Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
Master of Dragons God; Eeh, I will probably do one in the future, though I haven't got an idea about it.
Hellspam; Hehe, well I'm glad that I was able to bring you to the show, maybe~? Yeah, I can relate to that, shows I didn't really care about in the past are shows I quite like now. Yeah, I could see a scene like that between Cordelia and Michael happening. It would be an interesting turn of events.
Absolute Mirage; Yeah, it seems like it is shocking to most around, huh. Well, shocking people is also good, it makes things more interesting, don't you agree? I actually got into it by watching reruns and such. Aah, it seems those two are quite popular, huh. And thank you!
Anime PJ; Yeah, it is a fav of mine as well~ Aah, really? My Mum doesn't really watch that, yet my sister does, so that's how I got into Charmed and Buffy as well. Yeah, Angel is a pretty good series to watch. I recommend that. Hehe, yeah~ Dawn surely beat him in a game of Sonic~ Those two surely will have a good relationship, which will set up future stuff that I have planned. You're right about that, he got some kind of satisfaction out of it~ I'm glad that was funny~ Willow huh, that's pretty cool. Yeah, I can understand where you're coming from. in any case, I'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter!
DocSlendy; Yeah, it is going quite well. In more ways than one, you're quite correct, they'll be butting heads a few times during this fic. That's probably going to happen somewhat during the end of the first season in the story. It certainly does bear merit. Yeah, I can understand that.
BizarreBard; Yeah! Faith is pretty cool, and out there, isn't she? Xander and his jealousy is, gonna be something referenced in the future. But yeah, their relationship is going quite well!
Naroku; Hehe, it is quite the love square, isn't it? Thank you!
Sandshrew Master 317; Thanks! Cool vote!
Cloud4012; Thank you! Cool, either of them would be cool!
Blackmoon FierceGods 15; Hey, I like to surprise people alright! Eeh, I can't really give you an answer besides that I wanted too, that's it really. Eeh, in the future I will probably do one, but I haven't decided what it would be. I've seen the movies. He's gonna be with Buffy, and another, which will be revealed in a few chapters. Yeah, I can see that, but I thought that some people would suggest her. Yeah, in the future, he's gonna be pretty powerful. Right now, he's a novice, and Buffy would win, in the future, it is going to be more even and such. If you like how jealous he was last chapter, this chapter is...well, have a read~
Ragna; I could see that happening in the future, probably from Xander. Oh, really? People thought of me huh. Yeah, if anyone contacts me about it, then okay, I will listen to it, and thanks for letting me know.
Soul; Yeah, I remember reading that she did. I could see Buffy being bisexual, even if she didn't want to admit it at first. Either of those two would be quite good, huh. They both have charms to them.
Guest 1; Cordelia huh, that was one I wasn't expecting at all. And yeah, maybe she could be doing something like that. That, would be quite funny to see, how their relationship develops. And yeah, she's a pretty awesome actress, isn't she?
Guest 2; Buffy and Michael being married huh, in the future it could happen. And that would be quite a good way for him to realize his feelings for her.
Guest 3; Thanks, and cool!
Thunderman; I'm glad that you enjoyed it! And cool vote!
Guest 4; Awesome, Amy would be quite the cool vote, wouldn't she? Heh, Buffy vs Amy in a fight for Michael, now that would be quite the funny thing to see, huh. An arranged marriage between the two, that would be something alright.
Random reviewer; Eeh, I guess that you don't have to say anymore!
Yandere lover; Thanks! And yeah, there are a lot of reasons, huh. Anyway, thanks for the vote!
Guest 5; You're right, Amy is quite awesome. His own team huh, that would be interesting, maybe have Faith in it or something, I dunno.
Reptoholic; Willow is quite the interesting character, isn't she? I like her as well. Ooh yeah, Tara she's pretty cool as well, I wish that she didn't have to die. Yeah, I assumed that there might not be, so I hope this fills some kind of void. I could see either of them doing that, Drusilla would be the more likely one to do something like that. Those ideas are quite great, and some unexpected, like Glory. Yeah, I'm doing it before the whole Angel thing, so she doesn't get hung up on him. Hehe, their jealousy is going to be quite entertaining to write, and hopefully for you all to read. Once he falls for her, he'll be quite protective of her, even if she is stronger (for now at least). In the future, he'll become stronger and stronger, like how Willow progressed through the show. And he'll be using a wide variety of spells in the future. A familiar huh, I honestly wouldn't know what he would get. His parentage, is quite a secret for now. And thank you!
Ashzoroth; I wouldn't know much about that, haven't read that many Buffy fanfic's, I just don't have much time, honestly. Willow is quite good, and it seems to be quite the square between the two, huh. She is quite the dark heroine, isn't she? And I can see your point.
Guest 6; Hehe, they are quite cute together, aren't they?
Guest 7; Those are cool, and I will try my best!
Guest 8; Hehe, those two choices are quite cool, and popular as well. I see, well lets see what the results say~
War Sage; Thanks, and cool!
Wolf King 0811; I can understand where you're coming from, and I will consider it.
Guest 9; Thanks! And cool vote!
Guest 10; Heh, that would be quite a funny little line to put in there when that event happens~
With those lovely reviews out of the way, it is time to start the next chapter!
The Harvest part 2
Buffy and Michael ran and ran down the streets, avoiding anyone that could catch them for being tardy from school, all the while, knowing that the place they were going was the graveyard.
While Buffy was fine with it, Michael was...less than impressed with going. He would do it, as he wasn't a coward by any means of the word, but something about going to a graveyard seemed...cliche, cliche, and funny as well as terrifying, knowing that a Vampire could be there waiting for them, Vampires even. It could be an army of Vampires.
However, the surprising thing was that Buffy seemed to be fine with it, Michael didn't understand it. He was brave about it, yet she seemed to be a stone right now, as if nothing could penetrate her.
"Hey Buffy, can I ask you something?"
Michael's question caused her to briefly stop, nod, and then continued to run forward with him.
"What is it?"
She wondered what he wanted to say to her.
"Eeh, it's just, you seem to be really calm about it right now, as if you don't seem to be that bothered? Maybe that isn't the way to say it...but for a normal teenage girl, I could see that being something...I don't know what to think about it. You're...incredible, Buffy."
"It isn't like that." She confessed, confusing her male friend, who then carried on explaining. "I just need to keep my calm, is all. That's how it is, Michael. I mean, if you're worried, then you can..."
He shook his head, realizing that they had now entered the graveyard.
"I'm not afraid, I was just wondering how you could keep so calm about it. Vampires, Demons and such. While it doesn't bother me that much, because it isn't my duty to kill them, it is your own. If I was you, I'd hate a destiny thrusted upon me like this, it would annoy the hell out of me."
"It does annoy me. I wish that I wasn't the Slayer, but I am. And people need me, so it isn't like I have a choice...maybe I was kidding myself, trying to have a normal life. No matter where I go, these supernatural stuff just keeps coming up in my life. I wish, I could have a normal life."
After hearing her confession, Michael allowed a bright smile to appear on his face.
"Yeah...you can, Buffy. It isn't like because you're the Slayer, you need to give up your life or anything. You're a girl, not some robot. You need a personal life, I think that you can do both. And if not, I will help you."
He offered her with the kindest smile that could be mustered on his face. It was a smile that wouldn't ever disappear from his face, as long as it concerned things like this.
"Why...Why would you want to help me like this Michael? I mean, you don't know me, and it isn't like it is your problem. You weren't destined to do something like this...so, why do you want to help me?"
