XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Go Beyond the Veil

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy folded her duffel bag into the bottom of her wardrobe and looked about her room. It was the same and yet not the same. She hugged herself for a moment before she breathed out. It was time. She picked up her coat and checked her reflection in the mirror. Heading to her mother's room, she heard the sound of hammering down the hallway. At the door she saw Joyce putting in nails to hang some art.

"Mom?"

Joyce jumped and the hammer knocked a hole in the wall. She swiveled around and smiled, sort of in surprise, and said, "Oh, Buffy. I wasn't, uh. I didn't see you."

"Sorry."

"That? It's all right. I guess I just got used to all the quiet while you were gone," said Joyce, then hurriedly added, "but it's okay now. Look-"

She pulled out a mask from a nearby crate. It had large, scowling eyes and had sharp dagger-like teeth at the bottom. Joyce hung it up and nodded with satisfaction. Looking at Buffy, she asked, "Do you like it?"

"It's, um..." Buffy tried to find words and ended with, "I think I'd rather go with the hole."

"It's from Nigeria. We got a very exciting shipment at the gallery. I thought I'd hang a few pieces in
here. It cheers up the room," Joyce said.

Buffy made a face. "It's angry at the room, mom. It wants the room to suffer."

Joyce shook her head affectionately. "Oh, you have no appreciation of primitive art forms." Then she noticed that her daughter was holding a coat in her arms. She smiled, sort of nervously, and asked almost casually, "Are you heading out?"

Nice try at casual, mom. Buffy nodded. "Thought I'd look for the gang. Though, if you don't want me to go, I can-"

"No! No, it's all right. Um, go ahead." Joyce tried to reassure her daughter, her hammer clutched tightly.

"Mom, I really can stay if-"

"No. We're okay. Go see your friends. And Mr Giles. They'll be happy to see you. I'll just finish up in here," said Joyce just a tad too strongly. "Go find them. But uh, not too late."

Buffy smiled thinly. "I know. I'll be back home quickly." She turned to leave and then swiveled about to add, "Mom?"

The hammer swung wild and knocked another hole in the wall.

The Slayer waved awkwardly. "Never mind. See ya later."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo looked over his shoulder at Urahara at the dinner table. "They're reaching soon. I'm gonna join the gang on their patrol. You wanna come with?"

"I'll pass, thanks." Urahara managed to maneuver another forkful of mashed potatoes into his mouth. Though his newly mounted 'technomagical' prosthetic right arm was able to carry out large actions, it was near impossible at the moment when it came to fine motor skills. He was eating with his left hand, which accounted for his extremely long meal. Ichigo had been thoughtful enough to cook breaded fish, though it had been charred slightly, along with fork- and spoon-friendly side dishes. It would be some time before Urahara would be able to use chopsticks.

"I'll be home pretty soon," said Ichigo, drying the dishes before setting them back on the rack. "Just leave the dishes in the sink and I'll clean them when I get back. Don't forget to throw the arm sock into the laundry basket; we'll put on a fresh one tomorrow morning."

"Yes, yes..." Although his tone was flippant, Urahara felt upset that his ward had become his caregiver. Ichigo was kind and never made the older man feel like he was incapable of doing anything, but the bitterness remained in him for having landed in such a pathetic state.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy wove her way through one of the many alleys littering the less savory part of town (one street away from the good part of town). It was strangely quiet. Then she frowned when she saw someone skulking around a building.

Vampire?

Suddenly her foot kicked against an empty beer can which rattled to the side. It also rattled the shadowy figure which swerved around and plunged a stake towards Buffy's heart. The Slayer grabbed the weapon out of his grip.

It was Xander.

"Didn't anyone tell you about playing with pointy sticks? It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye," Buffy scolded with a wide grin. She was very glad to see him.

"You..." For once Xander seemed at a loss for words. He gulped. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."

Then he shook his head and said, "Jeez, Buff..."

He reached over to hug her when Buffy noticed another skulking figure now rushing towards them. It tackled Xander, who grappled with it. As expected, it was a vampire. Buffy blindsided the bloodsucker and, pushing Xander to the side, she raised the stake she had in her hand when her friend got to his feet. They shoved the vampire down and Buffy offered Xander the stake.

"Go on, it's your stakeout," said the blonde.

"Oh no, go ahead," said Xander, who was puffing slightly.

"No, it's-"

They were interrupted by the electronic squawking from a walkie-talkie on Xander's belt. Buffy glanced down and noted the Fisher-Price toy. It crackled and a voice came over the line.

'Come in, Nighthawk. Is everything okay?'

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Nighthawk?"

Embarrassed, Xander fumbled at his belt for the walkie-talkie. The vampire took the opportunity and plowed into Buffy, shoving her off her feet. Xander tried to grab the vampire off his friend but the vamp threw him backwards into a convenient pile of trash.

Buffy wrestled with the vampire, trying to find a hold to unbalance him. Months of not fighting bloodsuckers had taken its toll, and this one seemed a little more skilled than the usual just-woken-up monster. Two pairs of hands suddenly reached around and yanked the vampire away from the Slayer. Buffy flipped to a fighting stance, only to see that Cordelia and Oz had grabbed hold of the vampire and Willow was about to stake him. Unfortunately, Buffy's suspicion about this particular vamp being more skilled was accurate; it executed an almost perfect judo-style throw that had Cordelia sprawling into Willow, before sweeping Oz from his feet. Just as the vampire was about to escape, the Slayer dashed forward and took it on again with rapid hand-to-hand, and when she saw an opening her stake darted forward and buried itself in the vamp's heart.

Then she turned around and gave the assembled team a little wave. "Hi. Um."

"Holy shit." The voice came from behind her. Buffy turned around and saw Ichigo standing there, also armed with a stake. "Buffy?"

"That about sums it up," Oz quipped.

Xander fell back into the trash.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The group was now standing in front of Giles' apartment. Buffy had her finger poised over the door for the past five minutes. Then she lowered it again.

"Maybe we can do this tomorrow," she suggested meekly.

"Are you afraid that he'll be angry?" asked Willow softly.

Xander scoffed. "What, just because she skipped town for months without leaving a note, abandoned her post, her family and her friends and never let us know if she was alive or dead and kept him up worrying every single night?" He paused and turned to the others. "Maybe we should wait out here."

"Thanks, Xander. Really." Buffy took another deep breath, raised her hand, and let it fall again.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and leaned over the blonde's shoulder, rapping loudly on the door. He glanced at Buffy and whispered, "He'll be glad to see you."

The door opened and Giles seemed startled at seeing the large group of teenagers. Then he took in the blonde girl standing right in front of him.

"Hi Giles."

"Buffy," said Giles, and smiled warmly. "Welcome home."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The gang had taken over Giles' living room and the Watcher grabbed the chance to be in the kitchen alone. He could not stop smiling. It had been a surprise – more of a shock, really – to see Buffy on his doorstep, and he honestly could not recall a time when he had been more glad.

"Yeah, I just got in a few hours ago." Buffy's voice filtered in from the living room in response to something Xander said. "Went to see mom first."

"And how did you find her?" asked Ichigo.

"I pretty much remembered the address..."

The redhead sighed audibly."I meant how was she when she saw you-"

"Hey," Xander interrupted, "did you go to Belgium?"

The kettle sang out, cutting off what was likely to be a confused reply from the Slayer. Giles busied himself with the tea preparations and served up a platter of biscuits. As he placed the trays on the coffee table, the biscuits – cookies, the children here called them cookies, he reminded himself – were swooped on by the teens, leaving the tea untouched.

Oz munched quietly and commented, "So, hey. You're not wanted for murder anymore."

"Oh good," Buffy said. "That was such a drag."

"Were you, like, living in a box or something?" Cordelia delicately brushed off the crumbs from her fingers by flicking them over Giles' couch cushions. The librarian winced inwardly.

