .

Buffy’s eyes flew open, and saw a ceiling . . . an unfamiliar ceiling.  Buffy frowned, looked around, and then remembered.  Cordelia’s garden house, Ozsitting, she had gone to bed.  It had only been a dream . . . Buffy sighed and made herself comfortable, wondering why in blazes she would have such a weird dream - it made no sense . . . oh, please this couldn’t be a Slayer dream!  She couldn’t handle another Sunnydale-wide mad love-on for her - just girls this time it seemed.  She shook her head.  Nah, it was too weird, and unprophetic to be a Slayer dream.  Yeah, time to go back to sleep.

~~~~Part 2: Clash of the Amazons~~~~

With a yawn Lexa woke, and slowly sat up.  She looked around, and noticed Ranma and Genma were already up.  She shrugged and yawning walked onto the hallway, then turned right toward the shower.  She turned into it and after preparing some towels and wash cloths, slid her panties down her legs, bending at the waste.  Then she stepped into the shower, yawned again, and looked at the faucet.  She nodded, and turned the cold water full blast.   “YOW!  Ooh, yes!” she exclaimed, forcing herself not to go with the impulse of jumping out of the water.  “Oh, now I’m awake,” she told with a smile, taking a deep breath and running her hands from her shoulders down her body, fondling her naked, wet breasts along the way, down across her taut stomach and finally her hips.  “Brr,” she said, and then turned the warm water on as well, dosing it to get a nice warm flow, making her turn into Xander Harris.

“Aah,” he said, and grabbed the shampoo from a small rack.  As he did so he turned his head right, and notice a short-haired, brunette disappearing from the door.  He shrugged, wondering if she got a lovely sight, or a familiar one, depending on the gender, before going back out.

A short while later he was dressed and happily going toward the breakfast table.  He found everyone but Ranma and Genma kneeling at it.  The Saotomes were sparring in the garden.  As he looked at it, he noticed the destroyed tree, and the hole in the wall, through which was the destruction of Nerima.  His eyes bugged out - it looked much worse in the daylight now.  “Yowzers, did I and Happosai do all that?” Xander asked embarrassed scratching his head.

“Yes,” Soun said gruffly.

“Whoops, sorry, uh, didn’t notice in the heat of the moment, and . . . well, Happosai started throwing bombs, I was defending myself,” Xander said somewhat embarrassed, but with a righteous indignation.

“Well, we - and you - got lucky,” Nabiki said calmly, “It seems one of our neighbors is a lawyer and he threatened the insurance companies to sue them for everything they got, if they didn’t pay up.  Instead, not only did they pay up, they went ahead and pooled their resources to get one good construction company to rebuild, and not waste money on many different.”

Xander looked out the window, and indeed there were people hard at work repairing the mess.  “Very, very lucky,” Soun Tendo said with narrowed eyes, but soon forgot about it, going back to his newspaper and food.

“Well then, good morning all,” Xander greeted sheepishly.  He then gave a polite bow, and sat down at the remaining empty plate - on the floor, at the low Japanese table.

*****

“So this is Nerima,” Xander said, his hands at the back of his head, looking around.  The houses were all lovely, most surrounded by gardens, in turn surrounded by wooden fences.

“Yep, it’s nice to see it intact, isn’t it?” Ranma remarked wryly, grinning.

“Definitely,” Xander said, and then looked at Ranma.  “That geezer had it coming, I hope he learned to keep his bombs to himself.”

Ranma smiled at Xander, and then sped up.  “Come on, I’ll show you my school,” Ranma said.  Xander sped up to keep up, and they soon arrived at the now empty school due to vacation.  “Furinkan High School,” Ranma presented, spreading his arms wide.  They were standing at the gate in the walls surrounding the school grounds.  The gate was closed because of vacation, and through it a lane could be seen leading to the large white building.  The middle piece was higher and a little forward.  On either side a little lower were rectangular pieces of the building, filled with windows behind which were empty class rooms.  A few trees lined the path, and were around the school grounds, who stretched out all but empty at the front.

“Let’s go, I’ll show you the rest,” Ranma said and smoothly jumped over the gate. Xander followed, and looked around as they walked forward.

“Nice,” Xander commented with a grin.  Ranma nodded.  “So this is usually the place for the big battles for Akane’s heart, eh?  I expected a bit more than nice after you described it.”

Ranma scowled, and said, “Don’t remind me.  The half-wits finally quit trying after I pounded them all into the ground a few times; except that one guy . . .”

“Which guy?” Xander asked him as they reached the building.

“Not important, I think of him I just get angry,” Ranma said, and jumped high up the two story building.  Xander followed and they walked across the roof, some twenty meters, and stopped at the edge.

“Whoa,” Xander said, looking out over the stretched grounds.  A pool, football fields, a tennis court, and a separate building that held the gym and the dressing rooms.  The place was huge.  “Now /this/ is more like it.  I wish mine could come this close,” Xander said in awe. The only thing Sunnydale High has, is a small football field, a small gym and a tiny indoor pool. Nowhere close to the size and breath of Furinkan.

“Next, food!” Ranma exclaimed with a grin, and yanked Xander along.

*****

“I’m guessing we’re no longer in the residential area,” Xander said as he looked down the busy street with shops, more shops, lots of billboards, more shops, even more people, and several characteristic Japanese vending machines.

“Nope, come on,” Ranma said, and they walked into the street.  “Here it is,” Ranma said, and pointed at the restaurant to his right, then turned to face it.  ‘Okonomiyaki Ucchan’s’ stood with big letters on the cloth overhang.

“Oh, wait . . . Ukyo right?” Xander asked Ranma.

“And who speaks my name so early in the morning?”  A rather beautiful brunette with a wavy ponytail stepped outside from the shop.  She was dressed in a blue wrap around, black tight pants, and a huge spatula was strapped to her back.  “Hello, Ranchan,” she greeted with dreamy eyes at Ranma.

“Hi, Ucchan, this is my friend Harris Xander, I think I mentioned him, once or twice.  I thought he should taste your cooking,” Ranma said with a grin, gesturing to Xander.

“Ah, Xander-chan, very nice to meet you, always good to have another customer,” the girl happily replied, giving Xander a slight bow, which her returned.  “Come in,” Ukyo said and went inside.  Xander and Ranma followed, Xander looked at him questioningly.

Inside Xander watched with fascination as Ukyo rapidly prepared two okonomiyaki, which from what he could see, was somewhat similar to a pizza.  Ukyo put the two okonomiyaki in front of the guys, and she leaned on the counter.  “Take a good taste, Xander-chan, you’ll never taste so good okonomiyaki again, right, Ranchan?” Ukyo said with a smile.

“Absolutely,” Ranma answered, and the two young men dug in.

After several chews, Xander looked up at Ukyo and mumbled, “Ohf, fewy goo!”  Ukyo nodded with a smile as Ranma tore through his okonomiyaki.  Xander noticed Ukyo’s position, hands underneath her chest and leaning on it, making her breasts bulge and push her wrap around outward, showing some cleavage she probably wasn’t even aware of.  Xander quickly looked down and ate onward to catch up.  “Mmh,” Xander said, when he was finished with it, and Ranma gave a similar comment.

“How much do I owe you, Ucchan?” Ranma asked politiely.

“Silly, Ranchan,” Ukyo admonished with a smile, “you know you don’t have to pay me.   Your cute fiancee will take care of you.”

“Thanks, Ucchan,” Ranma said with a smile, and then got up off his stool.

“Yes, thank you very much, Ukyo, it was very nice to meet you as well,” Xander said with a huge smile, still rubbing his satisfied tummy.

“Ranchan’s friends, are my friends,” Ukyo said and gave a nod, “Although you do have to pay if Ranma isn’t here with you.  If I star feeding all his friends for free, I’d be bankrupt in no time.”

Xander laughed, and said, “Wouldn’t want that.  Bye.”  Ukyo greeted and a little later he and Ranma were outside.  “Damn, she knows how to cook those things,” Xander said with a smile.

“Yep, wanna see the park?  We could do some sparring there,” Ranma asked, and set off, Xander falling in step with a smile on his face.

Thus they found themselves in the park not long after.  Steadily heading toward the pond with a fountain in the middle they walked along the path, trees and grass on either side.  “If I were you, ‘Ranchan’, I’d know who to choose,” Xander said with a smirk.  His Japanese friend looked darkly at him.  “Come on, she’s got breasts, legs, beautiful face, she knows how to cook, loves you, loves to cook /for/ you, that cooking is delicious, doesn’t beat you up or blame you for every last little bit gone wrong, she doesn’t try seven schemes a week to get you to marry her, she’s intelligent, what more could you want?”

“Being in love with /her/ perhaps?” Ranma returned a little annoyed; he had enough people trying to couple him with one girl or other now his friend was trying it too.

“For that, you date her and see if you do, or will do,” Xander said with a shrug, “I’m dating all the girls that want me to figure it out.  With Buffy out of the picture, I’m definitely leaning toward Willow, she’s kinda like Ukyo, childhood friend.”

“Yeah, well-”

“YOU!”

Ranma and Xander turned their heads right toward the exclaim, the voice familiar to Ranma who was already getting irritated, and somewhat vaguely familiar to Xander.  When the person making the exclaim came into their view, Xander exclaimed, “YOU!”

“You know him!?” Ranma asked surprised.

“Exchange student for a bit there,” Xander said with a grimace, as the guy in question came closer.

“I /knew/ it wasn’t right!  You two are in cahoots!” the guy said, dressed in a traditional Japanese kendo outfit, and pointing a wooden practice sword at Xander.  “You kept my from my immortal love, the golden angel Buffy Summers just to spite me!  For that, /I/, Kuno Tatewaki, Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, shall avenge such slight!”  He immediately attacked Xander, the wooden sword bursting forth with such incredible speed, the air pressure alone could crumble a statue.  Unfortunately for Tatewaki, Xander was not a statue.  He avoided the first few strikes, and then locked the sword in his left armpit, immediately slamming his right open palm forward on Tatewaki’s chest.  The upperclassman was launched backward with a painful groan, till he slammed into a tree.

Growling Xander started breaking the sword in pieces, and grunted, “You perverted bastard, I should beat you into the hospital.”  He then tossed the pieces at the dazed Tatewaki.

“I need to remember that one,” Ranma said to Xander with an approving grin.

Xander smirked back, and they started on their way, when a new voice rang out, “Ranma!  You will pay!”

“Oh, no, not him again,” Ranma said, slamming his forehead into his hand, while Xander looked puzzled.  A guy in glasses, long hair, and in a long white robes with blue and red robe came running around the corner.

“To play with Shampoo’s heart so cruelly!” the guy screamed running straight at Ranma.

“Mousse!  Don’t!  That’s not what I meant!” a sweet girl-voice sounded a bit behind, the blue-haired, buxom girl it belonged to coming around the corner as well, dressed in red loose pants and a frilly, multi-colored spotted top, ribbons in her hair.  A very, very old woman just as small as Happosai in a green dress followed behind her, easily catching up by bouncing along on a wooden walking stick.

With a yell Mousse extended his arms and from his over-sized, hanging sleeves myriads of projectiles shot; swords, knives, a few axes, and more than a few ropes and chains on hooks.  Xander’s jaw dropped with the surprise, Ranma already knew what to expect.  He smoothly avoided a few of the projectiles, then grabbed some of the chains, and twisting around somewhat in a shoulder throw yanked hard.  “Whaaa!” Mousse exclaimed in surprise as he was pulled off his feet, was swung through the air in a half-circle, to land with a painful thud on the pavement behind Xander and Ranma.  “Ogh,” he groaned out, and twitched a bit, seeing stars.

“And /I/ gotta remember that one,” Xander said still surprised, looking at the defeated guy, as Ranma slapped his hands up and down together a few times at a job well done.  Xander turned back toward the arriving women, and said with a pointing gesture and disdain, “The Amazons, I presume.”

“Yep, Shampoo, and the old crone is Cologne, her great grand mother,” Ranma said, and nodded.  The women came to a halt, and Cologne carefully examined the muscular newcomer, considering the possibilities.

“And who would this be?” Cologne asked casually.

“Harris Xander, a friend from America,” Ranma introduced annoyed, as Shampoo carefully checked him over with her eyes to see if he wasn’t hurt, which of course he wasn’t.

“So, exactly what scheme was it that contained the halfwit attacking Ranma, huh?” Xander asked the two Amazons annoyed.  They looked at him questioningly, and glaring he accused, “I know you Amazons, nothing but scheming.”

“XANDER, WATCH OUT!!”

Xander turned around, and was just in time to see a revived Mousse finish getting up and preparing to attack him, and an equally arrived Tatewaki already attacking him with a spare sword.  “How dare you slant my beloved!” Mousse exclaimed.

“How dare you keep me from my angel!” Tatewaki exclaimed at the same time.

Reflexively Xander gave Tatewaki an uppercut and sent him flying away with a yell. While that solved one problem, it would mean he was too late to do anything about Mousse. Luckily for Xander and possibly Ranma, there was a brunette blur.  With a thud from an uppercut, Mousse was launched into the air.  “Oof!  AAAH!” he yelled, before coming down again, landing squarely in the water.  A moment later there was a white duck gaggling angrily, still wearing his round glasses.

“Lotion!  What the hell are you doing here!?” Xander asked in shock, as he recognized the previous brunette blur.  The girl was as buxom as the blue-haired one, and her brunette hair was lusciously below her shoulders, tails hanging by the side.  Her outfit was form-hugging blue dress, which showed off her assets as well as Shampoo’s did.  Her mother, the equally buxom Amazon in her thirties arrived behind her.

“I go where my future husband goes, I’m on vacation too,” Lotion said with a smile, “and save you too.”  She gestured to the duck in the pond.

Shampoo had recognized the new arrival, and growled low, “Xiong.”

Xander and Ranma turned to Shampoo with surprise, and in doing so cleared the spot in between the two young Amazon girls, who were now looking at each other unobstructed.   Deo smiled at the event, and locked gazes with Cologne, who gazed back with a hard look in her eyes.

“Pu,” Lotion said coldly, staring in the other’s eyes.

Ranma and Xander looked from one to the other in confusion, and Ranma said, “Uh, what-”

That’s how far he came as both Amazons came into action.  Shampoo pulled out two colorful bonbories, small handles with heavy balls on the top, from her person, while Lotion pulled forth her nunchakus.  Shampoo growled, “You here take future husband Ranma away!?”

Lotion at the same time growled, “You keep away from future husband Xander!”  Both only noticed ‘future husband’, completely missing that it were two different persons, and so they charged.

With a roar of fury Shampoo brought her left bonborie down, which Shampoo blocked with her right closed nunchaku against Shampoo’s hand.  The right bonborie came straight down with a screech, and Lotion smoothly jumped back.  The bonborie slammed into the stone path, and then through it, making pieces of it spring away, and leaving a half-meter crater.   “Lotion pay!” Shampoo roared, and burst forward.

Xander, Ranma, and the two older Amazons watched the fight, the first two rather surprised, and Xander said, “At least they’re not attacking us.”

Enraged Shampoo once again attacked Lotion, and landed a blow on her abdomen.   Lotion was launched back, moaning with the pain, but made a backward somersault and easily landed on her two feet.   With a battle shriek of her own, she charged forward, nunchakus twisting rapidly.  Avoiding another blow from the heavy and dangers balls on a stick, she slammed her weapons in Shampoo’s right side, making her yell in pain, and then attack more furiously.  The right bonborie came down and Lotion opened her left nunchaku, and caught the handle of the bonborie with the chain.  Closing the two sticks on a chain, Lotion quickly went into a shoulder throw.  Shampoo wasn’t to be outdone though, and twisted in the air to land on her feet.  Both Amazons kept their hands firmly on their weapons, the result of which was that both were sent flying.

Taking the opportunity of the still imbalanced Shampoo, Lotion’s left empty hand balled into a fist and struck forward, hitting her in the left shoulder.  Shampoo had partially twisted away to minimize the hit, and twisted further with it.  She swung her remaining weapon at Lotion with a snarl, who caught it, and twisted Shampoo and herself around, for Shampoo to be back to the side of the pond.  With a grunt Shampoo made a vicious knee to Lotion’s stomach, making her shudder forward and grunt in pain.  She grimaced, feeling Shampoo trying to remove her remaining weapon.  She tightened her grip on her weapon, yanked, and slammed her left hand against Shampoo’s weapon.  The ball on a stick was sent flying, but the stick flipped up and got caught in the nunchaku, the result being that Lotion lost her own weapon as well.

Shampoo kicked up rapidly, and caught Lotion in the chin making her stagger back.  With a snarl Shampoo moved forward to finish it, as Lotion straightened and immediately used her opportunity.  She almost jumped forward, and shouted, “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire!” Landing almost a hundred hits in a single second was far too fast for Shampoo to react to, not to mention handle.   With a scream of pain she staggered back, only for Lotion to added an uppercut to insult.

“Argh!” Shampoo yelled as she was launched through the air, and splashed into the pond, making duck-Mousse flap his wings and gaggle in surprise.

Lotion’s jaw dropped, she was checking her hand with wide eyes.  Ranma raised his eyebrows with slight surprise and admiration.  Xander just folded his arms across his chest and nodded in satisfaction.  Cologne looked with wide eyes of surprise and shock, muttering almost unintelligible, “Impossible.”  Deo smirked with more than a little satisfaction, and nodded, arms folded across her chest and took several steps forward to her daughter.

Lotion lowered her arm, and watched with surprise as a wet white cat wearing earrings crawled onto the pond-rim.  Ranma made a shudder as he saw the cat, which tried to hiss, but then collapsed in defeat, letting out a tortured painful wail before trying to lie still.  Ranma’s shudder disappeared.  “I defeated Shampoo,” Lotion said still surprised.  “I really did, I haven’t defeated her in eight years!”  She then turned her head to look at Xander, who shrugged at her and smiled.  She had realized it; it was her rather intense training with Xander, the Slayer, and him specifically training her to master the Chestnuts that’s what made her stronger than her rival.

“You know the Chestnuts,” Cologne said quite impressed at the rival of her great grand daughter.

“Indeed she mastered it, Cologne,” Deo said with a large satisfied smirk, “about three years before the previous youngest of our tribe did.  Say, wasn’t that you?”  Cologne narrowed her eyes at Deo, whose smirk just widened.  “Why, Shampoo was my daughter’s superior for all this time, but she never managed to defeat Lotion as soundly as she was beaten today.   What’s the matter?  Did you stop her training while trying to court her future husband?  Lotion didn’t, she could do both.”

Cologne glared at Deo, and said, “Watch your mouth, Deo, you’re still a century too young to beat me.”

“Oh, great,” Xader muttered annoyed, as Cologne glared at the smirking Deo, who managed to glare back at Cologne at the same time.  “Now we’re in an Amazon pissing contest.  Let’s get out of here, Ranma, before the estrogen kills us.”

“My thoughts exactly, Xander, let’s move,” Ranma said, and the two young man quickly ran off, leaving the Amazons to fend for themselves, the adults of which turned to look at the retreating forms with raised eyebrows.

*****

Sunnydale

Buffy and Willow were lying on Willow’s bed.  The bed was against the back wall, which was just in between a double and single bed.  Her desk was to the right against the wall, a window above it.  A white closet to the left of the bed.  The walls were white, and the floor a dark grey almost blue.  They were reading a girl-magazine, or rather Willow was, pointing things out.   Buffy was thinking, trying to figure things out.  Why would she be dreaming about kissing girls?  Why point out Willow twice?  And why not when Xander turned into Lexa while they were kissing; which was admittedly just as good a kiss as a girl as a boy?  And why the hell did she think that?  Why did she even brought it up in her musings now?  It just wasn’t fair, and it just wasn’t right.

Perhaps she should ask Willow for advice?  Her eyes turned to the redhead, who’s face was bright and happy, reading out loud whatever was in the magazine.  Something about Tom Cruise which she didn’t pay attention to.  Willow though . . . the two kisses she shared with her had been pretty good, and the way the light fell on her nose, and the hair hung, alluring and loose around her face.  Her eyes were a very nice shade of green with interesting golden flecks in them, especially the way she was looking up at her now.  Her moving lips were almost inviting, albeit narrow, she knew how lovely they felt against her own . . . and hadn’t her body felt not bad against her as she had slept in her arms Ozsitting?

“*Buffy!*” Willow said with extra emphasis.

“Huh!?” Buffy said, shocked out of her reverie.

“I asked about Tom Cruise’s hot butt,” Willow said with a huge smile, which shone almost brightly at Buffy.  “But I suppose you were thinking about a hotter butt, huh?”  She laughed lightly, more smiling than really laughing.  Buffy’s eyes flicked right for an involuntary moment, and she nodded.  “Still thinking about Xander, I see,” Willow said with a grin.

“Yeah,” Buffy said quickly, taking the way out.  What the hell had she just been doing!?

“Don’t worry, Buffy,” Willow said reassuringly, giving Buffy a cute frown.  “Xander’ll come around, he won’t go sguick over you forever.  The only thing you have to worry about is me or Lotion conquering his heart before that.”

“Hey!” Buffy exclaimed, and Willow gave a far too innocent smile.  “Perhaps I should find out where you’re ticklish just like Xander knows where you’re ticklish.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” was Willow’s automatic response, closing her eyes as she shook her head for a moment.  As she opened them again she saw Buffy’s look.  “Buffy,” she said, a hint of warning in them.  Buffy grinned and wiggled her eyebrows once.  “Buffy!  No!  B-” But Willow was no match for Buffy’s speed, and her hands had already found her waist, tickling.

“Tickle, tickle!” Buffy teased, as Willow lay laughing, trying to pry the Slayer’s hand away.

“S-s-st-stop!” Willow exclaimed through laughter, as Buffy tested the rest of Willow’s body.  “Bu-bu-buuufffyyyy!”

More laughter followed, while Buffy continued, “Tickle, tickle!”  Soon Buffy had found all of Willow’s ticklish spots, and finally retreated.  Willow came to a rest, but laughed a little more, coming down.  Buffy grinned, and shook her head at herself.  The whole thing was nonsense.  She was just looking over Willow because of the stupid dream.  This was no Slayer dream, so it meant nothing.  Willow was a great friend, and that was that.  Right?  Right.

*****

Buffy was slowly walking home.  Willow’s mother had uncharacteristically drawn Willow along in a shopping trip to get her daughter new clothes.  This so the woman didn’t have to do it during the more busy time not in the summer no doubt.  Buffy hoped Willow was strong enough to not to just let her mother force her into buying more drab clothes, but actually good clothes so she didn’t have to waste her own money on new clothes.

Buffy sighed as she slowly walked onward.  Damned as she was, of course her reassuring herself hadn’t worked.  She found her gaze taking secret peeks at Willow now and then; the girl’s cleavage, her legs quite long and shapely and agile and strong with the training she was going through, the short skirt that lead to just below her ass leaving them quite visible.  A little dread was pulling on Buffy’s stomach, which was making flip flops, and they were most definitely not butterflies.  This was not a reassurance, Buffy’s stomach really was making flip flops.  A fear and concern was going through her, mauling in her head.  “I can’t be a lesbian,” Buffy muttered softly, as she steadily stepped onward.  And why was she so afraid of that possibility?  It wasn’t like her friends would mind, or that Harmony and the other popular girls weren’t already making fun of her at every opportunity.  She couldn’t land even more in the dumps . . . then again, judging from the way she and Willow could sweep up the guys in the bronze, perhaps her stature was changed, at least according to the guys of Sunnydale.

Buffy shook her head to clear it.  “It can’t be, I’m not.  If I were a lesbian I can’t be in love with Xander, and I most certainly wouldn’t be attracted to Angel and have sex with a male corpse.”  Buffy shivered, hating herself for bringing that up, and remembering the icky feeling of the cold clammy demon-animated corpse against her skin.

Buffy froze then, looking down her street.  She was nearly home, but that wasn’t why she had frozen.  Willow was bisexual.  Xander / Lexa was bisexual.  Interested in both genders.   But that wasn’t what had made her freeze either.  No, that was Willow’s words, months ago.   They were tickling at the edge of her memory.  Come on, what had she said again?  Something about a large majority of people actually being bisexual?  Oh yeah!  Now she remembered!   Everyone had to be that to an extent bisexual to understand what the other gender thought was attractive in you.  Expectations usually making someone suppress one side of their sexuality, and only a shocking, or surprising event, something or someone extra-ordinary shaking it loose.  That was it right?  Right.  Extra-ordinary, like two friends being bisexual and making you mindful of the possibility, like kissing your boyfriend and him turning magically into a girl during the kiss and thus kissing your somehow girlfriend.  Or like messing with magic and have the entire town population, including all the girls, be in love with you and all but rape you.   Like your best friend kissing you just to prove she’d share a hot guy with you before letting a hated rival get him . . .

It couldn’t be!  It just couldn’t be!  Buffy Summers just couldn’t be bisexual, could she? She moaned defeatedly, and looked down at her shoes, uncertain, afraid, not knowing what it would mean if she was.  What would her mother think?  Oh, my god, her mother!  Or her father!  Buffy shivered; doomsday scenarios of both of them tossing her out of their houses. She shook her head; that was ridiculous!  Her mother loved her, didn’t she?  Right, that’s probably what all the disowned gays and lesbians thought before they came out of the closet.

She forced herself to walk onward.  She went around the back, and found her mother in the kitchen, eating her lunch.  “You’re home early,” Joyce said with a smile at Buffy.

“Yeah, Willow’s mom decided to take her clothes’ shopping, and there was no argument,” Buffy said a little uncertain looking at her mother chewing a sandwich.

“You need lunch then, Buffy?” Joyce asked with a smile, halting her sandwich for a moment.  Buffy nodded with a smile.  “Bread . . . or pancakes?” Joyce asked with a knowing smile.

Buffy’s face broke in a wide smile and she said enthusiastically, “Pancakes!”

Joyce smiled while nodding, “Pancakes it is then.”  She got up, taking her sandwich along, and started pulling out the needed ingredients while finishing her sandwich.

Buffy sat down at the counter, and watched her mother with a wide smile.  “Your the best mom ever,” Buffy said still smiling as her mother was mixing the batter.

“And don’t you forget that when I’m old and decrepit and /I/ need things,” Joyce said with a smirk she directed at Buffy over her shoulder.

Buffy smiled, and started waiting patiently for her pancakes.  After a moment, her earlier worries returned.  She watched her mother finish the batter, put butter in the already heated frying pan, and put the first pancake in.  Buffy was nervous, as she came back to what her parents would think, if indeed . . . she didn’t want that!  If it were true, perhaps she could just go back to suppressing it, she was doing it before, and plenty of people never knew they were doing it, so why couldn’t she if she wanted to?

“Here ya go, Buffy,” Joyce announced as she placed the plate with Buffy’s first pancake in front of her, fork and knife placed next to it with her other hand.  Buffy smiled her thanks, and Joyce went back to making the next pancake.  Buffy got up, and got the treacle syrup, jam and sugar from the cupboard.  Back at her seat she covered her first pancake with treacle.  She started eating it, and half-way through, she paused, looking at her mother placing the second pancake on a plate, placing the batter for the third in the pan, and gently humming.  Some treacle leaked from the stationary, rolled up pancake.  Buffy continued eating her pancake, looking at her mother, and slowly built up her courage.

After her mother placed the plate with the pancakes next to Buffy’s plate once Buffy finished her first, Buffy had managed to find her courage.  “Mom?”

“Yeah, honey?” Joyce asked happily.

“What would you do, if I turned out to be . . . I don’t know; bisexual or a lesbian?” Buffy managed get past her vocal cords, and held her breath for the answer.  Her mother turned around to look at her steadily.  “Theoretically of course,” Buffy hastily added.

Joyce returned to the pancake, but looking over her shoulder asked, “What brought this on?”

“Uh, well . . . you see . . .” Buffy stammered, her heart racing a mile a minute trying to think of something.  Some relief entered her as she got a reason, and asked, “Y-you know Willow is bisexual, right?”

“Of course,” Joyce answered, taking a peek at the pancake.

*Casual,* Buffy thought, and got her next pancake.  As she prepared it with scoops of sugar, she said, “Well, she’s thinking of, you know, telling her parents.  The ‘coming out of the closet’ thing.  She’s really worried about their reaction, and I thought that perhaps a parent’s view might make her decide.”  Buffy got her knife to spread out the sugar, head down, she peeked upward to gauge her mother’s reaction.

Joyce returned to the pancake and with a smile replied, “Buffy, if her parents truly love her, then it doesn’t matter.  They’ll love her anyway, and support her all the way.”  The pancake was finished, and she came over with the pan, sliding the pancake on top of the remaining one on the stack plate.  Joyce bent down a bit more, pulling the hot pan away from, Buffy.  She looked deep into her daughter’s eyes, and said, “Just like me.  I don’t care if your bisexual, a lesbian, or as straight as they come, you’re my baby, Buffy, and I will always love and support you.”  Then she stroked Buffy’s hair, and gave her a motherly kiss on the top of her forehead.  Buffy shrank a little embarrassed at the overly gushy statement, but couldn’t help but feel with warm happiness.  Joyce returned to stove, and Buffy rolled up her second pancake.  “Your father too, you know.  We might have gotten divorced, and he’s living far away, so he can’t be here often, but he loves you just as much as I do, and he’ll always be there for you.  Okay?”  Joyce looked over her shoulder, and saw her daughter happily nod.   She then added, “He was all worried when he couldn’t cheer you up last summer, he talked to me about it when he dropped you off.”  Buffy smiled, not really knowing what else to do, and doubting if she could do anything else if she did know.

*****

Nerima, Tendo Residence

The high punch was blocked, then there was a leg sweep that made the ninja fall on his back.   The bare-chested guy jumped up high, somersaulted and made an aerial kick just as the ninja got up.  With a hump the ninja was sent flying back.  With a yell of effort the bare-chested guy fired a fire bolt at the ninja.  The ninja was fast though, and jumped over it.  Then he ducked as the guy came shooting over feet first.  Instantly the ninja turned around, and made an uppercut, catching the guy right in the face as he was still flying over.

“Damn!”

“Finish him.”

The ninja walked over to the dazed bare-chested guy, produced a knife hidden in his right hand attached to a rope, sliced open the bare-chested guy’s throat, then went lower and completely cut off the guy’s torso at the waist, making it fly through the air and land, while a fountain of blood spurt forth.

“YES!  Yes!”

“Scorpion wins.  Fatality.”

Ranma looked defeated at the computer monitor, as Xander whooped his triumph.  The keyboard of the PC had managed to survive the abuse of the young, super strong, martial artists, but only barely.  “Ranma, out here you may kick my ass, but virtual reality I rule supreme!” Xander taunted his friend.

“Oh my, that is rather bloody, isn’t it?” Kasumi asked politely.  Xander turned around.   The kitchen was where there had been place for the new family PC, mostly purchased at the behest of Ranma to communicate via e-mail with Xander, but it had quickly grown to be more than that.  The brunette cook of the family as thus, was often present when the computer was used, and so too today.

“The bloodier the better,” Xander grinned up at her, and she looked oddly for a moment.   Then she quickly turned around to go back to cooking.  Xander turned back to Ranma as the game prepared for the next match by showing select screen, “Ready for some more humiliation, Ranma?”

“Yep,” Ranma said, standing up with finality.  He let his right fist slam into his left palm, and added, “Yours.  Time for some training, Xan.”

Xander grinned while he nodded and went to end the game.  “Where is he!?” a lovely female voice called out loud from what Xander and Ranma guessed was the front door.

“Hey!” an angry voice sounded afterward, and curiously Xander and Ranma walked to the door leading to the living room, as Kasumi went on with her cooking, although obviously keeping an ear out for the events.  The voice didn’t quit with one word, “You can’t just barge in here, and-”

“No time, Akane!” the voice interrupted, and Xander and Ranma reached the door.  She looked across the room, where Tendo and Saotome were characteristically playing Chinese chess at the table, the door half slid open to the garden.  Onward in the corridor which lead to the front door were Akane and Shampoo.  “Need Ranma, you tell, or I kill!”

“Oh, boy,” Ranma muttered, shaking his head.  This was going to be explosive.  Tendo and Saotome looked up as well, Tendo arching his body backward.

Shampoo turned her head and spotted Ranma.  “RANMA!” Shampoo exclaimed, ignoring the rapidly losing it Akane.  The Amazon charged forward, not caring one bit that she trashed the game, making the grown men exclaim in irritation.  Akane was close behind the Amazon.  Shampoo grabbed Ranma, pulled him along toward the actual dojo, saying, “Ranma come, Ranma train.”

Akane had completely missed the exclaims, only eyes for Shampoo pulling Ranma along and almost barreling over the surprised house guest.  She caught up, grabbed Shampoo by her arm, and shouted, “If you think you can marry Ranma by threatening to kill me and kidnap him, you’re very much mistaken, you Amazon bimbo!”

“This not about marriage, this matter of honor!” Shampoo exclaimed angrily, and yanked to get free, yanking Ranma along.  The two guys looking as surprised and dumbfounded as Kasumi who looked at the event hoping she didn’t have things to clean again.  Ranma was does not in the frame of mind to free himself from Lotion’s grip.

“I DON’T CARE WHAT’S IT ABOUT!  YOU DON’T BARGE IN AND KIDNAP PEOPLE!” Akane screamed, redirecting her arm to Ranma and started yanking on a free arm to keep Shampoo here.

“RANMA TRAIN!” Shampoo bellowed at Akane angrily, yanking Ranma hard, making him grunt.  “Xander train Lotion!  Ranma train Shampoo!  I kick upstart’s ass!”

“Listen, you disgraceful-”

Ranma started using some of strength, and interrupted Akane by saying, “Don’t often agree with Akane, Shampoo, but . . .”

Shampoo had enough and reached out to a kettle on the table rapidly.  She tossed some of the water in Ranma’s face, and girl-Ranma sputtered the water from her face.  “See!” Shampoo demanded, pointing at girl-Ranma, Ranma’s building momentum removed by the transformation.  “You no worry!  This not about marriage!  This about training!”  And with that she yanked girl-Ranma free from Akane’s iron grip, causing quite some discomfort and a yelp coming from Ranma.  Then another yelp as she banged against the table stumbling along, Shampoo going too fast for her to get her footing and balance.

“Agh, Xander, I’ll train her, you go explore Tokyo and have fun, okay?” girl-Ranma said annoyed, as she was dragged along, to the door left toward the dojo.  “Oof!” girl-Ranma exclaimed as she slammed with one leg against the door post, just before disappearing from sight.  “I said I’d train you already, damn it!  You don’t have- urgh!”

“Shampoo beat Lotion, teach lesson!” Shampoo exclaimed without regard for girl-Ranma banging against things.

“Oh, my,” Kasumi said, as Xander still stared at the doorway where Lotion disappeared, realizing his girls were relatively sane in comparison.

“OOOOH!!” Akane exclaimed, steamed, arms and fists straight along her body.  “That, that . . . RANMA-BAKA!!”

“Uh, how is getting dragged off Ranma’s fault?” Xander asked the girl, who glared dangerously at him.

“Simple, he could stop her, or decide to /not/ train her,” she hissed and then stomped off.

Xander raised his eyebrows, and thought, *Waaaaayyyy saner.*  He then turned and headed for the front entrance to leave.

As he reached the front door, Nabiki came down the stars, holding two big ring binders.   Xander could see thick stacks of plastic through the side.   She blinked at Xander, and then said, “I’m going out.  Goodbye, Xander-san.”  

“Goodbye,” Xander greeted back, and thus Nabiki left through the front door.  Xander followed her out.  Outside the gate Nabiki went right, while Xander went left.

It was indeed time for Xander to explore the greater Tokyo area - to be a tourist, he /was/ on vacation after all . . . “Nihau, Xander.”  Xander sighed as he saw Lotion - looking quite pleased with herself - sitting on a wooden fence waiting for him.  The Amazon got off the fence and joined Xander.

“I was going to Tokyo, you know, be a tourist,” Xander said a little annoyed.

“I’m a tourist too, I’ll go with you,” Lotion offered with a dazzling smile that stirred Xander’s heart.  He immediately clamped shut on it.

“No offense, Lotion, you know I like you, love you in different ways, but I was kind of hoping to spend this vacation /away/ from my complicated love life . . .” Xander said a little tersely, and paused for a bit as he thought over what he said, “. . . or should I say the possibility of one - you know: clear my head, recharge the batteries, before coming back and make a decision.  I should really try something steady with one of you and see where it leads, instead of just dating around.”

“You /are/ away from your complicated love life.  Here, it’s just me, you and me, visiting Tokyo, enjoy the sights, and that’s it, no strings attached,” Lotion told him with a smile, thinking, *of course I’m hoping for strings; lots of strings, all attached.*

“Oh, fine,” Xander said a little defeated and the Lotion smiled.  The two walked onward, and Xander frowned.  What had been that little thing nagging at his head these past few minutes.  It was something unpleasant, something . . . something . . . ah, probably nothing.

And so Xander with aspirations of tourism, and Lotion with romantic ones set out.   They chatted some, and got in a steady pace, soon reaching the bus stop.  The next bus to down town, center-stage Tokyo was due in ten minutes, and so they waited.

“Nice place, huh?” Lotion asked Xander with a smile after a good while.

Xander nodded, and asked with a smile, “Japan, Tokyo, or Nerima?”

“Nerima, it’s rather lovely,” Lotion said.

“Yeah, it is, in a weird sort of way,” Xander agreed with a nod.

“Weird?” Lotion prompted.

“Yeah, for example . . .” Xander trailed of.  That had been it, Lotion prompting about the ‘weird’ triggered it.  ‘Xander-san.’  Xander-san?  Xander’s frown turned more pensive, that was a bit too respective for Nabiki, wasn’t it?  Ringbinders with stacks of plastic . . . paper inside of them.  Computer and printer.  At door when showering.  Ranma’s description; selling pictures of girl-Ranma.  Xander’s eyes widened, his right hand raised into a fist and he half hissed, half shouted, “*That bitch!*”

“Xander?” Lotion asked, even as Xander twisted 180 degrees and ran with great speed back where he came from.  Nabiki had a good head start, and she knew where she was going, unlike him.

*****

Nabiki smiled inwardly.  She held the ringbinders to her chest, and walked into the Nerima center.   Lexa wasn’t the well-known pig-tailed girl slash Ranma, or Akane that everyone or certain specific individuals would love to see naked, but Xander’s girl-persona was hot as hell, every bit as hot as Ranma and possibly even hotter.  She was Playboy or Penthouse material, so finding some eager clientele shouldn’t be much of a problem.

She looked around the busy shop street, and soon spotted several of her usual buyers; and luckily none who had specific wishes.  She smiled lightly, and walked up to one, gave him a meaningful look, and a gesture and he nodded.  A few more guys, a man, and one a girl followed, and then she entered an alley.  A little while later the group had one by one sneaked into the alley.  “I’ve got a treat for you, one you’ve never seen, but trust me, she’s everything you like, and more.  Here’s one sample,” Nabiki said with a superior grin of a slick salesman, or woman as the case may be.  She pulled the prepared sample from the first ringbinder, and gave it to group.  “Want to see more, pay up,” Nabiki said with a smirk, as the group of horndogs drooled at the picture of Lexa in a shower, naked.

Barely half a minute after that, there were already calls of buying the picture and seeing the rest, promising purchases.  And so, with a predatory smile, Nabiki started to open the first ringbinder . . .

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!”  Nabiki turned around and saw Xander speeding down the alleyway from the other side, right at her.  “You’re /not/ going to sell a single one of those pictures, oh, no you don’t!” Xander called out loudly as he closed the gap between him and her very fast.

Dang.  How the hell had he figured it out?  Had she let something slip?  Or was it possible that one of the cursed martial dumbos wasn’t a dumbo?  “Oh, really, and why not?” Nabiki asked him sweetly; don’t worry, always a way to make more money.

Xander’s left eye twitched once.  Something Nabiki found amusing, it wouldn’t have been so amusing if she knew Xander had come this close to beating the crap out of her.  She may have been female, but someone who secretly takes naked pictures and then sells them is a bitch, not a woman.  Which meant to Xander that the whole ‘thou shalt not hit women’ was out the door.  The problem was, that taking the pictures away from her by force, would probably have the horndogs call the cops, not to mention some of the pictures or entire ringbinders might go flying and the “clients” could make off with them.  He had really only one choice, and Nabiki /knew/ it.  “How much for the lot?” Xander forced with some difficulty past his lips.

“Hmm . . . how about 400 dollars?” Nabiki asked smoothly, already smiling.

Xander trembled, and said, “Fine, I’ll have to go by an ATM though.”  Behind Nabiki, the others were softly whispering.

Xander was just about to turn around to pull the brunette along to said ATM, when one person of the group said, “50,000 Yen for the lot.”

“Mmh, Xander, that’s a hundred dollars more than your offering,” Nabiki said slyly pensive, “perhaps I should take it.”

Xander was silent for a moment.  “Oh, go right ahead, make the extra money,” Xander said with a friendly tone.  He raised his hand into a fist, and continued just as friendly, apart from the lightly added dangerous edge to his voice, “just know that however much you get, it won’t cover your hospital bill.”

Nabiki blinked, almost dismissing Xander’s threat.  Ranma had a sense of male honor and not hitting women that he’d never break - unless he himself was a woman, but he pulled hat loophole out only in extreme cases - which was very admirable, it also made cleaning him out ridiculously easy.  There was a glint in Xander’s eye though, that told her it wasn’t an idle threat.  It seemed that Xander had the same rule, but that women who screwed him over were exempt.  “Sorry, Xander has the better offer,” Nabiki said and turned to Xander.

“Lead me to the damn ATM,” Xander grumbled pissed off.

And so they went to an ATM, and Xander got the money out of the wall.  Nabiki handed over the ringbinders as she took his money with a smile.  “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” Nabiki told him grinning, and went to turn away.

Xander just finished quickly inspecting the contents, and commanded, “The negatives.”

“What?” Nabiki asked, stopping in her tracks.

“The negatives, her, give, now,” Xander told her gruffly.

Nabiki extended her arms to show her innocence and said, “I don’t have them on me, and this was only for the pictures.”

“No, it was for the lot, the negatives are part of the lot because you have them with you in case the demand was so high you’d be out of copies and needed a shop to make more to sell,” Xander said with an angry smile, then made a beckoning gesture with his right fingers.

Nabiki took a deep breath, looking at him.  She lowed her arms, and then sighed, pulling them out of the inner pocket of her jacket.  “Here,” Nabiki said, gave him the negatives, and then gave him a salute with a wry smile.  She turned around and walked away, thinking, *Definitely smarter, Ranma /still/ hasn’t asked for any negatives.*  Then she patted her much thicker wallet, and realized it was quite a lucrative day.

Xander walked off, and found an private alley.  There he got out his lighter and started burning the pictures.  He burned all but one copy of each picture, so he could check if any later nude pictures of him were these, and he knew who to go to.  The ringbinders he tore to shreds and dumped in the dumpsters.  The plastic sheets to hold pictures went the same way.  Finally he got the negatives and burned those two.

“There, now to get my money back,” Xander said and walked out of the alley, back into shopping street of Nerima.  “Think,” he told himself, finding Nabiki walking down the somewhat filled street, and noticed where she was going.  He overlaid the map of Nerima with Ranma’s tour this morning, and walking steadily behind Nabiki went about figuring what she was doing what her way back was.  As commanded to himself, Xander thought.  He thought how Nabiki must have been well-trained being the daughter of a martial Arts teacher.  He was pretty sure she’d let her training slide, and thus she was nowhere near Akane’s level, let alone his, Ranma’s, and Ryoga’s, however she was still going to kick the average guy into the hospital if she had to face one.  In short, he either needed to do this himself . . . or get numbers.

Xander halted upon seeing a group of about a dozen guys and young men, gruff looking.   They’re clothes were half worn away, they were wearing tattoos.  Granted, one should never judge a book by its cover, but this was one hell of a cover, and the chance the cover was the inside was higher then hoping some random nice-looking individuals were not like the cover.   So Xander walked over to the group, and ask them without raising his voice, “So, you looking to make some money?”

Most of the group looked up, the leader - a wiry Japanese with a shaved head - looked at Xander suspiciously.  “How?” the man asked still suspicious.

A few of the men pulled knives from their jackets and started cleaning their nails with it.   Oh, yeah, they were definitely like their cover.  “Well, there’s one girl here, just one girl, all alone, that has at least 40,000 Yen on her,” Xander said with a grin, “You twelve could very easily get it away from her . . . and she’s cute to, if you know what I mean.”  Xander waited a moment, gauging their reactions - it was obvious they were interested.  “2,000 Yen if you want to know who and where she’s going,” Xander said with his friendly, conspiratorial smile.

The leader smirked an unpleasant smirk, and said, “Deal.”  He handed the 2,000 Yen over, and Xander pulled him along, hoping they wouldn’t decide to get their Yen back from him.  “Over there,” Xander pointed along the street, and the criminal followed it, “See the brunette in the sexy green top and short jacket, very short brown hair?”  He nodded.  “That’s her, and she’ll take the second left, and then right.  If you’re fast, you should be able to get at the alley, and pull her in for some privacy.”

“Yeah,” the criminal said, nodding gently.

Xander looked down at the Japanese for a moment, then shook his head and stepped away.  “I must be going now, see you,” Xander said friendly and then sped off in opposite direction than Nabiki.  He looked back and saw the gang start going.  Xander nodded and quickly slipped into the restaurant to his right.  Now it was time to make sure the little gang didn’t recognize him later.  He then went to the bathroom quickly, and dipped his face in some water he gathered in his hands.  Lexa looked back from the mirror, and she gave herself an eye wink.  Then she was off.

*****

Nabiki smiled.  This had been a good day - she had made a bundle of money after all.  She walking back toward home, thinking of the possibilities if Xander hadn’t caught her.  It didn’t bring her down though; 40,000 Yen and a good amount of change was no bad harvest at all. She walked passed an alley to her right, and suddenly several arms grabbed her and pulled her in.  “Hey!” she exclaimed, as she soon found even more hands and bodies getting at her, copping feels, perhaps patting her down, or both.  With some force she managed to yank free, ducked and made a backward leg sheep.  A yelp, and the man went down, while above her several grasping hands only grasped . . . grasping hands.  She rolled forward, passing the mass of men, got up, and ran, heart beating in her throat with fear.

“After her!” he heard behind her, and then a stampede.

A few moments later Nabiki came to a halt, seeing the end of the alley marked by a wall.   She turned around, and saw the gang standing for the first time.  The dozen or so rough looking men grinned evilly.  “You’re money, whore,” one bald guy said, who Nabiki suspected was the leader.  She shivered, fear getting to her, but went into a combat stance.  She counted the group: some twelve men.  She really wished she hadn’t slacked in her training, had kept it up, then she might have been as strong as Akane who probably would mow through these bastards in no time at all.  As it was, with her own meager strength and martial arts basics, she probably could keep one off of her, possibly - if she was really lucky - two, but twelve was impossible.  Yet, she was determined not go down without fighting; and the way they were leering at her, they had more intentions than just emptying the trash.

With her heart hammering in her throat, Nabiki said, “You’re not touching me.”  She winced.  When the gang chuckled, she knew she had been right about sounding as scared as she felt.

“Of course not, baby, not if you hand over the money,” the leader said, taking a step forward, his bald head managing to look downright evil.

Nabiki straightened surprised when she heard a familiar feminine voice say, “You seem to be needing some assistance.”

She turned half, and took a step back, to be able to look at both threats, while the gang gave voices of surprise and confusion.  From a side door in the building stepped out a girl in jeans, a tight red shirt that strained around her breasts.  With hands clasped over her chest, she casually leaned back against the wall, standing one foot, the other balancing lightly on her toes. Nabiki’s eyes widened as she felt relieved; Lexa was coolly smirking at her.  One member of the gang cracked maliciously, “Look at that, guys, two for the price of one.”

Nabiki felt herself calm down, knowing how strong Xander/Lexa was, almost as strong as Ryoga - almost as strong as Ranma.  They didn’t stand a chance, or at least . . . why was she just standing there doing nothing but smirk at her.  “Al right, girls, hand over the money,” the leader repeated, and they slowly started forward.

Lexa casually lifted a hand and started inspecting her nails.  With the advancing criminals, Nabiki’s fear started to grow again.  “You’re not going to help me?” Nabiki asked fearful and shocked at Lexa.

“No . . . no, I don’t really see the point, do so much work, and getting nothing in return,” Lexa observed relaxedly, making the criminals halt in confusion.

Nabiki frowned, still afraid, and then the fear completely ebbed away as she understood.   Xander / Lexa had probably even set these bastards onto her.  “But you’d ‘help’ me for 400 dollars?” she asked with narrowed eyes, having to hand it to Xander in the back of her mind, he was actually scamming his scammed money back - most assuredly was he better at economics.

“No.”

“WHAT!?” Nabiki exclaimed, shocked at the casual dismissal.

“I was more thinking along the lines of 600,” Lexa casually stated, making Nabiki’s eyes bulge out.  The criminals listened to the conversation in mounting confusion and surprise. “Nabiki, not only did you make me pay for my very own photos, but you also ruined my afternoon in Tokyo, you ruined the afternoon in Tokyo of a /very/ good friend of mine as well, the emotional damage, the physical exertion of catching up and finding you, not to mention I have interest rates: /very/ . . . /steep/ . . . interest rates.”

“I’m /not/ paying you 600 dollars!” Nabiki stated.

“NO!  YOU’LL BE GIVING THEM TO US!!” the leader of the criminal gang bellowed, pissed off at the conversation and tired of it keeping them from their goal.  “So quit the yapping, it doesn’t matter who pays who, you both will be handing your money over to us.”

Lexa regarded the criminals for a moment, and then shrugged.  She turned around and started walking toward the back wall, saying, “Suit yourself, Nabiki.”

Nabiki’s fear returned, looking at the criminals.  They were starting to advance again.   She knew without doubt Ranma would never let them get to her; it would have just been a bluff - he’d save her regardless.  “You’re bluffing,” Nabiki told Lexa, but she didn’t react to the statement.  The question was; /was/ Xander just bluffing, or had she pissed him off enough he didn’t care?  Lexa started to get dangerously close to the wall, over which she would no doubt jump soon and disappear, and she had as yet to say anything.  Who had the longer breath, was she willing to call Lexa’s bluff and risk it not being one?

“All right!  That’s it, get them!” the leader yelled, and the criminals started to surge forward.  At the same time, Lexa’s body coiled, ready jump up.

“ALL RIGHT!!” Nabiki shrieked, stopping the criminals in their tracks, seeing if the situation had changed.  Lexa casually bent down to jump away.  “I’ll pay it!  I’ll pay the 600!” Nabiki quickly said.

Instead of jumping, Lexa turned on the ball of her foot, walked over to Nabiki, and with a smirk held out her hand.  Nabiki gave a growl, but quickly reached for her wallet, producing the some 60,000 Yet that constituted some 600 dollars.  “I’m broke,” Nabiki complained, as she placed the papers on Lexa’s hand.

Lexa made a quick count, already turning to face the criminals she had sicked on Nabiki, and stuffed the money away in her own wallet.  “Alright then, time for some asskicking,” Lexa said with a grin, taking a step forward.

“We’re thirteen, what do you-!” the criminal leader started to ask, and then Lexa’s fist slammed into his stomach and he doubled over, sinking to his knees with the exclaim, “OOF!”   Smiling she twisted around, giving the gang member to his left a round house kick to the face that sent him flying back.  He slammed into the wall, knocking the breath out of him, and he sank to the ground unconscious.  The others looked surprised; their mistake.  Lexa gave one gang member an uppercut, making him fly into the air, slamm against the wall and fly down.  A kick sent another one flying to the right and into another gang member.  Both of them sprawled tot he floor, the one kicked unconscious.  Lexa danced through the gang members with a smile on her face; one by one they were sent flying, or fell to the ground unconscious.   One made a nice arc right and forward.  The following to the left, slamming against a dumpster.  One criminal got out a bat and prepared to slam her in the head with it.  She reached out though, grabbed his balls, squeezed hard, and /kept/ them squeezed hard.

“AAAAH!” the criminal screamed out like a baby, dropping the bat.  “Let go!  Please l-le- goo!!!”  Lexa didn’t; she simply slammed her left fist into another criminal, sending him flying back, and kicked high to her right.  The criminal kicked, was sent flying high before slamming down . . . directly into a half-filled dumpster.  The guy who’s balls she was squeezing trying to hop and move with everyone of her movement, which made her yank on his balls.   Tears flew his eyes, whimpering, coughing out fearful gasps, begging, “Please, plea, pl- pl- . . .”

Finally Lexa showed him pity, telling him, while making a painful sympathetic sound, “Ssh, you might not believe, but I know how that feels . . . actually no, I never got my balls squeezed like that . . .”  Then she grabbed him by his neck with her left hand, the man crying. She picked him up, and then turning him around body slammed him into a dumpster, where he remaining groaning and crying in pain.  The remaining two tried running.  Lexa chased after them, and jumped high, somersaulted, and then slammed both feet forward.  She caught them at the side of their faces and they went down painfully, groaning.  Two quick punches later they were done for.

“Wow,” Nabiki said, admiring Lexa making quick work of the criminals.

Lexa turned back, and saw all the criminals lying around, sprawled on the floor, either groaning or unconscious - except those in the dumpsters.  She grinned, and picked the two up, slamming them in a dumpster.  He went to do the same things with the others, telling Nabiki, “Find something to lock or weigh down the lids with.”  A little later all the criminals were in dumpsters, and Lexa slammed the lids closed.  “Alright,” Lexa said, as Nabiki finished securing the dumpsters, “now we find a phone booth and call the cops where they can find them, I’ll bet they’re wanted, or did something they haven’t been identified for.”

“Yeah,” Nabiki said and walked over to Lexa, and the two started to walk away.

“You know,” Lexa said with a big grin, “you were cutting it kinda close there.  A few more moments, and I’d have kicked their asses without you paying me.”  Nabiki’s face froze even as she continued walking.  She looked up at the somewhat taller Lexa, surprise on her face, even more so when Lexa wiggled her eyebrows at her once.  Nabiki felt like smiling and crying at the same time.  Smiling that Xander wasn’t a cold-hearted bastard, crying at the utter humiliation she felt.  Xander had beaten her, fully, totally, completely, and every way.

“You feel that much about naked pictures, huh?  I pegged you wrong then,” Nabiki asked deflated, and yet somehow proud of this guy.

“No,” Lexa said, shaking her head with a wry look on her face.  Nabiki looked up at Lexa in confusion.  “Naked pictures isn’t the problem, it’s just that nobody but me is going to make money off of my body.  Certainly not some amateur photographer and an amateur distribution network.”  Nabiki looked with large eyes full of surprise at him.  Lexa smirked at her, and said, “What did you expect anyway?  I would never let you get away with my money like that.  I’m an American, after all, the only ones with a greater reputation for economics are the Dutch.   You know?  Going Dutch?”

Nabiki slowed down and gestured to a phone booth close by, the shopping street just beyond.  Lexa smiled, and said seriously, “Just remember.  Don’t ever try to scam money from me again.  I’ll just scam more of it back.”  Then she went into the booth, leaving Nabiki to ponder that statement.  She did more than ponder though, looking Lexa over with admiration - he had beaten her.  She was /good/.  A short while later Lexa came out, and said, “Well, the police are on their way.”

“Have you ever thought about playing poker?” Nabiki asked, looking a now dumbfounded Lexa over critically.

“Huh?” Lexa replied.

Nabiki grinned up at her, and said, “Come on, with a body like this, and a poker face like that, we’d make millions!”

“/We’d/ make millions?” Lexa asked Nabiki in disbelief.

“You’ll need a manager,” Nabiki started her sales pitch, and Lexa rolled her eyes while turning around, then walked into the direction of her temporary place of residence.

*****

Sunnydale

Willow, Buffy, Cordelia and Oz stood in front of the Chinese restaurant.  ‘The Amazon Dragon’ was blazoned on the building proudly, the Chinese characters proclaiming the same thing underneath.  “How come they’re closed, they have good food here,” Buffy said in defeat at the empty place, lights out.

“And half-dressed, hot, male waiters,” Cordelia said annoyed, folding her hands across her ample chest.  The shirt she wore had plenty of cleavage, and she was pushing her breasts up.  Buffy noticed it for a moment, but had already turned away.

Willow read out loud from a small paper stuck to the door’s window, “‘On vacation, be back by August 20.’”

“Vacation!?” Buffy exclaimed, looking at Willow.

“Well, they were here for Xander, and he’s in Japan, so they could have taken a trip home while he’s gone.  That is Xander’s return date, you know,” Willow explained a little perturbed.

“You’ll just have to buy yourself a Playgirl then, Buffy,” Cordelia said smugly, a hint of a smile on her face and in her voice.

Buffy narrowed her eyes and looked to her right and up at the cheerleader.  “That’s not funny,” Buffy said dryly, daring the cheerleader to disagree.  Cordelia just glared back down.

“Okay, so where do we eat now then?” Willow prompted, making the two other girls look back at her.  Willow looked innocent in her white t-shirt, jeans and normal shoes.  The fact that the jeans were skintight around her butt, and the shirt around her breasts give her the whole aura of sexy innocence: of come here, I’m young, I’m a virgin, I’m naive, and a little horny.  The two pony tails she wore on either side of her head, somewhat to the back, reinforced the look.  Buffy allowed her eyes to glide over the redhead for a moment.  Willow continued, “The Mac?  Burger King?  Something else.”

“There’s a new one, Double Meat Palace, we could try that out,” Oz finally spoke up, short and to the point as usual.

“Double Meat Palace?” Buffy asked with a wrinkled face of skepticism.  Her eyes briefly flickered to Cordelia’s breasts, then down to her own ‘double meats’.   “Why does that sound rancid?” she asked with a disgusted face.

“Well, we never know unless we try.  Lead on, Oz,” Willow said, and the troop of four turned to follow their new leader.  Buffy took a peak at Willow, then looked forward.  Yeah, she wasn’t bisexual after all, Buffy thought.  The dreams were just stupid dreams.  After all, if she were bisexual, she’d be staring at Cordelia’s breasts all the time, or at least steel regular long glances as Oz was doing, and probably thinking they, or at least Cordelia didn’t notice.  It was cute, even brilliant and silent, he was still a man.  Yep, she wasn’t after, and noticing Willow looked hot was not her being bi, that was just her being jealous, noticing that a girl was hot; like Buffy explained, if a girl couldn’t recognize that, she couldn’t make herself look attractive.

Thus they found themselves not soon after in the newly opened Double Meat Palace.   They found themselves a table, and looked dubiously at the food on their plate they just ordered.  Buffy carefully folded away the paper in which the large burger was wrapped, and gave a careful sniff.  Her face got an even more dubious look.  The others, not heaving quite her sense of smell, seeing as she was the Slayer, waited for the verdict.  “It seems edible,” Buffy finally judged, “meaning you can probably chew it and swallow it down without dying, but that’s about all I’m willing to say.”

“We should never have gotten junk food,” Cordelia complained a little at the lack of the Slayer’s support, “It’s bad for my complexion and figure anyway.”

Oz wrapped his hand around her waist, and said, “One hamburger won’t ruin anyone’s figure.”

“Yeah, and you’re still training like hell,” Willow pointed out, somehow feeling the need to relax the Cordelia, “so you can probably use some extra protein and calories.”

“Okay, fine,” Cordelia said, giving up.

Buffy decided that Willow was a much better person than she was - helping and reassuring her former arch enemy, bane of he existence.  But then, what else was new?  Buffy decided to try out the fries first.  As the others starting their preparations as well, Buffy opened her little box with ketchup.  She got a fry, dipped it in the ketchup, and ate it.  After swallowing, she said, “Well, the fries are okay . . . somewhat.”  Several nods came in answer; obviously everyone had decided the same course of action.  “Okay then,” Buffy said, eying the burger with suspicion.  “Right,” she added, and tentatively picked it up, eyeing it again, as if it might snap at her any moment.

“No fear,” Oz said, grabbed his burger, and quickly took a bite out of it.  Then started chewing.  Everyone waited to see if Buffy’s assessment was correct, or if she missed an odorless poison.  Oz swallowed his mouthful of burger, and looked at the thing for a few seconds.

“Well?” Willow prompted.

Oz looked over at her, and said, “It’s okay . . . it’s not deadly, and I don’t have the urge to hurl, so . . .”  He took another bite.  With some relief, the others started on their burgers as well.

*****

The four of them entered the hospital room.  “Hi, Giles,” Buffy greeted, seeing their mentor still lying in his bed, bandaged up.  There was a fruit basket, several bouquets of flowers in vases on his nightstands, and a few get-well cards on a prick board.

“Ah, hello, Buffy, Willow, Cordelia, Daniel,” Giles greeted with a smile as the four teens attempted to maneuver in the small room to get to some chairs.  Buffy and Willow took Giles’ left, and Cordelia and Oz at Giles right.

“So, Xander hasn’t sent you any cards yet either, I see,” Buffy said, checking out the cards, turning them around to see who they were from.  Most were from England, one from her mom, a few more from other school teachers.

“I wouldn’t know, Buffy, the mail does take a while from Japan,” Giles casually answered, taking his arms from behind his head.  As Buffy blushed sitting down, and the other three smiled, Giles got his little controller and made the bed stand straighter, so he could sit comfortably.

“While Ms. Doofus takes her time to dig her grave,” Cordelia said with a frown at Buffy, she produced a hamburger, held it toward Giles, and said, “We thought you might like something else than hospital food.”

“Oh, bless you my favorite students, bless you,” Giles said as he grabbed the junk food.   He unwrapped it, and eagerly took a bite, then chewed.  “Hmm, ymm,” Giles muttered, chewing tastefully.  He swallowed and happily took another bite.  As he swallowed the second a look of horror crossed his face.  Once finished with his second bite, and having swallowed it, he said, “I find this distasteful junk tasteful, delicious even.  Hospital food has ruined my tastebuds.  Worse, it ruined the hope that this junk was indeed the worst you Americans could produce and call food.”

“And it isn’t even Burger King or McDonald’s,” Willow happily informed him, “It’s from some second rate new place we tried out today, it’s quite a bit worse than the big names, although still edible.”  Giles looked at her with horror, then looked with confirmation at the others, and they nodded defeatedly.

“My word,” Giles said, and looked down at the hamburger.  With some disgust at the concept, he happily took a next bite from the still good-tasting hamburger.

“So, where’s Jenny?” Buffy asked interested, having half expected her to be here 24 hours a day.  She had always been here the other times they came to visit.

With a full mouth, Giles answered, “She should be here soon.  And will you all help her get me released from this infernal hell hole, before the only thing I like to eat is hamburgers and fries?”  The Scoobies sniggered at his request, still gouging away the hamburger.

“We’ll try,” Willow said with a smile, admiring the man.  He had almost given his life defending them and the world.  He deserved some admiration.

“So . . .” Cordelia said, surprisingly gentle.  It made Willow look up, and figure Cordelia had been thinking along the same lines as her.  “. . . is there anything we can do for you while you’re still stuck here?  Come for tea at four?  Bring your tea?”  Giles looked at her somewhat dubiously.  She continued unrelentingly, “Bring a Charles Dickens book and read it too you?”

“I’m not quite that British, thank you very much,” Giles said, making all but one of his guests look at him with surprise.  Giles rolled his eyes at him, and added, “Besides, Jenny already brought the tea and shares it with at four o’clock; the only thing sane in this gods-forsaken torture dungeon.”

“I think we can safely say, Giles, you are ready to leave the hospital, you’re fine,” Willow said with a light smile, making Giles look at her.

“Yeah, now we only have to convince the doctors,” Buffy added with a smile of her own.

*****

Nerima, Tendo residence

They had finished eating dinner, and Ranma and Xander were relaxedly training.  A basic sparring match, no real interest in beating each other, just training reactions.  “How was Tokyo?” Ranma asked as he smoothly blocked a punch and deflected it.

“Didn’t get the chance to get there,” Xander grumbled in annoyance.  “Someone tried sell naked pictures of the girl-me.”  Xander peered to his left with his left eye, while keeping an eye on Ranma with his other.

Ranma looked to his left, and saw Nabiki standing there in the door leading to the rest of the house.  “Of course,” he said with equal annoyance.  Nabiki didn’t seem to care about having done something wrong, her eyes were glued to Xander’s form.  She lead her eyes roam over his body, the glistening muscles, and remembered how lovely he had beaten her at her own game.  She shivered, smirking, as she felt herself getting a light itch.

“Out of the way, Nabiki,” Nabiki heard a course voice.  The economic Tendo turned around to see Akane, dressed in a white gi and holding a towel around her neck,  impatiently waiting for her to get out of the way.

“A bit more polite never hurt anyone,” Nabiki said casually, making way for her younger sister.

“Not selling naked pictures never hurt anyone either,” Akane returned bluntly as she walked past her sister, apparently having heard Xander’s complaint.

“Touche,” Nabiki said with a confident grin.  She casually turned around and continued watching the sparring guys, smiling as her eyes once more glided over Xander.  Off to Nabiki’s right Akane performed a worming up, before stacking a good eight stones, and slamming her fist through it with only a little effort.

As Akane continued her own training routine with heavy shadow-fighting, Xander and Ranma sped up a little, starting to exert their prowess.  “On the other hand, it does have an good side: it means you and I can go explore Tokyo together tomorrow, if your new slave driver isn’t around that is; we should leave very early,” Xander said, blocking punches, avoiding kicks and throwing those of his own.

“Good idea,” Ranma said with a grin, agreeing with him.

“I got some postcards on the way back, do you think I should post them tonight, or just do it when we’re in Tokyo tomorrow?” Xander asked his friend, grinning as their sparring sped up a little more.  Behind them Akane made noises typically associated with throwing punches, her training still going strong.

“Definitely tomorrow, we get up early, we have extra time,” Ranma told Xander and he nodded.  The two then went silent apart from battle sounds, as they really went at it, punching and kicking hard, deflecting them, dancing away and attacking.  Nabiki looked with slightly larger lustful eyes as she saw the strength and speed her crush was wielding.  It made her heart beat faster.  Even Akane stopped her training for a bit to follow the two martial artists, and even though she hated to admit it about Ranma-baka, but they were good, really good, and she didn’t just mean their strength and speed.

Finally the two quit, and walked to the left of the dojo, to the rack on which hung many training tools.  They unstrapped several weights that they had had bound around their arms and legs.  It made both girls widen there eyes, then were awed as they carefully counted just how much weight the two had had on them.  Nabiki smirked as they finished, and decided to sashay over to them, and in particular Xander.  The event made Akane look at Nabiki confused and suspicious.  The all-business, sister Nabiki didn’t sway her hips . . . at least Akane had never seen her do it, at least not this feminine before.

Outside, at the same time, a certain Amazon arrived.  She looked through the window and saw Nabiki swaying her hips, and walking toward Xander.  She walked to the main dojo entrance, smoothly opened the door, and greeted jovially, “Nihau!”  She leaned against the door frame, back straight, chest out, right arm up along the frame, bend slightly sideways at the waist to accentuate it and her breasts, which hung straight down, and thus crooked from her normal position.  Her short tight dress, white with pink and red flowers, left most of her legs bare, and an enticing site.

“Ah, Lotion,” Xander said, half enjoying her presence, half annoyed.  Nabiki glared at the arrived Amazon.

Lotion then walked over to Xander with quite some speed, but not forgetting to sway her body as deliciously as Nabiki was training.  She came behind Xander and wrapped her hands caressingly and possessively over his shoulders, bringing them together over his chest, and she said out loud, “How’s my boyfriend to day?”  And she laid a gentle kiss in his neck, which sent a shiver down his back.  At the same time, she gave Nabiki a piercing look.

“BOYFRIEND!?!?” three voices exclaimed as one shocked.  Even Ranma - he knew the situation from the letters, but he had never got a hint that Xander considered himself any of the girls’ he was dating boyfriend.

*Good, nipped nicely in the but,* Lotion thought, keeping her look trained on Nabiki, while pressing her breasts into Xander’s back.

Xander just looked a little surprised.  He let his shoulders slump a little as he somewhat nodded.  The he said, “Yes, no, not really, and yes.”

“And what is /that/ supposed to mean!?” Akane growled, folding her arms across his chest.  Ranma did the same, actually wanting to hear the explanation on that one.

“Well, it’s like this . . .” Xander began, looking up to think of the best way to explain it, while Lotion gently massaged his back with her ample chest, smiling, and not helping Xander’s concentration any.  Of course, he did love a challenge, so Xander continued his answer, “I had a huge crush on this girl, you see, but she didn’t feel the same way.  Lotion wanted me because I defeated her in combat and there’s some Amazon tradition about that, and then I had my best friend since kindergarten (female) after me, as well as the cheerleader captain.  I figured the only way to choose between the three was to get to know them, and thus date them - it might also make the first girl notice, and get jealous.”

“My future husband,” Lotion spoke appraisingly, tightening the hug, which was now made by her hands around his waist instead of alongside the neck.  “So smart,” she added, making Akane and Nabiki roll their eyes.

“So that’s exactly what I did, dated them, kissed them on occasion, so if that’s you’re definition of boyfriend, then I am somewhat, and a boyfriend to one other girl,” Xander finished, Akane looking with big eyes at him.

Lotion clarified sweetly, “One fell in love with werewolf, the other slept with a vampire and now Xander is all ‘squick’ around her, dumb pig-nosed girl.”

“You dated /three/ women, stringing them along!?” Akane asked in shock, growing angrily.

“It isn’t like they didn’t know, I made the deal with all of them present; they wanted a chance at getting me, I gave them the opportunity but they’d have to compete with the others,” Xander explained with a shrug, while Akane grew even more angry.

“Smart future husband, make girls compete, make them proof their worth, choose strongest, fittest, smartest, most beautiful,” Lotion said with admiration, now breaking the hug.

“And it was four,” Xander added, after a moment thought, “the first girl, for a while there, dated me too, while she dated the vampire that eventually made me go ‘squick’.”

“YOU PERVERT!” Akane roared, stomping toward Xander.  Xander looked confused at her, he hadn’t lied to any of the girls after all, hadn’t done it behind their back.  “XANDER-PIG!” Akane screamed and slammed a powerful uppercut in Xander’s chin, who was completely taken by surprise, not to mentioned launched straight up into the air.

“AAAH!” he screamed, going straight through the roof, leaving a hole.  Several splinters, some saw dust, and small pieces of wood raining down to the floor.

Akane slowly lowered her arm, grumbling, and grimacing.  She turned around and marched toward the residential areas of the house, muttering, “I don’t see why he was so damned upset with Happosai, he isn’t a hair better!”  Then Akane was out of sight and earshot, leaving one shocked and surprised Amazon, one annoyed and tired Tendo sister, and one Saotome feeling very lucky.

“AAAh!”  With a dull thud Xander slammed onto the grass just outside the dojo.  “Ugh.”

“Xander!” Lotion called out in concern, walking to the door.

Ranma had casually arrived, leaning just as casually with his right shoulder against the door frame.  With Lotion hesitating next to him, Ranma said with a big grin, “Xan, have I mentioned lately how much I love having you around?”

Xander managed to painfully and tiredly turn his eyes up and toward Ranma.  “Oh, shut up, you bastard,” he grumbled out.

“You okay, future husband?” Lotion asked concerned and frightened.

“Everything except the ego,” Xander muttered and forced himself to his hands and knees with some difficulty.

Inside, Nabiki sighed deeply, and told herself, “Great, leave it to my hotheaded sister to totally screw up any chances tonight.”  Then she turned and headed after Akane, while outside Lotion helped Xander up, while a grinning and chuckling Ranma watched.

*****

Sunnydale, Buffy’s room

Buffy and Willow were lying on Buffy’s bed.  Both of them were on their stomachs, a teen-girl magazine between the two.  Willow had it open on a double page filled with Brad Pitt.  An interview and little story of his history, along with multiple pictures of the movie star in various stages of dress and undress.  Willow read the article out loud.  Buffy was listening and looking over the pictures with a naughty smile.  Something in Willow’s voice caught her attention, and she looked over.  She was close to Willow’s face, very close, and watched as her jaw moved to pronounce the sentences she was reading.  Willow’s lips moved gently, her tongue between them along with it, she read the article in a slightly melodious voice.  Buffy looked at it for a moment, and then turned her eyes away, backward, in doing so, her eyes glanced across Willow’s shapely back, and even more shapely buttocks, the later encased in tight jeans, the former in a tight pale brown shirt.  Buffy turned back again, her eyes glancing over the long, red hair, which moved about slightly as Willow moved her head to follow the sentences. Buffy’s eyes returned to Willow’s lips, moving as she spoke.  Buffy stared at them, not knowing what she was feeling, and not really aware of it.  She just stared at Willow’s soft mouth talking.  For some reason she zoned out on them, not even realizing she had done so.

“Damn, he has a great chest and arms, and look at those eyes,” Willow said with a smile.   When she didn’t receive an answer, she added, “Yes, he has an even hotter butt, especially if you’re a butt girl.”  Still no answer, and so Willow turned her head left to regard Buffy, while saying questioningly, “Buffy?”  Willow as suddenly quite aware of Buffy’s face being close to hers.

Much more so, was Buffy aware of Willow’s face close to hers, /and/ in the right direction now.  Without fully realizing what she was doing, Buffy moved her head forward, and planted her lips firmly on Willow’s.  Willow was surprised, almost shocked, but then regained herself . . . she closed her eyes and opened her mouth, kissing back, seeking entrance into Buffy’s mouth with her tongue.   Buffy’s mouth opened easily, and then their tongues touched, and stimulated each other.

Buffy’s eyes suddenly snapped opened wide, the electrifying, amazing feeling of tongue against tongue snapping her out of her pleasant daze.  Shocked she looked for a moment at Willow’s closed eyes, her tongue still working.  Then Buffy broke the kiss in a panic, almost jumping back, rolling off the bed, and struggling backward till she stopped against the wall.   Willow followed her antics with half curiosity, half confusion, and totally dazed.

“Oh, my god!  I didn’t just do that!  I can’t believe I . . . Oh, my god!  I’m so sorry, Willow!  Please don’t be mad!” Buffy spoke in a panic, heart pounding in her chest.

Willow shook her head to clear it, and asked confused, “Why would I be mad?”

“I kissed you!” Buffy said, pointing at Willow, but accusing herself.  “And you’re all into Xander, big love of your life!  I’m doing it again!  I’m evil!”

Willow came forward, sitting at the edge of Buffy’s bed, putting her hands next to her, feet firmly planted on the floor against each other.  “I kissed you back, didn’t I?” Willow said a little softly, just a little surprised at her own actions.

Buffy looked blankly at Willow, then blinked, going over the last moments of the kiss when she was pretty inactive, but Willow wasn’t - not in the least.  She swallowed, and then Buffy broke into hysterics.  She let her head drop into her hands, bringing up her hands, “This can’t be happening.  I’m not bisexual, I can’t be, and I’m certainly not a lesbian!  God, why’s this happening!?”

“Hey!” Willow exclaimed softly, getting off the bed.  She crossed the short distance to Buffy rapidly, and wrapped her into a hug.  She pulled Buffy’s hands gently from her head, and held it herself, saying, “Everything is okay, nothing bad happened.  Why are you so upset?”

“I can’t be,” Buffy almost cried.

“Being bisexual isn’t bad,” Willow said, a slight hitch of pain in her voice.

“It isn’t,” Buffy whimpered, looking up at Willow, “but out there everybody thinks so!   I’ll be ridiculed, any kids will be teased . . . and I can’t deal with that . . . I’m-I’m . . . I’m Buffy . . .”  She trailed off weakly.

“You /won’t/ be ridiculed,” Willow said forcibly, hugging Buffy close.  “I’m not being ridiculed, and even if we were, we aren’t by the people that matter.  Why is that so bad anyhow?  Not like you were Miss Popular since you became Xander’s and my friend.”

“That’s highschool, and this . . .” Buffy trailed off, shaking her head.

“Life?”

Buffy nodded, and continued, “And I’m being stupid, bitch cheerleader again.  Stupid.  I liked being popular, love by all . . . oh, god I’m so bad.”

Willow broke the hug somewhat and forced Buffy to look up at her, “You weren’t loved by all.”

“I know, hence stupid!” Buffy exclaimed in defeat.  “I’m one screwed up bitch.”

Willow chuckled lightly, not able to attain it, making Buffy look even more pitiful, a tear welling up.  Willow sat further down, off of her knees to be at the same level at Buffy.  “I think I understand,” Willow said, looking deep in Buffy’s blue / grey / gold / brown eyes, amazed at the color spectrum and the depth and breath of emotion they were holding.  “It was bad enough you were the Slayer and not part of life, but if you weren’t nice and straight, you’d be completely tossed out of it, you who were also so fully in life, or at least so you thought.”

The emotions in Buffy’s eyes went through a kaleidoscope, first shock, then revelation, and then self-hatred, or at least blame at being ‘stupid’.  Willow couldn’t resist, she dipped forward and kissed Buffy deeply for a moment, then broke away.  She looked at Buffy, who looked with wide eyes at her.  “But . . . Xander?” Buffy asked her, confused.

“You still in love with him?” Willow asked seriously, but with a smile she couldn’t quite keep off her face, her heart beating powerfully in her chest.  Buffy nodded.  “So do I,” Willow said the smile growing a little.  “You love your mom and dad right, even while loving me and Xander as friends and more?”  Buffy nodded dubiously.  “We can love more than one person at the same time,” Willow finished her explanation, never taking her eyes off of Buffy’s.

“But . . . I . . . what?” Buffy asked confused, not understanding.

“I’ve been noticing you, Buffy, for the last few weeks.  But you were always firm and convicted straight girl, so I just figured I’d lust unseen after you from afar, do some dirty fantasies,” Willow said with a grin, actually making Buffy blush, something Willow liked seeing on Buffy.  “When were you . . .?”

“Few weeks too,” Buffy said, her heart hammering, not knowing where this was going, or whether she wanted to go there.  “Have been having weird dreams past few days too, liked you sleeping against me Ozsitting . . .”  Willow was about to speak, when buffy said suddenly, “Actually . . .”  She paused, and Willow looked questioningly at her.  “If I’m honest . . . I think a bit of me’s been curious . . . about girls . . . since you kissed me at Halloween.”  Willow frowned, thinking back, and then remembered kissing Buffy when she decided that Lotion would most definitely not have Xander even if it meant sharing him with Buffy.  God, was that really only so short a time ago?  Lotion didn’t seem like the pure evil she looked like then anymore . . . not that she was a sweetheart.  When Buffy saw that Willow remembered, Buffy added, “And more so . . . well, Xander and I were kissing one time, and he turned into a she . . . and at first the kiss was so good I couldn’t care less what gender he was . . . before I snapped out of it and hurt him with my stupid head by jerking back like she was contaminated or something.”

Willow chuckled a bit, then kissed Buffy quickly again.  Then she said, “Buffy, I have no idea where this could lead, or what it could do, whether we’ll break up one, whether we’ll be rivals again for Xander, or not, and Lotion steals him away from both of us, whether we’ll be together still when we’re eighty, old and decrepit.  I don’t care, that’s the future, and this is now . . .”  Buffy looked confused at Willow, and Willow smiled a bit, before continuing, “All I know is, I could have had him long before you arrived, I’m pretty certain, if I hadn’t let life pass me by, if I had the guts to do something, if I hadn’t sit on my ass waiting for something to happen . . . Buffy, I’m tired of waiting around for something to happen, I wanna try this, you and me, and see where it leads.”  Buffy looked with wide eyes, a whole mixture of emotions boiling through her.  When Willow’s lips touched hers, and their tongues started a passionate dance, all those emotions boiled even harder away, leaving only the passion, the crush, the love, the lust for this sexy, hot girl . . . and a fear of the unknown.

After a few minutes of heavy making out, the two girls wrapping more and more in a deep embrace, they finally came up for air.  Buffy nodded vigorously, “Yeah, me too, but I’m a little afraid.”

“I know,” Willow said gently, looking deeply again in those colorful, sexy eyes.  She place a quick kiss on Buffy’s cute and sexy, nubby nose.  Then she said, “Buff, let’s not forget the pact with Xander we made, right?”

“Not forgetting,” Buffy agreed, nodding her head, holding up her hand.  Willow placed hers in Buffy’s, gripping each other’s hands tightly, they repeated in unison, “Whatever happens, friends first.”

“So . . . I guess we have go out on a date now, huh?” Buffy asked.