Buffy couldn't quite work it out. She couldn't understand why he seemed to be so willing to help her, knowing that it was dangerous. If she was honest with herself, she thought that he was quite...insane.
However, before she could say anything, the light of the firefly suddenly went into a Mausoleum. Buffy, seeing it, wore a complicated expression.
"You know, as we were coming here, I was thinking about it, and how that Luke guy could come up on me like he did, from behind...and I came to the conclusion that he must've come from inside of the Mausoleum, so, I can see why the light lead us here. Ugh, I'm such a head case, I'm an idiot for not figuring it out sooner."
Buffy's face fell into a small frown, not liking the feeling that she felt right now.
Michael though patted her on the back, and gave her an encouraging smile.
"Don't worry, Buffy. As I said back in the library, you can't think of everything and can't do everything on your own. You're only you, Buffy, you are just you, that's about it. That's why, we're around you. Me, Xander, Willow, and even Guiles...eeh. I mean Giles. That's how it is, rely on us as well. We aren't superhuman like you, but we'll do what we can to help you."
Buffy's face brightened up to a point where it was shown that she cheered up, just enough to make her mood better than it was beforehand.
"Right. Lets get this over with. Your spell, can you tell if Jesse is alive right now? Can...I mean, does the person have to be alive or what for this spell to lead us to him...I mean, do you think we'll see his corpse right now?"
Michael thought about what Buffy questioned, but was unable to come up with an answer as of yet.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. This is my first time really casting it, so your guess is as good as my own. It is, going to be interesting to say the least though, isn't it? I hope Jesse is alright though, if only for Xander's sake. Usually, I don't really care that much about Xander, but that's because it is a personal issue, though he's still my friend."
"Yeah...okay, lets go."
Nodding at one another, Buffy opened the door, seeing the firefly patiently awaiting for the pair of them. Buffy and Michael entered, looking around the darker than dark insides of the mausoleum.
Buffy cautiously looked around the room, sensing something in the shadows as Michael looked around as well. Seeing an iron door at the back, both Buffy and Michael went towards it, Buffy trying to open it...but it was locked.
"No go, it's locked."
As she said that dejectedly, Michael felt a chill going down his spine, quickly turning to the side, and batted his hand that way while screeching "Aah, Demon!" in a desperate voice, which connected with something, someone's face, and sent that person to the ground.
"Buffy! There's some guy here! Maybe it is a Vampire, I'll slay it!"
He rasped out, bringing out his stake, and went to stake the person on the floor. Buffy whizzed, and grabbed his wrist, just before it could connect with the persons heart, pulling him away.
"Geez, jumpy much? You could've killed him."
He cocked his eyebrows upwards, casting his eyes towards the person on the ground.
Seeing the person there, it was a male that was, maybe early twenties, he wasn't sure. He was the tall dark and handsome type of person, a person that would be like, pretty different to him.
"Wh-Whats going on Buffy? Do you know this man?"
Buffy nodded, then shook her head.
"Sort of, he came around last night at the Bronze. I don't know what his deal is, I don't even know his name."
She confessed as the man stood up, rubbing his jaw where Michael had hit him, surprised that Michael could actually lay a finger on him.
"Hmm, what a right hook you have."
The man addressed Michael, who held out the stake, the man holding a certain disdain from looking at it.
"Hold on there skippy, why don't we just stay back until we know one another. I'm not sure what your deal is yet, and hanging out here, you could be a Vampire as well. If you are, I will slay you."
Buffy rolled her eyes, putting Michael's hand down by his side.
"Don't worry, even if he was a threat, I'd deal with it."
Michael gained a sheepish smile, something Buffy mentally chuckled at, finding it quite cute, before she mentally berated herself for thinking in such a manner, not liking the idea of doing it.
"Ehehe, I don't doubt it. But it isn't like we know this person, he could be a danger."
Buffy couldn't really refute what he said, acknowledging it. Though there was something else that came to her mind.
"I don't suppose you've got a key on you?"
Angel shook his head, holding his own quite well with the glare that was coming from Michael.
"They really don't like me dropping in."
He expressed to Buffy and by extension Michael, the former cocking her head to the side with a worried expression on her face, the latter just glaring at this stranger, being unnerved by his appearance.
"Why not?"
"They really don't like me."
He answered quickly, allowing a sly smile to appear on his face.
"My, I can't imagine why, tall dark, and strange. You must be a hit with the ladies, am I wrong?"
Michael quipped, but the stranger ignored him, which irked him and looked at Buffy, as if not acknowledging his existence.
"I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner."
The mans words didn't sit well with Michael, as if they were taunting Buffy. That wasn't something Michael liked in the slightest, finding it slightly annoying. Though Buffy answered the man while having a sarcastic look on her face.
"I'm sorry you had to wait. Look, if you're gonna be popping up with this cryptic wise man act on a regular basis, can you at least tell me your name?"
"Angel."
Michael resisted the urge to snicker at the name, finding it a little girly.
"Angel? I didn't peg you for an Angel. I would've said, Darren or Joe or something. Maybe even David. You're David from now on, I like that name on you, David."
Michael off handedly commented, earning a small scowl from the newly named Angel.
"My name is Angel, not David."
"I think David is better. It gives you an edge. Maybe, you could be called Booth? I think that works with your face as well. Yeah, Booth or David, either of those would be awesome with you. Sounds better than Angel to me. It gives you street cred...maybe?"
Michael smiled out his response to Angels glaring stare. Angel took in a deep breath, then began again, changing the subject.
"Don't go down there, both of you. Especially you, human boy."
"Deal with my going. And don't doubt my friend, he's a Warlock. Besides, even if he wasn't, I trust him enough to back me up."
Buffy defended her friend, Michael giving her a thankful smile on his face, caught by Buffy who smiled as a response. Angel though didn't like it in the slightest, and tried dissuading Buffy from going, not really seemingly caring about Michael at all.
"You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it, the Master walks."
"If this Harvest thing is such a suckfest, why don't you stop it?"
Buffy retorted, folding her arms.
"Because I'm afraid."
The unashamed openness of the statement caught Buffy and Michael a bit off guard. She looks at him a moment, wondering what he was saying. Michael however thought that Angel was a bit of a coward for not trying to do anything, as he knew there was something more than it seemed to Angel when he was acting the way he was, not liking the look he was giving Buffy.
"I don't have time for this. Michael, lets go."
Buffy, with a slight huffed voice, kicked the door wide open, Michael whistling at her strength, looking at her kindly.
"Come on Buffy, lets go."
"They'll be expecting you, Buffy."
Angel spoke with a slightly worried tone in his voice, covered up by his usual darkish voice. Buffy didn't seem to be too concerned, and went into the darkness, not bothering talking with Angel, taking the initiative, following the firefly.
Michael was about to go in when Angel grabbed his arm, and got right in his face. Michael moved away with his head, but Angel moved ever closer to his body, Michael's eyes looking away from Angels face, but Angels eyes were focused on Michael's face, judging his reactions.
"Eh, personal space please. I don't like it when you're this close to me."
Michael dismissively spoke, brushing off Angels arm...or he would've if Angel wasn't as strong as he was.
"You have no idea what kind of creatures lurk in the dark. Buffy is the Slayer, she can fight. You're an ordinary human, this is something that a child like you cannot understand. It is better if you went home, or you'll slow down Buffy, and get her killed. Is that what you want? Leave, right now if you care about the Slayer at all."
Angels command was clear, straightforward. It was a dark voice directed at him full of darkness and anger as well, also laced with worry for Buffy.