Suddenly Buffy looked cornered. "Um, it's a long story-"

"So let's cut to the chase and tell us about how you rescued an old folks' retirement home from some demon-possessed puppies," quipped Xander eagerly.

Ichigo cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should just lay off for a bit, guys. She's just got back."

"Yes," said Giles, thankful that someone in the group had some common sense. "I would think that grilling Buffy about h-her summer activities at this moment would be rather overwhelming."

The Slayer appeared relieved. "Like they said."

Xander seemed somewhat put out, but he shrugged and said, "Okay. In fact, you can leave the slaying to us while you settle in."

"I noticed," affirmed Buffy. "You guys looked completely on top of the slaying bit, all tricked out and stuff."

"Well, yes, but our outfits suck." Cordelia wrinkled her nose slightly in distaste. "That whole Rambo thing is so over. I'm thinking – preppy chic, but with an edge."

"Hilfiger with black, metal and leather?" Ichigo suggested in an aside to the brunette.

Cordy grimaced again. "Ugh, not the metal and leather. Black is fine. Kinda camouflagey."

"Still, we're getting good," chirped Willow, speaking for the first time since they entered Giles' home. "We're dusting like, nine out of ten!"

"Six," Oz whispered.

"Six out of ten!" Willow corrected without losing any enthusiasm in her voice.

Oz smiled fondly. "Eight out of ten if Ichigo is with us."

"I don't always go on the slaying trips now that Urahara's out of the hospital," explained the orange-haired boy to the Slayer. Buffy's brow creased slightly and Ichigo elaborated, "I help out around the house because he's still getting used to his prosthesis."

"Prosthesis?"

"Oh right, you weren't there. I-I mean," Ichigo faltered. Taking a deep breath, he went on, "His right arm was ripped off by Ulquiorra. So, um, he had to get fitted for a prosthetic arm and then there were like, a ton of physio sessions and all. Until he is used to it I'm kinda doing all sorts of things for him."

Buffy blanched. "Ripped off?"

"Yep. It's all right now. The injury is healed and he's getting better." Ichigo smiled, almost too casually.

"Whatever. We've been kicking undead booty," declared Xander.

Though Ichigo knew Xander hadn't meant to be callous, that dismissive attitude hurt a bit. Instead of retorting, he asked Buffy, "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Well, I'm kinda jonesing for some brainless fun. You guys feel like hanging?" Buffy flushed. "I just – I wanna get back to normal stuff as soon as I can. School, slaying, hanging with friends. You know."

Ichigo made a face. "Sorry. Physio session after school with Urahara."

"I'll be glad to, except I'm kinda, uh, tied up," said Xander, reaching to hold Cordelia's wrist.

She smiled and pulled her hand away gently. "You wish."

"Will?" asked Buffy, a hopeful lilt to her voice.

Willow glanced uncomfortably at Oz, then shuffled. "I have some school stuff, but I guess I could reschedule."

"As for school," remarked Giles, sipping his tea, "you know you'll have to speak with Principal Snyder before you can get back in."

"On it." Buffy flashed him a quick smile which did not mask her worry. "Mom's made an appointment with his ugliness. One look at Mom-Face and I'm sure he'll cave."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Gin trailed his fingers over the walls of the mansion, singing softly. The thick curtains blocked out the light and the vampire wondered if he could just twitch them aside for a split second, to see the world in daylight. It had been so long... What was the world like now, out in the sun?

"Kitsune," Aizen called from down the hall.

Gin restrained himself. "Taishou. What is it?"

"Come here."

Gin obediently trotted over and was pulled into Aizen's embrace. The taller vampire inhaled Gin's scent and then whispered harshly against his ear, "Don't ever think of doing that."

"Doing what, taishou?" asked Gin innocently, knowing very well what Aizen meant.

"A death wish is not in your character, my love. Does the soul still taint you?"

"Nah." Burying his face into Aizen's neck, Gin smirked and said, "I was just thinking of daylight."

"Which we will be able to enjoy after the ritual." Aizen brushed Gin's hair from his face. "Don't rush things now, kitsune. We're still vulnerable."

"But we will be invulnerable soon, won't we?"

"If things go according to plan, yes," agreed Aizen. "But how often do things go according to plan?"

The younger vampire chuckled. "We'll just have to tweak events our way then."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"No. Absolutely not. Not under any circumstances," asserted Snyder. Visceral glee was written all over his ratlike features and Buffy had to restrain the urge to smack the look from his stupid, smirking face.

Mrs Summers was not having any of it. "You can't keep her out of school. You don't have the right."

The principal steepled his fingers together. "I not only have the right, but I also have a nearly physical sensation of pleasure at keeping her out." He paused and raised an eyebrow. "I'd describe myself as tingly."

"She was cleared of all those charges."

"But she is still a trouble-maker in school, a frequent truant, often damaging school property and the occasional student and her grade point average is-" Snyder sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry. Another tingle moment."

Buffy had had enough. Principal Snyder was completely enjoying this, the troll, and damned it if she let him continue. "Let's go, mom."

"I'll go to the Board," Joyce threatened. "How dare you keep a young girl from her education?"

"Go ahead. I'm sure a girl of Buffy's talents would find a way to land on her feet," said Snyder. "In fact, as I was driving to school, I saw that Hot Dog on a Stik was hiring." He leered at the Slayer. "I'm sure you'll look so cute in that little hat."

Joyce grabbed her purse. "I can't understand your cavalier attitude towards a young student's future. If I have to, I'll go all the way to the Mayor."

The principal smiled lopsidedly as both Summers women exited his office. "Wouldn't that be interesting."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy moped in the car as Joyce drove them to the Coffee Spot. Mrs Summers pulled to the curb and said, "Look. Even if Sunnydale High doesn't take you back, we can still swing private school."

"Like with jackets and kilts?" Buffy was horrified. "You want me to get field hockey knees?"

"It's not that bad."

"How about homeschooling? It's not just for scary religious types anymore."

Joyce Summers smiled empathetically. "We'll talk about it again. Do you want me to wait with you?"

Buffy shook her head. "It's all right. I'll see you later." She climbed out of the SUV and waved her mother goodbye. The streets were not crowded since it was a workday, but there were some college kids milling about and an occasional adult or two. Buffy found a seat in the Coffee Spot and nursed a lonely frappecino, hoping that Willow could turn up soon.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

An hour and a half later, Buffy was still waiting. Her one waiting-for-a-friend frappecino had turned into three and still Willow hadn't shown. She was contemplating leaving when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Will?" She turned, delighted.

Ichigo wagged his fingers. "Sorry to disappoint. She's not here yet?"

"No," sighed Buffy. Ichigo climbed into a chair and sipped his own cup of coffee. The blonde girl played with a sugar packet. "I don't know. Maybe something came up."

"Or maybe she's also trying to figure out what to talk to you about." The boy gazed at Buffy compassionately. He shrugged when the Slayer stared at him uncomprehendingly and added, "I notice things. She's not sure how she feels about you coming back so suddenly, though she's been wanting that for the whole summer."

Feeling uncomfortable with the topic, Buffy cleared her throat and asked, "I thought you had to attend a physiotherapy session with Urahara?"

"He's doing his exercises now so for the next hour I'm free," said Ichigo. He stirred his coffee and smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry for what happened."

"Wasn't your fault," the redhead said. "Anyway, it got us to really talk again. Communicate. Before he... before he lost his arm, I was still really angry at him. Now I'm just happy to have him in my life. I thought I'd lose him forever when Ulquiorra grabbed him..." Ichigo trailed off when he saw how Buffy was staring at him. "Uh. Yeah. How are you doing? Coming home after... well, there has to be a period of adjustment I suppose."

"I suppose." The Slayer fidgeted, a little uneasy. "Ichigo, can I ask you something private?"

The boy tilted his head noncommittally. "I guess."

"Do you... Are you in love with Urahara?"