~~~~Part 3: The Economic American~~~~

Xander had finished his cold shower, and turned it too hot, thus returning to his true self.  He let his hands move over his body, the warm water and shampoo caressing him.  It was a good shower.

“Well, hello big boy.”

“YAAAH!” Xander exclaimed in surprise, turning instantly to his right, where the voice was coming from.  Outside of the cubicle was Nabiki, leaning casually against the sink, and had a very predatory smirk on her face; her eyes casually going down without a moment of shame.

“Very big boy,” Nabiki said approvingly, all but purring.  She herself was in a tight pair of jeans hot pants, and a top that left her belly button visible.

“Have you no shame!?” Xander exclaimed, and quickly put his hands in front of ‘himself’.

“What for?  Only gets in the way of making money and ogling hot guys,” Nabiki said, her smirk not once wavering.

“I should try this on you or your sisters!  I’d be chased down the street being called a pervert,” Xander said angrily, turning around to turn off the shower.

“Not by me you wouldn’t, I’d just pull you in and ravish you,” Nabiki said, licking her lips while checking out Xander’s naked behind, and what a behind.

Xander’s eyes widened and then growled.  He turned back around and stepped out of the cubicle, his shower cut short.  As he took the first step out, he looked at Nabiki just standing there ogling him.  “Get me the *damn* towel!” Xander told Nabiki.

Nabiki sighed deeply, theatrically, sadly, and handed Xander his towel.  Xander rapidly tied it around his waist, which meant Nabiki’s eyes had risen to his muscular chest.  “Hmm,” she purred.

Xander grumbled, grabbed a second towel, and then told her, “I should make naked pictures of you and hang them in my room.”

As Xander started toweling off with the second towel, Nabiki grinned, gave a shrug, and told him, “Perhaps you should.  And I really should get a batch of naked pictures of you and hang them in my room.”

“All right, off with the clothes,” Xander said, fed up.

“What!?” Nabiki exclaimed surprised.

“Off with the clothes.  You’ve seen me naked as a boy and a girl, you spy on me, tried to sell my naked pictures, and are shamelessly ogling me here, as if I’m one of the Chippendales.  That entitles me to some return viewing.  Off,” Xander said somewhat angrily.

“I’m not-” Nabiki started, and Xander stepped forward, dropped the second towel, grabbed the buttons of her pants, and started undoing them.  “HEY!” she exclaimed in surprise.  The hot pants were shoved down to her knees a moment later, revealing a red, silky g-string.  Shocked, Nabiki moved her hands down to stop Xander but he was far too strong as they reached up to her top.  “Stop it!” Nabiki protested, but Xander continued.  “All right, all right, I’ll quit the ogling and the stupid innuendo!”

Xander pulled his hands back, “Oh, now you’ve got modesty, huh?” He reached down for the second towel.

Nabiki looked at Xander, seeing his fists in his sides, and with his muscular physique he looked like a god.  The left side of her mouth quirked up, and she moved her hands up her torso.  It reached her top, and pressing a little harder it moved up with her hands.  Xander looked surprised as Nabiki sensually pulled her top over her breasts, exposing them.  They looked good, c-cup, apple-shaped with slightly pointy nipples.  “Like what you see?” Nabiki asked huskily.

Xander tore his surprised eyes from Nabiki’s exposed chest, and looked into her eyes.  “What is it you want, Nabiki?” Xander asked her directly, fed up with the games.

Nabiki smiled, and gently lowered her top again, answering, “You.”

“What?” Xander asked confused.

Nabiki smiled brighter, baring her separated teeth, and said, “More precisely, I want you to take my virginity.”

Xander’s eyes all but popped out.  He stared at her for a moment, the second towel dropping back to the floor.  He shook his head, and with a raised right index finger, he said, “Uh, excuse me, but I thought I just heard you say that you wanted me to . . . uhm . . .”

“Take my virginity,” Nabiki finished for him.  “That is indeed what I said.”

“Oh,” Xander said, and got a grip on his mind.  How to handle this?  “Well, you see, Nabiki, it’s like this.  I’m going back to the US in a few weeks, and I’ve got somewhat girlfriends there, including Lotion, and-”

Nabiki interrupted him with a smile, leaning back again, the sink in her lower back, “I didn’t ask for a relationship, Xander Harris.  I want you to take my virginity.”

Xander’s eyes widened again.  He asked, “You don’t want?”

“Oh, no, the men I date, am with, marry one day are suckers, losers who will pay my bills.  You though, you outwitted me.  I want a man that I can respect to take my virginity,” Nabiki told him frankly.  Xander’s eyes widened a bit more, frozen, trying to wrap his mind around that.  “It’s called a one-night-stand,” Nabiki clarified.

“I know,” Xander said, and straightened up.  He couldn’t do that.  He had girlfriends.  They’re not girlfriends!  Not yet!  Another part of his mind disagreed.  But . . . No buts!  You have an arrangement.  It’s all very clear that you are not with any of them until you make a decision.  You are free.

Part of him wanted to point out one-night-stands were wrong.  *Oh, fuck it!* he told himself though.  She wanted it, he wanted it . . . now, he wasn’t misleading her, hell he wasn’t even the one doing the seducing.  There was just no way he could pass up this opportunity, he indeed wasn’t with anyone until he made a clear decision.  “I take it you have given this more thought?” Xander asked with smirk.

Nabiki smiled back, feeling her heart beating in her chest.  It was really going to happen, her eyes returned to his body, flashes of what it might be like shooting through her.  “Nine o’clock, tonight, meet me outside at the gate, I know a comfortable motel,” Nabiki said softly, now suddenly nervous, not understanding why.

“Condoms?  You got some, or do I go get them,” Xander asked swiftly and softly as well, not really wanting anyone to overhear.

“You get them,” Nabiki answered, then hesitated as she wanted to go.  “Have you ever . . .?” she asked swiftly, then trailing off, feeling herself flush.

“As a guy, yes,” Xander said, smiling just a little.

Nabiki swallowed the saliva that had formed in her mouth, and then asked, “Was it good?”

“Very,” Xander said, flashing back to Buffy, remembering how totally the two of them had felt and moved seemingly as one, how their pleasure had exploded through them.

“For her too,” she asked even more softly.

“Definitely,” he answered, and Nabiki looked up.  “Trust me, she was as blown away as I was,” Xander asked, smirking now, feeling how the situation was now in his hands.  Nabiki shivered, and prepared to leave.  “Was over too quickly though,” Xander stopped her, remembering the aftermath.  “Be very certain you want this, and we’ll just have to do it more often if we don’t want the same sensation.” Nabiki looked back at him for a moment, and then realized what he meant: he wasn’t going to quit after one time.  She licked her lips, gave Xander a last look, and then hurried out.  “I can’t believe this is happening,” Xander muttered, looking down at himself, then smiled broadly.

*****

The breakfast table was tense - very tense.  They were all present, including Happosai, in fact he was sitting across from Xander, apparently to keep an eye on him.  Xander returned the favor, eating silently while keeping his eyes trained on Happosai as much as possible.  The two of them glared at each other, attempting to force the other into submission by eyes alone, and neither were having any luck.  Nabiki gently looked from one to the other, and then swallowed, even though she didn’t have anything in her mouth except saliva.  Soun and Genma looked on, and with them the terror was easily readable off of their faces.  They were hoping desperately the two weren’t going to throw more bombs around.  Akane was eating, and stole nervous glances at the two, ready to bolt if either pulled bombs out.  Ranma never showed fear, but he too peered from Xander to Happosai and back a little nervous.  He may be the greatest martial artist in Japan, if not the world, but not even he was stupid enough to stand in the way of a bomb.

Thus, breakfast was silent . . . well, almost.  Kasumi did seem to notice the tension at all, and happily hummed along while she ate.  While she did so, glances kept being thrown at Xander at Happosai, who did not take their eyes off from each other.

Finally it was Happosai that broke the silence, “What are you looking at, girly boy?”

“At a disgusting, perverted, old geezer,” Xander answered with a growl, completely oblivious to everyone but Kasumi looking alarmed at the two.

“You take that back, kiddy,” Happosai retorted, not caring as two males made desperate, terrified signals for him and Xander to stop.

“The hell I will, grandpa!” Xander hissed back, completely unnoticing the signals.

Happosai stood up, slamming his hands on the table, and said, “That does it.”

“What are you gonna do?  Toss more bombs?  I’ll toss them right back, and this time I’m going to make sure I take you out, even if I have to lay waste to the entire greater Tokyo area!!” Xander exclaimed, looking at Happosai with blazing eyes, who returned it.

“Please don’t!” Genma whimpered, bowing down in front Xander, hands pressed together above his head.  “Surrogate son great warrior and chemist, we know, no more destruction please!”

Across from Xander Soun was bowing down to Happosai in the same way, begging and whimpering, making Ranma roll his eyes.  Happosai turned back from Soun to Xander, and said, “You’re in luck, upstart, if my pupil was not begging my restraint . . .”

“Same goes for you, old man, if my surrogate father wasn’t asking me . . .” Xander said, glaring back to Happosai just as hard as Happosai was glaring at him.

“Oh, thank the gods,” Soun and Genma said, looking up at the skies in gratitude.

And so the Tendo extended family ate breakfast in peace that morning . . . for all of two minutes.  “Nihau!” was yelled as the doors were pulled open, revealing Shampoo.  “Come for training!”

She grabbed Ranma at the back, and pulled him along.  “Glo!  Mmmh!  Mmh!” Ranma gargled, as the bread he was just eating shot into the wrong hole still unchewed, making him gag and cough.  He was lifted up in the air over the table, while choking on the food, spraying some of it over the table.  “MMMH!” Ranma exclaimed further, turning red, coughing for air.  Finally he managed to get it out of the wrong hole and down the right one, and before he disappeared from sight, he said, “Shampoo!  Damn you!  Come on, Xander!”

Xander shrugged and followed the couple while Akane looked steamed.  The rest shrugged and continued eating breakfast, except Kasumi who said, “Oh, my.”

*****

Ranma smoothly ducked beneath Shampoo’s punch, and smashed both his hands into her stomach.  The Amazon was launched off of her feet, and smacked on the wooden floor ass first.  “Ouch,” Shampoo exclaimed, and quickly got up, looking determined.  She advanced on Ranma who waited patiently for her with a smile on his face.  “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire!” Shampoo exclaimed in Chinese . . . and threw several barely faster punches as normal, which Ranma easily avoided, and brought the Amazon down with a leg swipe.

“Oof!” Shampoo exclaimed as she landed on her back.

“You should have been able to see that coming,” Ranma said with disapproval at the Amazon.  This was dang odd; he was teaching students, and one of them a girl.  Of course, if he truly was to inherit the Tendo Dojo he would have to start sooner or later.

“Why not work!  Work for Lotion!  Why me not!?” Shampoo exclaimed frustrated, and then sat up.

Xander was slowly working on his circles, totally calm.  “Took Buffy and Lotion more than three months to learn,” Xander told her, “you can probably expect it to take that long with you.”

“What Xander said,” Ranma said, enjoying the work out.  Usually he was alone, only occasionally sparring with Akane; but she was nowhere near Shampoo’s level.  If Xander trained regularly with girls of Shampoo’s and Lotion’s caliber, and training with Ryoga, and training with magic practitioners, it was no wonder his friend had improved so much.  He was almost as good as himself - it was time Shampoo, Akane and the like were going to train with him, and he teach and train them, that way they’d get better and he’d have better training partners, so he could stay ahead of Xander.

“But you and Xander do in days!” Shampoo exclaimed frustrated.

“Yeah, well, we’re men,” Ranma said, and shrugged.  Shampoo looked at him with a dreamy look, which he completely missed.  Behind them though, Akane had arrived into the dojo a little earlier.  At first she had taken in the sweaty boys, enjoyed the look, but then realized that Shampoo must enjoy the look as well, and they probably enjoyed Shampoo’s sweaty vision vice versa.  It had made her pissed; which made her increase the stack of planks to slam her hand through by nearly half, and succeeded destroying them with ease.  She now noticed Shampoo’s dreamily look, and glared at the Amazon balefully.

Shampoo shook her head though, and got up.  “We continue!” she exclaimed, breathing a little heavily.

“Ranma, I wanna try this out again, I think I got it now,” Xander said, and went into a stance.

Ranma smiled, and told Shampoo, “Right after Xander’s tryout.” The Amazon grumbled but acquiesced.  To Xander Ranma said as he walked to the exit, “Let’s do it outside, huh.  You have mastered it, we’re not going to destroy the building.”

Xander nodded, and they went outside.  Xander calmed himself several meters away from the building, while Ranma increased his chi and heat.  “Ready?” Ranma asked, slightly nervous; if Xander indeed had succeeded he was going to be tossed around by the whirlwind just like it had Xander earlier.

“Ready,” Xander answered with a slight smile.  Leave it to Xander to realize it too, Ranma reflected before charging.  Ranma made his chi burn bright, and allowed himself to follow the spiral Xander was making backwards.  They reached the middle, and Xander made the uppercut, grasping the chi around him with his own, yelling, “Hiryu Shoten Ha!”

Wind picked up . . . just a little, and Ranma’s fist connect with Xander’s right cheek, sending him flying backward and landing painfully on his ass.  “Ow,” he said, sitting back up.  “Was that necessary?”

“It’ll be incentive for you to master the art quicker,” Ranma said with a grin.  “AAH!” he exclaimed a moment later, as Shampoo dragged him back into the dojo.

“Future Husband hurry training, must beat upstart!” Shampoo exclaimed, while dragging Ranma back inside.  The boy was mumbling several expletives, while Xander watched astounded.  Then he started training again.

*****

Sunnydale

The beautiful ass was wrapped in leather, and gyrating seductively in front of Buffy.  The band playing in the bronze was swinging the place up, lights flashing around.  Buffy pressed herself against the beautiful girl, looking around slyly.  The place was packed, and lots of boys and men, a few with girls were dancing around them.  Her hands circled Willow’s waist and rubbed across the redhead’s bare stomach, feeling the soft warm skin.  Buffy moaned slightly as she pressed herself even closer to Willow’s backside, whispering in Willow’s ear, “I had no idea a girl’s ass could look so good.” Willow smirked as Buffy’s lips touched her skin just below her ear.  Buffy then added, “You look so damn hot in leather.”

With the boys around them looking both wide-eyed and disappointed, Willow turned her head back slightly and returned the compliment, “You look pretty damn good in a skirt yourself, Buffy.” Their lips touched, they still moved to the music, then their tongues massaged each other, making Willow shiver, and Buffy marvel at her best friend’s lips.

Off to the side, Oz and Cordelia sat at a table, on a couch.  Cordelia’s eyes were wide and watched the couple kiss, and heat the place up with their sexy dance.  “Pinch me,” Cordelia muttered.  Oz silently moved his hand over, and pinched her knee.  “Ouch,” Cordelia said, and rubbed her knee, before turning back to watch the lewd scene.  “I must be hallucinating.  Oz, am I hallucinating?”

“I would have to know what you’re seeing to make that assessment,” the guitar player answered smoothly.

“Buffy and Willow are kissing - each other - with tongue!” Cordelia said in disbelief, gesturing impotently at the scene, as quite a few guys decided however hot the sight, it was best spending time on girls they actually had a chance with.  The remaining quarter of the male Bronze patronage, disagreed.

“The persons having the same hallucinations is basically impossible, so I can safely say, you’re not hallucinating,” Oz answered, his own eyes taking in the sight, and not completely unaffecting by it, which made him frown just a tiny bit as he thought about it.  Willow had turned around, and her hands were on Buffy’s ass, tightening the fabric of the short skit around the roundness.  They seemed oblivious to their audience, as Buffy moved her hands higher, along Willow’s top, and then cupping the redhead’s breasts gently.

“No way!  Just no way!  Has everyone gone insane in this place!?” Cordelia all but shrieked in shock.

“Hellmouth, so possible,” Oz said, liking the scene in front of him a lot.

Cordelia turned her head to Oz briefly, and then as the band finished the song, she said, “Buffy was straight, right?  I wasn’t imagining her having the hots for two males, one a corpse, last year, was I?”

“No, you didn’t.  It seems Buffy found another aspect of her sexuality.  Shouldn’t we applaud that?” Oz stated, and looked at Cordelia who pondered the question for a few moments as the band announced they were taking a few minutes break to lubricate their throats.

Willow and Buffy came over, holding hands and smiling brightly, which made Cordelia get into a foul mood.  “And wasn’t Willow obsessed with a certain loser we both know?” Cordelia grumbled, folding her arms across her chest.  Oz nodded.  The new couple reached them and sat down opposite the older one, and smiled at each other.  “You two have something to tell us?” Cordelia all but growled.

Willow and Buffy looked over, confused.  “Oh!” Willow suddenly realized.  “We’re a couple, Buffy found out she likes girls too, and I’ve been noticing her since Xander isn’t here to distract me.”

“Hey!” Buffy whined cutely, which pulled Cordelia’s foul mood down even more.

“Oh, sorry, you’re not second to anyone, Buffy,” Willow said, and she kiss Buffy full on the mouth to reassure her.

Cordelia was about to grumble and complain to Oz, and noticed him looking with a light smile to the other couple.  Cordelia sighed, rolled her eyes, and announced, “Your reason for applauding them, Oz, is you get off on it!”

Oz turned his head and regarded his steamed girlfriend.  He shrugged lightly, and said, “I’m a heterosexual male.” Cordelia was about to launch into a tirade, but Oz leaned over, and kissed her passionately in her neck, then lower on her collar bone.  With Buffy and Willow watching a little perplexed at the uncharacteristic show of affection, Oz whispered, “It gets me hot.  Let’s find someplace more private.”

Cordelia first shivered at the kisses, then perked up at the words.  While getting up and pulling Oz along, she said with a big grin and in good spirits, “Buffy, Willow, I applaud you two.  Go for it, often, in public.  Excuse us.” Then the cheerleader and the guitar player scrambled off through the crowd, followed by Buffy’s and Willow’s astonished gazes.

Willow then turned her head back to Buffy who was looking in the right direction already.  Willow looked perturbed at her girlfriend, and said, “Was it something I said?”

*****

Nerima

Breathing heavily, the three trainees, Xander, Ranma and Shampoo, came back into the residential section of the Tendo home; more specifically, the kitchen.  They were smudged, bruised, sweaty and scratched, but very fulfilled.  They were smiling.

“Did you have fun?” Kasumi asked politely from where she was vacuuming the floor.

“Yep,” Xander said with a grin, and Ranma nodded.

“Fun!?” Shampoo asked incredulously, “This no fun!  This serious!  Beat Lotion!  Lotion pay!”

“Oh, well, you should all get a shower, separately of course,” the oldest Tendo daughter offered politely.

Shampoo looked with large eyes at the woman, while Xander killing sniffed his shoulders.  “Oh, yeah,” he agreed with a face, “working out definitely makes the sweat glands work.”

He immediately started toward the bathroom.  At that moment Akane walked in, holding a cute pig to her chest.  “Look, P-chan is back!” Akane exclaimed happily.  “Isn’t he cute?  I wish I knew where you manage to get off to all the time.” The girl then hugged the pig even closer.