Michael however looked him dead in the eye, and for a second or so, his pupils turned black, before changing back to their usual icy blue colour. Angel wondered if he saw what he actually saw, questioning in his mind what was going on right now.
"Do not tell me what to do, and never call me ordinary. If you're so concerned for Buffy, you should come with us, instead of being afraid and hanging back, pretending to be all mysterious, because you're not fooling me. Clearly, if anyone of us should leave, it is yourself. You say that I am slowing Buffy down, but at least I'm trying to help. You are just standing there, and allow her to walk into danger. So, why don't you stop talking and do some action like I am? I might be just a human, but I at least am trying to help. Can you say the same?"
Angel let go of Michael's arm, and the pair glared at one another. Some respect came into Angels eyes, seeing the unyielding aspects of Michael's inner strengths. Even if he was a human, Angel was shocked by the unwavering resolve he had to help the Slayer, though he couldn't figure out why.
But that was soon stopped when Buffy returned into the room, looking between the two of them.
"Michael, what's keeping you?"
Michael took his eyes off Angel, and turned them to Buffy.
"Nothing at all, Buffy. I'm okay, shall we go?"
Buffy looked between Michael and Angel, sensing the animosity in the air. However, for the moment, she ignored it, and kept her eyes straight on her fellow blonde.
"Yeah, lets go."
Michael brushed past Angel, and entered the tunnel along with Buffy. However, as she entered, she wondered what Angel had said to her, and how it seemed to make the tension in the air, at this moment in time.
Inside of the tunnel, Michael and Buffy walked forward, after heading down stairs, and even a ladder, into the tunneling systems. It was dark, dank, and dreadful. Rats congregated towards their feet, Buffy not caring, while Michael kicked the vermin's away.
"So, dark huh."
"Yeah, I've been in tunnels like this before. Well, all of them are like this. Dank, dark, and oh so desperately scary. It is part of the norm called this place, it is something like that."
Buffy spoke quietly, Michael matching the lowness of the voice.
"It seems to me that we're getting closer and closer."
"Hmm, how can you tell?"
Buffy expressed her confusion for the fellow blonde, as he pointed towards the firefly, which was getting dimmer and dimmer in the darkness of the tunnel.
"I believe as it goes out, the person we're looking for will be revealed, or something like that. It is something I read...erm, also, I'm surprised that Xander didn't follow after us."
Michael noted the absence of Xander, sure that he was going to follow...but he didn't, and that was surprising.
"Even I'm surprised. I thought that he might've tried...maybe because he didn't know where we were going and wasn't quick enough to keep up, so I presume he didn't have a choice but to stay behind. Aah well, it is for the best that he stays behind, it is...dangerous enough, Xander being here might make it slightly worse. At least, I know that you can defend yourself, I don't know what Xander is truly capable of. I guess, we'll find out sooner rather than later."
Buffy theorized, a theory that was shared by Michael himself. However, there was also a thought that he felt right now, and it had to be...shared with his fellow companion, wanting to know the answer.
"Buffy, before we go on...erm, I have to ask...you know, do you think that...am I getting in your way?"
The thing that Angel said to him before was playing on his mind. He knew that this wasn't the best time to talk about it. But he couldn't help it. He didn't want to get in Buffy's way, and did kind of force himself to come along, even if Buffy did agree with it as well.
Buffy paused briefly, and then shook her head, continuing to move forward.
"Not at all. Why did you think that you were?"
"Eeh, nothing really. Just something that...eeh, I was just worried. I mean, I don't want to get you hurt or anything. I only want to be useful, to you. Even if that means me being a human shield or something."
"Geez, you talk as if you don't care if you live or die."
Buffy joked, and while Michael didn't answer, he didn't show if she was right or wrong with his face, merely continuing onwards.
As they walked, the light of the firefly went dimmer and dimmer, shining less and less. Buffy could also tell that they were getting close, the lack of rats being an obvious sign.
"We're getting close."
Though neither needed to say it, Buffy said it anyway to finalize their thoughts.
Walking closer, the light stopped, disappearing, and something was in the darkness. Both Buffy and Michael could make out a figure in the darkness.
Rushing over to it, Michael leant down, and saw that it was in fact...
"Jesse, are you alright!?"
Yes, it was Jesse, Xander's best friend, and Michael's, plus Willow's friend, Buffy's potential friend, was on the ground, covered in the darkness of the tunnel, coating his form from the pair. But getting closer, it was obvious that it was Jesse that had appeared before them, and was in need of saving...possibly.
"Aah, don't touch me!"
Jesse suddenly shot up with a pipe, ready to swing it down on Michael who was pushed down onto the ground with Jesse getting to his feet, but he stopped inches from his face, seeing who it was.
He reeled back from Michael, allowing some personal space to be met.
"Michael, it's you? What's going on?"
Michael jumped to his feet, and checked over his condition...and he seemed to be fine, for the most part...missing the mark that was on his neck.
"Yeah, we've come to save you. Xander wanted to come, but he was like...he wouldn't be able to do anything here. So, are you alright Jesse?"
"I'm not okay on an epic scale. We've got to get out of here, before they come back!"
Michael noticed something out of the corner of his eye, and saw that there was a chain on his leg, tying him to the wall. Seeing that, he alerted Buffy to it, who looked down and grabbed the pipe in Jesse's hand.
"Alright, leave it to me."
"Buffy I can just-"
At that moment, Buffy swung down at the chain on his leg, the shackles, which broke the lock yes, but also created a large amount of noise, enough to attract anything that was around.
Michael put a hand to his forehead, and released a small sigh.
"I am...gonna say that we've just attracted some of the Vampires around here. I couldve just...picked the lock or something...maybe even just use Magic to do something like that...no do something like you did."
"Y-Yeah, lets just go quickly."
With that, Buffy, Michael and Jesse went back the way they came, rushing as fast as they could.
While travelling, Michael got a sinking feeling in the bottom on his heart, the same feeling Buffy was feeling at this moment in time. She and he couldn't figure it out together, they were, confused about it...though they couldn't see the gleeful look on Jesse's face.
"They knew you were gonna come. They said that I...I was the bait... "
Michael sweatdropped at that, guessing that it was a case such as this as this looked too...perfect. They found Jesse too easily, without even running into anything, until now, he assumed. He knew that there was something going on,
"Oh, now you tell us. Don't you think that this information would've been useful before?"
"I've seen their leader."
Jesse suddenly brought up, giving the pair a slight shock, looking between one another, then looking at Jesse's eyes.
The look in his eyes describes their leader in detail. It was something that they didn't want to even think about. It was...a scary feeling, if Jesse had eyes such as he did, a scary look to them.
Buffy continues leads the two boys back through the tunnel. She stops moments later.
Shadows move at the other end, and she knew what they were. Rather, she could tell from this distance that the shadows were indeed Vampires, and what Jesse said made more and more sense.
"Oops. I guess this is not the way out."
"Oh, no, no..."
Jesse's panicked face was seen by both Michael and Buffy, the pair of them remaining calm, despite the feeling and hearing the shuffling of feet and whispers, sneers, and laughs as well.
Buffy then turned towards Jesse.
"Do you know another way out? Since you've been down here, could you know where to go?"
"I don't, uh, maybe?"
Jesse mumbled out a response, Michael seeing and feeling as if there was something suspicious about it. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about Jesse that he didn't like, something that was...sinister.
"Come on. Buffy, Jesse, lead the way."
They truck out the other way, leading away from where they were fleeing beforehand.
But as they ran, Buffy felt as if something was wrong as well, seeing that Michael was eying up Jesse.
"Jesse, what did they do to you exactly?"