That wasn't entirely unexpected, even if it was rather intrusive. Ichigo felt his cheeks reddening and said softly, "Um... we have a history, and I don't, um." His eyes bored into the dark brown coffee, willing it to give him some liquid courage. "That would be a yes. I guess. I don't know. I mean, he means a lot to me, and I don't ever wanna lose him for real."

"Oh." A beat. Buffy stared at her own beverage. "Wow."

"Yeah. But, um. It isn't new. There was a time I hated him and I..." He glanced up and saw Buffy's wide eyes. Smiling almost apologetically, Ichigo rubbed his nose and said, "I ran away too. After the Master was killed, I ran away with my inner demon and lived in Japan for that summer."

That surprised Buffy. She set down her cup and listened.

"I've never really told you guys my story, because it's really painful to remember. But when I first got to Sunnydale, my memories had already been altered by my inner demon, and along with suppressing my memories it also suppressed my powers."

"Powers?"

"You're the Chosen One," Ichigo said, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "I am the avatar of a god. I have – I had powers that could easily wipe out evil. You remember the white light the night the Master walked? And I could detect and differentiate demons and monsters around me."

"Why were these powers suppressed? I'd be more than glad to use them."

"It's a side effect of altering my memories," supplied Ichigo. "And my memories would probably have driven me insane or suicidal. Anyway, long story short, Urahara needed me to access my powers, so he broke through the memory seal, got me to use my evil-cleansing powers, and then I flipped out over what I recollected. So I ran."

"Because it was too painful to stay," said Buffy. She met Ichigo's gaze and saw the compassion in his eyes. "I know the feeling."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy came home to see a middle-aged woman coming down the walk. She spotted Buffy and beamed widely.

"You must be Buffy," she declared. "My, aren't you a picture? I'm Pat. I'm sure your mom has told you all about us, down at the book club? Anyway, I'm just glad you're home. It has been a terrible time for Joyce, just terrible. And that was with us reading The Deep End of the Ocean, and your situation and all? She was a wreck. Anyhow, I'm really glad you're home now and not gallivanting off anytime soon. I'd stay longer, but I have another appointment. I just came by to see how Joyce was doing and pass her some muffins I baked this morning. Well, I shan't keep you from returning home now."

A little overwhelmed by the rush, Buffy took it all in with a strange, fixed smile on her face. "Bye."

"Bye now!"

When she opened the door, Joyce was there putting a book on the shelf. "Hey Buffy, I wasn't expecting you yet. Willow called to say that she had to go to a meeting about her computer science lessons."

"Oh. Okay." Buffy managed a smile. "That's all right. I can catch up with her another time."

"By the way, Buffy, wouldn't it be fun to invite Mr Giles and your friends over for dinner tomorrow night?"

That was a forced segue if Buffy ever heard one. She looked over at her mother and fiddled with her necklace.

Joyce looked a little disappointed by her lack of enthusiasm. "Since I've already asked, I was sort of hoping that it would be okay."

"I-I guess. It'd be great. Really." Buffy smiled, but there was a tightness in the atmosphere.

Mrs Summers bustled about and then asked, "Buffy?"

"Yes?"

"Go and get the good dishes from the basement. The ones we keep for company."

Buffy was incredulous. "Mom, Giles and the gang aren't company plate people. They're regular plate people."

"It'd be nice," said Buffy's mother firmly. "Go. Indulge your mom."

That resembled normalcy, almost. Buffy resisted the urge to roll her eyes but trotted downstairs to get the plates.

It was dusty and Buffy coughed to clear her throat. Her mother had been busy down here too, as boxes and cases were stacked up neatly. The girl swallowed a pang of guilt – she had a feeling it would not be her first – and headed for the shelves holding the dishes. A picture, face down on the shelf, shifted. Buffy picked it up and stared at it, emotion rising within.

It was a group photo of the gang – Willow, Xander, Ichigo and him. It had been a bright day out in the quad after a tiring night putting down some hell-raising demons and Ichigo had persuaded Urahara to take a photo of the four of them. Though they appeared fine in the picture, Buffy knew that Willow had bruised her shins, Xander had a deep cut in his right forearm, and Ichigo had almost dislocated a shoulder. Still, the euphoria of having saved the world again carried them into the next day, and Buffy remembered how she felt she and her friends were invincible.

It felt like that was a Buffy in an alternate world now.

She put it back on the shelf to reach further back for the good plates when something else dislodged and fell by her feet. Startled, Buffy jumped back slightly, and then recoiled when the stench of death hit her nose.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Next time, I get to pick the mother-daughter bonding activity," said Buffy after they had wrapped the dead cat from the basement in an old T-shirt and placed it in a hole in the backyard. She leaned on the shovel, still a little disturbed that she had not caught the smell of the dead cat when she went into the basement. She really had adapted to the assorted 'fragrances' of the big city after those few months; she would need to retrain her senses to Sunnydale's environment.

Joyce Summers contemplated the grave and asked, "Do you want to say anything?"

Still caught up with her musings, Buffy said, "What? Thanks for stooping by and dying?"

"How about..." Mrs Summers looked somber for a moment. "Goodbye, stray cat, who lost its way. We hope you find it."

That hit Buffy and Joyce a little close to home and they barely glanced at each other as Buffy began filling in the shallow grave.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Urahara winced and rotated his right shoulder. He still suffered from a phantom arm, thinking that he had the rest of his right arm below the elbow, but as always he would be unpleasantly shocked when he tried to wiggle his fingers and nothing reacts.

The stump was a little tender to the touch when he prodded the redness. He sighed. Every day he woke, he still had the faint hope that it had been a bad dream. How long before he truly accepted that he was a cripple now?

The magically-enhanced prosthesis lay in its case on his writing table. There was so much to re-learn, yet Urahara could not find any motivation to do so. He had to learn anew how to write, though that wasn't as big a problem if he could teach using a computer; how to feed himself without splattering his clothes with any sauce; how to put on and take off his clothes; how to pee without feeling weird holding himself with his left hand... the list was endless.

If it had been a crisis involving a baby-eating, shapeshifting fiend which breathed fire and spewed winged monkeys, Urahara would be neck deep in research, enjoying the intellectual challenge and looking forward to the physical clash at the end of it. But when faced with a life-changer of an obstacle, Urahara felt paralyzed.

"Urahara?" Ichigo called from outside the door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," said Urahara. He had given up the issue of privacy after they came back from the hospital. Initially he refused to let Ichigo help, but when the blond man was unable to brush his teeth properly that first night (dropping his toothbrush seven times in a row, and finally fumbling it into the toilet) he had acceded to the inevitable. In any case Ichigo was sensitive enough not to take charge of everything, only assisting when Urahara needed help. They also bought a battery-operated toothbrush the next day.

The teenage boy came in, already changed for bed. He came over and sat on Urahara's bed, next to the older man.

"It looks sore," he said eventually. He still had difficulty looking at the stump; Urahara could still detect the slight grimace whenever the younger male's gaze passed over it. "Does it hurt?"

"Not really," said Urahara. His left palm brushed across the scarred, puckered injury. "I'm just a little tired I guess."

"I met Buffy today at the Coffee Spot." Ichigo scrubbed the back of his head. "Willow wasn't there with her, so I spent time talking to her and... she seems a little lost."

The teacher had already heard about the Slayer's return, but had not had the chance to meet with her yet. "So what did you do?"

"I... told her about the time I ran away."

The teacher made no response. After a few minutes, he sighed. "That was probably the best thing you could have done."

"...You really think so?" asked Ichigo. "I was afraid... And um, she asked me something that... that I've been asking myself a few times while you were gone. When you were in Tokyo."

"What question was that?"

"Urahara," began the younger man, and hesitated. He took a deep breath and gazed into Urahara's gray eyes. "Do you love me?"

The teacher smiled sadly. "I don't think I am qualified to any more, not after all the things I've done to you."

"You're avoiding the question." Ichigo stared at Urahara. His fists clenched around Urahara's blanket. His voice grew smaller, more frightened as he spoke. "She asked me if I loved you and, and I said – I said yes."

That stunned Urahara.