As Ranma and Shampoo rolled their eyes, Xander did a double take.  He looked closer, and noticed the pig suddenly glaring angrily at him.  “Hey, wait a minute!” Xander exclaimed, pointing at the pig, and how he was pushed close to Akane’s breasts.  “You-”

“Must get a shower!” Ranma quickly interrupted, and yanked Xander along to the bathroom before he could betray Ryoga’s secret, clamping his hand over Xander’s mouth.

Akane followed the two with confused eyes.  “What’s with them?” she asked in wonder.

“They worked out a lot, they’re very dirty,” Kasumi answered smoothly, apparently oblivious to what was going on.  Akane blinked and turned her head to regard her older sister.

“I go home, bath there!” Shampoo announced, giving her rival a glare and then jumped out an open window.

Ranma pulled Xander into the bathroom, hand still covering his mouth.  Then he let the annoyed mumbling Xander go, and slammed the door shut.  “What the hell was that for?” Xander asked confused.

“Akane doesn’t know P-chan is Ryoga,” Ranma explained quickly, looking around a little guilty.

Xander stared at Ranma for several moments confused, and then said, “All the more reason to tell her, she’s holding a guy to her breasts!”

“Ack.  Man, that’s not it.  Ryoga hates it.  He doesn’t want Akane to know, because he can’t bare the shame if he knew he was a pig half the time,” Ranma said defeated, “Plus I kinda am at fault for putting him in that position.”

Xander once more stared at Ranma mauling things over, and then asked, frowning in confusion and disbelief, “So you let him grope your fiancee’s breasts as some sick form of compensation?”

“No!  Dammit, Xander.  This is honor here, so she doesn’t know Ryoga’s has as shameful a curse as I have!” Ranma said in annoyance.  “And don’t call the uncute tomboy my fiancee even if technically she is!”

“Ranma, the little bastard may once not have wanted Akane to know because of the great shame and just gotten picked up accidentally, but that’s gone, he’s just milking it for what it’s worth.  ‘P-chan’ equals groping breasts!” Xander frowned, went over what he said, and then considered, “Which is brilliant in an I-just-want-to-grope-breasts or I-base-my-relationship-on-a-lie-after-removing-the-curse-and-killing-everyone-who-knows-the-truth sort of evil way, but still!  He’s a guy that’s groping a girl you know’s breasts, by using duplicity!”

Ranma thought it over for a few moments, frowned, and said, “You’re right, gods be damned, you’re right!” Ranma was grimacing evilly now, and heading for the door.

“Let’s get a shower first, you don’t want Akane running away with P-chan because she wants to keep her sense of smell intact,” Xander said annoyed, pulling his friend toward the bath.

*****

Xander was the one knock decisively on Akane’s door.  Ranma stood nervously next to him.  “She’s gonna kill us, before we can tell her,” he whispered.

“Come in!” sounded friendly from inside the Tendo girl’s room.

“At most she’ll uppercut us through the roof, and we survived that,” Xander said and opened the door.  Dragging the reluctant Ranma after him.

When Akane, sitting at her desk, saw the two walking into her room, her good mood instantly evaporated.  Holding P-chan to her breast, and narrowing her eyes dangerously at the pair, she growled, “What are /you/ two doing here?”

Silence.  Xander turned his head to Ranma, who shrugged.  Xander sighed and turned back to Akane, and raised his right finger.  “/That/ is Ryoga,” Xander stated.  Immediately, P-chan squinted his eyes angrily, and squeaked, struggling to get to the bastard, but Akane held him tightly.

“Huh?  What are you talking about?” Akane asked confused.

“We fell into the Pond of the Drowned Girl, he fell into the Pond of the Drowned Piglet,” Xander explained, as the piglet continued his struggling.

“Don’t be stupid,” Akane told Xander angrily, while Ranma prepared himself to run in case Akane grabbed for a weapon.  “You’re just trying-” Xander reached from behind him, produced a plant spray can with warm water, and sprayed.  “You ba-!” Akane started to scream in anger, but was interrupted as her balance was suddenly completely off, as well that her arms were suddenly holding /far/ more weight.  Where P-chan had just been, there was now a naked Ryoga, barring his bandana still wrapped around his neck.  Akane look shocked at the naked boy, and Ryoga at her.  Then the chair keeled over and the two crashed to the floor.  They lay there silent, staring in each other’s eyes for a moment, thinking.

“YOU BASTARDS!” Ryoga then exclaimed and started to scramble to his feet to beat up Xander and Ranma.

Akane was getting up to, but for a different reason - well, a different person.  A low growl, somewhat of a combination between a hack and a hiss; souding like something really nasty and dangerously came from her throat as she rose, slowing Ryoga down.  Akane’s face was twisted in a fury and rage like Ranma had never seen.  He was about to run, when he heard her growl deeply,“*Ryoga!*”

Ryoga stopped in his tracks.  He was twisted around, and an uppercut later, he was sent flying out the roof.  “RAAAAAHHH!!!” Akane screamed and then bounded toward Ranma and a still spray-holding Xander.  Ranma was about to run, when Akane hissed, “Out of the way!” She barreled passed the two, adding, “I’m not finished with that pervert yet!”

“I almost feel bad for him,” Ranma said, looking as the furious Akane stormed out the room, while outside with a yell, Ryoga came back down to Earth with a smack.  “Almost.  I gotta see this, finally she’s not blaming me!” Ranma said and charged gleefully after Akane, closely followed by a smiling.

Soon after the two friends were in the garden, watching as Akane advanced on the still dazed Ryoga, lying smack on the ground.  “Ryoga!” Akane growled, and swung a mighty right, sending the boy, groaning in pain, backward, smashing against the surrounding wall.

“Aah!”

“I thought you were better!” Akane raged, getting close to him again, and started raining raining blows on the boy’s face, who could only stay put and take the punishment - after all, he kinda deserved, he didn’t fight girls, and he certainly not his beloved akane.  “Pervert!  Groper!  Bastard!  Molester!”

“Ouch, ooh,” Ranma said with a grin a few meters off.  He turned to Xander and said, “Finally he gets his.” Xander nodded with a slight smirk.

After half a minute of beating Ryoga to a pulp, Akane stopped her abuse, and slowly turning around, she said dangerously, “Ranma.”

Ranma smiled, wondering what Akane wanted.  Xander frowned, and suddenly realized something.  He quickly clasped Ranma’s shoulder, saying, “Friend.” That drew Ranma’s attention and Xander told him, “I’ve detected a kink in the plan.”

“Huh?”

Akane turned fully around, and shouted, “Ranma-baka!  How long have you known P-chan was Ryoga and let him molest me!?”

Ranma went rigid.  “That kink.  Run,” Xander said.

Ranma’s face changed to surprise as Akane started her charge.  “Aah!” he exclaimed and indeed ran the other way.

“Ranma-baka!  Get back here!!” Akane screamed, running after the fleeing boy.  “Idiot!  Bastard!  RANMAAAA!!!”

*****

Akane got back to her room, grumbling expletives about boys, perverts, and Ranma in particular.  She planted herself down in her chair, depressed.  Then she noticed a folded piece of paper with her name on it.  She opened it, and found a letter, which she then started reading.

~~O~~

Akane,

I apologize deeply for my actions.  I was wrong, I was disgusting.  It started all innocently enough.  I was a piglet, Ranma was after me, you picked me up and shielded me from him.  When you held me I could see how much Ranma hated it, and so I didn’t stop it.  I searched it out to torment him.  I found I liked you and I used Ranma as an excuse.

It was wrong; and what I did was unforgivable , therefor I will go, and I shall never return.

Goodbye, beautiful Akane,

Ryoga

~~O~~

Akane read over the letter again, and a third time.  Then she crumbled it up, and tossed it in the trash, “Stupid Ryoga!  Stupid Ranma!  Boys!  Baka!”

*****

2 hours later

Heavily breathing, and heavily bruised Ryoga came to stand still.  He got lost pretty easily, now he had purposefully gone to get himself lost.  “I wonder where I am,” he muttered.

“Nihau, Ryoga,” a beautiful brunette said as she passed him by happily.  Ryoga’s eyes widened in shock.  She turned right to the entrance of a wall-surrounded home.  The tight-fitting dress had a style that seemed familiar to him.  “Xander, nihau!” the girl yelled.

*Ryoga!?  Xander!?* Ryoga thought eyes still big as saucers.  He turned right, up to the sign above the gate, and read, ‘Tendo Dojo.’ “AAAH!” he screamed, and ran off rapidly.  He slowed to stop a minute later, breathing even more heavily due to his sprint.  There, now he was far enough away none from the Tendo home would see him.  He could rest a bit, and then renew his attempts to get lost.

“Shampoo!  Are you here my darling!?”

Ryoga’s eyes widened and turned around.  He knew that bastard; the guy who turned into a goose.  He blinked as the guy came closer.  It didn’t really matter, except that he vaguely recognized the wall to the left of him.  There was a gate.  He looked up, and read, ‘Tendo Dojo.’ “AAARGH!” he screamed again, and bolted once more, running onward, much onward.

Mousse stepped passed the gate, paying the screaming and running boy no heed.  He looked around the Tendo place, and soon recognized the brunette standing just a bit off, happily looking onward, smiling dreamily.  He checked for a moment, and found she was looking at Xander who was sitting on a rock near the pond, steadily bandaging Ranma’s new injuries.

“YOU!” Mousse then exclaimed focusing on Lotion.  As one the three occupants of the garden turned around and looked at the white-robed, glasses-wearing Chinese boy.  His long hair hung slickly, passed his shoulders.  “You hurt my Shampoo, Lotion!  For that you will pay.  Take this!” Mousse shot his arms forward, and a rain of sharp weapons, blunt weapons and chained weapons burst forward at the brunette Amazon.

“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire!” Lotion exclaimed, and to Mousse’s shock, the brunette’s hands turned to a blur, and simply caught all his weapons.  “Take own medicine, annoying loser!” Lotion told him, her Japanese as broken as her English was when she first arrived in Sunnydale, and simply tossed all the weapons back at Mousse.  His eyes widened and he tried to run, but came to the shocking realization that his chained weapons Lotion hadn’t tossed back.

“AAAAH!” Mousse screamed; trapped by his own chains, he could only take the onslaught of sharp weapons head on.  “AAH!” he continued to scream, as they painfully embedded in his skin, or slammed against his body in the case of blunt weapons.  “Oh, no, not a- AAH!”

Lotion had yanked, and pulled him into the air.  Just like Ranma days earlier, she pulled him over her head, and slammed him to the ground.  She let go then though, and Mousse moved onward, splashing into the pond.  A moment later a gaggling GooseMousse splashed on the surface of the water.  Mousse was obviously still angry and spread his wing, more weapons at the ready.  “Don’t you /dare/!” Lotion snapped, pointing at the offending birdman.  “Next time I not make weapons go only so deep, you stupid duck!” GooseMousse blinked, and then settled down.

Xander and Ranma had watched the entire exchange.  “He’s a goose,” Ranma pointed out a little uselessly.

Lotion blinked and took the boy in for a moment, then asked him, “You no have enough bruises?”

“Lotion, would you calm down,” Xander said, not above admiring the feminine, strong and beautiful body of one of his suitors in the tight dress.

“Sorry,” Lotion said, much more perky now, “I get testy when people throw weapons at me.”

“Ah, no problem,” Ranma said in a very annoyed tone, “go ahead, work your frustration off on me.  It seems every girl that likes me, likes me for being a punching bag.  I can probably fit you into the schedule too.” He then grumbled some more.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Xander told Ranma, who in response glared at him.

“WHAT’S ALL THE RACKET!?” The three, four if one counted the goose, of them turned to the new screaming.  Akane had come back out, obviously still pissed.

“Goose-boy attacked me with weapons, for no reason, ass I kicked,” Lotion explained, folding her arms across her chest.

“And what the hell do you want this time?” Akane asked the newly arrived ‘bimbo’.

“Ah,” Xander tried to start, but Lotion had other plans.

“Nihau, I Lotion,” Lotion said, giving a bow in greeting as was the Japanese custom, “I'm here to nurse boyfriend .”

Akane’s eyes widened, and she asked, “/Nurse/ your boyfriend?” She turned to Xander and glared at him.  Xander nodding casually with his eyes closed, didn’t notice.

“Hai, Xander hurt, so I bandage his wounds,” Lotion explained with a smile.

“Of all the . . .!” Akane turned to Xander, practically steaming.  The two guys gulped.  “Xander-baka!  Your worse than Happosai!  At least he only steals underwear, you use women as slaves.  Bastard!” Akane pulled her fist back to throw a punch.  At the moment she was twisted around, and with a surprised look on her face, got devastating punch to the right side of her chin.  She was launched backward a few meters, and crashed to the ground, where she stayed put seeing stars.

“No hurt my boyfriend, bitch!” Lotion stated, pointing angrily down at her.  Xander and Ranma relaxed, and looked at the downed Akane.

Ranma then turned to Xander and said, “Did I mention I’m glad you’re here?  Oh, and can we exchange our Amazons?”

“Sorry,” Xander said with a grin.

“Nuts.”

“Xander,” Lotion said, switching to English.  “Shall we go see Tokyo tonight, as we were so rudely interrupted yesterday?  At night, we can make it a romantic date.”

“Ah, well, you see . . .” Xander said, feeling a little guilty and remembering what tonight had in store for him.  “I have some prior plans tonight, and . . .”

“Like what?” Ranma interrupted Xander.  “Not with me.  I remember friends out.”

“Not with Ranma?” Lotion asked with a hurt face.

“Nabiki, actually,” Xander said, scratching his head, and feeling himself get hot under the pressure.

“Nabiki?” Ranma asked still in his broken English.  “What you want with Ms. Money.”

“Yes, what do you want with Ms. Money?” Lotion asked, looking hurt.

“Uh . . .” Xander started.  How to get out of this?  He wasn’t doing anything wrong, but he’d also knew it would hurt Lotion’s feelings, and he didn’t really want that.  “Well, she’s made an offer I can’t refuse.  Fifty-fifty.” One-hundred percent true, totally false.

Ranma shook his head.  “Americans,” he said, misunderstanding as intended.

Lotion looked at Xander disappointed.  “We’ll go to Tokyo together tomorrow, all afternoon and night long.  Ranma will give us a tour during the day, and at night, it’s just us.  What do you say?” Lotion perked up, and then Akane groaned, coming back to the land of the wakeful slowly.

*****

That evening, after dinner, Xander had gone out, walking to the place Nabiki had chosen for their tryst.  As he walked through the Nerima night, and took in the moon, and the houses along the path, he was in good spirits . . . mostly.  He was rather annoyed with Lotion.  This vacation would have been so much more relaxing if he didn’t have to deal with all that baggage.

Then he stopped.  He frowned, and looked back.  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.  A street, a pavement, fences, some trash cans and a box.  He was about to turn back forward, but instead turned fully around with a frown.  Then his frown turned into an angry look, and he stopped forward.  With swift kick the cardboard box was sent flying . . . revealing Sasuke.  The little ninja with a rag wrapped around his head, looked up a Xander fearfully.  “You!” Xander hissed.

Sasuke swallowed, and said, “Master Kuno Tatewaki asks . . .”

“THEN ASK!” Xander yelled, kicking again, this time sending the pathetic ninja servant flying high through the air.  “DON’T SPY!”

“AAAaaahhh . . .” And Sasuke was gone.

“God damned bastard!” Xander snarled, and then took a deep breath.  “Calm down,” he told himself, turning back around.  “You’re about to take a girl’s virginity, can’t be angry . . . and stop talking to yourself.” Then stepped onward, taking deep breaths.

After several more minutes of walking, a guy stepped in front of Xander’s path, a guy in black trousers, and a blue robe.  “I am Kuno Tatewaki, Furinkan High’s Blue Thunder master swordsman.  I have a question for thee,” he spoke, moving his hand through his hair.

Xander’s left eye twitched; first the flunky, now the . . . flunky.  “/What/ do you want?” Xander asked, grumbling, deciding to humor the guy to hopefully get rid of him as soon as possible.

“I request word of my beautiful, beloved, golden angel Buffy Summers.  Please tell me she is alright,” Kuno spoke with a cultured voice.

Xander had his fists balled, extremely angry now.  “She’s not your beloved, golden Angel,” Xander all but growled out.  “All you managed to do is piss her off by molesting her!  But other than that, she’s /fine/, and you can forget about her, you . . . you . . . ah!”

“Ah, yes, well . . . I have this letter, in which I explain myself and declare my eternal love for the golden angel.  Would you please deliver it to her?” Kuno asked, holding out an envelope.

“NO!” Xander yelled as he threw a perfectly connecting uppercut.  Kuno was launched away, into the air, and Xander added, “Use the postal service!  That’s what they’re there for!”

With a painful crash Tatewaki smashed to the ground, and he groaned, “Don’t know her address.”

Xander walked passed, and told him, “Good.” He walked onward, grumbling to himself, “Asswipe.  Dipshit!  Bastard!  Perverts, I oughta- calm down.  Virginity, remember?  Nabiki doesn’t need you to be all aggressive and crap because that perverted, nutcase, assho- stop it!  Cool.  Calm breaths.” Xander whirled around, and yelled, “MENTION BUFFY AGAIN, AND I’LL PUT YOU IN A HOSPITAL, PERVERTED BASTARD!!!!”

Xander turned around once again, and continued walked.  “Ah, that’s better.”

*****

Xander arrived at the motel, and looked at Nabiki standing in front of the cashier booth, twirling the keys.  She was smiling, and Xander was surprised.  The girl was dressed in a short skirt and tight top, looking mighty appetizing.  “You owe me half for the room; 20,000 Yen,” Nabiki said with a smile, as she walked over to him seductively.

“Let’s get to the room before I start flashing money around,” Xander said with a light smirk, taking in the number of the now still keys.

“Ooh, you do know how to turn a girl on,” Nabiki returned with her own smile.

Xander chuckled, and she let him to the room close by.  She opened the door and they entered.  After it was locked and the lights switched on, Xander took in the small room.  It could barely contain the bed; which was damn small . . . Xander guessed it was small for Japanese standards, for him . . . his feet were probably going to stick out.  Xander gently pulled Nabiki closer to him, wrapping his arms around her waist to the small of her back.  He guessed gently at first, then quickly ferocious, which she returned holding the back of his head.

“So,” he said after they broke the kiss, “did you have anything special in mind?  A way to do this that’s best for you?  A fantasy?  It’s your virginity.”

Nabiki’s eyes sparkled, and then whispered in his ear, “I was thinking I let you take charge; let you take it.  You’re experienced, I’m a little nervous.”

“All right,” Xander said, a little nervous himself; that was a big responsibility.  He gently pushed her down on the bed, and kissed her neck, then down her collar bone.  He found she returned the kisses; to his jawbone.  Slowly they stripped each other of the clothing, and he took the time to place a pack of condoms on the nightstand.  Xander fondled her breasts, and gently kissed, and sucked on them.  Nabiki moaned, encouraging Xander to continue, feeling his nervousness slip.  When her nipples were hard, he dipped down, kissing lower on her stomach.

When he reached her navel, he stubbed his toe hard.  “Ow,” he said, and looked back, struggling with his lower legs, feet, and the raised edge of the bed.  Finally having found a comfortable position, he looked back up, and looked in Nabiki’s expectant and slightly nervous and concerned eyes.  He smiled, and said, “Next time, find a place with a longer bed.”

Nabiki chuckled, and then laughed a bit.  Amazingly she felt her nervousness slip, but her arousal grow.  “I’ll keep it in mind,” she said, holding her forehead while thinking over and chuckling at the situation.  Then thoughts fled her mind, and laughter ceased.  “Oh, oh, my god,” she moaned and grunted, as Xander’s tongue had found her clit without warning, and stimulated her.  Just as quickly as it was there, having gotten her attention, he fled from the spot, and kissed and licked her outer lips.  They filled with blood, as Nabiki moaned her pleasure.  Her hands found his head and hair, and Xander smiled, finding her inner lips.  He licked and sucked, the earlier humor having tossed aside his nervousness, now the practice with Willow, and to a lesser degree himself, or rather herself, could take over his actions.  “By all the kamis!” she breathed out, as Xander’s tongue and lips touched places only her fingers had ever managed touch.  “Oh, uh!”

Xander grinned as she felt her riding his face and tongue, her hands desperately holding on to him as she stimulated her vagina.  The taste of the quickly increasing vaginal juices was turning him on rapidly as well, feeling his already present erection demanding attention.  He ignored, and focused on the delicious pussy he was eating out.  “Oh, Xander, that’s . . . oh, my, don’t stop!” Nabiki moaned, riding harder, and Xander suddenly switched to her clit, licking it with the tip of his tongue rapidly, quickly switching directions, putting pressure on it, but not to much.  Instantly Nabiki exploded, pushing her crotch up against Xander, screaming and moaning names of gods and Xander as equals.  Her climax pulled through her body, starting at her toes all the way up to her mind, shivering, and rigid.  When the pleasure subsided somewhat she fell down, amazed, still feeling the pleasure in the lingering afterglow.

Xander grinned, having gotten her there.  He wasted no time.  Reaching over he got a condom, and put it on.  Nabiki looked dreamily at him, at his muscles, his chest and handsome face, still enraptured by her orgasm.  Xander took her by the waist, and powerfully, and smoothly, guided his throbbing gently erection into her, deeply.  “Ugh!” Nabiki exclaimed, as she felt her hymen rip, but then Xander was already passed that.  The walls of her vagina were pushed aside smoothly, wrapping around Xander’s cock.  The sensation of being stuffed full warred with the sharp pain, and then Xander was inside, and stayed there.  Before she could do anything else, he gave her a deep, passionate kiss.

“Take your time, get used to it,” Xander whispered soothingly, exploring her body with his hands, massaging it in the process.

Nabiki’s own hands ran almost involuntarily over his, feeling his muscles, and knowing she had made the right choice.  She closed her eyes and went to relax, feeling him against her, feeling safe.  Her vagina felt full, painfully extended and stretched, but the joy of him on her, and in her overrode it, quickly making her forget about the quick and sudden pain of breaching her hymen.  “This . . .” Nabiki started uncertain.

“Yes?” Xander asked gently.

She opened her eyes, and said, “Is good.  Feels good.  You’re good.  Fast though.”

“Rapid removal of band aid approach,” Xander murmured and kissed her, then placed kisses on her upper chest, while he brought up one hand to fondle her breasts.  “Time to try movement?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she answered without thinking, “yes, please.  Ooh!” Feeling him withdraw, made her surprisingly empty, even as her tightly wrapped inner muscles got heavenly simulated.  Then gently Xander pushed back inside, and Nabiki moaned.  “Faster,” she breathed out, “faster.”

Not soon after, moans and yells of pleasure from two people could be heard coming from the room, as well as a powerful climax.  Nabiki was happy.

*****

The Next Day

Ryoga slumped to a standstill.  He wiped the sweat from his brow.  Finally he was far, far away.  He had walked all night.  “Ryoga!”

Ryoga jerked his head to his right, looking through the gate there, and seeing Akane standing just beyond.  His eyes widened, and he looked up again.  ‘Tendo Dojo.’

“No!  Not again!” he yelled in horror.  Of course, just then, it had to start raining, and a moment later only a piglet remained of Ryoga.  It squeaked in horror and planned to start running away from the girl he had wronged, as Xander and Ranma appeared from the left of the gate to watch him; both sweaty with training exertion, and both very female now that the raining had fallen.

“Ryoga!” Akane called sternly, and quickly walked over, picking up the pig by his neck before it could get away.  “You’re not leaving over this,” Akane said, getting Ryoga’s clothes with her other, and started walking toward the house.  Ranma and Xander followed her with their heads; a little nervous.  Granted, the pig - the man, not what he turned into - deserved a good punishment, but being chopped up and cooked was too harsh.  “I forgive you, that was an impressive letter,” Akane stated, putting the pig under her arm, “you don’t have to go.”

“YOU WHAT!?” Ranma exclaimed in shock.

“Don’t you start, Ranma-baka!” Akane snarled at Ranma, and then continued to move onward.  “Or I’ll beat you up again.”

Ranma and Lexa looked with dropped jaws as Akane disappeared into the house.  Then they looked at each other.  “/I’m/ the one she’s still pissed at!?” GirlRanma asked in total dumbfoundment.

Lexa shook her head to clear it, then groaned.  “I’m a girl half the time, hell, I’m one now,” she started, shaking her head in confusion, “but I’ll never understand them, ever.”