Michael suddenly brought up, causing the three to stop. Buffy was less than keen to do this, noticing that the Vampires were coming closer and closer, not wanting to run into a herd like they were.
"Hmmm, what do you mean, Michael?"
Jesse's voice suddenly turned cold, dark, sending shivers down the pairs spines.
"I mean...why are you leading us somewhere that isn't the way out...why does it feel like you're leading us to a trap?"
"Ehehe, it must be your imagination. Do we really have time for such things?"
Jesse expressed his words coldly, unforgiving, and full of dark intentions.
Responding to that, Michael withdrew his cross from his bag, and placed it against Jesse's skin.
"Aah, what are you doing!?"
Jesse cried as his skin sizzled like a burn, jumping away a few feet, leaving the sides of Michael and Buffy.
Buffy opened her eyes at the realization, moving to confront him as did Michael, Michael looking sorrowful for the friend that he had, who was now dead, a Vampire.
"I'm so sorry Jesse, we didn't make it in time."
Michael offered his condolence. He wasn't sure on how much there was of Jesse anymore, but he felt like he had to do it for Xander, and Willow. Jesse though sneered and tried to move closer, but Michael held out the cross, stopping his advances, the now Vampire hissing in pain and annoyance to the cross.
"You're sorry? Why? I feel good. I'm connected to everything. I feel strong, powerful. I feel in control now. I can hear the worms in the earth, I can feel everything. I'm no longer bound to that mortal coil, I'm stronger than everything. I can take on the world...I can take on the Slayer at least. Ooh, Master wants to feed on your blood Buffy Summers. That's alright, isn't it? We'll rip your bones from your body and lap us what corpse you have left."
"Typical newborn arrogance, and pretty disgusting usage of words."
Buffy whispered to Michael, having witnessed such things before in her past experiences with Vampires, getting ready to fight, hearing the footsteps of the Vampires closing in.
Michael looked sadly at Jesse, sighing slightly.
"I'm so sorry, Jesse. But since you're a Vampire, we can't let you with us...I'm sure if Xander was here, he'd want to say goodbye as well. But since he isn't here, I'll do it for him. Goodbye Jesse."
Expressing it somberly, Jesse didn't care at all. He didn't even find it entertaining, he found it to be a pathetic human desire to apologize.
"Heh, he's like a shadow to me now. It's the same for you. No longer do I care about anything like that. I don't even care about apologises, that was my human coil making me feel as if I was going to die. All of the times I flirted with Cordelia, all of the times she rejected me and the other girls...it doesn't matter to me now. All I care about, is your death!"
Jesse suddenly turned on Michael, lashing out. He swiped at Michael's hand, wanting to get the cross out of his hand. Michael pulled his hand back, Buffy delivering a kick to his chest, sending him to the ground, hitting the back of the tunnel, cracking his head on the pipe that was on the ground.
"Come on Michael, lets go!"
Buffy ordered, grabbing his hand and dragging him along.
For a few seconds, he was unresponsive, sorrow filling his mind at seeing a friend dead. But that was soon turned to survival instincts, and together, Buffy and Michael ran down the drain system, looking for a place to get out.
Weaving left and right, Buffy and Michael ran. They didn't sop running, looking for a place to exit. They couldn't turn back, too many Vampires being behind them, including a certain ex friend of Michael's.
"Michael! Michael! Please save me! I'm sorry, I promise I wont hurt you! I didn't even deserve to be a Vampire! I don't want to be a Vampire, please let me come with you! Save me!"
As they ran, they both could hear the heavy footsteps of the Vampires, Michael himself hearing Jesse shouting after him for some help. Even though he heard it, he wasn't dared to look backwards, he wasn't even tempted to see where the noise was coming from.
"It's a trick, Michael. Don't listen to Jesse now. That's no longer Jesse. It's regrettable, but that's how it is."
"I know it is, but I can feel sad, can't I?"
Buffy didn't know what else to say, merely continuing to run through the tunnels they were in.
Eventually, they found some room which they dashed into immediately. There was a door to the side of the room, where they entered, but it looked heavy, made of steel and looked to be rusted over as well. The room itself had junk all around, and even a dead body as well...some who knew of Vampires would call it table scraps.
"Damn, there's no way out. We're trapped, like rats."
Michael noted, seeing that there were no doors around whatsoever.
Buffy looked around as well, and her eyes went to the door, unsure of what to do.
But then, sounds of the Vampires coming could be heard, so Buffy immediately went to the door.
She grabbed the door, and started to push it. It made a grinding sound against the floor, but no matter how hard Buffy pushed it, the door wasn't moving all that much, surprising both the male and the female considerably. The door barely moved a couple of inches from where it was.
"Michael! Help me move this door!"
She ordered, straining against the door. Michael snapped out of what he was in, lunged forward, and helped her push the door...but even with his strength, it was heavy, it was rusted over so it was even more difficult to move.
Turning to their backs, they used what strength they had to push the door and they succeeded, in making it move towards the exit...
"Let me in!"
Suddenly, shooting from the opening was an arm, that grasped Michael's arm, his shirt.
"Aah, get off me!"
Michael yelled, getting out a stake, and stabbed the Vampire in the hand. Though not killing it, the stake went through the hand like butter, pain coming to the Vampire, making him bleed and retract his hand, though even doing that, the Vampires still desperately tried to get in.
"This is so not good! This damn door is too rusted over, it is near impossible to move with just the two of us!"
Buffy didn't know what else to try. The door was stuck still...rather, it was the Vampires winning favour this time. There were more of them and only two humans, a Slayer and a Warlock, and one of them didn't have enhanced strength.
"I know Buffy, I know. I am aware of the current situation."
Correspondingly to the panicked Buffy, Michael seemed...calm. Again, it defied logic, yet here he was, calm as a cucumber. Buffy couldn't explain it, as they were about to get potentially killed, yet here they were, doing this.
"Don't you, know any...I dunno, barrier spells? Protective spells maybe? Something that can protect us?"
Buffy hoped as right now...she wasn't sure of their odds. If they didn't close the door soon, they were in trouble. From the sound of it, she counted five Vampires out there, maybe even more, and what more was that Jesse was out there, taunting them into coming out, baiting them into thinking that they had seen something that wasn't there, but they had. They knew the truth that Jesse was gone now...how Xander was going to take it, Michael didn't know, and neither did Buffy.
"Not enough to block all of those Vampires. Remember, I'm a novice, I only know a couple of spells, and the ones I do know where only learnt recently, so they have a chance to fail. I could make an illusion of...small creatures, but that's about it. I could hold one of them off, but I don't think it would work on all of them, I haven't been able to cast it on more than one person at the same time."
Buffy exhaled deeply, but didn't blame Michael. She couldn't blame him for not knowing powerful Magic's, as she herself was really a novice as slaying, only doing it for around a year of her young life, since she was fifteen years old.
The situation was dire, Buffy was contemplating on what they should do or if she should fight the Vampires so Michael could escape as she didn't want him to die
She continued wondering what she should do...until she felt it.
She felt something...
On her hand, a single touch.
She looked down, to see Michael's fingers lacing with her own, holding her hand tightly.
She was confused, and went to pull away...but she stopped herself. Before she could do it, something screamed in her that she should allow him to hold her hand. It was as if it was a force, stopping her from doing it, from moving away from him.
It defied logic, and reason, but she did it, and enjoyed it. Her heart beat went slightly faster in her chest, not due to the adrenaline that she was feeling and pumping around her body, but to something else, something more...raw and powerful.
Her cheeks flushed lightly, her skin turning red. Looking at his icy blue eyes with her own eyes, she could see trust, willingness, and acceptance. All of these emotions and more were enough to sucker her into the sea of blue that emitted from his eyes.