"I still do love you, despite everything that has happened. And after the scare with Ulquiorra, I don't think I can imagine a time without-without you in my life." The young man's face was completely red by now as he plucked at the blanket nervously. "I just... I just wanna know if... Do you?"

Urahara considered the query. If it had been before he lost his right arm, he would have answered immediately. Ever since he had taken advantage of Ichigo before rousing the boy's true memories, Urahara had felt the guilt eating away inside, and along with the guilt had been a terrible longing. Now... but he owed Ichigo the truth. He had lied to the young man too many times.

"I do," replied Urahara, soft and uncertain. "But I can't. Not with this, not like this."

"I don't understand," Ichigo murmured, his chocolate eyes sliding up to meet a sad gray gaze.

"I'm gonna be a burden on you, Ichigo. And you're not... you are extraordinary, and an extraordinary person would have a difficult life ahead of them without taking on more burdens. I cannot, in all conscience, weigh you down with me and my problems." Urahara reached out with his left hand and skated his fingers over Ichigo's cheek. "I wish – I really, really wish – that I had died instead of letting you become a caretaker of a cripple."

"You're not crippled!" cried Ichigo, cheeks darkening with indignation. Tears threatened and he swallowed them back."You have a handicap, yes, but that just means you have to work harder and, and you have that magic hand and I don't care if I have to care for you for the rest of my life. I don't."

"Not now, but eventually." Urahara smiled wider, his eyes growing more sorrowful.

Ichigo's indignation turned to anger. "Don't you dare patronize me, Urahara Kisuke. We don't know that."

"And what then, Ichigo? When you're sick of caring for an invalid, when you have more responsibilities than you should have to bear at twenty years old, when everyone around you is having fun, what then?"

The redhead scowled, momentarily robbed of words.

Urahara shook his head and sighed. "It's late, Ichigo. Go to bed."

The younger male stood up and headed for the door. At the entryway, he paused, and then ran back to where Urahara was, grabbed him by the collar and kissed the older man right on the lips as hard as he could.

"I'm no longer a child, Urahara Kisuke," breathed Ichigo, his eyes glimmering fiercely. He chewed his upper lip for a moment and said, "Even if I do regret my decision in the future, that's my problem. Right now, I love you and I want to care for you. So shut up and accept it."

The older man closed his eyes at both the sweetness of the kiss and the passionate words. He chuckled ruefully and muttered, "You're as stubborn as I ever was."

"Damn right I am."

Opening his eyes, Urahara smiled softly and caressed Ichigo's cheek. "Go to bed. I promise we'll talk more about this when I'm not so exhausted."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Kira trailed his fingers over Hisagi's back, marveling at the sleek tension of the well-honed muscles. The younger vampire stirred sleepily and rolled over.

"Kira, don't you want to rest? It was a long hunt we were on," said Hisagi.

"I'm not tired yet," said the blond vampire, but he lay down next to his undead lover anyway. Elegant fingers continued their imaginary path, mapping out a design on Hisagi's darker skin. The brunet smiled and inhaled deeply, before asking, "What's troubling you?"

"What's troubling me?" echoed Kira. "Nothing."

"You don't brood unless there is something bugging you." Hisagi tilted his head and kissed Kira tenderly. "Share with me please?"

Kira smiled. "It's nothing major. I just wonder what's going to happen to us when Daddy and Father gets their wish."

"We will remain the same, I suppose," said Hisagi tentatively. "I've not imagined an existence beyond this."

"And when you were human, did you imagine this existence?"

"No," replied the young vampire honestly. He smiled, memories of his turning still vivid. "I guess one has to experience it to understand it."

Kira sighed luxuriously. "I remember how you fought at the end. Like a cornered wolf, so beautiful and desperate... If we ever find another like that, let's sire him. Or her."

"I thought you didn't like women."

"You thought you didn't like men," taunted Kira, "and look what got you here."

"You." Hisagi kissed his sire again, his weariness fading and ardor rising. Kira laughed and wrapped his slender arms about Hisagi, relishing once again in his prize.

Humanity and their pathetic human morals and principles, he thought scornfully. We demons get it right – we claim what we want when we want it.

That's the only way to live.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy pored over the morning newspaper, idly wondering whether her dreams of sentient, aggressive plants were prophetic in nature. Probably not. Though Urahara had mentioned before that Little Shop of Horrors was based on an actual event, Buffy doubted that Sunnydale was going to be attacked by a man-eating Venus flytrap. Unless someone bought a consignment and was intending to sell it to the unsuspecting public, which was the reason why Buffy was scrutinizing the classifieds.

"Morning Buffy," Joyce Summers said brightly. "I'll be meeting with a member of the school board during my lunch break. Would you like to come help out at the gallery?"

"Uh, it's all right, mom. I'll just do the laundry today." The Slayer smiled at her mother, knowing that it was a weak imitation of a smile and hoping that Mrs Summers would just let it be.

She did. Turning to the refrigerator for skim milk, she said, "I've also called Miss Porter's. They do take in late admissions so if things don't work out at Sunnydale High, we have other options."

Buffy was horrified."Miss Porter's? As in jackets, kilts, and no boys? Care to throw in a little foot binding there?"

"Buffy," said Joyce. Her voice was hard. "You've made some bad choices. You may just have to live with the consequences."

The Slayer bit her tongue. She had nothing to say to that.

"Couldn't you tell some people? The police, or Principal Snyder, or... someone. They can and should make an exception for you." Joyce seemed to feel that the tension was too much and opened the back door for fresh air, when something darted indoors.

A stench filled the air. Buffy and her mother stared at the thing that had just ran into the house and was hissing at them under the kitchen table.

It was the dead cat they buried yesterday.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Welcome to the Hellmouth petting zoo," drawled Buffy as Giles trotted into the house.

The Watcher wrinkled his nose at the stink that clung to the air around him. "Yes, quite. Where is it?"

Buffy led Giles to her mother's bedroom, where it was now cringing under the bed. Joyce looked as if she intended to burn it down and her relief was palpable when she saw Giles. The librarian wasted no time grabbing the creature by the scruff of its neck – ye gods, it did stink terribly up close – and placed the dead cat in a wire cage.

"I'll go and check what this is," said Giles.

"Yes, please. Thank you." Joyce Summers exchanged a look with the Watcher. There was something unsaid that hung between them, a tension that, while not too hostile, bore the feel that something was off-kilter.

Buffy decided not to dwell. "All right, let's bring zombie cat to the library and we'll convene. Research party."

"Oh, um, maybe your mother would prefer to have you at home?" suggested Giles, awkwardly balancing the yowling cat in the cage.

"No, it's all right, I have to the gallery and air out the house later," said Mrs Summers. "She can go with you to school."

Giles pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Actually, no, she can't. She's barred from entering school grounds."

Humiliated, Buffy murmured, "Oh. First time for everything, I guess. I wanna go to school and the school doesn't want me."

Another tense moment. Giles broke the silence as he gestured to the mask on the wall. "Very striking. Nigerian?"

"Yes, I've brought in a shipment of tribal art and there's quite a bit of interest."

Buffy interrupted, "I'm sorry. I like art talk as much as the next very boring person but that cat's smell is really too overpowering."

"Oh, right. I'll uh, determine the cat's exact origin and update you."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Urahara was very touched by his students' concern. He walked out of his classroom, intending to go the staff lounge, when he was intercepted by Willow and Xander.

"Urahara!" chirped Willow. She winced slightly on seeing the metal-and-plastic prosthesis. "Is that... Um. Does it hurt?"

"Not the prosthetic arm," replied the physics teacher easily. "The stump will be a little sore in the evening after I take off the prosthesis, but it's a small price to pay for having an appendage I can use."

Xander nodded. "Yeah. My uncle Rory once had his false teeth fitted in wrong and it helped him lose fifteen pounds."

"What?" Willow and Urahara were confused.

"He couldn't eat anything without blending it into a paste," supplied the lanky teen. "They wired it wrong. Couldn't open his mouth for anything larger than a straw."