“You said it, Xand, you said it,” Ranma added with annoyance.

~~~~Part 4: Okonomiyaki of Love!  Okonomiyaki of Doom!~~~~

The Tendo dojo shook with the might battle going on.  The two Amazons that were opposing each other would shred any lesser being to shreds if they’d found themselves in the middle.  Lotion’s fist connected solidly with Shampoo’s chin, and the purple-haired girl staggered back.  She immediately went into a leg swipe, but Lotion jumped over it.  Her swiping foot to its starting position, Shampoo launched herself forward, slamming her elbow in Lotion’s stomach.  The brunette grunted with the pain, landed and took a step back, immediately blocking and parrying several of Shampoo’s punches.

The audience was enraptured.  The Tendo family and their three guests, as well as Mousse, and several of the Tendo Dojo paying students.  The match, battle really, had been raging for ten minutes, almost equal.  But to the trained viewer, they would notice that Lotion was just a little stronger than Shampoo; a little faster, a little more versatility.  Even with the last weeks heavy training, the year of lounging about and losing battle rhythm had cost Shampoo just too much, unlike Lotion who never once quit.  Both Amazons had bloody faces, their clothes were ripped, and they were breathing heavily.

Shampoo charged forward, “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire!” Her hands were blurs, but Lotion exclaimed the same thing and her hands turned to blurs as well, thus parrying and blocking all of Shampoo’s blows.  The moment the technique finished, their hands slowed once again, and Lotion parried Shampoo’s following punches, pushing her hands aside, and slamming both of hers into Shampoo’s stomach.  Shampoo staggered backward, groaning and moaning with the impact.

“Yaah!” Lotion exclaimed as she made a mighty follow up left to Shampoo’s face.  The purple-haired Amazon though managed to duck and slam her own fist in Lotion’s side with a vicious grimace.  Lotion groaned and staggered back.

“Bitch, go down!” Shampoo stated with conviction and kicked Lotion to the side of her face.  Shampoo didn’t let up, and added a left of her own, but Lotion had recovered and parried the punch.  Lotion threw her own right to Shampoo’s abdomen, but she blocked it.  Lotion in turned blocked Shampoo’s knee, and then her two punches, so she could land her right on Shampoo’s face.  It phased the purple-haired Amazon, but no enough, and so the two went head to head in another even trading of blows and kicks that were either parried or blocked.

Lotion let a punch to her stomach pass deliberately and bent over deeply, partially of pain, partially acted.  Shampoo raised two hands into a double-handed blow, and brought them down mightily.  As unexpected as Lotion planned it, she shot up and blocked the blow, so that she could kick out powerfully into Shampoo’s stomach.  “Aargh!” Shampoo screamed with the unexpected and powerful impact.  She flew backward and landed on her back.

Lotion breathed heavily, and wiped some blood from her lips.  When Shampoo had demonstrated the Chestnuts before their match began, Lotion had fallen for the psychological warfare.  She had assumed her newfound superior strength and skill to the other one had removed, and Shampoo was already once again clearly the best.  However, when Xander had come along to watch the match, and gave her nod, she had gotten fueled with a quickly restored self-esteem as well as a determination not to fail her boyfriend - for after all, with that nod, he had told her she could still beat Shampoo and expected her to do so.  But more than not failing and impressing her boyfriend, was Shampoo.  Lotion was /not/ going to lose to her again, not today at least, and never so long unbroken and totally superior ever again.  Shampoo was going down.

Ever since this fight started, Lotion knew she didn’t have to worry about the outcome; although the two of them were all but equal, that butt was hers, steadily she was wearing the still struggling got get up Shampoo down.  There was just one problem; this had gone on long enough, she was hurt enough, and Shampoo seemed even more determined not to lose, than Lotion was to win; and with that almost equal, and equally trained, this was going to take a long time.  Lotion was looking forward to kicking Shampoo’s ass, but not to get her own ass kicked in the process; she needed a way to down Shampoo quickly; but how if they were so equal?

She flickered her eyes to Xander for a moment, her heart beating in her chest both of exhaustion and the love for him.  Her body ached, and then she figured it out.  Like Xander and Ranma too, she had stop fighting like an Amazon, always the same.  She had to change, do the totally unexpected.  Shampoo was back up, and normally this would be where Lotion would have slowed down to catch her breath, as Shampoo was doing.  So she would do the exact opposite.

“YAAAAAHH!!” she screamed, as she charged the other Amazon.  Her right fist charged forward, and as expected Shampoo easily dodge the long announced punch.  Shampoo came with her own punch to Lotion’s gut; as expected.  Lotion twisted rapidly, just in time to block the right punch with her left.  She continued with the twisted, making a 180 degree turn from when she started her charge.  Shampoo’s left cross came, and Lotion flipped back, making the punch fly over her.  She landed on her hands and moved her feet sharply up.  Shampoo avoided it by bending back, which allowed Lotion to finish the flip.  The moment she landed on her feet, she took one stepped forward, and jumped up high, directly to the ceiling, then flipping around to land against it with her feet.

“Huh!?  Where go!?” Shampoo said, looking left and right as she was righted once more; Lotion having timed her jump perfectly, not to be seen.  The brunette Amazon pushed off powerful from the ceiling in a single smooth motion with landing against it, and flipped back around.  Shampoo had turned around, and only then noticed; much too late.  With a powerful yell and double kick, one to Shampoo’s collar bone, and one to her chin, she was launched backward off her feet.  She groaned, then groaned again as she slammed against the wall, and then grunted as she fell down to the floor face fist with a thud; unconscious.

Lotion nodded with satisfaction, bent over, holding her most painful places, and breathing heavily.  The audience was stunned, except Ranma and Xander that was.  The present Tendo’s paying students were dumbfounded the most; if that was something that could be done, they were far, far, far from able to do it.  Akane grumbled, knowing she wasn’t anywhere near the Amazons’ level now, and questioned whether she should go there, or just stick with what she was doing.

Ranma and Xander were the first who started clapping, and quickly the rest of the audience followed, many still dumbfounded.  That was, except one: Mousse.  He stayed silent, and then raised his arms to shoot out his weapons, exclaimed, “You hurt my beautiful Shampoo.”

Ranma standing next to him, slammed his elbow in Mousse’s gut, doubling over.  “That was a fair match, #asswipe#!” he exclaimed, and sent the boy flying away a few meters with an uppercut, landing unconscious on the Tendo Dojo floor.

“All right, Ranma, first proper use of an American abusive term!” Xander said with a big grin, raising his hand.  “High five.” Humoring the American, and secretly enjoying it, Ranma gave Xander the double handed high five.  “Low five,” Xander said and Ranma brought his hands down.  “Too slow,” Xander said as he pulled them aside.  Ranma looked shocked, and then extremely annoyed while the audience looked at their ridiculous exchange.  Seeing Ranma’s dirty look Xander laughed out loud, holding his stomach, “Man, I’ve always wanted to do that!”

“You’re asking for a beating, Xan,” Ranma told him, obviously pissed off.

Xander chuckled, a bright grin on his face and walked over to Lotion, while Tendo went over to Shampoo.  “You okay, Lotion?” Xander asked gently.

Getting her breathing back under control, Lotion nodded, and said, “Xander, now that I’m stronger than Shampoo, I want to stay that way.  You and I have to keep training, heavily.”

“Of course; wouldn’t want it any other way,” Xander said with a grin.  “You and Buffy are my best sparring partners after all.”

*****

Kuonji Ukyo, one of Ranma’s oldest friends and love interest, was walking along the many shops of Tokyo.  She was looking for ingredients.  She was going to make a whole new flavor of okonomiyaki, in fact, if she was truly successful, it might not even be called okonomiyaki.  For that she was scouring the shops for new, or exotic ingredients.  In her mind, she was already letting Ranma taste her masterpiece.  ‘Oh, Ukyo!  The way to a man’s love is through his stomach; and you opened a route I didn’t even knew existed!  What deliciousness!’ Walking along with a light blush on her face as she was imagining Ranma kissing her, fondling her, and well, what do healthy, hormonal teenagers think about?

She paused.  Then turned to her right to look at the antique-looking shop.  She had caught it in the corner of her eye.  She blinked.  Did she really see that right?  She walked over, closer to the quaint shop and looked at a few of the vials on display.  One proudly proclaimed, ‘Love Potion #9'.

For a moment Ukyo hesitated; it seemed so impossible and corny.  *Then again,* her mind supplied, *Ranma turns into a girl by a splash of water.  So, who knows?* Thus having decided, she stepped into the shop, and looked around.  It was filled with all kinds of things; feathers, pottery, more vials, both empty and filled with potions, roots . . . and one rack of toy guns.  Ukyo shook her head at that, and realized she had just stepped into a shop that had just about anything of the occult, or obscure.  The place was narrow, and the middle isle could hold no more than three people next to each other.  There was a counter, and an old man stood behind it.

“Uhm, hello,” she asked, a little nervously - she had stepped in here for a love potion.

“At your service, my dear,” the man behind the counter replied friendly.

“I was wondering . . .” Ukyo started and pointed with her thumb over her shoulder, “about the love potion?  If that’s number nine, how many are there?”

“Thirteen, of course, although we don’t carry them all at this time,” the man answered with a casual air of confidence.

“. . . why of course?” Ukyo asked a little nervous.

“Lucky number thirteen, love is all about luck, after all,” the man said with a mysterious smile, eyes twinkling.

“Okay, I was - am - interested in a love potion,” Ukyo told the main, feeling like a gullible dork, but there was no denying magic existed, so . . .

“What do you want to use it for?” the man asked, smiling that playful smile of his.

Ukyo frowned in confusion, and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Why do you think there are different love potions?  Each has its own function,” the man spoke with a smile.  He walked from behind the counter and over to a large rack.  He pulled a vial from it, carrying the same label she saw earlier, ‘Love Potion #9’.  “Number nine for example, is really a perfume, and it’s pheromone based.  As such, it’s less a love potion, as it is a lust inducer.  If you are interested in a quick romp in bed for a night, number nine is your poison.”

“Oh,” Ukyo said, thinking.

“Then the question is, what do you need a love potion for?” the salesman asked her, eyes twinkling.

Ukyo was undecided.  On the one hand, it wasn’t good what she was thinking of, on the other, she was so in love with him, and she was reasonably certain Ranma had at least a passing attraction to her . . . That was it!  Ukyo straightened, and said, “I don’t want a fake love.  The one I’m interested in . . . he’s got multiple suitors, and he has some attraction to me.  I just want something that temporarily, a month or so, boosts his attraction to me in a near love, and doesn’t notice the others.  Put blinders on him so to speak, give me enough time to show myself, so he can truly fall in love with me.”

“Ah, a wise one in my midst,” the old man nodded with a proud smile.  “Not many realize the folly of a love potion; the violation of the mind and heart, love that is not, that is a lie.  Number 5 is what you need.” The old man placed Number 9 back in the closet, and then carefully retrieved another vial, holding the words, ‘Love Potion #5’.

The man then walked back to the other side of the counter, with Ukyo’s gaze - a mixture of curiosity, apprehension, and wonder - following him.  He set the bottle down, with its etiquette towards Ukyo.  “Now, this is both the weakest, and the strongest love potion,” the man explained carefully, making Ukyo frown in confusion.  “And you should pay close attention to what I have to say.” Ukyo nodded.  “The problem with taking a potential true love, is that it is the most powerful love.  If your target has none, this simply causes a standard attraction, a little crush, if you will, but should your target have much, the results will be that much greater.  In the proper dose, it lasts two months, and the effect is mild, just like you wanted: put on some blinders.  Too much however will boost even minimum attractions to very high levels, and gives love to those who have none.  The potion works so, that it will have the effect with the first person the target sees; the first person that is of the proper gender to be exact.  Should he see someone else, it is her that he’ll be chasing, unless he’s secretly gay, than it’s the first male he’ll get a thing for.”

“I can mix this through food?” Ukyo asked, now a more than a little excited.

“Yes,” the salesman answered, and pulled out a small paper with text printed on it.  “Here it says the dosages per volume of food, type of food, and size of the target.”

“How much?” Ukyo asked, and the old man smiled brightly.

*****

Xander, Ranma, and Akane were walking casually along the pavement.  The street was busy with people, even at this early hour.  Akane was obviously excited.  “This is so great,” she said happily.  “We’re going shopping together.  I can’t believe it.” Secretly she was thinking boyfriends and girlfriends did that; meaning Ranma and her, and Xander and Lotion, who was going to meet them there.  The motel her and her mother were staying in was much closer to the shops, and so Lotion had decided not to walk all the way to the Tendo dojo first, especially since she was still aching from her big fight with Shampoo.

Ranma looked down, scowling, wondering how in blazes he had gotten roped into this horror.  Xander, much more used to girls and playing pack mule for them, was both in a worse mood and a better mood all at the same time.  On the one hand, he knew what to expect, on the other, he was used to it.  He just hoped Lotion wasn’t as bad as Buffy, and Cordelia, and Willow these days too he supposed - nah, Willow was still in the land of the sane - and actually bothered with keeping the number of boxes down, as well as pick something so perhaps he could go souvenir hunting; including some returning-home gifts for Buffy and Willow, and some smaller tokens of affection for Cordelia, Oz, Joyce, Giles, and Jenny.  He wondered if they like the cards he sent.

*Oh, yeah!* Now Ranma remembered.  ‘I need to buy some souvenirs for myself, and some gifts for my friends, and family.  You can help me out, Ranma.’ Baka, Xander!  He had agreed, and from there things had gone down hill fast.  First Lotion joined, and then that uncute tomboy, Akane, had to join too.  Right now he wished he had never met Xan-

“. . . and then we can hit the Caretta Siodome, and . . .” Akane happily rambled on, completely missing both boys having stopped.  Xander and Ranma smelled the air, and smiles appeared on their faces.  They turned to their right, and it was indeed the place their internal sense of space said they would see: Okonomiyaki Ucchan’s.  Their sense of smell was attacked in the most unfair and pleasant of means.  Ranma, knowing all of Ukyo’s okonomiyaki, knew she was trying out a new recipe, and from the smell it was going to be a hit: a /huge/ hit, it smelled like the nectar of the gods!  “. . . or perhaps instead we should go to- . . .” Akane blinked, finally realizing her entourage was no longer present.  She looked left and right, and indeed as her other senses had told her, no more Ranma and Xander.

She turned around, a little confused, and curious as to what had happened.  She couldn’t have missed one of Ranma’s, and now apparently Xander’s rivals attacking the two, could she?  Nope.  There they were, standing there . . . drooling?  Then she realized what they were standing in front of.  Those!  Those!

“But first, food!” Ranma stated rapidly, already stepping toward the entrance.

“Yep, can’t go shopping on an empty stomach,” Xander confirmed, and without a further thought they entered the okonomiyaki restaurant.

Akane remained outside for a short while longer, looking shocked at the places Xander and Ranma had just stood.  They’d had breakfast!  They didn’t have an empty stomach!  Then her fists clenched, and she growled lowly, anger rising by the moment, “Those baka!  Idiots!  Sons of bitches!  They ruined it!” Then she stomped in after them.

“Welcome to Okonomiyaki Ucchan’s!  Ranma!” Ukyo greeted with a big smile.  “And Xander,” she said with a little less enthusiasm.

“Ucchan!” Ranma said happily, as he and his friend walked over to the counter.  “What smells so nice?”

“A new recipe I’m trying out!” Ukyo returned with a big smile, noticing a steamed Akane coming in after the boys.  “If it tastes as good as I expect and smell it will, I’ll call it, Okonomiyaki of Love!  Want to be the first try it?” Secretly she thought, *And this first one I’m baking now, I will make an extra special one, you’re right on time.*

“Oh, yes!” Xander and Ranma said in unison, happily nodding, and smelling the air.

“Good!” Ukyo said, and whistling she turned around to her baking plates.  She opened a cabinet, and pulled out Love Potion #5.  Looking down at the Japanese pizza she was baking, she dropped a few drops of the potion on it.  She hesitated a moment.  She had read the dosages, the warnings, and remembered the warning of the old man; but she was a master chef, she understood food and ingredients, and some of what she used wasn’t on the sheet.  Thus, she poured some extra potion; it was just a bit, only a fraction of the total dose really.  This should make sure it worked, but not enough to produce the annoying super boosted effects.  She smiled at her creation, carefully putting the potion away.  This was going to be it.  Ranma would fall for her, she’d have time to impress him properly, and once the potion wore off, they’d be in love for real.  Ranma would be hers, and she would be his!

Then a shrill voice interrupted the happy thought.  “I can’t believe you two!  Lotion is waiting, we’re going to be late, and we won’t have the time to properly go everywhere!” Akane shrieked in anger, articulating all valid reasons, but as usual, not voicing the real reason she was upset.  Ranma had chosen Ukyo and her cooking above her - again!

Ukyo turned around annoyed, and took in the scene, the short-haired girl barking her accusations upon Ranma and Xander from the left.  The two boys were obviously annoyed.  After a sigh, it was Xander that spoke up, “Akane, you need to calm down.  We’re just getting a bit too eat.  A little something for the road.  We’ll be done in no time, and we’re early anyway, If we’re going to turn up late, it’ll be so little Lotion won’t even notice it.”

“YOU’VE ALREADY HAD BREAKFAST!” Akane shouted in anger, “You don’t need to eat anything more.”

Ranma turned his head to his right, and said dryly, “You are so uncute.” Akane’s anger became worse, just about ready to steam, her hands clenched in fists.

This was potentially bad, Ukyo realized.  Akane was pretty close, it was the first person Ranma would see that he would fall for.  She decided to remedy that, “Ranma’s right, let the boys have an extra breakfast.  With the way they eat, they’ll be done in no time.” Ranma and Xander blushed a little at that.

“YOU STAY OUT OF IT, YOU CONNIVING BITCH!” Akane screamed enraged, readying to hack back into the boys.

Ukyo added unperturbed, “If you were cute, you’d plant yourself next to them, and enjoy one for yourself.  But no, just barking about around like an untrained dog.”

“AAARGH!  You’re all a bunch of barbarians!” Akane screamed enraged, but also realized there wasn’t much to be done.  Still steamed, and bursting to explode, she turned around, and angrily stalked away to one of the tables; undecided whether to step outside completely or not.

Satisfied that Akane was far enough out of the picture, Ukyo turned around, and took the now finished okonomiyaki off the baking plate, and placed it on a serving one.  “Here it is, Ranma,” Ukyo said with a triumphant grin - a new delicious creation /and/ Ranma to be hers at the same time.  “Savor it, it’ll be delicious,” Ukyo said, placing the plate with the okonomiyaki in front of Ranma, smiling broadly.  She cut it in several slices with a circular knife, and said, “Dig in.  Yours is coming up, Xander.” Ukyo turned around, and happily went to prepare the second okonomiyaki, secure in the knowledge that Ranma would eat her creation and be looking at her at the same time.

Ranma salivated at the sight, and took a slice, then watched with wide eyes as Xander’s hand came in the picture and took a slice for himself.  “You can have one of mine later,” Xander told Ranma with a grin, who then smiled back.  Ukyo, whistling a jaunty tune, and focused on the baking, while preoccupied by fantasies of her and Ranma’s wedding . . . and wedding night.  Xander wasted no time, and took a large bite.  Chewing he looked forward, at Ukyo’s back, enjoying the sight.  He swallowed, as Ranma shook his head, and prepared to take a bit of his own.

Meanwhile, Akane’s anger had only been growing; like a caged animal, unable to release her frustrations, she had been pacing back and forth.  Finally she saw a vase on the tables, one with a flower - a real flower and water . . . cold water.  Fuming, knowing how much Ranma hated being a girl, she picked up the vase, and walked back to the front, then threw the water.  “Ranma-baka!” she screamed.

Too bad for Akane, Ranma had gotten used to being sprayed by her as retaliation, and having half expected it, along with the vocal warning, his reflexes kicked in, and he jumped off the stool to his right, stumbling half over the stool there.  Missing Ranma, the water instead splashed on Xander, mesmerized by the girl in front of him.  “Hey!” he started to yell, and Lexa finished it, jumping up with surprise and dumping the okonomiyaki.  “What the hell!?” Lexa said, her sexy body straining in the tight blouse, while her pants were now a little loose.

For a moment Akane wanted to apologize to Lexa, the girl she didn’t intend to hit, but then remembered he was just as bad.  Akane focused on Ranma, and walked over.  “Food and girls!  Food and girls!” Akane screamed in annoyance, now really attracting Ukyo’s attention.  The cook looked on, frozen in horror at the train wreck about to happen.  Lexa herself, looked at Akane and Ranma, chewing onward on her second bite.  “That’s all you boys can think about!” Akane snarled, and snatched Ranma’s slice away from him.  She held the slice up, snarling at him, “SEE!  You’re not getting this one!”

Akane brought the slice to her mouth, and took a bite.  “No!  Akane!  Don’t!” Ukyo yelled in horror, drawing the other girl’s attention to her, but Akane just glared at Ukyo and continued eating.

Lexa swallowed her bite, as Ranma sighed, and muttered, “Akane, you are /so/ uncute!” Lexa frowned at Ranma, and got up off her stool, while Ukyo could only wonder what would happen now.  Lexa walked over, pushing Akane aside, and looking at Ranma with widening eyes, a smile forming.

“Hey!  You bastard!” Akane snarled, and stuffed the remainder of the slice in her mouth.  Chewing angrily, she walked over, intending to smash the vase on Lexa’s head.  Instead the martial arts mistress just swatted the vase up and away, crashing through the flimsy ceiling.  Surprisingly there was a yell, and a small guy came falling from the place, smashing on Akane and the two went down.

“Ranma,” Lexa said, with just a hint of a purr as she took Ranma in top to bottom.

“What?” the other martial artist said, but focused on Akane and now obviously Sasuke.  What the hell was that stupid ninja doing here now?

“Mmh, why didn’t I see it sooner.  I must have been hit too hard on the head,” Lexa said, and gently licked her lips.

Ranma did a double take, and focused on his best friend.  “What?” he repeated, with more force and focus now, frowning in confusion.

“Ranma, you and I are meant for each other, rrarr,” Lexa said, the lust and love now extremely obvious.  A moment later she pinned Ranma to the wall behind him, and planted her lips hungrily on Ranma’s, kissing him, her tongue against his.  Ranma’s eyes were wide, shocked, horrified!

Then his arms grabbed Lexa’s and he pushed her aside, and he said in horror, “Have you lost your mind!?  You’re a guy!”

“Oh, no, all woman here, hot stuff,” Lexa said, taking a step forward, swaying her hips, and running her hands along her very feminine curves, “and I just found it.” She pushed Ranma back to the wall, pressing her body hungrily against his.

“AAAH!!” Ranma screamed, pushing back, and Lexa’s kissing lips away from his face.  This time Lexa wasn’t so easily deterred, and Ranma yelled, “Stop it, you freak!”

“Don’t fight it, Ranma.  The way we met, this was destiny, handsome,” Lexa said, positively breathing heavily with arousal.  “You and me were made for each other.  Now, kiss me, baby, you know you want to.”

“I DON’T!  YOU’RE NUTS!” Ranma screamed terrified, not quite ready to start kicking ass yet.

Ukyo was looking in shock.  On the ground Akane purred, “Oh, Sasuke!” Then she dipped down and kissed the little ninja hungrily.  Sasuke looked frightened, shaking his hands, expecting to get his ass kicked as usual, and then . . . this wasn’t so bad.  With a secret grin he kissed the hot girl back - not bad at all.

“Xander!  Get off, or I swear I’ll put you in a hospital!  HELP!  I’m being assaulted!  Get him off of me!” Ranma screamed in horror.

Ukyo then realized what happened.  The slight overdose!  “Oh, no!” Ukyo muttered; it seemed the overdose effects were even worse than she had figured from the warning.

“Ukyo!  Please, get this bastard off me!  Xander, this is your last damn warning.  AAAAAHHH!!”

“Don’t be afraid, my handsome.  My god, I love you!” Lexa said with a purr.

‘. . . right gender . . .’ Ukyo remembered the salesmen say.  Ukyo’s eyes widened and she quickly grabbed a glass, and filled it with the always present hot dish-washing water.  Rapidly she went over the struggling Ranma, who was still screaming, while Lexa was trying to kiss him.  She quickly splashed it on Lexa, and a moment later there was Xander.

“Oh, Ra- . . . ugh,” Xander said, shaking his head to clear it.  He wobbled and took a step back, as two types of magic clashed inside him.  “Ranma?  What the . . .!?  Why was I- . . .”

Ranma had his fist balled, ready to slam in Lexa or Xander’s face, but hesitated now at the weird turn of events.  “Xander?” he asked with suspicion.

“What just happened!?  Why the hell was I kissing you and thinking . . .” Xander looked suitably horrified.  He was bisexual, indeed, but this was his best male friend, the guy who had taught him he wasn’t a useless smuck.  He loved the guy, but /not/ like that.  The concept was just wrong.

There was a sob, and Ukyo whimpered, “I’m sorry.”

Xander and Ranma looked over, still confused, as on the floor Sasuke, unlike Ranma, was enjoying his assault.  Xander’s eyes widened as he looked at Ukyo, and then smiled.  “Ukyo . . .” he breathed out, and took several steps forward, looking the girl over.  “My god, are you beautiful.”

Ukyo’s whimpers were gone, replaced with a comical look of shock!  This nightmare was getting worse by the moment.  Xander stepped forward, and to Ranma’s mounting confusion, kissed his childhood friend with a vigorous passion.

“Oh, Sasuke!” Akane moaned, drawing Ranma’s attention, while Xander couldn’t be beaten off of Ukyo.

“Sasuke!” Ranma growled, certain the guy or his employer must have something to do with this.  Ranma stalked forward, but suddenly found an angry Akane standing in front of him, holding Sasuke to her bosom.

“Don’t you dare, Ranma!  You could have had me!  Now it’s too late, I found the man of my dreams!” Akane stated, and resumed kissing him.

“AAAH!” Ranma exclaimed in horror, “This is so wrong . . . I-”

“Xander!” Ranma looked up, as did Xander and Ukyo.  Lotion stood in the doorway, her face between anger and pain.  She walked forward, passed the other loving couple, and Ranma looked from Lotion to Xander and Ukyo.

“Oh, boy,” she muttered, as Ukyo felt a whole new set of anguish, seeing the pain in her fellow girl’s eyes.

“Xander, how- how could you!?” Lotion said, gesturing to him and Ukyo.  “I-I can’t do this.  Competing with those rightful two, okay - but every other girl in the world?”

“Nothing too compete, Lotion, look at her, my decision is made,” Xander said, hotly, hugging Ukyo close.  “Ukyo will be my wife and mother of my children.”

Lotion’s world crumbled apart; her honor gone, worse: her love gone.  “Wait!” Ukyo said in horror, knowing what that felt like.  “Lotion, this isn’t what it-”

“Bitch!” Lotion screamed in anger.

“No, let me-!” Ukyo tried again, but Lotion grabbed the plate with the Okonomiyaki of Love, and angrily tossed it in Xander and Ukyo’s general direction, but much too high.  It splintered against the wall, and the okonomiyaki slowly slid down along it.  Before that though, Lotion had already turned around, and crying ran out of the shop.

Ranma looked around at the nightmare, and what Ukyo had been attempting to say earlier and just now with Lotion.  Realizing his earlier assumption that Sasuke was the culprit was wrong, he turned to Ukyo and said with disappointment, “Ukyo, what did you do?”

“I’m sorry,” Ukyo whimpered, accepting Xander’s hugging and kisses - she was at fault, and if she had to be uncomfortable so Ranma’s best friend wouldn’t be trying to marry him, that was fine.  “I found a love potion.  It was supposed to put some blinders on you, focus on me, give me time to show you how good I am, and that you would fall in love with me for real . . . I used more than the prescribed dose.”

“Ukyo!” Ranma said angrily, making Ukyo shrink a little.  “Please, tell me this isn’t permanent.”

“Two months,” Ukyo answered, while Xander nuzzled her neck - and damn it, he was good at that!

“TWO MONTHS!?” Ranma raged in shock, making Ukyo look very apologetic.  “Two months!  Xander is supposed to be back in Sunnydale long before that!”

“Screw Sunnydale, if my beautiful Ukyo wishes to stay here, so shall I,” Xander said, and looked at the whimpering girl.  “Don’t worry, my sweet, I will make it all better.”

“/Not/ /helping/, /Xander/,” Ranma hissed uselessly.  “All right, we have to find an antidote, I can’t let my best bud stay like that.”

“I think we’ll be going now,” Sasuke said, and gestured for Akane to follow her.  The girl smiled, nodded and started to leave.

“*Oh, no, you don’t,*” Ranma said with deadly authority, rapidly moving over and picking up the little ninja.

“Ranma!  Don’t hurt my beloved!” Akane screamed in sudden anger.

“Don’t worry, I won’t . . .” Ranma told her rapidly, while walking forward and placing Sasuke painfully against the wall.  “. . . yet,” he finished with a dangerous hiss.  The ninja swallowed as Ranma placed his head close to Sasuke and whispered with wide, angry eyes bordering on madness, “You’re going to get Akane to come with us, and get her to drink that antidote, or I will hurt you.  Real hurt, not a simple punch, I mean recover-in-a-hospital-for-months-hurt.  Understand?”

Sasuke nodded his head, and whimpered, “Help antidote, no hurting.”

Ranma then backed off.  “If you hurt him, Ranma . . .” Akane warned behind him.

“I’m not hurt!” Sasuke said quickly, for fear of Ranma deciding to give him the hurt after all.  Akane glared at her fiance anyway.

“First, we destroy this Okonomiyaki of Doom,” Ranma said with frustration, “Cologne, or Doctor Tofu might know an antidote.”

“We should find Lotion first,” Ukyo said with a pout, letting Xander do his nuzzling and assuring her with sweet nothings.  “We can’t let her think this is the real Xander; that’d be just cruel.”

*****

Meanwhile, a little further down the road Lotion slowed down from her running, tears still in her eyes.  Disgusted with how things had turned out.  She wished she had seen Ukyo put the move on Xander and kill her for it; she just couldn’t figure out when and where the skank had done it.  Looking down in defeat, she noticed her left hand, still dirty from when she had picked up and thrown the okonomiyaki.  Looking around she could find no place to clean it, and so with an angry growl she resigned to licking her rivals creation off of her hand.

A bit further on, a white-robed guy was looking for her.  He spotted her, and called with an evil grin, “Lotion!” Lotion looked up at the call just as she licked up the last of the food, and noticed Mousse standing there with an angry look.  He added, “For beating me twice, but worse hurting my precious Shampoo, I shall make you pay!  Now, pre-”

“Mousse,” Lotion said, a smile forming.  What had she been thinking.  She surged forward, surprising the boy who was about to attack.  “Nihau, Mousse!” Lotion called and jumped forward, slamming into Mousse and wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts into his chest.  His eyes widened in surprise, and then found Lotion’s soft lips pressed against his own, and a steamy tongue kiss followed.  “Mousse,” Lotion breathed out as she broke the kiss, and then pressed her head against his shoulder and neck.  She sighed in satisfaction and said, “You amazing hunk, where have you been all my life?”

Mousse was still looking forward, shocked, trying to make sense of the situation.  Then he put his head back and shouted to the sky, “THE WRONG AMAZON!  WHY ME!?!?!”

*****

Sunnydale

Buffy and Willow were lying on their sides on Buffy’s bed, smiling at each other.  They moved their heads closer and give each other a quick, chaste, but passionate kiss on the lips.  “You are so beautiful,” Buffy murmured, and put her hand on Willow’s side, slowly letting it move up.  Willow held her breath, and then Buffy’s right hand cupped her left breast, and Buffy gently squeezed it, feeling about, massaging it.  “You’re not wearing a bra,” Buffy said breathlessly.  Willow moaned just a bit, and nodded.  The flimsy, tight, pink shirt didn’t keep much off the feel of Buffy’s hands on her breast away.  Buffy tested the sensation of feeling the soft lump, against feeling Xander’s powerful chest.  Both had their appeal, and right now, actually feeling Willow’s breast, it won out.  Buffy let her eyes move down, as she kept up her gentle massaging, looking Willow short, pleated skirt, and the sexy legs sticking out.  They were thinner, and less muscled then her own, which stuck out from under her tight mini-skirt.

Her eyes moved back to Willow’s lovely grey ones, as she felt Willow’s hand on her breast.  Willow seemed much more sure of herself - no wonder since she experience with Xander’s female alter ego, Buffy thought.  It was nice, feeling Willow’s strong fingers squeeze her breast, letting it move upward, taking special care to stimulate her nipple, and then moved back to the base.  Buffy’s breathing got a little heavier, and she let out a little grunt.

“You like that?” Willow asked gently, felt Buffy imitate the motion, and smile settling her body into Buffy’s ministrations.

Buffy felt herself grow aroused rapidly, and said, “I like your breasts, I love kissing your lips, and your ass in leather is heavenly.”

Willow wiggled a little closer to Buffy, and she felt herself grow moist inside, she said with a smile, “I love your breasts, your legs are divine, and your ass is just as heavenly as mine.”

Buffy shivered, feeling herself go gooey in her stomach, butterflies fluttered.  Reflexively she moved her lower body below her chest, to alleviate the both uncomfortable and pleasant sensation.  Her vaginal mound rubbed against her tight panties, and Buffy closed her eyes as she felt herself flush.  A moment later she definitely felt wet panties press against her flesh; she creamed her panties, and blushed lightly, heat coursing through her body.  She moaned lightly and said, “Your eyes are so sexy, sometimes I feel like I’m looking in pools of love . . . and lust.”

“They’re lust now, just like yours,” Willow said, moving her second hand to get to Buffy’s still untouched breast.  “And you’re nose; it’s so cute.” Willow planted a kiss right on the tip of it, and Buffy was a little embarrassed.  “We’ve been kissing, and groping each other quite a bit, haven’t we?” Willow reflected gently, and Buffy smiled.  Willow placed her lips full on Buffy’s mouth, feeling the soft lips responding to her own.  Their tongues touched, the warmth of their flesh burning with desire, as they gently massaged each other’s tongues.  Flushed heat raced through both their bodies, and Willow just knew she needed to feel that tongue against her clit.  For a moment she hesitated, but then remembered she seemed to have been taking charge of the two of them; apparently Buffy was still surprised at her own feelings, and liked the slightly more experienced Willow to guide her through this.

Willow decided then that Buffy was going to do exactly what Willow was craving, and she knew precisely how she would be guiding Buffy to it.  Her left hand moved off of Buffy’s still clothed breast, and led it slide down.  Their lips and tongues moved with a greater passion, and she could feel Buffy growing more flushed by the moment.  The blonde’s nose flared as it breathed air in and out.  Willow let her hand move with a cool certainty of its goal, rubbing the naked skin between Buffy’s top and skirt.  She stopped the motion for a moment at Buffy’s belly button, letting her middle finger slide in, and swirl around a bit; like a mimic of what was too come.  Buffy moaned, and Willow let her hand slide onward powerfully.  As her tips moved under Buffy’s skirt, Buffy’s right hand suddenly moved over and grabbed it.

Willow opened her eyes, and gently pulled her lips from Buffy’s.  She looked into the blonde’s own eyes, who were searching Willow’s in return.  Willow could see the arousal in her friend, and the traces of uncertainty.  Willow smiled at Buffy, predatory, a superior, and reassuring smile.  Buffy felt a tremble in her loins as Willow just ignored her hand, and moved her own onward, with the same steady certainty that was turned her on so much.

“Oh,” Buffy whispered while letting out a gentle moan, apparently not quite able to do much else.  Willow felt Buffy’s hand tighten, but instead of holding it back, Buffy’s hand helped pushed hers forward, to top edge of the blonde’s panties.  Willow resumed the kiss, now with greater strength, and pushed her fingers underneath her girlfriend’s underwear.  Buffy let out a mixture of a moan and a grunt, pulling her hand back.  Willow smiled slightly in Buffy’s mouth, feeling her own core moisten even more rapidly, determined to make Buffy come first.  She was lightly surprised as she felt the sticky fabric of Buffy’s panties click succulently to the top of her fingers and hand.  It was a damn sexy feeling, pushing Buffy’s girl juices gently out of the fabric, heaping in the crevices between her fingers.  She was so looking forward to licking her fingers clean.

Then Willow reached her prize.  She grazed her nails to Buffy’s short trimmed pubic hair, and then felt Buffy puffy, blood-filled vaginal lips under her finger tips, and her middle finger slid across and into a crevice, then over a lovely nub.  There she rested it, and gave it a few gentle rubs.  Buffy’s body jerked as she moaned out her desire and pleasure.  Her hips bucked, pushing her pussy against Willow’s hand.  Willow pushed her lips more powerfully against Buffy’s, pushing the Blonde’s head in a more horizontal position.  At the same time she jerked her body closer to Buffy’s, and removed her right hand from the breast.  She let the arm snake around Buffy’s torso, and pulled the blonde tightly to her, her hand now on Buffy’s back.  She moved her other hand downward, making the lovely blonde in her arms moan with both frustration and happiness.  Frustrated that the stimulation of her clit stopped, happy that a finger slid irrevocably between her outer, and then inner lips.  Willow let her finger slid inside with the same certainty her hand had moved down, and she felt Buffy’s slick, drenched-even inner walls part to admit her entrance.  Buffy’s hips bucked again, desperately pushing her love box against Willow’s hand, and in doing so, search for contact with her upper body against Willow’s.

Willow was amazed.  She could feel the primal power and strength of Slayer then, it was coiling just underneath a thin layer of clothing, and soft skin.  The moan Buffy let out, desperately seeking satisfaction, while still remaining on the receiving end, punctuated the control Willow had over all that power.  It was precarious control, but control nonetheless, and it was an amazing realization, as well as a heady feeling.  Tremors of lust and arousal shuddered through the walls of her own pussy at the concept; Buffy Summers, the Slayer, ten times stronger than her at least: hers.  Her own clit was urging her to hurry up, get to the main even they were aiming for, Willow was going to, but Willow resisted to finish this so rapidly her girlfriend would barely get anything out of it.

That didn’t stop her from adding her index finger, and pushing both fingers powerfully, and surely into the hot, slick depths of the blonde girl riding against her.  Willow felt Buffy’s moist, all-but-drenched vaginal walls grip her fingers, massaging the juices further between her fingers.  Willow kissed Buffy hungrily, loving the sensation, like a slick, warm, sucking mud it enclosed her fingers.  But unlike mud it was far too slick to be able to trap anything inside, and so, nature providing, Willow fingers smoothly rose back out of the wet insides of Buffy Summers, right before gently sinking back inside.  Buffy groaned at the sensation of the lovely penetration, while Willow wished for a moment she had a penis.  How good it must feel, to sink into the depths of Buffy Summers, a Slayer, all those lovely muscles tightening moistly around your sensitive shaft; lucky Xander, he had had the right idea.

Slightly jealous, Willow let her fingers pump in and out powerful several times, much to the delight of Buffy who was bucking back against them, and moaning into Willow’s mouth.  Then Willow stopped.  “Oh, don’t stop, that’s so good,” Buffy moaned, undulating her crotch to get the friction back.

Willow removed her fingers completely, not wanting to let Buffy just ride on, and told her, “Take off your top.” Buffy nodded, and got to work, while Willow quickly sucked her fingers clean, loving the taste, then removed her arm from behind Buffy’s back, and removed her own shirt.  Breasts nude now, Willow wasted no time.  She grabbed Buffy’s and massaged them, while licking Buffy’s right breast.  Buffy moaned, then more so as Willow’s mouth engulfed her nipple, and gently suckled, while rubbing her tongue up and down across it.  Buffy shivered, feeling the gentle suckling pulling at the sensitive top of her breasts, the fleshy, wet internal muscle wetly rubbing and exciting her nipple.  “Oh, Willow,” Buffy moaned, her body freely moving about.  Willow switched breaths, deliciously licking and sucking Buffy’s other tasty tit flesh.

“Mmh,” Willow finished, breaking away for a moment.  “You taste good, Buffy.” The blonde moaned with frustration at the merciless teasing, and pleaded with silent with her eyes; who were boiling with lust.  Willow grinned, and smoothly plunged her fingers back inside Buffy’s tight, wet pussy.  The muscles there once again gripped them.  Willow continued the licking and sucking of Buffy’s breasts as her fingers steadily thrust in and out of Buffy’s vulva.  The sensation of the Buffy’s wet inner flesh clinging to her fingers, and pulling upward was amazing.  Quickly Willow let the pace of her fucking fingers increase, feeling Buffy’s hips thrust to meet the ones from her fingers.  Willow moved her fingers up, rubbing against the upper flesh of Buffy’s twat, with ever increasing power and insistence.

Buffy breathing heard now, her breath coming in quick gasps.  “Oh, my, Willow, oh, god,” she groaned up, having lost control over her body, which was just hungrily seeking out Willow’s stimulations.  The sensation of sucking lips and plunging fingers blended more and more to give her a feeling of total stimulation.

“Come for me, Buffy,” Willow said, momentarily leaving Buffy’s nipples for.  “I want you to come for me,” Willow said heavily, horny, demanding voice penetrating Buffy’s mind.  At the same she moved her thumb down on Buffy’s clit and rubbed with quick, fast jerks.

“Oh, god!” Buffy shrieked softly, eyes wide in pleasure, muscles tightening.  “I’m gonna . . . Willow . . .” Sucking returned to her nipple, and stars exploded behind her eyes.  “Coming, oh, god, I’m coming!” Buffy grunted, pleasure exploding in her body.  Her skin prickled as she jerked about, groaning and moaning.  Her cunt muscles, and the ones in her lower torso were tightening the most.  Buffy’s mind went blank, just feeling the sensations, unaware of her own groans.  Several more explosions of ecstasy burst from her clit and pussy, her skin burned, prickled, her spin shivered, and breasts seemed to be engulfed in pure wet bliss.  Willow slowed her fingers movement as she felt Buffy started to come down, letting her thumb slickly move upward, off of Buffy’s pleasure nub.  “Oh, god,” Buffy groaned, feeling her muscles still being totally tensed in pleasure, including the ones in her face.  Her mouth was open, gasping out the desire.  Her lower body - her hips, her crotch - jerked violently several times, as the bliss still coursed through her body, but ebbed away with her jerks.  “Ooh, gnnn,” she finished her mindblowing orgasm, Willow stopping her fingers now, and removed her mouth and tongue from the delicious nipple.  “Oh, my, oh my,” Buffy gasped softly, small tremors and jerks coursing through her body the final effects of her climax.

“Good?” Willow asked with a smirk, and a knowing tone.

Buffy sighed, and moved one hand up to grasp her forehead.  “Willow,” she sighed out, “that was . . . that was /sooo/ amazing.”

Willow pulled her fingers slickly from Buffy’s vagina, a soft, sexy sucking noise accompanying the action.  Willow moved up a bit, and planted her lips powerfully on Buffy’s lips, kissing her deeply and lovingly.  She broke the kiss, and told Buffy, “You’re so beautiful - tasty too.” With wide eyes, and face blushing, she watched how Willow inserted one wet finger into her mouth, and sucked it clean with a blissful, eyes-closed expression.

“Willow,” Buffy said, not quite knowing what else to say.

Willow opened her eyes, and looked naughtily at Buffy.  “Want a taste?  I had two fingers in you,” she said, and presenting her still slick, left index finger.  Buffy’s were wide, but she was still week, and before she knew it, Willow was gently pushing her finger at Buffy’s lips.  The blonde opened her lips to admit entrance, and soon was tasting her own juices on Willow’s finger.

Willow pulled her finger from the sucking mouth, and the reached down.  She pulled Buffy’s skirt down first, the blonde looking down aroused.  “My,” Willow commented gently, and sweetly, as she started on the next wet fabric, “your panties are drenched, Buffy.” Buffy blushed slightly, helping with getting her panties off.  She surprised herself with how aroused she still was, she wanted to kiss and make love Willow again, or rather, start.

Willow took off her own skirt and wet set of panties quickly.  Her pussy was on fire!  Having brought Buffy to orgasm and ignoring her own needs for so long, it was practically screaming at her to get going already.  She was wet too.

Having quickly discarded her own last pieces of clothing, she pulled Buffy into an embrace.  The blonde girl sank on her knees, while Willow was still sitting.  “I love you, Buffy,” Willow said hotly, her arms wrapped around Buffy’s back, then hungrily kissed her, and Buffy kissed back.

Willow broke the kiss a little later, and Buffy said, breathing heavily, “I love you too, Willow.”

Willow kissed Buffy on the mount, playing with her lips using her tongue, then changed position.  Gently moving across the left side of Buffy’s chin, she planted kiss and tongue lings down along her neck, to her shoulder.  Buffy shivered and let Willow continue to guide this love making session, oblivious to all else but her girlfriend.  Willow then moved up to Buffy’s ear, and the blonde moaned.  “Buffy, I want you on your knees in front of the bed,” Willow whispered hotly, the goal in front of her eyes already.  Buffy looked down, not entirely comprehending.  “Go on,” Willow encouraged, moving her hands along Buffy’s waist.

“Okay,” Buffy said and shimmied backward, and gently let herself sink off the bed.  Willow moved forward, until her vagina was at the very edge of the bed, her legs spread wide.  Buffy looked up and down at the redhead beauty in front of her, and quickly realizing what Willow wanted.

“Buffy,” Willow said breathlessly, and moved her left hand to the side of Buffy’s head, moving her fingers through the soft, blonde manes.  The sensation tickled her hands and she liked it.  Buffy liked it too, moving her head against the soft caressing fingers.  “You know what I want don’t you,” Willow said gently, hotly, totally aroused.  She was flushed with desire, and a specific one.

Buffy swallowed.  “I think so.”

Willow leaned a little closer, licked her lips, and said in breathy voice, “I want you to eat my pussy, Buffy.  I want you lick my clit.  I want to suck my love juices right out of the source.  I want you to stick your tongue in my cunny, and make me come in your mouth.”

“You certain?  ‘Cause I’m not, entirely,” Buffy asked, an uncertain look on her face, which then switched to a naughty confident smile, before switching back to uncertainty.

Willow shivered, Buffy was obviously more than ready, she just needed a final push.  “Certain enough for the both of us,” Willow said, and moved her hand to the back of Buffy’s head.  She started pulling Buffy’s head gently closer to where she wanted it, while lazily leaning backward, to give Buffy full access.  “Do it, Buffy, eat me out, please.”

Buffy let herself be pulled forward, and looked at the lips awaiting her attention.  They were puffy, swollen and stood just a little bit open.  They glistened with love juices, brought forth by Willow’s arousal.  The little patch of triangular pubic hair acted like a beacon to the heaven that lay below.  Buffy swallowed, a little nervously, then licked her lips, wettening them.  She was really going to do this; and the insistent push from Willow’s hand was a sexy sensation.  Gentle, caressing, but firm - the whole feel turned her on even more than she already was.  Willow was so damn beautiful . . . yes, she was going to do this, no way around it.  Now pretty close, Buffy homed in on Willow clit, that was visible, just at the edge of the slightly opened vulva.  She reached it; this was it!  Buffy closed her eyes to savor the moment, and pressed her lips to Willow’s flesh.  She suckled very gently, while seeking out the pleasure nub right below, massaging it.

Willow shuddered at the contact, instinctively wanting to push herself against Buffy’s ministrations.  Electric thrills, and starting orgasmic pleasure coursing through her body at the sudden, delicious touch of warm wet flesh.  “Ugh, Buffy!” Willow said with a quick shout, pulling Buffy back quickly.

Buffy looked up startled, hurt, and apologetic.  “Was it not good?” Buffy asked with pained look.

“Oh, no, too good, baby,” Willow said with a sigh, looking up a little to lock gazes with the blonde, “I want to savor this, we’re not in a race, take your time, please, Buffy.  Leave my clitty for later, okay?”

“Oh, okay, sorry,” Buffy answered, giving a Willow a sheepish smile.  Willow nodded, and relaxed back, guiding the Slayer forward once again.

Buffy licked her lips again, and placed her left hand in the cleft of Willow’s crotch and legs; two fingers left and two fingers right, thus slightly parting Willow’s lips further.  She placed a kiss on Willow’s right outer lip, and then the left, eliciting a moan from Willow.  Then she let her tongue trace the redhead’s outer lips, tasting the first bit of Willow’s juices with the tip of her tongue.  As Willow moaned further, so did Buffy.  Not wanting to wait anymore, she kissed Willow’s right outer lip, taking it between her own, while sliding her tongue onto the inside.  She glided her mouth onward, while bringing her fingers close together and outward again; opening the lovely flower of Willow’s sex.  She dipped her tongue fully in the glistening juices, moaned and shivered as she sucked on the redhead’s flesh, gathering Willow’s nectar into her mouth.  Buffy shivered as the tangy sweet, mixed with a hint of the pasta they’d eaten the night before hit her taste buds.  Her nostrils flared, sucking in her girlfriend’s musky sent.  “Mmh,” she moaned, swirling the juice around her mouth for a moment, shivers going down her spine.  She swallowed it, and mutter, “Willow, you taste delicious.”

“Less talk, more tongue, sweety,” Willow answered breathlessly.

“You got it, sexy,” Buffy replied with a grin, and dug in.  She moved her tongue along Willow’s inner lips, bringing her lips close together in a kiss, then repeated the process several.  Willow shook with pleasure, sighing; this was everything she had hoped it would be.  Holding Buffy against her pussy, and letting the blonde do the work; she deserved a return pussy eating for this, even if her fingers had already brought the blonde to a fantastic climax.

Buffy was getting more and more into it; the taste was amazing, and the smell, probably the pheromones on her somewhat Slayer enhanced senses was driving her wild.  She found her vaginal secretions were once again starting to trickle from her.  The sexy movements she brought forth from her girlfriend had an allure all of their own.  “Mmh,” she commented, as she did a powerful lick up and down Willow’s slit.  She gave Willow’s clit a quick tongue massage, that had Willow shrieking out, and bucking up into Buffy’s mouth and tongue.  Before Willow could reach the inevitable peak, Buffy descended away from the nub, and shoved her tongue into Willow’s hole.  “Mmh, ymh,” Buffy moaned, and unintelligently mumbled, mouth full of flesh and love honey.  She thrust her tongue in and out, twice before making the outward stroke a scooping motion to bring out as much pussy juice as possible, caressing Willow’s upper vaginal wall in the process.  Willow shivered, groaned out loud, and Buffy felt Willow’s inner wall start to contract around her tongue.  The blonde’s own vagina sparked with arousal as the tasty juices coating her tongue, and inner skin massaged it.  Momentarily Buffy pulled her tongue out, planting kisses and licks around the outside of Willow’s vulva; once again giving her clitoris a reassuring suck to tell it Buffy hadn’t forgotten about her.

“Oh, my god, Buffy!  Nngh,” Willow moaned, pushing against Buffy, tightening her hand around the back of the blonde’s head.  “You’re a natural, oh, ama- mmh, yes!  Don’t stop!”

Buffy shivered at the compliment, and dove back into Willow’s pussy, now pushing a free finger in underneath her tongue.  Willow’s taste was driving her wild, and she grew determined to make the redhead come soon, and several times over.  Like Willow had requested, the concept of the beautiful witch coming in her mouth was growing more attractive- no, more irresistible by the moment.  A second finger easily slid into the slick entrance, while her tongue and lips focused on the upper part her girlfriend’s love gave, scooping out more juices by the moment.

Willow was starting to ride Buffy’s tongue and fingers, instinctively thrust back against the blonde’s tongue and fingers.  She sighed with the pleasure, the exquisite sensation of her inner walls clamping around the very desired invaders, and the blonde’s mouth sucking out more of her pussy juice.  Willow felt her body climbing rapidly now toward climax; the play with Buffy earlier and the anticipation of getting the blonde to do this having charged her up far too well and too long for her to last now.  Her breathing grew heavier, her hips’ movements more frantic and strong.  Her hands grasped her breasts and she massaged them expertly, no longer able to keep one of them behind Buffy’s hand.  She archer her back, and gave a delicious moan.  “Oh, Buffy, oh, Buffy, oh . . .” she trailed from her mouth, the prickling of an impending orgasm spreading through her body.  She archer back, squeezing her tits, and grunted.  For some reason she looked right, and to her shock the door opened.

Joyce Summers, Buffy’s mother, stepped inside with a first leg, a tray becoming visible; on it were two sodas, a bag of chips, and some cookies.  “Hey, I thought- . . .” Joyce trailed off, as her eyes locked on the scene.  Buffy was naked.  Willow was naked.  Buffy was kneeling between Willow’s legs who was lying on her bed.  She needed to blink once to comprehend the scene in front of her, but the she did - did she ever.  Her eyes ended locked with Willow’s eyes.

Willow was shocked; they had been too aroused to be mindful and lock the door.  They hadn’t even really cared that Buffy’s mother had still been hope; both probably thinking she wasn’t going to barge in.  What to do?  Buffy took the decision away do; the blonde totally misinterpreted Willow’s unmoving state, as a breaking orgasm.  Her head moved a little higher and she ferociously attacked Willow’s clit; sucking on it, licking it, flicking it.  Willow didn’t stand a chance.  She exploded in orgasm, screaming out Buffy’s name, her body bucking against the blonde’s face.  Her skin flushed, her body locked up, and her hands snapped to the side and down to desperately grasp the blankets of Buffy’s bed.  Her muscles trembled throughout the nether region of her body, as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her.  Buffy was most definitely a natural, keeping her climaxing for nearly a minute.  Willow collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily, smiling brightly.  She gasped and giggled at the same time, as the euphoria slowly spread through her body, and then ebbed away.

Finally she looked left, but Joyce was no more.  As Buffy lapped clean her still leaking pussy, Willow was nervous and shocked.  Buffy’s mother had just watched her daughter bring her - Willow, redhead witch - to orgasm.  What to do?  What to do?  Well, she didn’t hear any screaming, so she didn’t have to worry about Joyce coming up the stairs with a shotgun - or similar, or less similar implement of pain and death.  That was a plus.  She had no idea what else to expect from the older woman, though, which was a minus.  Buffy must not have noticed at all, or she wouldn’t have so enthusiastically continued onward; which meant she was forced to explain this embarrassing situation to her - big, /big/, fat minus there.

Now the question was: what to do right now?  “Wow, you taste so good, and that was so amazing, watching and feeling you come,” Buffy muttered, and rose above the bed, climbing on it over Willow.

“Yeah, same with you,” Willow answered, still nervous and mind racing.  Willow watched with widened eyes as Buffy crawled forward, taking her leisure time to sucking a finger clean with glistening lips.  A moment later Buffy planted a passionate kiss Willow’s mouth, spreading the redhead’s lips, and tonguing her, sharing Willow’s juices.  “Mmh,” Willow moaned, loving the dirty, sexy deed, as well as the sexy taste of her juices in Buffy’s mouth and her lips.  She was aroused instantly again.  It seemed Buffy had decided again; besides, Willow realized; telling Buffy now would only freak her out and shorten this blisteringly hot experience; and if Buffy was going to find out and freak out over what her mother had seen anyway, better postponed it, and return to Buffy a well-earned pussy-eating.

Willow flipped Buffy over with a quick motion, and then started kissing her way down to the blonde’s treasure: Joyce would come later, Willow decided with a naughty smile, and shivering - it was kinda hot that they had gotten caught.

*****

Nerima

“Damn it!” Ranma cursed, looking around the street.  No Lotion anywhere.  The street was relatively busy, and the shows had plenty of clientele though.  Then he looked at the smiling Sasuke being held and hugged by Akane and Ranma only grew more pissed.  Then his gaze settled on Xander totally smitten by the uncomfortable-looking Ukyo, the cause of this mess, and he got even more annoyed.  “Ucchan, I think we’ll have to face it: we better go look up Cologne and see if she knows an antidote first.  Lotion’s gone.”

“Okay,” Ukyo said dejected, hating how much she screwed up Xander and Lotion’s budding relationship with her stupid love potion.

“All right then, let’s go,” Ranma said, and he and his entourage changed course, and set a brisk pace.  Ranma’s left eye twitched with every mounting frustrations as he heard Akane smooth and say sweet nothings in Sasuke’s - *Sasuke’s!* - ear.  If this had been done by anyone other than Ukyo, he’d be beating them into a pulp, that was for sure.

Thus preoccupied, he completely missed the woman tossing water off a balcony above; the same went for the others.  A moment later they were soaked in water and a female Ranma grumbled with annoyance.  Lexa swayed, and shook her head, as once again two magics clashed on her being.  She disengaged from Ukyo, and then steadied herself, looking at Ranma’s back.  “Ranma,” she said sultry.

“Huh?” Ranma said confused and turned around, then looked at Lexa.  The others looked confused at Lexa; after all girls don’t like girls.

“You’re just as hot a girl as you are a guy, come here hottie!” Lexa exclaimed happily and charged forward.

“No!” Ranma exclaimed as Lexa was on her almost immediately taking her in a tight embrace.  Everyone around looked with wide eyes.

“Ooh, baby,” Lexa muttered and attempted to plant a kiss on girl-Ranma.

Ranma managed to struggle free, and staggered as he tried to get away.  Ukyo and the other two looked in shock as Ranma bolted over a fruit stand, with Lexa in hot pursuit.  “HOT WATER!  HOT WATER!  QUICKLY!!”

“Oh, right!” Ukyo said, being the cause of all this, she should be the object of Xander’s, Lexa’s right now, obsession.  She pulled the cannister with warm water for just such an occasion from a pocket and ran after the two.

“Aah!” Ranma screamed in terror as he started climbing up a rain pipe.  Ukyo tossed some water forward, but Lexa had just jumped up and grabbed a hold of Ranma.

“Oh, baby, don’t run, we’re perfect for each other,” Lexa moaned with a sly smile.

“HUUURRRYYYY!!!” Ranma yelled scared as hell.

“I’m hurrying, I’m hurrying,” Ukyo replied, splashing some more water; this time upward.  It hit Lexa, but not Ranma, and so Lexa turned back into Xander, and let go as the wave of dizziness passed through him.  He turned half around, smiled brightly in Ukyo’s face and hugged her close.

Shivered with the horror of his best friend trying to ravage, Ranma stayed up against the wall of the building a little while younger.  “We so need an antidote, please let there be a antidote,” Ranma muttered horrified.

“Want some warm water too, Ranma?” Ukyo asked Xander clinging to her and rubbing against her, as the crowd continued with their business; a few wondering how bad the place had gone down hill if this barely lifted people’s eyebrows anymore.

“No, no, we need to keep enough for Xander, keep as much of it,” Ranma muttered with relief.

*****

The restaurant of one Cologne was not packed, but it wasn’t exactly empty either.  The blue-haired, still somewhat bruised from the defeat at the hands of Lotion, was doing the place as a waitress; a tight dress accentuating her curves.  Ranma, Xander, and the others entered the place, to Ranma’s great hope.  Xander was pawing Ukyo, as he had been doing the whole way here, kissing, and talking.  Just as bad, was Akane doing the same to the little ninja.  With every pressing moment his frustration rose.

“Nihau, Ranma, you finally come ask Shampoo to marry?” Shampoo asked excitedly, coming over to her love interest quickly, letting a few customers wait and caring nothing for them.

Ranma’s left eye twitched as Shampoo came to him.  The Amazon actually took a step back, at the carefully contained fury visible in the martial artist’s eyes.  “No,” he growled.  “Cologne, you old crone, come here!” he added, sounding desperate.  He sped over to bar, and Shampoo took a better look at his companions.

Her eyes widened when she saw Akane happily holding Sasuke to her chest, hugging him, and kissing him.  She jerked back, physically assaulted by the sight, and yelled out, “YAAAH!!  What are you thinking!?”

The small three-centuries-and-counting old woman appeared from the kitchen, to look over.  “She’s not thinking, neither is he,” Ranma snarled with frustration.  “Crone, tell me you have a cure for this!”

“For what, son-in-law?” Cologne asked coolly.

“Ukyo,” Ranma demanded, and the girl dejectedly walked over and gave the potion bottle to Ranma.  He placed it on the counter.

“Love Potion number 5,” Cologne read, and looked at the results.  She grinned, and said, “Now why would I want to help you with this?  It effectively eliminates both serious rivals for my daughter?  It’s a powerful potion indeed, two months hence, and who knows, after it wears off, the two months together might have made their love real.  It’s that powerful, it’s designed for that.  Especially if they teach each other about pleasure.” The gleam in Cologne’s eyes was unholy.

“Ooh, pleasure teaching,” Sasuke said with a happy smile.

Ranma jerked around and pointed his left index finger at Sasuke, growling, “There shall be no pleasure of any kind, or I swear I will break every bone in your body, pipsqueak!”

“Ranma-baka!” Akane snarled angrily.  “Threaten my love again, and /I/ will break the bones in /your/ body.”

Some of the customers were getting impatient, and one said, “Uhm, can we get service?”

“*QUIET!*” Ranma snapped off the order in an enraged snarl.  The customer back off, swallowing.  Ranma turned back to Cologne, and said, “Look at that, woman, that’s horrific, not even you can be so cold as to keep Akane attached to that.”

“That very bad, great grandmother,” Shampoo said with distaste, as Cologne just grinned evilly.

“Well,” the ancient woman said, smiling, “I’d be willing to produce the antidote, for a price: marry my great granddaughter, and I shall cure your friends, son-in-law.”

“Never,” Ranma stated empathically.  “Perhaps you should know, old crone, that as a girl, /that potion/ makes Xander in love with me.  That is unnatural!  Unholy!” Ranma shivered at it, “He will chase me down.”

“Hayah!  Evil potion!” Shampoo stated empathically.

Xander hated what Ranma said: the thought!  He gave Ukyo a kiss on her cheek, making the girl blush with guilt, and embarrassment, and he said, “Don’t listen to him, my sweet.  He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.  I will love you no matter what.”

“I know,” Ukyo muttered, and patted Xander on his arm.

Ranma sighed as he heard the exchange.  This had to end.  This was disgusting.

“And that’s my problem, why exactly, son-in-law?” Cologne asked with an evil smile.  “I only see one more reason why you should marry my Shampoo.”

He took a step closer to the bar and put his eyes right in front of Cologne’s.  “Because, you evil crone,” Ranma told her with intensity, “he’s almost as strong as I am.  Enough that by cheating, or surprise, he might be able to beat me; drag me off to a church, and find a way to fake me saying ‘I do’.  Then I won’t be married to Shampoo, but to him.”

“Hayaah!  Great grandmother, think of shame when return to tribe: future husband marry /man/ before me!  May never happen!” Shampoo exclaimed, all but screaming the horror of that possibility throughout the restaurant, which made some customers look up from their food, and those who had none look in both annoyance and fright, remembering the guys outburst moments ago.

Cologne’s face turned to frustration and looked at the guy, making more kisses and reassurances to her great granddaughter’s second rival.  That would indeed be too horrifying to contemplate.  And it was such a good opportunity too; apart from the boy-girl swap.  She should have thought about it herself.  Before Shampoo could lay more reasons of horror on her, Cologne said, “There is an antidote.  However, to make it, I require an extremely rare flower; the Flower of Despise and Deceit.  Lucky for you, one of only three places where it grows, is right here on Mount Fuji.” Cologne got a book from under the counter and opened it, showing a black flower with jagged pedals, jagged leafs around the square stem, with a blood-red pistil in the middle.

“Get me a map,” Ranma said in annoyance, knowing he’d go up the mountain to get the flower right away.

*****

Lotion forced her tongue down Mousse throat, pushing him up against the wall.  “Lomwmw,” Mousse tried, as the bystanders looked strangely at the pair.  Mousse put his hands against Lotions shoulders and went to push, but Lotion was strong as well and pushed, back, smiling during her forcing kiss.  Her hands moved down Mousse’s robes, feeling up his body and attempting to find a way to actually put her hands passed them on his skin; and they were getting dangerously close to his crotch area.

With a herculean effort Mousse managed to push the amorous Amazon off of him, and stagger aside.  “Now, Lotion, mww-” Mousse started, but was interrupted as Lotion collided into him with a jump, her breasts pushing against his chest, and her tongue once more down his throat.  He toppled over and Lotion wasted no time to pin him to the floor for a real good time.  Struggling for his virtue, and loyalty to Shampoo, which to his dismay his penis didn’t seem to share as it grew hard, he pushed against Lotion.  Lotion, feeling his erection grow, smiled with happiness.  “RAAH!” Mousse exclaimed, pushing Lotion off of him, and sending her a meter in the air and away.  He got up quickly, as did Lotion with a smooth jump up from her shoulders.  “THAT’S ENOUGH!” Mousse snapped, and Lotion stopped, a sly, happy grin on her face, and her eyes twinkling with even greater desire.  “I’m not in love with you, my heart belongs to Shampoo!” he declared.

“Your hard-on seems to belong to me though,” Lotion said, swaying as she took a few steps closer, and making any passersby shake their heads in disgust.

“Lotion,” Mousse warned, and Lotion let out a deep breath.  “Aah!” Mousse screamed, turned around and ran.

“Mousse!” Lotion called after him, quickly in hot pursuit.  “Don’t leave me, baby!  My beloved man!  Take me!”

Mousse half-collided with a few people, worming himself around them, much to their chagrin.  This was taking too long, and he jumped up on a roof, ran, and jumped onward.  He looked back, and too his dismay, Lotion had followed him up smoothly.  “Aargh!” Mousse exclaimed, fearing for his virtue, cursing his betrayer of a penis.

He sped up, the equivalent of sprinting across rooftops now, and he was quickly getting winded.  He jumped down into an alley and ran left.  “Mousse!  Wait, my love!” sounded behind him . . . much too close behind hm.

He ran out the alley into a busy shop street, and ran right.  “Mousse!” Lotion exclaimed behind him.  Mousse, quickly disappeared into the crowd . . . until he noticed nobody wore long white robes.

“Mousse, my baby,” Lotion sounded far too close, and a moment later the buxom Amazon was once more around his neck, giving him a passionate kiss; this time without tongue thank the gods.

“Lotion!” Both Lotion and Mousse’s head snapped to the voice, and looked at Deo standing close by.  “What are you doing?” the thirty-something, every bit as hot as her daughter woman asked in shock.

“Kissing my amazing love Mousse of course,” Lotion answered with a happy smile.

“WHAT?!” Deo asked in utter disbelief.

“She’s lost her mind, that’s what!  She’s practically raping me!” Mousse told Lotion’s mother in desperation.

“Really?” Deo asked.

“He’s just being modest,” Lotion said with a smile.

Deo looked around at some of the people staring at the scene, and quickly pulled the two off into the alley they came from for some privacy.  “Lotion, have you forgotten your obligation?” Deo asked her daughter.

“Doesn’t matter,” Lotion said dreamily holding onto an uncomfortable Mousse.

“There was more than obligation,” Deo said with some annoyance, but also a possibility.

“Xander was kissing Ukyo, now I know my true love,” Lotion said, looking dreamily into the nervous Mousse eyes.

“Really?  And where was this?” Deo asked her daughter, rubbing her chin in thought.

“At her stupid restaurant of course,” Lotion answered with an ‘obviously’ tone.  “Tossed one of her stupid pizzas at them too.”

“You did, huh?  I don’t suppose you ate some?” Deo asked her daughter, growing more certain by the moment.

“No, and what’s this stupid questioning, I found my love, that’s all that matters,” Lotion said, angry at her mother now.

“You certain?  You didn’t eat anything?” Deo asked her sharply.

“No, I didn’t . . . apart from licking my fingers clean,” Lotion answered, and Mousse looked from one to the other.

“Let me smell your breath,” Deo ordered, being certain now.

“No, smell your own breath,” Lotion countered annoyed; she had her Mousse, this served no purpose.  Deo looked sharply at Mousse.

“Uh, would you do it for me?” Mousse asked Lotion a little nervous.

“I don’t see why, but for you anything, my hunk of a man,” Lotion answered, and promptly leaned toward her mother and breathed out.

Deo leant forward and breathed in through her nose.  “Love Potion number 5,” she stated with absolute certainty.  “Overdose.  I must prepare the antidote.”

“This insanity will end?” Mousse asked hopefully, understanding Lotion’s behavior finally.

“Madly in love with you,” Lotion said, hugging Mousse close and rubbing her head in his shoulder.  He whimpered.

“Yes, but you must get the Despise-Deceit flower from Mount Fuji.  It’s a rare flower, black, jagged, with blood-red pistils.  You must find it quickly, Lotion and Xander must both drink the antidote,” Deo said quickly.  “Meet me at our hotel.” She gave Mousse the address.

“Where on the mountain?” Mousse quickly asked, and Deo explained.

*****

Sunnydale

“That- that was amazing, Willow,” Buffy muttered, moving her hand through her hand in a lazy, very satisfied matter.

Willow grinned from between her legs, licking her lips clean with relish.  She moved forward and shared a gentle loving kiss with the bottle blonde.  “You’re amazing,” Willow countered, and hugged Buffy close, who hugged the witch back.

“Buffy, I have to tell you something,” Willow said seriously, but with a light tone.

“Hmm?” Buffy prompted leisurely, enjoying the feel of her naked body against Willow’s naked body.

Willow hesitated a moment, and then decided to simply say, “When you made me climax, your mother was in the door.”

Buffy froze, and then relaxed, “Very funny, Willow, ha, ha.”

“Not a joke, Buffy,” Willow said gently.

Buffy looked into Willow’s eyes and then said annoyed, “Not funny anymore, Willow.”

“She came with a tray of chips and coke,” Willow said, and pointed at the door.  Buffy turned around and her eyes fell on the cupboard, holding her mirror, beauty products, a few pictures . . . and a tray with a bowl of chips, two glasses and a bottle of cola.

Buffy’s eyes widened with shock, then she turned white.  “Oh, no!  No, no!  This can’t be happening.  Why didn’t you say anything!?”

“When you’re climaxing there’s not much else you can do; and she was gone afterward,” Willow said, and shrugged at Buffy, “I figured before I tell you the nightmare I give you another round of pleasure; you deserved it, definitely.”

“I’m so stupid!” Buffy exclaimed in a hiss.  “What was I thinking!?  Doing that with mom home!  I didn’t even lock the door.”

“We were in the moment, honey, not much thinking going on,” Willow said, watching as Buffy struggled off the bed and started pacing, her face still white with horror.

“That was a rhetorical question, Willow!” Buffy said upset, growing a little angry.  “Now my mom watched me . . .” Buffy trailed off as she pictured what her mom would have scene: she between the legs of a thrashing- “. . . oh, my god!  Oh, my god!  This can’t be happening.  Oh, god!”

“It isn’t so bad,” Willow said in a consoling tone.

“Not so bad?  How is this not so bad!?” Buffy asked Willow with her hands in the air out of despair.

“Well, she didn’t interrupt us,” Willow pointed out, earning her a dropped jaw.  Willow quickly realized how that sounded, and added, “What I mean is; she isn’t hysterically calling us god-devoid sluts and stuff, and running out to buy a shotgun and blow our immoral, devil-worshiping heads off.”

Buffy considered it, and sank down to the floor, “I guess.” The whiteness slowly retreating.

With a smirk that Willow couldn’t suppress, she said, “Look on the bright side, you don’t have to worry about introducing me as your girlfriend anymore.”

“Willow!” Buffy exclaimed exasperated, and once again thought about what her mom had seen.  “Oh, my god!” Buffy exclaimed again, this time the whiteness completely retreating and her cheeks growing red.  “Oh, god,” she said, sinking her head down in her hands with shame.

Willow came over and took Buffy in an embrace, “Ssh, there’s nothing to be ashamed off, embarrassed sure, but not ashamed.”

Buffy looked up, straight into Willow’s twinkling eyes, “This isn’t helping.”

“Maybe we should just confront the mom-monster?” Willow asked, rubbing her head against Buffy’s caringly.

“Mm,” Buffy whimpered, giving Willow puppy-dog eyes.

*****

Hesitantly, almost shaking, Buffy walked into the living room, Willow at her side.  Her mother was sitting at the high table.  “Mom?” Buffy asked tentatively, feeling her cheeks flush a little as she saw her mother drink tea stoically . . . at least, she guessed it was tea.  It was quite a while since - oh, god! - she might have progressed to . . . nah, couldn’t be . . . she hoped hadn’t driven her mom to drinking.

“Ah, Buffy, Willow, I think we need to have a little chat,” Joyce said friendly, pointing two the chairs.

Buffy gulped.  A ‘chat’, even.  A ‘chat’!  She was doomed.  She nodded and the two of them walked over.  Buffy said at the head of the table, while Willow sat to the left of her, directly opposite her mother.

“So, that little question about Willow wanting to tell her parents of her bisexuality, was really about you, huh?” Joyce asked, in what she hoped sounded like a casual start of the conversation.  Buffy nodded weakly, and give Willow a look, who looked at her askance, but quickly figured it out.  “How long ago did it start?”

Willow and Buffy looked at each other, and Buffy sputtered out, “A-a few weeks.”

“But- this is the first time we . . .” Willow made some well-meaning, but ambiguous gestures, and then finished, “. . . consummated.”

“We’re kinda . . . figuring this out still, ourselves,” Buffy muttered, looking down in embarrassment.  Willow nodded.

“I see,” Joyce said, and wanted to slap herself - that sounded far too icy.  She quickly placed her left hand supportively on Buffy’s right, sought Buffy’s eyes, and said, “I love you, Buffy, and I’m totally okay with this.  What I told you then weren’t empty words.  It’s just that . . . well, we’re going to have to set up a few rules.” Buffy and Willow looked at her, Buffy with a beaten puppy look.  “Nothing to do with Willow, honey, but boy or girl, I don’t /ever/ want to walk in on you again when you’re . . . busy.”

Buffy perked up a bit, but still flushed with embarrassment, “Yeah, me too, you walking in when - oh, god.” Willow’s mouth quirked upward, but she forced it down again with all her will power.

“So, when you feel the urge, and you’re here, lock your doors.  I would prefer if you don’t . . . do it here at all, but I know it’s impossible it never happens again, so, lock up,” Joyce said, and then smiled at Buffy, who nodded.

“Uhm,” Willow peeped out, raising her hand, and the two blondes looked at her, “not trying to be rude; but you know, if we should forget for whatever reason, perhaps when we’re both here, knocking first?  Like I said, no rudeness, just practically.” The last sentence Willow managed to rush out in classic Willow-babble.

A moment Joyce stayed silent, but then nodded, and said, “That is a good idea.  And if I every bring a guy - or girl -” Joyce smiled at the two, making Buffy’s eyes widen in shock, “home, the same rules go for my room.”

“Ack!  I so don’t want to think about that,” Buffy said in disgust.

Willow shrugged, and told her, “Your mother is a striking, and successful woman, Buffy, I’m certain there plenty of persons out here who’d . . .”

“Don’t say it!” Buffy warned her now official girlfriend.

“Why thank you, Willow,” Joyce thanked Willow for the compliment.

The three stayed silent for a bit.  Willow and Joyce looked at each other, and they smirked just a bit, eyes twinkling.  Joyce spoke up, “This is actually quite funny when you think about.”

“No, it’s not,” Buffy said incredulous, feeling her cheeks grow hot again as the concept entered her.

“It is quite funny, Buffy,” Willow said, and gave a chuckle she could no longer hold; Joyce the same.

Buffy, her embarrassment rising, swung her head from her mother to her girlfriend, and couldn’t believe the two were going to laugh at this.  “You two can’t be . . . Mom, you just caught my girlfriend and- . . . oh, god!” Buffy exclaimed about the event once again, and Joyce and Willow started giggling.  “No!” Buffy exclaimed and then turned fiery red.

“Hey, you’re redder than I usually am,” Willow said with an amused smile.  Joyce giggled, trying to hold it.

“Oh, god!” Buffy exclaimed again, this time letting her head fall to table in frustration and embarrassment, locking her hands protectively on her head.  “This can’t be happening!” Willow and Joyce then really started laughing, and Buffy felt like sinking to the floor till she reached Xander in Japan.

*****

Nerima

The steep mountain was quite a climb.  Trees stood everywhere amongst the grass.  Ranma-chan checked the map and was pretty sure she was going in the right direction.  “Don’t worry, fair Ukyo-chan, I’ll carry you up the mountain,” Xander’s manly, chivalrous voice sounded behind him.

“Oh, no need, Xander, but thank you,” Ukyo answered, an obvious hint of genuine gratefulness in her voice, and perhaps even flattery.

Ranma-chan twisted around suddenly, growling with anger, seeing Xander’s hand on Ukyo’s back, and to the right of them, Sasuke and Akane.  The ninja had a smile upon his face as Akane stayed close to him, and was obviously periodically pawning him.  “Damn it, Ukyo!” Ranma-chan screamed with anger.  “He’s under the influence of your poison!  Don’t encourage him!”

“Sorry,” Ukyo said, ducking her head downward in shame, “it’s just nice.”

“Don’t talk to the goddess Ukyo like that!” Xander warned Ranma threateningly, stepping in between the love of his life and Ranma.  “Nobody insults my Ukyo like that.”

“Oh, yeah, buster?” Ranma-chan asked him challengingly, cracking her knuckles, fed up with the whole situation, even if it wasn’t Xander’s fault.  “You think so, huh?  Well, come on if you dare, I’ll show you otherwise.”

“Xander,” Ukyo warned him, not wanting to be responsible for the nice guy to get an asskicking.

Xander stood back up straight, reigning himself back in, and said, “You’re right, Ukyo-chan, this waste of space isn’t worth it.”

Ranma-chan narrowed her eyes.  She just need to pound someone, and said, “Ukyo is an ugly, manipulative witch who can’t even read a simple set of instructions.” Ukyo looked down in shame - she deserved that after all, but it wasn’t meant for her.

“That’s it!” Xander roared and threw a massive haymaker at Ranma-chan, who smoothly ducked beneath it.  A right to Xander’s stomach made him groan, but he grabbed the smaller girl-Ranma by her shoulders and pulled her up, before tossing her aside.  Before she landed, Xander’s right foot stomped in her stomach and she was launched further backward.

“Oh, no!” Ukyo exclaimed as Ranma-chan landed on the floor.

“Ranma-baka,” Akane said watching the fight with disdain.  Xander reached Ranma-chan, but she landed a powerful uppercut, making Xander stagger back and groan with pain.  “Always fighting, but you’re more mature, aren’t you, Sasuke?  Of course you are.” She planted another kiss on him, much to the ninja’s delight.

Xander attacked, making a feint with his left, and then nailed Ranma-chan in the face with a right.  His following punch Ranma ducked under, and kicked Xander in the upper leg.  Xander ignored it, and threw another punch, which Ranma grabbed.  Already down for her kick to Xander’s upper leg and ducking beneath Xander’s punch, Ranma rolled back, and kicked upward, sending Xander flying high and away.  Ranma-chan got back up with a grin, slapping her hands together and said, “Still not quite good enough, Xander.”

She turned around to watch Xander’s flight, which had taken the Sunnydaler through several branches from trees already, to finally land right smack in a small pool of water.  Lexa drowsily looked up from the pool, shook her head, and focused on Ranma-chan.  “Oh, Ranma, you manly, strong, studly babe, you,” she said with a sly grin, and jumped forward, then ran.

“Oh, no!  Ukyo, warm wamm-” Ranma started, interrupted by a big embrace and Lexa’s tongue down his throat.  Her eyes were wide with horror, as Lexa’s strong arms tightened around his own.  “Mmmh!” he exclaimed, and then broke free, and pushed Lexa back.  “AAH!” he screamed, “Ugh, phooey!  Yuck.  Pueah!”

“Hmm,” Lexa said with a seductive moan, rubbing her chest - her breasts - where Ranma had pushed to get her off of her, “I knew you were just faking it.  Like my tits, huh?”

“AAH!” Ranma-chan screamed.  She turned around and ran with all the strength she could muster as Ukyo was struggling with the warm water cannister’s cap.

“Come here, sweetheart!” Lexa yelled, already in hot pursuit of her loved one.

Ranma scrambled up a tree, and Lexa followed.  “Get off me!  Let me go!” Ranma yelled scrambling higher rapidly.

“Never, babe!” Lexa exclaimed, happily charging right after Ranma.

Ranma-chan quickly moved to her right onto a branch, hoping that would slow her crazed, best friend down.  Not so, Lexa crawled after him like a big, sexy feline, purring like one too.  “HOT WATER!  HOT WATER!  QUICKLY!!” Ranma-chan exclaimed in fear, sliding backward, taking the occasional look back, and noticing the end coming closer rapidly.  “UKYO, COME ON!”

“I’M COMING, I’M COMING!” Ukyo yelled and jumped up high, and then threw water along the branch, covering both Ranma-chan and Lexa who had closed to only two inches away from the brunette.  The girls turned back into guys, and as the weight shifted the branch fluttered, and Ranma lost his balanced.  “AARGH!” he exclaimed, toppling over, crashing down through several branches, to finally smack face-first in a heap into the ground.

Xander shook his head, looked around, and then smiled seeing Ukyo.  “Ukyo!” he exclaimed, and happily jumped down, quickly capturing the girl with a kiss.

Pained with guilt, she cut the kiss short, and looked over.  “Are you okay, Ranma?” Ukyo asked concerned.

“I will be after my head stops ringing, and I no longer have grass and sand in my mouth,” Ranma growled in frustration.

Akane, lovingly carrying Sasuke, came over, and said, “Suit you fine, Ranma-baka.  That’s what you get for attacking people.” Then she kissed the ninja again, who just smiled, as he kissed her back.  Ukyo held out her hand, and Ranma took it to be helped up.

*****

“Look at this beautiful place!” Lotion exclaimed happily, looking around the small field with different flowers and high grass.  The forest continued shortly up ahead.  “So romantic, doesn’t this makes you want to ravish me right here?”

“No!” Mousse exclaimed, frustration growing.  “I love only one woman, and her name is Shampoo!”

“Don’t be shy.  I know you really like me, just let it out.  The bitch isn’t worthy of you anyway,” Lotion said sweetly, wrapping her arms around Mousse’s shoulders, and pressing her breasts in his back.

Mousse whimpered, “What cruel fate, this world has given me!” He felt the Amazon’s lips on his neck, kissing gently, sucking a bit, and letting her tongue sensually stimulate his skin.  To his shame, he once again wasn’t left untouched by the sensual event.  “Get off,” he demanded.

“Hmm, not yet,” Lotion said, increasing the pressure, and forcing a surprised Mousse down to the grass.  “First, we make love.”

“No!” he exclaimed, as he felt Lotion start to claw at his robes.  The white cloth quickly reached the breaking point, and to Mousse’s shock he felt them rip.  “Get off,” he said as he struggled, still politely.  Lotion turn him over, and ripped the robes from his body, leaving him in the white t-shirt and the blue jeans he was wearing underneath.

“Oh, baby, what a chest, take me, you amazing specimen of man you!” Lotion exclaimed hotly, smothering Mousse in a passionate tongue kiss.

“Mmhh!” Mousse exclaimed, looking cross-eyed through his glasses, and then with some effort kicked Lotion of him.  “No, woman!”

“I love it when you get bossy,” Lotion said, on her hand and knees now and growling like a panther.

“Well, can’t you obey then?” Mousse asked, hopefully.

“We can play that game later,” Lotion said with a smirk and started crawling toward him again.

“AAARGGHH!” Mousse screamed, quickly jumped up, turned around and started running toward his ultimate destination.  “MUST GET THAT FLOWER!!”

“Mousse!” Lotion yelled disappointed and soon was in hot pursuit.

Mousse looked back for a moment, and sped up into a sprint.  “Oh, god!  Must get that flower!  Must get that flower!  I can’t afford not to get that flower!” Speeding up even more, he mentally recalled the directions Deo had given him.  He turned right, up a steeper section of the mountain; jumping along.  Soon he came to a new horizontal plateau.

There it was!  Black jagged flower, blood-red pistils!  “THAT FLOWER IS MINE!” he yelled.  Now why would he sound in stereo?  He jumped, grabbing for the flower to get it as fast as possible and then just keep going right back to Lotion’s mother . . .

A devastating bolt of pain through his head, and being launched backward by the devastating collision with something had other plans for him.  The glasses left him, and he landed painfully on his butt with a grunt.  He blinked, seeing nothing but blurs.  He reached in between his wide-spread legs, felt around, and found his glasses.  He put them on, and everything came back into focus.  He saw Ranma sitting in the grass on the opposite side of his prized flower.  Ukyo and a few others were behind his rival.  “You bastard!” Mousse screamed, getting up, as Ranma did the same, “I knew you were behind this after all!  THAT FLOWER IS MINE AND YOU SHALL PAY!!”

“YOU BAKA!” Ranma screamed back, rage coursing through his body, “AND THAT FLOWER COMES WITH ME AND NO ONE ELSE!”

They charged each other and clashed in a titanic battle; fist flew, and kicks were given . . . Mousse was groaning and staggering back while Ranma grinned and was ready to finish it.

“STOP IT!” Ukyo was in between the two, her hands against either chest.  “This is no time for a stupid fight.  Mousse, why do you need the flower?”

Mousse blinked, and then said, “So Deo can make an antidote for her daughter.”

Said daughter arrived and hung around Mousse’s neck, kissing him there and saying, “There’s no antidote for love, silly.”

Ukyo looked surprised at this turn of events, while Mousse grumbled, “No, but there is for a love potion.”

Lotion had picked up the okonomiyaki!  She must have had some on her fingers!  Ukyo’s guilt flashed through her, and then relief: if Lotion was affected as well, then there was no way she wouldn’t believe Xander’s reason for kissing her!  “Ranma, Mousse,” Ukyo stated with a hint of happiness, and the rest annoyed dominance, “you two want the flower for the same reason.  What does it matter if Cologne or Deo makes the antidote, as long as it gets made?  And if both you are adamant about having your Amazon make it; there’s an entire patch of flowers over there.” Ukyo turned a quarter circle, and pointed to her right.

Indeed, there was an entire patch of them there; easily fifty flowers.  Mousse and Ranma looked down at the lone flower, and then up at each other, before looking sheepishly at Ukyo.  “I’ll take the flower,” Ukyo said, and picked the flower from the ground.

“Hmm,” Xander muttered and reached his girl, kissing Ukyo passionately in the neck, “I love it when you get all referee-dominant-like.”

“We gotta hurry,” Ranma said quickly, to which Mousse agreed happily.

*****

“There, it is done,” Cologne announced, inside her restaurant.

“Finally,” Ranma said with relief, as Cologne filled three small glasses with the concoction.

Ukyo took one glass and handed it over to Xander.  “Xander, you need to drink this,” she told him.

“I don’t see the point,” Xander looked with disdain at the green liquid.

“For me?” Ukyo asked.

“Anything for you,” Xander said happily, took the glass, and gulped it down in one go.  Everyone waited with baited breath as Xander shuddered at the taste.  He blinked once.  He blinked a second time.  Then suddenly he jerked, his eyes refocused, and he looked Ukyo.  His eyes widened and he took a step back from.  “Oh, god, so that’s what it feels like.  Ugh.” Then he suddenly looked at Ranma, horror on his face, and he said, “Oh, man, Ranma, I’m so sorry.  I-”

“Save it!” Ranma interrupted, “Just don’t every remind me.  As far as I’m concerned, this day never happened.”

“Got ya, yieh,” Xander said, and walked away from the bar to sit down at a table.

“Yes!” Shampoo exclaimed happily, “Future husband no marry man!”

“Alright, Lotion, you’re turn!” Mousse said enthusiastically.

“What for?” Lotion whined.

“Just do it for me already,” Mousse said with annoyance.  This nightmare had to be over quickly.

“Well, okay,” Lotion said, and walked forward.  She took a glass and gulped it down.  “Ack!  Disgusting!” Lotion exclaimed, and put the glass back down, next to Xander’s empty one.  Everyone waited, and then Lotion shivered, before frowning.  “AAARGH!!” she suddenly exclaimed, “NOT AGAIN!!  That’s the second time in the same stupid year!  Love potions, love spells, they should be forbidden!  Burned!  Destroyed!” Lotion then turned to Ukyo, and glared at her.  Ukyo took a step back and looked down in guilt.

Lotion then walked over to Xander sat down in his lap, wrapping her arms around.  Xander hugged her back, and told her, “It’s okay now, Lotion.”

“I hate that, I really hate that,” Lotion said, shivering at her second false love experience.

“About that, hey Ranma,” Xander said, and Ranma looked at him.  “Remember what advice I gave you about your choices?”

Ranma frowned a moment, and then looked up with revelation.  “Yeah.”

With a smile Xander said, “Forget about it.” Ukyo blinked, and then realized what it meant, and she shrunk further with guilt, and pain at how this horrible idea turned out.

A few moments there was silence, then: “Sasuke, we’re waiting.” Ranma looked at the little ninja with an equally dangerous look as his tone.

Sasuke looked with large eyes at him, then he swallowed, and said, “Akane, drink that drink for me.”

“Okay,” Akane said happily to please her loved one.  She walked over and drank the glass down.  She too shivered at the taste.  A moment later she blinked several times.  Then her eyes widened and she looked at Sasuke.  “AAAAAAAAAHHHH!” she screeched, piercing several eardrums, and kicked forward instinctively.  She caught Sasuke squarely in the jaw, and with a scream of pain he was launched out the restaurant.  “Aargh!” Akane added, and then kept staring ahead silently in horror.

Ranma walked to in front of Akane and asked concerned, “Are you okay, Akane?”

“Of course, I’m not okay, you baka!” Akane screamed suddenly, glaring at him.  “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT TOO!”

“What!?  But Ukyo-”

With devastating punch, accompanied by a growl, Ranma was launched out after Sasuke, groaning in pain.  “If you hadn’t followed your stupid stomach, this wouldn’t have happened, Ranma-baka!” Akane yelled after him.

“By the gods, Akane,” Lotion muttered in disbelief, as she and the others looked at what she had done to Ranma, “You really have to learn perspective and where blame belongs; squarely on that bitch’s shoulders.” Lotion glared at Ukyo.  Akane turned around and after a moment glared at her as well.

“I’m so sorry,” Ukyo told them, looking down in shame.

*****

Sunnydale

Buffy and Willow walked side by side through the cemetery, their patrol going pretty well, having taken out several vamps and a demon already.  “You know, Will, mom was all okay with us at home, and all, but I think I prefer to do it somewhere else; just take away the chance of that happening again altogether.”

Willow nodded; they had already decided to never say what happened in the event ever again, so it was reduced to short designations.  “Yeah, but where?” Willow said, avoiding a headstone.  “My parents would actually go out and buy that shotgun, I think.  A seedy motel room isn’t my cup of tea, not all the time anyway.  Neither of us have a car to do it in the back of, except the occasional times I manage to steal the one of my parents, and again with the all the time.”

Buffy nodded, and pushed her hands in her pockets, her right hand clasping around her keys.  Her eyes widened, and pulled the keys out, focusing her gaze on a specific one.  She held the keys up by it, and shook it to make noise and get Willow’s attention.  Then she said, “We use Xander’s apartment.  He’s still on vacation for another two weeks or so.  We’ll have to think of something else when he gets back, but until then . . .”

Willow’s face broke into a huge smile, as she finished for Buffy, “. . . we have our very own love palace!  Buffy, you’re a genius!”

“I have my moments,” Buffy replied, with a grin was as wide as Willow’s.  Both smiles quickly disappeared as Willow engulfed Buffy in a hug, and kissed her passionately.  Buffy happily returned the hug and the kiss, and moaned at as their bodies pressed together.

“Oh, wow, that’s hot!” The vampire who said it and had been about to sink his fangs into Willow’s neck from behind, promptly disappeared in a cloud of dust, as Buffy staked it.

“No respect for privacy these days,” Buffy told Willow with a heavy tone.  Willow nodded, and then they ran toward Xander’s apartment.