"Trust me?"
He murmured against her ear, the hotness of his breath tingling her ear.
It was an inconceivable question. How could she trust him after a few days? Could she really bring herself to trust this person beside her, holding her hand, looking at her for an answer.
She paused, but then her face broke out into a smile.
"Always."
She replied, understanding nothing of what was going on. She couldn't understand the word that came from her lips. It felt alien, it felt as if someone else had said it...but no. It was her, she said it, and believed it wholeheartedly. Her brain couldn't understand what the heart was saying at this moment in time.
She accepted it, Michael's warm. She accepted that and allowed him to drag her from the door, staring at it intently. She did the same, and she felt something...a single spark.
A spark between their connected hands. It wasn't uncomfortable, it was mind blowing. It was a new sensation that she hadn't experienced before. It was...beautiful. She felt it...for a single second, it was as if her heart and his resonated together.
She saw that Vampires were pushing the door open, and one had managed to get half way in, his body stuck between the door and the wall. Even though she saw this, her heart beat was filling her ears with its sound, not allowing her to even pay attention to anything around her.
SLAM!
Suddenly, the door slammed shut, killing a Vampire that was halfway through the door, cutting him in half, turning him into nothing, dust in the wind, blowing around their bodies.
Michael quickly broke hand contact with Buffy, and bolts the door shut with its lock, collapsing to the ground, his back against the door, panting slightly.
His facial expression was unreadable, Buffy didn't see if he felt the same thing as she did or not, concluding that he was a good actor if he did, and wondered why he didn't feel it too, if he didn't that is.
Buffy stared for a few moments, then sat beside him, taking a relaxing breath.
"What was that exactly? It felt...good, bad...I don't know. It felt...full, complete. I felt...incredible, I felt as if there was...something happening in my very soul...I can't even think straight..."
The young girls question was met with a smile.
"We combined our powers, Buffy. Your Slayer power is mystical power, from what I could tell. It is very powerful, primordial, incredible. I tapped into that power, and used it for Telekinesis. I did what others couldn't do alone, what we couldn't do alone. I could never move something like that on my own. I wouldn't even be able to move a person with Telekinesis, but with us together...we were able to do it, Buffy. We were able to...protect ourselves, keep one another, alive..."
He trailed off as his eyes met with Buffy's own eyes. Her eyes also stared into his blue eyes with her own, it was as if two oceans became one. They couldn't stop, so much so that they forgot for a second that they were in peril. Even with the heavy slamming of the Vampires fists and feet banging the metal door, their attention was on each other's eyes, adopting small red faces when realizing that they were staring at one another in such a manner.
"Right...I see...that's...we need to get out of here."
Buffy muttered, standing up, shaking off the feeling that something was going on.
"Yeah, we should get out of here, somehow. But where do we go, Buffy?" He questioned, only grimacing when he felt the door shake. "Buffy, we need to get out of here, somehow."
"Yeah, you're right. We need to get out of here."
She agreed, looking around for an exit...
But she couldn't find one.
Everywhere she looked, was full of junk and a dead body, which looked suspicious. So, she casually strolled over, and produced a stake, and rammed it into the heart mercilessly, slaying the newly revealed Vampire.
"Damn, so that was a Vampire. How did you know?"
"I didn't. I had a feeling, and went on gut instincts...and if that wasn't a Vampire, then think of me as someone who stabs corpses constantly, right?"
Buffy replied coolly, collected, the Vampire turning to dust.
Michael wore an impressed face, looking around for something, someway they could get out of this alive.
That's when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye...he peered and saw that there was a vent up in the left hand corner, on the wall, which made him release a relieved breath.
"Buffy, up there!"
He alerted her, pointing upwards. Buffy followed his finger, and saw the vent as well.
"Michael, hand me that box by your feet."
She asked kindly, her mind still hazy slightly from what she was feeling beforehand. Michael complied, and grabbed the box, handing it over to Buffy.
She then placed it down on the ground, got on top of it, and pushed at the vent. She pulls away the metal sheet, revealing the grate. Upon further inspection, she noticed that it was big enough for them to climb through.
"Is it good, Buffy?"
"From what I can tell, we should be able to get through."
She replied, pulling at the grate. She tried prying it open with her hands, as a thud sound entered the room, both knowing that the door wasn't going to hold on for much longer.
"Buffy, I don't want to rush you..." He paused, seeing the door was ripping off its hinges, seeing the Vampires poking their fingers through, gripping their side of the door. "...but could you maybe hurry up a little bit? Becoming a Vampire wasn't on my list."
As he said that, he took out some holy water, and sprinkled it along the Vampires fingers. Naturally, the burning sensation was quite powerful, and made them hiss in pain, retracting their fingers in said pain, Michael pushing the door as far as he could to buy them some time.
Seeing Michael try his best, Buffy did as well, and summoned unknown strength, ripping the grate off, tossing it to the side. Quickly, she whizzed her neck towards Michael.
"Come on!"
"Don't think so Darling!"
As Buffy said it, another voice came from the vent and flew out, grabbing Buffy by the head and lunged at her, forcing her to the ground. The Vampire jumped from the vent, landing on top of Buffy, pinning her down, knocking her stake out of her hand.
"Buffy!"
Michael cried, going to her side. But Buffy shot him a stern look, and yelled "Get out of here!" in the sternest of voices that she had, struggling with the Vampire that was on top of her.
However, he didn't listen to her, and grabbed one stake he had, plunging it into the Vampires back, turning it to dust, staking the heart. The dust scattered over Buffy's body, coating her in the dust, a relieved look appearing on the blonde haired boys face.
He then offered her hand.
"As if I'd leave you in a nest of Vampires. Come on, lets go."
She took the hand, returned to her feet, and hurried to the vent.
Because she was the stronger of the two, an unspoken command went between the two, and he went into the vent first, using the box to aid him in reaching the vent that was up high, Buffy following.
As Buffy got into the vent, the door was broken down, the Vampires looking around for where they went. That was when the now Vampire Jesse saw the vent, Buffy's feet just poking out of them.
"There!"
The Vampire Jesse pointed, and the others saw, going towards the vents, crawling in one after the other, Vampire Jesse remaining behind.
Inside of the vent, both Buffy and Michael were crawling through the vent as fast as they could, or at least as fast as Michael could.
Buffy with her stamina and strength could do it faster, but she was behind Michael, who felt saddened by the fact that he knew that she was probably waiting on him to get going.
"They are coming, right behind us Michael!"
She warned, hearing, and even turning her head briefly to see Vampires on their heels, on her heels.
"I know, Buffy! You don't need to tell me! I am aware of what's going on right now, I have been keeping up with the events!"
Michael replied, trying his best to go as fast as he could.
A few seconds past, half a minute, before the vent opens up, with a ladder there, sunlight peaking out from the top of it, daylight which Vampires hated, but humans loved, especially these humans.
Without conveying words, Michael got onto the ladder, and climbed up it as fast as he could, knowing that Buffy would be right behind him.
"Take this!"
Buffy followed after him, after giving the Vampire behind her a kick to the face, possibly breaking its nose. The Vampire released a "Argh!" in pain, holding his bloodied nose as best he could with a single hand, using his other hand to steady himself.
Making it to the top, he moved the grating off the top, it being a lot easier than the one Buffy had to move, so much so that it was moved with Michael's single hand.
"Made it!"
He breathed out, getting out of the hole, looking around to see himself in a deserted street. With that knowledge in his mind, he turned back to the hole and used his hand to reach for Buffy.