"Right," said Urahara. "Anyway, were you two looking for me?"

Willow nodded. "Oh yes. Giles said that there's a dead cat in the library."

Urahara raised his brows. "And that can't be dealt with by the janitor?"

"I-I guess he has his reasons..."

By then the two students had steered Urahara to the library doors and they went in.

Yep, definitely a dead cat in here somewh- Holy shit.

Oz and Cordelia were already there. Oz rose from his chair with a glad smile and hugged Willow in greeting, while Xander took his seat next to Queen C. Oz then returned to peering into a cage where a matted, furry animal was pacing and hissing angrily. It was a cat, and it looked dead.

Huh. Dead cat in the library. Kudos to Giles for understating it as usual.

"Ah, you're all here," said Giles as he exited the librarian's office. "I need help researching that. I got it from Buffy's house."

"It's interesting," remarked Oz, examining the cat. "It's dead, but it's moving."

"Nice pet, Giles," said Cordelia. She rolled her eyes. "Don't you like anything regular?"

"It's not my pet-"

"I think you should keep it," commented Oz. "I think it should be called Patches."

"I'm not keeping it as a pet," Giles protested. "Now look for spells or curses about zombies or revivification."

Urahara took a seat next to Ichigo. "I thought zombies are usually, you know, humans."

"Well, maybe this was practice," suggested Willow.

Xander tossed his bag in a chair. "That dead cat's really not my main concern right now."

Oz had taken to dangling a watch strap over the dead cat's cage. The furry undead was trying to paw at it. "No? Then what is?"

"The dinner party tonight, at Buffy's. I don't know what to expect," said Xander grumpily.

Willow sat up. "Oh, um. I told Buffy's mother that we'll help out. Bring stuff."

"I'm the dip!" Cordelia stated brightly.

Everyone looked at her.

Xander grinned and patted his girlfriend's knee. "You've got to admire the purity of it."

"What?" The brunette frowned slightly. "Onion dip. That's what I bring. Stirring – not cooking."

"Well, let's figure it out. What kind of deal is this? Is it a gathering, a shindig or a hootenanny?" Oz folded his arms over his abdomen.

Urahara looked over at the musician. "What's the difference?"

There was a hint of a knowing smile on the laconic guitarist's face. "A gathering. Brie and mellow song stylings. Shin dig. Dip. Less mellow song stylings. Perhaps a large amount of malt beverage. And a hootenanny? Just chock full of hoot and a little bit of nanny."

"I hate brie," said Xander.

Cordelia nodded, in complete assent. "I know. It smells like Giles' cat."

"For the last time, it's not my-"

Xander ignored the librarian. "And what would we talk about at a gathering anyway? 'So Buffy – run into any nice pimps on your travels? And by the by, thanks for ruining our lives for the past three months'!"

"Xander-" Willow started and was roundly cut off too.

"You know what I mean," Xander said. "She doesn't want to talk about it. We don't want to talk about it. Maybe we should just shut up and dance."

Willow gnawed her lower lip uncertainly. "Buffy did say she wanted to loosen up. Have some kid time. Hey. Aren't you guys rehearsing tonight? Why don't you play at the party?"

Oz shrugged. "Sure. I can supply some Dingo action."

Urahara was feeling less and less sure of the situation. "I'm not sure that a shindig-"

"A hootenanny," Oz corrected politely.

"A... hootenanny... is what Buffy wants right now," said Urahara.

Giles agreed, raising a finger. "Maybe it's best to keep things more intimate. Buffy just got home - I'm sure she's still feeling disoriented."

"All the more reason to make her feel welcome," argued Willow. "And a big party says, Welcome Buffy!"

Xander took charge. "Okay - so two votes from the old guys for smelly cheese night - and, how
many votes for actual fun?"

All the teenagers' hands went up.

Giles sighed. "Fine. Have it your way. I'm just glad she's home."

"We still have a reanimated feline puzzle to solve," replied Urahara. "Hey, Giles, could you pass me either Loewe's Arcane Repository of Deities or Cheng's Codex Xibalba? I might as well put my break to good use."

Xander peered around. "Anyone know where Ichigo is? Maybe he could help with bringing some food, because all I'm bringing is an appetite. And a smoking hot girlfriend."

"He's with the Physics Club," said Urahara as he examined the texts available on the table. "They have a display to set up for the District Science Fair and I think it's gonna take some time. Someone needed help with the electro-magnetic reversing drive. I suppose we'll be late."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The doorbell rang and Buffy hurried to the door. She was, to her own surprise, looking forward to the dinner. It would be nice to just sit with everyone and talk. However, when she opened the door, it was Pat.

"There you are," she exclaimed with a beam. "Not thinking about any more flights of fancy, I hope?" Without giving Buffy a chance to reply, she added, "Joyce said there was room for one more - so I said 'forget facial night - let's party!' I bet you like empanadas."

She thrust a stack of Tupperware to the younger girl and waited. Buffy stared at the packed food in her arms and then back at Pat. She made herself smile. "Do you want to see my mother?"

"Sure-"

"MOOOOOM!" yelled Buffy.

Joyce emerged from the kitchen. "Pat! You're early!"

The two women entered the kitchen, Mrs Summers taking the food from Buffy. The Slayer sighed and adjusted her dress. She hoped Willow and the rest of the gang would come soon.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The doorbell rang again.

"Hey Buffy, where do you want us to set up?" asked Devon.

It was the Dingoes, along with their groupies.

"Uh..."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Music pounded throughout the living room and people were mingling, dancing and having fun. Most of them, anyway; Buffy was definitely feeling rather lost. Buffy wove through the clusters, most of which were not familiar to her.

She spied Willow near the band, bopping her head to Oz's playing. Buffy navigated over to her best friend and shouted, "Hey!"

"Hey!" Willow replied, but her attention never wavered from Oz's small smile.

"This is..." Buffy searched for a word. "Large!"

Willow beamed. "Yeah! Isn't it great?"

"It's great! It's just that I thought it'd be more – us?" Buffy gestured, trying to explain. "More the gang?"

"Sorry, what?" shouted Willow, Buffy's words having been drowned out by Devon's drawling singing and a loud riff from the drummer.

"This is amazing," said the Slayer loudly. "But I still just want to hang with the gang."

Willow waved her hands by her ears, signaling that she could not quite hear what her friend was saying.

The blonde sighed and walked away. Then she changed her mind and pulled Willow off to the side. "Is everything okay? You seem to be... I don't know - avoiding me. In the one-on-one sense." Buffy nibbled her lower lip.

Willow smiled, but there was a shade of discomfort. "What? This isn't avoiding. See? Here you are. Here I am."

Buffy wasn't convinced, but she wasn't sure how to continue. "So – we're okay?"

"Sure! That's why, with the party." The red-haired girl swung her hands about her sides. "Cause we're all glad you're back."

"Okay." The blonde girl looked about her, and then back at Willow. "Okay. That's great."

Thus having dealt with Buffy, Willow gave her friend a wave and returned to the Dingoes. Buffy could not help feeling as if she was abandoned.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"What's this party for anyway?"

"I hear it's for some chick who got out of rehab."

Buffy tried not to be offended or hurt by the words she overheard in passing. Somehow she was at home, but not home. She wished Giles was here, or Ichigo; they would understand.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo and Jayson put in the last of the components and the orange-haired young man grinned. "There. That's done."

"Thanks, Ichigo," said Jayson. He pointed to the door. "Think Mr Urahara is looking for you."

Ichigo turned and saw the teacher nodding at them. He bade his friend goodbye, grabbed his book bag and jogged over to Urahara. "You're done?"

"Not quite. You?"

"Yeah, it's settled. Library?"

"I was on my way to grabbing a soda," explained Urahara as the two walked towards the library. "I'm getting sick of tea, to tell the truth."

Ichigo chuckled. "Thought that'd never happen. I thought you lived on it."