~~~~Part 5: The Hellmouth Strikes~~~~

The moon was out, and darkness prevailed.  Willow and Buffy were walking through the Sunnydale park, patrolling, Willow using a flashlight.  They were, however, holding hands, and smiling.  “It’s a nice night, huh?” Buffy asked with a smile.

“Yep,” Willow said with a smirk.  “It’s much nicer if I remember what we did earlier tonight.”

Buffy’s gave Willow a wicket grin, and said, “Do you think Xander can smell us when he gets back?  We really worked the place over in our last chance.”

Willow grinned evilly, and said, “I don’t know, depends on how well your cleaning skills are and how well you’ve applied them; I did my part.”  Buffy scowled at Willow, who diffused the Slayer’s wrath with a big smile, and a passionate kiss.  Then she went on, “But we definitely did.  You think there’s anything we forgot to have sex in, on, or at tonight?”

“Nope, all three of us got a good workout,” Buffy said with a smirk.  Willow looked puzzled at the Slayer, as they continued their trek through the park.  “You, me, and the apartment.”  Willow laughed.

She stopped a moment later, and said, “Actually, Xander might actually be back already.”

“You think it’s that late?” Buffy asked surprised, and looked around at the moon and stars.  “Ah, I either got to learn to tell time by the moon, the sun, and the stars, or buy a watch.”

“Yeah, me too,” Willow said, looking around at the stars and then back down, “we spent quite some time in Xander’s, both the dirty deeds and the cleanup, and we’ve been patrolling for some time.”

“It sucks his plane landed in the middle of the night,” Buffy complained in annoyance. “Dang it, why do the commercial flights from Japan not go to Sunnydale anyway?  And why did his plane from Japan have to have a damn delay so he didn’t know whether he’d get the connection between LAX and Sunnydale airport or have to stay the night.”

“I know all that, Buffy,” Willow said with a smile, and shone the flashlight to her left suddenly, checking if it really was something worthwhile she saw form the corner of her eyes.

“But I wanted to welcome him home, stupid planes,” Buffy pouted overly, gaining a kiss on her cheek from Willow.

“This place is empty except for animals,” Willow said with annoyance.  “Come on, let’s get out of here and see if Xander’s either back, or if left us a message when exactly.”

“I hope he’s not here yet so we can welcome him,” Buffy said brightly, as they turned slightly and set a resolute pace.  “No, I don’t, I’d like to have him back as soon as possible. Oh, god, what do you think his reaction to us will be?  Perhaps he shouldn’t be arriving until tomorrow after all.”

Willow laughed at Buffy, making the Slayer frown.  Willow planted her lips on Buffy and kissed her deeply and passionately, tongue playing with tongue.  After a bit she broke away, and ushering a slightly dazed Slayer onward again, she said, “I love you in all your quirkiness, Buffy.”  Buffy smiled self-consciously.

Thus they reached the edge of the park, and entered a cemetery that bordered to it.  It was a relatively new cemetery and so mostly empty - at least it should have been.  A whole group of golden glowing eyes was waiting for them; at least thirty vamped out vampires, all sporting evil grins.  One of them was headed toward Buffy and Willow as they stood nailed to the floor in surprise and a little fear - the low growls coming from the back of the throats of quite a few vampires didn’t help any.  They were outnumbered fifteen to one, in a small area; fleeing might be the best option.  They looked behind them for a moment, and found another throng of vampires having surrounded them.  Now there were well over forty.  The vampire jumped, roared with satisfaction to attack the two girls, only to scream in pain and turn to dust.

A figure flipped through the air and landed in middle of the cemetery, surrounded by the vampires.  Buffy and Willow recognized him immediately.  “Xander!”

“Stay put!” Xander called, stretching out his hand toward them.  The stake that had dusted the vampire landed with dull flub in the grass.  Xander took in the numbers, started doing the math.  Buffy and Willow obeyed, but turned back to back, and readied to fight.  “All right, who’s first?”

The vampires’ faces already twisted in grins grinned even wider, growling once again, then fifteen vampires charged Xander at once.  Xander waited and then jumped high.  To his surprise the vampires didn’t dumbly smashed into each other, several had already jumped, as if having anticipated his move, while the others paused, and from those four jumped up after Xander; there now being eight vampires in the air.

Xander pulled two stakes from his jacket, and blocked the first punch coming from a vampire in front of him.  He pulled his left hand back sharply to deliver a punch, using the movement to ram his elbow in a vamp behind him which had gone for his neck.  The vamp was flung backward in pain.  In the air Xander turned, slamming the stake from his left hand in the first vampire’s chest in the process, making him explode into dust.  Using the turn he kicked out his right foot, and sent another vampire flying.  His right hand shot out to his right, sticking the stake in a vampire’s throat, sending him gurgling to the ground.  Another vampire was in the right position to slam a punch in Xander’s left side.  Xander groaned a little, and slammed his left hand down, dusting the vamp with his stake.  Already falling back down, Xander then quickly twisted backwards, so he came upside down.  It was just in time as a quick jab from a vamp went through where his head had been a moment earlier.  The moment from the quick turn Xander used to kick the vamp in his stomach and sent him flying away, to land amidst several of the fifty plus vampires - he was caught and placed upright though, no bowl-a-rama.  Upside down, Xander threw one of his stakes and dusted the for-to-final of the aerial vampires.  The final vampires came down at Xander with a double handed blow, but Xander blocked it with his legs, and grabbed the vampire’s torso.  He made a twist while stretching their bodies outward, thus speeding up the twisting motion, sent the vampire flying away to land painfully on his back beyond the vampires.

Xander grunted with the effort to stretch further, the forces making him want to spread out his legs again, but the time wasn’t there yet.  He sped up a bid more, and then spread out his legs.  The vampires waiting below had indeed as expected charged in, but had apparently anticipated this again, as they paused to avoid Xander’s helicopter kick.  Xander landed on his hands, grimacing with effort, and twisted onward, pushing off with one hand to flip over on his feet again.  The vampires were charging perfect coordinated, he anticipated, and so he needed to move before they could box him in.  He took a quick powerful step toward the front of the cemetery and landed a simple but very effecting haymaker on the vampire’s nose, sending him flying.  Xander rapidly turned a quarter circle, and blocked the lunge from the vampire with his left hand.  He twisted the arm up, while he ducked underneath it and stepped forward.  The other two vamps paused so as not to hit their own, while Xander brought up his right hand and slammed the stake into the vamps heart.  It dusted, but Xander didn’t.  Moving to his right, he walked into solid fist to his face.  Damn, these guys knew how to work together.  Staggering back, Xander threw his stake, dusted the vampire, and then turned on his right foot quickly, making a devastating left roundhouse kick.  The turn was just enough for Xander to avoid the final vampire’s attack, and hit it with the kick afterward.  The vampire was launched off its feet, yelling in pain, and slammed like a torpedo in the left section of surrounding vampires.  This time the vamp was too fast to handle, and some of the vampires went down, but only for a short moment, and none all the way to their backs, except the one Xander had kicked but he was immediately held up.

“Whoa,” Willow muttered in surprise, taking in her childhood friend, who was standing in a martial arts stance and was looking at the vampires like a hawk.  He looked good!  Even better then before he left.  The tight jeans, the black jacket, and his purple, tight, sleeveless, shirt - mixing modern and traditional fashions - looked amazing on him.  And he had gotten even better; oh, boy had he gotten better.  “He’s even more muscular then before, but you know, lean, not body building.”

“Yeah,” Buffy agreed softly, barely able to believe her eyes, both Xander and the perfectly well-oiled machine that was the vampires, who for some reason didn’t do anything for the moment.  “God he’s good, he’s gotten even better.  If this was a year ago, and I was over there, I’d be dinner about now.  And since when do vamps dress color coordinated?”

“That’s what you notice?” Willow questioned half-annoyed, half-amused, her heart flaring for her girlfriend.

Xander looked around suspiciously, wondering why the vampires waited, some moaning and recovering vampires that Xander had faced rejoining the group.  Then there was an hardy laughter, joined by an one-man, or one-vamp, applause, and a group of vampires parted for one of them to step forward.  Like the other vampires he was in red and black colors, but unlike the others he stood out by a much more regal look.  His long leather, mostly dark red coat, was closed from neck to middle with clasps.  The coat was sleeveless, and a round, metal crest was on the right part of its chest.  There were a few more small metal ornaments on his being.  The other vampires, Xander now noticed, had the same, but a much smaller crest just under their shoulder.  “Impressive,” the brunet vampire spoke in a cultured voice with an Italian accent.  “I am Augustino Pietrantoni,”

“Xander Harris,” Xander returned carefully, while Buffy and Willow gave each other a look from the corner of their eyes.  Xander asked the guy, “Any reason why you Nazi-wannabes managed to relocate here?”

“You and the girls,” the Italian vampire spoke casually.  “I hate the Hellmouth you know. Been here before; the whole place just plane stinks, influences everything to go wrong . . . even if you’re evil.  So when I heard of the Slayer guarding the place I couldn’t care less; had the pleasure of eating a few, tasty, intoxicating, so much power to suck into you, but after you’ve had a few.”  The vampire shrugged, “Not enough for me to care . . . then though, there were suddenly reports several people much stronger than Slayers.  Now that, is something I couldn’t pass up.  I have the numbers.”

“No, you don’t,” Xander said almost casually.  Pietrantoni smirked, and then his smirk faltered when he realized Xander wasn’t bluffing - he didn’t feel fear, just a nervous anticipation.  Xander continued, “These buffoons and you are pathetic.”  The growls increased in volume, the vampires getting pissed off.

“Really?  You seemed to have trouble with but a few,”  the Italian said calmly, but obviously pissed off.  “I’ve trained my soldiers well, as you’ve seen.”

Xander chuckled and let it grow into a laugh, the vampires growls grew.  “Xander!? How about not pissing off the nice vampires who outnumber us fifteen to one?” Willow suggested a little afraid.

“Willow, Buffy, stay out of this, you hear, these dipshits are mine,” Xander told his friends sternly, looking at them forcibly for a moment, pointing at them.  Xander turned back to the lead vamp, and told him, “Granted, compared to a standard vamp your choir faggots are pretty well trained, but to me.”  Xander shrugged theatrically, “I could kill them all without holding a weapon - in fact . . .”  With the vampires’ tempers mounting Xander tossed his staked to his left, then reached in his jacket, pulling his remaining four stakes out, and tossed them around him, much to Buffy’s and Willow’s shock.  “I’m going to dust each and every one of you, without touching those stakes,” Xander said with a grin, gesturing to the pieces of wood.  The vampires growled angrily.  Xander casually turned half around, and looked over his shoulder at the vampires behind Buffy and Willow, “And I do mean each and every one of you, come on, don’t tell me you’re chicken.”  Xander made a come here gesture with his right index fingers.  The vampires growled and came forward, much to Buffy and Willow’s dislike, but were relieved when the vampires seemed to pass them by; at the same time they got even more afraid - afraid for Xander.

The vampires were beyond pissed, that much was obvious, they were all vamped out, and growling loudly, only barely keeping the discipline to wait for their masters order. “XANDER!” Buffy screamed in shock, while Willow shrieked out his name as well.  “YOU CAN’T DO THIS!  NOT EVEN YOU ARE THIS GOOD, AND YOU’RE NOT ARMED!”

“*WILLOW, BUFFY, STAY PUT IF YOU VALUE YOUR HEALTH!*” Xander commanded forcibly.

“XANDER!” Willow shrieked again, wanting to go forward, but Buffy grabbed her around the face, and the other arm around her waist.

“We trust him, right?” Buffy said with a trembling voice.  Willow stopped struggling, but kept watching with wide eyes filled with terror.

“If you’re done keeping your little women out of men’s business,” Augustino spoke in a mixture of a hiss and a growl, “*KILL HIM!  Whoever does, may drain him dry, and take whatever of his power lies in his blood!*”

With enraged growls the vampires, including the leader, charged to Xander, where six clashed with him at the same time; even enraged, they showed enough discipline to walk in each other’s way.  Xander casually blocked one punch, and zipped to his right to avoid the others, but not just to do that.  Careful to keep his own temper and temperature cool, he started going in circles.  Without haste he blocked attacks from the vampires, and ignored when they hit him, focusing totally on stay upright and continuing to make his ever smaller circles.  One vampire was fed up, and simply jumped into the air; too late.

Xander reached his middle, and made an uppercut, but doing much more, pulling and throwing the energy he’d been gathering into the air, yelling, “HIRYU SHOTEN HA!” Vampires’ body temperature never reached above the temperature around them, but the technique didn’t need their body temperature, it needed the temperature of their life, or in this case unlife energy; and with their rage it was far more than enough.  There was a flash of light, accompanied by a roar and dragon made of energy pulled up out the ground around Xander, multiple spirals of old and hot energy forming together to make up the beast.  It roared and shot high into the air.

Buffy’s and Willow’s hadn’t stopped being wide, but now it was of astonishment. Buffy’s hand slipped from Willow’s mouth, and the redhead muttered, “Is that a dragon?”

Then all hell broke loose.  Suddenly there was a massive twister, and it sucked up everything that was loose, and not so loose, including all the vampires, the stakes, and Xander. Worse, the grass and some of the earth it was planted in was ripped from the ground, leaves from trees were torn off, and even branches.

“Aaah!” Buffy and Willow screamed in fright, their hair whipping toward the twister, as well as their skirts and shirts which threatened to be ripped off.  In fact, they felt themselves growing light, and giving each other a quickly glance they quickly grabbed ahold of the nearest tree, and held tight.

“Xander’s in there,” Willow said in shock and fright at the massive twister, watching a part of the hedge being torn out of the ground and into it.

Xander was indeed inside, being pulled along in the twisting motion.  “Ouch,” Xander muttered, totally unhearable above the twister’s roar, “mental note; forty-five chi twister to be avoided if possible.”  Especially when he saw one of the two gate doors of the cemetery entrance fly by, along with a screaming vampire that had grabbed onto it for dear unlife. “Okay, time to end this,” Xander told himself with a grin, “before Ranma and me trained on this thing together, this was totally out of control, but we figured something out.”   Xander closed his eyes, and felt his own still cold energy, and the hot energy tied to it, and then felt out to his stakes.  Taking subtle breaths, and flexing his muscles and with it his energy, the stakes suddenly started changing course.  A vampire slammed straight into one, which came out the other end with the speed differences, and then it dusted.  Another stake slammed into a vampire from the back, another shot upward into a vampire’s chest.  Vampires started dusting rapidly, more and more.  The poof usually accompanying the dusting process, completely washed out by the thunderous tornado.  Soon only the leader remained, helplessly twisting and flailing about, screaming in rage.  Xander came floating close by, and with a grin he wiggled his empty hands at him.  Then a stake destroyed him too.

With all of them dead, Xander took ahold of the energies, and subtlely let them disrupt the twisters internal balance more and more.  Soon the twister evaporated, leafs, grass, branches, and a metal gate slamming into the ground, while Xander landed.

Willow and Buffy reopened their eyes, and looked over at the calm, but messed up cemetery.  Xander stood in the middle, and held out his hands, the stakes falling in them, and smoothly started putting them away, eyes closed he said with a grin, “Told them no hands.”

“Xander!” two girls voices exclaimed and two girls slammed into him, enveloping him in a relieved hug.

“I’m fine, guys . . .” Xander said with a grin, and then trailed off.  Did he really feel skin? His eyes opened and two shredded sets of girls clothing floated down around him.  He looked down and saw the girls only wearing shoes, socks, bras and panties.  “Oops,” he said.

The girls’ eyes opened, and then remember feeling their clothes torn off of them a little earlier.  They quickly backed away from Xander and looked at them.  Xander couldn’t help but give a laugh, “You two are looking good though.”

“Xander!” Buffy shrieked and nailed him on his upper arm, making him rub it.  Then she did what Willow had already done; clasping their arms around their breasts, and over their crotches.

Willow gave an embarrassed shriek, and quickly went over to gather some of the destroyed clothes, hoping to get a few pieces big enough to cover up somewhat.  Buffy followed her example on the other side.  Willow bent down to gather up some . . . giving Xander one hell of a view of her string-clad - or perhaps unclad - ass.  “Wow, Willow,” Xander blurted out before he could stop himself.

Willow frowned, and then realized what he was showing him bent over.  She shrieked, straightened up, turned and put her hand holding a torn skirt behind her ass.  “Xander!” she exclaimed, and then realized this way she kept her crotch uncovered for him, and quickly brought her hand back forward again, a torn shirt now in front of her breasts.  She was hunched over, and half bent trying to keep everything covered.

“Sorry,” he said, “I’ll try to keep my eyes closed.”

“They’re still open,” Buffy said annoyed, looking up from her bent over position, to check up on her lover’s shriek and Xander’s comment.

“Uh, I guess so,” Xander said and turned to Buffy, and smiled as he saw her from the side bent over, with legs spread practically in a porn pose inviting him to take her from behind.

Buffy frowned at him looking.  “Ack!  Xander!” she said, and quickly straightened up, “You bastard!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but it isn’t like I wouldn’t see anything more if we’d be at the beach . . . we really should go there one of these days, for a Scooby day out,” he said with a big grin.

“Ugh!” Buffy exclaimed, and quickly walked over to Willow; rather awkwardly trying to keep the torn clothes to cover everything up - except her ass; nothing big enough to wrap around.

“Oh, god this is embarrassing, we still have to go back home!” Willow said with wide eyes, looking down at her condition, “how are we going to get back home without everyone seeing us?”

“Change at the Library,” Buffy said annoyed, “tree to tree, and Xander will have to say if the coast is clear.”

“Sure, and you have my heartfelt apology for ripping up your-” Xander halted his speech as two pairs of eyes glared at him.

“Well, Xan, take a good look, and savor that hug, because you’ll never get to touch it ever again,” Buffy told Xander royally pissed off, making Xander look confused.  “Willow and me are a couple now, we’ve making love regularly already, and we’re only for each other now.”  Buffy nodded with satisfaction at that.

“What?” Xander said, a little hurt.  He blinked several times, and then gave a laugh. Willow and Buffy didn’t laugh.  “No joke then.  You’re just saying that out of spite, right?”

“Nope,” Willow told him with a glare, “spite is just the timing.”  The she moved over, and gave Buffy a passionate kiss, that the Slayer returned.  Xander watched shocked, and notice how easy and comfortable the love flowed between the two: they really were a couple. It partly broke his heart, partly made him relieved, and partly felt happy for his two best friends.

“Congratulations, guys,” Xander said a little forlorn, and remembered the fun he had had in Tokyo with Lotion, and the stolen kisses.  The Amazon was amazing as well, and he even felt warm and happy around her; just like he did with Buffy and Willow of course, so he was pretty sure his crush, budding love there, could blossom fully; so nothing was lost, not really.

“Quite staring, start guiding, you male,” Buffy huffed at him, carefully holding the tatters to cover her private parts, and started walking.

“Okay,” Xander said as they passed him by, and he turned round, looking directly at their buttocks; nicely on display.  He smiled; two sexy butts.  Willow and Buffy suddenly froze, realizing at the same time, and switched the torn clothes from front to back.

“Xander, front!” Willow said.

*****

Buffy and Willow quickly zipped behind a tree, and leaned against it with their back sides. They huffed, having made quick sprints from tree to tree, while being hunched over and covering up; and it had taken its toll.  They looked past the tree.  Across the street was the school.  They had many a close call, but had made it so far.  Xander arrived casually, smirking.

“Xander,” Buffy admonished him, and then blushed, realizing the two of them had run over from the last tree without covering their backsides which had been pointing toward Xander.  Willow next to her whimpered admonishments to herself that she should have noticed.

“Looking great, guys, one more street,” Xander said, looking left and right, and then walking onward to go check out the side street, while Buffy and Willow remained grumbling frustrated at Xander’s double meaning, and he was obviously aware as he chuckled lightly and shook his head.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Buffy muttered in frustration, and waited.  “Damn it, Xander!  Can we go or not?”

“Hold on a bit, let me be-” Xander started.

“DAMN IT!  MAKE UP YOUR MIND!  CLEAR OR NOT!” Buffy screamed in frustration.

“Okay, clear!” Xander replied, and Buffy and Willow twisted along either side of the tree, and ran.  They quickly zipped across the street, hoping nobody was looking in the houses behind them.  Soon they reached the pavement on the other side, the school’s parking lot was just in front of them, and the school grounds and building behind that.

With screeching tires a convertible came around the left corner, and then it slammed on the breaks.  “AAH!” Buffy and Willow exclaimed in horror, quickly trying to turned around, and noticed Xander coming back into view from the same left on the parking lot.  They’d be showing their ass to him again.  They struggled to move the tatters to cover their asses, while still turning around, but the boys in the car were seeing, and would be seeing their panties from the front.

“WOOHOO!” one boy, standing tall in the now very slowly moving car yelled at Willow and Buffy.  A lout cat whistle with two fingers followed from another.

“Oh, god!” Buffy exclaimed, while Willow whimpered.  They had reached a patch of grass, and were trying to do multiple things at the same time, the soft ground gave and the two collided together, and threatened to fall.  They grabbed a hold of each other to keep from falling, dropping the tatters, and looking shocked into each others eyes, showing of their bodies, clad in only shoes, socks, bras, and panties for all too see.

“OH YEAH, STRIPTEASE!” another of the boys screamed, obviously turned out.

“ROSENBERG!  SUMMERS!  WOW!  YOU TWO WERE HOT BEFORE, NOW YOUR SCORCHING!” another yelled from the barely moving car.

“BABES, PLEASE MAKE THAT YOUR NEW SCHOOL ATTIRE!” the driver yelled, and the guys laughed out loud, before speeding off again.

Buffy and Willow looked wounded into each others eyes, and then heard more laughing, practically giggling.  They looked up, glaring at Xander.  “I’m sorry, it’s just too-” Xander said, barely able to contain himself long enough to say that, his chest already shuddering with new laughter.

Glaring the two girls wanted to move to punish him, but still holding each other and half imbalanced, they went completely out of balance, and dropped unceremoniously to the grasp. Xander’s laughter doubled in volume.  “Ah!” Buffy complained, and then slumped in defeat.

Willow whimpered, growled, and then said vindictively, “When those four are at the Bronze, I’m so not going to dance, giving them a another show.”

“Yeah,” Buffy agreed, nodding, growing even more annoyed with the whole situation, and Xander’s giggling in particular.  Especially since . . . Buffy grabbed some tatters, and angrily shoved them in front of her, and said, “God damn it!  You said it was clear!”

Xander slowed his laugher a bit, and shook his head, saying, “No, I wanted to say I wanted to make extra sure, but you demanded an answer right away.  It seemed clear then.”

Buffy fumed at him, growling, and then hissed at herself in defeat and self-depravation. “Let’s just get to the spare clothes!” Buffy said, and helped Willow up, and then they quickly moved, Xander still chuckling.

*****

Buffy finished putting on a pair of slacks and came back out Giles’ office.  Willow was right behind her, and they rounded the counter.  “Ah, that’s better,” Buffy said, and looked over at Xander who was leaning against the counter, sniffling.  “Damn it, Xander,” Buffy told him annoyed, “quit it already.”

“I’m sorry,” Xander said, but start laughing again; which he kept in him, but the jerking of his chest gave it away.

“What?” Willow asked with a sudden insight.  Xander giggled as he kept his lips closed. While Buffy looked confused at Willow, still angry at Xander.  “What, damn it?  What’s still so funny?”

“Okay, okay,” Xander said, holding his hands up in defeat, “I just think it’s funny how easily you agreed with Buffy’s plan.  Couldn’t you just have cast a glamour to give the illusion you were wearing clothes?”

Willow and Buffy were suddenly rooted to the floor, wrapping their minds around what Xander said, Buffy growing more depressed by the moment.  Willow closed her eyes though, anger growing.  “Wait,” Buffy said, realizing what Willow had known right away, “if you find it so funny still, you must have known-”

“XANDER HARRIS!” Willow shrieked, and burst forward.  She jumped Xander and grabbed him by the throat, squeezing.  Xander dropped down to his ass and further with the sudden impact, even as he burst out laughing again, fully, loudly.  Xander laughed, even as Willow squeezed and yelled, “You let us do that stupid while . . . aah!”  Xander laughed, and Buffy came forward, a little concerned Willow might actually be trying to kill Xander.  Willow wasn’t though, she let go of his throat, sitting up, and clenched her teeth in frustration.  She brought her fists up, and slammed then down on Xander’s chest in her frustration, without really any power behind it.  She was frustrated at Xander’s laughing, and at him keeping the solution to him, but she was mostly frustrated at something welling up inside her, something she did not want to let.  This whole thing was bad, it was not a laughing matter.  But still the event replayed in her mind; sprinting, hiding, shrieking, trying to keep covered, switching, almost getting caught twice, the whole event with the boys in the car - like a bunch of morons in a slapstick movie, and they could have just casually walked over, or even just home without a care in the world.  She landed her fists on Xander’s chest again, and a chuckle escaped.  The damn burst in Willow burst out laughing, giggling, sniffling, tears forming with the intensity of it.

Buffy paused centimeters away from the two, and looked incredulously at both of them laughing.  Willow even!  And she had gone through it.  “Well,” Buffy said with a huff, and folded her arms across her chest with her annoyance.  “This isn’t funny!” she then exclaimed as the pair didn’t stop.

Willow looked over, still laughing, and laughing harder as she saw the frowning Buffy, then she and Xander laughed harder even as Buffy started pouting as a result.  “Yes, it is, Buffy, yes it is,” Willow snickered out.

“No, it’s not,” Buffy said, but feeling laughter grow in her as well.  She tried to refuse it, but the absurdity of the situation was getting to her.  Soon she was giggling and laughing as well, and let herself drop to the floor, enveloping her friends in a hug, shaking with laughter.

After a while, their laughter died down a bit, and then Willow nudged Buffy twice with her elbow.  Buffy looked up and Willow said, “Not dancing in the Bronze?  With the way we gave it away, we should just go to their homes and give them free lapdances.”

And their laughter started all over again.  When their laughter started slowing again, Xander said, “They’re probably going to tell everyone what they saw!  Everyone in school will know!”  And they started laughing again.

Not for long, because Buffy suddenly stopped laughing, frowned, and said, “Hey, that’s actually not funny at all.”  A moment later Willow stopped her laughter as well, and Xander followed suit.

They looked at each other and then Willow enveloped Xander in a hug which he returned, and Buffy hugged them too.  “I’m glad you’re back, I missed you, Xander,” Willow said happily.

“I missed you guys too,” Xander replied, and they hugged close.

*****

Cordelia and Oz were sitting next to each other in the library.  Across from them were Buffy and Willow.  Lotion sat to the right of Cordelia, and across from her sat Xander.  Giles was standing at the head of the table, with Jenny next to him.  He had his arms around the beautiful woman’s waist, and was obviously happy.  “Ah, it is good we are all here-” Giles started.

Xander interrupted him, “Yes, indeed!  May the forces of darkness tremble in fear, and give up on their nefarious plans, for the Scooby Gang is reunited once more, and all the evildoers will be stopped in their tracks - by a big talking dog!”  Xander had everyone tittering with chuckles and laughter, apart from Giles who smiled, and . . .

“As a dog, I don’t talk, actually,” Oz interjected smoothly.

Xander looked over, and slumped theatrically as all the girls burst into giggles, even Lotion, who usually didn’t laugh at American jokes.  “Drat, the limelight stolen by the coolness of the werewolf, hmm, perhaps Oz, you have switched over to the dark side since you cross me so.”

“Just that cool,” Oz returned, and the girls laughed again, and Xander grinned.

“He is,” Cordelia confirmed and kissed Oz quickly but lovingly on his cheek.

Giles pulled the glasses from his face, and cleaned them, taking on an overly overbearing tone, “I see the obligatory dumb jokes are over with.”  The Scoobies chuckled, and Giles reset his glasses.  “As I was saying; after the weekend, the new school year starts, and it’s good to be gathered here, so we may catch up on events that have happened to us over the weeks, allowing us to freshly start the new year, keep the world safe once more, and excel in our academics.”

Everyone but Jenny looked at him.  “This is Jenny’s idea, isn’t it?”Buffy concluded for everyone.

“I beg your pardon?” Giles spoke culturedly.

Willow smiled, and explained, “It’s just you stiff upper lip types don’t have the whole let’s-talk-happily vibe going.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Lotion said with a scowl.  She was about to go off on one of her tangents, but Giles intervened.

“Of course we do - it’s called a tea party, every day at four sharp,” Giles stated his British accent to full, “I just put it earlier to accommodate the retarded schedule of you Americans.”  Jenny chuckled, while the retarded Americans looked at him a little surprised.

“The Giles aims, shoots, and kills us all with one shot; without even using a single ‘bloody’ or direct name-calling, we have much to learn yet, my fellow padawans,” Xander said sagely, gaining as many confused stares as laughter, sometimes both.

“Padawans?” Lotion asked in confusion, making Buffy look at the brunette for heading her off.

“Star Wars - Jedi in training,” Oz explained smoothly.

“As I was saying,” Giles redirected the conversation to him with a suffering sigh, “I might as well start.  Let’s see, oh yes, after being unceremoniously dumped in a hospital bed, I spent some three weeks cooped up in there.  If British hospital food is bad, American is poison.  Luckily for me, Jenny here opted to continue the nursing once I got home - much better cook for one thing.  Sadly the injuries kept me from doing much more than getting better, and so I am once again spring as a jiffy.”

“Spring as a /what/?” Cordelia exclaimed in confusion.

“Jiffy,” Giles answered with a sigh.

“What does that mean, ‘jiffy’?” Buffy asked confused.

“Nothing,” Jenny quickly interrupted before that derailed all this again, “which also nicely sums up what I can add to Giles story; I spent nursing him back to health.”  Jenny smirked predatory.

“I’m sure the nurse outfits are easy to wash,” Cordelia commented dryly, much to Buffy and Willow’s shock, while Jenny colored slightly.

“Lotion, how about you first, then we go clockwise,” Jenny suggested with a smile, to keep everyone from Cordelia’s statement.

“Okay,” Lotion started happily, and straightened up to deliver her tale.  “Mom and I went on vacation, and Nerima is nuts.”  There were several frowns, as they wondered where they heard ‘Nerima’ before.  “I didn’t arrive, or I had to save Xander from a bunch of freaks outnumbering him!  That halfwit with the wooden sword one of them!”

Buffy jumped up out her chair, and screamed angrily, “YOU WENT TO JAPAN AFTER XANDER, YOU CHEATING BITCH!”

Everyone but Lotion looked at Buffy’s outburst with wide-eyed surprised.  “I no cheat, pig-nosed girl!” Lotion growled back, getting up herself.  “Rules say nothing of having vacation where Xander has vacation!”

“Why you- . . .!?” Buffy started growling, but Willow grabbed her by the waist admonishing her to stop.

“Come on,” Willow said softly, “it isn’t like it matters anymore.”

With Buffy still grumbling, and partly trying to get at the Amazon, Lotion told her, “Bring it on, bottle blondie, you’ll find I’ve gotten stronger and better in the weeks, I’ll-”

“Ahem!” Giles interrupted, making especially the fighting chicks look over at him.  As a result Buffy was less inclined to stay, making Willow’s yanks enough to dump the Slayer unceremoniously back into her seat.  “I do believe the saying goes, ‘All’s fair in love and war.’ So if you two could keep your threats and interruptions aside, we may continue to hear Lotion’s story.”

Lotion nodded with satisfaction at Buffy.  Cordelia said, “Yeah, that only takes extra time, and I’ve got better things to do than sit here with a bunch of losers like you.”  Multiple glares were directed her way.

“Can we get back to the story already?” Xander asked exasperated at the whole deal.

“Yes, Lotion, please continue,” Jenny added in, and gestured to the Amazon.

Lotion sat back down, and pondered for a moment.  “Where was I?  Oh, yeah!  I had to beat the crap out of a love-struck dimwit, who was in love with Xian Pu!  Shampoo is my nemesis back home, apparently she got defeated by male Ranma and you guys know what that means.  Anyway, I beat her!  I beat her easily; I hadn’t beaten her in years!  All because of training with you and Xander!” Lotion explained happily.

Buffy leaned over and muttered under her breath to Willow, “Of course, the dumb Amazon gets all excited about fighting.”

Willow looked at Buffy in a strange way as Lotion went on about defeating Shampoo, and then doing it a second time.  “What’s gotten into you, all of a sudden?” Willow asked Buffy a little confused.  “Is this your time of the month or something?  You’re the Slayer, you get just as excited about fighting as she does.  Perhaps even more so.”

“I do not,” Buffy whispered back.

Willow leaned further and hand in front of her mouth to Buffy’s ear she said, “Oh, am I just hallucinating how much more horny and ferocious a lay you are, after a slay.”  Buffy looked at Willow with a shocked look, surprised Willow had noticed her dark secret; of course, she wondered how she thought Willow wouldn’t have noticed with the mindblowing sex.  “Hey, that rhymes,” Willow added with a surprised grin.  Then they both stopped, and felt a little uncomfortable.  It was silent too.  They payed more attention to the group and noticed everyone looking at them with their arms folded across their chest.  Except for Oz, because he was too cool to fold his arms across his chest, and just looked at them relaxedly.

“You two done?  I like to continue,” Lotion said with a glower.

Willow and Buffy blushed, backed up - the chairs soundly moving a bit - and gave nervous smiles.

“Thank you,” Lotion said with finality, and obviously not meaning.  Lotion then continued her tale, telling of the weirdness of Nerima, of the old geezer often trying to steal her underwear, or at least grope her everywhere, of Ukyo’s love potion-spiked okonomiyaki, of the explorations of Tokyo with Xander, and the occasional fantastic date in fantastic clubs, and may Shampoo win the contest for Ranma’s heart, so the great, friendly, manly guy could tame the bitch once and for all.