"Michael, help me!"
"R-Right, I'm doing it."
He responded, taking her hand and helping to pull her upwards. Slowly, her body was pulled up out of the hole, making her hair shimmer at the suns rays that heavily blended together brilliantly with her golden coloured hair.
More than half of her body came from the hole when suddenly...
"I'm not letting you go!"
A hand shot out of the hole, and grabbed Buffy's ankle, trying to drag down her body so they could feast on her. Buffy groaned, pulling her foot, shaking it, in an attempt to be released from the Vampires control.
"G-Get off her!"
Michael ordered, manoeuvring his body so he could get his foot inside, which he did, kicking the Vampire in the head, causing some pain to the Vampire, a little less loosened ankle for Buffy, which meant she could pull her legs up, which she did.
She pulled up high and the hand that was holding onto her was exposed in the sunlight. A sizzling of the skin and a smoke erupting from the Vampires hand was more than enough for the pair to notice that they were on the winning side now.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!"
He released a cry, releasing Buffy's foot, and pulled in his hand as it was about to set on fire. With that, Michael pulled Buffy out of the hole, and quickly put the grate over the hole, so the Vampires wouldn't think twice of getting through.
"Buffy, are you-" At that moment, turning towards Buffy, his foot got caught on something on the ground, and he tripped. "Agh!"
He let out a cry and fell face first towards Buffy. She couldn't react in time, and she was brought down to the ground by Michael, him falling on top of her, faces inches apart from the others.
The pair stared into one another's eyes again, which seemed to be the norm now. Hearts resonated with one another, beating together, a rhythm being built up between the two of them.
"Ehehe...we should stop meeting like this..."
Michael murmured, Buffy agreeing while attempting to take her eyes off his...but finding it difficult.
"Maybe so... You know, Michael...I think you're quite...you have learned to slay Vampires rather quickly, haven't you..."
"Y-Yes...I was...I learned from the best..."
Referring to Buffy, the girl herself looked away slightly, feeling Michael's body pressing against her own, blushing at the feeling.
"...You fell on me..."
"Sorry...Buffy..."
Even though he acknowledged it, he made no effort to get off her. He made no effort to move, strangely enjoying the feeling of being on top of Buffy...and she didn't mind either. She didn't mind, being...like this with him, for reasons, she didn't even know and the pair just stayed there, looking up at one another, looking at each other's faces, getting lost in the others eyes...
Sometime later, Willow, Xander, and Giles found themselves at the library, researching what was happening, though Xander didn't like it at all.
"Ugh! This is infuriating!"
He complained wildly, as Willow peered at Xander in a wondering gaze.
"Whats wrong, Xander?"
Willow questioned, her voice soft, and calm, a stark contrast to her fellow friend, Giles not really caring about the teenagers line of conversation, merely reading his book to get as much information that he could.
"Michael!" He erupted, remembered what he said, and pulled back. "I-I mean, Buffy and Michael have been gone too long. Have they found Jesse at all? Why aren't they back yet?"
"You tried following, didn't you Xander?"
Willow said it with a knowing voice, seeing it on the boys face, Willow knowing Xander better than anyone.
And it was proven true when he slowly nodded.
"Yeah, but I don't know where they went. I tried following, but damn, they move fast. It was too fast for me, I couldn't catch up...so, ended up coming back here, and...waiting for them to return, with Jesse."
Xander sighed heavily, showing that he wasn't happy at all.
Willow also sighed, but for a different reason. She sighed because she was worried for Xander, and Jesse, plus Michael and Buffy. She had so much worry in her that she wasn't sure on where to direct it.
As she was contemplating it, Xander turned to Giles, a question in his mind.
"Say, Giles? You know this Magic stuff, can anyone do it?"
"In theory, yes. But depending on how talented you are, you can only go so far."
He replied casually, quietly flipping a page of his book, not taking his eyes off the book.
"So, if anyone can do it...is he talented? Michael, I mean?"
"He's quite strong, yes. He has quite a talent for it. I can, sense something within him that is quite strong. Incidentally, what is his last name? I never heard it before, and I don't believe I've seen him in the library before."
"Moonglow."
Willow retorted, quipping from the side as she went through a book, flipping the pages to see if there was anything that she could use.
As soon as she said that, Giles became quiet, and opened his eyes slightly wider than usual. However, before anyone could comment, Buffy and Michael walked in together, the pair having depressed faces.
Willow, looked at their faces, and knew what was going on. She felt what was going on but decided to ask them anyway.
"Did you find Jesse?"
Michael and Buffy looked at one another, wondering who should say it. But because Michael knew them more, Buffy allowed him to take the lead this time, hanging back, looking remorseful.
"Yeah, we found him, Willow."
Willow, knowing what tone he used, felt saddened anyway. But it escaped her lips, the question that was making everyone seethe, even Giles seemed to be less composed than he usually was.
"Was he dead?"
Buffy took in a deep breath, and explained it to Willow.
"Worse." She began, sitting down heavily. "I'm sorry, Willow, Xander. We were too late. And they were waiting for us. Michael and I were able to get into safety, we climbed through a vent, and...eeh, other things."
Buffy flushed lightly, remembering what she felt during the time that they closed the metal door together. For some reason, she felt warm inside of her chest, the feeling of warmth and...something else entering her heart, threatening to fill her with such a ebbing feeling that she didn't know how to control it.
Willow looked down at the ground, as Xander quietly stood up, walking towards the side of the door that lead into Giles office.
"At least you two are okay."
Sudden, a noise came from where Xander was. Turns out, he kicked a trash bin in frustration, his eyes for some reason glaring right at Michael, though he didn't pay any interest.
"I don't like Vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good."
Willow looked at Xander in concern, not seeing how hateful his stare was on Michael right now, especially when he sat down next to Buffy, that was something that he didn't like, which fuelled the rage building inside of him from his friends death.
"So, Giles, you got anything that can make this day worse?"
Buffy so hoped that it wasn't the case...but Giles loved delivering the bad news, at least he had awkward and imbecile timing in causing more panic and alarm.
"How about the end of the world."
Buffy sighed deeply, throwing her head back.
"I knew I could count on you."
"So Giles, what's going on? Did you find out anything? And what's this about the end of the world?"
Giles cleared his throat, and went to explain.
"This is what we know. Some sixty years ago a very old, very powerful Vampire came to this shore, and not just to feed. He came because, there is power in this town. Rather, there's a certain something in this town."
Buffy put a hand to her face, humming slightly.
"He came cause this town is a mystical whoosit?"
"Yes. The Spanish who first settled here called it Boca Del Inferno...roughly translated, Hellmouth. A sort of portal from this reality to the next. This Vampire hoped to open it to unleash Demons."
"He...wanted to bring the Demons back? End the world? Sounds scary."
Michael guessed, Willow nodding and explaining the best that she could.
"But he blew it. Or, I mean, there was an earthquake that swallowed about half the town. And him too...or at least there were no more Vampire-type killings after."
Giles continued on after Willow, showing a displeased frown.
"Opening dimensional portals is tricky business. Odds are he got himself stuck. Like a cork in a bottle."
"I'm only guessing...but this day is something special, isn't it? Maybe a ritual? From what I heard before, and this Harvest stuff, I guess that this day isn't like a weekend, and it happens often."
Giles nodded his head to Michael's query.
"It comes once in a century, on this night, like you predicted. A Master can draw power from one of his minions while it feeds. Enough power to break free, and to open the portal. The minion is called the Vessel, and he bears this symbol."
He shows them a sketch of the three-pointed star, Michael looking at it, and looked as if he recognized it.