"Ocha or macha, yes. Not everlasting Earl Grey." Urahara grimaced. "And I need a sugar rush."

They stopped at the soda machine and Ichigo leaned against the wall. "Um, so how's the thing with the dead cat?"

"Willow didn't catch you up before she left?" Urahara popped the tab on his Dr Pepper. "No luck. Giles is still searching, and since you're here we might have better luck with three pairs of eyes looking."

"I'm in," agreed Ichigo easily. "But we gotta go to Buffy's house by eight."

"We'll be there," Urahara assured. He swatted at a fly that circled his head, slapping it to the ground. "Ew."

Ichigo snagged a sip of the soda and inclined his head. "Urahara, I wanna ask your opinion about something."

"About what?"

"Should I tell the gang about my past?"

The blond man blinked in surprise. He was tempted to ask if the teen was sure, but that was rather obvious: Ichigo was uncertain of his next move. He cleared his throat. "May I ask why you are considering it?"

"It's just that... I don't know. I guess I feel that, that I need them to see the risks of being my friends," Ichigo murmured. "I'm growing more and more uneasy, Urahara. Something's brewing and – wait a second."

"What's wrong?"

"I thought you killed that fly."

Urahara glanced at the insect buzzing about again. "Could be a different fly."

"One that's semi-squished and has only one and a half wings?"

The two swiveled on their heels and watched the erratic flight of the fly heading out the window. Ichigo frowned and said, "Of all the creepy things that I've seen, that is among the top ten."

"Let's get to the library," Urahara said. "It's not just the cat that's rising from the dead."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy edged past Xander and Cordelia, hoping that they wouldn't notice, but no luck. Xander pulled away from kissing Cordy and smiled at Buffy. "Hey. Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yeah!" Buffy forced a smile. She gestured to the milling group about her house. "I just wanted to take a break from this fun craziness."

"I guess everyone's glad the Buffster's back," said Xander cheerfully.

Buffy nodded. "Yep, I guess. Seems like people I don't even know are glad to have me back." She paused. "Did-did Giles say that he was gonna be late?"

"Yeah. Ichigo, Urahara and Giles are gonna come together after they have more info on the zombie kitty. Don't worry, Buff, they wouldn't miss the celebration of the return of the Slayer. I mean, we're all happy, y'know?" He nudged Cordelia. "Isn't it?"

"Totally," Cordelia agreed a little too brightly. Then she turned to Xander and teased, "Except, you were kinda turning me on with the whole 'boy slayer' look."

Xander cooed, "Was I now?"

"You bet," Cordy purred and leaned in. "Nighthawk."

Completely the third wheel, Buffy sidled past the two now in heavy petting mood and headed for the kitchen. Inside, she heard Joyce and Pat talking in low tones.

"... Having Buffy home, I thought it would make it all better. But in some ways, it's worse," said Joyce.

Buffy felt a thick lump in her throat. She had thought so too, but hearing it from her own mother... She backed away and fled up the stairs.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Dammit! I saw this!" shouted Giles angrily as he slammed the open book on the table. He grabbed the phone, barely acknowledging Urahara and Ichigo as they came through the swinging doors. The phone rang a couple of times before a barrage of noise barreled through the phone earpiece.

"Party villa, can I rock ya?"

"Uh, hello?"

"Yeah, London-sounding guy. What can I do you for?"

"Could you please get Buffy?" Giles tried covering his other ear in an effort to hear better. "I need to speak to Buffy!"

"Hold on dude." Giles vaguely made out the person shouting for Buffy, but in about ten seconds he said to Giles, "Sorry Mr Belvedere. You've got the wrong casa."

And he hung up.

"Hel-hello?" Giles sputtered.

Urahara tapped the Watcher's shoulder. "This is what's causing it?"

"Yes," said Giles, grabbing his coat. "It's in Joyce's bedroom. Come on. We'll take your car – it's faster."

Ichigo and Urahara followed behind at a brisk pace. Ichigo muttered, "What was Giles in Mrs Summers' bedroom?"

"Best not to wonder why," replied Urahara. He unlocked the car and they piled in.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Willow felt guilty. Buffy had tried to communicate, after all, and it wasn't fair of Willow to punish Buffy for something that Buffy wasn't even aware about. She had seen Buffy going upstairs to her room and, after some mulling, decided to follow.

When she got to Buffy's door, she saw something that made her really, really mad that she had come up.

Buffy was packing her clothes into a leather satchel.

"What are you doing?" she demanded angrily, belatedly realizing that Buffy was crying also and unable to bring herself to care. "Are you running away again? What, you forgot your lint brush and just dropped by to pick it up and now you're ready to go?"

"It's not like anyone'll mind," Buffy retorted bitterly.

"Oh, sure. Go. And don't forget to not write," snapped Willow. Her fingers tensed at her sides with the effort of not clenching her hands into fists.

Buffy got away from her luggage. "Why are you attacking me? I'm trying-"

"Wow, and it looked so much like giving up!"

"I'm just trying to make things easier," Buffy claimed.

Willow scoffed. "For whom?"

"You guys were coping fine without me," Buffy stated.

"We had no choice!" yelled Willow, herself shocked at having raised her voice. "We had to. Who else was going to keep the vampire population down? We didn't have much choice in the matter!"

Buffy looked at her feet. "Look, I'm sorry I had to leave, okay? You don't know what I was going through."

"Maybe I'd have liked to," declared the redhead.

"You wouldn't understand."

"Well maybe I don't need to understand," said Willow. "Maybe I just need you to talk to me."

Buffy was incensed. "Talk to me? Every time I tried you've avoided me!"

"This isn't easy, Buffy!" shouted Willow. "I know you're going though stuff but so am I!"

"Willow," Buffy began, "I know you were worried, but-"

Willow cut her off. "No! I don't just mean that. I mean my life. I have all sorts of - I'm dating, I'm having serious dating... with a werewolf, and I've been studying witchcraft and killing vampires, and you were my best friend, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about all this scary life stuff. Then you come back and you didn't even ask about me. You just worried about whether I was mad at you."

Buffy was stunned into silence, ashamed and guilty.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Giles' fingers rattled on the door irritably. "Unbelievable."

"What is?"

The librarian's voice fluttered into a falsetto. "Do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty? It raises the dead!" He snorted. "Americans!"

In the backseat, Ichigo grinned to himself. Then he suddenly yelled, "Look out!"

"Wha- Shit!" Urahara swerved when something crashed into his car. He peered out over the dash. It was someone in a suit, and he wasn't getting up. "Oh gods, did I kill him?"

"Urahara, drive!" screamed Ichigo.

The blond, startled, glanced around and saw zombies swarming his car, their decayed hands grappling and clawing at the windows.

Giles jabbed Urahara in the ribs and said, "Go!"

The suited man he had knocked down was on his feet again, and from the appearance that was not a recently departed member of the human race. Urahara slammed down on his accelerator and knocked it down again as he roared down to Revello Drive.

"They're heading for the mask," Giles explained. "We have to destroy it before any of the zombies put it on!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Joyce felt a little overwhelmed by the crush of teenagers in her home. As Pat had promised to watch over her house for a moment, Joyce thought it would be better for her to go upstairs and freshen up a little before returning downstairs. At the top of the flight of steps she heard an argument from Buffy's room.

"...how much I missed you, and everyone! I wanted to call every day-"

"It doesn't matter, Buffy! It still doesn't make it okay that you didn't!" That had to be Willow.

Joyce, drawn by the voices, came to her daughter's room, where she saw Buffy and Willow in mid-quarrel, and behind Buffy was a half-packed bag.

Forget discretion. Joyce Summers marched into the room. "What's this?" she asked harshly. "This is a joke, right?"

"Mom - can you just - Willow and I are talking-"

"No I can't just!" Joyce pointed to the bag. "What is this, Buffy?"

Willow crossed her arms and said, "She's leaving again."