“Ah, isn’t that a bit harsh?” Jenny asked the Amazon a little perturbed.

“No, Shampoo needs taming more than pig-nosed girl and the queen of penis-envy over there,” Lotion replied to the question with an innocent grin.

“Listen, you big-boobed bimbo . . . !” Cordelia started with a snarl.

“Yours are bigger than mine,” Lotion smoothly interjected.

Cordelia was about ready to burst, and told the girl, “If there’s anyone who needs taming it’s you, you violence-prone harpy.  And if Xander doesn’t start soon, I- . . .”

“I wouldn’t mind,” Lotion interjected again, this time looking at Xander with a sexy grin, eliminating Cordelia’s insult with the same stone as the well-aimed flirtatious one.  Giles was cleaning his glasses once again, shaking his head at the proceedings.

“Cordelia, you and Oz’s turn,” Jenny quickly said, before this got even worse.

“Fine,” Cordelia spat out, folding her arms across her chest.  She took a deep breath to calm herself, and then said, “Me and Oz we didn’t do much, apart from hanging out, kissing, and shopping.  Oz is such a good boyfriend, he could even help me fashion questions!  Oh, and there was that week that dad took us with him to Paris.  He had business to attend to, and we could explore the city of lights and love!”

“‘We didn’t do much,’ she says,” Willow whispered to Buffy in annoyance and some jealousy.  Buffy nodded in agreement.

“Now that’s a city with class, and great food, and fantastic clubs, the Eiffel tower, the history, not like dingy Sunnydale here; almost felt bad about being home,” Cordelia added with a dreamy look.

“It was exhilarating,” Oz confirmed.

“Yes,” Giles said with a smile, “Europe has some fine cities to offer, and Paris in particular is magnificent.”

“Tokyo was better,” Lotion said, feeling the need to one up Cordelia.

“No, it wasn’t,” Cordelia went against her.

“Of course it was, even if all the other things in Paris were better, Tokyo had Xander,” Lotion said with conviction, making Xander squirm uncomfortable and the grown ups look incredulous.

“Paris had Oz, and he trumps dork face over there, anytime,” Cordelia returned heatedly.

Before Lotion could make demands, Giles quickly said, “Buffy, I believe it’s your turn.”

“Our turn,” Willow corrected lightly, while Lotion and Cordelia kept glowering at each other.

“Yeah,” Buffy agreed with a smile, “Our turn.  We’ve spent our vacation together mostly.  We’d had a lot of fun.  Going out, just us girls-”

Willow cut in with a grin, “Driving boys crazy with hot sexy dances in tight leather.” Xander gave them a thumbs up, while Giles felt the urge to clean his glasses again.  Jenny instead smile and wrapped her arms around his waist and kept him from getting too uncomfortable, by making him less uncomfortable in a different way.

“That too,” Buffy said with a smile, and Giles looked up at the heavens for a moment, “we made many a trip to our loved, injured Giles, kept him fed with better food than the hospital: hamburgers.”  Giles looked uncomfortable, and Xander laughed.

“Still less than English hospital food,” Giles said, with a regal tone and stance.

As the giggles and chuckles died down, Buffy took over again.  “But what the real big thing is that happened, some of you already know, or have at least suspect.  We-”

“I think this is something we show, not tell,” Willow interrupted, making Buffy turned to her with a surprised look.  Willow took Buffy’s head by her chin, and lovingly and quickly pulled her over, then kissed her deeply; and then some more deeply.  Their tongues met and Buffy was swept up in the sensations and passion.  Xander smiled, Cordelia rolled her eyes, Oz remained cool - outward at least, Giles eyes widened, Jenny didn’t look surprised, but obviously hadn’t ‘known known’, and Lotion looked with wide eyes.

“Oh, get a room, you two, you would make the end of the world an excuse to make out like a bunch of lust-crazed rabbits.  It’s getting old, real fast,” Cordelia complained with a suffering sigh.

Lotion switched her look from the couple to Xander, back again, and then back to Xander.  He smiled at her, and gave her a blink, with a barely perceptible nod.  She smiled, while inside she was jumping for joy, screaming, *Yes!  Yes!  Yes!  I won!* to herself.

Buffy and Willow broke the kiss, Buffy sitting back a little flustered.  “We fell in love, we’re a couple,” Willow clarified with a smile, as if there was any doubt left.

“Ah, well, I believe congratulations are in order,” Giles managed through being flabbergasted, wondering what his would mean to the grand scheme of things. “Congratulations, Buffy, Willow.”

“Yes!  Absolutely!” Lotion said happily, grinning widely now.  “Congratulations!  You’re made for each other!  I know it’ll be an immortal love, sung about in ages to come. You’re love will change the world!  No more anti-homosexual hate-mongering just because of you, that’s how much you will be loved.  Stick together, you guys can do it!”

“You’re just glad we’re off the Xander-market,” Buffy ruefully accused the Amazon with a glare.

“Absolutely!” Lotion didn’t bother denying it.

“I think it’s Xander’s turn,” Cordelia said with her arms once again folded across her chest, annoyed.

“Yeah,” Xander picked up, and everyone looked at him.  “Well, apart from what Lotion already told you, I had an amazing time.  Ranma and I got to train together again, and I’ve got some new amazing moves, as well as a devastating attack.  And Willow and Buffy can say that, since I used it last night to dust over forty vampires.”

“Over forty!?” Giles asked in shock, as Buffy and Willow blushed, remembering their half-naked bout toward school.

“Hiryu Shoten Ha,” Lotion confirmed with a nod, “translates to Dragon’s Heaven Blast, or Flying Dragon Wind.  Very powerful attack, deadly - also easily avoidable.”

“Is that so?” Giles asked intrigued.

“Yeah,” Xander answered with a grin, “the Hiryu Shoten Ha requires the help of your opponent so to speak.  You yourself keep your chi cool, while your opponent needs to be relatively hot; he doesn’t get pissed off, or otherwise excited, you can forget it.  One needs to make ever smaller circles, where you let the temperature difference pull the chi from your opponent.  Mixing them together in twisting motions, you can summon a dragon and generate a powerful, but localized tornado.”

Giles, Jenny, Oz, and Cordelia looked incredulously at Xander.  “A tornado?  Won’t that . . .”

“Yes, it sucks the user up as well, and it requires everything you’ve got to handle being inside to beat your opponent, and come out relatively unscathed,” Xander said with a nod. “Ranma learned it when an old, evil bastard called Happosai made him weak using pressure points - he could only get the cure by beating Happosai, which, being weak, he could only do by using Happosai’s own power against him.

“Anyway,” Xander said, drawing everyone out of their amazed thoughts, “Nerima is as bad as Lotion said it was, and yet, I loved it there.  Ranma and his father are amazing, I love spending time with them, and time we spent.  Genma tried to teach me Japanese chess, but I sucked at it.  Training though, went grate.  Ranma and I even figured out a better way to handle the Dragon once you’re inside it through cooperation.  Tokyo was magnificent, all those lights, huge buildings, nothing like Sunnydale or even LA!”

“It sounds you had a great time, Xander,” Jenny said with a smile, and Xander nodded happily.

“I suppose that concludes the story part of this meeting,” Giles said, resetting his glasses.

“Do we get to the food part now?” Xander asked enthusiastically, and the others groaned.  “What?”

*****

“Two drops of snail oil,” Deo said carefully, holding up a small flask and putting two drops in the concoction brewing on the stove.  “Then five milliliters of-”

“*I WON!!!!*”

“Gah!” Deo exclaimed with surprise, and dumped half the contents of the new flask into the brew by accident.  “Dang,” Deo muttered and looked over at her daughter excitedly jumping about in their kitchen, still yelling.

“I WON!  I WON!  I WON!  YES!!” Lotion yelled happily, bouncing around.  “Yes, yes- . . .” Lotion noticed what Deo was doing, looking at all the flasks and stopped her excitement. “Mother, you not trying to test anymore mettle, are you!?”

“Me?” Deo asked innocently.  “Of course not, just trying out a new recipe, which was going great till you startled me and made me put ten times too much of this ingredient in there.”

Lotion stared at her mother for a moment in suspicion, and then decided it didn’t matter anymore, and the excitement was far too much to contain.  “I WON!  Xander’s mine!  Yes! Willow and Buffy fell in love, with each other!  They’re out of the picture, leaving only me!  I WON!  I WON!”

Deo sighed, and looked at her useless brew in more ways then one now, and sighed, thinking, *Oh, well, it would have been fun.*

“What could possibly go wrong now!?  I WON!  It’s over!  Nothing can go wrong now! Nothing!  XANDER’S MINE!  I’M XANDER’S!” Lotion yelled out happily, and then hugged herself close, blushing as she said sweetly, “I’m going to be Xander’s wife.”

*****

Three hours earlier

Xander stepped into the library, and Buffy and Willow stepped behind him.  They had secretly be checking out Xander, both from him as each other, and were now scoping out his ass in tight fitting jeans.  *Oh, boy!  He’s gotten even hotter, and sexier, and just more Xander! Look at those muscles, all extra, all smooth, it’s like . . . ooh,* two thoughts formed at the same time, *Be still my fluttering hear-!  Ack!  Stop thinking like that!  You’re with Buffy/Willow now!  Just her, you can watch, admire, but that’s all!  Right!*   They looked at each other and smiled.  *Yeah, Buffy/Willow!  Soft!  Sexy!  I love her!*

*****

Four weeks and one day later

The bus stopped at Sunnydale main bus depot.  The behind doors opened and some people stepped out, among them, a lovely, long-haired, teenage brunette, with curves everywhere. She stepped forward from the crowd nervously, looking left and right.  When no attack or growl came, she took in everything a little better.  Resetting her backpack, she quickly skittered off, eyes red and puffy, pained, hoping, having lost all hope, a few tears ran down her cheeks.

*****

Four weeks and three days later

The plane smoothly sat down at Sunnydale Airport, and taxied to its place.  The luggage hold was opened from the inside, and a beautiful, dark-skinned latina struggled out in the open from it.  She ran off instantly into the night, obviously crying, and stumbled.  She forced herself back to her feet, and continued her terrified run.

*****

Five weeks and five days later

The figure clad only in a nearly form-fitting, black suit smoothly and silently, landed between the bushes.  Part of the suit was a mask that left only the eyes uncovered; cold eyes, ready eyes.  But it was the form-fitting, black suit showing off her magnificent curves and athletic figure that showed she was a female.  Spying left and right to make sure nobody saw her, she sped out of the bushes, zipped across the street, and then jumped high into a tree, where she landed just as silent, without making a single leaf flutter.  Then she moved onward.

*****

Library

The next day

Lexa jumped, and made a devastating, flying, spinning kick, that Buffy only barely avoided, giving Buffy tantalizing glimpses under her short skirt.  *Focus!  You like girls now, no reason to get your ass kicked though!* Buffy thought to herself, and a despairing thought slipped in rapidly, *Not like that’s not going happen, might as well sneak as many peaks as you can!* Lexa landed and smoothly moved forward rapidly, shooting out both hands and landing them in Buffy’s stomach.  The Slayer groaned with the impact, and staggered back; even tensing up her muscles hadn’t really helped.  Damn, she had gotten stronger.  With all her effort Buffy parried Lexa’s next right, but the girl, impossibly fast according to the Slayer, had already gone down.  She kicked left and right, directly against the insides of Buffy’s knees.  “Argh!” she called and staggered back, fighting off the pain and the desire to let her knees buckles.

“Come on, Buffy, I was hoping you hadn’t let yourself go that far behind,” Lexa grinned at her, smiling wildly, and chipperly hopping from one foot to the other.

“Let’s see you handle this!” Buffy said, determined to at least land a hit.  She charged and threw a palm strike at Lexa’s right shoulder.  The girl blocked the hit and pushed the hand down.  Buffy pulled the hand back in defensive position, while her right hand was already going for Lexa’s chest.  Lexa deflected the hand, and her right shot out to Buffy’s chin, who blocked it with her left hand.  Buffy right foot kicked out to Lexa’s left side, and Lexa twisted forty five degrees.  Lexa kicked out now with her right foot, and Buffy blocked it with her knee.  Buffy jumped forward while letting herself drop backward, pushing with her hands her right leg came forward and sideways, and indeed Lexa was not fast enough to block it, connecting solidly with Lexa’s stomach.

Buffy quickly pulled her feet back, and jumped backward to her feet, gauging the effect of the hit.  Lexa had really only taken a step back, apparently Lexa could absorb Buffy’s kicks with tensed muscles; or perhaps even without it?  Lexa of course had had learned that breaking point technique and had hardened her body through it.

Lexa smiled at Buffy - an evil smile.  “Oh, boy,” Buffy muttered in shock, and tried to defend herself.  Lexa surged forward, twisted half to the right, but struck out with her left hand.  “Ugh,” Buffy exclaimed as the palm strike hit the right side of her belly.  Lexa swerved to Buffy’s left, and Buffy went to block her next hit.  Instead Lexa took the blocking hand, twisted underneath it, and landed a sharp elbow to the same already tender spot.  Buffy groaned in pain, and then more so when Lexa’s palm strike hit Buffy straight in the chin, making her stagger back, and almost fall to her ass.  Luckily for her, the counter stopped her.

“I need to train you a lot,” Lexa said, and a moment later it turned out to be unlucky, for Lexa was jumping at Buffy, with a fist viciously pulled back.  This was going to hurt a lot!  In fact, this might actually get her hurt; and from previous experience she knew Lexa liked to inflict pain and even a little hurt to make you want to never experience it again, and thus learn quicker.

Fear gripped Buffy right now, as well as a need of competition not to let Lexa knock her out of the match with ths.  Buffy could think of nothing.  “WAAH!” she screamed in fright, and instinctively put her hands forward.  There was a sizzle, a flash of light, another more powerful sizzle and perhaps even small explosion, and then Lexa was sent flying back, all the way across the library to smash through the railing and land on the upper level with the book cases.

“What the bloody hell!?” Giles voice came out of his office and he quickly came walking out to see what was going on.  As Buffy looked surprised and uncomprehending at the event and her still lightly tingling hands, Giles said, “Will you two please take care not destroy the whole place?”

From Lexa there came a groan as she stirred.  “Xander!” Buffy suddenly exclaimed with concern, and charged after the girl.  She quickly jumped up the few stair cases and knelt next to the stirring form of her sparring partner.

“Ugh,” Lexa moaned, reaching her head with her left hand, while using her right to straighten herself up a little.

“Are you alright?  Maybe you shouldn’t move yet,” Buffy said with concern, as Giles slowly came walking over and started to realize this was more than just an over-exuberant sparring match.

“Ow,” Lexa exclaimed painfully, starting to turn around.

“Don’t move just yet, I’m so sorry,” Buffy spoke with wide eyes, trying to examine Lexa.

“Then how am I getting this out from under me where it hurts,” Lexa said, yanking a beam of wood from the destroyed railing, that had been jutting in her body.  “Ugh,” Lexa added, tossing it aside where it dropped loudly to the floor.

“I’m so sorry,” Buffy said with wide eyes.

“Sorry?” Lexa asked the blonde incredulously, sitting up straighter, and groaning a little. “Sorry!?  Buffy!  That was magnificent!  How did you do that!?”

“Uhm . . . do what?” Buffy asked confused.

“What do you mean?” Lexa demanded, sitting up on her knees.  “You fired some kind of chi blast at me.  If I hadn’t pulled up all mine it probably would have put me in the hospital!”

“Indeed?” Giles asked, and raised his eyebrows, looking at Buffy.

“I’m sorry,” Buffy whimpered.

“Come on, how did you do it!?  I want to do it too!” Lexa asked excitedly, prompting Buffy by yanking the sleeve of her training suit.

“I don’t know!” Buffy exclaimed apologetically.

“What do you mean, ‘you don’t know’!?” Lexa asked exasperated.

“Just like I’m saying it!” Buffy replied desperately.  “You came at me, I was afraid, I didn’t want you to hit me, I didn’t want feel whatever pain you had planned for me.  Next minute I know I stretch out my hands, there’s a sizzle, a flash and you’re flying through the air.  It just happened, I don’t know how I did it!”

“Come on,” Lexa said, standing up and pulling Buffy up.  “Try again, see if we can figure it out, and both learn how to do it.”  Lexa then pulled the blonde along to the middle of the library.

“Uh, how about first repairing this,” Giles tried, but the two combatants were already busy.  “Of course, leave the chores to British man.”

*****

The Scooby Gang was sitting at a lunch table; the whole group, couple by couple.  Lotion and Xander across from Willow and Buffy, and next to the girls Oz and Cordelia.  They were eating in a comfortable silence; which was a surprise given Lotion’s penchant to talk happily about just about anything.  “I like this,” Willow commented, surprising the others.  “It’s nice and comfortable; three couples, all balanced out, no horrible rivalries.  It worked out good.”

The others looked at her, and then nodded, Xander putting in a short longing look at Buffy and Willow.  Then he looked at the beautiful notion in her modest, yet somehow sizzling, sexy, tight, flower dress, her legs bare.  God, how the hell could he be so screwed up. He really loved the girl, was even in love with her true, but there were two more who claimed as much of his heart as the Amazon.  He looked up for a moment, wishing he had never bothered with the dumb ‘date them all, and make Buffy jealous’ ploy; he may not have had someone he loved, but he at least things would have been simple, and he couldn’t possibly end up hurting anyone, no matter what.  That was his greatest concern right now, that he somehow would screw things up in this complicated me- situation . . . nah, mess, and hurt one or more people.

“It’s nice not having to worry about an exploding Slayer and Amazon,” Cordelia commented with a grin.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Buffy asked the cheerleader captain darkly.

“Yeah,” Lotion joined in, glaring at Cordelia, “we do not explode; we may argue, we may beat each other up, but explode we do not!”

“Right, and I’m secretly the Easter bunny,” Cordelia commented sarcastically, eyes closed and not really realizing the danger were in.

Buffy and Lotion exploded - ironically - and were just about to jump toward Cordelia and pummel the sword wielder.  Willow and Xander grabbed them around the waist and forced them down on the bench, saying softly and forcibly, “Calm down, no attacking, do you want to give her that satisfaction?”

Buffy and Lotion sat back down, grumbling and Willow and Xander looked at each other, gave a quick look at their explosive girlfriends, and then smiled at each other knowingly.

Oz in contrast, regarded the situation, and gave Xander and Willow a wink, but otherwise showed no sign of emotion.  “We should do a triple date,” he suggested innocently, and ate from his sandwich, and letting the resulting screaming match about yes / no, and where to go, by the three most volatile girls flow past him.

*****

“Focus your breathing, in, out,” Giles intoned, as Oz sat in a lotus position in his library. Around him, his charges were training; things that he could no help them with, beyond his capabilities.  Meditation techniques, and helping focusing on one’s internal energy, was something he could do.  The werewolf had gotten a lot stronger; in his human form at least.  It seemed that once he transformed, the control didn’t pass on to his animal side.  Oddly enough, the more Oz meditated and learn to harness his chi, the calmer and nice the wolf seemed to be; as far as a ruthless, animal killing machine could be ‘nice’ of course.

Oz breathed in, and then breathed out, feeling his blood flow through his body, feeling the chi flow as well; a ball of it present in the pit of his stomach, growing with every intake of breath, and shrinking a little again as he breathed out.

A little onward Lotion and Cordelia were training with swords, they clanged together with every parry and thrust.  Lotion had the most experience with them, so she was most often the sparring partner of Cordelia.

Willow and Jenny were meditating as well, sitting in pentagrams and steadily flexing their magical abilities, to master them completely.

Which left Xander and Buffy; who were trying to recreate Buffy firing an energy blast. “Nnngh!” Buffy exclaimed, pointing her hands and Xander, trying to will energy to gather into her hand palms - nothing happened.

“I think we’re going at this all wrong,” Xander said with some finality.  Buffy blinked and lowered her arms.

“It was your idea,” Buffy said nervously, as well as uncertain.  This was different.  She had gotten used to being on equal footing with Xander and Lotion, now all his attention was squarely focused on her; falling harshly on her shoulders.  Xander himself had tried similar things, mimicking partially how he handled and controlled the energy from the Hiryu Shoten Ha, but hadn’t gotten anywhere either.  He was expecting her to solve the puzzle, since she had managed to do this thing before.  She still didn’t know how, or why.

“You felt afraid when you fired that blast, right?” Xander asked Buffy, and the Slayer nodded.  “Then perhaps we should work on getting you afraid again first.”  Xander pulled his fist back suddenly, and slammed his fist straight in Buffy’s nose.

The Slayer barely had time to get surprised, terrified, and managing a tiny ‘eep’, before the fist connected.  She staggered back, twisting around her axis, and struggled not to lose her balance, while grabbing her painful face, and going, “Ow!  That hurt!”

Xander paused, and looked at her, saying, “You were supposed to fight back.”

“But I didn’t know you were going to do that!” Buffy whined, cradling her painful nose with both her hands.

“So?” Xander asked confused for a moment, and then had a revelation.  “Is that how you are ready for fights?  Only when you know one’s coming?  You need to be ready all the time, Buffy.”

“Yeah, I know that now, friends enjoy smashing your head in,” Buffy remarked ruefully sarcastic.

“Well, what if I were a vamp that surprised you, hell what if some vamp got lucky and turned me?  It’d have pounced on you, and you’d be a meal now,” Xander said somewhat concerned, and not because of Buffy’s painful face.

Buffy thought about it, swallowed - painfully - and answered, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.  But isn’t there another way to get me afraid, I don’t actually /like/ to get beat up.”

Xander shifted his stance unconsciously to think, and then said, “Well, is there anything you’re afraid of?  Terrified even, perhaps.”

Buffy muttered something under her breath, seemed to blush, and then said, “No, nothing.”

“Buffy,” Xander prompted, seeing her bad lie.

Buffy slumped, twisted her finger, and blushing she said, “Uh, well, uh . . . you see . . . I hate bees.”

“Bees?” Xander asked surprised.

“Yeah, they’re small, and sickeningly colored, like radioactive beasts, and they fly around your head, making that pesky and ominous buzzing sound, and then they strike without warning with stings, and it hurts, and-” Buffy shut up, looking embarrassed.

“The big bad, super fast healing Slayer is afraid of a teensy, weensy, little bee?” Xander asked with a big grin, incredulous.

“Pig-nosed girl afraid of little bees?” Lotion asked, and suddenly it seemed as if everyone had paused their training to not miss Buffy’s embarrassment.

Buffy slumped.  “My word,” Giles said with a straight face, “I wished you had told me that earlier Buffy, a phobia like that could be used against you, we should have faced this much sooner.”

Buffy’s eyes widened in shock, while blushing deeper.  Then she burst out, “It’s not a phobia, okay!  I just don’t like ‘em!  I got stung once when I was five, and- . . . I just don’t like ‘em!”

Willow grinned from her position in the pentagram, and said, “Don’t worry, Buffy.  If another big, bad bee stings you, I’ll just kiss it and make the booboo go away.”

“Willow!” Buffy said, blushing, a little hurt with betrayal and disappointment.  “You’re my girlfriend!” she added with a whine.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t make fun of you once in a while, hon,” Willow said with a big grin, “Especially since I know a few puppy-dog eyes, some kissing lips, and nimble fingers has you forgiving me in an instant!”  Buffy’s jaw dropped, while everyone else, but Xander, looked surprised at Willow.  “Oh, take your minds of the gutter, I’ve learned Buffy’s body, I know exactly how to give her a massage.”  Ha, she had them there!  Buffy sighed in a little relief, but still embarrassed over the whole ‘bees’ thing, and Willow was damn good at massages, remembering a few nights earlier when she pulled a muscle in a fight . . . wow! Giles was the most mortified though, for his stiff upper lip Watcher he was not thinking right. He managed to hide it well, or so he thought.

“Yeah, seriously, mind of the gutter you people, especially you, Giles; I’m disappointed,” Xander cut in with a shake of the head, making him blanch, and refocus on the still unflapped Oz.  “Worse, to offend Willow like that; you’re implying her tongue isn’t as good as her fingers for that sort of thing.”  Buffy froze completely, and then looked at Xander who grinned broadly.  Willow blushed furiously on her own, while Jenny grinned at her.

“Oh, please, juvenile,” Cordelia muttered.

“My future husband is not juvenile, he just made a very astute observation, and protected his best friend’s honor,” Lotion told Cordelia resolutely, and the cheerleader glared back; totally making Willow blush deeper.

“Are you crazy?  He was just joking!” Cordelia told the Amazon angrily, and everyone looked over.

“Future husband’s honor mine to protect; even joke not juvenile,” Lotion said and then struck powerfully with her sword.  Cordelia blocked it with one of her own, and growled at the Amazon, before their training continued with a much grittier tone.

“Bees, huh?” Xander asked Buffy with a grin.  She sighed.  “Let’s see if we can use that. Close your eyes,” Xander told her, smiling.

Buffy sighed and complied, “Okay, now what.”

“Imagine this: you’re covered in bees head to toe,” Xander told her with a smirk.  Buffy shivered a moment later and opened her mouth to say something.  “Here I come!” Xander exclaimed and jumped through the air at her.

“Wha!?” Buffy said in shock, opening here eyes.  “EEE!” she shrieked as she saw Xander’s fist striking at her.  She brought her hands up, and a moment later Xander’s fist connected.  She flew through the air, groaning painfully.  She landed with a thud on the wooden library floor, and slid backwards till she stopped just in front of the counter.  She lay there for a moment, shivering.  She half sat up, and muttered, “Look at the pretty stars.”

“Okay, that didn’t work,” Xander said a little annoyed, and grabbed his chin.  “Now, how to fire an energy blast?  The fear has to be the key though.”

*****

“Oh, my god!” Buffy screeched out, the motel bed creaking as her body bucked, underneath Willow’s expert ministration.  Her climax ebbed away, and Willow looked up, smiling. “Wow,” Buffy breathed out, “You bring flowers, I bring flowers, you’ve got the best tongue ever . . . we seem to be of one mind.”

“Seems that way,” Willow said, having slithered her sweaty body over Buffy’s to reach her mouth, the sensation of slick skin against slick skin electrifying.  Willow kissed buffy intently, and then Buffy turned around.

“I guess we find out, if we’re of one tongue as well,” Buffy grinned at Willow, and returned the favor.

*****

Lotion entered her home, happily.  Deo watched her daughter come in.  “So, how was your day?  Has Xander proposed yet?” Deo asked with a smile and some impatience.  It had been a few weeks now, since the rivals had eliminated themselves.

“Mother, some patience, you know it doesn’t go that fast here,” Lotion answered a little annoyed.

“Hmm,” Deo mentioned, thinking, “I read young kids get married quickly if a pregnancy is involved.  Perhaps you should get yourself knocked up.”

“Mother!” Lotion exclaimed annoyed.  The real Amazons weren’t exactly like Willow and Buffy had expected, but they weren’t baby machines for their husbands either.  “Xander and I have not yet had that pleasure.”

“There’s your problem right there, Lotion, you need to put out,” Deo advised sagely.  “I don’t know what this Christian school has been stuffing in your brain, my daughter, but we are Amazons.  Sex is not a sin.  Your body is a temple that was meant to be used.  Sex will give you enjoyment, physical lustful enjoyment, but there’s more than just that.  Spiritual fulfillment, coupling with another person, is the only way to truly touch the goddess, and feel your own divine nature within you; and he shall feel the same.”

Lotion grumbled to no one in particular, and then hissed, “We do things on our own time!”

“Why?  The Slayer and witch understand the concept quite well, sex is good, sex is fun, sex is love, sex leads to marriage,” Deo spoke once more sagely, leaning back against the kitchen corner.  “Don’t tell me you’re not disappointed, you wanted more by now, I know it. Future son in law is dating you and kissing you, but that’s about it, you are not connecting.”

“We are!  It’ll just take time!  He’s in love with me, he just has to get over Buffy, and he will!  Mark my words.  I have no more rivals!” Lotion said angrily, and then ran off to her room.

*****

Four weeks and two days after Lotion made her claim

The stretch limousine rolled casually into Sunnydale Drive-In snack restaurant.  The window rolled open and a black man with a goatee in a smart dark blue business suit leaned out. #Hello, welcome to Happy Burger, may I take your order, sir?# sounded from the box.

“Diet soda, medium,” the man ordered casually.

#That’ll be 89 cents at the window, sir,# the male voice spoke.

The limo moved onward and the window slid shut.  “I’ve been doing some research on this Sunnydale, sir,” the black man spoke with a cultured voice.  “The death rate is something to salute.  It makes Washington DC look like . . . Mayberry.  And nobody who makes a fuss about it.  We could fit in here, relish the darkness.”

“Here ya go, sir,” the clerk said, handing him the soda.  The black man took the beaker, and handed a dollar to the clerk.  “And here’s your eleven cents.  Have a nice night, sir,” the clerk said.

“Right back at ya,” the mean greeted with a big smile, and went back into car.

“We are here for one reason only, kill the Slayer,” the male next to the black man said.

“Yes, yes,” the black man said, obviously tired of it, “the Slayer.  But, bigger picture.”

“I will rip out her spine, and eat her heart, and suck the marrow from her bones,” the other man spoke darkly in a dangerous voice, raising a hand - a three-fingered clove hand in a strangling position.

“Now I’m hungry,” the black man said, vamped out, reached out the window, and pulled the clerk out of his booth and half into the limo, then it drove off.

*****

The Bronze

The band quit playing, and the crowd slowly dispersed.  Lexa giggled as two boys were so kind to escort her to her table, and then got them to leave, blowing them a kiss.  She sat down, her tight leather pants stretching around her equally tight, but prominent ass, and looked over at her two companions.  She blinked and looked to her right, seeing Cordelia, Lotion and Oz getting some drinks.  Then she looked back to Buffy and Willow, who said silently looking forward, at her.

“What’s with you two?  What got you two in a funk?” Lexa asked the two.

“Huh?” Buffy muttered shaking from her revery.

“Wha?” Willow said at the same time.

“What got you two in a funk?” Lexa repeated, casually.

“I’m not in a funk, no sirree, no funk here,” Willow blabbered out quickly.

“Exactly,” Buffy agreed, nodding profusely, “All is a-ok!”

Lexa blinked at her two best friends, and then studied them for a moment.  “Okay, so why aren’t you on the dance floor sexing everyone up?  You were doing that earlier, what happened?” Lexa asked them suspiciously.

“Because the band is taking a break,” Willow said, pointing at the empty dance floor and the band smoothing their throats with some fluids.

Lexa scowled, and muttered, “The band was playing before; you weren’t on it.  Lots of boys that I had to entertain them all in my lonesome.”

“We wanted you to have some fun, not often that Lotion lets Lexa come out to play,” Buffy quickly said, and Willow enthusiastically nodded her head.

“It isn’t like that; she’s heterosexual, so /I/ choose not be Lexa so often when were out and about, okay?  She hasn’t asked me to do anything, hasn’t even dropped hints,” Lexa said defensively of her girlfriend.  Said girlfriend returned, placing some glasses on the table, and kissing Lexa on the cheek.

“Nihau, again, my future husband,” Lotion answered, and Lexa smiled at the girl.  She gave her a quick kiss, as Cordelia and Oz rejoined them and placed some drinks in front of Willow and Buffy.  Then Lexa made the kiss a bit more passionate.

“Are they at it again?” Cordelia said miffed, looking at the two.

“She used her cute ‘nihau’,” Willow explained quickly, having figured out weeks ago, Lotion even earlier, Xander liked the sound of the Chinese ‘hello’.

“Ugh, if it isn’t you two, it’s them that don’t know when to get a room,” Cordelia complained annoyed.  Willow and Buffy smirked deeply as Oz chose to pull the cheerleader on his lap, and start a passionate make out session.

Willow and Buffy looked at each other, and then laughed hard.  They shook their hands and then kissed deeply themselves.  Buffy suddenly stopped, and jerked her head.  Willow followed her gaze, and a moment later Lexa broke the kiss and looked in the same direction, Lotion following suit.  The band had just started playing again, and as people filed onto the dance floor, one couple was odd.  The girl was smoking hot, having long raven hair, full red lips, and wearing a skintight pair of jeans and a tight, shiny top.  The straps were there, and it was low cut enough to almost place her breast on a presenting platter.  The guy in contrast seemed to be overly fond of his leather jacket; which normally would have been hung somewhere.  The girl then started an amazingly hot dance, practically riding her crotch onto his, as if daring him to rip her clothes off and fuck her right there on the dance floor.

“If he wasn’t a vampire, that would have been hot to watch,” Buffy muttered with a look of distaste, “now it’s just yucky.”  Nobody bothered to point out just exactly how Buffy finally fully figured that one out.

“Yep,” Lexa muttered, and saw the couple kiss passionately.  Then they turned around and headed toward the exit.  Lexa sighed, and said, “What is it with Vampires?  Are all women attracted to evil sons of bitches?  Is that it?  Or is the mixture of pale and disco lights a particular good look or something?”

“Beats me,” Oz deadpanned.

“I don’t know,” Buffy answered and everyone looked at her.  “Mine had a soul, he wasn’t evil, and I never saw him in disco lights.”

“Uh, pig-nosed girl,” Lotion commented and shook her head, and Buffy glared at her.

“Well, we can’t let it kill her.  Such a hot chick deserves to be ogled, not cremated or buried under six feet of dirt,” Willow said with an intense look of hatred at the retreating vampire.

Cordelia looked incredulous for a moment, and she asked, “Don’t you mean we can’t let it kill anyone?”

Willow turned her head to Cordelia as all of them got up to follow the couple.  “That too,” Willow said with a casual tone, “but this is particularly nasty.”

Lotion and Cordelia rolled their eyes, and then their little group quickly worked their way toward the exit.  They left the Bronze and quickly looked left and right.  “Which way did they go?” Cordelia asked.

Oz sniffed the air, and pointing left, he said, “That way.”  They looked at him, and he said, “I smell death.”

“Right,” Buffy said, and charged forward, everyone else right at her heels.  They entered a small alley, and found the couple - the vampire about ready to chow down.  The alley had a fence blocking of all exits, and the right side of the wall, dimly lit by a lamp, had a pipe running along it.  A wooden pellet stood up diagonally against the left wall.  The vampire had kissed the girl down her throat, and just vamped out, opening his mouth to bite.  “You shouldn’t do that,” Buffy called out.  The vampire paused and looked at the group.

“OOOH!” the vampire then yelled out, doubling over, staggering back and both hands grabbing his balls - much to the Scooby Gang’s surprise.

“They were right, you really shouldn’t have done that,” the brunette girl said while throwing a mighty cross.  The vampire growled in pain, and lost his balance.  Staggering back he keeled over, landing with the back of his head against the wall.

“Bitch,” the vampire growled, and struggled to his feet.  The girl came forward, and with a grunt of effort landed another punch to the vampire’s face, making him shake it.  Then she flung another punch, this time with her left, to the vampire’s gut, but he grabbed her by the wrist, and flung a powerful punch to her face.

“Ah!” the girl exclaimed, and staggered back, turned around by the impact, and crashed to the floor.  She struggled up as the vampire came forward, and she turned her head, looking up in fear at the vamp.  She got her wits together, and kicked out, catching the vampire on his knee.

“Argh! You damn bitch!” the vampire roared, reached down, and grabbed the girl by the throat and easily lifted her off of the floor.  The girl grabbed the wrist of the vampire, and struggled, fearfully.  “I’m going to kill you slowly now,” the vampire threatened, giving a quick glance at Scooby Gang, of which Buffy took a step forward to intervene.  The girl set her jaw though, and using the distraction kicked out against the vampire’s chest with both of her feet, and all her might.  The vampire roared with the pain, and let go, making her sail back and crash into the wooden pellet, which clanged to the floor and one wooden plank broke.

“Aargh!” she yelled with the pain of the impact, and the vampire was already up, and came forward growling with rage.

“Alright,” Buffy said, taking two steps forward, intending to take the vampire out quickly - this had gone on long enough.  Lexa grabbed her by the shoulder though, and shook her head at Buffy’s questioning look.  Then she pointed.

“Fucking-” the vampire hissed, grabbing the brunette by her shoulder and yanking her over.  That’s how far he came, as the girl’s stake slammed into his chest, desperation on her face.  The vampire looked pained and shocked for a moment, and then burst into ashes, covering the girl.

“Ack!” the girl exclaimed, trying to ward off the ashes and then scrubbed it off of her and her clothes as she got up.  “I hate it when that happens,” an odd accent to her speech.

“Yeah, me too,” Cordelia agreed sympathetically.

The girl straightened and turned to look at the group.  She looked at them for a moment, taking a breath as if to suck courage into her being, and then stepped forward with an attempted tough look.  “Hi, I’m Faith,” she focused on Buffy being at the head, and she added, “You’re the blonde, you must be Buffy Summers.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean!?” Buffy said with a scowl, folding her arms across her chest.

That was unexpected, and Faith was bewildered.  Mustering up her courage, she managed, “Uh, nothing, just that my Watcher said you were blonde, and you’re the only blonde here?”

Buffy blinked, and said, “Oh.”  Willow came over and squeezed her girlfriend with a hug around her waist.

“I’m Lexa,” Lexa said with a grin and enthusiasm, offering her hand.  Faith took the hand and shook it with a nervous smile.  “Let me introduce to you to the rest of this little Scooby Gang,” Lexa said with a grin, making Faith’s eyebrows rise.  “You know Buffy, the cute, hot redhead is her girlfriend and my oldest friend Willow.”  Faith’s eyebrows raised at that information.  “The lovely brunette Amazon here is Lotion, she’s my girlfriend, so don’t get any ideas.”

“Nihau,” Lotion greeted happily, making Faith blink.

“Whoa?  What?  The water here got spiked with a lesbian drug or something?” Faith asked, surprised at two lesbian couples.  “Not that that’s a bad thing, I’ve munched some tasty carpet in my day, just that, you know . . . so many.”  Faith winced; she’d just managed the cool and confidence she’d been aiming at, only to screw it up with the dumb desperate stutter.

“No, no Lesbian drug,” Lexa said with a smile.  Lexa finally got to the last two, and said, “And last but not least, are Cordelia and her boyfriend Oz.  Don’t mind Oz, he’s Mr. One Word to everybody.”

“Hey,” Oz said casually, not bothering with taking his hands out of his pockets.

“See what I mean?” Lexa said with a big grin.

“Yeah,” Faith answered, not being able to help but smile.

“How about we go inside?” Willow suggested helpfully, “There’s drinks there, and we can sit, much more comfortable talking there.”

“Yes, Will is right, let’s go inside,” Buffy said, and turned around to walk back.

A little later the group was sitting inside the Bronze in a comfy lounge corner.  Faith was on a stool, Lexa and Lotion to her right.  Oz and Cordelia were sitting to the left on stools. Buffy was sitting in a comfy chair across from Faith, Willow sitting on the chair’s right arm rest, and her legs were lying on Buffy’s knees.   Oz was the one to ask, “So, Watcher, not fast or strong enough to be a Slayer though.”

“Yeah,” Faith said nervously, rubbing her knees, and forcing herself to stop the nervous tick.  “I’m a potential Slayer.  You know, if Kendra ever bites the big bucket, I might get chosen next, or not, plenty of others around.”

“Where’s your Watcher then?” Buffy asked Faith a little intrigued beside herself.

“She’s on some Watcher shing ding in England, and I thought I come look up the actual Slayer, you know, see what it’s like for real,” Faith said with a light smile.

“You seemed pretty real enough when you dusted that vamp, Faith,” Lexa said with a smirk.

“Yeah, but it was just one, and I got my ass kicked in the process; I’ll bet Buffy could take it on with both hands tied behind her back.  What’s the maximum you ever fought at the same time, B?” Faith asked interested.

“Uh, I never counted, but I don’t hold the record, that’s for sure,” Buffy answered the girl, not quite knowing what to make of her.

“You don’t?” Faith asked a little surprised, and Buffy half-heartedly gestured to Lexa.

Lexa raised her hand, shaking it proudly, and said, “Four weeks, forty-five in one go.”

Faith blinked, and looked at Lexa for a bit, and then asked, “You a Slayer too?”

“Nope, just a martial artist, I train Buffy, and no I’m not a Watcher in case you’re wondering, I’m a classmate of Buffy’s,” Lexa said with a big grin.

“My future husband is a great warrior, greatest there is,” Lotion stated proudly, hugging Lexa close.

“Damn,” Faith said, but something else had been nagging through her mind.  “Hey, Buffy, you have to answer me something.”

“Huh?” Buffy said, looking up to pay attention.

“I read this watcher journal, you know, and my watcher took it away when I asked, and told me never to think about it again, that I should focus on the Slaying, like all Slayers and potential Slayers are supposed to be these perfect, virgin maidens of virtue, who think of nothing but the slay, and definitely not about sex, you know . . .” Faith started.

“Pig-nosed girl definitely thinks about the sex, wish she didn’t though, nice virgin would have kept a lot of problems away from us,” Lotion said gruffly, her arms folded across her chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean!?” Buffy asked indignant.

Lotion looked over to the blonde, and said, “You know what it means.”  Buffy then flinched back, recalling her desire for a corpse and what came from that.

“Go on,” Lexa prompted Faith with a slightly sad smile, while the others were silent.

Faith decided to take Lexa up on her prompt, and continued, “Well, I didn’t quite believe it anyway; but the journal said that Slayers get hungry and horny after a kill.  Especially the horny I don’t get.”

The whole group turned their heads as one at Buffy, who looked with shocked wide eyes.  Willow smirked down at Buffy, wanting to see how her girlfriend would save herself from that.  Buffy looked up hopeful, but quickly realized she wasn’t getting any help from Willow.  “Uh, ah, well, sometimes I get a craving for a non-fat yoghurt afterwards,” Buffy offered, hoping that that settled that.

Instead, all the other looks frowned, and then shifted to Willow, who blinked herself, uncertain as what to do with the sudden attention.  Buffy frowned at the odd looks, then looked up at Willow where they were looking at, and then quickly grasped ‘non-fat yoghurt’. “Agh!  No, not like that, you perverts!  Real, actual yo-” Buffy started to exclaim in horror, unable to suppress a light blush.

Willow interrupted her, “Yes, Buffy gets horny after a slay.”

Jaws dropped, Buffy’s mouth stayed open mid-word, gazes resettled on Buffy. “Willow!” Buffy exclaimed mortified.

“Fuck me!” Faith exclaimed with a big smile, “I can’t believe it!  It’s true!  Hunger I could get you know: you just burned up a lot of energy in a big fight, but horny?  Shit . . . that’s so damn cool!  You get to slaughter demons, save lives, and get a nice happy as a reward.  I wish I was a Slayer already.”

“Yeah, me too,” Lexa said with a grin, and looked over at a blushing Buffy.

“Ugh, that’s so unfair,” Cordelia commented with a disgusted look.  Willow hugged Buffy close, smiling at her.  Buffy pouted.

“So, Faith, what about you?” Lexa asked with a grin and interest.  “You’re obviously not a little wallflower, sitting around and waiting till you’re activated.”

“My watcher, you know,” Faith said with a smile, “thought I was pretty good, and thought that best way to prepare me, was for me to fight these things now already, you know. Plus with the whole; vampires eat people and someone has to stop them.  Slayer can’t be in two places at the same time, and humans without mystical super strength fight vampires too, like you guys.”

“Have you killed many?” Willow asked with wide eyes.

“No, not many,” Faith muttered and looked down.  “A couple here and there, and usually with my watcher helping, shooting them in the back with a crossbow if I can’t hack it, you know.  Used a tranquilizer gun on some crocodiles once, some vamp in Missouri had them crawling around in the motes around his mansion.”

“Tranquilizer guns!” Willow exclaimed with a grin.  “Love them!  Great things. Work great on . . . actually we /almost/ got to use them on a werewolf, but Cordelia here already tamed it.”

Faith looked incredulously at Cordelia, and asked, “Tamed a werewolf?  That’s like a figure of speech, right?”

“Hell no, I tamed a werewolf.  Just told him I was a bigger bitch than he was, the alpha female you know, gave it a good clobbering, and presto,” Cordelia said with a big grin, looking at Oz.  “The wolf is just a big animal you know, an overgrown pooch.  Once you know how to deal with it, you’ve got it eating out of the palm of your hand; don’t try it with meat though, they’re a bit too enthusiastic when it comes to meat.”

“You’re shitting me,” Faith said, shocked.

“Hell no, how do you think I really got my boyfriend?” Cordelia said, presenting Oz with a gesture.  “He’s just a big, old, cuddle ball as the wolf, with a chip on his shoulder the size of the Grand Canyon who loves to tear meat preferably still alive to shreds, but still, nice doggy, right Oz?”  Cordelia stroked Oz’s hair like she was petting him.

“I wouldn’t know,” Oz remarked calmly, “I don’t remember anything from when I’m the wolf.”

Faith looked at the smiling couple, blinked, and felt her confidence sink.  Here was a normal girl who tamed a werewolf.  What could she possibly bring to them?  Nervously she said, “Well, I haven’t tamed werewolves with my bare hands, or anything.  Just managed to stake a couple of vamps.  Nothing big really.  Although, there was that one time . . .”  Faith trailed off, remembering.

“Well?” Lotion prompted.

Faith looked over at her, and blinked once.  “It was a month or two ago,” Faith said with a big grin, half real, half fake.  “My watcher had decided we were going on a long hike, with a big heavy back pack for stamina training, you know.  We were out of the city, and the nights were blistering hot.  We spent the night at this dingy roadside motel, no air-conditioning, so I slept totally in the nude.  I woke up in the middle of the night, when this bus full of baptists had decided to stop just outside to help some ‘poor lost boys’, which weren’t boys, of course, they were vamps.  They pulled them out the bus and started feeding, and I could see it right out of the window.  Stupid thing to do, but I decided to prove myself and took a couple of crossbow bolts, leaving my watcher sleeping, and I snuck out.  They were already feeding, when I snuck through some bushes, and took out the first.  I took out the second before the third had even noticed, but he had noticed now.  He just caught my bolt, and I desperately went to reload.  So then the bastard walks straight at me, right, even though I was behind the bushes.  Must have smelled me, or heard me.  He lifts me out of the bushes and tosses me aside, but I get another bolt off just as I’m tossed away.  Poof.  Next minute I know, as I try to struggle off of the hard ground with a scratched open back, one of the priests yanks me to my feet and starts hugging me, telling me thanks this, and thanks that.  Of course, the cops had to come at that moment; there I was, nude, back scratched open from my fall, and getting hugged by a priest.  The cops arrested us both.  That was pretty sweet.”

They smiled, and Lexa said, “That’s nothing.”  Everyone looked at her, especially Faith. “I once used a rocket launcher to destroy a demon.”

“/You/ did?” Faith asked surprised, looking at Lexa.  Then she looked at Buffy with Willow sitting on her chair, “Isn’t she the Slayer?”

Buffy took her arm from around Willow’s waist, folded it and her other one across her chest, and glowering she grumbled, “That’s what I said.”

“Let me tell you,” Lexa said with a smile.  “It was last year Halloween that some dipshit enchanted costumes and everyone turned into what we were dressed at.  I was dressed as a soldier and since then I’ve got all this military knowledge, and military fight stiles running around in my head.  Anyway, the demon was called the Judge, and was a big, blue, ugly bastard that it took an army in the middle ages to cut into pieces and it still wasn’t dead. Some crazy vampiress was gathering all the pieces; a head here, an arm there you know, and went about reassembling the damn thing, and succeeding.  We were researching the damn thing, but all we got was, ‘can’t be killed by any weapon forged, and it took an army to bring it down.’  All the time you know, ‘can’t be killed, took an army’, ‘can’t be killed, took an army.’ It was getting frustrating, but then I realized; we make weapons that aren’t forged, and they’re a shitload more powerful than any sword, you know?”  Faith nodded in rapped attention.  Lexa continued, “There’s an army base right outside Sunnydale, and I and Lotion dressed up in the skimpiest, sluttiest outfits we could find.”

Faith grinned, as Cordelia interjected, “/I/ dressed Lotion up in the skimpiest, sluttiest, outfit /I/ could find.”

Lexa nodded, gestured to Cordelia and clarified, “I got Cordelia to dress Lotion in the skimpiest, sluttiest outfits we could find.  So, me, Lotion, and Cordelia were taken to the military base by Oz in his van, right, and then we snuck in through a hole in the fence.  Not surprisingly a guard intercepts us soon after, and goes through his halt-speech right, and then we lay on the charm.  Using soldier memories I just lay on the whole military speak; I’m on leave, and I just picked up this super hot chick.  I told him he was manly, and doing a great job, and let me and Lotion go about, I wanna show her the guns because it gets her hot, right; slipping in a suggestion that with a ‘stud’ like him we’re up for a threesome.”

Faith giggled happily, enraptured by the story.  “I cannot believe you,” Willow said with raised eyebrows.

“It’s nothing yet, Willow,” Lexa answered her and turned back to Faith.  Leaning forward, she said, “You should have seen the guy’s face.  Seriously, I think I had him about ready to spooge his pants, right there.”  Faith laughed out loud now, while the others looked wryly but with grins.  “Perhaps he even did, what do you think, Lotion?”

“Well, he was hard and erect enough for it, that was for sure,” Lotion said, grinning as well.

“Suffice it to say, we got passed him, loaded up a rocket launcher, some rockets, a couple of more explosives, and hightailed it out of there,” Lexa said with a smirk.  “We get back to the library, and Buffy goes, ‘Show me how to work it, so I can blow up the demon.’ Seriously, she looked at the rocket launcher like it was the latest model vibrator, and she was just itching to give it a spin.  Slayers might actually get horny /before/ a fight.”

“Hey!  I wasn’t that bad!” Buffy said, blushing at the horny part, as Faith laughed even harder.