"So, I dust anyone sporting this look, and no Harvest?"
"I'm gonna take a leap and say, yes."
Michael spoke with a frown, Giles nodding his head.
Buffy collected herself, and spoke again.
"Any clue where this little get-together is being held?"
Giles produced some papers, and looked over them, pointing at various locations around the town, popular locations around the town where many people would gather, great meals for the Vampires.
"Well, there are a number of possibilities..."
"Eeh. If it is locating something, then I could just-"
"No." Giles silenced Michael with a wave of his hand. "If you meddle with the Master, then he isn't going to go easy on you. It is spoken that he has unimaginable power, and if he senses you trying to use Magic against him, he could possibly use it against you. I am sorry, but right now, using Magic against the Master would be suicide. Using it to find Jesse was one thing, but the Master is a different deal. It is like a ant and a elephant, you'd be squashed by him."
Michael sighed, knowing that Giles was probably right, but he didn't like feeling helpless, feeling useless, and even if it was against this Master Vampire, he didn't care. He would've done it anyway.
"I know you're right, probably. But do you have to use an ant and an elephant as an example?"
"Eeh, why is that the main problem?"
Buffy questioned, finding it strange.
"Eeh, it's nothing really. It just makes me seem like I'm nothing to this Master guy, when I could, do something against him, maybe. I could maybe curse him or something...I dunno..."
"I'm sure that when we face the Vampires, you'll be able to fight by my side. Rather, I would want you by my side."
Buffy assured him, which made him smile, nodding his head.
"Don't worry Buffy, I will..."
Xander then chirped up, looking towards Michael from the corner of his eye.
"Before that, Michael. I wanna know why."
He turned towards him fully, deciding to show his annoyance, and hate.
"Why, what exactly Harris?"
Michael matched the tone he used, animosity filling the air.
"If you had all of this Magic crap, why didn't you do something to save Jesse before this?"
Xander spat it out hatefully, rising from his seat.
"Excuse me? What did you say?"
Michael also stood up, and shot a glare towards him. Buffy looked between the two, feeling as if something was going to happen, the same for Willow.
"I said, why didn't you do anything before!? If you knew how to do it, why didn't you do it before!? If you did, Jesse would still be alive!"
"Jesse probably was turned the night before, and did you forget that I had to fight off a Vampire, to save someone's life? What have you been doing Xander? If I recall, Buffy had to save you, and while she saved me too, I at least can defend myself. And you were there, I wasn't there. If you really wanna play the blame game, why didn't you try your best to save your friend? Were you too scared to do anything?"
In contrast to what Xander was doing, showing his anger and rage, Michael was calmly stating it. Xander didn't like that however, and rushed Michael, grabbing him by the shirt, and forced him against the cage where books were returned too, and some hidden weapons as well, getting in his face.
"Don't you dare say I didn't try hard enough! I did the best I could!"
"And so did I! I'm only new to this Magic stuff, and it is hard Xander! It isn't like riding a bike! You need to have many different factors, many different qualities to make this work so don't you dare blame me for this! Look in the mirror if you want to blame someone! Don't you take your anger out on me! It isn't just you that is grieving, he was both my friend, and Willow's as well! Don't you just think about your own feelings!"
Michael barked back, grabbing Xander's hands, forcing them away from his body. As he said it, Willow hung her head down, as she knew Michael was in the right, as she was grieving for her friend as well, but was better at keeping it in than Xander was.
The pair glared at one another, showing discomfort from Michael, and pure anger from Xander.
Buffy, not liking this, stood up, and went to separate them.
"Alright, all of this manly macho crap isn't helping anyone, and it certainly isn't helping us right now." Buffy managed to push Xander away from Michael, and got between them. "Look Xander, if you want to blame anyone, blame me. I was there, and I got the jump on me, and I failed to save Jesse. You cannot blame someone that wasn't even there to begin with."
Xander adopted an even more anger filled face than he had before, showing that he was thoroughly pissed off. Even with Buffy saying what she was saying, he couldn't let it go for even a second.
"B-But-"
"No, Xander." Buffy cut him off, shaking her head. "This is not his fault, or is it yours. It is the Vampires that had done this for this damn Harvest. But if you want to blame someone, then blame me because I'm the Slayer, and I didn't do my best. Because I couldn't get it, I was unable to save Jesse, so don't blame someone else, blame me."
"S-She's right Xander." Willow interjected, standing up as well. "There's no blame with Michael, or even Buffy. The Vampires are the one to blame. If you want to hate someone, hate the Vampires, not our friends."
Xander released a hiss from his throat.
"Why are you on his side, Buffy!? Why do you defend him!?"
"Because he hasn't done anything! Xander, you're the one that's attacking for no reason. I don't even know why you're attacking him in the first place. Aren't you supposed to be friends?"
Buffy was expecting Xander to say "Yes." but...
"No, we aren't. Jesse is dead, a Vampire, and I wish that it was him there."
As soon as he said it, he regretted it instantly.
He didn't truly feel like that, but right now, his anger took control of his mind.
Buffy, Willow, and Giles were shocked that Xander had actually said that, Buffy questioning why Xander would even target Michael for such aggression, though Willow had a guess on why, Giles baffled by the fact that Xander could blame a friend for anything when he wasn't even there.
"Xander!" Willow chastised, not seeing Michael beginning to leave. "How can you even say something like that when..." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "...you know what...has happened in the past, how can you even say something like that? Jesse's death, isn't our fault. It isn't yours, it isn't mine, it isn't Buffy's, it isn't Guiles', and it isn't Michael's either. And I can't believe that you'd say something like that. We've been friends since being children, we've done many things together. We've spent so much time together, we helped one another when one of us were down, hurt, or downright sad. And Xander, remember that time you fell down and twisted your ankle? Both Michael and I were there, helping you, carrying you, to get some help...and now, you wished that he was dead? I didn't know that you could be so cruel."
Xander looked down at the ground, feeling dejected, as well as angry...at himself this time, while Giles looked on with a frown at Willow getting his name wrong again, even in this serious situation.
Buffy looked behind her, to see what Michael was doing...but he wasn't there.
She blinked, and heard the doors to the library open, and then close. Judging from that, she guessed that Michael was upset, and just left, taking the high road, and didn't engage Xander any further, which she actually found to be quite mature, as most others would've yelled back or done something stupid like get into a fist fight...or in Michael's case, a Magic fight. She didn't know if he could or not, but she guessed that if he really wanted too, he could do things to Xander that he wouldn't be able to fight against, but he didn't.
"Michael, wait!"
Buffy chased after Michael, ignoring the look from Xander, the apologetic look that he wanted to give Michael, but he was gone.
Buffy went into the corridor, and saw the fleeting form of her fellow blonde. Using her enhanced speed as the Slayer, she quickly caught up to the fast moving walker Michael, getting in front of him.
For a second, she thought that he'd have a depressed look...but he didn't. He didn't even seem to be sad, or angry. He just seemed to be, emotionless, as if nothing could faze him whatsoever.
"Look, what Xander said before-"
"I don't care."
Michael retorted, cutting her off, confusing Buffy.
"What do you mean "I don't care." exactly?"
The confusion set into Buffy's eyes, and mind, while Michael made it clear for her.
"It's exactly as I said, I don't care. Xander is the type to lose it like that, and he conveniently placed his anger on me. It isn't anything new. People have done it to me before. Anyway, good luck with the Harvest, I'm gonna...go now."
"Wait a second, where are you going? We need you...I want you to stay."
Buffy said it with such a straight face, and her voice was unwavering in the fact that she wants him to stay beside her.