"No, I'm not- I wasn't... I'm not sure what-" Bewildered and feeling trapped, Buffy could feel tears welling up once more. "I don't know what I'm doing-" She pushed her way past them and ran down the stairs.

Her mother and Willow followed on her heels. Joyce grabbed Buffy by the arm and turned her around. "Well you'd better be sure, young lady, and explain yourself right now! You can't just up and leave whenever you feel like it!"

Buffy struggled out of Joyce's hold and ran into the living room, heading for the door.

Mrs Summers, angered for real, shouted, "Don't you dare leave this house!" She darted forward and pulled Buffy around by her shoulders. "That's it. You and I are going to have a talk."

"Mom, please, not now, not here," pleaded Buffy, her eyes scanning the rest of the teens around her.

The party had silenced. Everyone exchanged glances, unsure of what they should do now. But Mrs Summers just got louder.

"You know what? I don't care. I don't care what your friends think of me – or you for that matter – because you put me through the wringer, Buffy." She took a deep breath. "I mean it. And I've had schnapps!"

Behind them, unnoticed, Oz put down his guitar and held out a hand to Willow who had entered the room. Cordelia and Xander got up from the couch where they had been sitting. It was an extremely uncomfortable tableau now, and some of the teenagers were edging out the door.

"Do you have any idea what it's been like?" Joyce demanded. "You can't imagine. Months of not
knowing. Not knowing if you were lying dead in a ditch somewhere or - I don't know - living it up-"

"But you told me!" screamed Buffy. "You're the one who said I should go! You said - 'if you
leave this house, don't come back.' You found out who I really am and you couldn't deal – remember?"

Joyce was aghast. "Buffy! You didn't give me any time. You just dumped this... this thing on
me and expected me to get it. Well - guess what? Mom's not perfect. I handled it badly. But that doesn't give you the right to punish me by running away-"

"I didn't do it to punish you," protested Buffy.

Xander stepped forward. "Well you did. You should've seen what it did to her."

"Great. Great," Buffy said. Tears were already running freely down her cheeks. "Anyone else cares to weigh in?" She saw a boy she vaguely recognized. "How about you there, by the dip?"

Jonathan paused, chip in hand, dip about to fall off the end. "Um, no thanks. I'm good."

"Maybe you don't want to hear it," Xander continued relentlessly, "but what you did was incredibly selfish and stupid."

"Okay I screwed up!" Buffy was overwhelmed and had completely lost control of her emotions. "I know it, alright? But you have no idea – you have no idea what happened to me or what I was feeling-"

"Did you ever try talking to anyone?" asked Xander. He sounded angry, but beneath the anger Buffy heard the hurt that she had forgotten her friends.

"What's the point?" she shot back. "There was nothing anyone could do. I just had to deal on my own."

Xander sneered, "Yeah, and that worked out so well. You can't just bury stuff, Buffy. It'll come right back up to get you."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"You mean all the dead in this town – a town with twelve cemeteries – are gonna rise and head to Buffy's house?" Ichigo was gripping the back of Urahara's headrest. "What's in her house?"

"Ovu Mobani," explained Giles. "Rather, the mask of Ovu Mobani. If any of the dead puts it on-"

"Badness?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes, it would be very bad." The Watcher grabbed at the dashboard. "It will gain the power of the – watch out – the evil eye."

Urahara scowled as he ran yet another light. "Ichigo, make sure you don't look into its eyes if it's already put on. Benihime is in the back."

"Got it. What about you?"

"I have my cane," said Urahara and risked a grin. "Giles will have my back. You be careful." Another turn and then one more street before they would get to Buffy's.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"As if I could have gone to you, Xander! You made your feelings about me and Angel perfectly clear!"

By now the Summers living room was almost vacated; the partygoers were hanging around the hallway, the kitchen and the dining room, unwilling to leave the drama playing out.

Xander was almost nose to nose with the Slayer now. "I'm sorry your honey was a demon, but most girls don't hop a Greyhound over boy troubles!"

"Time out, Xand." To Xander and Buffy's surprise, Cordelia stepped forward. "Put yourself in her shoes for a minute."

Buffy was perplexed. Was this really Cordelia?

"I'm Buffy, freak of nature, right? Naturally, I pick a freak for a boyfriend. Then, said freaky boyfriend goes on a rampage which is pretty my fault-"

"Cordelia," Buffy interjected, horrified, "get out of my shoes."

The brunette looked offended and injured. "I was just trying to help. If you haven't noticed, Buffy, no one's stepping up to give you props."

"Buffy," Willow spoke up now, "you never-"

"Please! Not you too," blurted the blonde girl. She felt like tearing her hair out, she was that frustrated.

"Let her finish," Xander said. "You at least owe her that!"

Buffy turned on him. "God, Xander! Could you stick to annoying me on your own behalf?"

"Fine. You stop acting like an idiot, I'll stop annoying you!"

"You wanna talk acting like an idiot, Nighthawk?" sneered Buffy.

Things were about to get ugly. Oz came forward, hands up between them. "Okay, stepping in. Referee guy."

"No let them go Oz," Willow exclaimed. "Talking isn't helping. We might as well try violence."

The window exploded as somebody crashed in. A sudden spate of pounding and breaking glass broke everyone out of their trance, and soon kids around the house were screaming.

"I was being sarcastic!" cried Willow as the gang took a good look at the attackers. Zombies stared at the crew with sightless eyes; some had no eyes at all to speak of.

Instinct kicked in and the team came together. Buffy tossed the fireplace poker to Xander. "Kitchen!"

"Got your back," Xander stated and dashed off with Cordelia.

Joyce had huddled behind her daughter. "Are they vampires?"

Buffy punched one in the face and then added a kick, causing it to fall over.

"Buffy, heads up!"

"Don't think so," said Buffy, and snatched the stake Willow had just thrown out of the air. She stabbed it into the attacker's chest. It didn't turn into dust. "Nope. Not a vampire."

"Buffy, we need more help!" Willow shouted from the main door where she helped Oz and Devon keep out more monsters.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"They're getting in!" yelled Cordelia.

Xander grunted. "Ya think?" He kept pounding at the zombie with the frying pan in his hand. "This sucker wobbles but doesn't fall down!"

Cordelia shrieked and smashed the nearest glass bottle – some sort of schnapps, apparently – over yet another matted half-decayed zombie climbing through the window.

"Cordy, get outta here! Go upstairs!" Xander shouted.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The front door was caving.

"No, not my guitar!" Devon called out. "Use the bass!"

"Not quite the time, is it?" asked Buffy, using Slayer strength to dislodge a persistent dead hand grabbing at Jonathan's collar. "Willow, get my mom upstairs!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Having sprinted up the stairs Pat had no idea what to do now. The teens that had been near the kitchen were already at the front door or back door. Would she be able to get out?

Suddenly a rotting hand grabbed her from behind and Pat screamed – tried to – before she felt an inhumanly strong force reach across her neck.

She was dead before she fell.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo leaped out of the backseat as soon as the car screeched to a stop, knocking down two of the zombies as a bonus. Urahara stayed inside until Ichigo had cleared the zombies from the vehicle and the two adults got out quickly.

"Go, get in there and help," Urahara urged. "Giles, you follow Ichigo."

"You're not going to be able to hold them off," warned Giles. "Your arm-"

"-can hold them off." The teacher turned a flinty eye on the Watcher. "What's your duty, Giles? Get in there and help the Slayer."

While the two darted forward, Ichigo cutting a swath through the zombies. Urahara brought up the rear, chanting under his breath. He hoped Shinji had not been bullshitting him. The chant complete, Urahara felt a tingle from his solar plexus radiating out to his right shoulder and then down his arm. When it met the stump, Urahara braced himself and shuddered when the magic flowed down into the reinforced prosthesis.

The spell flared and the former mage grinned ferociously. "Good work, Shinji." Then he clambered in, his prosthesis glowing faintly with eldritch green light.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ichigo sliced apart the zombies at the window and helped Giles get in, and then he got in himself. There were fewer zombies than he expected; perhaps Ovu Mobani's dead-raising power diminished with distance. A dead fly would be much easier to raise than a body.