“You were, sweety, sorry,” Willow said, patting Buffy’s hand.  The Slayer pouted at her her.

Lexa continued, “You know, here I am, got the plan, got the tools, degrading myself and Lotion to get them, I do all the work and planning, and she wants to take the fun payoff away - because she’s the Slayer, and it’s her destiny and stuff.  You think I let her?”

“Fuck no!” Faith answered, grinning widely, giggling, loving this, and feeling her admiration for this group, and Lexa in particular rise by the moment.  Buffy made a disgusted sound, and more firmly presented her arms across her chest.  Faith was enjoying the story so much, she was even forgetting the rest of her troubles for a moment - oh, now it was back.

“Exactly!” Lexa agreed, nodding with a big smile.  “So, hut, onward to the big coming out party of the Judge at the mall.  The damn thing is already sucking all the life force out of all the humans, you know, and Buffy puts a crossbow bolt in the thing to make it stop and notice us.  Then it and the vampires that reassembled him are all evil laughing, and the blue-boy says his trademark, ‘I can’t be killed by any weapon forged by man’, bit, and how do you think this little bolt would do anything.  That’s when I come into the play, and say, ‘Yeah, well, that was then.  These days we got a saying . . .’  I open the case and smoothly pull the rocket launcher to my shoulder and finish, ‘. . . if at first you don’t succeed, invent a bigger gun.’”

“That’s so cool!” Faith exclaimed.

“I thought so,” Xander said with a big grin.

Buffy in the back muttered to Willow, “I would have made it shorter and sweeter.” Willow stroked Buffy’s hair with a smile.

“So the vamps recognize the bazooka, right?  And they jump and run off as fast as they can.  You’d think blue boy would get a clue, but he just stands there and asks dumbly, ‘What does that do?’  I fire that sucker, and it just flies right on target, and BOOM!” Xander explains with a smirk, throwing his hands in the air to visualize the explosion.  “Pieces of it flying everywhere; seriously, some tongue there, a finger there, a chunk of liver, if it had one, there, and this time, it ain’t knitting back together you know: finished, finito, for real, not coming back, dead.”

“Fuck,” Faith said, and looked around the group, “have you guys any idea how cool you are?”

“Amazon marriage demon!” Lexa exclaimed, and everyone looked oddly at her.  “All the girls here are Amazons you know, not just Lotion, although she was born one.  We went through an initiation ritual, and her mother only did it because she had a plan.  She got a demon; big, huge, sledge hammers for hands, hide as tough as stone, and through some Amazon tradition maneuvering the demon could have me as its bride, unless I married Lotion here first.  This was before Willow and Buffy were a couple, and I was dating the lot of them, don’t ask.  Anyway, Deo - Lotion’s mother - obviously expected me to marry Lotion on the spot.”

Cordelia and Oz listened intently, not having been present then.  “Oh, god, that,” Buffy groaned.

Lotion nodded, “Great dragon mother underestimated future husband’s determination. Said he was going to marry demon instead; greatest, horrific moment of my life!  I screamed mother’s ears off!”

“You what?” Faith asked, looking at Lexa.

Lexa nodded, with a grin, and explained, “So I go straight into my apartment, you know, saying I was putting on an appropriate wedding dress.  But I got soldier in here as well, so I get some detergents and other ingredients, and presto: bomb.  I come back out, all sweet, saying I even cooked for my handsome husband, and how great he is - yuck - and jumped in his arms.  ‘Here, sweety, eat my meal, I cook spicy though.’  So I dump the lit bomb in the demon’s mouth, jab it in the throat so he has to swallow and then get out of its arms.  BOOM! And I tell the corpse as it dissolves, ‘I warned you it was spicy.’”

“You’re, like, fucking amazing,” Faith said in awe.

“Oh,” Lexa dismissed, shrugging.

“She’s right, future husband, you’re amazing, I wouldn’t want to marry you otherwise,” Lotion said with a loving smile and Lexa and then planted a kiss on Lexa’s lips.

*****

Lexa and Faith were walking casually through the Sunnydale night, after the time in the Bronze.  Lexa spoke animatedly, “So, with dump truck, hoofed vampire standing on my wrist I couldn’t do anything with my shiny new, shiny sword.  The damn thing was going to kill me, that much was certain, but between its legs I could see Buffy, and I just managed to wiggle my wrist, sending the sword skittering along the floor between its legs.  Just in time too.  It turned around when it realized someone else would get the sword, leaving me be, but it was too late. Buff grabbed the sword, jumped, and cleanly sliced its head off.  We got away just in time before the damn bastard exploded.”

“You are the coolest chick ever,” Faith said in awe, looking at Lexa as they relaxedly walked onward.  Lexa shrugged.  “So what happened to the lightsaber?  I’d guess you’d be walking around with it all the time.”

Lexa smiled at Faith sadly, and said, “The energy was too much, and the sword went kaboom.  That was really too bad, because that was one hell of a sword, when it was powered up like that.  Slicing and dicing big ass vampires like they aren’t even there.”

“Yeah, hella sweet,” Faith said, and noticed they had reached the end of their walk: Faith’s choice of residence, a motel.  Lexa took the seedy place with a couple of blinks of her eyes.  There was trash on the parking lot, the trash bin was overflowing, and was there a hole in that door?  Perhaps the inside was better.

They soon reached Faith’s room, and she unlocked it.  Faith was a little nervous, not knowing what the girl would say.  Would she drop her when she saw how poor she was? They stepped into the small room and Lexa looked around.  The place was a mess; it probably hadn’t been vacuumed in ages.  The bed spray was just as bad, something smelled funky, and there were several holes in the walls.  The door to the toilet was half open, and Xander distinctly noticed a brown color on the wall; somehow he didn’t think Faith had spread her own shit on the walls.  “Welcome to the poor part of town,” Faith tried, half joking.

“Time to leave,” Lexa stated resolutely with a command Faith hadn’t heard yet.  Lexa had been sweet, funny, sexy, and had talked about her brave acts, and had been all girl.  The command had come to Faith’s surprise, there was something in that voice.  At the same time, she felt disappointment and despair entering her.  “Pack up your stuff, you’re staying with me for as long as you need,” Lexa finished, and Faith looked shocked, and then up at her new idol.

“What?” Faith asked, not certain if she had imagined that perfect sentence.

“Pack your bags and whatever clothes you’ve got, Faith, you’re staying in my apartment,” Lexa told her again.

“Uh, no,” Faith said, bringing up her bluster again.  “I don’t need handouts.”

“Faith, look at this place.  If I had a dog I wouldn’t let it stay here for a night,” Lexa said heatedly, moving her arm around to show the place.  “If you don’t want to live with me for whatever reason, that’s fine, you can find a better place for yourself, but until then, you’re not staying in this dump.  It isn’t like you’re going to live with me forever, right?  Once your Watcher returns, your vacation here ends?  Now pack your stuff, then we’ll pay whatever you still owe this place - and my god the audacity to actually charge for this - and then we’re gone. Now hut.”  Faith went to do exactly that.

*****

Lexa woke up, and yawned.  Groggily she moved her hand under her t-shirt, scratched an itch between her breasts, and then fondled her right one.  She closed her eyes at the nice sensations, gently stimulating the nipple. Impressive, a thought pierced her foggy mind; she had actually gotten used to waking up with breasts, she wasn’t even marveling at the lovely orbs and their delicious sensitivity anymore.

She groaned and stretched out, trying to get the sleep away from her, but failing.  She forced herself to her feet, and stumbled to the door of her bedroom.  She opened it, and it was already light out.  Eyes half-closed, mind half-asleep, she surveyed her apartment for a bit, pausing for a bit at the sleeping bag holding a person on her coach.  Oh, yeah!  Faith.  She staggered onward, deciding that she needed a shower.  Reaching the other side of the couch, where Faith’s head was, Lexa paused and looked at the girl.  She was asleep, and now devoid of heavy makeup, and sleeping, she looked like a sweet innocent angel; nothing like the abrasive tough girl she had been last night.

Lexa staggered onward, and reached the door to her bathroom at the other side of her apartment.  She entered and locked the door behind her.  The shower stall was to her right, just beyond the door.  At the far side of the room stood a washing machine and dryer, which had thankfully come with the apartment or they would have cost a bundle.  Sleepily, barely able to stand, Lexa pulled her tight white t-shirt off of her, and tossed in the plastic basket containing her laundry.  Her panties followed, and then she turned on her shower nice and hot. Once it was on temperature, Lexa stepped inside and let the water cascade on her, instantly feeling herself changed.  Smiling lazily, Xander grabbed his shampoo, and started watching himself.

Done showering, Xander turned it off and stepped out.  A little onward there was a sink with a cabinet above it, and Xander pulled two towels from them.  He dried himself off, and tossed the towels in with the laundry.  Then he took a few steps forward, and grabbed some boxer shorts from a small pile off of the dryer.  He had prepared them for when he came in with as a girl with girl’s panties on, and had to leave as a guy.

Suitably decent, and much more awake, but certainly not a hundred percent, Xander went back out.

A little earlier, as the shower soundly started showering, Faith slowly woke up.  For a moment she was confused at where she was, noticing her bags leaning against the table in front of her.  Things didn’t look like anything she had been before.  Then she remembered! Lexa!  She had put her up in her apartment, and Faith hadn’t seen the place in daylight yet. She looked and consciously took note of the shower, and realized she really wanted to shower in a nice clean shower.  She smiled, found a comfortable position, and waited.  The shower went out, and a bit later the door opened, and someone came walking out.  The person walked close by, heading toward the kitchen corner that Faith looked toward.  “Good morning, Faith.”

Faith’s eyes widened in shock!  It was a /man’s/ voice.  And the legs were distinctly that of a man; all muscle.  Lexa had said nothing of a male roommate!  In fact, she had said she lived alone.  Faith sat bolt upright, and looked with shocked, and fearful eyes at the muscular guy yawning as he activated the coffee maker, then casually leaned with arms wide on the counter.

Faith was rooted to her couch, fear growing by the moment.  Then she shot downward, quickly tied loose one of her bags, panic starting to master in her as she suspected the guy was merely toying with her and could knock her out any minute now.  To her great relief she managed to liberate one of her small wrist-mount crossbows, and stuffed a bolt it.  “Hold it right there!” she shrieked in fright, and really wished she had been able to sound less like a four-year-old.  “What the hell are you doing here!?”

Xander almost casually looked up, confused, looking at Faith holding the crossbow aimed at him.  “I live here?” he answered confused.

“The hell you do!  This is Lexa Harris’ apartment!  Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing here!?” Faith yelled.

Xander stayed silent, letting the questioned penetrate his still not entirely woken brain, and finally replied, “Huh?  Faith, it’s me.  I let you crash here, remember.”

“Don’t screw with me!  I can aim, and pull the trigger!  Who-?” Faith said, trailing off as suddenly a very dark, frightening thought took hold of her.  “LEXA!?”  No answer, except Xander’s growing confusion.  “What did you do to Lexa!?  If you hurt her, I will kill you, you fucking piece of shit!”

Xander scratched his head in confusion, making Faith growl as if he were mocking him. Suddenly his eyes widened as he realized what was going on.  “Faith!  Oh, god, I can’t believe it.  I, and the others, we completely forgot to tell you!  We didn’t even think of it any-”

“SHUT UP!” Faith screamed afraid and angry.  “Get out now, and I better find Lexa alive, or else!”

“Faith, I /am/ Lexa,” Xander told her, pointing both his hands at his chest.  “Watch closely!” Xander said, lifting his right index finger in the air.  He opened the faucet in front of him, held his hands underneath it, and then pressed them against his face, feeling immediately invigorated at the coldness against her face.  Lexa raised her body straight, and smiled at Faith.  “See?”

A shock jolted through Faith’s system, and she accidentally pulled the trigger.  A moment later Lexa caught the bolt, and Faith’s eyes widened even further at how close she came to killing her brand new idol.  “Oh, my god!” Faith yelled out in shock, and then slumped into unconsciousness, slammed her head hard on the table and then slumped further to the floor.

“Ouch,” Lexa commented, and quickly walked over.  She knelt down, and gently pulled Faith’s head and upper body to her torso making her sit half up right.  Lexa winced as she saw the bump on Faith’s forehead.  “Faith?  Faith?” Lexa asked, and then lightly tapped Faith against her cheek.  “Wake up, Faith!”

Faith groaned and slowly opened her eyes.  “Ow, my head hurts,” Faith muttered bringing her right hand up and wincing at the pain as she felt a newly-formed big bump.

“Yeah, you slammed your head on the table as you feinted,” Lexa explained gently, checking to see if Faith’s eyes focused correctly.

“I had this really weird-” Faith started, until Lexa’s words registered.  Her eyes shot open wide, and looked up at the other girl.  It hadn’t been a dream!  “I almost killed you!” Faith almost shouted.  Lexa smirked and held up the bolt she still held in her other hand, and then put it on the table.  “Oh, my god!  I’m so sorry!  Please, don’t kick me out!  It won’t happen again, I promise!”

“Hey, hey, hey, calm down, Faith,” Lexa told her with a smirk, “It’s my and the others fault.  We completely forgot to tell you.  When I escaped from the Chinese mob my father sold me to as a male sex slave, I fell into the Jusenkyo cursed Pond of the Drowned Girl.  Ever since, cold water turns me into this hot babe here, and hot water turns me back into good old me, my original name is Xander, by the way, well, Alexander, but, you know what I mean.”

“But, I- you’re a guy!?” Faith exclaimed in shocked surprise.  The girl she’d been looking up to, that had everything together, that was this cool demon huntress and she wasn’t even a mystically enhanced super heroine, that had kicked some major ass, had her own apartment, the girl she wanted to be like so much; was a guy!?  A man?  A member of the male species?  The untrustworthy ones?  Those who screw you over?  A guy was offering her to stay here without any strings attached?  Couldn’t be!

“Uh, originally,” Lexa answered, frowning with a little confusion, not understanding why that was such a big deal.  “Now I’m both.”

“You’re a guy!” Faith said again, and jerked upright, then turned around to face Lexa and scooted backward.  “What do you want?”

Lexa blinked a few times, and then with a shrug replied, “World peace?  Demons no longer trying to destroy the world?  What do you mean?”

“What you want from me?” Faith clarified, hunching down as if resigning herself to her fate.  “What do you want so I can stay here?”

“Nothing,” Lexa answered, and getting a whole new understanding of the girl in front of her.  She seemed like a vulnerable, miserable hump of flesh right now, and Lexa decided she was going to do something about that.

Faith looked up, at Lexa, with an even more miserable look.  A moment of hope that quickly got crushed under sentiments that it wasn’t true, that it wouldn’t last.  “Guys always want something,” Faith said pained, “if not right away, then later.”

Lexa smiled gently, and the coffee maker signaled it was ready.  As Lexa stood up, she said, “Well, I don’t, and I’m not a guy right now.”  She started toward the kitchen, and asked, “Coffee?”

“Sure,” Faith muttered.

“Breakfast?” Lexa prompted as she reached the kitchen, and took the coffee pot from the machine.  “I make a mean omelet, I can fill a whole pan and cut it in half to share.”

“Yeah,” Faith answered softly.

*****

“Ah, Buffy, and . . .” Giles trailed off as he saw the group of friends and warriors for the sake of humanity step into the library, along with someone unfamiliar.  The Watcher stepped around the counter, and asked, “And this would be?”

The girl in question, Faith, looked around timidly, and especially timidly at Giles.  Buffy walked down the few steps near the entrance of the library, and introduced, “This, is Faith, a potential Slayer who’s decided to come visit now that her Watcher is off to some retreat in England.”

“Indeed,” Giles said straightening up, looking wistfully ahead as he took a sip from his tea.  After putting the cup back on the saucer he was holding he said, “it’s very great honor to be invited, supposedly.”

“They didn’t invite you, then?” Buffy asked with raised eyebrows.

“Don’t worry, Giles,” Xander said with a smirk, parking himself casually against the counter.  Faith looked uncertain at him, and back at Giles.  “I’m certain they wanted to invite you, just that they couldn’t leave the Hellmouth without its resident brainiac.”

“I’m certain that’s it,” Giles replied casually, and frowned at the timid-looking Faith. “Well, Miss . . .”

Faith looked back and forth, and Willow leaned toward her, “He wants your family name.”

Faith looked with enlightenment, and then said, “Uh . . . Williams.”

“Miss Williams, welcome to this humble operation, I’m certain your stay will be pleasant,” Giles told her graciously, and then asked, “Anyone want to fill me in with some details.”

“Oh,” Buffy said with a grin, taking a step in front of everyone, “Last night I saw her taking a vamp outside the Bronze.  We followed, and watched her dust it; but not before the vampire almost kicked her ass, it kicked enough other body parts though.”

“Well, that’s quite the impressive feat for a potential Slayer, Miss Williams,” Giles said, and placed his cup of tea and saucer on the counter.

“Not that impressive with these . . .” Faith trailed off, not quite knowing how to finish. ‘People’ would sound too cold, and ‘heroes’ made her look like a star-struck, dumb girl.

Xander picked up, saying, “We went back inside and compared notes on our . . . exploits, then I escorted her to her place of residence, a dump of a motel you wouldn’t let your pets stay, so I had her pack up and stay with me for the duration of her little vacation on the Hellmouth, personally I would have chosen Hawaii or Tokyo or some place lake that, but whatever floats her boat.”  Faith looked down, swallowing, trying to remain her cool while she held her hands together nervously.

“Well, Faith, I, for one, am glad to have come to know you,” Giles said, smiling at the new arrival.  “Well, I believe tonight is you and Cordelia’s turn to patrol, right, Buffy?”

“Yes,” Buffy answered, with a frown.

“Would you be willing to accompany those two, Faith?  To keep them from starting a catfight in every cemetery,” Giles said with a light smile, and Faith looked with wide eyes at him.

“That was one time!” Buffy exclaimed indignant, “And it was just one cemetery!”

“Okay, why don’t I know about this?” Xander asked intrigued.

“During the summer, you were in Tokyo,” Willow told Xander with a big grin, while Buffy blushed.

Xander looked wounded, “Hey!  No fair!  Why was this not in the briefing?”

Buffy blushed and looked down, muttering, “Because I had gotten them to promise me not to tell you.  Stupid Cordelia, and stupid dress.”  Then Buffy glared at Giles.

“Ah, well,” Giles said, a little embarrassed he had let the cat out of the bag.

“Ugh,” Buffy muttered, “Let’s get out of here before Giles tells even more secrets.”  She turned around, pulling Willow along, and getting Faith to go along as well, who, not certain what to do, decided to go with.

“Hey, Giles, I got my new shift schedule from the store today, and some of it conflicts with patrol duty,” Xander said casually.

“Of course,” Giles said, and gestured for Xander to come over.

Buffy and Willow pulled Faith in between each other.  “So, I suppose you’d like the grand tour of Hellmouth Central, huh?” Willow said, as the Library doors swished shut behind them.

“Yeah,” Faith managed, looking from the Witch to the Slayer.

“Hellmouth is behind is in the Library,” Willow said, as a few students were in transit too classes.  She turned right, and pointed, “That way is the theater, we fought a living ventriloquist dummy there once, who turned out to be a good guy hunting demons eventually.”  Faith looked with wide eyes at Willow.

Buffy smiled and pointed forward to the wider hall, “This is where Spike and his goons almost killed some us, before we- uh, before a then stranger from Japan barged in with a super heavy umbrella, and squatted him aside like a pesky fly.”

“Huh?” Faith asked, confused.

Willow nodded happily, “Ryoga was his name, and he was in Jusenkyo when Xander fell into the cursed spring, he fell in another one though; the Cursed Spring of the Drowned Piglet, and he hated Xander for it.”

“Wait, wait, wait, there’s a Japanese guy out there that turns into a piglet if he gets water on himself, and he has a heavy umbrella?” Faith asked incredulously.

Buffy and Willow nodded happily, and Buffy said, “Yep, and he was devastatingly strong.  Stronger and better than Xander, he could, and can kick my ass.  And when I mean ‘heavy’, I mean seriously heavy, think like 500 pounds or something or even more, I could barely lift it, and he tossed and used it as a weapon like it weighed nothing.  He has a really bad sense of direction though; is why he ended up here twice.”

“What?” Faith asked shocked as they slowly walked onward, “A bad sense of direction got him here?”

Willow nodded with a grin, “Boarded the wrong ship.”

“That was the second time, the first time he swam across the ocean,” Buffy added, nodding, which made Faith’s eyes grow huge and just look at her.

“Oh,” Willow said, and grabbed Faith by the arm, pulling her around toward a staircase before she could exclaim her incredulity.  “There I got sucked in a poltergeist-induced quicksand, while we were all trying to do a ritual to banish it from school.”

“Speaking of that,” Buffy said, and pulled Faith along, Willow on their heals.  They reached a window, and Buffy pointed outside, up to a balcony.  “That’s where I shot Xander.”

“You what?” Faith asked, both with disbelief and horror, wondering why Xander needed to be shot.

Willow nodded with a smirk.  Buffy said, “I was possessed by the ghost, while Xander was possessed by the ghost of his love that he accidentally killed when he was still alive. Xander managed to snap out of it long enough to take the bullet to his shoulder and keep from falling to his death.”

Willow leaned over and said, “Of course, Buffy wanted to do it, to punish herself and the ghost that had possessed her.”  Faith looked incredulously at Willow, who circled her finger at the side of her, and added, “She was a little loco at the time.”

“Hey,” Buffy said a little hurt.

Willow quickly came over, hugged her girlfriend.  She gave her a quick kiss on the lips, and said, “Sorry, sweety, but it’s true.”

“Punish?  What for?” Faith asked confused.

“Buffy had a boyfriend, vampire cursed with a soul, and she did something that made him lose his soul, and that something made Xander go ‘ick’ toward Buffy, and Buffy was also in love with Xander and she lost him that way,” Willow answered quickly and softly.

Faith looked confused for a bit.  “I had sex with him, okay?  One moment of pure happiness broke the curse,” Buffy said defeated, and Faith looked at her first confused, and then with a sickened face.  “I know!  Shit, I’m the one who actually did it, it was disgusting, all cold and clammy, and ugh.  And I’m so tired of saying that.  And I so lost the interest in the nice happy near-death tour of Sunnydale High.  Let’s get to class, Willow.”

Faith frowned, and turned around as Willow and Buffy started to leave.  She saw a cute guy step out of a corridor.  “Hey, Red, B,” Faith said with a light smile.  Willow turned around with a frown, realizing she meant her.  “You know if the cute guy is single?”

“That’s Scott Hope, yeah, he is,” Willow said with a smile, and elbowed Buffy smiling happily at her.   “He got a girlfriend early summer, but she dumped him after she watched him dancing along with us too.”

Faith chuckled, and said, “I can imagine, I saw you two dance before you dropped off the dance floor to sulk.”

“Not you too, we weren’t sulking!  We were letting Lexa have a some fun time alone,” Buffy defended herself and Willow who nodded vigorously.

“Okay, whatever you say,” Faith said and stepped toward Scott Hope, and started a short conversation with him.  She had him smiling, and looking her up and down in no time.

*****

The girls had left the library, and Giles casually asked, “New schedule, huh?”

“I actually have a new schedule,” Xander said seriously, fishing a piece of paper out his jacket and placing it on the counter.  “Faith isn’t telling the truth.”

“Indeed, how did you figure that?” Giles agreed with a smile.

“Would you leave Buffy alone?  And I’m not talking about with us and Jenny, but totally alone?” Xander asked casually, leaning against the counter.

“No, not ever,” Giles answered and him and understood.

“And Buffy is a Slayer supercharged with my training, Faith is just a Potential Slayer, a mostly helpless, normal, old girl,” Xander explained casually.  “There’s no way in hell her Watcher would go off to England and leave her alone.”

“Quite,” Giles said, and looked at Xander looking questioningly at him.  “For someone who staked a vampire she seems quite uncertain of herself; for someone who made absolutely sure you saw her stake a vampire however, she seems perfectly uncertain enough.  I will call the Council and see if they know something about Miss Williams and her Watcher.”

“Let’s hope it isn’t as bad as I dread it is, Giles,” Xander said with a frown.

“Indeed,” Giles said, both leaving unvoiced that death was about the only thing that would keep Giles from looking after his charge.

“Giles, perhaps we should give Faith the ring when she’s out patrolling,” Xander suggested, after a short pause.

“That got me stuck in the hospital for quite some time, it’s not very useful to a human,” Giles replied to Xander’s suggestion.

“We’d have to teach her that lesson the hard way,” Xander answered the watcher and straightened up from the counter.  “She’s a good fighter, Giles, but she lacks the punch.  I’d feel better if she did have some punch while she’s out there; and since you’re not wearing it anymore, and nobody else needs it . . .”

Giles gave a nod, and mulled it over for a bit.  “We should submit it to the others first, though,” Giles said thoughtfully.

“That’s okay with me,” Xander said casually.

The doors opened and Faith stepped rather uncertain inside.  “Uh, the others had to get to class?  You guys are cool though, if I had friends like you in High School, I wouldn’t have dropped out . . . well, perhaps I would have, I just would have regretted it now and then, you know?” Faith answered with an uncertain look.

Xander raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile, “Your Watcher left you the choice?”

“Well, yeah . . . don’t they . . . usually?” Faith asked afraid.

“Indeed not, Faith, most Potentials never even enter High School, they are taught and trained by their Watcher from early life on,” Giles spoke and looked with great care at the brunette.

“Ah, I have to get to class as well, you don’t mind I leave you with a male, do you?” Xander said with a smile.

“Are you kidding, L?  If I knew Watchers came this young and sexy, I’d put in for a transfer ages ago.  I’m formulating my request letter right now,” Faith said with a grin, pointing at her head.

Xander frowned, and asked her, “You sounded a little less positive on the male population this morning.”

“Hey, just because I don’t trust men, doesn’t mean I don’t fuck ‘em and leave ‘em,” Faith said with a big smile, then frowned, “Actually, I fuck ‘em and leave ‘em, /because/ I don’t trust ‘em.”  The she smiled and shrugged, “I’m still a girl who needs sex.”

“Yes, well, I have a girlfriend, so don’t even try,” Giles said nervously.

Xander left the library, chuckling, and then laughing as Faith told him, “Don’t worry, G, I’ve already got myself a victim named Scott.”

*****

Later

Faith caught the ring that had been tossed at her, and looked at it.  “Go on, put it on,” Xander said with a smile.

Faith frowned and put the ring on.  The Scoobies looked at the event, standing around the library.  They had eventually agreed that Faith could wear the ring while she was on patrol. “Whoa, I feel it,” Faith muttered looking around.

“Yeah, pick up the table, one hand,” Xander said casually.  Faith stepped to her left, and grabbed the large oval table.  To her own surprise, the table felt impossibly light as she lifted it up.

“Whoa!” Faith said and put the table down.

“Yeah,” Xander said with a smile, and Faith went to make some practice swings and some shadow kick boxing.  “Everything work okay?  You feel good?”

“Hell, yeah!” Faith said with a big smile, “now I can kick some real vampire ass.”

“No,” Xander told her, and she looked at him questioningly.  A moment later Xander’s fist connected with her jaw and she was launched back, tumbled and she lay still for an instant. Then Faith scrambled to a sitting position and pushed back against the small wall carrying the second level of the library.  Faith looked frightened up at Xander, almost hyperventilating.

“Ouch, I hope we don’t get two pig-nosed girls now,” Lotion commented with a light smile.

“Keep talking, and I’ll give you a pig nose too,” Buffy told the Amazon darkly, who just stuck her tongue out at the Slayer.

Xander had reached Faith and squatted down, looking into the eyes of the terrified Faith. “Faith, I’m not going to hurt you anymore, but that was necessary.  You felt that didn’t you?” Xander said, looking hurt in Faith’s eyes.  Faith shivered, and nodded.  “I couldn’t tell you, I had to make you feel it, experience it.  That was barely a punch, Faith.  The ring . . .”  Xander pointed at the ring on Faith’s right ring finger, and she looked down at it, afraid, but getting less so.  Then she looked back at Xander.  Xander continued, “It makes you stronger, but not any less impervious to pain.  You felt it now, simply telling you wouldn’t have fully registered in your brain, and you’d make mistakes.  You might be able to defeat a vampire easier, the vampire can still defeat you just as easily as before.  The ring does /not/ protect you, Faith. Giles found that out the hard way and spent over four weeks in the hospital because of it.  In short, you stay out of fights as much as possible and only join when necessary, and no half-cocked heroics.”

“G-g-got it,” Faith said, her fear and terror at her nightmare coming true quickly ebbing away as she understood the reasoning behind it: it was necessary, she had to feel it to realize the true danger of that ring.

“You sure?” Xander asked genly.

Faith looked gently into his eyes, and nodded with understanding, “Yes, I get it, you had to show me.”  Xander nodded, then helped her up.

*****

“Mr. Trick, talk to me,” the ancient vampire spoke from his position in the warehouse: a makeshift chair covered in a red carpet looking quite a bit like a throne.  The limo took up most of the room.

“The town is wired with fibre optics,” the black vampire in a suit said with a smile, as other vampires, a dozen or two, hovered about.  “We hook up a T3 connection to the net, and we’re here locally, but live globally.  You have a craving for a Philippino virgin, we put in an order, and the next day, air express, we have a feast.”

“The only blood that I want is the Slayer’s,” the ancient vampire grumbled angrily.

“Ah, yes, that,” Trick said with a frown and a insincere smile, “well, I’ve done some looking into it, and it seems this town already had a Slayer, so now there are two.  I wonder how that happened.”

The ancient vampire, wearing a red shirt, and beige pants that looked like they belonged in the middle ages jmped up.  His wide thick powerful head frightening, made even more frightening by the huge still healing, blueish wound over the right side of his face; his eyeball white, and the crack ran down his cheek and all the up his partially bald head; hair cut short, almost shaven off.  “*I don’t care if there are a /hundred/ slayers!*” the vampire roared in anger, “*I will kill them all!  She will pay for doing this to me!*”

There was a knocking on the door.  “I have the boys using the computer to check all hotels, motels and youth hostels and such, and when the sun is down we will scour the streets, sir,” Trick quickly told the master vampire, while putting on a big rubber glove.  He went over to the door, and said, “In the meantime.  Boys!  Dinner!”  He opened the door.

A pizza delivery guy stood there in the radiant sun, and he asked a little uncertain at the warehouse, “You ordered pizza.”

“Yes,” Trick said with a smile, grabbed the delivery guy by the collar, and yanked him inside before closing the door on the sun.

*****

The trio walked through the street, barely more than an alley way, trash lying around, and reached a chicken-wire fence, which was half broken open.  “Uh,” Faith spoke up uncertain, looking around, “n-not that I want to be rude or anything, but haven’t we been here before?”

“Yeah, funny thing about vampires, Faith,” Buffy said with a smile, being sincere, but with a hint of humor, “they actually move around.  If you’ve been somewhere, they can go there anyway.”

“Yeah,” Cordelia answered, looking around intently, and they passed through the hole in the fence, “and vamps and demons seem to think the same way you do.  You’ve been somewhere, you’ve been there.  It’s like sometimes they were close enough to see you, but far enough you couldn’t see them, and they come out after you’ve been there . . . only for you to finish them off later so nobody gets the wiser you patrol a street more than once on a night.”

“Oh, right,” Faith muttered, feeling stupid and looked down.

“Like these guys,” Buffy said matter of factly as a couple of vampires jumped from roof, and came out of side alleys.

“You stay back, Faith,” Cordelia said, and happily pulled her swords from the scabbards on her back; the curved blades singing a song of death.  “Let’s get ‘em, Buffy.”

“You got it, Cor,” Buffy said, taking out her stake, and the two charged the growling vampires.

Cordelia decapitated two, one with each sword.  Buffy dusted the third, and the final fourth looked surprised at the quick ending of his comrades.  Then as the two girls advanced on him, he hissed, “For Kakistos!” and charged.  Faith couldn’t here him, and a moment later the vamp’s head flew through the air; just before it and its body turned to dust.

“Well, that was that,” Cordelia said with a smile, and smoothly put the swords back in their scabbards.

“You guys are so awesome!” Faith said with large eyes.

“Of course I am, like I could be anything else,” Cordelia said, rolling her eyes.

Buffy shrugged, smiling at the compliment, and said, “Well, we’re not bad.”

“Hey, Buff, that was almost too easy, don’t you think?  I haven’t had an easy fight like that while outnumbered in ages,” Cordelia said with a frown.

Buffy considered, and said, “Perhaps we’ve already weeded out all the weak vamps from Sunnydale, and these guys are out of town.”

“Could be,” Cordelia muttered, taking in the piles of dust, and then they started walking again, beckoning for Faith to join them.

*****

The Next Day

Lexa, Willow, Buffy and Lotion were sitting in the library at the large table.  Giles was leaning casually against the counter.  Jenny stood next to him, and he asked, “So, she did well?”

Buffy nodded, “Yeah, she stayed nicely out of the way, dusted one vamp that slipped by Cordelia and me.”

“Good, good,” Giles said thoughtfully.

“So what did you find out about her?” Lexa asked, curiosity got the better of her.

“Her watcher is dead,” Giles stated solemnly, making the girls except Lexa gasp, and Lexa nodded painfully.

“How, Rupert?” Jenny asked softly.

Giles took a deep breath, and said, “A team was sent to investigate when she didn’t report in.  They found her body in an abandoned factory, tortured to death, and multiple vampire bites from multiple vampires across her body.  They were pessimistic about Faith’s fate, although they had not given up the search yet.”

“Horrible,” Lotion said.

“Indeed,” Giles said and sighed deeply again, “I think Faith desperately wants everyone to believe nothing is wrong with her, that she’s fine, so she can become part of the group.”

“That’s silly logic,” Willow pointed out confused.

“It is, quite so,” Giles said heavily, “sadly, it seems that Faith thinks she should show she has no weakness, and needs no help with anything - and failing at it, I might add.  I think in her experience, whenever she expressed a weakness, a need, she got exploited, and not in pleasant ways.”  Giles gave a halt gesture as Buffy wanted to ask.  He clarified himself, “Her orchestrating you seeing her dust a vampire shows that, and her reaction to Xander’s punch yesterday even more so.  She sat back, shrank and scooted away in fright; as if the other shoe had finally dropped.  If any of you would have gotten punched, you would ‘ve gotten up, and angrily demanded an explanation before applying a new color to Xander’s back side.”

“Or get our asses kicked in the attempt at least,” Willow said with a slight smile.

“Buffy, as the closest thing to a fellow Slayer, barring Kendra, perhaps it would be prudent that you see about getting her to open up about what got her here, and what she wants,” Giles suggestion heavily.

Buffy blinked, and then pointed her thumb over her shoulder at Lexa.  “Wouldn’t Lexa be better for that; Faith is totally looking up to her,” Buffy asked genuinely concerned.

“That’s exactly why, Buff,” Lexa said with a grin, and Buffy was just surprised a little she saw the girl sitting there instead of Xander.  His speech patterns coming from a girl could be oddly joling now and then.  “She looks too much up to me right now to open up.  She’d feel too much like she has to show me how cool she is to open up.”

“Plus, you have experience in the matter, I think,” Jenny pointed out casually, and Buffy nodded, swallowing a lump as she remembered her first Watcher and the circumstances of his death for a bit.

“All right, I’ll go try an open her up tonight,” Buffy muttered and then got up.  She started walking to the exit, but then stopped suddenly.  “Oh, Giles, one vamp said something odd last night, more like hissed it.  It said something like, ‘For Kaki Toast’, or something, or was it . . .”

Giles froze instantly, and then said, “Kakistos.”

“Yeah, that’s it,” Buffy said, and pointed at Giles for it.  “Kakistos!  Why do I get the feeling this isn’t good?”

Giles relaxed a bit, and Jenny took a step closer, looking concerned at him.  Giles then grabbed a book from the table, flipped the pages, while he said, “Kakistos is Greek and it means ‘worst of the worst’.  It’s also the name of a vampire so old his hand and feet are cloven.”

“An ancient, very powerful vampire is named ‘worst of the worst’?” Willow asked a little frightened as Buffy groaned.

“It can’t ever be simple, can it?”Lexa complained with a Xander-whine.

“Great, now that puts a dampener on things,” Buffy muttered defeated.

*****

Buffy and Faith walked through the stark night, on one of Sunnydale’s bigger, wide open streets, or rather on its pavement.  “So, how’s Xander and Lexa as a roommate working out?”

“Great,” Faith answered and then looked down, as she noticed Buffy’s sharp stare.  Faith straightened up, and said, “She’s so cool, and one hell of a cook.  Never eaten so good.”

“Yeah, I always look forward to the occasional times Xander invites over to a home cooked meal,” Buffy said with a grin.  “Of course, I’m not looking forward to the month of hard training to get rid of the new pounds I’ve built up, but it’s worth it.”  Faith looked at her strangely.  “Oh, come on, I’m a girl, I can obsess about my figure.”

“You’re the Slayer; just your patrols would get rid of any pounds, besides, one over stuffing in a few months won’t make you fat,” Faith said with a frown.

“That means you’ve got a problem, don’t you?” Buffy asked with humor and Faith’s eyes widened in confusion.  “You’re not a Slayer, and you eat Xander’s delicious, addictive, over-stuffing-guaranteed food every day,” Buffy clarified with a grin.

“Well, I’m only on vacation,” Faith said with a lightly quivering voice.

“Yeah, so, when do you plan on leaving, then?  When your Watcher rises from the grave?” Buffy asked the girl almost viciously.  Faith froze, and looked frightfully at Buffy. Buffy turned around, stopped walking, and looked at her.  “You thought we wouldn’t find out?” Buffy asked her.

“I- . . . I- . . . I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Faith whimpered, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Hey, relax,” Buffy said, feeling hurt, perhaps she should have handled this in a less confrontational manner.  She took the taller, but much more fragile girl in her arms, and a gentle hug.

“I just wanted to fit in, the things I heard from my Watcher- . . . and you’re even cooler, and- . . .” Faith whispered, sobbing gently.

“It’s okay, you think you can tell me what happened?” Buffy asked Faith gently, looking deep in her eyes.  “I’m the Slayer after all, you’re a potential, we’re practically sisters, you can tell us everything.”  Faith’s grip on Buffy tightened, and Buffy, asked, “Has this got something to do with this Kakistos fellow that arrived here?”

Faith jerked up straight, still holding Buffy but not truly hugging her.  Buffy actually winced as Faith’s ring-enhanced strength gripped her shoulder-skin tightly in fright.  “H-he’s here?  No, please, he c-can’t be . . .”

“Shh, he’s just a vampire, we’ll deal with it, and you’ll be fighting right by our side,” Buffy soothed the girl, and her grip became a little less, but only marginally.  Faith shook her head.  “What happened?”

Faith looked down, her grip loosening a bit more, and with a shaky voice she explained, “We were going to a vamp’s lair, but she was wrong.  It was a vamp’s nest, with a lot of vamps, and him- . . . him.  He caught us both so easily, and strung us up on chains.  Then h-h-he he . . .”  Faith looked up, a tear running down her cheek, and looked deep in Buffy’s eyes with a look of desperation.  “He tortured her Buffy, he made me watch.”

“Oh, god,” Buffy muttered and pulled Faith to her, holding her, as she cried.  “I’m so sorry.  How did you get away?”  Buffy could feel Faith desperately trying to clam shut on her emotions, and Buffy remembered what Giles and Faith had said: she wanted to impress them and fit in.  “Let it out, it’s good to let it out, I’ve cried, it’s nothing to be ashamed off.”

Faith’s grip loosened and then tightened as she sagged, and cried for a bit.  After a short while she explained, “I didn’t understand.  L-Linda, she, she took beating after beating, whip after whip, yet there was something, something about her building up strength, I didn’t understand, until she whispered a spell and my chains loosened, and I dropped down.  She told me to run, I was already running.  But him, th-that vamp, he was so fast, so powerful.  He beat me down, but I got lucky.  He h-h-had these pendulums you know; like in bad movies.  I don’t know, why, but he liked them for some reason, and I landed near the releases.”  Faith stopped to sob a bit more, and then she said, “I pulled the releases, all of them, and one of them hit him.  It pealed open his skull, the right side almost hung down; his head was split half open, and still he didn’t dust.  He came after me, even with his head open.  I managed to slip underneath a table and crawl out a crack in the door.”  Faith’s sobbing and crying steadily slowed, working through her emotions.  “It was light outside, they couldn’t follow me.  That’s why Linda didn’t use the spell earlier, or gave in; she underwent hours of torture until the sun was up, so I could slip out into the safety of daylight.”

“Yeah, they’re like that, aren’t they?” Buffy asked painfully, feeling her own eyes sting as she remembered Merrick.  Faith took a step back and looked surprised at Buffy.  “Giles isn’t my first Watcher,” Buffy said shakily.  Faith remained surprised.  “My first Watcher was called Merrick.  Big old ancient master vampire by the name of Lothos had found me and him.  He protected me long enough so I could get away, then blew his own brains out to keep Lothos from turning him and using everything he knew about me against me.”  Faith looked shocked Buffy, who gave her a dead man’s grin.  “You think we’re so amazing we can do no wrong, well, after that I wanted to have nothing to do with slaying or Lothos.  But he came to me and forced the issue, so I killed him, very good experience.  That’s what you gotta do, you can’t keep running away; they’ll catch you sooner or later.  Time to make a stand, and fight.”

“I’m not a Slayer, I can’t-” Faith started.

Buffy interrupted her, “You’re strong enough, and not because of that ring either.  It’s in here.”  Buffy tapped her chest gently.  “Plus, you’re here, aren’t you.”

“I ran,” Faith said pitifully.

Buffy smiled, and nodded, “You’ve already mastered the first rule of the Buffy Handbook for Slaying: don’t die.”  Faith looked surprised at the blonde, who then said, “Come on, we’ll go to the library, round up the troops, see if they found Kakistos yet, and then we’ll plan an invasion, okay?”

“I- uh . . .” Faith said, still feeling fear dominating her, and then light shone on them; and stayed shining on them.  They looked over, shielding their eyes and saw a limo standing in the middle of the street.  The doors opened and grinning vamped out vampires got out, one after another, but the most prominent figure was the cloven feeted and handed power house that was Kakistos.

“Faith,” Kakistos grumbled with satisfaction, “Now you’re going to pay for this.  *Over a week, and it hasn’t healed fully!*”  He pointed at the vicious scar, his white eye.

Buffy grabbed Faith, and dragged her onto the street, whispering, “Always leave as many options open.”

“I’m guessing you’re the other Slayer,” Kakistos hissed at Buffy, as nearly a dozen vampires lined up behind him.

“Other Slayer?” Buffy asked confused.

“We gotta get outta here, B,” Faith said shivering in fear.

“No, we’re gonna-” Buffy started, but got interrupted.

“BUFFY!”

Everyone looked to the sound of the voice, right from Buffy and Faith, and a figure came running at them in an side road.  “Buffy!” and Buffy recognized the voice, and now the figure.

“Hey,” she asked surprised and looked back at Kakistos, “how did you know Kendra was in town?”

“What?” Kakistos asked, and his vampire minions, Trick included looked confused.

Trick took a step forward, and told his boss, “Sir, I think we may not have the full picture.”  Kendra came running out the side road, and a moment later, grabbing ahold of Buffy’s arm.  “Perhaps we should gather some more intelligence first.”

“Buffy, we hav ta go!” Kendra exclaimed in utter terror, much to Buffy’s confusion.

At the same time, Kakistos grabbed Trick’s neck, and hissed, “I will /not/ be denied my revenge!”

“Not you too,” Buffy said, resisting Kendra’s pull, “this is just a vamp, I was just telling Faith about facing your fears, you can join the party.  Let’s kick this vamp’s ass.”  She pulled out her stake then.

Kendra yanked again, terrified, “No, Buffy, I don’t care about eem, there’s something worse.”

“Actually, he’s supposed to be the worst of the worst,” Buffy quipped, and took a step forward, as Kakistos too came forward, growling, intending on a Slayer feast.

Buffy stopped her motion, as there was a puff, a white cloud of smoke appeared behind Kakistos and his minions, and as it disappeared it revealed a vampire.  Buff frowned as she felt Kendra go rigid, and her hands turn to ice.

“Boss,” some of the vamps called, and Kakistos decided to head his hearing on what his minions said and the puff he heard before.  The vampire was wearing classical martial arts Bruce lee shoes, white socks, and then black ninja pants.  Over it he wore a robe that ran up to his neck, and reached to his knees, almost like a dress.  It was black, and drawings in other colors on it.  His face was unobscured, and as a finishing touch there was an Asian wide straw hat on his head.

“What’s going on?” Faith asked, terrified again.

“We godda go, now, pleeeassse, Buffy,” Kendra said desperately, pulling, but Buffy stayed put, ignoring the yanks.

“The Slayer is mine,” the new arrival spoke casually.

Kakistos roared at the sky, making Faith shudder in fear.  “I don’t care what you do to the other Slayer, but Faith is mine.  She will pay for this,” Kakistos pointed at the scar again, and added, “I will rip out her spine, and beat her around with it before I finish her off!”

“Buffy, please, we can’t win dees, we need reinforcements, preferablee an army,” Kendra said terrified, as the ninja vamp casually bent sideways to look at the three girls.  Kendra shivered with fear looking into those cold eyes.  Faith was doing the same, her traitorous mind supplying the image of Kakistos’ description.

“Damn it, Kendra,” Buffy said, yanking herself free, “I’m stronger than you, remember? And I’ve gotten only better.  Just like I told, Faith, time to face your fears and kick ass.  You too, Faith, it’s time we dust some vamps.”

The vamp’s eyes suddenly twisted to red, and too far away to see for Buffy, but there were three black swirls in it besides the pupil; a small circle with a tail, almost like a comma. Buffy shivered, and took an involuntary step back.  Red!  Red eyes!  Like the Master. Momentarily she was back there again; that impossibly powerful mind, that pull, that steel grip, teeth piercing skin, dropped in the water, darkness.  Buffy shook her head, and stepped forward again, banishing her fear.  She was going to kick some ass.

“The blonde?  No she’s mine, impressive . . .” the vamp trailed off, straightened up, and his eyes returned to normal.

“The brunette,” Kakistos’ hissed.

The ninja looked at Kakistos, smiled, and then laughed, “She’s not a Slayer, you pitiful fool.”  Kakistos growled enraged.  “You got your ass handed to you by a potential Slayer, a mere powerless, weak, normal, useless girl.”

“*You little pup of an upstart!  I am Kakistos, the oldest of our kind!*” Kakistos roared enraged.

“What you are, is starting to annoy me,” the vamp answered casually, taking a step forward, intent on Buffy, Kendra, and to a lesser extent Faith.  His hands started making odd gestures.

“*Kill him!*” Kakistos roared, and turned around, looking intently at Faith.

The minions attacked the ninja vamp.  The ninja vamp brought his hands to his mouth, inhaling deeply, and said, “Katon: Housenka no Jutsu.”  A moment later multiple fire balls burst from his mouth, and spread around.  Each hit one of Kakistos’ minions; the two in the air jumping at him, and the others standing, including Trick.  With screams of pain, the vampires were engulfed by the flames, and burned up in no time, the fiery embers of burning skin and melting bone falling in pieces to the floor, before they turned to dust, and completely fell away.  Even the driver of the car, still in his driver’s seat, was burned up, the window now having a molten hole, and the seat blackened from the fire.

“What the fuck!?” exclaimed Faith, as Kakistos turned around to regard the ninja and the remains of his minions.

“Oh, shit,” Buffy muttered.

Kendra shivered, and said, “I told you, I told you!”

Kakistos growled, while the ninja was making his hand gestures again.  “You will pay!” Kakistos hissed and threw a right punch.

The ninja casually deflected the punch to his left, and said, “Medical technique; scalpel fingers.”  His left hand started to glow red, and a moment later he placed them against Kakistos’ flesh, still all casual.  His red pointed fingers smoothly sank into the ancient vampires’ chest, whose eyes widened in shock, and he groaned in pain.  The ninja’s eyes trained on the Slayers, his hand even sank through several layers of bone, grasped Kakistos’ heart, and smoothly pulled it out, stepping forward and leaving Kakistos’ behind.

Buffy, Kendra and Faith looked in shock as the ninja vampire held up a heart encased in bone and cartilage, which started to turn to dust then.  Blood finished soaking from the glow around his hand, leaving the hand itself clean.  Then main part of Kakistos screamed as his body turned to dust, kneeling down in pain.  The bones remained, and where there should be simple ribs, there was several layers of heavy bone structures grown criss-crossed over them. The skeleton tipped forward and collided noisily on the hard asphalt.  Its skull fell off, bounced once, and as it collided the second time it shattered in multiple pieces.

“Now, my sweet,” the ninja vampire spoke casually, his eyes trained at Buffy, “perhaps for the first time in seventy years, I’ll have to put some effort into killing someone.”

“RUN NOW!” Buffy spoke frightened, turned around, and pulled the other two as she turned around and started running.  Faith struggled to keep up with the much faster Slayers, and Buffy pulled her off her feet, slinging her over her shoulder, and saying, “We need reinforcements.”

“Deedn’t I tell you dat!?” Kendra screamed terrified while the vampire walked onward casually behind them.

“I’ll never question your judgment again, okay?” Buffy said, feeling her heart beating in her chest.  She was good, but she didn’t stop fireballs from consuming her alive, or a guy who could turn his fingers in razor sharp knives - scalpels.

The ninja vampire once again made his hand seals, and then placed them on the asphalt, saying, “Doton: Doroku Gaeshi.”  The asphalt rippled as he pushed his chi into it, and a moment later a large wall of asphalt and rock erected itself in front of the fleeing Slayers.

Buffy and Kendra stuttered to a stop, and looked up at the three meter tall solid wall. “Oh, shit,” Buffy muttered, and turned around, putting Faith back to her feet.