"Buffy, I...Xander doesn't want me there right now, Willow will naturally take his side because she loves him. Even if she said what she said, she'll still want his company over mine, it is only natural when you love someone. I don't want to cause conflict, I only want to help, and right now, me staying is going to cause conflict and not accomplish anything at all. So, I'll leave and allow you to handle it, but if you really need me...then, I...Buffy, before in the tunnel...erm, the..."
"Yeah...it was strange...I felt something..."
Buffy promptly blushed, and so did Michael. Their faces turned red, their cheeks burning with a pink colour.
"Erm...Buffy. You know, the reason that I am okay with leaving is because...I'm used to being the odd one out. Always, when I was younger, I was quite an awkward child, I would never fit in anywhere, no matter what I tried. People would stay away from me...because of what my Mom...and because of my Dad as well... But then, I became friends with Willow, and it became better. Xander isn't my favourite person in the world, as you can guess why...with erm...you know, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I thought that I had found people like me, people that didn't fit in as well...but even then...anyway, I'm going to go Buffy. Good luck with the Harvest. I'm gonna be routing for you. I'll be at the Bronze, maybe I could...maybe after you save the world, we could...celebrate or something?"
With those words, Michael walked away, leaving a disheartened Buffy.
At the Bronze, Michael walked in and casually breezed past some people, heading straight for the bar. On his way, he noticed that Cordelia and Harmony were standing there, and were looking at him with sneers.
He held back the rage that he felt, continuing his walk to the bar. He didn't want to deal with Cordelia, and Harmony right now, having had to deal with other things today, things that he didn't expect, though some he didn't mind.
When getting there, he faced the bar tender.
"A vodka and coke please."
"I.D."
The barman said blandly, a matching face, sticking out his hand.
Michael's eyebrows twitched, and he sighed.
"Just give me a vodka and coke."
He asked, his voice being raised a little bit, though it was met with a blank face.
"I.D."
Michael resisted the urge to scream...but he couldn't.
"I'm really fucking depressed here, I've had a crappy day and my friend is dead, another friend wishes that I was dead, the girl I've got a crush on doesn't even notice my feelings or even acknowledges my existence from time to time, Vampires exist which I've slayed a few of them and I've nearly died myself and ooh yeah, possibly the world could come to an end in a few short hours, just give me some freaking vodka already! Geez, for the love of God! Can't a guy catch a break around here!?"
Even though he erupted his feelings deeply, and strongly, the barman didn't have a care in the world, his face remaining stoic and completely ordinary, not showing that he cared in the slightest.
"I.D."
Michael threw his head back, annoyance written on his face as the bland demand came from the barman, growling in frustration. So, he did the only thing that he could, and that was relent, knowing he wasn't going to win this time.
"Fine, give me a coke."
The barman then gave him a coke and he went to sit down alone after paying for it, music booming in the background.
From the day that he had, he couldn't help but be frustrated at the situation, sorrowful for Jesse as he believed no one deserved to die like that, and annoyance for Xander for choosing him to have a go at, though he was glad that he didn't do it for Buffy as she was new, and he didn't want her to get any bashing for what happened, knowing Buffy felt guilty enough already.
As he was drinking, he suddenly felt pressure on the couch next to him. He cocked his head to the side, and saw that it was a blonde haired girl, wearing what appeared to be a school uniform from a private school or something similar to that.
"Hey there, handsome. Wanna buy a lady a drink?"
The girl eagerly questioned, showing a hint of a smirk on her face, slipping near his body.
"Sorry." He rejected, showing a sideways smile. "I don't have any money left, I'm done and dusted for now. Maybe next time...eeh..."
"The names, Darla." Darla introduced herself, slipping a hand onto his leg, which he pushed away instantly. "My, what's wrong all of a sudden? Human contact something not to your fancy?"
He casually glanced at Darla, and saw that she looked quite...beautiful, but in a dark way. He couldn't explain it, but she was quite attractive in a negative way, whatever way that was.
"I haven't seen you around before, you new?"
"To this town, I'm quite new. But to you, I'm quite old." That gave Michael confusion, but suddenly, he felt her hand slowly graze against his leg, stroking his leg with her nimble fingers, his breath hitching in his throat. "Sorry, but I don't waste time. I think you're quite cute, wanna go somewhere quiet?"
"H-Huuuuuuh!? W-What a-are you saying all of a sudden, Darla!?"
Darla furrowed her brows, inching closer and closer to his face. He retracted, unsure of what her intentions where, but she continued to move close to his face, leaning her body against his own.
"Don't worry, I don't bite...much. Come on handsome, don't tell me that you have a girlfriend or anything?"
"Nah, I don't have anything like that. I have a girl that I like but..."
"She doesn't notice you, right cutie?"
He nodded slowly, his eyes turning to sadness. But then he shot his eyes open when Darla's hand moved to next to his crotch, her finger going towards a certain area of his body, lower body.
"Darla! D-Don't do that!"
He patted the hand away, but Darla placed her hand on his face, moved it towards her own, and gave him a small kiss on the lips.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I've always been into blondes...but secretly, I've been watching you for sometime, when you come in here. You look so delicious, I could just...eat you all up~ I really am...attracted to someone like you~"
As she said that, his eyes scanned her form...and he couldn't believe it.
Someone, was interested in him. It never really happened before, he was considered a loser amongst other names. People even stayed away from him because of who his parents where, so to see this girl suddenly coming onto him...made him happy.
He ignored the warning signs, he ignored the fact that something seemed off, because it was human nature, to be wanted, to be desired, and yerned for. It was human nature, to have some acceptance from someone, and even if it was just for a single night, he wanted attention for a change.
He wanted attention from someone, an attention that only a girl could give him. He didn't love Darla, he was attracted to her at best. And he knew that Willow didn't even pay attention to him, so having someone as beautiful as Darla actually wanting to speak with him, look at him, and finally acknowledge him as, someone that a girl might want.
He also found it nice...that someone actually came to talk to him. He wasn't like Xander, or how Jesse used to be, and ask people out, he just naturally wasn't like that. But right now...he had Darla, a very beautiful girl right next to him, her eyes transfixed on his own eyes, never leaving for even a second, moving ever closer.
"Darla...that's...you don't...want to be away from me...you don't care that...I'm, who I am...? I mean...wouldn't you rather look at...someone else...?"
Darla leaned closer and closer, until she was practically on his lap, her hands resting on his face, and his thigh, licking her lips dangerously seductively.
"The only person I see right now, is a sexy blonde. Poor baby, you haven't been getting any attention, have you?" His eyes cast to the side, but Darla made sure that she was the sight that he saw. "Don't you worry, I will pay you much attention...so, why don't we get to know one another for a little while?"
Michael's eyes blinked a few times as she gently placed a lingering kiss on his lips, his mind unsure of what he should do...but then he gave in, seeing that Darla, was only paying attention to him which while he wouldn't admit, secretly wished he had as he never had it when growing up, and inched closer with his lips...
End chapter, and on a cliffhanger!
So, Angel appeared this chapter, even giving Michael a somewhat threat, though Michael turned it around on him. Jesse died, and is now a Vampire. Buffy and Michael connected...in a way, at least. Then Xander literally attacked him, Buffy coming to his side to defend him and such, but then finally, Darla, has made her move. What's going to happen next?
So far, from counting the results, it seems...so far from counting it, it seems there are a lot of Amy fans out there, so she is in the lead. Two more chapters to go before I reveal who's the other girl, so look forward to that, continue voting, and look forward to the next chapter as well!
Until next time!