"Am I late?" he asked with a lopsided smile at Buffy. A zombie tried to interrupt and the redheaded boy lopped off the zombie's head. "Not as late as they are, of course."

"You almost missed the fun," Buffy quipped. "Pest control. Kitchen and front door."

Ichigo hefted Benihime. "Got it covered. Giles! Urahara! Secure the kitchen!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Oh my god! Pat!" Joyce was horrified. "Help me get her into the bedroom."

Together Willow and Joyce helped pull Pat into the room, draping her over the bed. Joyce grabbed one of the golf clubs that she had intended to use over summer, while Willow plucked up another and held it like a bat. They shut the door and stared out the window, scared that there would be zombies climbing the trees.

They did not see or hear the door opening.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Barricade the door," commanded Buffy. Oz and Cordelia piled the couch and other assorted furniture against it, while Buffy peered around the hall. The kids were all in the living room now, which was clear of the zombies, thanks to Ichigo beheading them.

A scream from upstairs distracted her. Buffy's blood ran cold. "Mom?"

"Go," said Ichigo, peeking out from between the gaps to the front yard. More were lumbering down the street, some of which were teenagers that had earlier fled the party and fallen prey to the zombies. "We'll hold the line."

The Slayer ran up the stairs three at a time.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Joyce kicked in vain at the zombie holding her. Willow was whacking the zombie as hard as she could, but it was doing very little.

Buffy charged in and kicked that zombie clear to the other side of the room, tugging her mother behind her. "Mom, you okay?"

"Yes honey, I'm fine." Joyce turned and saw some movement. "Pat! You're all right!"

"No time for that!" shouted Willow as two zombies crashed in from the windows

Suddenly Xander ran in. "More coming up the street – Ichigo says we should all group in the living room."

"Maybe that's a better idea-" Joyce said, helping Pat up. "Pat, are you all right?"

Pat shoved Joyce aside and grabbed the mask on the wall. She pulled it off, ripping yet another hole in the plaster, and put it on.

There was a glaring red flash and the zombies that were attacking Buffy and Willow fell to their knees.

"Not good," said Willow, backing away.

Joyce scrambled to her feet. "What's wrong?"

"Generally, when scary things get scared? Not good," Xander explained.

The Slayer took a stance and squared her shoulders. "All right, Pat or whatever you are. Leave my friends and my mom alone and face me-"

Another red flash caught Buffy straight in the face, immobilizing her. The thing that had been Pat growled and took a step towards Willow. Before it reached her she was tackled to the ground. Xander rolled out of the way before it could attack. Buffy, freed from the immobilizing effect, grabbed the dead woman from behind and threw her with as much force as she could out the broken window. She dived after it, remembering to tuck and roll, and covered her eyes with her arm.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

They heard the thud, then the roar, and when Xander barreled down the stairs to the back, Giles figured it out.

"Did you tell her?" Giles said, jabbing at yet another half-rotted arm trying to claw its way into the barricaded house.

"Tell her what?" Ichigo asked.

"To avoid Ovu Mobani's eyes!"

Ichigo paled. "I forgot!"

"Get to it then!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Buffy tried to grope for the tool which she had carelessly left in the backyard – she had never been that neat – but it was tough trying to get to it knowing that she might be reaching for the monster instead.

When she heard a roar she knew she was too close to the masked zombie and rolled to the side. Thank goodness for traditional zombie stupidity. A vampire would have waited for her to get to it before sucking her blood dry. Her hand came upon a pole, slightly damp, and reassuringly heavy. She grabbed it and rolled to her feet, keeping her eyes shut, the balance of the implement telling her where the sharp end was.

"Buffy, don't look into its ey-" That sounded like Ichigo.

She risked opening one eye and stared at the ground when a red flash startled her. It wasn't looking at her, thankfully, and was instead stalking towards frozen Ichigo.

"Hey Pat!" Buffy called out.

The zombie Pat turned around.

Buffy shoved the business end of a shovel into her eyes. "Made you look."

The spell thus dispersed, Ichigo stumbled forward. "Okay. Never mind."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The gang gathered in the living room. The rest of the kids had dispersed by then, Devon and his band staying only long enough to grab their gear.

"Hey. Good work," said Buffy to Xander.

The tall teenage boy shrugged and smiled. "Nice reflexes."

Willow hugged Buffy and then Joyce joined in.

"So, is that a typical day at the office?" asked Mrs Summers.

Buffy grinned. "Nah. That was nothing."

"You know," said Urahara. "I'm famished. Should we send out for pizza?"

Giles sighed and pushed his hair back. "Hear hear."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"You actually levitate things now?" asked Buffy, sipping on an iced peach smoothie.

"Only for a couple of seconds," Willow demurred. "But I tried to channel the spirits, and I so wasn't ready for that. Plus, I blew the power for the block. Big scare. And then Urahara figured it out and, um, lectured me about responsible use of power and so on."

"Eeps. Is he as bad as Giles?"

Willow winced. "Kinda on an equal footing there. Oh, and I tried summoning the four elements. I can only do two, and I kinda set my bedspread on fire which I'll never do again."

"I wish I had been there for you," said Buffy.

Willow smiled. "It's okay. Really, I understand you having to bail and I can forgive that. I have to make allowances for what you're going through and just be a grown up about it."

Buffy paused. Then she grinned. "You're really enjoying this moral superiority thing."

"It's like a drug!" Willow agreed cheerfully.

"Fine," said Buffy with a resigned air. "I'm with the bad. I can take my lumps." She mock glared at her best friend. "For now."

"No, you're right. I'll stop." Willow sipped her mocha and muttered, "Runaway."

"Willow!"

"I'm sorry." The redhead smiled. "Quitter."

Buffy narrowed her eyes. "Whiner."

"Bailer."

"Harpy."

"Delinquent."

"Tramp."

"Bad seed."

"Witch."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The door opened. Principal Snyder barely looked up as Urahara and Giles entered together.

"Do we have an appointment?" he inquired, barely civil.

Giles glanced at Urahara, who shrugged and smiled calmly. The librarian adjusted his glasses and said, "We just thought that we'd like to discuss a matter with you."

"If that matter is Buffy Summers, than all I have for you are two words. Good. Riddance." The principal smirked coldly and took up his coat. "Now if you don't mind, I have a meeting with the Mayor."

Urahara stepped neatly in front of the door. "You have no grounds for expelling Buffy Summers."

"I have grounds, I have precedence, and I have a tingly feeling."

"It won't hold." Giles had come to Snyder's right side. "Buffy is a minor and is entitled to a public education. Your personal distaste does not legally allow you to run roughshod over her future."

Snyder was not intimidated. "Why don't you take it up to the city council?"

"We thought we'd start with the state Supreme Court," said Urahara, the calm smile not wavering.

Giles had the same unperturbed expression. "You may have some influence in local circles, but I believe I can make life very difficult for you. Professionally speaking, of course."

For a beat Urahara and Giles thought the principal had caved. Then Snyder smirked. "Sorry. Not convinced." He stared at Urahara. "Get away from the door."

The small man moved. Giles and Urahara were faster, both of them restraining Snyder by his shoulders without using any apparent force.

"Would you like us to convince you?" asked Giles softly.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Should I tell them?" Ichigo asked over dinner.

Urahara chewed and swallowed. "Ichigo." He sighed. "Ichigo, telling them may mean the end of your friendship."

Ichigo's voice was soft and sad. "I know. But they should." He breathed out slowly and clasped his hands together. "You saw what happened. If I try to keep my past buried, something's gonna come from it and hurt them. At least they're forewarned, you know?"

Urahara reached his left hand over and covered Ichigo's hands. "Whatever happens, I'm here."

"I know." Ichigo smiled at the blond. "You've always been here for me." The smile turned wistful. "I just didn't see it."

Urahara just held on tighter.