“What do we do now?” Faith asked frightened.

“Now we fight,” Buffy said solemnly looking at the vampire, who casually kept walking forward.

“Can’t you guys jump the fuck over it!?  Holding me that is?” Faith asked terrified; this thing had destroyed her nightmare and its minions wit no more effort than it took to kick a bunny.

“Yes, but not before ee gets ere,” Kendra answered frightened as well, as the ninja had just about reached them.  Buffy and Kendra shot forward, yelling and preparing to fight.

The ninja vamp’s eyes changed once again to the red ones with black swirls in them.  He casually took Buffy’s punch and twisted it up and back, completely imbalancing her.  He turned and sank to his knees, making Buffy yell as her wrist, hand and arm were twisted in an unnatural position, then was let go staggering onward and falling to the asphalt.  The vamp casually turned onward, below Kendra’s punch and smashed his elbow in her torso.

“Ugh!” Kendra exclaimed as she doubled over.  She groaned as the vamp’s almost casual backward uppercut made her detach from the ground and fell painfully to the hard asphalt.

The vamp turned onward, smoothly getting back to his feet, into a roundhouse kick, and smashed it perfectly into Faith’s face.  With that the girl was no longer nailed to the wall, and instead flew and slammed into the just-created wall, then slumped into unconsciousness.

“YAAH!” Buffy yelled, flying through the air with a jump and punched viciously hard. To her dismay, the vamp casually stepped aside, and then kicked her hard into the stomach; only just landed it took her off her balanced and she staggered onward, moaning in pain.  The vamp stepped over her feet, and smoothly went down to one knee.  Kendra who had come to help Buffy, found her punch going over the vampire; who impossibly gone down in just the last moment.

“Aagh!” she groaned as a double, hand-palm strike slammed into her stomach.  She was launched back a step, and had difficulty remaining standing as she landed.  A moment later she felt herself being grabbed by the side of her heads, pulled up into the air, and then slammed down with her face in a powerful, fast knee.  She barely had enough time to groan out with the pain before she crashed to the ground unconscious.

“There, my sweet,” the ninja said with a grin, turning around as Buffy staggered to her feet.  “Now it’s just you and me; the name is Uchiha Inashto, a little courtesy so you know who kills you.”

“Buffy Summers, same here,” Buffy said with a low voice, and kicked at the vamp’s head.  The vamp bent to avoid it, and Buffy pulled her leg big rapidly to avoid it getting caught.  She made a combination of punches to his torso, the first of which he casually avoided, the second he blocked with the palm of his right palm, and the third he blocked with the back of his right bent wrist.

Buffy growled in frustration; he was so fast.  She made a leg sweep which he jumped over, and she followed up with a powerful, jumping uppercut while he was still in the air. Impossibly he grabbed her by the wrist, landed with one foot, turned around, and sent her onward, for her too land and come to a stand still with a desperate stagger to keep from falling over.  Buffy turned around, and couldn’t believe it.  It was like fight Xander that first time, or Willow; like he knew everything she was going to do beforehand and knew exactly how to fight her every move, only this time, the end result wouldn’t be so benign.  Worse, he hadn’t even made a sound, only a deadly, eery silence had been her answer, he just smiled that infuriating smile, and she hadn’t even managed to dislodge that stupid hat.

Buffy wasn’t going to give up, even though in the back of her head, she realized she was dead.  She couldn’t beat this vamp, he was just toying with her, he hadn’t even used any of his fancy techniques against her and her companions except the wall to keep them getting away. Roaring with anger, she charged him again, and then slid down, going for a baseball slide to the vamp’s knees.  The vamp jumped back, then rapidly reached down, and grabbed Buffy by the throat.  With a rapid movement, she slapped the hand away before it could get a good grip, and then kicked her right foot up, slamming it satisfyingly into his chin.  The vampire took a step back, Buffy jumped up, and he just chuckled with amusement.

He attacked then, and Buffy managed to block the first two punch, but a third slammed into her gut.  She had managed to tighten her stomach muscles and was able to take it without doubling over.  She parried the third blow, and then kicked out.  She missed, and followed up with a right punch to his chin.  The vampire grabbed her wrist with his right hand, and twisted around, yanking her up.  She yelped as he twisted her around in mid air, with a powerful yank to her head and neck by his left hand.  A moment later she slammed painfully on his knee, and a moment after that his right elbow slammed on her chest, in between her breast.

“Aargh!” she exclaimed, and then groaned in pain as she limply rolled off his knee while he got up.  She grabbed herself around her torso, trying to still the pain, and groaned, rolling around till she looked up.

“How disappointing,” the vampire said with a sad grin, “all that power, and so little use of it.  This wasn’t much of an effort after all.”  He pulled out a weird looking metal tool, that if Buffy had guessed right was some sort of knife.

She had to fight; but her body still hurt too much.  She had to find away to fight him, she had to use her brain.  The ninja vampire raised the knife-like implement high to bring it down into her.  “W-wait!  Can give you effort,” Buffy coughed out, slowly regaining some sense of control over her body; and pretty sure she could feel the pain start to ebb away; her healing kicking in.

“What?” the vampire asked confused; obviously looking at her broken body to see if he had missed anything.

“I’m not the strongest here,” Buffy managed to say quickly.  “I know them; I can get them to be here; ready to give you effort, perhaps even a challenge.”  Behind her, Buffy heard the other two wake up, groaning as hard or even harder as she had done.  *Come on!  Take it!* Buffy thought to herself.

“I’ll accept, when and where,” the vampire said with a grin of anticipation.

“Right here, say six hours from now,” Buffy told him after a moment’s thought.

Inashto said, “That’s pretty long, isn’t it?

Buffy nodded, “Hey, the more time we have to prepare, the more of an effort you’ll have to make killing us.”

Inashto laughed softly and then bent down, his eyes boring into her, and he said, “You won’t try to escape, I’ll make your death worse if you do.”

“We won’t flee,” Buffy told him resolutely, while thinking angrily, *We’ll be here so we can kick your ass.*

“See you later then,” the vampire said, and took a deep, unnecessary, happy breath.  He then turned around and walked off.  Briefly he touched the asphalt with the palm of his hand, and the wall that had blocked the Slayers’ retreated, sank back down and into the ground. When he reached Kakistos’ skeleton, he made several hand seals, and spit something at the bones, which started dissolving with a sizzling after that.  Then Inashto disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“Ow, why in six hours?” Faith asked as she and Kendra reached Buffy.  The blonde let herself lie back and relax for a bit, groaning as her body tried to find the most comfortable position.

“Later,” Buffy muttered, and decided asphalt was never going to be comfortable, so she slowly struggled to her feet.  “We’re going to need everyone.”

The trio slowly turned around, while Faith racked her brain.  Kendra had already figured it out, and said, “Dat’s when . . .”

Buffy slammed her hand in front of Kendra’s mouth, and shook her head, then pointed to her back, where the ninja vamp was going.  “Don’t want him to hear,” she whispered.

Inashto watched them walk away.  He pulled a scroll from his robes, rolled it out, bit on his thumb and smeared the blood on the scroll.  He placed his hand on the ground, and whispered, “Kyuichose no Jutsu.”  A small black circle with multiple branches and symbols in and around it appeared on the ground.  A puff of white smoke followed, and a hawk sat there. “Go keep an eye on them; the blonde will most certainly be there, but the others might try to flee; and I don’t want that,” he told the bird.  It squawked, and then flew away to do his bidding.

*****

The three Slayers - two and one Potential one to be precise - returned to the library soon after. “Ah . . .” Giles trailed off as he saw the state of his charges, and the new arrival, “dear god! What happened?”

“A vampire,” Buffy groaned, and Giles’ eyes widened.

“Some kind of ninja, had all these funky techniques too, like Lexa, Buffy and stuff; only a lot more deadly,” Faith said with a shaking voice.  “Fuck, he killed Kakistos’ flunkies - with fire balls from his mouth - and then Kakistos himself with scalpel fingers without even a little bit of effort.  And I thought I was facing someone tough.   Shit.”

“De vampair, eet keeled my Watcher,” Kendra said weakly, eyes stinging with potential tears.  “I could do notheeng.  I fled, I hoped you . . .”

“Giles, call Xander, call Cordy, Willow, Jenny, Deo, all of them, we’re going to need all the help we can get, this thing - he defeated me, Giles, and he did it without any effort.  It was playing with me, we haven’t even seen everything it can do,” Buffy muttered in shock.

“I will do so post haste,” Giles said, and went to the phone.

*****

“It wanted a challenge; so I made an appointment six hours later.  Like five minutes before dawn, if he falls for it, if he didn’t bother checking how earlier dawn gets here, all we have to do is survive for five minutes and the sun will do the rest for us,” Buffy explained to the now almost crowded library.  Everyone was present.

Jenny looked a little shocked at Buffy, and asked, “You think this thing is so dangerous we need all of us, just to survive five minutes?”

“Yeah,” Buffy answered, making Jenny shiver, “plus, if he doesn’t fall for it, attacks earlier or hopefully another day later.  He was frighteningly good; it was like he knew what I was going to do before I even did it.  Every single one.”

Deo looked up, eyes a little wider.  “Yes, I had dee same teeng, all dee time,” Kendra said, obviously still terrified, not entirely sure even these could stop this thing.

“And those scary, funky eyes,” Faith muttered, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

“Yeah, weird eyes, he could switch to them without vamping out; red, with these dots, swirls in them, and when he was bent over me I could see they were on a black circle, and they even turned,” Buffy said, remembering.

“Sharingan,” Deo said, and there was a tremor in her voice.  The tremor more than anything else really put the fear in the room.  They all looked at her; if the woman who could kick their asses singlehandedly was afraid now.  They all expected an explanation.  “Down south on a few of the thousands of islands of Indonesia there are a few hidden countries; they stay away from everyone else.  Hardly anyone knows about them; there are hidden villages; ninja villages.  They serve as the countries’ military.  The Amazons had a few run ins with them, and have tried to get some information on them.  They fled Japan after the fire arms made them seemingly obsolete.  Which means I don’t know much; I do know they use their chi to do some seriously dangerous techniques, and I know the Sharingan.”

“What’s so horrible about those eyes, mother?” Lotion asked, fidgeting like everyone else.

“Copy-wheel eyes,” Deo translated, dead serious.  “I read a report on them, and it never left me.  They have the ability to see chi, to see through techniques, to see through most if not all illusions, and they can predict movements, and even copy techniques.  Seeing the chi along with some of its other properties, they know what move you’re going to make in advance. They have to see you do something they didn’t know about just once and they’ll be able to do the same; and thus know how to fight it.”

“Shit,” Xander muttered.

“No wonder I couldn’t land a punch,” Buffy muttered while everyone else stayed in shocked silence.

Deo went on, “That isn’t the worst.  The worst, is that those eyes are hypnotization tools.  You look into those eyes, and he’ll have you hypnotized in no time; you’ll be fighting things that aren’t there, hell, he could make you commit suicide, slice your own throat and you wouldn’t know it until it’s too late . . .”  Deo then suddenly looked sharply at Buffy, who jerked and looked left and right to see if it was really her she was looking at.  “. . . in fact, Buffy, if you saw the eyes turn, you might already be hypnotized,” Deo said with a little fear.

“I don’t feel hypnotized!” Buffy protested, quite afraid herself.

“People usually don’t, Buffy,” Giles said, looking at Buffy as the others talked through each other at that shocking event.

Deo overpowered them, and said, “You might turn on us any moment.”

“No,” Oz said relaxed, the only one who hadn’t spoken up.  Everyone looked over at him, and he explained, “he wants a challenge.  He won’t get one if one of his strongest opponents is his slave.”

“You are correct, Daniel,” Deo said solemnly, surprising her that she hadn’t figured that out.  “When we face him, you can’t look into his eyes.  You must look down, at his feet or torso, but /not/ higher.  He may not want a slave now, but should he become desperate . . .”

“Uh, what does it matter?  We got those anti-mind control techniques, don’t we?  Okay, not all of us,” Xander said, and gestured to the newer members of their group.

Deo shook her head, saying, “This is different.  Those are techniques for a direct telepathic attack, to block access.  This is hypnotization, the eyes lull the mind, slow it down, then slip in.  They slip in passed the walls you’ve erected . . .”

“Like a back door!” Willow exclaimed and everyone looked at her confused, “It’s a computer term; programmers often design a low security, or a security hole they know how to unlock into their program.  That way if someone locked themselves out, they could still slip in the back and rectify it . . . or for nastier purposes.”

“Exactly, hypnotization, those eyes, you slip in through the back, bypass your mental blocks,” Deo said with a concerned sigh.  “There are techniques to get rid of mental control once it’s established, but there’s not enough to time to teach you; and I don’t know that many anyway, not any that I ever got to test if it works.  Those eyes, when I read about it I could think of nothing more frightening to ever face; for a vampire to have them, how did one ever get turned, no vampire would stand a chance.”

“Maybe he was one of those ‘let’s get eternal life, except not, you’re dead and a demon animates your corpse’ nutcases,” Cordelia said depressed.  She should have stayed away from this.

“Well, if those eyes are so dangerous, we must simply blind him,” Willow spoke up, and everyone looked at her.  “We can summon a mist; we’d be blind as well, but we’d have better chances than with his eyes useful.”

“Good idea, Willow,” Xander said with a smile.

“Or we could just literally blind him, or make him not see us,” Jenny said pensively, “there’s a spell that would allow for that.”

“That would be the best,” Lotion said with a grin.

“All right then,” Giles said, “we have a ninja to dust in the morning, so everyone should get some sleep, we need to be well-rested when we face him.”

*****

The group of warriors for the good sake of the world walked down the road leading up to their rendez-vous.  It was dark still, but the approaching dawn was palpable.  It was already lighter, and the sky had a blue hue.  “If he’s here,” Deo said softly, “I’ll see about talking with him first.  The more he talks, the less we need to fight him before the sun comes up.”

“Indeed,” Giles answered, nervous at the coming fight.  From what the Slayers had said, this guy on his own might be as, or even more powerful than the giant vampires they had fought several months earlier, and back then he was wearing a strength enhancing ring and got his ass into the hospital for several weeks anyway.  Now, there was no ring, the new arrival was wearing it.

Soon the group arrived at the meeting place, the vampire was waiting.  He was looking down, and with his large hat, it gave him a powerful mysterious air.  Buffy’s heart skipped a beat, and looked around her, most notably at Xander for a bit.  Part of her was happy; the vamp had fallen for it.  They had to survive for only a few minutes before the sun would solve this problem.  At the same time; she felt scared, she fought it, and after Deo’s explanation of the eyes.  If those few minutes, was going to be tough as hell.

“You have kept your word,” the vampire almost breathed out; a cold, pleased tone to his voice.

“Yeah, we’re gonna kick your ass,” Buffy said, full of bluster, and hoping she was right.

Deo stepped forward and stood in front of everyone else.  “Tell me, vampire, how could you have been turned?  I know of not one living vampire on this world, that could defeat one such as you,” she asked him, deeply serious.

“You know of us,” the Uchiha vampire replied, his eyes a tiny bit wider with a little surprise.  “Yes, you do,” he continued then, smirking with a light smile, “none of you will look into my eyes.  You know of mine, you know what they do.  Good, good, that means this might truly be a challenge.”

The vampire took them all in, his special eyes still locked away.  “A vampire didn’t kill me,” he spoke with a grin.  “It was another ninja; left me unconscious for dead, an inch away from it on the battle field, trapped beneath the rocks his last jutsu trapped me under.  A vampire came to feed off the battle ground casualties, now that everyone was gone.  He came to me; his bite woke me up.  Still trapped, the only way I could hurt him was to bite; bite till I drew blood.  I got free, and destroyed it, then I died.  The rest his history.”

The Scoobies looked at him, processing the information and looking disgusted at what the vampire who’s blood turned the Uchiha did to get his food in.  Deo was about to engage Inashto in more dialogue, but the vampire said, “Enough talk; it’s time we fight.”  He made some of his hand seals, whispering the names of several animals, took a deep breath, gathered his hands by his mouth, and said, “Katon: Karyuu Endan.”  A moment later the spewed forth a devastatingly powerful stream of fire, that seemed to set even the air aflame.

“Aqua Colligo Contego,” Jenny and Willow intoned, their eyes glowing with blue energy for a moment.  At the battle scene, everything became moist instantly; the gaseous water in the air liquefying, a nearby sewer cover floating up and water from there rushing over.  A moment later the water swirled around the Scoobies forming a quick shield.  The fire collided, and with a sizzling and smoke water was vaporized, while the fire was snuffed out.

The vampire laughed heartily, and said, “Buffy, you have indeed kept up your promise; /this/ is a challenge.”

“Shut up,” Buffy hissed, as she, Xander, Deo, Lotion, and Cordelia charged the vampire. Xander arrived first, right as Cordelia drew her swords, making a dangerous metal on metal sound.  Xander’s punch Inashto deflect, and kneeling down and turning he tossed Xander over his shoulder.  A moment later, he got up and turned to his then right, turning onward so it became his left, while stepping rapidly in that direction.  Thus Deo and Buffy who had been on the other side needed to make a course correction, and were out of the fight for another few seconds.  Cordelia’s swords came down in a perfect arc to decapitate him, but he had pulled out two of his triangular knives - kunai - and blocked both with it, much to Cordelia’s surprise.  Perfectly timed, Lotion’s nunchaku’s swiveled where the vampire was; except that he had ducked down to his knee, and sliced the kunai rapidly from left to right, across Cordelia’s left leg.

“Aah!” she yelled out and staggered backward.

Inashto got up and turned rapidly, throwing a powerful roundhouse kick at Lotion who ducked beneath, only for her and Cordelia to find out it was never meant for Lotion at all.  His kick connected with Cordelia’s shoulder, send her flying back, and her swords off straight at Kendra and Faith, who ducked only just in time; terrified at the sight.  The ninja was holding his own against five people far more powerful, and far faster than they were.

Finally it happened; it was too much even for the vampire.  With a powerful shoulder check by Lotion the vampire was hit and sent staggering back, where Buffy swiped his legs out from under him with one leg, and sent him flying up with a vicious kick to his back with the other, his hat falling off.  Inashto yelled in pain, and then got another hit by Deo sending the vampire speeding back toward Lotion for her to do something to him with a flying kick. Before he reached Lotion though, there was a puff of white smoke; and where a vampire had been, there was suddenly only a big heavy block of wood.  The eyes of all the women attacking the former vampire widened in shock; but Lotion’s most so because the block of wood was coming at her.  A moment later it slammed into her face and she went down with a groan, the block of wood falling limply to the floor.  All of the vampire-fighting team looked around for the vampire; even Lotion as she struggled back to her feet, a nasty gash on her right cheek, and wobbling a little; still dazed.

There was another puff of smoke a meter forward from where Uchiha Inashto had turned into a block of wood, and there the vampire reappeared; visible a second later once the smoke had cleared.  He snickered audibly, shoulders moving up and down; and still his large straw hat was in place; proving he had barely been hit, if at all.  Buffy took in a shocked breath and looked behind her; the hat that had seemed to have landed there earlier, was nowhere to be seen.  All nothing but an illusion.  “Damn it,” she hissed angrily.

“Vampire cheat, vampire hurt,” Lotion growled angrily, her good English forgotten.

“You fight me,” Xander hissed, who had been at the vampire height, and attacked him now from his right.

Inashto parried Xander’s first punch, lifted his leg to avoid a quick leg swipe, and then brought his arms in a cross to block Xander second much more powerful punch.  “Better, not so brash as before,” Inashto said with a grin, while Xander grunted with the effort.  “Not good enough, though,” Inashto said, moving forward with a low kick.  Xander backed up, and lifted his left knee to block a follow up kick to his side.  Xander made a quick jab at the vampire’s chest with a stake, but the vampire grabbed his wrist with his left hand, and going forward, slammed his right on his elbow.  Xander gave out a quick yell of pain as his arm was forcibly yanked double, partially the wrong direction, and then gave a more powerful scream of pain as an elbow slammed in his chest.  He was launched back and landed with a groan on the asphalt.

Deo had come in running rapidly, but to the vampire’s surprise she turned left, starting a circle around him.  Suddenly there were a whole bunch of Deos, who then pulled their katana from the scabbard on her back.

“Ah, now this is more like it,” Inashto said, as all Deos suddenly sliced inward with the katana to his neck.  His eyes turned red then, three black swirls on a black ring, and he twisted around, and caught the katana between his hands, mere centimeters from his neck.  “Not fast enough for these eyes though, and illusions don’t work on them either,” Inashto said grinning, and vamping out with the enjoyment of it, steadily and quickly moving the blade to directly in front of him, Deo struggling with the vampire, and chi-enhanced strength.  The others, and especially Lotion looked surprised; this vamp had defeated an almost impossible to defeat move even faster than Xander, her future husband had.  Those eyes, her mom was right; they were as frightening, and more so than she had made them out to be.

With a sudden twist the katana loosened from Deo’s hands, and Inashto sent her hurtling away with a kick.  With his right hand he tossed three kunai with the same movement, while with the left he made several hand motions.  With a puff of smoke the deadly weapon, one of the few also deadly to Inashto, disappeared.  Deo caught two of the kunai, but the third embedded deep into her shoulder.  “Aargh,” she yelled before slamming into the grass next to the road and pavement.

The ninja vampire turned around, and asked, “Now, whose next.”

Jenny had her hands folded together, whispering words.  She opened her hands, revealing two ingredients, which promptly disappeared in a puff of smoke.  “Now,” she said, and Kendra, Oz and Faith charged toward the vampire, and a moment later so did the other girls and Xander.  A moment after that Deo was back to her feet; having left the kunai in her body to keep blood from spilling if it had cut a bigger artery, and was after the vampire as well.

“WHAT!?” the vampire exclaimed in shock.  Everything had just gone black.  He was blind!  However, people had tried to blind him and trick him into thinking he was blind before; especially long ago when he faced other ninjas with the same arsenal of techniques and illusions as he himself had.  He instantly switched to fighting by ear; something he had been trained in, and with his vampire senses upgrade, had only gotten better.  He backed up, and deflected a stake to his heart as a vicious kick to his face easily connected, his hat finally coming off, revealing his black hair.  He yelled out with the pain, but let other hits through; backing up and focusing only on the sound of deadly attacks and stopping them.  Stakes to the heart he pushed a way or blocked, while ducking underneath a new sword that had come into play.

The group of warriors were annoyed; bruises - visibly on the face - appeared everywhere, as punch and kick after punch and kick, and even bleeding wounds by swords and stakes connected with the vampire.  He was groaning and even crying out in pain, but the vampire kept avoiding that fatal attack.  Suddenly the vampire jumped back, and although anticipated by Deo and getting a kick to the back, the vampire managed to put some distance between him and the group bent on killing him.  He brought his hands together, and called, “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.”

There were four puffs of smoke, and suddenly there were four more vampires surrounding the first.  The group of warriors hesitated a moment, but then Xander charged, jumped, and said, “Probably just illusions.”  The others followed.

The first new vamp blocked Xander’s path, brought his hand down, and perfectly deflected Xander’s punch.  Xander’s eyes widened, as the clone vampire slammed his fist into his chin and he tumbled down.  “No, illusions then, shit,” Cordelia said in shock, but stake in hand, she focused on another clone, who she fought, fought every bit as good as the original, and allowing herself a tiny lower glimpse, noticed it too had the copy-wheel eyes.

Quickly the clones were dealing with one or more than one opponent, leaving Deo to take on the blinded and weakened vampire; who just landed on the asphalt.  She was fed up with this; he was going down.  She attacked with everything he had, but to her surprise he smoothly ducked beneath her punch, slammed his shoulder in her gut, grabbed her stake hand, and threw her over his shoulder.  She landed on her feet and made an elbow back.  He took a step back avoiding it, then stepped left avoiding her high kick, blocked the stake to his heart, and perfectly slammed a punch in her chin, making her stagger back.  She looked at him with a little disbelief.

“What!?  How?  He should be blind,” Willow said with a little tremble in her voice, looking at Jenny.  The gypsy shook her head, indicating she had no answer.  She had checked the magic; the spell was still fully in effect.

“It’s the bloody clones,” Giles said with sudden realization.  He looked to his left to look at his girlfriend and her apprentice, and clarified, “they can see for him.”

“Oh, no,” Willow said, as Faith, attacking one clone with Kendra, managed to land a punch with her ring enhanced strength, sending it flying and then it promptly disappeared in a puff of smoke, much to her relief, and realization these clones weren’t as tough as an actual vampire.

Inashto suddenly looked directly at Jenny, and he said, inaudibly by the threesome, “You.”  He brought his hands together, making another seal, and said, “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.”

Two puffs of smoke later, and there were two more clones diagonally from Jenny, and charged her together.  With a roar Giles slammed his sword forward through the side of one of the clones, and promptly disappeared into a puff of smoke.  The second one reached Jenny though, and too surprised by the arrival of the clones, it stuck two kunai into the middle of her breast, one on either side underneath her neck and then sliced them down with roar, causing deep gashes to form.  Jenny screamed with pain and shock.

Willow stepped forward, closing her eyes to focus and murmuring several Latin words, electricity blasted from her hands and hit the clone.  With a yell and a puff of smoke, the clone disappeared, along with his kunai.  Jenny fell bonelessly to the floor, blood gushing from her wounds and some of it pooling underneath and around her.  “JENNY!” Giles and Willow both screamed in pained shock.

The fighting with the clones halted, as everyone including the clones looked over momentarily.  The warriors all called their comrade’s name in shock, anger or both.  Giles wasted no time in picking up his girlfriend, and running off with her, toward the hospital.

Two remaining clones disengaged, using the distraction.  The first walked over to the real Inashto and made several hand seals.  His hands started glowing and he placed them on Inashto’s eyes.  The hands pulsed, and the clone stepped away.  The other clone had walked over, picked up Inashto’s straw head, and smoothly tossed it over to the real one like a frisky. The ninja picked the hat out of the air, and put it back on with difficulty, his body hurt from the initial beating and stakes it got.  His eyes now, back under the shadow of the hat; caused by the street lighting and early light of the sun. With a gesture his clones puffed away, making the fighters startle and turn to him instead of looking at their two compatriots go for the hospital.

“I’m going to kill him last,” Inashto spoke evilly as he nodded in Giles’ direction, letting his tongue move over his fangs.  “Right after I kill her right in front of him, so he knows all his running and puffing now was useless, and if he had let her die now, she’d be spared lots of pain.”  He heard his opponents growl, hiss, and curse had his announcement, and then he shrugged, “Providing of course, he gets her to the hospital in time, and she survives.”  He had obviously negated the blinding magic.

Buffy grinned, as did the others, and let her take the honors, as it had been her plan. “You really think so, huh?  Maybe you should look behind you.”

“You mean dawn?” the Uchiha asked her casually, smiling.  Buffy frowned.  “Oh, I know it was coming, when it was coming, and where it was coming from.”  The first rays of the sun came over the horizon, the street quickly lighting up.  “I actually commended you silently on its use.”

“You liked the handicap?” Buffy asked hopefully, eyebrows high in a pathetic pout.

The vampire shook his head, and walked onto the pavement, then onto grass.  Casually he walked into the shadow of a tree just as he started smoking, already making hand seals. He placed his right hand on the ground, and said, “Earth type: Rock Hide Jutsu.”  A moment later the sand from beneath the grass was sucked up, and slithered up around his palm and arm, as he looked over to his opponents and in particular Buffy with an evil grin.  The sand came up around his neck, and over his face, then came out the other sleeve and covered that hand as well.  The said visibly hardened and became more dense and tight around him, and then changed color to match his skin.  If you didn’t know, you couldn’t see he had hardened sand as armor - ninjas were masters of deception.  He straightened up, and casually walked back out into the sun; and there was no smoke, no bursting into flame - he was totally safe. Then he laughed out loud.

“Oh, shit,” Buffy muttered and backed up to be amongst her fellow fighters, “Xander, I take it rock hide means it protects him from more than the sun.”

“I’m going with yes on that one, Buff,” Xander said, feeling his heart beat in his throat, and it wasn’t just from being tired either.

“Then I made it worse,” Buffy said defeated and apologetic, “no dawn, no need for . . . oh, god, I’m sorry.”

“Of course!  Buffy, do me a favor, and never think again,” Cordelia bitingly said, making the Slayer hunch in a little.

“Penis-envy, pig-nosed girl not smart, but this not her fault.  No way to know, sound battle strategy,” Lotion said, adrenaline still rushing through her, and eying the vampire, both sides sizing each other up.  Buffy looked surprised at the brunette Amazon for a moment; first time she actually stood up for her.

“My daughter’s right,” Deo said, and having taken the time during the hiatus to examine the kunai and exactly where it was embedded, removed the obstacle to her optimum movement, and dropped it to the ground.  She felt a small trickle of blood coming from her wound, but it quickly stemmed.  Movement would cause more to come out though.  “This guy is starting to get on my nerves.”

“Uh, X?” Faith asked, yanking his sleeve.  He didn’t look down, his eyes intent on the vampire, examining him fully, except for its eyes of course.  “M-mind if we back the shit away again?  With the whole, ring gives no p-protection crap?”

“Actually, Faith, I’m wondering what the hell you three are still doing here,” Xander said quickly.

“Right,” Faith said, and backed up, Kendra and Oz going with her, all the way back to Willow.

The vampire slammed his hand together and rubbed them in anticipation, saying, “Well, enough of a rest.  Time for round 2.”  The evil grin spreading on his vamped-out face, but with the Sharingan eyes, chilled them to the bone.

“Yeah,” Xander suddenly said, a small smile on his face, “you guys stay back, this pipsqueak’s mine.  I’m gonna kick his ass to the moon and back, and I’m not going to break a sweat.”  He stepped forward several steps, as the vampire kept smiling, but his eyes had obviously hardened.  Before one of the others could ask or protest, Xander sent a halt signal back to them with his right hand, and said, “Stay out of this, he’s mine.”

Most of them looked confused, but Buffy who remembered Xander being like that once before.  Her eyes widened with realization and took an extra step back, not fancying another nude walk.  Having taken a few steps, Xander went into a fighting stance, and beckoned the vampire over.  The vampire grinned, and attacked.  Xander deflected one blow, and then another.  He deflected a kick, while he backed up, slowly, in a circle, just defending.  Inashto backed up, and did nothing, the circle stopping.  Deo had now recognized what Xander was doing, and grinned with immense satisfaction.

*Dang it,* Xander thought.  He grinned at Inashto, beckoned again, and said, “Come on, what are you waiting for?  Don’t you want to drink my blood?”

“This guy . . .” Inashto said, and smiled with enjoyment.  “Buffy, I must thank you; this is a rare find indeed.  You see, he fought completely defensively.  That way he reacts only to my attacks, and then there’s nothing for my eyes to predict, forcing this to become a battle of skill alone - he’ll only attack when he has my hands tied, or he made it impossible for me to react in another way, whether I can predict his attack or not.  Already he’s figured out a limitation to my eyes, and is exploiting it.  A lot of ninja haven’t figured that one out, even after years of training with me and others who have these eyes.”

“Are you fighting or just standing there jabbering,” Xander asked the vampire in annoyance.

“I could just keep my distance and do more ranged attacks, you know,” the ninja said with a shrug.

Xander grinned at him, and said, “I thought you wanted a challenge.  Gotten chicken?”

The vampire smiled for a moment, in which time everyone held their breath, and partly hoped he took the bait, and partly didn’t afraid for Xander.  “Yes!” Inashto hissed, and surged forward, attacking.  Once again Xander did nothing but defend himself, blocking and parrying the lightning fast attacks, and quickly growing tired having to keep up the same speed that was actually close to the Chestnuts speed.  As the vampire attacked and Xander defended himself, he once again started making ever smaller circles.  Inashto grinned, his vamped face close to Xander’s, eyes fully open.  Suddenly he realized something; his energy was flowing from him. He could see it; the energy flowing from his body toward Xander’s where it mixed with Xander’s own, which was a of a cooler color than his.  Instantly he realized this wasn’t a simple fight, and with grunt he quickly jumped back; which was due to the circular motion right on the street.  He landed on the pavement, just in front of the grass, and looked as Xander stopped, and cursed.

Inashto took in the event, almost disbelieving.  His and Xander’s energies were turning together, but not mixing together, staying separate, and they were circling around Xander. “My chakra, you took it,” he muttered, watching as the turning slowed and the colder and hotter energies mixed together, eliminating temperature difference, and then finally flubbed together to end the turning.  “You made it circle around you and your own chakra.” Something clicked in the vampire’s brain, he then looked to the women, and he said, “Incredible.  The Amazon technique Hiryu Shoten Ha.  I had dismissed it as a fairytale, but it can actually be done.  Now I know what to do to do it, but how?”

“Any more bright ideas, oh fearless leader?” Cordelia asked with heavy sarcasm and anger of Xander.

“Willow, now would be a good time,” Deo announced, and Xander nodded in agreement.

Willow nodded, and bringing forth three ingredients, she spoke with a clear, commanding voice, “Oh, gods and goddesses of water; here me, conceal this fight from all eyes with your power.”  The ingredients ignited in a blue flame, and then the air started rapidly growing more damp.  From the grass, the trees and higher in the air water was gathered and formed in the street.  Soon after, everything was blanketed with a thick, heavy, fog that no one could see through.

“Let’s go,” Lotion muttered, and the whole group headed to where the vampire had last been.  Testing with their hearing and chi sense, they soon found him and attacked.  The first several punches hid solidly.  Buffy then slammed her stake right in the middle of the figure’s chest, and felt something crunch.  The blurred figured jumped away, and Buffy turned to a blurred Xander, holding up her stake.  Her crunched stake.

“Xan; a stake won’t go through his rock hide,” Buffy said afraid; this was going to be even tougher and more terrifying than she thought.  And she realized the ninja had let her hit him there, to show how useless her weapon was, to give her fear: it was working, all to well.

“I expected as much, stay focused,” Xander told her, as the group scanned around to find him again.

“There,” Cordelia said and went to circle around it, as did some of the others.  A little later Cordelia’s fist slammed into the vampire, and she winched at the impacts with the rock hide, but ignored it.

Next to her Deo landed a kick, but then grabbed Cordelia by the shoulders and held her back.  “That one isn’t real,” Deo said, and their companions stopped as well, Xander holding back Buffy and Lotion for the same reason.  There was a puff, the blurred figured turned into a blurred block, and dropped unceremoniously to the floor.

“He could have a whole bunch of those things, or the clones littered around,” Lotion muttered irritated, looking around, and starting to feel afraid as well.  This thing was bad, really bad, worse even than those two super vamps.

Doe suddenly looked up, just before muffled words reached their ears.  “Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!”

“DUCK!” Buffy yelled, having recognized the first word of the technique, as it was the third time she heard it.  It was one of those fire breathing techniques.  They heeded her warning, and ran randomly, and then ducked.  A moment later a whole bunch of fireballs impacted with the floor, the heat clearing up the local fog.  Unluckily for Buffy, one of them landed close enough to her, that the heat set the clothes on her right shin on fire.  “AARGH!” Buffy screamed, and quickly rolled around, ignoring the pain and sizzling of burning flesh. The moment the fire was out, she jumped up and ran, and then felt one of those knife thingies enter her right shoulder.  She grunted, focusing on ignoring her pain, especially in her leg, trying not to limp as more outcries would undoubtedly draw his attacks again.  She halted and looked around, hearing and sensing, and noticing a lot of her friends had congregated together a bit off; whether by design, the vampire’s design, or accident she didn’t know.

The vampire though, had found them.  He closed in on them, and then they attacked, but he fought them to a stand still.  Three outcries of the chestnuts followed, and luckily it seemed that was too much of him.  Buffy could tell it was getting punch after punch smashed into him in only moments.  However, the ninja did not go down, let alone turn to dust.  She could see what it did, but it obviously used some kind of his techniques, and a moment later Lotion, Xander, and Deo were tossed away from him.  Deciding, Buffy quickly went over to them.

“Well, it’s been fun showing you the superiority of vampire hearing, but I like to see my prey as I chop them into little pieces,” Inashto said from the mist.  There was a muffled clap as if he clapped his hands together one, spoke several more words and then placed his hands on the ground.  A moment later the fog started clearing up rapidly, and seconds more there was no more fog.

“Ah, shit,” Xander muttered, as the group of warriors backed away and regrouped near Willow and her three defenders.

“I’m sorry, Xander,” Willow whimpered, and gave a pitiful gesture at the vampire removing the fog.

Inashto stood across from them, on the road, smiling.  He checked his body for a moment and noticed small cracks in his hide.  “My, my, all that repeated hitting me actually did some damage.  A challenge,” he smirked happily.

“Xander, anywon, pleaze tell me you steell have an idee apard from runneeng; I tried dat, half a continent and I steell could not shake eem,” Kendra asked hopefully.  The others agreed with the sentiment, Faith about ready to bolt.

Inashto noticed.  “Oh, no,” he said, wiggling his finger.  “No more running.  Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”  Instantly there was a vast amount of white puffs of smoke, starting at the vampire and then circling from him, to encompass the group of warrior opposing him.  Once the smoke cleared, a four-row thick circle of clones stood around them; all with the dangerous Sharingan, and all grinning.

“We’re dead, we’re dead,” Faith said, terrified.  Similar sentiments were written on the faces of the others, not only couldn’t they beat just one of them, now they were heavily outnumbered.

“Remember, don’t look into their eyes,” Deo spoke quickly, “the clones might not have the hypno ability, but better not take a chance.”

“Like it fucking matters,” Faith muttered.

“Shut up, Faith,” Xander said roughly, and Faith looked at him, her, the one who seemed so awesome.  Xander was thinking, heavily.  “We need to take out the real one; the clones will go when he goes.”

“Easier said then done, future husband,” Lotion said, quite visibly afraid now, her heart hammering in her chest.  She’d never been afraid like this in her life; it was not an experience she’d like to repeat.

“Do you know which is the real one, son in law?” Deo asked gently, doing a quick math in her head from her position in the right of their semi-circle, and not liking their chances.  She still had some ideas left by her own arsenal, but none were enough to take out the clones in between her and the real one as well as the real one itself.  And that was providing those hated eyes didn’t allow him to predict what she was going to do, and avoid it with ease.  “I know which it is.”

“So do I,” Xander said, briefly looking directly at the vampire.

Inashto grinned, and then laughed, “You keep surprising me.  Not that knowing where I am will help you much; you’ll have to go through them to get to me, after all, and even then, you can’t kill me.  Now, let’s see how well you do against a few of them.”  He pointed at the group of back to back friends, and four of the clones stepped forward, then attacked.

As before with the real one, the clones knew how they were going to fight before they did it.  Deo, Xander, Kendra, and Cordelia were the ones mainly attacked.  The advantage of their back to back semi-circle with others in the middle of the directly outward facing ones quickly became clear: the clones had only two hands, and where before attacking groups could be kept apart; their clung together position made that impossible.  The clones quickly went poof.  The vampire grinned; he was toying with them; if all those clones fired their fire attacks, or tossed their knives, and making sure to aim above the Scoobies too in case they managed to jump up and avoid the attacks; they’d be dead.

Something was nagging at Xander, as six clones tried now.  Fighting off the clone, he wondered why the vampire didn’t know how to do the Hiryu Shoten Ha as he had said.  That was one of the eyes abilities, wasn’t it?  Copying techniques?  So why not?  What was it about techniques that allowed him to copy it or not?  How could one instantly copy and perform a technique just by looking at it?  He couldn’t obviously.  He couldn’t!  You have to be good enough, understand what’s happening and how it’s done at its basics.  Someone never learned how to perform a single technique, wasn’t going to perform them just by looking at them, even with those eyes.  Those hand seals, the animals; he went into some type of short, tiny trance whenever he did his techniques.  They didn’t, they just used it!  He’d never learn how; so he couldn’t just start to do it out of the blue.  Now the question was, how to expl- . . .

Xander whipped his hand to his right at Buffy, his right arm struck forward with a mighty blow, more as an afterthought than an actual attack.  The clone was surprised by it, got hit on its cheek and was flung backward; to puff away in a bit of white smoke before landing.  Buffy was standing with some difficulty; her burned leg and injured shoulder limiting her movements. But Buffy wouldn’t need to move.  Xander turned his head back forward, at the vampire, the real one.  Cracks; he’d said the Chestnuts had cracked his rock hide.  Plenty of martial artists that slammed their hands through uncracked stone.  He turned to his right, got Lotion’s attention with a tap, and had her get Cordelia’s attention who was next to her.  “Buffy,” he said quickly, and made eye gestures high in the air, communicating his intent with his other friends silently, “remember what we’ve been trying to recreate these past few weeks?”

“Uh, of course,” Buffy answered confused.

Xander turned back to Buffy and told her, “You’re going to recreate it now.”

“What!?  No, I can’t do it, and what for anyway!?” Buffy answered him with fear.

Xander looked back at Cordelia, down at her injured leg; the pipes of her jeans stained with blood.  Cordelia told him silently she was okay, and he turned back to Buffy, “You can do it, Buffy.  Right there,” Xander said, pointing at the real vampire for a short moment, while a few more clones attacked and they defended themselves.  “If you don’t, me, Cordelia, and Lotion are as good as dead, after which the rest of you go; how’s that for fear?”

“Xander!  I can’t do it.  You can’t rely on that, we haven’t figured it out, yet!” Buffy said in fright, there was no way he could put this all on her now.  Most of them present had no idea what Xander and Buffy were talking about, and were thus confused at the conversation; including Lotion but she was too busy fighting another clone.

Xander looked at her, and said, “I believe in you, Buffy, you can do it.  No holding back this time; everything you’ve got.  And you’re going to have to do it . . . now.”  Xander, Lotion, and Cordelia surged forward then, and jumped high into the air.

Buffy looked shocked at the event, Lotion grabbing Xander and Cordelia, readying to toss them onward.  Buffy froze; she had to do it, she had to do it, she had to do the impossible.  She squinted her eyes closed, her fear gripping every bit of her, and she brought her hands forward, focusing her chi.  Nothing seemed to happen.  *I can’t do it,* filtered through her mind, as she opened her eyes and saw Lotion toss Cordelia and Xander higher with a twist.  Clones were jumping up and climbing on each other to intercept them. Something stirred inside of her; she didn’t know what it was apart from the pure terror already going through her, but something at the depth of her stomach, a fluttering, almost as if something else was there; or perhaps some long forgotten instinct.  Energy welled up from the pit of her stomach, surging through her arms.  It was a weird double sensation; she once again doing it like then, pure instinctive, running totally on her fear, but there was also a slight hint of doing it consciously.  Everything Xander had said, and fueled more by her terror, she felt herself drain, a bigger ball of energy forming surprisingly in her hands.  Eyes closed once again, she screamed with the effort, and the pain of emptying herself, then with a dull rush of sound the energy was sent flying.

Deo paused her fighting with the clone, who paused his own with shock.  The Slayer firing an energy ball was surprising enough, but three jumping perfect together was another. Cordelia and Xander grabbed each other, and tossed him onward, even higher, while clones attempted to grab either of them, but just missed.  He had started this with looking - an amazing leader on top of his strength.  She couldn’t wait for the wedding to finally be over; this man /had/ to be in the Amazon tribe, and /her/ daughter had to be the one to marry him.

The clones and the real Inashto were distracted, only part bothering with the jumping attackers.  Something was happening with the blonde; some kind of energy build up, he could see.  But what for?  How?  She didn’t seem to be trying any kind of technique; it was just raw energy.  A ball of it?  It had happened in but an instant.  Then said ball was suddenly launched directly at him; as the blonde collapsed to her knees - spent.

Chaos ensued; Inashto was for a moment frozen with shock.  His clones moved in front of him, to protect him from the sudden, and rapidly moving attack.  At the same time some of the vampires were in the air, still trying to stop most notably Xander.  Then the energy ball sliced past the first line of clones, and by the second . . . it exploded!  With a powerful burst, clones were reduced to smoke, or tossed away before being reduced to the same.  In an instant, there where was an impenetrable barrier of some thirty clones, was now a big empty hole; with the exception of a few clones that got lucky; either still in the air, or struggling to get back up, not hit hard enough.  Inashto himself, only had time to raise his arms in front of him, and the shockwave of the explosion hit him.  He screamed out as the pressure crushed in on him, even past the rock hide and he was launched back, to land on his back with a smack, then shoved back another half meter across the asphalt.

Xander pulled his hand back, balling it into a fist for a massive strike; indeed perfectly alined with the real vampire.  For the clones, it was now doubly important to stop him, and they jumped up, others from the sides running and jumping to do the same.  Doing so, they forgot about the two other humans still flying, and got punches and kicks to them, making them disappear in a puff of smoke.  Once landed, they continued to keep the clones off of Xander’s back.

“AAAH!” Xander yelled finally, and using gravity to his advantage slammed his fist down with all his might.  Landing on his feet in a squatting position, his fist tore through the vampire’s clothes, then through the slightly damaged rock hide, before slamming through the skin.  Xander opened his hand, feeling flesh squish around in, pressure from nearby bones work on it.  Then closed it around the vampire’s heart.  Inashto’s eyes widened in shock by the sudden pain and penetration of Xander’s hand.  Purely by reflex, his hands grabbed Xander’s just above his chest, squeezing to hold him there.  The moment he did so, their eyes locked together as if on auto pilot.  One fatal mistake.  The clones around stopped moving; it was too dangerous to try to dislodge Xander now; it might mean too much damage to the heart, and a one-way trip to hell.  Inashto knew what to do; his irises started to turn, drawing Xander in.

The Scoobies watched the event with wide hopeful eyes.  Silent cheering inwardly as Xander completed his punch.  Their breaths caught in their throat.  “Xander!” Willow cried out in pain and horror as she realized what had happened; why Xander didn’t finish it.  And a moment later, the rest did too - causing painful looks on their face, hope crumbling.

Inashto took gentle breaths and said, “Open your right hand slowly.”  Xander obeyed the command, his hand slowly opening, push cold flesh aside.  “Good,” Inashto said, carefully, feeling confidence slowly return to him, but still scared.  What an amazing fight indeed!  For him to have come so close to killing him.  “Now pull your right arm back, slowly.”  Inashto smiled as he felt the arm slowly start to retract.

Inside Xander’s mind, there were just those soothing red orbs, with those lovely turning dots, and a single deep one in the middle that seemed to go on for ever, drawing him in, deeper, promising peace, rest, just joy at the bottom.  Just that, everything was lovely sluggish, as if he was drunk.  No, that couldn’t be, he didn’t get drunk, he’d know what his father was like.  Those red orbs; there was something about them, wasn’t there?  Something he couldn’t place . . . something . . . something.  Vampire!  Vampire with those eyes.  Pulling back hand?  He’d die!?  So?  Of course, that didn’t matter, all would be fine.  It was odd; the suggestion was less than a voice, more than a sensation.  In the deepest pit of Xander’s mind, there was something else, a cry up to the top - friends!  Friends would die!  Loved ones tortured!  His girls probably raped before killed!  Again the something soothing it all away; that wasn’t important.  Horrific images of blood, gore and pleading loved ones burst forth suddenly!  Buffy gasping her last breath.  Willow’s eyes flowing over with blood.  Lotion’s heart torn out and bitten into as her face was covered in dead demon semen.  Kendra and Faith’s heads on pike’s looking dead ahead.  The hell they were not important!

Xander’s eyes suddenly refocused, directly into Inashto’s eyes, whose widened that instant, the instant Xander’s hand regripped his heart viciously.  “No,” Xander growled with an angry grimace, and yanked . . .

With a shock Xander’s hand and the heart came free, blood pulled along, and splashed onto Inashto’s clothes.  The vampire’s eyes were wide with surprise, then there was a small smile, as if saluting the victor, and his body and heart dissolved into dust.  Once the dust settled, there was a whole range of poofing sounds, and Xander looked up and around him to see all the clones disappear.

Xander closed his eyes and sank to his butt, breathing in relief.  For a moment no one dared to speak, looking around to see if it was real, and not some illusion.  When all remained quiet for a few seconds more, they suddenly burst out in jubilation, and jumped for joy. Lotion and Cordelia reached Xander a moment later and hugged him close with gratitude, Cordelia kissing him for the same on the cheek, and Lotion full on the mouth with heavy tongue action to express their thanks.  To illustrate; even Oz, the ever stoic one, was not so stoic, smiling broadly, laughing and his hands high in the air in triumph.

Deo laughed out loud, breathed in deeply, and looked at her daughter kissing Xander, Willow flinging herself around his neck, and Buffy managing to reach him slowly and sinking to her knees next to her.  My god!  Did he ever had to marry her daughter, and if she wasn’t already married and loving the doofus irrationally . . .

“Jenny!” Willow called.

*****

The Scooby Gang burst into the hospital, and rushed to the counter with the nurse.  After a quick conversation, which took longer than needed because the nurse was confused at everyone talking to each other, she managed to point and explain.  Then, before the nurse could take any of them to the emergency room, they were off.

A short while later they found the room with multiple people resting in it, surrounded by some loved ones.  Giles was quickly spotted, and as they reached him, Willow demanded, “How is she?  Will she make it!?”  They looked over him at a sedated Jenny, unconscious and oblivious to the world.

“Yes, barely, but yes,” Giles said with a big relieved grin.  “So I take it, you took care of the sodding bastard?”

“Lexa did,” Faith said with a big admiring grin.

“Ah, I couldn’t have done it without Buffy, Lotion, Cordelia and the rest of you,” Xander said modestly.

“Yeah, but you figured out how to do it,” Faith said with a smile.

“And how, the team work, the precision,” Deo noted approvingly, “Aren’t their chapels and ministers on call in hospitals?”

There were several rolling eyes, including Lotion’s who said, “I suppose you want to get a wedding dress and a bride’s maid dress for you quickly too, so you can imagine you’re the one marrying my future husband?”

“If it isn’t too inconvenient,” Deo said with a big smirk.

Continued in Part 2

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